Author: Bible Community Church

BCC Vision 2026 – Selected Scriptures

Part 1: Mighty in Word and Worship

Every United States president captures their vision in a short, powerful slogan to project their policies and shape the nation. From Roosevelt’s promise of happy days to Reagan’s “Morning in America” and the more recent call by President Trump to “Make America Great Again”, these slogans provide direction. While the church does not need a mere slogan, a vision is helpful to know the direction of our labor and how we work together. The vision for this church is to be mighty in four areas: Word, Worship, Prayer, and Evangelism,.

Proverbs 29:18 warns that where there is no vision, the people are out of control. Like the Israelites in the time of Judges, “Doing whatever is right in their own eyes”. Vision in the church is not a matter of personal inspiration or special dreams, but God’s revelation through His Word. In the book of Acts, the early church prioritized the Word and prayer, risked their lives to worship, and shared the gospel across every boundary to make disciples. To be mighty does not mean possessing superhero powers but being simply faithful, biblical, and truthful according to what the Bible says.

Mighty in God’s Word

There is a significant difference between Word using Christians and Word centered Christians. Word using Christians treat the Bible as a tool or a proof text to support their own arguments and reasoning, rather than accepting it as the final authority. To a Word centered Christian, the Bible is a supernatural book that breathes out the Word of God to those who love and obey it. Being a Christian means being liberated from blindness to see that the Word of God is the greatest gift given to man.

A Word centered Christian is a believer whose life, faith, and obedience are shaped and governed by the Word of God rather than feelings, culture, or human logic. As Martin Luther noted, a layman with the Scriptures is more powerful than a Pope without them. The Word centered Christian realizes that the Bible is what they need most. When Jesus spoke hard truths and the crowds left Him, Peter remained because he recognized that Jesus alone had the words of eternal life (John 6:68).

The Word of God must dwell in the believer richly, serving as a lamp in the darkness (Psalms 119:105) and a source of delight day and night (Psalm 1:2-3). Even the apostle Paul, while imprisoned in a Roman prison awaiting potential execution, sought the parchments because he needed the Word of God until the very end (2 Timothy 4:13). William Tyndale similarly requested a Hebrew dictionary while facing death, proving that men of faith never let go of the Book.

The Word is the chosen instrument to create, convict, convert, and conform God’s people. It is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, and capable of judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart where no human psychology can reach (Hebrews 4:12). When it comes to the Bible, a common challenge for the Christian is familiarity, which often dulls wonder. The prayer of the believer must always be for God to open their eyes to see wonderful things in His law (Psalms 119:18). “Whether you’ve been anchored in the Scriptures for fifty years or fifty days, our prayer remains the same: that God would open our eyes, so that we may behold wonderful things from His Word” – Abner Chou.

Main Point II: Mighty in Worship

Worship is giving God the honor, love, and reverence He deserves; it is the heart’s response to who God is. If the heart is not planted in the Word, worship becomes poor, weak, or even wicked. Weak worship is shallow and routine, focusing on style and emotion rather than substance. Wicked worship is false and artificial, much like Nadab and Abihu who brought strange fire and ignored God’s regulation.

True worshippers are those with whom God dwells, like Joseph and Moses. In the New Testament, we have Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus is not a homeboy; He is the Holy God who spoke frequently of eternal judgment. True worship happens in Spirit and truth because the Holy Spirit has made the believer’s spirit alive to God. This results in a hunger for the Word. True worshippers have a deep inner peace that does not depend on circumstances and can worship God in all circumstances.

Ten points about worship:

  • Do you fear God? More than your circumstances?
  • Do you have a humble heart? (Luke 18:13)
  • Do you have faith in the Lord? Worship is an act of trust. (Hebrews 11:6)
  • Do you love God with all your heart and mind? Is God first in all areas of your life?
  • Do you live your life before God?
  • Do you get sincere with God?
  • Do you thank God?
  • Do you live with repentance? Isaiah 66:2 contrite spirit
    • Repentance is brokenness. The end of self rule. All christians are broken. Brokenness is not striving against God but resting in Christ
  • Are you joyful? Joy is the natural fruit of true worship
  • Do you live holy? – this is the most critical. God says, “Be holy for I am holy.” Worship is only possible for those in Christ. He made us holy.
    • Sanctification must happen to those who are in Christ. It means dying to self and living for Christ.

The ultimate purpose of worship is transformation and sanctification. Worship is the charging station where the believer is filled up to live a sanctified life. Through the Word and the Spirit, we are placed in God’s refinery of worship to be changed into the likeness of Christ. After we worship, the test is whether we love God more, obey Him more, and resemble Christ more in our daily lives. We must be mighty in God’s Word so that we may truly be mighty in our worship.

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How to Be Successful in the Lord – 1 Samuel 13:8-14

In today’s text, Pastor Paul’s aim is to demonstrate how the redeemed are to live successfully before the Lord. The passage focuses on King Saul, a man who appeared to be at the height of worldly success. He was admired by the people, and although he reigned for more than forty years, his life ended in misery, resentment, and failure. Despite a promising beginning and an outwardly successful future, Saul ultimately proved unsuccessful—both by worldly standards and in the eyes of the Lord. At the heart of his downfall was a critical deficiency in character. Biblical success is defined not by external achievement, but by full surrender to the Lord, growth in Christlikeness, and faithful stewardship of the gifts God has given.

