We know from Matthew 27:44 that both of the criminals started out the day hurling insults and casting blasphemies at Jesus. When we allow bitterness to take root in our lives, we lash out at God, thinking that He’s to blame. We can grow through them or we can choose to shrivel up and become caustic toward others and toward God.

Friends, we’re all complicit in the death of Jesus. And each of us stands in need of forgiveness. Do you want it? Will you receive it? The price has been paid and a path has been laid. Will you accept the payment and allow it to be applied to your account?

Here’s the sermon in a sentence: God will give you more than YOU can handle, but he will never give you more than HE can handle!

Our text for today is often taken out of context: “Be strong and courageous.” You’ll often hear it quoted as a synonym for being tough and tenacious. We’re going to discover how the context of this phrase, which is actually used three times in Joshua 1, will help us grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. Instead of just telling Joshua that because he’s amazing, he should follow his dreams and never give up, we’re going to see that because God is amazing, He has some plans for Joshua. Because God is strong, Joshua can be courageous.

"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." This verse is often taken out of context and we miss the true meaning that Paul had when he wrote this.

Our text for today is commonly taken out of context in our culture. When I did a Google search for “Money is the root…” it auto-filled with “of all evil.”

My fear is that while our text for today from Jeremiah 29:11 has been copied and calligraphed on plaques and posters, it has not always been clearly understood in context: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Do you know one of the most misquoted scriptures of the last 10-15 years has been? This one is used even by those who may not be able to quote any other scripture: Jesus says “Judge not, that you be not judged.” This verse is often used against Christians as a way to intimidate us from speaking the truth.

A text taken out of context is a pretext for a proof text. The Bible is a life-changing book but used in the wrong way, it can be dangerous.