Was he an Apostle, a missionary, a scholar, a pastor, or all of those? Bible teaching is a pastoral ministry. Paul was concerned about people, not doctrine for its own sake. We should have a pastoral heart too. Jesus certainly has, as the Good Shepherd. Watch: https://youtu.be/O7ELQs-0XIM

Some Christians are like sugar, always sweet and would never say a critical word when one is needed. Others are like vinegar, always hard to swallow what they say because they are always caustic. But Paul encourages us to be like salt, speaking what the truth in love. Living wisely means living in a godly way. This is only possible by placing our faith in Christ. Watch: https://youtu.be/bCK1UxAt4pI

The greatest tragedy, the greatest miracle, the greatest lover. Watch: https://youtu.be/-C1Bo0xPgRg

Corrie Ten Boom once asked “Is prayer your steering wheel, or your spare tyre?” We should be persistent in praying to God, with thanksgiving. And we should pray for the gospel to be heard and believed. Watch at: https://youtu.be/ynr5HgEU9Pg

Bob Dylan once wrote the song 'You're gonna have to serve somebody'. Frank Sinatra sang the song 'I did it my way'. God's solution against anarchy is to set an order for family and society. Believers are called to "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Ephesians 5:21). We should do it for God, not primarily for others. Jesus submitted to the Father's will, and suffered and died on the cross, so that we could be blessed - we should trust in him, and do similarly to bless others. Watch at: https://youtu.be/LC51XZmeYow

Matthew Livall contrasts the way of the righteous from the way of the wicked (unrighteous), in Psalm 1.

Our consciences are a gift from God to alert us to the need for forgiveness. Many people struggle for years with guilty consciences. We have a need to confess, to help get some peace of mind. Our ultimate confession should be straight to God, trusting in Jesus, accepting God's forgiveness on the basis that Jesus took our eternal punishment on the cross, so that we can receive the gift of eternal life. If confessed from a humble and repentful heart, with an eye to the cross of Calvary, we can receive complete forgiveness just like the man in the parable that Jesus spoke of, by praying "God, have mercy on me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13).

Watch: https://youtu.be/3Lezn-QN05k

Why do people, especially believers, not go to church? Increasingly many have the supermarket, consumerist, approach to church, where it is more about what they can get from church than either worshipping God or encouraging and serving others. Some have a school approach, going legalistically, just like parents are obliged by law to have their children educated. They go to church out of duty, not primarily to worship God or minister to others. Instead, we should see church more like family, where relationships are the main focus. When we have a good relationship with God, we want to worship him. And when we have good relationships with other believers, we want to have fellowship with them and serve them. There are, of course, legitimate reasons why some believers can't be at church on Sundays, such as being sick, caring for others, needing to work. But too often we make lifestyle choices, where God isn't high enough up on our list of priorities. As a result, we suffer, others suffer, and God isn't glorified. Let's encourage each other to keep on meeting together, for the good of God and others. When we do so, we will be more fulfilled also. (Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 10:25).

Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HIo9tfTz54

Have you ever felt out of your depth, tempted to be discouraged at the responsibility before you? Joshua was encouraged to be strong in the Lord, and Jesus' followers too have reasons to be encouraged in both our lives in general and the church's ministry in particular. When we feel our weakness in ourselves, that is when we can begin to be strong in the Lord. Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDMqSarA624

“Happiness is like a butterfly – the more you chase it the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.” The same is true for fulfillment. If we chase fulfillment, it eludes us. But if we delight in the Lord, we are guaranteed that we will have our heart's desires. As the African theologian Augustine wrote many centuries ago, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_d0Wa87ZZk