Saul’s failure is rooted in his refusal to obey God. The key to true success lies in dependence on and obedience to the Lord, who alone grants success. In verse 9, Saul personally offered the burnt and peace offerings instead of waiting the full seven days as Samuel had commanded him (1 Sam. 10:8). He acted prematurely because the people were scattering and he feared the impending battle. However, only priests were permitted to offer sacrifices before the Lord. Saul therefore violated both God’s law and God’s word delivered through Samuel. His actions revealed that he did not abide in the Lord. Christians must continually be reminded of the necessity of abiding in the Lord in order to live in obedience to His word.

Biblical obedience flows from love and is a relational, Spirit-empowered response to God. It results in a life that brings glory to Him. Yet, as Saul’s example shows, even believers can misunderstand true obedience. Saul’s misunderstanding is reflected in several common errors. First, obedience does not earn God’s love; rather, God’s love precedes and produces obedience. His love was decisively demonstrated at the cross and is the foundation—not the reward—of obedience. Second, legalistic obedience driven by fear or pride seeks self-approval and human acceptance. Third, misunderstanding the relationship with God leads to a performance-based faith, resulting in forced service rather than joyful obedience. Fourth, partial obedience is not genuine obedience. Saul likely believed that partial compliance could be counted as full obedience.

This truth is clearly expressed in 1 Samuel 15:22: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” God desires a surrendered heart. Delayed or partial obedience is ultimately disobedience. Although believers are imperfect, God looks for a willing and responsive heart that desires wholehearted obedience.

Samuel confronts Saul for failing to wait the full seven days and for choosing his own way, which led to disobedience (v. 10). Saul’s actions revealed his misunderstanding of obedience according to God’s standards. Obedience expresses the condition of the heart; genuine salvation is evidenced through obedience. God is concerned not merely with religious activity, but with whether His people trust and follow Him. Obedience also reflects trust in the Lord, acknowledging that God’s timing and methods are always best. Furthermore, obedience is essential for the believer because it is the means through which God’s blessings are experienced. Disobedience disconnects us from our true source of life, which is Christ Jesus.

This principle is affirmed in Deuteronomy 28:1: “If you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, being careful to do all His commandments… Yahweh your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.” Obedience is the natural byproduct of a living relationship with the Lord. Because the Holy Spirit dwells within believers, Christians desire to obey, and through obedience, the Spirit comforts and strengthens them through life’s trials.

Saul’s response to Samuel was to shift blame, claiming that Samuel arrived late and that the people were scattering in fear. This tendency to rationalize and justify disobedience is also common among Christians. Saul’s obedience was hindered by several fears. He feared people, as the soldiers were deserting him. He was impatient, allowing anxiety to override trust in God’s timing. Impatience often replaces faith with impulsive action, choosing short-term relief over long-term faithfulness. Saul also relied on himself rather than God, demonstrating self-sufficiency and denying God’s authority. Finally, pride led Saul to elevate his own judgment above God’s word, rendering him spiritually blind and deaf to divine instruction.

Loving the world also hinders obedience (1 Jn. 2:15). The world trains the heart toward disobedience by prioritizing immediate gratification and self-rule, both of which contradict Scripture. Worldliness shifts authority from God to self and conceals unconfessed sin in the heart. As 1 John 1:6 states, “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” Confession is a gracious gift from the Father to His children. Worldliness also leads to foolish and presumptuous behavior—not intellectual foolishness, but moral and spiritual folly—by choosing what is temporary over what is eternal.

For Christians, the world should be viewed as a wilderness. Just as the Israelites wandered for forty years in what should have been a three-day journey due to disobedience, believers risk prolonged spiritual barrenness when they fail to obey. The pursuit of joy, peace, and righteousness in Christ enables believers to live lives marked by obedience.

Unchecked disobedience eventually leads to a hardened heart. One of the most dangerous spiritual conditions is not open rebellion, but silence from God. When disobedience hardens the heart and God’s presence seems absent, believers must remember that God remains gracious and willing to forgive and restore those who turn back to Him.

Christians are called to faithfulness and obedience, yet many live joyless lives because of disobedience. True joy and peace are found in becoming people after God’s own heart. God desires hearts that prioritize His will above self-will. David exemplified this posture by depending on God, seeking His presence, glorifying Him, and worshiping Him above all else.

Believers can apply this description of David to their own lives by setting their primary goal as knowing who God is, rather than focusing on what He can provide. They must pursue full, not partial, obedience, allowing the Spirit’s conviction to lead to faithful action. Dependence on God should be expressed through prayer and seeking His will before acting. Finally, believers must persevere through life’s challenges by trusting in the Lord.

Although Saul’s reign appeared successful at its outset, it was not the life of redeemed success God desires. David provides a better example, yet even he failed despite his love for God. Ultimately, neither Saul nor David is the perfect model of obedience. Jesus Christ alone is the supreme example. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that Christ sympathizes with our weaknesses, having been tempted in every way, yet without sin. Hebrews 5:7–8 further teaches that Jesus learned obedience through suffering.

True success is not found in outward achievement or partial obedience, but in wholehearted surrender to God. Saul’s failure points us to our need for Jesus Christ, the perfectly obedient Son who fulfilled God’s will on our behalf and secured our salvation through the cross. Because we are saved by grace, we are now empowered by the Spirit to obey from love rather than fear. Therefore, let us turn from self-reliance and trust fully in Christ, living lives of joyful, faithful obedience that bring glory to God.

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Do All Things for God’s Glory – 1 Corinthians 10:31

The overarching command for the Christian life is found in the conclusion to the apostle Paul’s instructions regarding the Corinthian church conflict over meat sacrificed to idols. While mature Christians understood that idols were nothing, they were called to limit their own freedom for the sake of the weak to build them up and prioritize the honor of the Lord. We should view our resolutions not as temporary goals but as ongoing eternal resolutions. Whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we are commanded to do all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). To live for anything else is sin, for sin is fundamentally failing to live for the glory of God.

