12 Step programs can be a great blessing. These programs are designed for people with addictions or behaviors they cannot stop. The first three steps help the person to acknowledge he is out of control, powerless over the addiction. Then he recognizes God can [...]
Numbers used as symbols in the Bible are of special importance. Sometimes the number itself has an exact, literal meaning. Other times, the number represents a scriptural concept. So what is the biblical, symbolic meaning of the number forty? Some examples of the use [...]
Ishmael had twelve sons: Nebajoth, Kedar, Abdeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. (Genesis 25:14-18) According to McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia, Arab historians divide the Arab peoples into the descendants of Joktan (Genesis 10:25-29); and descendants of Ishmael. Some of [...]
John the Baptist immersed Jews into the Jordan River with the baptism of repentance. Acts. 19:4, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” Therefore, John’s purpose was to [...]
“The earth abideth forever,” Ecclesiastes 1:4. From this we know that the literal earth is never going to be destroyed. “There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts (plans).” II Peter 3:3 This verse informs us that there [...]
What Is the Curse? Genesis 2:16,17, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that [...]
Music was an important element of Jewish temple/synagogue worship and probably influenced the music of the early Christian church. The New Testament records that early Christian worship included singing of psalms from the Old Testament. Subsequently, Christians composed their own hymns. Music has [...]
Neither God nor His words in the Bible are ever contradictory. In fact, Romans 3:3-4 asks “What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true…” (NIV) The abandonment of Jesus on [...]
The cross was a well-known tool implemented in one of the most excruciating forms of execution: crucifixion. Public crucifixion was used by the Persians as early as 500 B.C. and later the Greek and Roman empires also employed this method of capital punishment. The [...]
This text begins: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing [...]
The words, “my God, my God” (Matthew 27:46) reveal Jesus’ thoughts and feelings while he hung on the cross. Throughout his earthly life, Jesus was constantly in communion with God and was renewed in strength and love thereby. However, part of Jesus’ sacrificial experiences as [...]
1 Timothy 1:9-11 (NIV), “We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for [...]
In this situation, it is important to determine if the pastor knows he has verbally hurt someone. If not, (sometimes our words unintentionally hurt another), then the person who feels wronged, should directly contact and talk to that pastor. Jesus gave this instruction in [...]
Worship is defined in Webster’s Dictionary, 1828 as to “Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.” Many honest and sincere Christians think that if you love God and give glory to God, that this is enough. Some quote the Apostle Paul: [...]
1 Peter teaches the truths of faith and holiness to the “elect” (1:2, Colossians 3:12), both Jewish and Gentile converts to Christianity. The “elect” are a class chosen by God to be developed into Christ’s character image (Romans 8:29) . God did not predestinate [...]
Psalm 149 consists of two themes. In the first half of the Psalm, the songwriter sings a song of praise to the Lord, a song of rejoicing which included musical instruments and dance. The praise reinforces the promise of hope and salvation from God. [...]
Jesus and his apostles healed many people. Mark 6:13, “…And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.” But they did not heal themselves. The Apostle Paul prayed to be relieved from what appears to have [...]
A word for “abortion” is not found in the Bible; however, an unborn baby or fetus is considered alive by God. Exodus 21:22, 23 illustrates the value God puts on an unborn baby. “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she [...]
God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of His love for His children. This may be a little difficult to understand on the surface, but we are to remember that God’s ways are higher than ours. The thought of this chapter begins by reading Verse [...]
This question essentially asks, “Who protects and guides Christians while they are still on earth?” We look to the Bible for our answer. God's kindness guides us. [...]
