Articles by Marty Kessler

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Marty Kessler | April 29th, 2022
I will learn to go beyond the cliché – In the process of offering up more frequent and more deliberate prayers, I will come to cease using the shallow, oft repeated words & phrases I tend to use, and really talk to God from my heart (see what Jesus said about this at Matthew 6:7-8). I will Draw closer to God – How can you reveal your greatest concerns and deepest thoughts to someone without gainin...
Marty Kessler | April 1st, 2022
How is Jesus’ church described for us in his book? The Greek word Jesus used that is translated “church” means a called-out assembly (Matthew 16:18 & 18:17) and is called out by his gospel (2nd Thessalonians 2:13-14) His bride (Matthew 9:14-15) His flock or His sheep (John 10:14-16) His holy temple (1st Corinthians 3:16-17) His body (Ephesians 1:22-23) Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22) City of the Living...
Marty Kessler | March 24th, 2022
He told Peter to go catch a fish, knowing that the fish would have a coin in its mouth to pay their taxes. Instead of saying, “Let’s all go down to the lake and see what Peter catches at my word”, he sent Peter by himself (Matthew 17:24-27). His miracles were not about being “showy”. Jesus’ miracles were practical and helpful. How many heart-broken, crippled, blind, deaf, mute, demon-possessed and...
Marty Kessler | March 10th, 2022
Only the acts of four apostles are actually described in the book (Peter, John, James & Paul), but it mostly focuses on Peter’s and Paul’s ministries Barnabas is included as an apostle along with Paul in 14:14, but almost certainly as an apostle (one sent) of the Holy Spirit and of the church in Antioch of Syria (13:1-3). Though his work is a major focal point of Acts, Paul was not even one o...
Marty Kessler | March 4th, 2022
The Sea of Galilee is no pond, being 13 miles long by 8 miles wide. It was on this body of water and “a long distance from the land” that the apostles found themselves battered by waves and a contrary wind in the middle of the night (Matthew 14:22-33). Matthew here records that Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. That’s just how he writes it, without any fanfare or embellishment, he just says ...
Marty Kessler | February 25th, 2022
Here in the Oklahoma City metro area, I have seen churches called “The Rock”, “Revive church”, “The Well”, “Cathedral of Praise”, “Church of the Harvest”, “Crossings Community church”, “Eagle’s Crest Fellowship”, “Grace Fellowship”, “Life Church” and a whole bunch more. You’ve seen’em I’m sure. Jesus said he would build his church, and he did just that. But did he give it a name? We should know th...
Marty Kessler | February 4th, 2022
Our daughter and her family attend a large congregation of the Lord’s church. When I visit them there, I am a stranger, except of course when I am with one of my three young grandchildren. Members of their congregation young and old will invariably approach us calling my grandchild by name and introducing themselves to me. Each time, I see my grandchild respond with happy smiles, a warm embrace or...
Marty Kessler | January 20th, 2022
Sunrise. A glimmer of light on the horizon. I can see it; but only if I am up, in a good position and the weather is sufficiently clear. Wherever I am, it comes and is soon “gone”. That majestic sunrise, however, keeps right on moving, becoming sunrise after sunrise for the next folks in line to the west. The sunrise never stops, and it never has since God put his “greater light” in its place on t...
Marty Kessler | January 7th, 2022
What is your purpose for Bible study? If it is a kind of vague, “well, I just want to know more Bible” sort of purpose, it probably won’t hold your interest very long. For this reason, I offer a sample list of specific, purposeful approaches to Bible study that I hope you DO find interesting: From the gospels….. 1)Using any of the gospels, record the place & number of Old Testament quotations the ...
Marty Kessler | December 17th, 2021
Bring Mark, for he is useful” Mark was useful. For nearly 2,000 years it has been written down in the word of God that Mark was useful. Mark was so useful that of all the disciples Paul may have asked for, the apostle instructed that Mark be brought to the Roman prison where his execution appeared to be imminent (2nd Timothy 4:11). Do you know the back-story of how in Acts 13:1-13 Mark had left, “...
Marty Kessler | December 3rd, 2021
The memory of the righteous is blessed.  Proverbs 10:7“Remains”. It is a word we often use to refer to the body of a loved one who has died. That description, however, misses a much more profound truth. What truly remains of those we love are our memories of them, the impact they made on our lives and how their influence even after they are gone, continues to change us and mold us into who we...
Marty Kessler | November 19th, 2021
Fill a bucket with water right to the top. See how many steps you can take with your bucket before some of the water splashes out. Sometimes our lives are just like that. We carry burdens like over-filled buckets in our hearts, our minds and our souls that wear us down, and with the least provocation, what we are carrying splashes out. These burdens may be doubts, misgivings, fears, guilt, suspici...
Marty Kessler | October 29th, 2021
It is about making disciples by telling folks about Jesus. He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). Like Jesus, when we try to reach folks with this saving message we face rejection or ridicule. Friends may be lost and family members may start to avoid us. Yes, I seem to remember him saying something like, “If they have called the head of the house ‘Beel...
Marty Kessler | October 22nd, 2021
For more than a century, the study of dinosaurs has been limited to fossilized bones. Now, researchers have recovered 70 million-year-old soft tissue, including what may be blood vessels and cells, from a Tyrannosaurus rex. “ From, “Scientists recover T-rex soft tissue”, March 2005, msnbc.com Science cannot explain 70 million year old tissue that is “soft and transparent” as well as “stretchy and ...
Marty Kessler | October 13th, 2021
The Holy Spirit must have considered the following to be an important point, seeing he had Solomon state it so frequently. “There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?” Ecclesiastes 2:24 “I know that there is nothing better for them tha...
Marty Kessler | October 8th, 2021
The saints in Rome must have been baptized prior to receiving Paul’s letter: Romans 6:3 – “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” The folks in the church at Corinth were baptized in Jesus’ name: 1st Corinthians 1:13 – “Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” T...
Marty Kessler | September 10th, 2021
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another,- John 13:34-35 How will all men know if we are Jesus’ disciples? Jesus made it clear above. This is My commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you.John 15:12 Do...
Marty Kessler | September 3rd, 2021
The apostle Thomas is often remembered as a doubter because he refused to believe in the resurrection until he saw Jesus for himself, according to John 20:19-29. Earlier, however, when Jesus had determined to return to Judea where his life was in danger it was Thomas who said to the rest of the apostles, “Let us go also, that we may die with him”, John 11:16. Wow, that’s a fervent commitment! Know...
Marty Kessler | August 27th, 2021
Noah, once surrounded by wickedness, gets a fresh start with his family.At 75 and childless, Abraham is promised a son... born 25 years later.Joseph, sold into slavery eventually becomes 2nd only to Pharaoh.Israelites, no longer slaves, cross the Red Sea on dry land.Gideon, living under crushing oppression, is given victory with only 300 soldiers.Hannah, barren & heartbroken, is given a son who be...
Marty Kessler | August 13th, 2021
I received an e-mail from someone considering visiting one of our assemblies. They related how their past was not necessarily exemplary, and so were wondering if that would keep them from being welcomed among us. How would you answer such an e-mail? What would you say? No one among us has a stellar past either?Is your sin really worse than ours?Jesus' church is a hospital for sinners, not a countr...