Acts Bible Study: Day 9 Today’s passage: Acts 5:12–42 Focus verse: The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. (Acts 5:41) In Acts 3:1–4:4 we learn how, when Peter miraculously heals the lame man, the opportunity opens for him to tell others about Jesus. We often […]
Don’t Yield to Progressive Ideology I’m increasingly bothered by the advice given to teens and young adults today. It may seem wise but it’s not. In fact, it’s worldly. Don’t blindly accept these five lies the world tells our kids. Scrutinize this so-called advice and make an informed decision. Encourage the young adults in your […]
Celebrate Jesus’s Return to Heaven, Which Prepares the Way for Pentecost In my post The Four Main Christian Celebrations, I list for holy days (holidays) that smartly recognize Jesus and succinctly outline the key elements of his life and what he did for us. These Christian holidays are: I wonder if I should add Ascension […]
Named After a Notorious Place Jezreel is the first son of Hosea and Gomer. His name is an allusion to a place called Jezreel. Though there are many people in the Bible who have a place named after them, this may be the first time in Scripture we see a person named after a place. […]
Today’s passage: Acts 1:9, along with Mark 16:19 and Luke 24:50–52 Focus verse: He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:9) After Jesus gives his parting instructions to his disciples and commissions them to be his witnesses throughout the entire world, he has completed all […]
Help Me versus Make Me As I read the Psalms in the Amplified Bible this week, a curious phrase jumped out. The writer says to God, “Make me understand the way of your precepts.” Notice, he didn’t ask for assistance by saying, “Help me.” He was direct; he implored God to “Make me.” The NIV […]
Acts Bible Study: Day 8 Today’s passage: Acts 4:32 to Acts 5:11 Focus verse: Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (Acts 5:9) In Acts 2:42–47, we read about a biblical model for church. Remember that this is a description of what happened and not a command for […]
Be Sure to Celebrate Your Mom Today and Every Day May we wish our moms, a happy Mother’s Day! In my book Women of the Bible, I explore the lives of biblical women, celebrating their lives and their contribution to the world. Their example can inform our faith journey. I conclude the book with the […]
Not Marriage Material Gomer (2) is a prostitute. We can assume she offers her body to other men to ensure her survival: food, water, and clothes. Or perhaps she’s merely promiscuous. Either way, she isn’t marriage material. Yet, God’s prophet Hosea marries her anyway. Gomer and Hosea have a son, Jezreel. Then she has two […]
The Promised Gift of the Holy Spirit Today’s passage: Acts 1:4–5, along with Luke 24:49 Focus verse: “John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:5) After Luke concludes his introduction to the book of Acts, straightaway he shares a story about Jesus and his […]