The Christian Message

  JOHN 1 :43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip , and saith unto him, Follow me.  God knew where Philip was 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida , the city of Andrew and Peter.   What do we know about Bethesda?  45 Philip findeth Nathanael , and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.   Philip had to find Nathanael   46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.   Was Nathanael response wrong? It doesn't matter where you come from God sees you there. You are not too small for God God tends to use small things from Small beginnings Philip has a great answer Great example of discipleship  Philip didn't use another of words, just come and see 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!   J esus sa...

  Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on Daniel, found in his book Be Resolute (Daniel): Determining to Go God's Direction , provides practical and theological insights into the text, emphasizing God’s sovereignty and the dangers of pride. Below is a summary of Wiersbe’s commentary on Daniel 4:28–35, based on his approach in the Be series, which focuses on biblical theology, practical application, and accessible exegesis for lay readers. amazon.com amazon.com Context of Daniel 4:28–35 Daniel 4 recounts King Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling experience, where his pride leads to divine judgment. In verses 28–35, the narrative describes the fulfillment of God’s warning through Daniel’s interpretation of the king’s dream: Nebuchadnezzar’s pride results in a period of insanity, living like a beast, until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty. Wiersbe’s Commentary on Daniel 4:28–35 The Fulfillment of God’s Warning (vv. 28–30) : Wiersbe notes that Nebuchadnezzar had been warned by Daniel to repent and...

  Colossians 3:1–11: Heaven on Earth Warren W. Wiersbe’s commentary on Colossians 3, found in his book Be Complete (Colossians): Become the Whole Person God Intends You to Be , part of his "Be" series, provides a practical and accessible exposition of the chapter, emphasizing the supremacy of Christ and its implications for Christian living. Wiersbe, known for his clear, concise, and application-oriented approach, divides his commentary on Colossians 3 into two main sections: "Heaven on Earth" (Colossians 3:1–11) and "All Dressed Up and Someplace to Go" (Colossians 3:12–17) , with additional comments on Christian households (Colossians 3:18–4:1) . Below is a summary of his key insights on Colossians 3, based on available information from his works.amazon.comamazon.comeverand.com Colossians 3:1–11: Heaven on Earth Wiersbe emphasizes that Paul’s exhortation in Colossians 3:1–4 to "seek the things that are above" and "set your minds on things ...

 What does it mean to “contend for the faith”? The Greek word is an athletic term that gives us our English word, agonize. It is the picture of a devoted athlete, competing in the Greek games and stretching his nerves and muscles to do his very best to win. You never fight the Lord’s battles from a rocking chair or a soft bed! Both the soldier and the athlete must concentrate on doing their best and giving their all. There must also be teamwork, believers working together to attack and defeat the enemy. Sometimes you hear well-meaning people say, “Well, it’s fine to contend for the faith, but don’t be so contentious!” While it is true that some of God’s soldiers have been the cause of quarrels and divisions, it is also true that some of them have paid a great price to defend the faith. As Christian soldiers, we must not fight each other or go around looking for trouble. But when the banner of Christ is in danger of being taken by the enemy, we cannot sit idly by, nor can we ever ho...

  Warren Wiersbe, in his Be Dynamic commentary on the book of Acts, offers insightful reflections on Acts 16:6-15, which recounts the Apostle Paul's journey through Macedonia, including the conversion of Lydia and the spread of the gospel. Below is a summary of his commentary on these verses: Acts 16:6-10 – Guided by the Holy Spirit Wiersbe emphasizes that Paul and his companions were led by the Holy Spirit throughout their journey . They were directed to avoid certain regions, such as Asia and Bithynia, which would seem like logical places to spread the gospel, but the Spirit had other plans.  Wiersbe underscores that God’s leading is often not clear to us in the moment but is revealed progressively as we move forward in faith. At Troas, Paul was called to Macedonia by a man whom he saw in a night vision. Paul was quick to respond to the vision (compare Acts 26:19). Paul and his team were sensitive to the Spirit’s guidance, and they waited until the vision from God (the Mace...

Calling Sinners to Repentance  Lesson Text: Mark 2:13-17  Related Scriptures: Matthew 9:9-13; John 1:35-51; I Corinthians 6:9-11  TIME: A.D. 28 PLACE: Capernaum  GOLDEN TEXT—“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17).  Introduction   Mark presents Jesus as the Servant who was always doing good things for others . The key verse of this book is thought by some to be Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” The first part of this verse is explained by all the book preceding it, and the last part is explained by what follows. This pivotal verse takes us from Jesus’ ministry to His sacrificial death on the cross. Jesus’ compassion compelled Him to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of those around Him. As He moved through...