Brian Goff

No room for unbelief

Just as Jesus cast out the unbelieving crowd before he healed the girl, so must our houses to be cleared of unbelief and lack of faith.

Mark 5:40 (NET)

What's really important?

Jesus confronts all religious people with this healing. The problem the Jewish leaders have with Jesus here is that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. Jesus didn't obey the Law, or at least their perception…

John 9:16 (NET)

Holy City Irony

It's ironic that the holy city of God was so bent on persecuting those who came in the name of the Lord in order to preserve religion. I guess the message of the profits is never popular, especially when…

Matthew 23:5 (ESV), Matthew 23:37 (ESV)

Pro. 16:6

How does lovingkindness and truth atone (cover) inquiry? I think the answer is found in 1 Peter 4:8 - 1 Peter 4:8 NIV84 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Proverbs 16:6 (NASB)

The "So What's It To Ya'?" Passage

I've always liked this particular passage of scripture because it speaks to an important part of the Christian life. Back in my home church, we used to sing a song that went: What God has for you is…

John 21:21 (NIV84), John 21:22 (NIV84)

Avoiding Anger

Last year, I was reading a book about sharpening one's critical thinking skills. I was impressed with the idea that to exhibit critical thinking skills on an issue, one has to leave emotion out of the…

James 1:19 (ESV), James 1:20 (ESV), James 1:21 (ESV)

Where am I really?

I can relate to this soil in the parable. I'm a Christian, so Satan didn't pluck the word out of my heart before I could accept it. I've kept on the path for 34 years now, so it's safe to say that I've…

Mark 4:18 (ESV), Mark 4:19 (ESV)

What Does God Want?

In Matt 7:15 says that only those who do what God wants will be accepted into his kingdom. Then he lists several activities that would surely qualify one for Heaven-- casting out demons, witnessing, and…

Matthew 7:15 (NCV)

What would we do if this happened?

I don't think anyone has ever come to me asking for forgiveness and reconciliation. I may be wrong, that may have happened sometime. But I have this vague sense of unease that tells me if someone ever…

Matthew 5:23 (NIV84), Matthew 5:24 (NIV84)

Be Strong?

In the first few verses of the chapter, God tells us that the desert will bloom and not be barren anymore. Then this verse tells the anxious to be strong. I'm having an anxious time in my life now. It's…

Isaiah 35:4 (ESV)

Joseph gets a desk job

I've heard that the real significance of Joseph's coat of many colors was that he would not be doing much manual labor. Freeman (The New Manners and Customs of the Bible, updated by Harold Chadwick) points…

Genesis 37:2 (ESV), Genesis 37:3 (ESV)

Joseph supervises his brothers

The sons of Zilpah were Gad and Asher. The sons of Bilhah were Dan and Napthali. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown) ""Joseph being seventeen years old…

Genesis 36:17 (ESV), Genesis 36:18 (ESV), Genesis 37:2 (ESV)

Relating to Jonah's Anger

(v.1) Jonah has the most successful revival in history and he was so angry that he asked God to kill him (v.3). Later, after the plant that brought shade to Jonah withered and the east wind made it extremely…