The glory of God refers to His splendor, reputation, and infinite perfection manifested visibly. In Hebrew, the word Kavod (כָּבוֹד) signifies weight or worth, while the Greek doxa (δόξα) implies honor and brilliance. God is glorious by nature regardless of whether anyone recognizes it. In the Old Testament, the departure of God’s glory was viewed as a spiritual catastrophe, exemplified by the woman who named her son Ichabod because the ark of the covenant was captured (1 Samuel 4:21). We cannot truly live without the presence of Immanuel, which means God with us.

Today’s church often feels boring or powerless because it has lost interest in seeking the glory of God while remaining too busy with the world. The glory of God is actually a threat to the self-seeking nature of fallen man. In the scriptures, whenever people encountered the true glory of God, they feared they would perish. When the apostle John saw the glorified Jesus, he fell at His feet as though he were dead (Revelation 1:17). We also see the danger of failing to give God praise in the account of Herod, who was struck down because he did not give glory to God (Acts 12:21-23).

We glorify God even in the smallest actions, such as receiving a cup of coffee with thanksgiving and gratitude. True contentment acknowledges that God is enough, recognizing that He provides the strength and the desire even for simple daily pleasures. This practice extends to our suffering as well. Glorifying God in pain does not mean calling evil good or suppressing our tears. Instead, it means trusting Him even when He feels silent (Job 13:15) and knowing His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Like Jesus in Gethsemane, we must submit our will to the Father (Luke 22:42). When we display Christlike character under pressure, we witness to the world that Christ is enough.

Jesus is the ultimate model of a life lived for God’s glory, as He did nothing by Himself but lived in total dependence on the Father (John 5:19). He revealed the Father perfectly (John 1:18) and sought only the Father’s will (John 4:34). Our salvation is designed so that Jesus alone is glorified, for we are saved by grace and not by our own works (Ephesians 2:8-9). True believers will have a continual desire to be holy and separate for Christ. They would abide in Christ and love Christ for He is with them and know they are loved by Him (John 14:23). To love Him is to obey His word, as the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit (John 15:8).

We cannot fulfill this command through self-discipline, which often glorifies the self and leads to legalism. Instead, we must live in total dependence on the Word and the Holy Spirit. Even Jesus offered prayers with fervent cries and tears (Hebrews 5:7). The modern church has lost its tears, so we must cry out in repentance over our sins and weaknesses. By abiding in Christ and surrendering daily, we align ourselves with His Word and allow God to do what pleases Him through us.

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Damning Spiritual Wickedness – Luke 16:16-18

In Luke 16, Jesus gives a serious indictment of the Pharisees. While they appeared righteous on the outside, Jesus, who knows the heart, exposes their true spiritual deadness. Our current passage leads directly to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, warning us that those who appear “nice” but remain spiritually wicked will face eternal damnation.

Spiritual Blindness

Spiritual wickedness is not just an outward moral failing; it is evil that operates in the realm of faith, worship, and authority. It is the willful corruption of what is holy, often masquerading as righteousness. The Pharisees would argue over the minutiae of the Sabbath as a pretense of righteousness while they would challenge Jesus, the Lord of Sabbath. Spiritual wickedness is sin against God. Like Eli’s sons who “did not know Yahweh” despite being priests and committed horrible sins in the name of God, spiritual wickedness is a sin primarily against God rather than man (1 Sam 2:12, 25). This wickedness leads to spiritual blindness, where one can no longer recognize the truth of God’s Word or the person of Jesus Christ.

The “Law and the Prophets” refers to the entire Old Testament. The Law means the books of Moses and the Prophets means the rest of the books in the Old Testament. All of them, starting in Genesis, tell of the coming Messiah. They could not see the role of God’s word and the role of John the Baptist and ultimately could not recognize Jesus ChristThe Pharisees spent their lives studying these scriptures, yet they missed the “real thing” standing before them.

  • The Old Testament is not inferior; it is God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16). God used human authors like musical instruments to play His melody.
  • From Moses (Deut 18:15) to Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6-7), the scriptures clearly pointed to Jesus.
  • Even today, we can be spiritually blind if our Bibles gather dust or if we lack “spiritual perception”. We must tremble at the Word (Isaiah 66:1-2) rather than treating it as a common or familiar thing.

Spiritual Insensitivity: Failure to repent 

John the Baptist served as the bridge between the old and new eras. His role was to prepare the way for Jesus by calling people to repentance. John the Baptist cannot be separated from Jesus Christ. The Law shows us our sin and weakness, and John the Baptist points us to the Lamb of God who takes away that sin. The Pharisees hated John’s message because the spiritually blind hate to repent; they think they are already pure based on their own self-righteousness. Do you know your heart condition? How wicked and sinful you are? If you really knew, there is nothing you can do but repentance in Jesus. The wicked are blind to this desperate need. They think they can be blessed without repentance.

