Anybody who has ever attended a wedding knows how joyous the occasion can be. And, for most people it is full of religious imagery and symbolism. Even if people are not necessarily religious, they will often go the traditional route and get married at a church or some other place of worship, which will almost always include biblical references (or references to the religious place they are in). For Christians, marriage is a great picture of Jesus and His church;... Read more
What exactly is an inductive Bible study? Is this something that could give us better understanding of the Scriptures? The Command to Study Paul told Timothy, who he was mentoring, to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2nd Tim 2:15). We know that the apostles taught out of the Old Testament and they used the Scriptures for this. Paul told... Read more
Does the Old Testament contradict the teachings of the New Testament as some claim? Jesus on the Old Testament If the Old Testament contradicts the New Testament then why did Jesus quote out of it so much? Jesus often quoted the Book of Isaiah, Psalms, and even Genesis. In one place Jesus said “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. “For truly I say to... Read more
Many claim that the Old Testament promotes violence. Is this true? Is the violence found in the Old Testament being promoted or condoned? A Religion of Peace or of Violence? It is absolutely clear that there is violence in the world including in another religion which actually seems to promote violence and this was not just done in the past but is being taught today. For example Quran 8:12 says “I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye... Read more
Have you ever heard of a prayer walk? What is it? What does it mean and how should we do it? What is Prayer Walking? Simply put, prayer walking is praying while you walk. Where we walk, we pray, and in our own community a few years ago we walked throughout the community and prayed for those who don’t know Jesus Christ in a personal, saving relationship. It is fine to know Jesus or to know about Jesus but to... Read more
Do you like being appreciated for what you do? Most people do, and it is most significant when accompanied by words of affirmation and gratitude for a job well done. Parents, teachers, employees—everyone deserves some kudos for their efforts and job performance. Spiritual leaders and pastors likewise deserve our encouragement and support, so here are my top 7 Bible verses to show appreciation for a pastor. Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face... Read more
In John chapter 2 we read where Jesus turned water into wine. Here is the story with a commentary summarizing the occasion. John 2:1-4 “On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet... Read more
Why exactly did Jesus curse the fig tree? What was the symbolism of that? What was He trying to teach the disciples and us? The Fig Tree Encounter There were two encounters of Jesus’ and the fig tree and these are found in the gospels of Matthew and of Mark and even though there are slight differences, they essentially come to the same conclusion. Here is the account as given in Matthew 21:18-19; “In the morning, as he was returning... Read more
Teaching is a very demanding profession, as it requires a great deal of creativity, preparation, outstanding performance abilities, as well as grading and assessment time. The rewards are priceless, though, as the investment spent on each child is definitely worth every moment. As a former Christian elementary school teacher for over six years, I know that everyone appreciates some positive reassurance and inspiration on a regular basis. So here are my top 7 encouraging Bible verses for a school teacher.... Read more
There are times in our lives when we have been hit by blow after blow, and we feel crushed and exhausted. During these occasions, it is easy to lose all hope. God does not want us to live out our daily existence discouraged or hopeless, so he has given us his word as a source of blessing and encouragement. With that in mind, here are my top 7 Bible verses for when you feel defeated. Deuteronomy 20:4 “for the Lord... Read more
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