If you feel hopeless, helpless or powerless—unable to deal with people or problems and on the verge of exhaustion—take heart in the prophet Habakkuk’s stirring conclusion to his short book.

Knowing that a savage army of Babylonians would soon plunder his homeland, Habakkuk was discouraged. Surely, the coming destruction would be absolutely unbearable. Yet despite the disheartening scenario, Habakkuk ...

in the Midst of Personal and Cultural Chaos

“People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.” This famous quote comes from Samuel Johnson, born in 1709. He was an English literary critic, biographer, essayist, and poet. He published the work he is perhaps best known for, A Dictionary of the English Language, in 1755. He is ...

Among all the creatures of the earth, only human beings are made in God’s own image and likeness. In the opening chapter of the Bible, the Creator declared a unique relationship with humans, the triune God declared, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” (Genesis 1:26a). In short, the Bible teaches that to ...

A correct, biblical understanding of how the Gospels were written enables us to handle many supposed contradictions within the books. The most important statement in this regard can be found in the introduction to the gospel of Luke:

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were ...

Jesus’ parables seldom needed interpretation by his listeners. Part of their effect was their immediacy and ability to “catch” the hearer. Today however, they come to us in written form and are in need of interpretation because we lack the immediate understanding of the points of reference the original hearers had. We suggest two things –

1. Understanding Context

As ...

Galileo Galilei lived from 1564–1642 in Italy and was an astronomer, physicist, and engineer. He is sometimes referred to today as the father of modern science for his pioneering work in establishing the scientific method. At the time Galileo lived, the church revered the Bible and wanted to uphold its teachings and their interpretation. Yet like many people at that time, they also believed the earth was ...

The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” – John 21:7

The resurrection was undoubtedly the central proclamation of the early church from the very beginning. The earliest Christians didn’t just endorse Jesus’ teachings; they were convinced they had seen him alive after his crucifixion. That’s what changed their lives and started the church. Certainly, since this was ...

“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.” Matthew 10:40

A convincing piece of evidence of Jesus’ divinity is his self-perception, revealed in statements like Matthew 10:40, in which he claims that he and God are one in the same. The Gospels ...

The Bible is for us. It is the principal source for how to believe and behave as disciples of Jesus Christ. The Bible exists for us to have a God-centered view of creation, to understand God’s providence in history, to hear God’s promises, to know God’s words of warning and encouragement, to have the words of Jesus, to hear the ...

Have you ever heard this encouragement before? Perhaps you were at a conference, in a church service or involved in some ministry opportunity and you were charged with this grand statement. Perhaps you were even boldly told, “God has big plans for you!”

Chances are you have heard this challenge before. I heard it countless times growing up in the ...