Summary A profitable Christian life blesses others through teaching, testimony, care, and generosity. Faith is not meant to be spiritually unproductive. Paul modeled a life that taught truth, lived it authentically, shared the gospel, and gave sacrificially. God brings the results, but believers must feed on His Word, serve people, and give freely. True faith profits others and honors God. Don’t Be a Non-Profit Christian I saw a sign in a restaurant. “This is a non-profit org

Summary Living faith requires both belief and action. While God declares people righteous by faith alone, genuine faith never stands alone. It transforms character and conduct. Mere knowledge about God cannot save, as even demons believe. True faith loves God and others, meets real needs, and expresses itself through obedience. Abraham and Rahab show that authentic faith is proven by works that flow from trust in God. Faith and Works Work Together You cannot row a boat in a

Summary Christians often disagree on “gray areas” where Scripture is silent. God grants freedom in these matters but forbids judgment, pride, or contempt. Strong and weak believers must accept one another, remembering that Christ alone is Lord and Judge. Motivation matters more than behavior. Each believer must follow conscience under Christ’s lordship, pursue unity in essentials, liberty in nonessentials, and love in all things. Unity in Gray Areas Scripture does not speak a

Summary Christians are citizens of both heaven and earth and must respect government authority as God’s design for order and justice. Romans 13 teaches that governing powers, even imperfect ones, serve God’s purposes. Submission honors God and preserves conscience. While obedience is the norm, resistance may be justified when the government abandons its role of rewarding good and restraining evil. Living under God means respecting lawful authority. Christians and Government A

Summary Romans 11 reveals God’s mysterious plan for Israel and the Gentiles. Israel’s blindness is partial and temporary, lasting until the full number of Gentiles comes to faith. God will ultimately fulfill His covenant promises to Israel, expanding a faithful remnant into a redeemed people. His wisdom is unsearchable, His mercy universal, and all things exist from Him, through Him, and for His glory. God's Plan for Israel and the Gentiles We cannot fully comprehend God’s pa

Summary Romans 11 shows that God has not abandoned Israel. A faithful remnant, chosen by grace, has always existed. Israel’s rejection of the gospel opened salvation to Gentiles, but their stumbling is not final. Gentiles are grafted into God’s family tree and must remain humble and faithful. One day, Israel will be restored through faith in their Messiah, revealing God’s enduring mercy and faithfulness. God Does Not Abandon His People My mother died when I was seven. I felt

Summarize Romans 16 reveals the power of the Christian community. Believers grow stronger when they rely on God and one another. Paul modeled friendship, encouragement, and gratitude toward fellow workers in Christ. Churches thrive when warmth, love, and relationships replace rivalry and distance. By affirming hard workers, teachers, peacemakers, and bold witnesses, believers strengthen unity, deepen influence, and help others grow in faith and obedience. We Need Help to Grow

Summary Romans 16 presents a blueprint for a healthy Christian community. Believers grow stronger when they depend on God and one another. Paul valued friendships, expressed gratitude, and encouraged unity among diverse believers. Churches thrive on warmth, love, and relational closeness. By intentionally encouraging faithful workers, teachers, peacemakers, and bold witnesses, Christians strengthen unity, expand influence, and help others grow toward maturity in Christ. We Gr

Summary Christians influence others through their example, especially in gray areas of faith. Paul teaches that love must limit freedom to prevent weaker believers from stumbling. Acting against conscience leads to spiritual harm. Rather than insisting on personal liberty, believers should pursue righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Choosing love over rights builds unity, strengthens faith, and helps others grow toward spiritual maturity. Our Lives Influence Othe

Summary Before using spiritual gifts, believers need a heart check. Pride, either inflating or diminishing self-worth, damages unity and ministry. God calls Christians to humility, recognizing diverse gifts within one body. Romans 12 describes gifts such as serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, mercy, and prophecy. These are God’s tools, given to build others up. Our purpose is not self-promotion but faithfully using what God provides to complete our assignments. S