Spiritual Arrogance

From the beginning (Genesis 3:15), the good news of Jesus has been provided. The promise was given to Eve that her offspring would defeat the serpent. This promise is proclaimed loudly and clearly all through the Old Testament. It is impossible to miss the good news. The Kingdom of God is “good news” because Jesus is a righteous and life-giving King. It is good news because the Kingdom is not just a political entity; it is a “family business” where we are co-heirs with Christ. However the Pharisees’ kingdom was political. They had their own kingdom, separate from the Kingdom of God. They could not get into God’s kingdom because they were not willing to repent. No one in hell will say, I tried so hard to get saved by Jesus but it didn’t happen. It is because you refused to repent. (Matthew 3:2)

The Cure to Spiritual Blindness 

For the non Christian, you are spiritually blind if your salvation and Jesus is not the most urgent need in your life. Psalm 90:3 says your life is fragile and temporary. Today must be the day of salvation. For the Christian, if your transformation and godly character are not your priority then you might be spiritually blind. We need signs of love and growing holiness and mortifying sin. The cure is the same. Repentance

How do we know if we are no longer blind? We find ourselves “forcing” our way into the Kingdom (Luke 16:16).

  • Holy Zeal: This is not salvation by works, but a “pressing hard” with intensity and determination. It is the mark of someone who sees the light and pursues it like a person lost at sea rowing toward a lighthouse.
  • Pressing On: Like the Apostle Paul, we must reach forward and “press on toward the goal” (Phil 3:13-14).

Jesus loves us and He shed his blood for us. He showed His love for us. We must reciprocate that love with our passionate pursuit of Him. If you claim to see but do not strive, your sin remains. We must acknowledge our blindness, turn from our self-righteousness, and desperately pursue Christ through repentance and faith.

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One of the Worst Sins, Part 3 – Luke 16:15

God sees and knows every human heart. Nothing is hidden from Him. Jesus speaks in this passage about the inner person—the heart—which God examines fully. As He exposed the hearts of the Pharisees, so He knows ours.

The idolatrous heart is detestable in the sight of God.
The heart is the center of thought, desire, and moral decision-making. It reflects who we truly are and how we respond to God. God’s knowledge of the heart goes beyond outward behavior to inner motives and intentions. We cannot conceal our hearts from Him.

What does God do with man’s heart?

  • He exposes what is within it.
  • He breaks the heart (mind and will) through suffering, frustration, circumstances, and failure.
  • He purifies and renews the heart through new life in Christ.

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

For believers, this truth is comforting. God knows our weaknesses and invites us to approach Him humbly for grace, comfort, and peace.
“A bruised reed he will not break…” (Isaiah 42:3).

Yet Scripture also teaches that evil flows from the human heart.
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts…” (Mark 7:21–23).

The Bible describes hearts that are hardened, divided, proud, or unbelieving. The greatest barrier to spiritual growth is not merely sin, but an unwilling heart. A spiritually dead heart requires God’s intervention and renewal.

Jeremiah 17:9 declares:
“The heart is deceitful above all things and extremely sick…”

Because the human heart is deceitful, people cannot fully understand themselves. Unbelief and hypocrisy grow from this self-deception. Only the Holy Spirit can convict, lead to repentance, and bring saving faith in Christ.

Modern culture encourages people to “follow your heart,” but Scripture warns that this leads to destruction. Apart from God, the heart cannot be healed. Only the light of the gospel reveals the true human condition.

Jesus, the true Light, exposes the heart and brings salvation to those who receive Him (John 1:9–12). He revealed the Pharisees’ idolatry—they loved money and power more than God.

“To be free of idols you must live with God…” (J. Douma).

The proud heart is detestable in the sight of God.
The Pharisees were not only idolaters but also proud. Pride places self on the throne rather than God. All sinners possess pride because God is not central in their lives.

Even believers can harbor subtle pride, often revealed through anxiety, discontentment, frustration, or a victim mentality. This mindset resists correction and avoids repentance. Pride is especially offensive to God because it is a vertical sin against Him and damages all relationships. Scripture records God’s severe judgment against the proud (Acts 12:22–23).

Believers must remain vigilant, for “a proud heart is Satan’s throne” (Charles Bridges). Pride separates people from God, as seen in Adam, Eve, and Moses. Pride relies on self and rejects God’s word.

Jesus Christ is the supreme example of humility.
“Have this way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3, 5).

Pride is destroyed only through union with Christ. When the old self is crucified, Christ reigns in the heart. Humility marks those who truly abide in Him.

The Pharisees refused to die to self and were therefore an abomination to God. This warning remains true today. We must examine our lives for idolatry and pride and repent.

Let us ask whether idolatry or pride characterizes our daily lives. If so, may we repent and walk humbly before our Lord.

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One of the Worst Sins, Part 2 – Luke 16:14-15

We sin every day, but we usually only count the sins that are made in the sight of man. We must remember that sin is always committed in the sight of God. While all sin is sin, not all sin is equal. Scripture clearly distinguishes between sin in ignorance and intentional sin. God considers motivation, impact, and their heart of rebellion when evaluating sin. (John 19:11). In our text, we see some of the worst sins.

The Love of Money

Money is a tool, but when you love money, it is an abomination. The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (1 Tim 6:10). When money is loved, it replaces love for God, leading to idolatry. The love of money motivates sinful behavior, creates spiritual blindness, and aligns our hearts with worldly values instead of Godly virtues. You cannot serve God and money together.

Unbelief

Unbelief is demonstrated by scoffing, turning up the nose, and holding Jesus in contempt. Even with Christ’s miracles, great teaching, and genuine character, those who practice unbelief refuse to believe. This refusal stems from a corrupted heart—morally ruined, spiritually diseased, and possessing a darkened mind. Unbelief is the suppression of the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-19). Healing from this deep corruption requires God’s regeneration and new life, revealed through the Holy Spirit’s correction and rebuke.

