Nathan Whitley's Blog, page 35
November 27, 2017
Top Ten Books of 2017
As 2017 draws to a climax it is time for a review of my top books from the year. Its difficult for me to cull down my list to just ten books, because I’ve read several outstanding works this year. Not all of the books were published in 2017, its just that I’ve read them this year. Either way, these are some of the books that had a great impact on me in 2017.
Reading the Bible Supernaturally by John Piper. Last year my number one book was Piper’s A Peculiar Glory, which was the first installm...
God’s Plan for Redemption Lesson Three
Key Verses:
Hebrews 11:6–7 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this...
November 15, 2017
The Friend
A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17)
Friendship is an important topic in Scripture. Abraham was considered the friend of God (Isa. 41:8; Jam. 2:23). The Lord spoke with Moses face to face as friends would (Ex. 33:11). David and Jonathan were very close friends (1 Sam. 18:1-4). Jesus considered the disciples to be His friends (Jn. 15:15). Jesus’ enemies reviled Him because he was friends to publicans and sinners (Mt. 11:19).
Young men need to know the value of friendship. The wise man...
November 14, 2017
Two Gates and Two Paths
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew 7:13–14).
Towards the end of His Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives his listeners two gates (or doors), and two ways that they can enter. The choice is laid out before his audience, and they are to choose which gate to walk through.
The two gates lead to two ways. The...
November 8, 2017
Dependent Sheep, Wise Serpents and Harmless Doves
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).
Jesus never shied away from telling His disciples of the dangers they were going to face as His ambassadors. Such realities would happen after Christ’s resurrection and ascension. They faced devils and sicknesses when they were sent out two by two during Jesus’ earthly ministry. (Mk. 6:7-13). But after Pentecost the disciples were going to be faced with new opposition an...
November 5, 2017
God’s Plan for Redemption Lesson Two
Key Verses:
Genesis 3:6–7 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened...
November 4, 2017
The Fool
Proverbs was written to give wisdom and instruction (Pro. 1:1-7). The proverbs that were compiled into this amazing book were written so that its readers would become wise, and skillful in living. To reject the teaching of wisdom and instruction in this book is to be a fool: “fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Pro. 1:7).
The FoolThe book of Proverbs uses the words fool, fools, and foolish at least sixty-nine times in the English Standard Version. However, the foolish man theme is found i...
