Posts with the tag “grace”
Admitting When You Are Wrong
by Curt Dodd on July 3rd, 2025
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6 Why do people, when they are confronted, have a difficult time admitting they are wrong? They did something wrong, but they refuse to take any responsibility for their actions. They don’t even want to talk about it. They invariably try to justify why they did it. At the core, the human ... Read More
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Jesus Plus Nothing
by Curt Dodd on June 9th, 2025
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9Today’s key verse makes it very clear that only Jesus can save you. What He did on the cross, shedding His blood, covers our sin. We will go to heaven based on what Jesus did for us, not what we have done for Jesus. It’s Jesus plus nothi... Read More
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Jesus Prayed For Us
by Curt Dodd on June 3rd, 2025
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (Luke 23:32-34) To think about Jesus praying for the people... Read More
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The Enemy Is a Liar
by Curt Dodd on June 1st, 2025
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…” - 1 Peter 5:8-9There’s something very important I need you to know: the enemy of your soul is a liar. You are in a spiritual battle. There are unseen forces all around you, desiring to have your life, your influence, promote your failure, and c... Read More
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God Uses Our Waiting
by Curt Dodd on May 7th, 2025
“As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her.” (Genesis 17:15-16) Are you waiting for something right now? Are you waiting for a small item, or something big, like a spouse, or a child or a grandchild? No matter what you are expecting, waiting is never easy. We are impatient creatures who want what w... Read More
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An Amazing God
by Curt Dodd on April 24th, 2025
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20) This is one of my all-time favorite verses in Scripture, because it reminds me how God works in ways above and beyond what my human mind can comprehend. Anything we could think up, dream up, or make up in our heads; He can surpass with His goodness and His g... Read More
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Stand for the Truth
by Curt Dodd on April 19th, 2025
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16) When we live in a culture that has decided to go by its playbook, rather than God's plan, we find ourselves upside down. Unfortunately, we think we are right-side-up. Our children and grandchildren are being inoculated by our culture and our media, with everything that i... Read More
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A Gracious Gift
by Curt Dodd on March 23rd, 2025
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9Today’s verse is such a great reminder of the truth that our salvation isn't earned by what we do. It's a gift from God, given because of His love for us. Sometimes, we might think we need to do certain things or follow certain rul... Read More
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Standing Accountable Before God
by Curt Dodd on March 10th, 2025
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. – Romans 14:12Each of us carries the weight of accountability before God. It's a sobering truth that every soul will one day stand before Him to give an account of their life—every word spoken, every thought entertained, and every action taken.Yet, those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ can rest assured. Through faith, we are en... Read More
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Encountering God’s Grace
by Curt Dodd on March 9th, 2025
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. – James 4:8Experiencing grace is not always a grand, emotionally charged event. Rather, it is a profound spiritual encounter with God, orchestrated in His perfect timing and manner. When we are open to hearing the message of the gospel preached clearly, the Spirit of God begins a transformative work within us. It's as if He gently nudges our hearts, ... Read More
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A Brand New Glimpse Of Jesus
by Curt Dodd on February 12th, 2025
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8) I want to tell you about Helen Howard Lemmel. She was a singer who had a successful career in the Midwest. She was a music teacher at Moody Bible Institute for years and years. She wrote over 500 hymns, poems and songs. She continued to write until her death at 97 years of age in 1961. After going through a dark time of chaos ... Read More
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Share Christ
by Curt Dodd on December 18th, 2024
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7) It wasn’t just to the Romans that Paul wrote these words. To other followers of Christ, he used this same phrase. Why? Because it was very powerful. It set things in order and leveled the playing field. He was saying, in essence, “If you want grace and peace, they only come from the Lord Himself.” Paul took... Read More
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Praise God for Your Story
by Curt Dodd on December 14th, 2024
And they praised God because of me. (Galatians 1:24) Paul’s reputation definitely preceded him. His story of coming to faith in Christ circulated throughout the east long before he had made one of his “missionary journeys.” Before Christ, Paul was a stone-cold legalist. He even took it upon himself to organize the extermination of early believers. His efforts led to the stoning death of Stephen,... Read More
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Grace Has Appeared
by Curt Dodd on December 11th, 2024
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. (Titus 2:11) I am a sportsman. Since my early years, I have always enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. It might be a surprise to many, but the anticipation of seeing an animal move through the woods or waiting for a fish to take a lure, is exhilarating to many of us. Even though you were expecting and waitin... Read More
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Grow In Grace
by Curt Dodd on November 2nd, 2024
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18) The character of God is grace; therefore, the character of His people should also be grace. When someone comes into your church and they don't talk like you, and they don't look like you, what is your response? Your response must be, “Welcome!” Everything that we do... Read More
