Category: What do you think?

Becoming a New Creation in Christ

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FLOYD ROGERS

Paul spoke of being “crucified with Christ,” meaning his old life was gone, and he now lived a new one through Jesus. He explained that when a person follows Christ, they become a new creation, no longer controlled by their past ways. The Spirit of God now lives within them, offering strength to resist sin.

Paul believed that as long as he stayed firmly rooted in faith, depending on what Jesus did on the cross, sin might still attempt to tempt him, but it would not win. His victory came not from personal strength, but from trusting in the power of the cross each day.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Making Difficult Choices in Discipleship

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JEFF TURNER

The call to follow Jesus has always been serious, often asking people to make difficult choices. In Luke 9, Jesus invites a man to follow Him. The man responds by asking to first go and bury his father. At first glance, this seems like a reasonable request. But when we look deeper, we see something else happening.

In this situation, the man’s father was not yet dead. What he truly meant was that he wanted to stay home until his father eventually passed away, so he could receive his inheritance. Only after securing his future wealth would he be ready to follow Jesus.

Jesus’s reply was firm: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:60). This was not a denial of grief or family duties. Instead, it was a clear message about the urgency and seriousness of discipleship. When Jesus calls, it requires immediate action and full trust that He will take care of the rest.

Following Christ means placing Him first, above personal plans and material security. It calls for faith that God will provide when we choose to obey Him completely.

But [a]seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.

Matthew 6:33

Exploring God’s Mercy in Healing Stories

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AMY TURNER

The Bible tells us of a remarkable healing that unfolds differently than others. In Mark 8:24, a blind man is brought to Jesus in the town of Bethsaida. Rather than healing him immediately in front of the crowd, Jesus takes the man outside the village to a quieter place. There, Jesus uses an unusual method — placing spit on the man’s eyes — and asks what he can see.

The man responds that he sees people, but they look like trees walking around. His sight had begun to return, but it wasn’t yet clear. Then Jesus places his hands on the man’s eyes a second time, and his vision is fully restored.

I think this shows us how God’s help can come in stages if it serve’s God’s plan for us. It wasn’t that Jesus failed the first time, but rather that the healing was done progressively. Why? The Bible doesn’t tell us. Perhaps to meet the man’s personal need or to teach a lesson about patience and trust in God’s timing. Not every answer to prayer arrives instantly, yet every step is an expression of mercy.

The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end,
For His compassions do not fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Teaching Kids About God’s Work

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FLOYD ROGERS

Teaching children about God’s work in people’s lives is an important responsibility for every believer. A meaningful way to do this is by exploring stories from the Old Testament together. Parents and guardians can guide young people through the lives of figures like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Daniel, David, Joseph, and Joshua. These stories show how God acted in their situations, offering lessons about trust, obedience, and faith.

Spiritual growth does not happen by staying comfortable. God allows challenges and trials in order to strengthen faith and deepen understanding. No matter where someone is in their walk with God, they can expect their commitment to be tested. These tests are not meant to harm, but to help people learn more about themselves and about God’s nature.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Why Hell Matters

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JEFF TURNER

Today, many people in churches avoid talking about hell, or they argue about whether it even exists. Some claim the Bible’s words about hell are just symbolic, not meant to be taken literally. But Scripture gives clear warnings, and one important example comes from Matthew 25:41, where Jesus says, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

This verse directly shows that hell is not a temporary place or a one-time event where souls simply vanish. The word “eternal” here means it lasts forever. Some people suggest the wicked will be destroyed in a single moment and cease to exist, but Jesus taught otherwise. He described hell as a fire that never dies out and a punishment without end.

It’s also important to realise that Jesus spoke about hell more than anyone else in the Bible, making it clear that it is a real, eternal consequence for rejecting God.

These people will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

2 Thessalonians 1:9