tag:dizzyk.com,2005:/blogs/blog?p=72
Blog
2024-03-25T22:52:00-12:00
Dizzy K Falola
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tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7372628
2024-03-25T22:52:00-12:00
2024-03-26T02:00:29-12:00
Zondervan Releases First NASB Wide Margin Bible
<p>Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is pleased to announce the release of the <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/nasb-wide-margin-bible-leathersoft-brown-red-letter-1995-text-comfort-print?variant=41282724298888&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-nasbwide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASB Wide Margin Bible</a></em> (New American Standard Bible, 1995 Text)—the first of its kind for Zondervan’s NASB line.</p>
<p>“Our mission is to publish beautiful Bibles in translations readers love; we are so happy to bring a wide margin version to faithful readers of the NASB,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “By using the margins to deepen their study with notes, reflections and prayers, readers of this Bible will not only deepen their understanding of the Scripture — they’ll also create a beautiful keepsake for their loved ones.” </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71HFLbPQw7L._SL1500_.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71HFLbPQw7L._SL1500_-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="NASB Wide Margin Bible" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p>The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/nasb-wide-margin-bible-leathersoft-brown-red-letter-1995-text-comfort-print?variant=41282724298888&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-nasbwide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASB Wide Margin Bible</a></em> gives readers the translation celebrated for faithfulness to the original biblical languages, with wide margins on both the inside and outside of the page.</p>
<p><strong>Features include:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The full text of the New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition</li>
<li>Wide margins on the inside and the outside of the page provide ample room for making notes</li>
<li>Beautiful two-color page design</li>
<li>NASB Comprehensive Concordance</li>
<li>Double-column format</li>
<li>Words of Jesus in red</li>
<li>Premium 36 GSM paper</li>
<li>Two satin ribbon markers</li>
<li>Available in Leathersoft<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/72x72/2122.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="™" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> and genuine calfskin leather</li>
<li>Exclusive Zondervan NASB Comfort Print® typeface</li>
<li>Print Size: 9.5</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71uWEHuN9jL._SL1500_.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71uWEHuN9jL._SL1500_-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="NASB Wide Margin Bible in Genuine Leather" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p>Universally recognized as the gold standard among word-for-word translations, the beloved New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition, is now easier to read with Zondervan’s exclusive NASB Comfort Print typeface. </p>
<p><em>The </em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/nasb-wide-margin-bible-leathersoft-brown-red-letter-1995-text-comfort-print?variant=41282724298888&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-nasbwide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASB Wide Margin Bible</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/03/zondervan-releases-first-nasb-wide-margin-bible/">Zondervan Releases First NASB Wide Margin Bible</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7369780
2024-03-19T22:08:00-12:00
2024-03-20T02:15:06-12:00
Pin your most frequently used Study Resources on Bible Gateway
<p>Do you use Bible Gateway to read the Bible each day? You are not alone!</p>
<p>If you have a free account or are a member of Bible Gateway Plus, you’ll be excited by our newest feature! You can now pin your most frequently used Study Resources to the top of the Resources panel!</p>
<p>To access your Pinned Resources, you’ll find them at the top under “Pinned Resources.”</p>
<p>Here’s how:</p>
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<p>Step 1: Select the category for the tool you use the most. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1-pointtosbpill.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">See example.</a></p>
<p>Step 2: Click the book or title. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2-chooseesvrefsb.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">See example.</a></p>
<p>Step 3: Click the “Pin” button. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3-clickpin.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">See example.</a></p>
<p>Step 4: If you haven’t logged in yet, you will be prompted to do so. Then, you will be able see that the pin has turned blue and now says “Pinned.” </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/5-confirmpinned-cropped.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/5-confirmpinned-cropped.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="447" width="627" /></a></figure>
<p>Step 5: Scroll to the top and look for “Pinned Resources” and you’ll have your favorite study resource ready for you the next time you need it. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/7-findpinnedresources2-1.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">See example.</a></p>