Undenied Self

The third severe sin is the outcome of the undenied self. Self is the root of human problems; it is the source of pride, self-seeking, and rebellion, ruling our hearts and decisions apart from God. Inside, we are all born full of robbery and wickedness (Luke 11:39).

Self-justification is when a person defends their own actions and motives instead of acknowledging their mistakes. In a spiritual sense, this practice is extremely dangerous because it:

  • Prevents Repentance: It keeps us busy defending the self, leading to no confession of sin.
  • Hardens the Heart: It blinds us to spiritual reality, causing repeated sin without remorse.
  • Blocks Grace: Self-justification makes one proud and unable to receive the grace offered through Christ (Luke 23:39).
  • Opposes Christ: It is the ultimate rebellion, denying the cross and rejecting the grace of Jesus. Self-justification claims we do not need Christ, who alone is the antidote for sin (Galatians 2:21).

We must embrace being crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). This is not physical death but the daily, spiritual mortification of the self. It means surrendering self-centered pride, letting Christ’s life govern our actions, and yielding to God’s will over self-control. We live by faith, trusting Jesus who died for us. A Christian should obey before understanding. That doesn’t mean we don’t understand but we obey even if we don’t understand.

Seeking Human Approval

This is another worst sin we practice often. Seeking human approval means valuing the praise, acceptance, and recognition of people more than what is God-honoring. The Pharisees were trapped in this sin, seeking to justify themselves “in the sight of man” (Luke 16:15). They seek popularity and attention (Matthew 23:5).

Seeking human approval is devastating because it:

  • Replaces God: It is a form of idolatry, replacing our loyalty to God with loyalty to people.
  • Produces Hypocrisy: It corrupts motives, turning worship into performance and sincerity into showmanship (Matthew 6:1-2, 5).
  • Suppresses Obedience: Fear of man’s disapproval leads to silence regarding the truth and the rejection of God’s will.

A key cause of people-pleasing is a lack of fear of God. When people look strong, and God seems weak, the fear of man becomes a snare.

Cure for Human Approval: We must find our identity in Christ. Your worth is rooted in being loved and adopted by Him. We must grow in the fear of God, knowing He judges perfectly, seeing the inside, while man only sees the outside. Make it your daily aim to please God, because pleasing people leads only to slavery. We are called to live for eternal evaluation.

Remember, we are all God’s kingdom priests. The work of salvation is finished by Jesus. There is no room for self. We are called to seek His kingdom and His righteousness, defeating these worst sins by choosing simply to trust and obey Him every day.

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One of the Worst Sins – Luke 16:14-15

In today’s passage, Jesus shifts His focus from the disciples to the Pharisees. The Pharisees, the religious leaders of Israel, appeared outwardly righteous but were inwardly marked by hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matt. 23:28). John MacArthur issues a sober warning about those who outwardly seem devoted to God but inwardly oppose Him: “It is a paradoxical truth that those who are the most dangerous enemies of God are not the ones who openly oppose Him, but rather those who outwardly appear the most devoted to Him… Apostate Judaism and false Christianity, along with all their deceiving teachers, are haters of divine truth and of God.” This is not only a warning about false religion but also a caution to Christians, who can fall into the same temptations—particularly the lure of wealth—which gives rise to hypocrisy. Jesus exposes two of the worst sins produced by false religion, both prominently displayed by the Pharisees.

The first great sin is the Pharisees’ love of money and love of self (v. 14; 2 Tim. 3:2). Jesus had just taught, “No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and wealth” (v. 13). The Pharisees were “lovers of money.” False religion elevates the self to the place of God, and money becomes the means of glorifying the self before others. Since the fall, false religion has been unable to address the brokenness of the human heart. In contrast, true faith demands self-denial, crucifying the flesh, and following Christ (Matt. 16:23). The dividing line is faith.

The Pharisees boasted about their religiosity and wealth, believing that material prosperity proved God’s favor. Scripture teaches the opposite: true blessing comes from saving faith, which produces a transformed life and peace with God. Wealth has no connection to genuine divine blessing.

Loving money is among the gravest sins because it becomes an idol that competes with God for the heart. It often leads to moral corruption—greed, deceit, injustice—and hardens the soul against righteousness. Money itself is not sinful, but the love of it leads to spiritual blindness and lawlessness. Judas Iscariot is a vivid example: though he heard Jesus’ teaching daily for years, his love for money prevented true repentance and faith. Scripture warns soberly, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10).

What are some signs that we love money?
– When money, rather than God, determines our decisions.
– Anxiety or fear when finances are threatened; loss of peace when income fluctuates.
– Difficulty giving generously or sacrificially; resentment toward those who have more.
– Finding identity or pride in financial success.
– Compromising integrity for financial gain.
– Constant preoccupation with money, leaving little room for God.
– Treating people differently based on wealth.
– Neglecting spiritual growth because of busyness or worldly concerns.

When money displaces God in the heart, it becomes one of the greatest spiritual dangers, blocking God’s work within us. Warren Wiersbe writes, “They professed to trust God, but they measured life by wealth and possessions… Far too many professed Christians today are making the same mistake. With their lips they honor the Lord, but with their wealth they live like the world.”

Money is merely a tool—given to meet our needs and to advance God’s kingdom. Living this way acknowledges Christ’s kingship and keeps us under His rule rather than living apart from it. We must cultivate contentment: “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment… If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (1 Tim. 6:6–8).

A Christian’s life is also marked by serving God and storing up treasures in heaven. Our hope is fixed on our eternal home, and we should regularly reflect on it. A believer rejects sordid gain and trusts in God’s provision. Because we are not orphans, our confidence must rest fully in our Father. Guarding our hearts against the love of money is essential for living a simple, God-centered life.

