“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (

As illustrated by Solomon and a few other kings, it is possible to start life dedicated to God and end it distracted by false gods and wrong priorities. Even the kings of God’s own people were not immune to the lure of self-centered desires and false gods.

This book gives wonderful advice on putting perspective on life’s bumps and bruises. The Christian life brings suffering, pain and even persecution. Yet the believer never suffers alone. The presence of Christ Jesus brings joy even in the midst of suffering. Read Philippians to see some of the many ways God shows himself faithful in hard times.

Paul wrote this letter to a young church set in the heart of a pagan society. Ephesus was a thriving commercial center, but in order for the church to thrive, its members needed to know how to live, how to stand apart as different and yet still be able to influence their society.

Verse to Remember: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (

Paul covers a broad spectrum of conduct and relationships, for every part of our life is a part of our calling. He tells us to be imitators of God, a task that would be impossible except for one thing: We are not alone. We have the Spirit in our inner being, and we have the protection of the full armor of God. It’s up to us, however, to use what we

Corinth was a wealthy and prosperous center of commerce and trade when Paul wrote this letter. Morally, however, it was bankrupt. The term Corinthian came to be synonymous with immorality. And there, in the center of this immoral society, was a young Christian church struggling to survive.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (