by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 12, 2026 | Uncategorized
Christ’s death did not diminish his position in the Universe, but upon being raised from the dead, that ensured he would maintain his status for all eternity.So here’s the question for us: If the purpose of Christ’s death and resurrection is so that he would have the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 5, 2026 | Uncategorized
This preeminent position of Christ was so important for the Colossians to know because apparently they were engaging in the worship of angels according to Col 2:18. We might be tempted to snicker at this folly until we realize that worship of anything else other than...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 28, 2026 | Uncategorized
There are many ways to prepare ahead of time, but here are a few: praying for your own heart and the hearts of those in your family to be ready to interact with God’s word and God’s people; praying for those serving out in front and behind the scenes; praying for God...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 21, 2026 | Uncategorized
Paul’s charge to Timothy is instructive in 1 Tim 4:13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. It’s easy to discern the importance of those focal points of Timothy’s devotion, but what’s really lost if...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 7, 2026 | Uncategorized
In Col 1:14, the particular feature of redemption that Paul wishes to highlight is a pardoning of sins. Notice that Jesus did not come to immediately liberate us from the effects of living in a cursed world, although that comprehensive, final salvation will happen in...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Aug 31, 2026 | Uncategorized
What is ironic about the Christian life is that the necessary starting point for living in the power of God is to realize you are powerless in yourself, meaning that based on your own resources you pitifully lack what it takes to be faithful. That’s why a complete...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Aug 17, 2026 | Uncategorized
What Paul is praying for in Col 1:9 goes far beyond just being acquainted with biblical information or even memorizing it. Instead, Paul wants those in Colossae to be filled with it or made complete in it. The verb for filled is in the passive, which means that Paul...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
it’s important to note that a decrease of thankfulness indicates a decrease in recognition of God’s work and/or God’s promises.More specifically, a decrease or lack of thankfulness is due to: –losing sight of the sovereign, gracious work of the gospel in your...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Aug 2, 2026 | Uncategorized
How can even a slight deviation from the biblical teaching of the person and/or work of Christ harm a person’s life?If Christ is not God and if his atoning work was not actually finished on the cross, then some created being will have to compensate for the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 27, 2026 | Uncategorized
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah has processed his circumstances apart from the word of God and that led him to flee in terror for his life without looking for any direction from the Lord. How common is it for fears to crowd out the need to go to God for strength and wisdom to...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 20, 2026 | Uncategorized
What does it look like to turn from any level of commitment to a false gospel or any kind of idolatry? We can obtain some principles for repentance from the prayer of Elijah in 1 Kings 18:36-37:-We must remind ourselves of God’s covenant promises in Christ and how it...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 13, 2026 | Uncategorized
Idolatry in the form of worshipping named, false gods carried over from the OT era into NT times as well—(Ephesus) Acts 19; (many forms of idol worship at the Corinthian temples) 1 Cor 10; (Thessalonica) 1 Thess 1:9; 1 John 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 5, 2026 | Uncategorized
What’s remarkable about these scenes from 1 Kings 17 is how the word of God was obeyed with no tangible guarantees or even rational explanations given ahead of time. God is treated as one who is fully trustworthy in what he says. In contrast, think about how God is...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 29, 2026 | Uncategorized
This text provides incredible insight for how to remain alert and fight against any temptation. In addition to realizing that we cannot stand against temptation on our own from v.12, we need to trust in several critical truths from v.13. This passage is unrivaled in...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 1, 2026 | Uncategorized
Since we are commanded to crave the word of God in this text, our degree of craving can be used as a spiritual barometer, so to speak, of the condition of our hearts in the pursuit of the Lord. We know we’re not going to have the same discernible desire 24/7,...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 11, 2026 | Uncategorized
Initially, it’s important to note that in Ps 19:7, the law or Torah of Yahweh is not limited to the 10 commandments or even the entire Mosaic law. It refers to the totality of Yahweh’s instruction to his people. David refers to this teaching or instruction as perfect...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 3, 2026 | Uncategorized
According to 2 Pet 1:19, in what way are Christians to be devoted to the word?—As a lamp shining in a dark place. Elsewhere the word of God is likened to a light or lamp, as in…Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path;119:130 The unfolding of...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
–There is no other knowledge that can be described by the characteristics of 2 Tim 3:16-17. –All of what is ultimately useful or beneficial for Christian ministry to others is contained in the Scriptures. –Based on v.16, a significant implementation...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 20, 2026 | Uncategorized
So what is your ultimate authority? What makes something compelling enough to you that you end up submitting to it?—How you feel about it?; How accepted it is among family and friends?; What your favorite author or blog says? It’s clear in the Scriptures that...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 13, 2026 | Uncategorized
What the Lord is and what the Lord does is virtually identical to what the Word is and what the Word does: Eternal Ps 119:89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.Is 40:7 The grass withers, the flower fades,When the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 5, 2026 | Uncategorized
In John 8, Christ had to clarify the relationship between sin and slavery with his audience in John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 30, 2026 | Uncategorized
2 ways to honor God for 10 years of His faithfulness: I. We should be humbled by what He has done 1. A substantial appetite for God’s word—Ps 19:7-11; 1 Pet 2:1-3 ...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 15, 2026 | Uncategorized
James writes this is 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. The...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
When we incur resistance or even hostility towards the gospel message, there is no reason to automatically think that there was something wrong with our content or our presentation.Perhaps we were argumentative or came across as frustrated or judgmental that the other...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 2, 2026 | Uncategorized
Throughout Acts 27, Paul had continued to trust in God, despite a seemingly hopeless situation and a seemingly irrational pathway to safety. This led to expansive ministry among a previously unreached people in the beginning of Acts 28. God loves to do this. He loves...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 22, 2026 | Uncategorized
Employing faith in extremely difficult situations seems irrational and contrary to what seems reasonable. Along these lines, consider Gideon and his minimized army in Judges 7:2 The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 16, 2026 | Uncategorized
If Luke was only interested in making sure the reader of Acts knew that Paul made it to Rome, he could have simply made a few summary statements about the perilous voyage. But if that were the case, God’s purposes and Paul’s faith in those purposes, would have been...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Any person with a heart for God would admit that forgetfulness of his salvation is something to avoid, but what leads to forgetfulness? Is it merely human weakness, just like when we forget where we put our car keys? That’s unlikely and Moses sheds light on the answer...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 25, 2025 | Uncategorized
What’s interesting about Matthew’s account about the birth of Jesus is that there are no details given about the actual birth— no recorded journey to Bethlehem, no manger and no shepherds. Instead, the worship of Jesus receives primary emphasis. This theme of worship...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 22, 2025 | Uncategorized
In Acts 26:24, during Paul’s defense, he is cut off by Festus, who really can’t take anymore religious talk. Why? The teaching of a suffering king who died ,then rose from the dead and appeared to Paul, is folly to a Gentile, such as Festus (1 Cor. 1:23). So he...
