There are many reasons that we read and study the Bible. It is vitally important that we select a version that matches your reason for reading and study together with your vocabulary and understanding of the Bible. Selecting the right biblical translation can support your Bible reading goals. Select a version of the Bible that…
1 Thessalonians
The letters to the Thessalonians form the first group of the books we have written by Paul. Theodor Zahn believes that Galatians was written even earlier than these letters. William Ramsay places these just before Galatians. 1 Thessalonians serves as one of the earliest witnesses to the content of the gospel messages. Harnack sees the…
Galatians
The epistle of Paul to the Galatians was the trumpet call for the Reformation. Luther considered it his most important and favorite book. The destination and date of the epistle have been debated for centuries, but the authority and apostolic authorship is rarely questioned. The work served the first century church as an apologetic opposing…
Grab Your Passport | 04 | The City of Lystra
“The City of Lystra” from the lesson series Grab Your Passport, April 2021 our Scripture Paul also came to Derbe and to Lystra. Acts 16:1-5 ESV Acts 16:1-5 NASB Acts 16:1-5 NIV Acts 16:1-5 NLT Acts 16:1-5 MESSAGE Other Scriptural References: Acts 14:6-18 2 Timothy 3:10-11 Lystra was a mildly important city in the…
Grace to You
We are starting a small group study in the book of Philippians. Philippians is a book of joy and grace. If I were writing a commentary on the book, I would probably title the work, “Faith Makes My Heart Smile.” You can study by talking about the context and the background of the writing of…
Salvation | What It’s All About
“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” The lament came from the lips of Charlie Brown in the animated Christmas classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Charles Schultz’ lovable gang of kids and a dog subtly offer answers to that question throughout the thirty minute extravaganza. Who would have guessed the question was…
Looking to the Psalms for Rest
A lot has changed in a year. 2020 – the year of the Corona – has been a year of a lifetime. Health scares and concerns as COVID death tolls mount, economic woes skyrocket as workers are laid off and businesses close, as well as quarantines and distancing alter how we meet. As if all…
Wrangling with Words | walking
Did you ever read something in a book that made you stop and reread it? You couldn’t believe what you just read, so you were compelled to read it again, just to make sure. Words are like that. Individual words help us look beyond the big picture, in order for us to understand the nuances,…
Promises to Obey – assembling a “to do” list
“Promises to Obey – assembling a ‘to do’ list,” from the lesson series, Return from Babylon | scattered & gathered, June 2020 our Scripture Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites,…
Wrangling with Words | covenants
Did you ever read something in a book or printed page that made you stop and reread it? It hit you and it was almost like you couldn’t believe what your eyes read? Perhaps it was a statistic that was so astonishing. Maybe it was a quotation that you couldn’t believe so-and-so said that! So…