James 4:1-10 (HCSB)Proud or Humble 4 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires. 4 Adulteress...  Read More

Psalm 62 (HCSB)Trust in God Alone1 I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken. 3 How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you attack as if he were a leaning wall or a tottering stone fence? 4 They only plan to bring him down from his high position. They take pleasure in lying; they bless with their mout...  Read More

Romans 6:15-23 (HCSB)From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey —either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you ...  Read More

Romans 6:1-14 (HCSB)The New Life in Christ6 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dea...  Read More

Ephesians 6:10-24 (HCSB)Christian Warfare 10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This i...  Read More

FAITH AND FAMILYIn this section of his letter to the believers in Galatia, written during his second or third missionary journey, Paul taught believers to live in the control and influence of the Holy Spirit.Christianity should make a difference in our families and on our jobs. If it does not, others have a right to question its authenticity.Study the Word: Key Truth: Husbands and Wives Are to Imi...  Read More

QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK“Doulos” (“slave” in Eph. 6:5) is not the same as 19th century slavery. It was sort of (though not     fully) a boss-employee relationship. With that in mind – do you struggle at work either leading or being lead? Working only when seen? Do you work only for the reward, or do you see it as       honoring to Christ?  What would change if you saw it that way? The broader contex...  Read More

Deuteronomy 24:14-15(HCSB)14 “Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether one of your brothers or one of the foreigners residing within a town in your land. 15 You are to pay him his wages each day before the sun sets, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be held guilty.Cliff Bynum Throughout my life, I have found my...  Read More

Titus 3:8 (HCSB)8 This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.Cliff Bynum Have you ever had someone in your life that was right there no matter what? This person, usually not a parent, would call you out for doing something dumb, tell you to stra...  Read More

Ephesians 6:5-9 (HCSB)Slaves and Masters 5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive...  Read More

Proverbs 13:24 (HCSB)24 The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.Proverbs 19:18 (HCSB)18 Discipline your son while there is hope; don’t be intent on killing him.Cliff Bynum Parents who love their children seek diligently to apply the best and most appropriate method of discipline. In some cases that is the rod, which is appropriate punish...  Read More

Ephesians 6:1-4 (HCSB)Children and Parents 6 Children, obey your parents as you would the Lord, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. 4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.Cliff Bynu...  Read More