<p>We hope that this feature helps you deepen your understanding of God’s Word.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pin-resources-on-biblegateway-demos.gif"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pin-resources-on-biblegateway-demos.gif" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="570" width="338" /></a></figure>
<p>For an overview, see the animated demo above, or <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/zJ7OFUbOEgg?si=gtUv4dy5T2zgNSUr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">head over to YouTube for a full demonstration.</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/03/pin-your-most-frequently-used-study-resources-on-bible-gateway/">Pin your most frequently used Study Resources on Bible Gateway</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7368814
2024-03-18T00:51:00-12:00
2024-03-18T05:30:16-12:00
Finding Peace Through Humility in the Book of Judges
<p><strong>by Joel Muddamalle, PhD</strong></p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-full"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Joel-Muddamalle_280x280.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Joel-Muddamalle_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Joel Muddamalle" height="280" width="280" /></a><figcaption>Joel Muddamalle</figcaption></figure></div>
<p>I hate being lost and losing my way. It leaves me disoriented, and honestly, it can be a really scary feeling to not know where you are. Today, we have modern tools like smartphones that give us maps and directions at our fingertips. But before that technology was available, one of the most vital tools that people used to keep from getting lost was a compass.</p>
<p>A compass shows us which direction we should go and keeps us from going where we should not. God’s Word is a type of compass. It points us to where Jesus is and reveals when we start to falter, or get distracted, or are going in a direction that will take us away from him. Yet a compass is only good if we use it. If we fail to keep our focus on it, we will lose our way.</p>
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<h2 class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Judges.pdf">Download an Infographic on Judges</a></h2>
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<p>In the book of Judges, we discover this happening to the Israelites. In the days of Moses and Joshua, the people kept their focus on God—their “compass”—and experienced peace. They lived in safety, security, and stability . . . constantly being reminded that the God who had saved them from Egypt would protect them now. This was a peace that came from humility.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/28115045/Israel-during-Judges.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Israel-during-Judges-241x300.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Israel during Judges" height="300" width="241" /></a></figure></div>
<p>But then the Israelites lost their focus on God. They did evil in his sight and worshiped the pagan gods of the peoples around them. This angered the Lord, and “he sold them to the enemies around them, and they could no longer resist their enemies” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+2%3A14&version=NIV&resource_entry=nidntt/g3973&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Judges 2:14</a>). When the people of Israel lost their humility, they also lost their peace.</p>
<p>The author of Judges frequently reminded his readers that the events of his book took place when “there was no king in Israel” and “everyone did whatever seemed right to him” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+17%3A6&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-prov-29-18&tab=study">Judges 17:6</a>). I want this statement to be an anchor in our minds as we work through this study. Things fell into this state of affairs because the Israelites had rejected their sovereign King, the Lord God, and chose to do what they thought right in their own eyes.</p>
<p>Before Joshua died, he had challenged the Israelites: “If it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+24%3A15&version=NIV&resource_entry=quest-study-bible/what-values-does-christian-family-hold-24-15&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joshua 24:15</a>). We read that at that time, the people promised to follow the Lord. But ultimately, they failed to keep their word.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide">
<h2 class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Judges.pdf">Download an Infographic on Judges</a></h2>
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<p>The question Joshua asked the Israelites is the same question God is asking us today: “Where will your allegiance be? Will it be to counterfeit helpers that provide no help at all? Or will you bend your knee in humility to me, the King of the cosmos, who created you?” Jesus is the King of heaven and earth, the Creator of the cosmos. When we reject him, we are exhibiting pride. But when we recognize our need of a King and focus on him, we are rooted in humility.</p>
<p>Humility . . . that’s what we unpack in my Bible study on Judges, <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-finding-peace-through-humility-guide-plus-streaming-video-a-bible-study-in-judges-on-the-lost-practice-of-humility?variant=41282723872904&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finding Peace Through Humility</a></em>. Humility may not be what we expected, but it’s what we need to experience the peace we all long for.</p>
