Don’t Be Afraid Today’s passage: Matthew 28:5–7, Mark 16:5–7, and Luke 24:4–8 Focus verse: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:6) In Matthew’s account of what happens, the angel—the one sitting on the stone—says to the women, “Don’t be afraid.” As we read throughout Scripture, this is often the […]
The story of Tamar is a tragic one. The beautiful daughter of King David caught the eye of her half-brother, Amnon, who lusted for her. At the advice of his cousin, Amnon feigned illness and manipulated Tamar into his bedroom. Once alone, he grabbed and solicited her. Three times Tamar refused. When her pleading wasn’t […]
Acts Bible Study: Day 4 Today’s passage: Acts 2:42–47 Focus verse: And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47) After Jesus’s followers receive Papa’s gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Luke describes what happens next. It’s huge. First, they dedicate themselves to learning more about Jesus from his […]
Using the Word “Lord” Leads to Confusion One of the names for God in Hebrew is Yahweh (YHWH). Yet most translations of the Bible don’t use Yahweh. Instead, most use Lord. This may be because some Jewish people dare not say this name for God aloud. Yet substituting the word Lord for Yahweh often makes […]
Evil King of Israel We find many men throughout Scripture named Zechariah. The Bible may have more Zechariahs in it than any other name. With many obscure mentions throughout the Bible—fifty-nine times in nine books—it’s impossible to determine accurately how many there are, but there are perhaps as many as twenty-two men named Zechariah in […]
Present During Suffering Today’s passage: John 19:25, along with Matthew 27:55–56, Mark 15:40–41, and Luke 23:49 Focus verse: Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25) In our biblical narrative we don’t move directly from Jesus’s death to his resurrection. There’s much […]
A Wise Woman Abigail is an intelligent and beautiful woman. In contrast, her husband, Nabal, is surly and mean; his servants call him wicked and she confirms his name means fool. Nabal is wealthy, with thousands of livestock. David and his men protect Nabel’s herdsmen and flocks, anticipating he will appreciate their efforts and one […]
Acts Bible Study: Day 3 Today’s passage: Acts 2:1–41 Focus verse: When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. (Acts 2:6) Just before Jesus returns to heaven, he tells his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for a present that Papa will send: the gift […]
Celebrate Resurrection Sunday Easter is a celebration, not of chocolate eggs and fluffy bunnies, but of the greatest event in history. Christians everywhere know what this is, and we use big words and confusing terms to explain it. Most people outside our circles don’t have a clue what we’re saying. Sometimes we don’t either. Jesus‘s […]
Should Christians Focus on Worshiping Jesus Who Suffered or Jesus Who Rose from the Dead? As we moved through Lent to approach Holy Week we anticipate four significant days: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter (which some call Resurrection Sunday). The last two, Good Friday and Easter, stand as momentous occasions for all […]