Chris Hansler

Sometimes it is Personal

Scripture:2 Samuel 19:2 Observation:David had sent his troops out to battle against enemies in Israel who had risen up against him. Among those enemies was his son, Absalom, who had conspired against…

Invest and multiply

Scripture:Matthew 25:21 Observation:In this parable, Jesus tells the story of the master who "entrusted" his servants with hisproperty. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one.…

Good Intentions, Wrong Timing

Scripture:2 Samuel 7:5 Observation:David had just completed his own palace and was feeling unsettled about the fact that he had a beautiful home, but there was no "home" for the Lord. David wanted to…

Like a Child

Jesus was continuing to show his followers that His kingdom worked on very different principles than what they were accustomed to. In that culture, children occupied a "lowly" position. Jesus said that…

Matthew 18:4 (NIV)

We Must Tell Our Story

Scripture: Judges 2:10 "another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord or what He had done for Israel." Observation:The generation that crossed the Jordan, inherited the promised land, and conquered…

When Holiness and Grace Collide in my Mind

Scripture: 1 Cor. 5:11"But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.…

We were "them"

The law gives many regulations about how to treat slaves and foreigners and aliens. God's people were chosen and they were called to be holy, but what the law showed them was that they too were slaves…

Galatians 4:7 (NIV)

Higher and Deeper

God's love reaches to the heavens. His righteousness is like the highest mountain. His justice is like the great deep. He sustains all life. In other words, there is no where we can go, no issue we can…

Psalm 36:6 (NIV)

Snake bitten

The people of Israel grumbled about their condition and were looking back to Egypt, where they were in bondage, rather than forward to the place God was bringing them. They were in an "in-between" place…

Numbers 21:9 (NIV84)

His Word gives Courage

In the midst of a storm and fearing for their lives, Paul stood firm in the promise that God had given him. Paul knew that God had told him he would stand trial before Caesar, and despite the circumstances,…

Acts 27:24 (NIV84), Acts 27:25 (NIV84)

His body, the church

"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" - Jesus (Acts 9:4) Saul had participated in the murder of Stephen. He was "breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. (9:1)" But as far as Jesus…

Acts 9:4 (NIV84)

Underestimating the Power of a Servant

The apostles needed to find others who could take on the daily burden of service to the church so that they could focus on "prayer and ministry of the word." Sure the men they found were to be "full of…

Acts 6:8 (NIV)

The illogical misery of a hard heart

God had sent the plagues on Egypt, but time after time, not only did Pharoah not let the people go, but he had his magicians imitate the plagues on his own land! And when asked when he wanted the frogs…

Exodus 8:9 (NIV), Exodus 8:10 (NIV)

Don't forget to chuckle

Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?" They were in a desperate situation, in the midst of a famine and were at a loss for what to do. So what did these patriarchs of our…

Genesis 42:1 (NIV)

I Cannot do it, but God will...

Scripture: Gen. 41:16"I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."Observation:Joseph had been able to interpret dream for the cupbearer and the baker.…

Genesis 41:16 (NIV)

Jacob bothers Me

Don't even get me started with Rebekah - Jacob's mom - but as I read the story of Jacob's blessing this morning, he really bothered me. I've read this story many times before, but I can't remember being…

Genesis 28:20 (NIV), Genesis 28:21 (NIV), Genesis 28:22 (NIV)

Questions Don't Disqualify

John had been the one who proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. He continually pointed people to Jesus as the One who would bring both righteous judgment and salvation. But now John was isolated and imprisoned…

Luke 7:28 (NIV)

Jesus often withdrew

Jesus was sought after. He was busy. People needed him. Lives depended on him. The future of the world depended on him. And he often withdrew to lonely places to pray. The greater our responsibility,…

Luke 5:16 (NIV)

Our best interests

Jesus was hungry. After forty days Hewas hungry. When I'm fasting, I'm hungry after about 40 minutes. The devil went to his need. In fact in each temptation in the wilderness the devil gave the appearance…

Luke 4:3 (NIV)

Grace & Mercy

Gen. 8:21 - "Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even thought every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I…

Genesis 8:21 (NIV)

No big deal?

"You will not certainly die" the serpent said... The serpent started with instilling doubt, and then made the stated consequences look like foolishness. It was as though he was causing them to think,…

Genesis 3:4 (NIV)

The Otherwise Unobtainable

"..he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit..." The angel told John's dad that he would never take wine…

Luke 1:15 (NIV)

Remnants of death

The powerful line "take off the grave clothes and let him go" has so many implications. But what captures my attention today is that Lazarus, who had been dead, was now fully alive, yet was still covered…

John 11:44 (NIV)

Knowledge vs. "knowing"

Jesus knew that the Jewish leaders were disciplined students of the scriptures. They were diligent. They memorized it and did word studies and understood context and literary style. They thought that…

John 5:39 (NIV)

Private Convictions

"So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." On so many occasions we are told to tell others, encourage others, teach others. But on this one, we are told to keep it between…

Romans 14:22 (NIV)