Having Access to the Bible Is a GiftIt is easy to believe that we will never come to a time when the Bible would be taken away from us. However, this is the case in many places around the world. So many believers would be overjoyed if they had even a page of Scripture. How often do we take it for granted to have a Bible in our own homes or on our p

“…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:3How is this even possible that a little nation not much bigger than New Jersey could bless all the peoples on earth? That reason is because from Abraham’s lineage we get to the Messiah, Jesus. It is in Jesus that this promise is fulfilled. It is because of Jesus that the offer o

While the Bible expresses more serious judgment for certain people, like false teachers, every one of us has been rebelling against God and deserves judgment (Romans 9:22). Without a direct rescue from God, this curse is our fate.What Makes Someone Being Anathema So Serious?Anathema involves the rejection of God’s truth and the message of salvation

What Does It Look Like to Have Our Identity in Christ? When I was in high school, I thought I’d be cool and attend a college party. To gain entrance, one needed a student ID from the college. My high school ID wasn’t going to cut it. In other words, based upon my own identity, I didn’t meet the qualifications to gain entrance. But my friend, a fres

“Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:11).The Apostle Paul’s message to the Gentiles - that God’s promises could also be theirs if they had faith in His Son - began opening up the church to people from different backgrounds, areas and custo

John 10:14 says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” Good here is relational. He knows us and we know Him. Our relationship with God is good because of Jesus. He knows us fully and loves us deeply. We are the sheep of His pasture, and He cares for us.How Are You Exhibiting and Experiencing the Goodness of God?I love the

Matthew 28:1-10 also tells us that, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb and there encountered an angel, who explained Jesus had risen, “Just as he said” (v. 6). As the women hurried away, Matthew 28:9-10 tells us, “Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his fee

Where Does Jesus Teach Us to Pray in His Name? Jesus teaches his disciples to pray in his name in the Gospel of John as part of his farewell discourse, a series of teachings given to his disciples the night before his crucifixion.The specific passages where Jesus teaches to pray in his name are found in John 14:13-14, John 15:16, and John 16:23-24

Easter Sunday: April 20What Are the Rules for Lent?The rules of Lent may differ depending on the congregation or person. Some people do what I like to call “freestyle” where they pick and choose what they want to give up for Lent. For instance, someone may choose to social media fast. Perhaps they will not go on a social media platform for the enti

1. It Has Abstract or Highly Specific Concepts Examples include the symbolism in Jesus’ parables in the Gospels, prophets who had to act out their prophecies such as Hosea or Ezekiel, and political subtext.God’s ways are higher than our ways, and trying to wrap our minds around what He is communicating can be difficult. Some of Jesus’ parables are

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." (James 1:19)When there is a problem, there can be a tendency to want to find an immediate solution. However, sometimes, before you get to the solution, you need to make sure you understand the problem. This is where listeni

Many modern believers can relate to Psalm 73:2-3, “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Asaph reminds us (again) of the value of worship in verses 16-17, “But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until

It is kind of a depressing finish to what seemed like a revival. What a gut punch it would have been for Nehemiah to have led the people to outwardly do all the right things, but then discover it had been for naught. The problem was that the people hadn’t actually changed. Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah had simply changed structures. They were not

Matthew 3:16 says, “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.”The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove. The phrase, “look at the birds” may have meant more to the disciples or those who witnessed the baptism of Christ

How Do You Know What God Wants from You?As God’s people, we want to do whatever God asks of us. The problem we have is that too often we struggle to know what God wants us to do. We spend a lot of precious time questioning Him and that can leave little time for obedience. So, how can we know what God wants from us? We must start by preparing our he

What Jude Says to False TeachersWhen we think about all of the false teachers out there, it can be overwhelming. There are so many messages that claim the name of Jesus which have been twisted for personal gain. Jude warns us of this practice. Whether it is being aware of influencers we follow on social media or being cautious of what local Bible s

Similarly, when Queen Esther learns of Haman’s plot to destroy the Jewish people, she sends clothing to her cousin Mordecai, urging him to take off his sackcloth and ashes instead of dressing in royal robes. This symbolic act signifies a shift from mourning and despair to hope and redemption, as God intervenes to deliver His people from destruction

David knew well the feelings of betrayal and abandonment. However, he didn’t use these experiences as reasons to give up on God. He learned through these hardships how central praise and worship was to endure faithfully. David doesn’t write this psalm during a time of victory and abundance, but pain. He writes this song to remind himself (and other

Amen.3. Pray When You Need ItSometimes there are deadlines we have to hit, or family needs to attend to, and prayer becomes something only for select times of the day. However, there are moments where the only appropriate thing to do is pray and go to the Lord. There are moments where the only reason a Christian may have the strength or courage to

1. When You Worship the WorshippersIt is very popular now to have worship groups go on tour and go around the nation leading worship concerts. I had the privilege of attending one of these concerts. While I enjoyed the concert, the music, and the time we shared, something jumped out at me. At one point, I took a moment and observed the audience. As