The holy spirit is God’s invisible power and influence. God alone decides who receives this precious gift. There are various steps involved for a Christian to receive the holy spirit. James (4:8 English Standard Version) says, "Draw [...]
This phrase comes from the book of Song of Solomon, (2:15?, NKJV) “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.” The Bible often uses picture language to help us understand deeper lessons. Foxes appear [...]
Being able to call Scriptures to mind is a powerful skill. Verses can bring us or others comfort during difficult times, or give us good advice when faced with a decision or problem. Knowing where to find Scriptures quickly also helps us in [...]
Soldiers wear protective clothing to keep them safe. In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul compares a Christian to a soldier: in our imagination, we symbolically wear special items that protect us from bad influences and keep us on a path to [...]
Because prayer is the only way we can talk to God - to express thankfulness as well as ask for His guidance and forgiveness for wrongdoing. Prayer also helps us feel closer to Him. But with this important privilege comes responsibility. When you [...]
The Bible tells us that Mary was Jesus' mother, and God was his father, (not Joseph). The books of Matthew (13:55, 56) and Psalms (69:9) indicate that Mary and Joseph had four sons and several daughters after Jesus was born. Because they all [...]
The short answer is: to give his life for the world. But what exactly does this mean? Here’s a little story to help us understand: There once was a nobleman who had disobeyed his king. His home was taken away, and he was [...]
The privilege of giving birth to the Savior of the world couldn’t be given to just anyone. Only a woman with outstanding faith, an extraordinary character, and pure heart would be appropriate for such an honor. We find information about Mary’s beautiful [...]
Yes! Romans 6:6 teaches us that sin is going to be destroyed, AND we are promised in 1 Corinthians (15:26 NIV) that “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” When we pass a building under construction, do we criticize the builder? Do [...]
To help us feel closer to Jesus and his life, it’s important to be familiar with his surroundings. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He and his parents fled to Egypt for a time to escape King Herod’s wicked decree that all baby [...]
The word “covet” is used in the 10th commandment of the Law that God gave to Moses: it says we should not covet various things that belong to our neighbor. To covet means to want something very strongly that someone else has. [...]
Something so incredible that it changed the course of the Apostle Paul’s life, shaping the history of Christianity. By this time, the crucified and risen Jesus had appeared to several disciples. Saul, later called Paul, was a Pharisee - a Jewish leader, religious [...]
James 3:17 (NLT translation) “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is [...]
The Bible tells us about the unbreakable bond between David and Jonathan. We can apply these lessons to our own friendships today! Friends usually share common interests, and for David and Jonathan, that was serving the Lord. When friends make God the number [...]
Jesus spoke often about God’s kingdom. He described it as coming in stages, ending with a future time when the earth will be restored and all those who died will be resurrected to learn how to live righteously. Revelation gives us a [...]
The Israelites were complaining that they wanted to be like other nations with fancy kings who sat on thrones and led them into battles. But by demanding a king, they were actually rejecting God, who was already their invisible king, more powerful than [...]
Evil speaking is similar to slander or gossip, which is saying something about someone that hurts their good name or reputation. The Bible says the tongue is like a fire - and a fire can be destructive. (see James 3:6) If we hear [...]
Sometimes at school or church, we might be asked to lead others, maybe on a team or for a group activity. As Christians, we must watch our behavior extra carefully to be sure we are copying the life of Jesus in everything we [...]
The Law was a list of rules God gave to Moses for the Israelites to follow. It said — among other things — to honor your father and mother and to not steal or kill. And there weren’t just 10 commandments - there [...]
David was a shepherd, prophet, musician, songwriter, army commander, and finally, king of Israel. He was the youngest son in his family from Bethlehem. The Scriptures say he was a man after God’s own heart, meaning he was loyal to God and wanted [...]