The second great sin is unbelief, expressed in rejecting Jesus Christ. The Pharisees listened to Jesus—not to believe but to accuse and destroy. After hearing His teachings on money, they scoffed at Him. This is the nature of unbelief: sinners refuse to come to Christ for life (John 5:40).

The Pharisees rejected Jesus for several reasons:
– They despised Him because He was a Galilean.
– They viewed His teachings as foolish and impractical.
– They felt threatened because He challenged their authority and placed Scripture above their oral traditions.
– He exposed their secret love of money.

Even today, unbelief does not stem from a lack of evidence but from a moral refusal to submit to Christ. People reject Him because their hearts are self-reliant and attached to other loves. Every unbeliever treasures something above God. Christians, too, must guard against the drift toward unbelief. Many believers subtly resist Christ’s commands, thinking they are too radical or meant only for a select few. We often assume Jesus’ warnings apply to others but not to ourselves. The love of money and the desire for earthly comfort can make us defensive and spiritually dull. Are we living primarily for this present life rather than for our eternal home?

Hear the Lord’s rebuke:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot… Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and pitiable and poor and blind and naked” (Rev. 3:15–17).

And His invitation:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20).

Most people profess love for Jesus with their lips while their hearts cling to something else. In America, especially, the love of money often prevents Christ from being Lord over one’s life.

Unbelief is not mere ignorance; it is a deliberate rejection of Jesus Christ. We cannot place Him on the margins of our lives. He must dwell at the center. If He does not abide in our hearts, we must repent without delay. Tragically, so many Christians lose their spiritual effectiveness because of their idols. Let us stop pretending to love Christ, for He knows our hearts.

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Thanksgiving On Board – Acts 27:33-38

We turn to the book of Acts, where we find the Apostle Paul in a dire situation. He is on an Alexandrian ship caught in a violent wind known as the Euraquilo. These sailors, who were experienced and strong, had exhausted every effort to save themselves. After many days fighting the storm, they were wet, tired, hungry, and suffering from low morale, fearing they would run aground on hidden rocks and be lost to the sea. Yet, in the middle of this terrible situation, where there was no hope, Apostle Paul gave thanks to God.

To a non-believer, this behavior is impossible. How can one give thanks on a sinking ship while facing imminent death? But Christians are called to be distinct. Christians may be known for many things, but one thing we should always be known for is thankfulness. From the earliest days of the church, the world observed Christians being somber or sorrowful, but at the same time also thankful, even at funerals. This is not pretending or showing off, but it is a genuine response of thanksgiving to God who is with us and who has saved us. Christians are thankful for Jesus Christ, who is their Lord and graciously provides eternal life. We have the greatest reason to be thankful in every circumstance, and it is Jesus. But the disappointing reality is that we forget; therefore, we are not thankful at all times.

Thanksgiving is not merely a response to favorable circumstances; it is an act of faith. It is anchored in who God is, not our situation or our emotions. He is Yahweh. No one else is the object of our faith but God. And God is with you.

  • God is Sovereign: Everything happens according to God’s will, even the storms in our lives. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, He works all things for the good of those who love Him.
  • God is Good: Even when the journey is difficult and seems unfair, God is infinitely wise. As A.W. Pink noted, God’s goodness is behind every difficult situation. He gave us eternal life through His Son (Romans 8:32)—if He did not spare His own Son, what greater evidence of goodness do we need? We have the greatest gift in Jesus. God’s goodness is not sentimental, but moral and faithful.
  • God is Faithful: Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”  (Philippians 1:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:3). We can depend on Him because He has never failed us in the past, and we know He will be faithful now.

Attributes of Thanksgiving

1. It is a Sacrifice:  Paul had sacrificed his whole life to serve the Lord, and look at where it ended up. He could have pitied himself. Instead, Paul gave thanks to God. His thanksgiving was based on faith, not on his emotions.  Apostle Paul gave thanks as his sacrifice, resisting his feelings and fears. 

2. It is a Hidden Work of God: When Paul gave thanks, the spiritual atmosphere of the ship shifted. The text tells us, “All of them became cheerful and they themselves also took food.” Paul’s private act of thanksgiving became a public blessing, turning the crew’s despair into cheer. Just as King Jehoshaphat saw victory through worship (2 Chronicles 20:21-22), thanksgiving opens the door to God’s blessing, not just for us, but for everyone around us.

3. It is a Privilege: Of the 276 people on that boat, only Paul could truly give thanks because only he knew the Father personally. Christians are not slaves to fear or but they are able to see God’s grace. Christians know God personally. This is a unique privilege available only to the believer. We have access to the throne of grace and the Holy of Holies. Thanksgiving is the means of drawing near to the presence of God.

4. It is a Testimony: Paul gave thanks “in the presence of all.” A Christian thanking God in a crisis is a powerful testimony to the world. Apostle Paul’s act of thanksgiving encouraged everyone else on the boat. This kind of thanksgiving leads to gospel moments, just as Paul and Silas’s praise in prison led the jailer to seek them out, “What must I do to be saved?” The jailer desired the powerful salvation he had witnessed in the Apostle Paul.

5. It is for Small Things: Apostle Paul gave thanks for a simple piece of bread. Often, our prayer lives are poor because we are waiting for massive miracles while ignoring daily mercies. If we learn to be thankful for the small things daily, our spiritual lives will become vibrant and resilient. Jesus was also thankful for the small things

6. Thanksgiving is possible everywhere: Paul was thankful on a sinking and dying ship. This was not a cruise ship. He was thankful regardless of his situation and circumstances. Daniel thanked God in a lion’s den. Moses thanked God in the wilderness. The believer is able to give thanks anywhere. 

