The Narrow Path: Live and In Color

Genesis 1: 1-13 Today we begin answering the question as to what's wrong with the world that will take us 11 chapters to fully develop as much as a devotional time together can do. However, there is much here to contemplate. Today, we hypothesize as to whether or not there was a creation before the turning of the formless, void and chaotic perhaps "prior" creation into something purposeful and orderly that God at first calls very good. Stay tuned as we continue to unpack God's mysteries in this regard that will lead us to fully understand why we are in the shape we are in.

Today we introduce a new topic, getting away from a book by book study for now like we did in the morning devotion segment of working through Matthew and Romans. So today, we open up this new and important topic as we begin to trek through Genesis 1-11 in uncovering "What's Wrong with the World". And by doing that, I have already revealed what's wrong; and it is after all: "You and I". Stay with us as we begin this time together in unpacking a message that has fallen on deaf ears to the culture "and" even the church unfortunately, and yet one that we sorely need to understand it's origins, so that we can understand the rest of God's word correctly as well as our very acute problem.

Romans 16: We conclude our trek through Romans today with many greetings and Hello's from Paul to his fellow workers and encouragement for the church in Rome and encouragement to continue to both support them and their trailblazing work taking the gospel to all nations. Paul then begins to close with the reminder that God will soon crush satan underneath our very feet, and in fact has completed the first part of that. And then, Paul concludes with the encouragement again to stick to the core essentials of the faith and to have biblical discernment in knowing when those essentials are being threatened. Lastly he reminds us that our work is not complete in this trailblazing enterprise until obedience and faith takes place among those we would reach.

Romans 15:21-33 Continuing to make our way to the closing chapter of Romans (chapter 16), we talk a little today about Paul's desire to see the Roman church, some prayer requests that are hard and fast on his mind, and his desire for them to continue to support God's serious missionary work he has been a trailblazer for.

Romans 15:14-20 Today, as we begin seeing the finish line in our study of Romans, we talk about Paul's memoirs of Gentile ministry and the continue goals and dreams he has in line with what God has called him to do. We also talk about the 800-pound gorilla of the lack of signs and wonders in our own lives, hypothesizing about what that means and what if anything we can do about it when it is so desperately needed right now.

Romans 15: 7-13 In the wrap up of yesterday's session, we continue down Paul's long and sorely needed path of having healthy interpersonal relationships in the body of Christ and how we are to go about achieving that. We are reminded again about what seems like an unachievable apologetic of love and unity that John 17 commends us towards. We also close with the great hope that each of us as individuals should strive for in the body of Christ. In fact Paul's prayer for us in vs. 13 is that somehow, we might be united in joy, peace and hope by God's Spirit working in us.

Romans 15: 1-6 Today we continue down Paul's long and sorely needed path of interpersonal relationships in the body of Christ and how we are to go about achieving that, yet also bemoaning the fact that we have still not figured out a way to get er done! In fact, even though this is our greatest apologetic and one which Jesus said would be sure to let people know we were his, most of us still want none of it. But I digress.

Romans 14:18-23 Today we continue again on Paul's long-winded and much needed talks on interpersonal relationships within the body of Christ. We also talk again about focusing on the essentials of the faith instead of the non-essentials, in not being a stumbling block, and as our primary MO; choosing rather to be a peacemaker.

Romans 14:1-4 Today we get into a subject that all who call themselves Christians understand fully well, and so do those who have bypassed the church because of the contention it causes. This is a serious subject Paul talks about a lot, and he will spend a chapter and a half getting into the nitty gritty of it.

Romans 14:5-12 Today is our second time together getting into a subject that all who call themselves Christians understand fully well, and so do those who have bypassed the church because of the contention it causes. This is a serious subject Paul talks about a lot, and he will spend a chapter and a half getting into the nitty gritty of it. Today is Part 2 of that discussion

Romans 13:8-10 Today we talk about the fulfillment of the law accomplished by loving one's neighbor, or as I like to called it "Being a Slave to Love" as our primary MO. I also step outside of teaching today to tell you about something that could give you a new lease on life. Here is my email again for anyone who wants to reach out: thenarrowpath@marknealprince.com. I got it backwards in this section. So much for dyslexic tendencies:). Side Note: How in the world I confused Al Stewart with Gary Wright I have no idea. Help me Jesus:). Peace out

Romans 13:11,12 Today we open up part 1 of our devotional thoughts around longing for the eschaton, what's going on in the world around us, the need to be awake and alert in our time and being people of light.

