Wayne Stiles's Blog, page 20
October 16, 2019
Jesus Wants 3 Kinds of Fruit in Your Life [Podcast]
Mark 11:1-26
Jesus is looking for fruit. No, not apples and oranges— but fruit in our lives. In fact, He wants to find 3 kinds of fruit in your life.
In this episode of Live the Bible, we see the Triumphal Entry of Jesus as He begins the Passion Week. As Christians, bearing fruit for God is essential. Thankfully, Jesus shows us how.
Each of these 3 kinds of fruit are related to each other, and the good news is, when Jesus looks in our lives, He brings His grace along.
Listen to the Podcast No...
October 14, 2019
How You Walk on the Appian Way Each Day
Paul's walk into Rome mirrors our journey through life.
Often roads get built for one reason, but God uses them in our lives for another altogether. The Appian Way of Rome proved it so in the life of the Apostle Paul. I walked the road recently.
(Photo: Walking the Appian Way)
The Roman official Appius Claudius took the initiative to build a road in 312 BC as a means of transporting troops and supplies to and from Rome. In time, the road took his name and helped secure a Roman victory in the...
October 9, 2019
What Do You Want From God? [Podcast]
Mark 10:32-52
If Jesus were to ask you what you’d like Him to do for you, how would you answer? What an opportunity! Jesus actually asked the question twice—and got two totally different responses.
In this episode of Live the Bible, we’ll learn which response Jesus applauded. What exactly should we should want from God?
It’s challenging—and so encouraging.
Listen to the Podcast NowBetter still, get my full posts the easy way when you SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG. When yo...
October 7, 2019
How Your Physical Struggles Can Energize Your Spiritual Life
The One who set eternity in our hearts created in us a hunger that space and time cannot satisfy.
When we struggle with physical needs, we want one thing more than anything else. Relief. Physical struggles scream at us like a hungry child, and nothing feels as pressing as removing the distraction.
(Photo: Sunset over the Judean Wilderness. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
The Scriptures are full of people who struggled with physical needs. In fact, the superscription of Psalm...
October 2, 2019
God’s Surprising Requirement for Eternal Life [Podcast]
Mark 10:13-31
Have you ever heard someone answer a question before they answer the question? Jesus was a Master at that. “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ answer to that question may surprise you! It surprised His disciples.
In this episode of Live the Bible, we look at what the Bible says about the surprising requirement for eternal life. The requirement for eternal life sounds like bad news—one can’t earn it— until we realize that the bad news is meant to drive us to the good...
September 30, 2019
Why You Should Absolutely Cling to God More
A simple illustration from Ein Parath urges us to keep close to the Lord today.
It isn’t easy to cling to God every day. We need help to do so. That’s why the Lord commanded Jeremiah to buy a garment and bury it in the cracks of a beautiful spring called Ein Parath.
(Photo: Ein Parath. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
The Prophet Jeremiah used many illustrations which came from the land around him. The Lord’s command to bury a sash in the cracks of a spring is a great example...
September 25, 2019
What God Says about Marriage [Podcast]
Mark 10:1-12
If we ask 10 different people on the street (or in the church) God’s view on marriage, we’ll likely get 11 different answers. Thankfully, the Word of God gives us an anchor that keeps us from groping in a sea of opinions.
In this episode of Live the Bible, Jesus tells us what God says about marriage and divorce. Living with our eyes open means we guide our lives from the light of God’s Word before anything else. That’s true in every area of life.
Once we know what God’s Word says...
September 23, 2019
The Roman Forum and God’s Surprising Ways in Your Life
Paul’s experiences in Rome mirror the Lord's leading our dreams.
We have more to do in life than wake up, work hard, and come home only to rinse and repeat. Life amounts to more than a stack of paychecks and a few laughs. God wants so much more for us than that. The Roman Forum offers us a picture of this truth.
(Photo: Basilica Julia in the Roman Forum. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
The Apostle Paul was about 50 years when he penned his letter to the Christians in Rome. I...
September 18, 2019
What’s Your Motive? [Podcast]
Mark 9:30-50
Trying to figure out someone’s reasons for what they do is tough business.
Often we think we know, but more often, we’re guessing. Trying to figure out our own motives isn’t much easier.
Of course, as Christians, we want to do all we do for the glory of God. That’s great. But our walk with God can come to a standstill when (in truth) we chase our own interests in the name of Jesus.
In this episode of the podcast, Live the Bible, Jesus teaches His disciples (and us) that our Chris...
September 16, 2019
How to Deal with Overwhelming Odds through Your Powerful God
Michmash shows us the power of God in our lives.
When the Bible includes geographical references, they appear as more than throwaway statements. Often they play a vital role in our understanding and application of the Bible.
(Photo: Cliffs near Michmash and Geba. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
For example, geography bears importance as to how Jonathan and his armor-bearer—only two men—could help rout the entire Philistine army.
The geographic descriptions given in 1 Samuel...
