If you just won the lottery, and it was a large jackpot like $10 million dollars, what would you do with it? Would you spend it all or save it? Would you give some to charity or to close friends or family? The possibilities are endless. If you’re a Christian, would you give a portion to God in offerings or tithes? What role should money play in our lives of faith?
Continue reading “Are You Robbing God?”
The Jews who believed in Jesus at that time were scattered about Asia and were persecuted. They were hurt and confused and doubting in their faith because of the persecution they received. Peter wrote to comfort them and remind them of what they must do in times of suffering; that they must hold onto the hope in God and blessings of those who remain faithful under trial.
Continue reading “What is 1 Peter about in the Bible?”
1 John is a book that reminds us to obey God’s and Jesus’s word fully, to love one another, and to overcome lies with the truth. We should act and speak as true children of God. Let’s learn to understand, obey, and love as we are commanded.
Continue reading “What is 1 John in the Bible About?”
Paul writes two letters to a young pastor named Timothy, whom Paul considers to be his spiritual child (1 Tim 1:2). Paul was in prison for preaching the gospel and was sentenced to death. Timothy was a newly appointed pastor in the church at Ephesus, and at the time, some people in the congregation were preaching false doctrines, or not staying true to their appointed roles and tasks.
Paul reminds Timothy to teach sound doctrine, and not accept another gospel. In 2 Timothy, Paul reminds the young pastor (and us) to guard ourselves against false doctrines, to be a “good soldier for Christ” and work to please God with our work. He reminds us that many people will turn away from the Word in the last days, but the Word of God should still be preached “in season and out of season”, meaning at all times. Paul finishes his letter saying how he’s “fought the good fight” and now goes to be with the Lord in heaven.
Continue reading “What is the Book of Timothy About?”
When you think about it, the Bible can be really confusing. Looking at the words on the pages takes some careful thought, but even then, it can leave us scratching our heads. Take this verse for example:
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.”
Revelation 21:1
What comes to mind when you read this verse? Do you think of this passage literally? If so, it seems pretty scary right? The earth and sky (heavens) literally go away and a new (literal) earth and heaven (sky) is being made and there’s no more sea. No more sea? Now this sounds really confusing doesn’t it?
Continue reading “Why is the Bible So Confusing?”
“One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
Proverbs 12:26
Have you ever counseled and guided someone before? It could be a friend, family member, or an acquaintance. Counseling is an important tool for helping others deal with all kinds of issues – finances, relationships, or other personal things. Counseling guides people to figure out the best way to resolve those issues that need addressing. It helps them get back to a sense of normalcy in life.
Continue reading “Are You a Righteous Guide? – The Proverbs Series”
“I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.”
Psalms 119:11
God wants us to store up His word, His law, in our hearts and minds. By doing so, we will know how to keep from sinning and will be able to become more like God. But what does it mean to have stored up God’s word in our hearts?
Continue reading “Storing God’s Word in My Heart – The Psalms Series”
If you asked a hundred different people the question, “What does heaven look like?”, I’m sure you’d receive a hundred different answers. To some, heaven may be that “perfect day” where everything goes just right. To others, heaven may be a time and place with loved ones. Countless people will say is a place in the sky where you go to after you die. Many will also say that heaven is where God or their deity lives.
Continue reading “What Does Heaven Look Like?”
The Bible, from beginning to end, tells us of different eras in which people lived, and events pertaining to God’s history occurred. We have the eras of Adam, Noah, and Abraham in Genesis.
Then there’s era of Moses and the Israelites – their freedom from slavery, years in the desert, and conquest of Canaan. Afterwards, we see the eras of the judges, the kings, and the prophets.
The four gospels record the era of Jesus’ first coming. The book of Acts examines the era of the early church, and the Epistles record instructions and advice on how to be Christ-like for Christians, new and old. Finally, the last book of the Bible, Revelation, prophesies the second coming of Jesus. With all these eras, or times, in the Bible, which era do you think we’re living in now?
Continue reading “What Time Are We Living In? “
Prayer – it’s something all religions have and many people do, even when they don’t believe in God or a higher power. Some people recite lengthy prayers, while others might lift up a quick few words. Prayer is how believers of any faith communicate with the deity they believe in. People pray for blessings and for physical needs or desires. They pray to share their feelings and thoughts with their deity or the universe.
For Christians, we pray to God, the Creator and Father of our spirits. When it comes to the end of the prayer though, how should we end it? Do we just say “Amen” and be done with it?
Continue reading “Why Do We Pray in the Name of Jesus?”