How to be thankful when life is painful?

It is not natural to be thankful when we are in pain. How do believers maintain this posture when life falls apart? We do not give thanks for the pain, but in the pain (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Pain may hide God’s goodness from our eyes, but it does not cancel it. We need to be more thoughtful. We not only see the pain but also see God who is working. Satan is always whispering doubts, asking, “Does God care?” We must answer by remembering God’s character and meditating on His attributes. Pain becomes the seed of God’s blessing when we trust Him through it.

  • Remember what God has done. The Lord has always been faithful; therefore, He will be faithful again. 
  • Thank God for His presence more than His outcomes.  Many Christians have testified in their suffering: “My situation did not change, but God changed me”. 
  • Out pray your trials. No matter what, we keep praying, we keep giving thanks, and the Lord will bless you.
  • We must anchor our hope in eternity. Even if suffering lasts a lifetime, it is brief in light of eternity and will not follow us into heaven. God is just, and His justice will one day make all things right. Therefore, our hope is in Jesus Christ, who is alive today and is our “Immanuel”—God with us—forever.

“Better than I deserve.” What a response to a typical “How are you?” In light of God’s grace, we are always doing better than we deserve. As Apostle Paul declares, we are who we are by the grace of God. Therefore, Christians have no reason to be downcast. Jesus showed us his might, love, and grace on the cross and in His resurrection. In His salvation, we live on with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not just our duty but our desire to honor Jesus who died for us and gave us life in Him.

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You Can’t Serve God and Money – Luke 16:13

In the world of sports, many athletes excel, but only a few have played multiple sports at a high level—figures such as Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders come to mind. Even they, however, were not dominant in both sports equally. This illustrates an important truth: it is impossible to be great at two things simultaneously. Jesus uses this very point when He teaches that no one can serve two masters—specifically, God and wealth. A Christian cannot faithfully or equally serve both. One will always take precedence over the other. Some believers may think they can manage both loyalties, but history proves that every attempt has ended in failure.

When Jesus declares that “no servant” can serve two masters, He means that such divided service is utterly impossible. To serve is to reveal our treasure and where our heart truly rests (Matt. 6:21). Service expresses what we act upon, what directs our decisions, and ultimately what becomes our god or idol. The two masters Jesus describes have fundamentally different purposes and ways. Therefore, a loyal servant cannot faithfully serve both.

Jesus gives clear reasons why divided service cannot exist. First, service requires undivided devotion. There is no room for divided loyalty because wholehearted commitment is necessary for true obedience. God does not compromise on this. As Jesus explains, one will love one master and hate the other. God commands us to love Him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27). He requires the same devotion when He tells the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions in order to follow Him (Luke 18:22). Jesus makes it clear that discipleship demands complete devotion—even to the point of hating one’s own life in comparison (Luke 14:26).

Serving wealth is an insult to the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture distinguishes between loving money and serving it. Loving money reveals our interest in it; serving money means obeying it, shaping our lives around it, and allowing it to dictate our actions. Those who serve money may honor God with their lips but serve another master in their hearts. Their devotion is misplaced, revealing a rebellious spirit. Jesus warns us against attempting to serve both masters because, in practice, either God will be elevated in our lives or money will be. Wealth is meant to serve us—not to rule us—and it must be used for God’s glory.

At the beginning of verse 13, Jesus speaks vaguely of “no servant,” but by the end He addresses His disciples directly: “you cannot.” This is a command to obey God and avoid the sin of serving money. Ultimately, our loyalty must belong to God alone. To serve money is idolatry.

Even Christians may fall into idolatry when money becomes their highest priority. When this happens, money—not God—rules the heart. We must ask ourselves: is our first thought each morning to earn more money, or to glorify God? We must resist the lie that money can offer lasting security, comfort, or happiness. More often, it brings sorrow and destruction. When our emotions are driven by greed, fear, and covetousness, wealth has become an idol. John Calvin once wrote, “Where riches hold the dominion of the heart, God has lost His authority.”

Ten diagnostic questions reveal whether money has become our master:

  1. Does money influence your decisions more than prayer does?
  2. Do you feel more anxiety about finances than trust in God’s provision?
  3. Do you struggle to give generously because you feel you “can’t afford it”?
  4. Do you think about money more often than God?
  5. Do you avoid obeying God when obedience may affect your income or comfort?
  6. Do you find identity in what you earn or own?
  7. Do you envy others’ income, lifestyle, or possessions?
  8. Do unexpected expenses provoke fear or irritation?
  9. Do you neglect time with God because you are busy pursuing financial goals?
  10. Would losing money trouble you more than losing intimacy with God?

These questions serve as early warning signs of a heart drifting toward idolatry. As J.C. Ryle warns, “We may love money without having it, just as we may have money without loving it. It is an evil that works very deceitfully… Once let it get the mastery, and it will harden, palsy, sear, freeze, blight, and wither our souls. It overthrew an apostle of Christ; let us take heed that it does not overthrow us. One leak may sink a ship; one unmortified sin may ruin a soul.”

How can we avoid idolizing money?

