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 […]
Missionaries for Jesus Today’s passage: John 20:21–23 Focus verse: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21) Jesus again says, “Peace be with you!” He’s already said this twice (Luke 24:36 and John 20:19). And he’ll say it a fourth time to Thomas in one week (John 20:26). Jesus says this […]
Anticipating Jesus Today’s passage: Luke 24:25–27 Focus verse: Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:27) After hearing the two men tell Jesus about himself, the Savior responds. He begins with some harsh criticism. He calls them foolish and slow to […]
Examine Future Expectations A friend told me he prays every day for Jesus to return. “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.” Yes, every day. His imperative words emoted sincerity and passion. He meant it; he really meant it. Upon hearing this, two thoughts simultaneously bombarded my mind. The first was the realization that I have never prayed […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Disciples Get Ready to Celebrate the Holy Day with Jesus Today’s passage: Matthew 26:17–19, Mark 14:12–16, and Luke 22:7–13 Focus verse: “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” (Matthew […]