non-denominational

Merry Christmas From Bible Rebel

Rick TryonLeave a comment
Thomas Cole – The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds

Luke 2:1-20
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Your Life And What Comes After (10): Coming Miracles

Rick TryonLeave a comment

Below is a great quote from Dan Kent that summarizes how we can plug into God’s plan and how each of us can discover our individual purpose and talents in the process.

“Don’t stand around waiting for God to act, or for God to win your battles for you: don’t stand around watching for what God might do: rather, show God what you can do. Gain wisdom, gather knowledge, develop skills, give the Lord something to use as he rumbles through the earth unfolding his glorious will.”
Dan Kent – thatdankent.com

The Next Leg of Our Journey

As we go forward in this journey and you look to better understand ‘Your Life and What Comes After’ we’re going to be discussing three exciting topics:

  • The Existence Miracle
  • The Human Miracle
  • The You Miracle

Before we dive in, ask yourself this question: Do you need to see the person who built the beautiful grandfather clock in order to know that someone built it?

Stay tuned.

Your Life And What Comes After (9): How To Find Your Personal Path

Rick TryonLeave a comment

There’s a story about a guy named Lucas who worked for a big company that had a plan, a way to help folks in towns and villages all over the world.

At first, Lucas followed the plan simply because it was there. The path was marked, the steps were clear, and the purpose was larger than any one person—build, serve, and move forward together. He didn’t question it much; there was comfort in knowing where to place his feet and confidence in being part of something that mattered beyond his own small concerns. Each day, he worked alongside others who shared the same direction, all moving toward a common goal.

Over time, however, Lucas began to notice where his hands naturally lingered and where his heart felt most engaged. While everyone followed the same general plan, his attention kept returning to certain tasks—listening when others struggled, solving problems no one else wanted to touch, encouraging those who had fallen behind. None of this pulled him away from the shared purpose; instead, it deepened his place within it. He realized that the plan wasn’t meant to erase individuality but to give it room to emerge.

In the end, Lucas understood that his personal purpose had not been something separate waiting to be discovered somewhere else. It had been revealed to him through faithful participation in the larger mission. By committing himself fully to the shared direction, he found the unique role he was meant to play—distinct, meaningful, and perfectly aligned with the purpose that had guided him all along.

Lucas discovered the secret to finding one’s personal purpose in life: plug into Gods grand plan and purpose and you will find your special destiny – the life that you are meant to live, and the life that makes you the best you.

Here are five things you can do daily to plug in to God’s grand plan:

Seek God first in prayer
Matthew 6:33 (KJV):

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”


Beginning each day in prayer is a direct connection with God and His purposes.

Anchor yourself in Scripture
Psalm 119:105 (KJV):

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”


The Bible gives us daily guidance, helping us to better understand and walk in His purposes.

Practice obedience in small things
Luke 16:10 (KJV):

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”


Faithfulness in everyday choices is how God shapes you for greater responsibility and purpose.

Love those around you
John 13:34–35 (KJV):

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”


Loving others is one of the clearest ways God’s purpose is made visible through your life.

Examine your life with gratitude, and make changes if you need to
Psalm 139:23–24 (KJV):

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”


Daily reflection keeps your heart humble, your conscience clear, and your walk in line with God’s will.

As you live plugged in to God’s grand plan, you’ll be amazed and delighted at the doors He opens for you and the wonders He reveals to you!

Your Life And What Comes After (8): Has God’s Purpose Changed?

Rick TryonLeave a comment

I had a friend named Adriana back in the day. One day at school, Adriana announced that she had a new goal: she wanted to learn how to ski. That Saturday morning, she went to a sporting goods store, bought skis, boots, and poles, and signed up for lessons.

The very next day, Adriana slipped on the sidewalk, fell, and broke her ankle.

The next time I saw her, she had a cast up to her shin and was walking on crutches. I asked her if skiing was still part of the plan.

“Of course it is,” she said. “But now my goal is for my foot to heal—then I’ll learn how to ski.”

That’s a pretty good picture of how God’s grand plan works.

The Plan Didn’t Change—The Path Did

When Adam and Eve rebelled, they shattered their perfect relationship with God and threw His good creation into chaos.

Scripture puts it this way:

Genesis 3:17b–19


Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.

It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.

But here’s the key: humanity’s rebellion didn’t cancel God’s purpose. It didn’t force Him to scrap the plan. It only changed the route.

What Now?

The original purpose still stands—but first, the “broken ankle” has to be healed.

