1. Praying the Word of God back to God carries didactic import. It teaches us.
  2. Just like for Mordecai and Esther, our lives are also sustained by the hand of God in the ordinary, in events begging to be seen as the work of Christ in our lives.
  3. When we forget that we live by promise, that's when the danger tends to creep in. Because failing to embrace promise means we usually fall back into notions of luck, or even worse--into works.
  4. God is the end of living, the destination, the point of it all.
  5. God wants his word of promise to be the only thing we bank on, the only thing we have confidence in.
  6. This hymn is not for people who feel strong, but those who are weak.
  7. Christ's words of exclusive salvation are not just a warning but a sure promise for you.
  8. What greater legacy could you claim than that of Mark? Listen to the Word. Learn from Jesus.
  9. The drama of Scripture is about God renaming us by bringing us into his image-bearing family once again. And it would take “a name above all names” to accomplish it.
  10. The testimony of every son and daughter of God is, God has brought us through.
  11. A father's struggle to pray for his child's healing is one of the most difficult experiences he can face.
  12. By mandating the promise, Christ states something stronger than just an invitation.