Author: Jim Cantelon

Read Romans 4

Key Verse: Romans 4:3 “…Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” How would you feel if you were almost 100 years old, your wife was 90; and you were still childless, even though God had promised you a son? You probably would have given up hope by now. You’d question the accuracy of the promise: at least, thinking that maybe you had misread the lines. But Abraham, “against all hope…in hope believed” (v.18). He “believed God” and this act of faith (the hope plus the act of physically loving his 90-year-old wife)...

Read Romans 3

Key Verse: Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of there law.” What does it mean to be “justified”? And who or what is the “justifier”? Well, let us start with the meaning of “justice”. The Bible tells us God is “just” and His nature demands “justice”, especially in the context of man’s injustice. Justice is the reward of virtue and punishment of vice” (Concise Oxford Dictionary). To “justify” is to “show the justice or righteousness of (person,...

Read Romans 1 & 2

Key Verse: Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Do you ever get tired of preachers? I do, and I’m a preacher! I’ve often tried to analyze this fatigue, and I think I’ve hit on at least one thing about us preachers that makes me tired: we so often hammer away on the obvious. Our sermons are time and again framed around “should”, “woulds”, and scoldings — as though we...

January 11, 2021

This week a “day of infamy” occurred in Washington DC. We all watched it unfold and we’re all troubled not only by the insurrection itself but by the implications. There’s a lot of blame-shifting and/or soul searching going on depending on political ideologies and adherence or non-adherence to conspiracy theories. But, regardless of polarities, no one is immune to the collateral damage from the incitement of riotous behaviour. There’s a profound irony in that this attack on democracy took place on the same day that the USA had a record breaking one day death toll from the Corona virus....

Read Acts 28

Key Verse: Acts 28:20 “…for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” The book of Acts concludes with Paul living under house arrest in Rome. It was a fairly casual confinement — he had only one soldier to guard him, and anyone who wished to do so could visit him. Even here, Paul discharged his duty of proclaiming Christ to his Jewish brethren. In fact, the Jewish leaders from Rome came to hear Paul, and he bluntly confronted them with their hardness of heart in rejecting Jesus. He spoke with passion because he believed, even after all he had been through, that...

Read Acts 27

Key Verse: Acts 27:25 “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” King Agrippa was impressed with Paul. After hearing Paul’s message, he said to Governor Festus, “This man could have been set free, if he had not appealed to Caesar” (26:32). But appeal to Caesar he had, so Paul must be sent to Rome. It was on the way to Rome by sea that the storm struck. What a storm it was! The “Northeaster” they called it winds of hurricane force creating massive waves, driving the ship before it. Totally out of control, totally...

January 6, 2021

Alms, Prayer, & Fasting 6:1-18 How NOT to Give vv. 2-4 Part 3 As is often the case with language and culture there is a blurring of the lines over time. For example, the “Pharisees” and the “Sadducees” emerged as differing religious sub-cultures in the latter half of the second century before Christ. Their sectarian DNA, however, can be seen as far back as the return of the exiles from Babylon around 537 BC. Once situated again in Judea, they became known as the “Hasideans” and the “Hellenizers”. The Hasideans (or “Hasids” as they...

Read Acts 26

Key Verse: Acts 26:20 “I…declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.” I think most of us have done it. Maybe several times. We sin, are stricken in our conscience, confess, and sin the same sin again. For some it’s a lifelong cycle — sin, confess, sin. And it’s not mechanical, either. When we confess, we really mean it. In fact, we often confess with tears, but seem unable to extricate ourselves from the cycle....

Read Acts 24 & 25

Key Verse: Acts 24:26 “Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.” She was just a nice little old lady. She came to our door in Jerusalem, out of breath, and clutching a large notebook and a beat-up tape recorder. She said she wanted to talk to me about Jesus, and “would you mind if I tape our conversation? I’d like to write and article for a Canadian magazine.” “No problem”, I said, and I even let her use my tape-recorder when hers malfunctioned....

Read Acts 22 & 23

Key Verse: Acts 23:6c “I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” (NIV) Paul’s troubles in Jerusalem continues. Even though he was now in the care of the Roman commander, he still had to face the hostility of the people. This time it was the commander himself who was catalyst to the problem. He “wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews” (22:30a), so he “ordered” the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble and brought Paul and had him stand before them” (v.30b, c). Paul had no sooner begun...

Read Acts 21

Key Verse: Acts 21:28 “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled the holy place.” Have you been feeling sorry for yourself lately? Are your friends (the ones who should know better) misunderstanding you? Your enemies misrepresenting you? People taking you totally the wrong way — some even wanting to harm you? Are you fed up with the mixed signals, the lies, and the anger of everybody around you? Do your need someone out there who will...

Read Acts 19 & 20

Key Verse: Acts 20:9a “And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep.” Did you hear the story about the young Dutch boy whose family had just emigrated to America? The only church in their town was a vigorous, outgoing little community of committed believers who had an equally energetic pastor. When he preached, he use to wave his arms, full-length, and take large draughts from a pitcher of water place to one side of the pulpit. The first Sunday the new Dutch family was in attendance, the pastor was especially animated — shouting,...