By Mike Peek

In 1 Corinthians 12:28, the apostle Paul gives a list of Spiritual gifts. This is the second time in the same chapter that he gives a list of gifts that come from the same spirit. Each list varies in what he mentions as gifts; therefore, one can conclude that each listing of gifts is incomplete. The apostle has a point in this list regarding the Corinthian church. They were putting a high emphasis on speaking in tongues and ignoring the gifts that edify; therefore, he begins with apostles, prophets  and teachers, and ends the list with various kinds of tongues. I have often thought about these things. What is my gifting? I am not an apostle and I do not have the gift of speaking in tongues but I do believe that I have the gift of helps first and teaching second. I cannot heal anyone but I can give help to the sick. I am not a prophet or an apostle but I can explain the writings of the prophets and the apostles. I am a Registered Nurse who felt compelled to study theology.  The...

Yesterday, a couple of monsters came by the hospital. I think that there is some truth in these funny costumes with regard to the world that we live in. Each year, in the month of October, I drive by some gruesome images displayed in some of our neighbors yards, and others put on costumes that glorify evil and death, but still  others were costumes like these that look fun and inviting. We should keep in mind that no matter how gruesome or friendly the monster looks, they are nonetheless monsters. People very in their appearance, thought, actions and words. Some are more wicked than others but all people apart from Christ are monsters no matter where they might fall morally on a scale between Hitler and Mother Teresa. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The goal is not to be like other people, even the best person that you know, but to morally like God in every way. God said of Jesus: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus is the image of the invi...

I saw a picture on the back of a woman’s phone while at church. I was so mesmerized by it, I drew out what I saw on the back of a ministry card that I keep in my wallet.  I am mesmerized by it because the three stick figures represent my life: I ran away from God’s perfect plan, repented and believed in the Lord Jesus. The imagery is so simple and yet it is so profound. I am not an artist but I can quickly doddle this symbolic message of life on the back of a card.  In addition to the three stick figures, there are three circles: The first circle represents God’s perfect plan for life. The second circle represents the broken world that we now live in and the wavy arrows represent out attempts to escape this broken world. The third circle represents the gospel of God: the eternal Son of God descended and entered this broken world becoming one of us; He died a death that He did not deserve; He rose from the dead, ascending to the righthand of God; all authority in heaven and on ...

Dear Neighbor, This morning I began to read the Acts of the Apostles. John following Luke is most confusing because Luke and Acts have the same author and were meant to go together. The New Testament is setup with the four gospels at the front, followed by the book of Acts, then the apostles letters to the churches and concludes with the Revelation of Jesus Christ; therefore, most people read the Scriptures in that order. But to read Acts after reading Luke is the way that it was originally written. Am I saying that the order in the Bible is wrong? No, that is not what I am saying at all. The Bible is a library and just like any good librarian would do, the books are put together into categories.  I also find it interesting that people read their belief’s into the text. The first Christian sermon, preached by the apostle Peter at Pentecost is a good example: In Acts 2:37-39, the men that Peter had just preached the gospel too were convicted and asked the apostles:  Brethren, w...

Dear Neighbor, In our Sunday morning bible study we discussed baptism. Our leader Shane had previously taught on the etymology of the word baptism, showing that the word means to immerse. He taught on the typology of baptism being a picture of death and resurrection. And he taught about the chronology of baptism in the scriptures and in history. He taught about other Christian beliefs about infant baptism; catholic, Lutheran and Reformed. Lastly, he went through several text of scripture refuting those views. It was after this, during corporate worship service, while sing ing hymns and praises to our Lord that I saw the picture that I included. I saw the picture on the back of a woman’s phone in the pew in front of us. I recognized it as being the three-circles method of sharing the gospel, but it was different, instead of using words, the artist used symbols to tell a story. The first circle represents the good world that God created; everyone loved God and one another. Then there is...

Dear Neighbor, It is a cool fall morning outside and I am in my study having read the word of God. I am currently reading through Luke. My first post was on June 19, 2010; therefore, I have been writing to you for over 11 years. I have gone from writing articles to writing a daily, sometimes semi-daily letter to you. I do not personally know you or know where you are but I know that you are special because if you were created in the image of God.  Life in this world can be harsh and lonely but I know that God loves us because the scripture says, even while we were yet sinning Christ died for us . Who would do that except someone who truly loves his people? And you are one of his if you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Today is the Lord’s day and what does that mean? God created all things in six days and he rested on the seventh day but we who believe in Jesus call the first day of the week the Lord’s day because it was on the first day of the week that God raised ...

Dear Neighbor, I am writing this letter as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am not a preacher, I am just a man who has read the Bible a lot. Sometime after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ I desired to go deeper and gain knowledge of the Christian faith. I looked at certificate programs because at the time, I had an Associate degree in nursing. I decided to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing so that I could attend a seminary. I decided on Midwestern Baptist theological seminary after watching a documentary about the late English Baptist pastor Charles H. Spurgeon. I started my first class in mid-march of 2016 and graduated with a masters degree in theological studies on May 3, 2019. I studied the genres in scripture and was given a hermeneutic by which to study and interpret scripture. I studied church history from the book of acts to the present age. I studied systematic theology and I studied the practical theologies of ethics, church administration, apologetics, evangelis...

