How Can We Live Holy Lives?When someone becomes a Christian, they aren’t immediately fully sanctified (made holy). Sanctification is the process of becoming holy; it starts at the moment of conversion and continues until glory (Romans 8:29-30; Hebrews 10:14; 2 Corinthians 3:18). We step into the kingdom of God and are built up more and more into th

2. Mary MagdaleneMary Magdalene is one of the most-mentioned women among Jesus’s earthy disciples. She traveled with him and cared for him as one of his followers and was present at his crucifixion. She was also among the first people Jesus appeared to after his resurrection (Mark 15:40 and John 19:25). Clearly, she was important to Jesus and one o

I find it beautiful that John begins his book talking about the victory of Jesus in the light.“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5).When the Light of Jesus has truly come into someone’s heart and this person has been born again, the darkness

1. Fulfillment of Prophecy Entire books have been written documenting how the Bible has predicted events that were later fulfilled. Although people often deny the inspiration of Scripture, the fulfillment of prophecy demonstrates its authenticity as the Word of God. We should expect this, though, since God is the source of all prophecy. What He pro

2. Grace Is Unexpected No one made Jesus get on the cross. He is a king who did the unthinkable by leaving his throne. He came to do something the disciples could not seem to imagine, even though he told them over and over: he must “be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Matthew 16:21). Jesus’ trajectory is clear, and yet the disciples could n

1. The Fall from Grace“To Adam he said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ ‘Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life’” (Genesis 3:17).Man’s fall from grace. “Cursed is the ground because of you…”

1. The Muppet Christmas CarolThe Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) brings us a retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic story with the humor and silliness of the Muppets. Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Michael Caine, starts the movie as a cold-hearted miser who hoards his wealth and demonizes the poor. He’s given a chance to change before it’s too late and h

What if I Don’t Feel Like God Hears Me?We cannot expect God to answer us with an audible voice from heaven or with a “sign.” What we have is the Scriptures, and from the Holy Spirit working in us through them, we receive understanding, insight, and wisdom. 2 Peter 1:3 gives us great hope, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain

How Long Did Mary and Joseph Stay in Bethlehem?The timeline isn’t certain. For one, it isn’t clear how long they were in Bethlehem before Jesus was born. Though it makes for a good drama in Christmas pageants, it’s unlikely that Mary gave birth the night they arrived. The Bible simply says that, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to

Later, He and His disciples “traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons” (v. 39). At some point, He encountered a man with leprosy who begged Him for cleansing. Jesus did so and sent him off with a stern warning:“See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrific

1. Proverbs 3:5“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).This verse directly addresses doubt by urging complete reliance on God. Human understanding is limited and often leads to uncertainty and confusion. When we face situations causing us to doubt, the verse reminds us that our perspective is no

Ephesians 6:12 insists that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” We cannot see them, and most people could not face them. John helps us to see what was invisible to us by appeali

4. “Subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that creeps on the earth.” Adam and his descendants were to have dominion over the land and created beings. Adam was to multiply in his perfect state and in a favorable relationship with God. So too, the Garden where God placed them w

What Were the Two Trees in the Garden? God created everything perfect. He set it all up just the way it should be, placing the people made in his image in the Garden of Eden. The Bible mentions two trees in the middle of the Garden: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:9). The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and

Mentorship in a Virtual WorldMentorship has always been a cornerstone of discipleship, and in the digital age, mentorship can take on new forms. I have some guys where 80% of my discipleship and mentoring happens through Facebook Messenger. If we relied upon face-to-face relationships only, we couldn’t keep those connections going. Technology allow

4. Gratitude and Thanksgiving Leads to InsightPsalm 50:23 says, “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” As we give thanks, God brings order and insight to our lives. Maybe we are unsure how we should be celebrating this season as a family? Maybe we are walk

And He singles them out. Zacchaeus doesn’t get to stay up in that tree and be unnoticed. He’s invited to dinner. That’s astonishing. It gets the religious leaders all upset. If Jesus were a prophet, he wouldn’t have people like this at dinner. What we see, though, is that this is less about their seeking and more that they are being sought. They we

Jesus Models the Sword of the SpiritJesus knew Scripture. Yes, He was God. However, He modeled the value in hiding God’s Word in our hearts. We should make it a goal and lifestyle to read, trust, and memorize Scripture verses.We see Jesus use the Bible against Satan during a spiritual battle of temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). We see

How Can Christians Today “Do Good and Share”? For Christians today, we can follow the call to “do good and share” through various tangible actions that reflect the love and generosity of Christ.1. Acts of Charity and ServiceWe can engage in charitable acts and service within our communities. Volunteering at food banks, shelters, and charitable orga

1. Psalm 19One of the first ways we experience worship and wonder is to view God’s creation. The nature around us displays his power, his strength, his goodness, and his order. Psalm 19 reveals the majesty of God through his creation and his word. The psalm begins by celebrating the heavens, declaring the skies show his handiwork and glory. Day and