What Is a Parable? In order to understand the parable of the two sons, it’s important to first know a little about Jesus’ parables, what they are and what they are not, and why Jesus frequently used stories to communicate profound spiritual truths.There is no denying that Jesus was a masterful teacher. He chose His words carefully and spoke with an

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grac

“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” (Genesis 1:17-18).The ground is cursed and bears the weight of the consequence of sin. What Paul was conveying is that even creation has experienced the consequences of sin and death and theref

God’s presence can be easily missed here, as it is reduced to three simple words: “As it happened.” Yet this phrase conveys nothing less than the full weight of God’s activity. God weaves together his own purpose and will through the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. Ruth’s presence in Boaz’s field is not brought about by coincidence or happenstance,

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).One of the qualities we need to show as a good friend is humility. If our opinion differs from theirs, or there is an issue to address, we can approach someone with grace and seek their good.“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up ange

Verses about Women The Bible has encouraging and insightful truths about women. Christian women can find inspiration in Scripture for how to be faithful in thought, word, and action. The Bible provides helpful guidance on their identity and how women can honor God with their lives and hearts.“The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alo

Noah’s Family Was Blessed through HimGenesis 7:1 says, “The Lord then said to Noah, Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.”Not only was Noah blessed for his righteousness, but his whole family was included in the blessing. It makes me think about the promise to Abraham (another man of God)

Where Do We Find Kissing in the Bible? Both the Old Testament and New Testament give us examples of kisses of greeting and kisses of departure. From Genesis through 1 Peter, kissing is described and/or shown as a “kiss of love (1 Peter 5:14), a holy kiss (Romans 16:16), a romantic kiss (Song of Solomon 1:2), a sibling kiss (Genesis 48:10), and a fa

“Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him. David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”Outside these two chapters, there is not much else we know about who Jesse was. He served Saul and he also allowed David to serve in Saul’s court when he needed someone to play the lyre for him. It was David who was chosen to do that and Je

1. Knowledge of AstronomyHe is the maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. (Job 9:9 NIV)Without modern telescopes and technology, early civilizations still viewed the formation of the constellations and gave them names. Only the Creator of the massive universe could put such knowledge into man. Sea-faring adv

2. Blest Be the Tie that BindsJohn Fawcett wrote this beautiful celebration of Christian fellowship after his small country congregation poured out so much love in bidding him goodbye, he changed his plans and remained with them throughout his ministry.3. Lead on O King EternalThis hymn is often overlooked these days but Ernest W. Shurtleff wrote r

Matthew 28:19Peyton Garland is an author, editor, and boy mama who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee. Subscribe to her blog Uncured+Okay and follow her on Instagram @peytonmgarland for more encouragement.

4 Things Christians Can Learn from The Story of the Woman at the Well1. Jesus alone is the Living Water that fills our void.Just as the Samaritan woman was looking to men to satisfy her soul, we also look to things outside of Christ to give our hearts meaning and purpose (John 4:14). However, as Jesus revealed Himself to her, he sought to show her

1. Adding rules to the teachings of Scripture. The Pharisees added rules to the teachings of God in a misguided attempt to keep people on the right path. This is a human temptation to tell other people when they are or are not living right before God. God gave the Law to His people as a gift of grace so they could be in relationship with a loving G

All Children Are Planned by GodIn Scripture from Genesis through the birth of Christ, God has planned the births of the men and women necessary to fulfill His plan.Abraham and Sarah were beyond childbearing age, but three visiting men said otherwise and heralded the birth of Isaac. (Genesis 18:1-2) Isaac became the father of Jacob who fathered the

Six Passages Commonly Taken out of Context, and the Correct Interpretation of Each As we investigate each verse, we will look at its context to help discern the author’s intent:1. Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”Some people use this short verse as a proof text to justify their desires for w

Moses’s dedicated relationship with God also determined a covenant between him and God, the Mosaic Covenant. Seeing the Israelites becoming restless and disrespectful in the wilderness, God gave Moses the Law (the Ten Commandments) and wanted Moses to share this with his people in order for them to be governed properly (Exod. 19:5-7). If they respo

In light of Proverbs 28:1, we see that righteousness resembles that of a bold lion, standing in the face of danger, unafraid and unwilling to yield. This is in contrast to the unrighteous or wicked who choose to run instead of face their fears, further showing that in righteousness, there is strength. In unrighteousness, there is only fear.Why Can

3. Imagine yourself speaking these words to GodNow that you are in a quiet, meditative place, and have found the Psalm that you would like to pray through, it’s time to turn your attention towards God and use your imagination.Our imaginations are such a gift from God. In fact, our brains don’t really know the difference between something we are pow

Does the Bible Mention Disabilities at All? In both the Old and New Testaments, we can find accounts of people who were either born with or developed a disabling condition. And God made it clear that they were to be treated with care and grace.“‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord’”