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<h2>Watch the first full session of Finding Peace Through Humility:</h2>
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Finding Peace Through Humility Bible Study by Dr. Joel Muddamalle - Session One" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cEI6CxflHVU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>
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<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignleft size-full"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Muddamalle.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Muddamalle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Joel Muddamalle" height="300" width="300" /></a></figure></div>
<p>Holding a PhD in Theology, <a href="https://harperchristianresources.com/joel-muddamalle/">Joel Muddamalle</a> is the Director of Theology and Research at <a href="https://proverbs31.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proverbs 31 Ministries</a>, the theologian in residence for <a href="https://lysaterkeurst.com/haven-place/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Haven Place Ministries</a>, on the preaching team at <a href="https://transformationchurch.tc/">Transformation Church</a>, is the teacher of <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-finding-peace-through-humility-guide-plus-streaming-video-a-bible-study-in-judges-on-the-lost-practice-of-humility?variant=41282723872904&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finding Peace Through Humility</a></em>, and the co-author of <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/30-days-seeing-jesus-throughout-the-bible-he-s-never-absent-we-re-never-alone?variant=41193205301384" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">30 Days with Jesus</a></em>, and is a frequent speaker for conferences and events. Joel, his wife, and four children live in Charlotte, NC. </p>
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<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-finding-peace-through-humility-guide-plus-streaming-video-a-bible-study-in-judges-on-the-lost-practice-of-humility?variant=41282723872904&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shop Finding Peace Through Humility</a></div>
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<p><em><strong><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-finding-peace-through-humility-guide-plus-streaming-video-a-bible-study-in-judges-on-the-lost-practice-of-humility?variant=41282723872904&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finding Peace Through Humility</a></strong></em> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide">
<h2 class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Judges.pdf">Download an Infographic on Judges</a></h2>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/28114913/Judges.pdf"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Judges-410x1024.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="1024" width="410" /></a></figure></div>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/03/finding-peace-through-humility-in-the-book-of-judges/">Finding Peace Through Humility in the Book of Judges</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7361971
2024-03-04T23:00:00-12:00
2024-03-05T00:45:11-12:00
Redefining and Cultivating Christlike Humility Like Paul
<p><strong>By Dr. Joel Muddamalle<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-hidden-peace-finding-true-security-strength-and-confidence-through-humility?variant=41282725740680&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Joel-Muddamalle_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Joel Muddamalle" height="280" width="280" /></a></strong></p>
<p>Let’s look at how the Greek word for <em>humility </em>was used in Paul’s setting. One of the prominent Greek words we translate as “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A16&version=CSB&resource_entry=nidntt/g5424&tab=study&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">humble</a>” (<em>tapeinophrosyn</em>ē) could also be translated as “self-abasement” or “lowliness.” In Greek, there are words that are related to each other that convey the concept of humility, and this type of thing is referred to as “word groups.” Markus Barth, a renowned Swiss New Testament scholar that lived during the second half of the 1900s, shared this insight about the <em>humility </em>word group: “The entire word group which belongs with <em>tapeinophrosyn</em>ē, according to its usage in common Greek, is used in a negative sense and means a low slavish orientation.”<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a></p>
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<p>This means the concept of humility would have been something totally shameful.<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2">[2]</a> The culture was highly competitive and focused on self-exaltation (sounds familiar, doesn’t it?). So anyone who had a low social status, who was weak or lowly, was considered “humble,” and it almost always had a negative connotation.<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3">[3]</a></p>
