First Trumpet – Hail and Fire Mixed with Blood: When the first angel sounds his trumpet, hail and fire mixed with blood are cast down upon the earth. This judgment affects a third of the earth, burning up trees and all green grass. The devastation recalls the seventh plague in Egypt, where hail fell upon the land, symbolizing God’s judgment upon cr

1. We Are and Never Will Be Alone “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).Matthew, who wrote the Bible book bearing his name, confirmed this prophecy as pointing to Christ’s birth, defining this Old Testament name when he added, “which means ‘God w

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me” (Psalm 13:5-6).“Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him — his name is the Lord” (Psalm 68:4).4. He Leaned on God during Times of Trouble“But you, Lord, are a shie

So, the chief priests and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things . . . Who gave you this authority?” (Luke 20:2). Jesus responded by asking them a question: “Tell me: John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”Much like Jesus’s challenge in John 8:7, “Let he is without sin cast the first s

1. Paul Prepared to Die by Keeping an Eternal Perspective“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better” (Philippian

When the church discovers the sin of one of its members, the next step is taken.Rebuke:Our sins as Christians affect the church, and the church is to hold the sinner accountable. Following the Lord’s guidelines, the person to whom the sin was exposed is to go to the sinning person and lovingly confront them. Before we rebuke another for an exposed

Consider simple ways you can save funds to turn into donations. Cut that Friday morning Starbucks run—Lord knows there's no need spending seven dollars on a drink loaded with processed sugar anyway. What if those new tennis shoes for the gym can wait another month? Use that pivoted prayer time to ask God for specific ways you can save money to shar

1. The Strength of God’s Salvation“For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh b

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”As Jesus promised in John 16:33, his followers will encounter troubles and trials, and yet God alwa

1. Have Certain Topics to Pray Over Every MondayThere are some prayer requests that take time to be answered, and so they need to be lifted up to the Lord regularly. Sometimes there are also pressing needs that weigh heavy on our hearts at the start of the week. Maybe these come from work, school, personal issues, or relationship dynamics.Having ce

It sounds pretty cool, but is that a valid way of interpreting Scripture? Perhaps looking at the origin might also be helpful.Where Did Gematria Come From?I should also mention that there are different ways of arriving at these numbers. It’s not nearly as wide open as a cryptogram, but there are at least three different types of values.Standard Gem

5 True Ways God Speaks to Us Today1. God Speaks to Us through His WordI would say the most consistent way God speaks is through his word. His word is there to teach us about who he is, how to live, and it also allows us to become familiar with his voice. The word is God’s voice concerning the issues of life. If you wonder what God thinks about a to

Deeper Bible study also reveals that Paul gave similar instruction to the Romans. Paul writes “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).What Does This Teach Us about Eternal Glory?Paul is fervent in his instructions to the church at Corinth, driv

2. Our Spirit Is ReconciledAs God’s redeemed children, we do not need to fear eternity with God. Because we are reconciled and forgiven in Christ (Colossians 2:13-14), we have great hope at the future judgment seat of Christ where our works after salvation are examined (for reward or loss). Ours is not a “hope so” reconciliation; it’s a fact! When

The story echoes Ezekiel 36:26, where God promises, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” To remain human, made in God’s image, we must maintain compassion, even in dire circumstances. Sarah’s decision to spare Dyson’s life represents her choice to resist

God’s CommandsWhat we have in the Scriptures are clear-cut commands and exhortations about living a holy life — one which pleases the Lord God. The Lord God has given us incredible minds, and we ought to use them well as we seek to glorify the Lord. Ephesians 5:8b-10 tells us, “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that

God’s Word tells the stories of real and imperfect people without sugar-coating their lives. As we read the names which appear in Hebrews 11, we can’t help but remember their shortcomings and failures as well. Yet, God included them for their faith. Their example reminds us of God’s unmerited redemption in our own lives. Hebrew’s faith list from th

8 Ways to Pray for Your Senior1. Pray They’ll Experience God’s Astounding Love“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life a

2. Pornography Addiction Is a Form of Adultery “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).It is not a frivolous reason to be angry and hurt. In the eyes of God, your spouse might as well have slept with someone else, which breaks God’s seventh command

The language Zephaniah uses to paint a picture of the coming Day of the Lord is harrowing, at least for those experiencing God’s judgment. Nevertheless, the promise of God’s judgment hints at God’s undeserved mercy, His desire to restore His people to righteousness and covenant relationship.Through judgment, God would cleanse His people of wickedne