Everything in the Bible after the big rebellion is the story of God fixing what was broken. He does that by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to restore the relationship humanity destroyed and to bring creation back on track.

Our purpose hasn’t disappeared. We were still made to reflect God’s image, take care of His creation, and live in real relationship with Him—to walk with Him, talk with Him, and know Him as a loving Father.

But now, there’s more.

A New Layer of Purpose

If you follow Jesus, you don’t just benefit from restoration—you’re recruited into it.

We now share in God’s mission of bringing people back to Himself.

2 Corinthians 6:1


We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Let that sink in. God invites ordinary people—people like you and me—to participate in His rescue plan. He lets us play a role in restoring His family and preparing us all for our true home: a renewed heaven and earth.

2 Corinthians 5:18–20


And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

That’s not passive faith. That’s purpose with skin on it.

So what does that actually look like in everyday life? How do we live as God’s mirrors in the real world?

That’s where we’re headed next.

Your Life And What Comes After (6): Why God Created Everything

Rick TryonLeave a comment

Why did the man in our story build a house? Because he wanted to use his carpentry skills, show his ability at house-building, and—most importantly—create a place to share with his family, a place they could call their own.

He built a home where they could live in and enjoy life together. His children could arrange their own rooms and paint the walls their favorite colors. His wife could plant and care for a garden. They could put up a swing set or play volleyball with friends out in the big backyard.

They could add rooms and other spaces as needed, build a treehouse in the big oak tree out front, plant more trees and shrubs around the property, and watch them grow over time. They could add value to the home that was already built.

The man’s home was a workspace, a playground, and a wonderful place for him and his family to live together.

That is why the man built his house—to be a home.

And that is why God created the universe—to be a home for His family.

What Does God Want?

God desires a family to love—and to love Him in return. The world is the home God built for His family. We are the family with whom our Heavenly Father seeks to share His love, life, and goodness.

Ephesians 1:4–5 (KJV)
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will…

There it is again: “the good pleasure of his will.” God created the universe because it pleased Him to build a home for the family He desires.

And that family is us—you and me. We are the objects of the Creator’s endless, limitless love.

So What?

Now we know what God’s purpose in creating everything was—and still is. But what about us? What about you and me?

How do we fit into God’s grand plan and purposes? What is our purpose, and how is it connected to God’s purpose?

We will dig into the answers to those questions—so stay tuned.

They Said It: Four Quotes On The Book Of Joshua

Rick TryonLeave a comment

Here are four awesome quotes about the sixth book of the Bible, Joshua.

Origen of Alexandria (3rd century)

“Joshua, the son of Nun, is a figure of Jesus Christ; for he leads the people into the promised land, as Jesus leads believers into the kingdom of heaven.”
— Homilies on Joshua

Augustine of Hippo (4th–5th century)

“It was not Moses, but Joshua, who led the people into the land of promise—showing that the Law brings us to the border, but grace brings us in.”
— Sermons on the Old Testament

John Calvin (16th century)

“In the victories of Joshua, God displayed that the land was given not by human strength, but by His own hand and promise.”
— Commentary on the Book of Joshua

Matthew Henry (17th–18th century)

“Joshua’s book is a record of God’s faithfulness in the performance of His promises, and of Israel’s duty in the enjoyment of them.”
— Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Joshua

Your Life And What Comes After (5): Building A House

Rick TryonLeave a comment

There was a man several years ago who moved with his family to an area of the country where he had never lived before. He was a total stranger in the new town.

The man was a skilled carpenter by trade, but no one in the entire county knew that—or anything else about him.

After living in a small rented cottage with his wife and children for a few months, the man set about building a new house in which to live.

He took his time and worked hard and carefully on the house because he wanted the final result to reflect his great skill and workmanship. He used quality woods, such as cedar and fir, because only the very best materials would do for his new home.

After a year or so, he finished building the house, with his family name in magnificent carved oak set above the front door as a finishing touch. It was beautiful. In fact, it was the most beautiful house in the entire area. People would stop as they passed by to look at it, and they were amazed at the man’s skill and wisdom in house-building.

Now everyone for miles around in that county knows who the man is, and his name has become famous there.

God Builds a House

So, why did God create the universe and everything in it, including you and me?

To answer that question, we should look at what God Himself says. One of the main ways God speaks to us is through the Bible, so let’s look there.

Psalm 19:1 (KJV)
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

God made the whole universe and everything in it to show who He is—to display His glory, power, wisdom, and love. Why? Because it pleased Him to do so.

And because He wanted to share His creation with someone. More on that to come.