by Gordon Franz
Introduction
Romans 16 is a chapter that we usually skip in our Bible studies or devotional reading because it appears to be a “grocery list” of names that we think are unimportant. Several years ago, I was attending a Bible study that was going verse-by-verse, in detail, through the book of Romans. When we [...]
-
16Oct
-
24Sep
by Gordon Franz
Introduction
In the early 1990’s, I was teaching the Wheaton in the Holy Land short-term program at the Institute for Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem. The Wheaton program was hosted by Dr. and Mrs. James Hoffmeier. On our Negev field trip we visited the Timnah Copper Mines, just north of Eilat. In the month [...] -
08Jun
By Gordon Franz
Introduction
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers to imitate (follow) him as he followed the Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor. 11:1). Paul, in his epistle to the church at Philippi, set forth several examples of believers who had the mind of Christ – the lowliness of mind, and esteemed others better then [...] -
27Mar
By Gordon Franz
Introduction
Our society tends to blame adverse behavior on our environment, or on circumstances and events around us, but we seldom, if ever, take personal responsibility for our own actions. One of the most haunting passages of Scripture in Paul’s epistles, and one that probably caused him to weep over as he wrote, is [...] -
04Feb
By Gordon Franz
Introduction
In 1780, at the age of 21 years and two weeks, William Wilberforce was the youngest man ever to be elected to the British parliament. He was an eloquent orator, a gifted singer and was invited to join five exclusive clubs in London. He enjoyed the London social scene: dining, playing cards, dancing [...] -
04Feb
By Gordon Franz
Introduction
During the last week of the Lord Jesus’ earthly ministry, He spoke a parable on faithfulness while He and His disciples sat on the Mount of Olives overlooking the city of Jerusalem (Matt. 24, 25). This parable is called the parable of the talents (25:14-30) and was given in the context of the [...] -
04Feb
By Gordon Franz
Introduction
What kind of reputation does each of us have in our local church? Are we known as a person who knows the Word of God and can teach it? Or, are we known as a person of prayer? Or, are we known as a person who helps others in times of need and [...] -
04Feb
By Gordon Franz
Introduction
If I mentioned the name Barney, who would come to mind? If you belong to the Geritole crowd you would probably think of that goofy sheriff’s deputy from Mayberry on the Andy Griffith Show (Don Knotts). For those with money as the love of their life, they would probably think of the investment [...] -
04Feb
By Gordon Franz
Dr. Luke described the itinerant preacher, Apollos as an “eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24). It is a rare combination to find a preacher who is both eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures. Usually a preacher is one or the other, or neither! Several examples of ones who are both [...] -
04Feb
By Gordon Franz
Introduction
There is a little ditty that describes John Mark perfectly. It goes like this:
“It takes more grace than I can tell
To play the second fiddle well.”
A statement attributed to the late Leonard Bernstein, the famous conductor of the New York Philharmonic, states: “The hardest instrument in the orchestra to play is second fiddle.”
A [...]