Highlight Verse 7 is one of the first verses I ever memorized. The command “do not fear” is the most common command in Scripture, and this verse has always been a powerful reminder to me that the Holy Spirit’s presence within me means that I do not ever have to be afraid. But verse 8 is equally as important because Paul indicates how that power is to be leveraged: to walk knowingly into a life of suffering and trials for the sake of the Gospel. Here Paul establishes the call of Christianity as a chain of following the examples set before us, a chain with links that lead all the way back to Jesus. Timothy is to follow Paul’s example of being willing to suffer for the Gospel and not be ashamed of his teacher even though he is in prison. Timothy should do that because Paul did that, being willing to suffer for the Gospel and not be ashamed of his teacher, Jesus, even though he was shamefully crucified. And why did Jesus choose to suffer? “For the joy set before him He endured the cross, scorning its shame…” (Hebrews 12:2) That same joy, namely the power of salvation and the hope of being with our Lord forever, should lead us to be willing to scorn any shame or pain that may come from faithfully following our Lord.  Read More

Welcome Welcome to Week 5 of the 2023 Christmas with Compassion Reading Plan. This reading plan is designed to partner with Compassion Christian Church’s sermon series of the same name, which you can find information about right here. This is a special week at Compassion where we welcome a guest speaker named Bob Russell. It’s a special week because it is always a privilege to learn from a man who has led a faithful and fruitful life. Pastor Bob’s own discipleship has inspired the short book of the Bible we will read through this week: 2 Timothy.   Read More

Highlight While the Apostle John is in exile he receives a series of visions and images that he puts into letters to encourage and challenge the seven churches of his day. These letters are what comprise the Book of Revelation. In Chapter 12 John recounts the Gospel story from the perspective of Heaven. The woman represents the people of God and the child represents the Messiah. The dragon represents Satan and the spiritual forces of Evil who are defeated by the Messiah and cast to Earth where they attack God’s people to this day.   Read More

Highlight Yesterday we heard the writer of John try to explain the ‘how’ of the Messiah. Here, Paul, tells us the ‘why’. The Gospel hinges on these facts. Our sin separated us from God because He is Holy and blameless. God did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Jesus came from heaven to live among us and pay the price required for our sin so that we too would be blameless before him and could return to dwell with Him forever.  Read More

Highlight The deity of Christ and the humanity of Christ are difficult to comprehend. Jesus, fully man, yet fully God. Not just a prophet, or messenger of God, like John. The creator of the universe, who chose to submit Himself to the very nature He created. It’s difficult to wrap our minds around. You can almost sense the writer’s quandary here. How can he possibly explain something so supernatural, so wonder-ful? And yet we must, with the power of the Holy Spirit, grasp this ultimate truth.  Read More

Highlight You might be wondering, ‘how do you lose a 12 year old child for a whole day without noticing?’ Well, there were 3 annual festivals when Jews who were able would have made the journey to Jerusalem (Exodus 23:14-17). The detail of Jesus being 12 years old at the time is an important one. Luke is telling us that he was at the age when every Jewish boy would have made this journey to undergo a course of religious training including fasting and public worship. Whole villages would have made this journey together including all the families with boys aged 12-13. For safety and company they would have traveled together and no doubt the boys would have been off playing or talking and eating with other members of their family or community. Mary and Joseph would not have had reason to worry or look for Jesus until he never showed back up that evening.  Read More