Summary Paul urges believers to stop escaping reality and live fully in the present. Christians should pay their debts, except the ongoing debt of love, which fulfills God’s law. He calls believers to wake up spiritually, clean up sinful behaviors, and grow up by putting on Christ. Living with Christ’s return in mind brings alertness, discipline, obedience, and a life that visibly reflects Jesus every day. Living Fully in the Present We devise countless ways to escape reality

Summary Romans 12 shows what God’s love looks like in everyday life. It is sincere, humble, and actively committed to good. It remains spiritually passionate through prayer and hope, shares life deeply with others, and practices true hospitality. God’s love forgives enemies, seeks peace, and repays evil with kindness. Lived out by God’s grace, this love transforms relationships and powerfully reflects Christ to the world. God's Love in Action A concert pianist coaxes beautifu

Summary The abundant life Jesus promises flows from Him alone. It requires dying to the old, sin-centered life and living daily as a living sacrifice. True worship involves offering our bodies and renewing our minds according to God’s Word. When believers treat sin as dead, obey Christ, and resist worldly thinking, they experience genuine spiritual vitality, a life fully surrendered to God in heart, mind, and action. Living the Abundant Life Living the abundant life Jesus pro

Summary Modern authenticity promotes honesty about our messes, but Scripture says our problem is deeper than personal struggle. Romans 3 reveals humanity’s brokenness apart from Christ. Jesus calls us not only to confess but to repent and believe. True authenticity is becoming who God created us to be through His grace. By God’s power, believers move beyond glorifying their messes to living transformed lives that honor God and bless others. The Appeal and Limits of “Being You

Summary Jehovah’s Witnesses differ from biblical Christianity on essential doctrines. Scripture teaches one God in three persons, the full deity and physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the personhood of the Holy Spirit. The Bible also rejects salvation by rule-keeping, affirming grace through faith alone. These differences show that Jehovah’s Witness beliefs contradict core Christian teachings about God, Christ, the Spirit, and salvation. Why Jehovah's Witnesses Are No

Summary The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches doctrines that differ fundamentally from biblical Christianity. Scripture presents one eternal God in three persons, salvation by grace through faith, and Jesus Christ as fully God who atoned for sin completely. LDS doctrine denies the Trinity, redefines Christ, adds works and progression to salvation, and elevates extra-biblical authorities. Though moral and sincere, LDS beliefs contradict core Christian teachin

Summary Many Americans, including professing Christians, pursue self-fulfillment by prioritizing personal desires and rejecting God’s authority. This inward focus replaces truth with preference and turns self-fulfillment into an idol. Jesus exposes the flaw, calling disciples to deny themselves and follow Him. Living for self forfeits the soul and fails to satisfy. True life is found not in “me first,” but in surrender to God’s purpose and truth. America’s Pursuit of Self Mos

Summary “Living the dream” promises fulfillment but rarely delivers lasting satisfaction. Personal dreams often become idols that distract us from God’s purposes and the good works He prepared for us. Life is not self-centered but God-centered. Jesus calls us to seek God’s kingdom first, not our own agendas. True contentment and an abundant life are found only in God, not in achieving personal dreams. The Allure of “Living the Dream” Before track practice started, I asked a f

Summary The prosperity gospel falsely teaches that God rewards stronger faith with health and wealth. It misinterprets biblical promises, shifts focus from God to His gifts, distorts giving, denies the role of suffering, and treats faith as a tool to manipulate God. Scripture teaches spiritual blessing, self-denial, and submission to God’s will, not material gain as proof of faith. What's Wrong with the Prosperity Gospel Prosperity gospel preachers insist God wants believers

Summary A healthy Christian faith naturally produces good works, including social justice, just as a healthy plant produces fruit. However, prioritizing social justice over making disciples distorts the gospel. Scripture calls believers to act justly and love the needy, but salvation comes only through grace in Christ. Social justice matters, but fulfilling the Great Commission must remain the church’s highest priority. Healthy Faith Produces Real Fruit A well-fed and watered