Work your way through one book at a time, and you’ll never find yourself fumbling for where to read again. 4. How to read the Bible: Read a little every day! Getting God’s Word into your life doesn’t have to take long. Start small—five or 10 minutes is better than none. Sometimes less is more, especially when reading less means you’ll actually reme

The sacred songs of Scripture lift a broken heart, but the New Testament also speaks to the topic of grief.What Do the Apostles Say about Dealing with Grief?The apostle Paul wrote multiple Bible verses that address grief, comforting those whose loved ones have died or those encountering other types of significant loss.1 Thessalonians 4: 13 (NIV) re

But God said to get rid of it, remove it, and start over with a clean slate. Rid yourself of hidden emotions and blame attached to the offense. It is impossible to do within your strength, but possible when you give it to God. 6 Things to Remember about ForgivenessHere are a few things to remember:Healthy BoundariesForgiveness does not condone beha

John Newton made many trips to Africa to buy slaves, who were sold in the United States and the Caribbean. Even after becoming a Christian, Newton did not see anything wrong with slavery, like most others during his time. Later Newton did begin to see that slavery was wrong. He and a young politician named William Wilberforce joined others who spok

“And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you.”He is predicting that they will experience both blessing and curse of the covenant. He knows they won’t keep their end of the bargain. They will be covenant-breake

What Does the Bible Say about Satan? In the Old Testament, there are many allusions to Satan, and even descriptions of his origins, but the New Testament clarifies a great deal about this being. Created with the other angels, Lucifer was one of the highest ranking – if not the highest ranking – beings in Heaven. At some point, he became prideful, a

Where Do We See This Phrase in Scripture? We can see early on in Genesis the concept of a portion as an inheritance. In Genesis 14:24, Abraham uses the phrase to refer to spoils of war. In Genesis 31:14, Rachel and Leah speak of a “portion or inheritance” left to them in their father’s house. And in Numbers we see this phrase used often at the doli

1. Pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17)As those who belong to Christ, we need to pray about every lifestyle choice we make. It may seem redundant, but the Bible is replete with the command (and example) to pray. Why would we eschew asking our Father for help?2. Study and Follow Christ’s ExamplesWhen you consider Jesus’ actions throughout the Gospels, you’ll

If we want to experience God’s presence, we need to draw near to him. This may involve confessing our sins and repenting of them. James 4:8 tells us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Jesus reveals in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will se

In my opinion, Isaiah 40-55 is really the heart of the book. It’s here that the early church camped out as they proclaimed the risen Christ. I appreciate N.T. Wright’s words:“The more we get to know Isaiah 40–55, the more we will understand how the first followers of Jesus understood ‘the gospel’ (Isaiah 40.9; 52.7). The more we relish the sweep an

You have what they truly want. And as a Christian, you have the answer that the world is searching for. So learn to live like Daniel to compel them to come to the knowledge of Christ!1. Remember Why We Are HereDaniel could have concluded he was in the Babylonian empire, against his will, simply because he was captured. He could have focused on his

What Causes Christians to Become Weary? Christians are not promised a pain-free life. Weariness is soul pain and it comes because of a number of things, including but not limited to:ImpatienceSocial mediaUnsaved loved ones GossipsLong-term illness GrieffaithBetrayal 5 Scriptures about Weariness, and Their Solution God’s Word is replete with passag

Or it’s the thing that is standing in the way of your financial peace and stability (overspending, consumer debt, shopping, or work ethic).Some of these things aren’t necessarily wrong, bad, evil or sinful in and of themselves, but for you personally, it may cause stumbling. Successfully dealing with our personal “things” is of utmost importance, b

- To bring a sword (Matthew 10:34)- To be the second and greater Adam (Romans 5:14-15)(and the list goes on…)SalvationChristians are saved. But saved from what? A wise pastor says we are saved by God, from God, and for God. What does this mean?What Does It Mean to Be Saved?The Gospel: Saved by GodGod created Adam as a perfect man, designed by God t

How do People Celebrate the Day of Atonement Today?The Day of Atonement (called Yom Kippur) is still the Jews’ most sacred holiday of the year, but the ceremony lacks something. Since 70 AD, when the Romans destroyed their temple, the Jewish people have observed the ceremony without its most crucial element, a blood sacrifice.How then do people get

Is It True That "to the Pure, All Things Are Pure"?What Does This Verse Mean for Us Today?Robert W. Yarbrough, The Letters to Timothy and Titus, ed. D. A. Carson, Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; London: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2018), 500.Pastoral Epistles: An Introduction and CommentaryMike Leake is husba

The phrase I want us to notice is “in everything.” Sometimes we think since I am overwhelmed now, I will pray. Or since I don’t know what to do, now I will turn to God and see if He can help me. But I think this verse gives us a clue into how to truly overcome and beat some of those anxious days and overwhelming moments. It’s all about realizing th

Matthew Henryfrom the love of God,How Can I Apply Proverbs 19:23 to My Life Today?Emma Danzey’s mission in life stems from Ephesians 3:20-21, to embrace the extraordinary. One of her greatest joys is to journey with the Lord in His Scriptures. She is wife to Drew and mom to Graham. Emma serves alongside her husband in ministry, she focuses most of

I pray for my pastor today. I know that there will be things which discourage him. Rescue him from any pride which will cause him to focus too much attention on himself. Help him to measure spiritual fruit correctly. Remind him of why he does ministry. Bring people into his life that will be deeply encouraging to him. Help him to have deep and mean

The Apostle Paul reinforced this practice by starting most of his letters to the churches with prayers as well as encouragement for them to pray for each other. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which s