Power of the Gospel Monday–Power of the Gospel “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1) We all like to be chosen. It may have been the thrill that rushed through our body when we were chosen to be on a dodgeball team […]
Author: Kevin Ruffcorn
Devotions on Acts 13:1-3, 14:8-18–Paul and Barnabas
Paul and Barnabas Acts 13:1-3, 14:8-18 Monday–Paul and Barnabas “Now at the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabus, Simeon, who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul” (Acts 13:1). One of the favorite songs of the Sunday school that I attended […]
Devotions on Acts 10:1-17, 34-35–God Shows No Partiality
s God Shows No Partiality Acts 10:1-17, 34-35 Monday–God Shows No Partiality “He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God” (Acts 10:2). A video recently went viral. It showed a teenage boy on a New York sidewalk. It was […]
Book Review: Singleness and Marriage
Singleness and Marriage Singleness and Marriage after Christendom, Lina Toth (Cascade, Eugene, 2021) Congregations have long acknowledged they have a problem when it comes to Singles Ministries. The Christian Church has become the haven of couples and families. Women also make up a significant percentage of congregants. These demographics don’t mirror those of society where […]
Devotions on Matthew 28:16-20–Go and Make Disciples
Go and Make Disciples Matthew 28:16-20 Monday–Go and Make Disciples “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them? (Matthew 28:16). Those of us who live in democracies are somewhat spoiled. We get to elect representatives who we think will vote in a way consistent with our values. […]
Book Review: The Standard
The Standard The Standard: Discovering Jesus as the Standard for Masculinity, Josh Khachadourian (Self-published, Khachadourian, 2020) Which came first, the chicken or the egg? This is the question that popped into my mind when I picked up Josh Khachadourian’s self-improvement manual for men entitled, The Standard: Discovering Jesus as the Standard for Masculinity.” Has Khachadourian […]
Devotions on Matthew 28:1-10–Empty Tomb
Empty Tomb Monday–Empty Tomb “After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, went to see the tomb” (Matthew 28:1). The neighbor’s barking dog woke Juanita from a fitful night’s sleep. She did not want to get up. The memory of burying her husband of thirty-seven […]
Book Review: Long Story Short
Long Story Short Long Story Short: Dwelling in the Good News of the Great Story, Dillon T. Thornton (Wipf and Stock, Eugene, 2022) Dillon Thornton’s title to his book, Long Story Short: Dwelling in the Good News of the Great Story, grabbed my attention. In his introduction he outlines his goal, “I will tell the […]
“Post Truth,” A Book Review
Post Truth? Facts and Faithfulness, Jeffrey Dudiak (Wipf and Stock, Eugene, 2022) Life had been so simple. We knew what truth was, and if we didn’t, we knew where to find it. There were natural laws and the Holy Scriptures to guide us. People in authority; parents, teachers, the police and the clergy, we believed, […]
Matthew 21:1-17, The Triumphant Entry
, The Triumphant Entry Devotions on Matthew 21:1-13 Monday–The Triumphant Entry “Go into the village ahead of you and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her, untie them and bring them to me” (Matthew 21:3). Ten year-old Nathan slid the patio door of his Phoenix home open and stepped onto […]