J. C. Walz – Faith, Fiction, and DEvotional Writing

Blog Archive

  • Romans 4:13-25

    Background: In the last three chapters, Paul has written to the early Roman church to conclude that all men are sinners, both Jews and Gentiles alike. All men counted righteous before God by the…

  • Foundations 1: Who is God–Genesis 1

     1. Background Our starting point with God must start with a simple statement, “In the beginning God”. No explanations–no test tubes exist to do experiments on God, just a simple message that is either…

  • Romans 3

    Background Paul has set an intellectual but caring trap for the Jews who would be reading his letter.  In chapter one, Paul would have had everyone, particularly the Jewish Christians in Rome, nodding in…

  • Foundations 2: God’s Character–Jeremiah 10

    Background God’s people held a special relationship with Him in a covenant. But when God’s people were unfaithful to Him, He would eventually allow them to be taken captive by their enemies. When Judah…

  • Romans 2

    Background After Paul’s introduction, he wastes no time getting to the point. The church in Rome is a mixed church with both Jews and “Greek” Christians. As a church planter all over the world,…

  • Romans 1

    Paul is writing to Christians in Rome from Corinth just as he is preparing to bring the offering of money to the church in Jerusalem. Chapter 16 tells us Phebe from Cenchraea (where Paul…

  • Mark 14

    1. Background Jesus and His disciples are nearing the end of their week in Jerusalem.  He has confronted the Sanhedrin at the Temple and has condemned the whole institution according to their corruption of…

  • Mark 13

    1. Background The temple and its abandonment by God as been the topic since Chapter 11.  The corruption of the temple by its leaders has brought on God’s final rejection and replacing it with…

  • Mark 12

    1. Background Jesus is beginning His third day since arriving to Jerusalem for Passover feast and ultimately the cross. The conflict between Jesus and the Sanhedrin has been building and here it will reach…