<p>The early church father Augustine went so far as to say humility was an unknown virtue in the ancient world.<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4">[4]</a> Given this cultural climate, imagine how shocking and disruptive it was when Paul told the church in Rome, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the <em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A16&version=CSB&resource_entry=nidntt/g5424&tab=study&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">humble</a> </em>[<em>tapeinos</em>]. Do not be wise in your own estimation” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A16&version=CSB&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">Romans 12:16</a>).</p>
<p>There had to have been some jaws on the floor. I can picture people sliding out the door of that house church thinking, <em>These people have lost their</em> <em>minds. Ain’t nobody got time for dat.</em></p>
<p>This isn’t the only time Paul said something like this. It was a consistent theme throughout his letters—he taught it to the churches in Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae.</p>
<p>When we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the <em>downcast </em>[<em>tapeinos</em>], comforted us by the arrival of Titus. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+7%3A5%E2%80%936&version=CSB&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">2 Corinthians 7:5–6</a>)</p>
<p>I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all <em>humility </em>[<em>tapeinophrosyn</em>ē] and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A1%E2%80%933&version=CSB&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">Ephesians 4:1–3</a>)</p>
<p>Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in <em>humility</em> [<em>tapeinophrosyn</em>ē] consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A3%E2%80%934&version=CSB&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">Philippians 2:3–4</a>)</p>
<p>As God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, <em>humility </em>[<em>tapeinophrosyn</em>ē], gentleness, and patience. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A12&version=CSB&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">Colossians 3:12</a>)</p>
<p>He will transform the body of our <em>humble </em>[<em>tapeinōseōs</em>] condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A21&version=CSB&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">Philippians 3:21</a>)</p>
<p>Over and over, Paul reiterated the importance of the humble life for the believer in Jesus.</p>
<p>When the people sitting in these churches first heard these words from Paul, they might have thought, <em>Wait a minute. Did Paul really say the H</em>– [I guess in Greek, the <em>T</em>-] <em>word? </em>He presented it as the identity-forming virtue that should mark Christians. What motivated Paul to make such a countercultural, even offensive, claim?</p>
<p>It’s actually pretty simple. He followed the Messiah, Jesus, who lived a countercultural life that was offensive to both the Romans and the religious elite.</p>
<p>Paul’s most striking use of humility might be in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A8%E2%80%939&version=CSB&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">Philippians 2:8–9</a>: “He [Jesus] <em>humbled </em>[<em>tapeinōsen</em>] himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name.”</p>
<p>Because we find ourselves “in Christ” (another favorite saying of Paul: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A1&version=CSB&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">Romans 8:1</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1%3A30&version=CSB&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">1 Corinthians 1:30</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+2%3A16&version=CSB&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">Galatians 2:16</a>), it makes sense for us to identify ourselves with him in all things, especially in his humility. Why? Because the very thing that was true of Jesus will be true of us. Jesus humbled himself, and his humility led him through humiliation—but humiliation was not the end for him. As we’ve seen, humility was his path of exaltation.</p>
<p>This unity with him and shared exaltation with him is exactly what we just saw in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A21&version=CSB&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">Philippians 3:21</a>: “He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body.”</p>
<p>What was true of Jesus will be true of us.</p>
<p>_____<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-hidden-peace-finding-true-security-strength-and-confidence-through-humility?variant=41282725740680&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/The-Hidden-Peace_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Hidden Peace" height="280" width="280" /></a></p>
<p>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-hidden-peace-finding-true-security-strength-and-confidence-through-humility?variant=41282725740680&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">The Hidden Peace: Finding True Security, Strength, and Confidence Through Humility</a> by Joel Muddamalle. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-hidden-peace-finding-true-security-strength-and-confidence-through-humility?variant=41282725740680&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">Click here</a> to learn more about the book, and <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-finding-peace-through-humility-guide-plus-streaming-video-a-bible-study-in-judges-on-the-lost-practice-of-humility?variant=41282723872904&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">click here</a> to learn more about the Bible study.</p>
<p><strong>The peace we long for begins with coming to the end of ourselves.</strong></p>
