1. Easter Meditation on AdamI will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15).Adam’s sin plunged all his descendants into a desire to sin. Sadly, we all share in Adam’s guilt and receive death as our due penalty (Romans 5:12).But God…In

10. “Stay away from a foolish person; you will gain no knowledge from his speech” (Proverbs 14:7).Mind who you are spending time with, because who we surround ourselves with is who we become. While it is important to be a light in the world to find opportunities to share the Gospel with people who don’t know the Lord yet, if you find yourself alway

God used this star, whether a natural or unnatural phenomenon, to guide the magi so they could provide the appropriate gifts for the young Messiah, and so they could testify to His arrival.5. Herod’s IgnoranceKing Herod did not seem concerned about the appearance of the star, but only at the birth of a king who could be a rival to his throne, meani

1. 1 Corinthians 10:13 – Common to All PeopleWhen facing temptation, we often feel alone, like no one else faces these hardships and lusts. That’s part of the lie. The Devil seeks to isolate us in our temptation. In reality, everyone struggles with sin. 1 Corinthians 10:13 provides an encouragement and promise. “No temptation has overtaken you exce

2. Jesus Satisfied Old Testament ProphecyThere are dozens of prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the Messiah – numbers range from 200 to over 300 according to different sources. They include prophecies about how he would be born, how he would die, and about his resurrection. These prophecies are found as early as Genesis 3:15, and Isaiah is s

Let’s stop here and consider something of extreme importance. Cleopas and his friend were talking to the only one who understood the eternal ramifications of what just happened. Can you imagine being along on that road with Jesus when, “…beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He interpreted to them the things concerning Himself in all the

What Verses Show How Sin Can Hinder Effective Prayer?As Christians, works do not save us, and we’ve been given privileged, heavenly access. However, if we continue in sin and selfishness, our prayers will be hindered. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against hypocrisy in prayer. Prayers for attention or self-glory lose their impact.In 1 Pete

The Significance of the Penitential Psalms Throughout Church HistoryAlso known as Songs of Confession, the penitential Psalms reflect themes of contrition, repentance, and reconciliation with God. They are Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143. Incorporated into worship since ancient times, Jewish followers sang the lyrics of these and other Psal

Secondly, the sanctity of human life means far more than having a beating heart. It is not merely biological — it is so much more. Part of what it means to be human is to make decisions and to steward all that which God has given us — including our own bodies. Rather than diminishing the sanctify of life, allowing people to make their own end-of-li

1. Worship in Spirit and Truth John 4:24 tells us, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” God is spirit. He is more than an embodied figure. He is a spiritual being and therefore when we come to worship him, the essence of who we are – our spirit – must offer true praise to him.When we come to God to worship, a

“Smaller” Sins Are Still SinSometimes the smallest acts of disobedience (which is sin by the way), can come with the gravest consequences. After conquering Jericho, Achan kept some of the devoted things for himself. The Bible says Achan violated God’s covenant, stole and lied (Joshua 7:11). Most people would not put stealing and lying high on the l

Thou shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images. (Exodus 20:4-6)Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. (Exodus 20:7)Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11)Commandments 5-10Honor your father and mother. (Exodus 20:12)Thou shalt not murder. (Exodus 20:13)Thou

1. He Taught Using ParablesThroughout His ministry, Jesus taught the people using parables, or stories that contained spiritual truth. These stories resembled parables in the Old Testament, such as in Nathan’s story about the ewe lamb (2 Samuel 12:1-7) or the song of the vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7). Using everyday elements that most of His listeners co

Before embarking on significant spiritual missions, individuals in the Bible often fasted to prepare themselves. Jesus himself fasted for 40 days and nights in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry. Matthew 4:1-2 recounts, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and fo

What Are the Stations of the Cross? The stations of the cross are various images that depict the path Jesus walked on the day of his crucifixion. This walk, which is intended to be a journey through passion and prayer, is also known as the Way of the Cross or Via Crucis. Some scholars believe that early Christians used to make a pilgrimage to Jerus

Tangible Ministry IdeasWe have many ways to minister to a dying loved one in addition to the ideas mentioned above.Craft handmade cards for them. It doesn’t matter if you are artistic. What matters is the time and love you pour into them.Take special, allergen-free lotions to them, and if they are physically able and are okay with it, give them a n

Meanwhile, we see the tax collectors among those in the congregation who feel ashamed for their past and/or current sins, those who believe that God could never love them the way they are. They wonder if God’s grace could ever be for them. Could Jesus have really died for someone as shameful as them? So, when they hear the sermon, read the Bible ve

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways know Him and He will make your paths straight.” Most of us who experience seasonal depression wonder why God would let us go through this horrible time. But we have to trust Him. We have to remember that we cannot understand everything. Lean on the u

In Romans 15:13, Paul said, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” There is action on God’s part and our part. God holds onto us, and we, holding on to our profession of faith in Christ, trust God’s provision. As a result, our lives brim over wit

Spending time with God will inevitably promote holiness. You cannot get close to God and harbor sin. He will always lovingly expose these areas that are killing us. Spending time with God is a bit like spending time with a benevolent doctor. He will promote our health through holiness, and root out the things which are harming us.3. It Places Our S