Romans 12: 13-21 Today, in picking up from our time together from yesterday, we we conclude chapter 12 talking about gifts again in the body life of the church and the culture. And again, we are reminded that the fruits Paul lays down are part of the cruciform Christian life we ignore to our peril. This further drives home the fact that those who join the narrow path are signing up for the "upside-down" kingdom indeed.

Romans 13:1-8 Today we introduce a very difficult topic from a passage that until 3 years ago, we thought we understood it pretty clearly. However, COVID-19, the Great Reset idea, and many other things have caused many thinking people to question (I believe rightly) what this is to mean contextually right at this moment. However, we have to look at the Bible as a whole (something we should always do) in order to find a working template to apply to our situation right here and now. Today we explore that up until vs 3, and Lord willing tomorrow we'll get back into it and continue are trek together through this often misunderstood passage.

Romans 12: 9-12 Today we talk about gifts again in the body life of the church and the culture. And even though Paul doesn't mention "fruits" in this text, they are there, and of course it is taught through the N.T. canon. We also know that there is a big difference between the two (gifts and fruits). We also just talk about life in general and how actually "inconvenient" our convictions along these lines actually are in the world then and now, more perhaps than we (Americans) have yet witnessed.

Romans 12:3-8 Today we talk about the gifts we employ as a living sacrifice and what our attitude overall is to be in both understanding them and employing them in the church and in the culture at large.

Romans 12:1,2 Today we unpack two of the most profound verses in Romans and the scriptures in regards to what it really means to be a follower of Christ, plain and simple. The question is: Do we care anymore in the West? Or, more importantly why is this aspect so foreign to even modern western Christians?

Romans 11: 25-36 Today we conclude our trek through Romans 9-11 and talk primarily to remind us "again" that its really not about us, and what we know or think we know is only ever going to be minute compared to the mystery of God's vast storehouse of wisdom.

Romans 11:11-24 Today we look at Paul's analogy of Israel as the Olive Tree and our being "grafted in". Paul reminds us however who supports who and he would should respond.

Romans 11:1-10 Understanding how we look at election and God hardening hearts is a really big deal.

Romans 10: 14-21 Today we talk a little more about Israel's overall rejection of the gospel and hypothesize as to whether the foolishness of preaching is enough. We know it is, but we still groan, longing for more. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Romans 10:1-13 Today we continue talking about where the Jews stand in regards to salvation offered by Christ. However, we spend much more time in talking about why we all reject the gospel, or why prefer the outward trappings of religion without the effects of a life transformed. We conclude with noting that at least part of the reason is most of us cannot unlearn and relearn. As a result, the stumbling block of grace is not just about the Jews, but it's about all of us.

Romans 8:31-39 Today we pick up the beautiful progression of Romans chapter 8 in agreeing with the uniform human experiment that is suffering, but also here invoking the hope of the Christian rooted both in the historical record in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, as well as the hope of our own resurrection.

Romans 9:1-18 Today we begin the trek through Romans 9-11 with as much as we can handle for devotional thoughts on such a deep subject regarding the correct theology on grace as it relates to "predestination" and "election", etc. In addition, we talk about how this all relates to God's very own people, the Jews. In addition, we are reminded yet again that salvation is all about God and not anything to do with us.

Romans 9:19-33 Today we talk further about the state of the Jew during this time of the Gentiles that have now been grafted into the larger vine We talk specifically about what I believe is wrong theology in this passage, extrapolating from it that God is a sadist and he likes for us to be in misery and specifically that he loves his "elect", but hates the "reprobates" somehow prepared before hand for wrath. Many believe they are the chosen and everyone else is going to Hell in a hand basket. Paul says that God is merciful and none of us should be proud but simply accept his free gift. The real reprobate and those destined for wrath are those who stoically live their whole lives with their middle finger up at God and choose not to repent, even at death's door. It is not God's will that any should perish but that all would desire to have everlasting life.