So, when reading the Old Testament, starting with the books written by Moses (the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), we should not be surprised to find passages about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And there are many of them, startin...
So when we come to a passage in one of Paul’s letters in the New Testament, his first letter to the believers congregating in the Greek city of Corinth, it is very difficult for Westerners to understand the first verse Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, a chapter ...
And I have often wondered if it is not really better for a young upstart to be conceited, self-confident, cocky -- and with it, ambitious, energetic in trying to accomplish something, than to be an ambitionless, spineless, lazy, shiftless fellow utterly lacking in spark, drive, and the ...
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope y...
one particular Bible story that comes to mind. This story has stuck with me ever since I was a kid. The story is about Peter asking Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who has sinned against him. Jesus first replies with what would seem to be an absurd number of times—“...
Because in many ways, that's what Mary and Martha said. Both of them said to him, if you'd been here, Lazarus wouldn't have died. You've disappointed me. Why is it this way? Why were you absent in my time of need? If you have that question, bring it to the Lord. He can ...
The apostle Paul warns us to beware of Satan’s devices and tactics (2 Corinthians 2:11). Paul addressed this in Ephesians 6:10-20 where he talks about putting on the whole armor of God. Ephesians was one of Paul’s letters written from prison. During Paul’s time in prison he ...
the story that God is telling with His sprawling narrative of a world is not the same story that many of His characters are trying to tell. It is the responsibility of sane Christians to try to line up the story they are telling themselves about their lives with the story that God is ...
how you ought to imitate usImitation is a recurring theme in Paul's letters, where he often encourages believers to follow his example as he follows Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). This concept of imitation is rooted in the Jewish tradition of discipleship, where a disciple would closely follow...
Because in many ways, that's what Mary and Martha said. Both of them said to him, if you'd been here, Lazarus wouldn't have died. You've disappointed me. Why is it this way? Why were you absent in my time of need? If you have that question, bring it to the Lord. He can ...