  1. Recognize that money is a tool for God’s glory.
    The amount we earn is not what matters most. What matters is how we use what God has entrusted to us—whether little or much. Prayer reminds us of our dependence on God and His provision.
  2. Remember that God owns everything.
    We are stewards of His possessions, not owners. When we truly grasp this, we freely use our resources for His purposes.
  3. Cultivate contentment.
    Loving God over money produces genuine contentment. To place our contentment in wealth is spiritual death. Only when we surrender everything to God does He shape us into vessels useful for His work.
    Jerry Bridges describes discontentment as questioning the goodness of God. In contrast, the contented believer rests in God’s provision and grace, finding satisfaction that greed and envy never provide.
  4. Practice generous giving.
    Giving is an expression of true life. Generosity flows from understanding that all we have belongs to God and that we were created for good works (Eph. 2:10). God’s sufficient grace enables us to give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7–8).
    As Charles Spurgeon said, “Giving is true having.”
    Biblical giving is self-sacrificial and unconcerned with the amount. True generosity gives—and forgets.

Whatever our financial circumstances, we must remember that Jesus is our Rescuer. In Him, we find rest, and in Him, our deepest hunger and thirst are satisfied. We must serve Christ as our only master. Although the temptation to serve money is real, we can resist because Christ has loved us and demonstrated His love through His life and death.

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Faithful Stewardship – Luke 16:10-12

Heaven is the place where believers will ultimately enter and be rewarded for their stewardship (2 Tim. 4:7–8). One of the most frequently overlooked commands is the call to be a faithful steward. Although salvation is guaranteed for the believer, heavenly reward can be minimal—or even lost. Our desire as Christians should be to enter heaven and receive the full reward of faithfulness. For that reason, Jesus emphasizes the essential quality of a faithful steward: character.

Character matters—especially regarding how we handle financial and spiritual responsibilities. Biblical character is Christlike character: living out God’s truth from the inside out. It is a life oriented toward God and righteousness. Jesus teaches that the character of stewardship is tested by God, particularly in relation to heavenly rewards.

In Luke 16:10, Jesus underscores faithfulness as a defining biblical characteristic. To be faithful is to be trustworthy. He states that “whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much.” This principle is widely understood as a universal maxim. But why does faithfulness in small matters matter so greatly? Because consistent faithfulness in the small things reveals a heart that can be trusted with greater responsibility.

In this context, the “very little” refers specifically to money. God uses our stewardship of money as a litmus test of our loyalty to Him. How, then, can we demonstrate faithfulness with our finances?

  • By being thoughtful and intentional
  • By maintaining a God-centered, not self-centered, mindset
  • By being eternally minded rather than earthly focused
  • By setting our thoughts on heavenly reward

Money may seem like a small matter in comparison with eternal spiritual truths, yet Jesus calls it “little” precisely to show that if we cannot be faithful with something so temporary, we cannot be trusted with “much,” meaning greater spiritual responsibilities. Joseph’s life illustrates this principle: after proving faithful in ordinary, humble tasks, God elevated him to a position of authority second only to Pharaoh.

The life of William Colgate—founder of the Colgate company—offers a modern example. Colgate, a Baptist and church deacon, gave faithfully when he earned little, and as his income grew, he continued to increase his giving. He did not view a percentage of his income as God’s portion and the remainder as his own. Rather, he recognized that everything he possessed belonged to God. His financial success did not change his faithfulness because he had been faithful with little.

In contrast, Jesus warns that “the one who is unrighteous in a very little is also unrighteous in much.” If believers cannot be trusted to use earthly, unrighteous wealth for God’s purposes, why would God entrust them with true riches (v. 11)? Money is considered “unrighteous” because it belongs to a fallen world and is often used for selfish gain. The world’s system is driven by greed, injustice, and the love of money, which fuels sin and destruction. Christians, too, can fall into unfaithfulness—as seen in the life of Lot (2 Pet. 2:8)—but such unfaithfulness must not remain. A believer may misuse money for a season, but faithful stewardship should be the direction of spiritual growth.

What, then, are the “true riches” Jesus refers to? These are eternal blessings—spiritual wealth and heavenly reward. John Gill describes them as works that “will follow [believers], and will be found to praise, and honor, and glory, and will be graciously rewarded by Christ at His appearing and kingdom.”

In verse 12, Jesus teaches that what we have—ultimately God’s possession—is entrusted to us to manage faithfully. This verse also implies that while our salvation is secure, our eternal rewards are not. Scripture warns believers not to lose what they have worked for:

  • “Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward” (2 John 1:8).
  • “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to his work” (Rev. 22:12).

What keeps Christians from caring about heavenly reward?

  • Ignoring or denying God’s ownership of all things
  • Unfaithfulness with resources
  • Love for the world
  • Misunderstanding stewardship as merely financial, rather than spiritual
  • Failing to see earthly money as a test of eternal faithfulness

Salvation is not the end of the Christian journey. Stewardship is a means of sanctification—evidence of a life being transformed into Christlikeness.

John MacArthur questioned it pointedly:

“Do you think God is going to reward you in eternity if you have frittered and wasted your opportunity, your stewardship? You can buy yourself endless junk and trinkets and creature comforts and earthly possessions… and when you come into the presence of the Lord do you expect Him to give you the true riches… that eternal reward that comes to those that are faithful?”

Jesus taught:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:19–20).

The world seeks honor and applause for accomplishments, sacrifice, and success. But God calls His people to something different—to honor Him through faithful stewardship of His resources. A Christian of true character surrenders not only their heart but also their wallet to Christ. Giving may feel like loss, yet in the eyes of Christ, it is gain. Scripture tells us that giving is better than receiving because it aligns us with God’s heart of generosity and yields eternal reward.

May we, then, serve the Lord with faithfulness and live as wise stewards of all He has entrusted to us.

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