YOur Team

‘Those who receive… the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.’ Romans 5:17 NKJV The Bible says, ‘Those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.’ (Romans 5:17 NKJV) The righteousness that God approves and accepts comes as a ‘gift’ and it’s based on ‘grace.’ And grace means ‘unmerited, unearned, undeserved favour with God.’ Are you trying through your own efforts to earn right standing before God? Do you believe that by doing more good deeds, giving more, praying more, serving more, that God will love you more and bless you? These are all good things. Indeed, they are important things....

‘Husbands… live with your wives… in an understanding way.’ 1 Peter 3:7 CSB To have a successful marriage, you must understand that your mate is not only physically different from you but mentally and emotionally different too. Let’s say a problem arises at breakfast. After work, he has forgotten it; he compartmentalised it to focus on work. For him, it’s over, but not necessarily for her. She may have rehearsed and processed it while multitasking during the day. It hasn’t disappeared; it’s unfinished business. After work, he comes home, and there is tension. He thinks, ‘What’s the problem?’ She thinks, ‘How could he possibly forget?’ He is thinking, ‘Surely she’s not still thinking about...

‘With many similar parables Jesus spoke the Word to them, as much as they could understand.’ Mark 4:33 NIV If you’re serious about reaching and teaching people, there are two things you must try to do: (1) Talk to them, not above them. A preschooler was eating an apple. ‘Daddy,’ he asked, ‘why is my apple turning brown?’ His father explained: ‘Because after you assimilated the skin on the exterior, the core structure of the apple came into contact with the atmosphere, which caused it to oxidise, thus changing its molecular structure and transforming it into a different colour.’ After a long silence, the little boy replied, ‘Daddy, are you talking to me?’ Can the listener understand and...

‘You will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.’ 1 Peter 5:4 NKJV The fifth crown is the crown of glory. Peter wrote: ‘The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.’ (1 Peter 5:1–4 NKJV) This crown seems especially designed for pastors and Christian...

‘Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.’ Revelation 2:10 NKJV The fourth crown is the crown of life. Two different verses depict it for us. ‘Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.’ (James 1:12 NKJV) ‘Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.’ (Revelation 2:10 NKJV) David Jeremiah explains it this way: ‘The Crown of Life is given in recognition of enduring and triumphing over temptations and trials, even to the point of martyrdom. Motivated by our love for Christ, we persevere and never quit until He takes us home … Almost...

‘Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness’ 2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV The third crown mentioned in Scripture is the crown of righteousness. Paul writes: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and… also to all who have loved His appearing.’ (2 Timothy 4:7–8 NKJV) David Jeremiah amplifies this: ‘The book of 2 Timothy represents the last known writing of the apostle Paul, and we have reason to believe he was beheaded shortly after writing these words. But rather than dreading death, he was looking forward to the...

‘For what is our… crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?’ 1 Thessalonians 2:19 NKJV The second crown mentioned in Scripture is the crown of rejoicing. It’s given to those who take part in leading others to Christ. The background for this passage is written about in Acts 17, which tells the story of Paul arriving in the city of Thessalonica. He went into the synagogue, ‘and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining… that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”’ (Acts 17:2–3 NKJV) Some of his hearers were converted, including a great...

‘They do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.’ 1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV In describing our heavenly rewards, the Bible speaks of crowns. Let’s look at each and see what we can learn. The first is the victor’s crown. ‘And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.’ (1 Corinthians 9:25–27 NKJV) Paul points out that athletes who expect to win must...

‘For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.’ 1 Corinthians 6:20 NASB Columnist Ann Landers wrote: ‘Girls need to prove their love through illicit sexual relations like a moose needs a hat rack. Why not prove your love by playing leapfrog in the traffic? It’s about as safe. Clear the cobwebs out of your head! Any guy who asks you to prove your love is trying to take you for the biggest, most gullible fool who ever walked. That proving it bit is one of the… rottenest lines ever invented… Someone who loves you wants whatever is best for you. But now figure it out. He wants you to commit an immoral act, surrender your virtue, throw away your self-respect, risk...

‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.’ Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV Why does a happy, cooperative 12-year-old suddenly turn into a sullen, depressed 13-year-old? There are two powerful forces that account for some of the adolescent behaviour that drives you crazy as a parent. The first is linked to social pressures common at that age. But there is a second source of disruption. It’s related to hormonal changes that not only transform the physical body but also revolutionise how kids think. For some (not all) adolescents, human chemistry is in a state of imbalance for a few years, causing flightiness, agitation, outbursts, and even depression. This upheaval can...