(The following is the August 23 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Galatians 5 and pay close attention to verses 24-26.) When pondering the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, we often stop with verse 23. However, what follows is equally important: “Now those …
Book Review: “The Pilgrim’s Progress: Legacy Edition” by John Bunyan
I reviewed John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress in 2013, having just finished reading an edition in the original 1678 language. I have read the book several times over many decades and enjoy reading from a variety of editions, just as I enjoy reading through the Bible using different translations or study Bibles. I purchased a …
Continue reading Book Review: “The Pilgrim’s Progress: Legacy Edition” by John Bunyan
Works of the Flesh vs. Fruit of the Spirit
(The following is the August 22 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Galatians 5 and pay close attention to verses 16-23.) Few Bible lists contrast with each other as clearly as those in Galatians 5, comparing works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. We should carefully consider both, …
I Appreciate Hymns the Older I Get
For those of us raised in church, if we've been around for many years, we've heard the old, familiar hymns countless times. We can sing multiple verses of many hymns from memory. We know the tunes, if not all the words, to many more. Hymnals still frequently fill the pew racks in churches, even if …
A Snapshot of a Healthy Church
(The following is the August 16 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 2 Corinthians 13 and pay close attention to verses 11-13.) Paul spent much time with the Corinthian church in person and via correspondence. As a high-maintenance congregation with many troubles and strained interactions with Paul, the relationship between him …
