Furthermore, James says the scripture was fulfilled in Abraham’s attempted sacrifice, meaning the acknowledgement of Abraham’s righteousness in chapter 15 is actually prophetic, not didactic.Finding Harmony in these ScripturesWhen we compare these passages in their entirety, we see there is not so much a different approach to justification for Paul

6. Forgiveness and ReconciliationThe Lord’s Prayer includes a powerful line about forgiveness: we ask God to forgive us just as we forgive others. This shows how essential forgiveness is to our faith—it’s not just something we receive, but something we’re called to extend to others. It’s a beautiful call to live in grace and reconciliation.7. A Vis

Hints: Focus in on one particular need to meet at first – even one smaller-sized offering can provide powerful results and build close relationships over time. Make sure that the building insurance policy includes coverage for times the church will be open for a pantry or clinic and any special staff that volunteer. Have a rotating staff of people,

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).Faithfulness: Show faithfulness by honoring commitments, staying loyal to friends and family, and being reliable in your work or responsibilities."Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dish

Say yes to God. The first word we react with when we get bad news or a terrifying phone call is no. Whatever life holds, say yes. God knows. He knew before it happened. And knows where you are right now. Trust Him.Even when it hurts, and even when it’s hard, and even when life seems horrible - God has a purpose. His plan will prevail. We may not be

Miriam - The Sister Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10, 15:19-21Miriam’s greatest act of leadership came early in her life when she assumed responsibilities no young woman should be asked to do. Miriam kept a close eye on her baby brother Moses as he was sent downriver in a papyrus basket. Moses’s basket found its way into the arms of Pharoah’s daugher, and

A Tale of Two Mothers Quick question. What is the name of Moses’ mom? Most people don’t know the answer because when we are first introduced to Moses, we know she was there but we don’t know her name. You have to go to Numbers 26:59 to find that her name is Jochebed.When you read the story of Moses’ birth in Exodus 2, you learn that he was born dur

4. God Can Use Us Just as We Are “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).Whether our chronic pai

Biblical Controversy within the New CovenantThe earliest Christians were all Jews. And even as believers in the Lord Jesus, they still considered themselves Jews under a covenant relationship with God – a covenant relationship that involved circumcision. So, it was only natural that they would expect all believers to follow the Old Testament covena

Fourteen is a doubling of seven, which is a biblical number of completion. The doubling adds special emphasis. The three groups points us toward language of the Trinity. The fact that Matthew only goes back to Abraham shows us his special concern that Jesus be fully connected via blood back to Abraham as a completion of God’s promise (Genesis 12:3)

Who Were the Samaritan People? To explain the origins of the Samaritans, we must go back to the days of the kings. After King Solomon ruled over the Israelites – God’s people – the unwise actions of his son Rehoboam in the tenth century BC led to a schism in which the kingdom was split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom o

4. Time with God is critical. Quiet and solitude enable one to listen to the Spirit and discern answers to prayer. Before the noisy corporate rejoicing of Easter Sunday, create opportunities for peaceful contemplation and intimacy with the Father. No matter how prayers are answered at the end of 40 days-no, yes, or wait-time with the Lord is cause

Modern Witnesses My friend gently cupped his dying father’s limp hand in his own and prayed silently even as he braced himself for the inevitable last breath. But what happened next stunned — and comforted — him. His comatose father’s eyes flew open, he looked toward the ceiling, and said, “Son, I see Jesus, and your mother is standing next to Him.

A Small Life of Great Faithfulness Can Change the WorldLois and Eunice may not have led hundreds of people to the Lord. They may not have died for their faith or shared it in a stadium full of people. All we know for sure is that they taught Timothy, their grandson and son, to know and fear the Lord. They were known for their sincere faith, which a

1. “All Must be Well” by Indelible GraceMy church often sings this song, and I thought of it first after the horrific terrorist attack in Paris several years ago. It has been a comfort to me ever since through difficult times in our world.Through the love of God our Savior, All will be wellFree and changeless is His favor, All is wellPrecious is th

Origin of "A Wolf in Sheeps Clothing" in the Bible The book of Matthew, where we find our verse, named for its author, was written to a specific audience. Matthew is filled with references to Old Testament Scripture, indicating that Matthew’s goal in writing was to reveal Jesus to his Jewish brethren and to prove that He was the promised Messiah.Ma

1. Express More Thanksgiving Through Prayer“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).Often, I go to God in prayer with my list of “I need” and “please help.” While God wants us to share our heart’s cry with Him, there is another way to

But Didn’t Jesus Say…Listen to the words of Mark 11:23:“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (emphasis added).When we look at this verse, we seem to have the same conundru

Jesus said those who are apart from Him are children of Satan, the “father of lies” (John 8:44) and Romans 8:15 tells us when we receive God’s spirit we have received “a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’” God adopts us through our surrender to Christ Jesus. Therefore, a more accurate saying is: We are all God’s creatio

The promise in Psalm 91—that God is our refuge—is for all the people of Israel and all believers today, but the circumstances in Psalm 91 (pestilence, terrors by night and arrows) are faced by particular people and the psalmist. But interestingly these circumstances would have been seen as metaphors, which the ESV Study Bible reveals:“The snare of