Steve Hankins, Th.D.

Men Pleasers

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, ESV) It seems that most people like to be accepted by others. We like to be liked. YearsContinue reading “Men Pleasers”

Harsh But Appropriate

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”Continue reading “Harsh But Appropriate”

A Perplexing Problem

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6–7, ESV) During my days of ministry, IContinue reading “A Perplexing Problem”

Grace and Glory

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:3–5, ESV) When I was in Savannah, ourContinue reading “Grace and Glory”

Grace and Peace (Galatians 1:3-5)

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:3–5, ESV) John Newton described himself as aContinue reading “Grace and Peace (Galatians 1:3-5)”

A High Calling (Galatians 1:1-2)

“Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:” (Galatians 1:1–2, ESV) In June 1974, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. When IContinue reading “A High Calling (Galatians 1:1-2)”

Stricken With the Word

“And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:28–29, ESV) How do we view and respond to the Word of God? Matthew recorded that the crowd that gathered was astonished at Jesus’ teaching. TheContinue reading “Stricken With the Word”

Wise or foolish?

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24, ESV) In life, we must ask ourselves some questions. Are we wise or foolish? On what have we founded our lives? Jesus stated that these two questions are vitallyContinue reading “Wise or foolish?”

To Do the Will of the Father

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”(Matthew 7:21, ESV) When we study the Scriptures, we often see paradoxical things. These are principles or statements with apparent contradictions. Yet, they are truths presented that ifContinue reading “To Do the Will of the Father”

Healthy Trees Produce Healthy Fruit (Matthew 7 :17-19)

“So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:17–19, ESV) When we lived in New Hampshire, thereContinue reading “Healthy Trees Produce Healthy Fruit (Matthew 7 :17-19)”