Today’s passage: Acts 1:9, along with Mark 16:19 and Luke 24:50–52 Focus verse: He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:9) After Jesus gives his parting instructions to his disciples and commissions them to be his witnesses throughout the entire world, he has completed all […]
The Promised Gift of the Holy Spirit Today’s passage: Acts 1:4–5, along with Luke 24:49 Focus verse: “John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:5) After Luke concludes his introduction to the book of Acts, straightaway he shares a story about Jesus and his […]
Missionaries for Jesus Today’s passage: John 20:21–23 Focus verse: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21) Jesus again says, “Peace be with you!” He’s already said this twice (Luke 24:36 and John 20:19). And he’ll say it a fourth time to Thomas in one week (John 20:26). Jesus says this […]
Anticipating Jesus Today’s passage: Luke 24:25–27 Focus verse: Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:27) After hearing the two men tell Jesus about himself, the Savior responds. He begins with some harsh criticism. He calls them foolish and slow to […]
Don’t Be Afraid Today’s passage: Matthew 28:5–7, Mark 16:5–7, and Luke 24:4–8 Focus verse: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:6) In Matthew’s account of what happens, the angel—the one sitting on the stone—says to the women, “Don’t be afraid.” As we read throughout Scripture, this is often the […]
Present During Suffering Today’s passage: John 19:25, along with Matthew 27:55–56, Mark 15:40–41, and Luke 23:49 Focus verse: Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25) In our biblical narrative we don’t move directly from Jesus’s death to his resurrection. There’s much […]
Should We Vote to Pick Our Church Leaders? Today’s passage: Acts 1:21–26 Focus verse: “Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” (Acts 1:24–25) After Peter quotes these two passages from Psalms, he moves directly to make his point. He […]
Jesus Gives 5 Traits Believers Will Have Today’s passage: Mark 16:15–18 Focus verse: “And these signs will accompany those who believe . . .” (Mark 16:17) Mark also records Jesus’s parting remarks to his disciples. This passage is not well known. It’s mostly ignored. I don’t recall ever hearing a sermon about it. The likely reason is that […]
Focus on Jesus and Don’t Worry about Others Today’s passage: John 21:20–23 Focus verse: When Peter saw [John], he asked, “Lord, what about him?” (John 21:21) After restoring Peter into a right relationship with him, Jesus adds a cryptic line that implies Peter will die by crucifixion when he is older. This must make Peter […]
Discover How Jesus Fulfills Old Testament Prophecy Today’s passage: Luke 24:44–47 Focus verse: Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45) After Jesus appears to the disciples, Luke records additional details not found in John’s account. The risen Savior begins with a polite I-told-you-so reminder to his disciples of what […]