Dear Neighbor, Sin separates man from God. God is righteous and just but we are neither righteous nor just. It is not a sliding scale by which we are judged but it is perfection that we must obtain, the perfection of God. Jesus said: “You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” But we are not perfect, everyone has sinned and falls short of God’s glorious standard. We cannot turn back to God because only that which is perfect can be allowed in his presence. But God rich in mercy has made a way for sinful man to be righteous in his sight. Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” God became a man in the person of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. He lived a righteous life pleasing to God. He willingly died on a cross for our sins and rose again. Because Jesus was a perfect sin sacrifice, God can be both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. There are two things that you must do; you must re...

Dear Neighbor, Jesus was transfigured on the mountain to whom Moses and Elijah appeared in glory, speaking to Jesus of his departure from this world that was to be accomplished at Jerusalem.  Peter wanted to make three sacred tents; one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. Moses represents the Law, the first five books of the Bible. Elijah represents the prophets. In a Jewish context, the prophets are not only the writings of the prophets but what we call the historical books of the Old Testament; therefore, Moses and Elijah represent the two halves of the Old Testament which was the Bible for the New Testament writers. After Peter said to Jesus: “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Luke 9:33) Peter did not realize what he was saying, for Jesus is greater than Moses or Elijah because he is the Son of God. While Peter was saying this to Jesus, a cloud began to form and overshadow them; and...

Dear Neighbor, I believe that one of the most fascinating parables that Jesus told was the parable of the sower. (cf. Luke 8:4-15) For one, it is one of the few parables that Jesus explains. Two, it explains why some follow Jesus Christ and others do not; though they may do so for a while and fall away, or may think that they are following the Lord when they are truly raped up with the things of this life. In this parable, the seed is the word of God and the soils represent the hearts of those whom the word of God is spoken too: beside the road, rocky soil, thorns, and good soil. Anyone who has done any type of planting knows that to grow a fruitful crop the soil must be prepared by the sower. It is the prepared soil that is the good soil, the good soil bears much fruit. The hard packed earth, like a road, has not been prepared by the sower. The rocky soil has not been prepared by the sower. The thorny soil has not been prepared by the sower. In fact, the word is not intended for these...

Dear Neighbor, What are the actions of a thankful person? In Luke 4:38-39, there is a very short story about Jesus’ healing of Simon’s (Peter’s) mother-in-law. Jesus had been teaching in the synagogue, and the people were amazed at his teaching because unlike the rabies, Jesus spoke with authority. After leaving the synagogue, he came into Simon’s (Peter’s) home. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever.  I do not know how Jesus came to be in Simon’s home. Did Simon (Peter) invite him or did Jesus suggest it? The text does suggest invitation because the text says that they asked Jesus to help hear. Jesus demonstrated compassion towards Simon’s (Peter’s) mother-in-law and for the household of Simon (Peter). Jesus stood over her, he rebuked the fever and it left her. If Jesus commanded that an illness or demon depart, it did what Jesus commanded. The high fever departed from Simon’s (Peter’s) mother-in-law upon Jesus rebuke of it. What does she do after the fever left he...

Dear Neighbor, This is the day that the Lord God has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps.118:24) Psalm 118 is a Psalm of Thanksgiving for the Lord’s saving grace.  Every single day is a blessing from the Lord our God. Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, makes us right in his sight. He did this through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; presenting him as the sacrifice for sin. Therefore, all are made right with God when they repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. God is just to forgive the sins of all who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom.3:23-26) Therefore, everyday is a day to rejoice and be glad because the Father God has given his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish (as the Law demands) but have eternal life in the new heaven and new earth. We should rejoice because there is no judgment against anyone who believes in Jesus. (Jn.3:16-18) It was early on the first day of the wee...

Dear Neighbor, Do you hate sin? To love sin is insanity because the wages of sin is death.  Romans 1:32: and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. Yet, everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Rom.3:23)  Why? This makes no since at all. Why do we do what is bad for us? Why do we damage our relationships and our bodies? Death and sorrow abound on the earth. I have stood over so many dying, pounding on the chest of a being created in the image of God, in a desperate attempt to keep them alive, knowing that what I am doing is in vain.  We are all slaves to sin. That is why we do what we do, but who will set us free?  Romans 7:24: Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? The answer is through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom.7:25) Jesus paid the price for our sin. He died a ...

Dear Neighbor, Jesus was the master of analogy, metaphor and hyperbole; in doing so, he would state something that had to be payed attention too. In Mark 13:37, Jesus said to the disciples: “Be on the alert!” In Mark 13:33-37, Jesus had used the metaphor of a man away on a journey who put his slaves in charge of various task in his household. These slaves had to be ready, in a moment, to receive their master home. Everything must be kept in order to receive him and the tasks that each was assigned to he must be found doing. The Lord Jesus Christ will return on a day and hour of the Father’s choosing. No man knows the day or hour. Neither the angels in heaven or even the Son of God; only the Father God knows. But that day will come and what will the Lord find you doing when he returns? In the parable, Mark 13:33-37, Jesus is the man away on a journey, and the disciples are his slaves in charge, assigned each one his task. Every christian has a job assigned him by the master of the house...