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Show God’s Grace
by Curt Dodd on November 1st, 2024
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5) The very heartbeat of the Church needs to be grace. Under grace, we extend love regardless of who people are, where they are on their journey, and what is happening in their life right now. We just extend God'... Read More
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Actions and Words
by Curt Dodd on August 2nd, 2024
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:... Read More
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All Because Of Jesus
by Curt Dodd on May 5th, 2024
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9Today’s verse is such a great reminder of the truth that our salvation isn't earned by what we do. It's a gift from God, given because of His love for us. Sometimes, we might think we need to do certain things or follow certain rul... Read More
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Experiencing Grace
by Curt Dodd on April 21st, 2024
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. – James 4:8Experiencing grace is not always a grand, emotionally charged event. Rather, it is a profound spiritual encounter with God, orchestrated in His perfect timing and manner. When we are open to hearing the message of the gospel preached clearly, the Spirit of God begins a transformative work within us. It's as if He gently nudges our hearts, ... Read More
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Actions and Words
by Curt Dodd on January 2nd, 2024
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:... Read More
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Praise God for Your Story
by Curt Dodd on December 14th, 2023
And they praised God because of me. (Galatians 1:24) Paul’s reputation definitely preceded him. His story of coming to faith in Christ circulated throughout the east long before he had made one of his “missionary journeys.” Before Christ, Paul was a stone-cold legalist. He even took it upon himself to organize the extermination of early believers. His efforts led to the stoning death of Stephen,... Read More
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Say No to Temptation
by Curt Dodd on December 5th, 2023
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness... Read More
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Disagreements
by Curt Dodd on November 17th, 2023
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they... Read More
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The Dangers Of Pride
by Curt Dodd on November 13th, 2023
In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:5-7The epitome of not having a teachable ... Read More
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Showing Love
by Curt Dodd on November 10th, 2023
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20) We often say that love is a feeling. I would have to disagree and tell you that love is an action. Love is something we show, not ju... Read More
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Grow In Grace
by Curt Dodd on November 2nd, 2023
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18) The character of God is grace; therefore, the character of His people should also be grace. When someone comes into your church and they don't talk like you, and they don't look like you, what is your response? Your response must be, “Welcome!” Everything that we do... Read More
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Show God’s Grace
by Curt Dodd on November 1st, 2023
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5) The very heartbeat of the Church needs to be grace. Under grace, we extend love regardless of who people are, where they are on their journey, and what is happening in their life right now. We just extend God'... Read More
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The Fullness of Jesus
by Curt Dodd on June 9th, 2023
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. (John 1:16) Let’s take a closer look at the meaning behind John’s words. The word “fullness” actually means, “that which fills.” Therefore, Christ is the well from which we draw. Everything comes from Him. There is more than enough of Him for each of His followers, so much so that He is overflowing into our national a... Read More
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Awakenings and Quiet Times
by Curt Dodd on April 30th, 2023
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off -- for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39) The First Great Awakening occurred at Pentecost. God did an amazing thing that had never happened be... Read More
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Second Chances
by Curt Dodd on February 16th, 2023
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22)When someone hurts us, our first, fleshly instinct is to distance ourselves from that person. We don’t want to have anything to do with them. If we are really hurt, we might ... Read More
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Only by Grace
by Curt Dodd on January 6th, 2023
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)Some of my most vivid memories from childhood came when I played football. I was so excited when I finally got the chance to suit up in junior high to play tackle football. Before the season began, I had to make sure I had all ... Read More
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Grow In Grace
by Curt Dodd on November 2nd, 2022
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)The character of God is grace; therefore, the character of His people should also be grace. When someone comes into your church and they don't talk like you, and they don't look like you, what is your response? Your response must be, “Welcome!” Everything that we do n... Read More
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Show God’s Grace
by Curt Dodd on November 1st, 2022
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)The very heartbeat of the Church needs to be grace. Under grace, we extend love regardless of who people are, where they are on their journey, and what is happening in their life right now. We just extend God's ... Read More
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Saved by Grace
by Curt Dodd on October 3rd, 2022
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)This verse literally implies that we are messed up. The only way we can get fixed up is when we have an encounter with Christ. In Ephesians Chapter Two, Paul lists multiple things. He describes what it means to be saved, what i... Read More
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