Dear Neighbor, Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; all things in heaven and on earth were made by him and for him. He is the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to God except through Jesus. Jesus taught his disciples to be humble of heart and to honor the other person. This is so contrary to our nature. It is our nature to be on top and put others down.  When I was a child, a favorite game was king of the mountain. I don’t know why, but in the area that I grew up, there always seemed to be a dirt mound. Whenever there was a dirt mound in our neighborhood, we would end up playing king of the mountain. One would stand on the top of the mountain as king and push down any that would dare to ascend. The others would try to dis-throne the king and stand on the mountain as king.  Jesus said to his disciples: “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you,...

Dear Neighbor, Who do you say Jesus is? During Jesus’ earthly ministry people said that he was John the Baptist risen from the dead, others said that He was the prophet Elijah or one of the other Old Testament prophets. Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am? Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Messiah.” (Mk.8:27-29) There are many-things that people say about Jesus today but are they true? The apostle John said in his first letter. “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.” (1Jn.4:2,3) During John’s day there was a heresy that believed that Jesus was not a man but a Spirit that manifested itself in the appearance of a man. Later in church history, men would go the opposite direction and say that Jesus was a mere man and not of God. All who are of God believe that Jesus is the God-Man; fully God and fully man in one person. He is not part God and part man but...

Dear Neighbor, What do you think about death? Jesus has promised eternal life to all who repent and believe in the gospel. In the Gospel According to Mark 1:14-15, Jesus came into the region of Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Jesus did not believe that the kingdom of God is coming but was at hand. In Mark 5 there is a story about Jesus regarding a synagogue official whose daughter was sick but before Jesus could come to her side the little girl died. The people told her father to let the teacher go, for it was hopeless, the little girl was dead. However, to Jesus, the little girl was not dead but only asleep. He commanded that she get up, she got up and began to walk. Then Jesus told those who stood in amazement that they should give her something to eat. Death is not a permanent state but only a period between lying down and getting up, just like when one goes to bed at nigh...

Dear Neighbor, My words cannot save anyone, yet the Lord commanded that the disciples go make disciples of all the nations. Baptizing the new disciples in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teaching the new disciples to observe all that Jesus had commanded them. And Jesus promised to be with them always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20) If I can encourage you to do anything, may it be that I encourage you to read the Bible because it is the Word of God and the Holy Spirit that saves. Yesterday, I listened to Shane espouse the typology of baptism (cf. Romans 6:3 & Colossians 2:12) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. And the etymology of the word baptize. In other words; what is the picture that baptism is displaying and what does the word baptize mean. The picture is death, burial and resurrection, and ...

There are three Greek words used in the New Testament, together they give us understanding. The three Greek words are: μετανοέω metanoeō: which means to think differently or reconsider. μεταμέλομαι metamelomai: this word implies feeling of remorse; therefore, it is a change of heart. μετάνοια metanoia: the context in which this word is used implies a change of course. μετανοέω metanoeō and μετάνοια metanoia are used of John the Baptist in his preaching saying: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt.3:2) and “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Mt.3:8) μεταμέλομαι metamelomai is used of Jesus in the Parable of Two Sons. (Matthew 21:29,32) The first son said that he would not go to work in the vineyard as his father asked, but he regretted it, he had a change of heart, and went. True repentance is a change of mind, a change of heart and a change of action. Many people change there mind but there heart is not in it. Many people have a change of heart but there m...

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples about the scribes and the Pharisees. In first century Judaism, these had sat themselves in the place of honor. God had called Moses but He did not call the scribes or the Pharisees. The scribes and the Pharisees not only taught what the Scripture said but added to the Word of God. They made laws so heavy and so burdensome that it was impossible for they people to carry them. Everything that the scribes and the Pharisees did was to be noticed by men. It was for their own honor that they did the things that they did. Recently I attended a banquet in the community that I live in and there were those who had the place of honor at the banquet. I do not know the hearts of these men to know if they loved the place of honor, or if they are truly humble of heart. It is the seeking of honor among men that Jesus speaks against the scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus teaches the crowds but more so His disciples; do not be called teacher, for One is your ...

The Lord He is God. He created heaven and earth and all that is in them. He created what is seen with the eye and what is unseen. He created our inward parts and knitted us together in our mother’s womb. We were hidden but then revealed at birth. A true disciple becomes like his teacher. The Lord Jesus Christ sustained the weary one with a word; therefore, His disciples sustain the weary one with a word. Isaiah is an interesting book and interpretation has been difficult for some. Who is the servant of the Lord? Isaiah, like all of the Old Testament books must be interpreted through the lens of the New Testament. The servant of the Lord is the Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples. The Lord awakens His disciples morning by morning. It is the Lord who gives to His disciples ears to listen as disciples. Jesus Christ is the disciple of the Lord and He is the Lord. God taught Him as a man and He is God in human flesh.  It is the Lord who awakens me morning by morning. It is the Lord who ...