<p>There are inescapable aspects of life we are all marked by. We have<img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/The-Hidden-Peace-Study_280x280-1.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Hidden Peace Study" height="280" width="280" /> less control than we want, more anxiety than we’re comfortable with and just enough insecurity to continually remind us of our shortcomings. To experience these things is to be human. We aren’t superheroes and invincibility isn’t an option.</p>
<p><em>But humility is.</em></p>
<p>Whether we’ve incorrectly defined it or underestimated its relevance to our daily life, <em>humility</em> is the missing piece for the security, strength and confidence we all want. It’s time to stop trying so hard to avoid our limitations or overcompensate for them. God has better for us and it begins with bowing low in humility.</p>
<p>With relatable stories, practical wisdom and biblical theology broken down into digestible takeaways, <em>The Hidden Peace </em>by Dr. Joel Muddamalle will help you:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Overcome </strong>the fear of being “found out” or looking like a fraud by realizing God’s intent for shortcomings and weaknesses.</li>
<li>
<strong>Walk </strong>through hurtful situations in the most God-honoring way by gaining a true understanding of biblical humility.</li>
<li>
<strong>Answer </strong>the question “<em>why do bad things happen to good people?” </em>by learning a perspective shift that will change how you process suffering.</li>
<li>
<strong>Know </strong>confidently that you’re living with purpose and being used by God through seven ways to practically live like Him today.</li>
<li>
<strong>Be led </strong>by the biblical definition of self-awareness so you can experience the unexpected ways it brings safety and security to your life.</li>
<li>
<strong>Stop </strong>believing the lie that theology is out of touch or too difficult to comprehend as Joel shows you how to dig into scripture and study it yourself.</li>
</ul>
<p>Weakness is not your enemy. Planted in the soil of humility, weakness becomes a means to gaining more strength and more peace.</p>
<p>Holding a PhD in Theology, <strong>Joel Muddamalle</strong> is the Director of Theology and Research at Proverbs 31 Ministries with Lysa TerKeurst and the theologian in residence for Haven Place Ministries, a ministry of Lysa’s that provides personalized theology and therapy retreats and smaller gathering. He also cohosts the popular podcast <em>Therapy and Theology</em> with Lysa and licensed counselor Jim Cress.</p>
<p>Joel serves on the preaching team at Transformation Church with Pastor Derwin Gray and is a frequent speaker for conferences and events (She Speaks, IF Gathering, Q Ideas NXT Gen Summit, Hope Heals Camp). One of his favorite things to do is leading in-depth theology workshops and training seminars for churches (FreshLife, Passion City, Transformation Church).</p>
<p>Joel coauthored <em>30 Days of Seeing Jesus Throughout the Bible</em> and has had the honor of working with Christian authors in developing the theological framework of their books through COMPEL consulting.</p>
<p>Based in Charlotte, NC, Joel and his wife enjoy a full house with their four children and two dogs. If he doesn’t have a theology book in his hand, you can be sure he’s either coaching one of his kids in a sport, doing his best to keep up his hoops game on the basketball court, or getting roped into a reel by his wife (@almostindianwife).</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-hidden-peace-finding-true-security-strength-and-confidence-through-humility?variant=41282725740680&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_christlike_humility">The Hidden Peace</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Markus Barth, Helmut Blanke, and Astrid B. Beck, <em>Colossians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary</em>, vol. 34B, <em>Anchor Yale Bible </em>(New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008), 343.</p>
<p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2">[2]</a> H. H. Esser, s.v. “Ταπεινός,” in <em>New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology</em>, ed. Lothar Coenen, Erich Beyreuther, and Hans Bietenhard (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1986), 260. A point of nuance: This is not to say that any form of modesty was absent in the Greco-Roman world or that the concept of “humility” was negative without exception. Of course there were exceptions, but they were infrequent and not normative. In other words, humility was not viewed as a virtue in the Greco-Roman world. Paul radically changed this concept when he connected it to what is possibly the most important virtue of the Christian life.</p>
<p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3">[3]</a> John H. Elliott, <em>1 Peter: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary</em>, vol. 37B, <em>Anchor Yale Bible </em>(New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008), 605.</p>
<p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4">[4]</a> Augustine of Hippo, <em>Confessions</em>, ed. Roy Joseph Deferrari, trans. Vernon J. Bourke, vol. 21, <em>The Fathers of the Church </em>(Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1953), 7.14.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/03/christlike-humility/">Redefining and Cultivating Christlike Humility Like Paul</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7358226
2024-02-25T23:45:00-12:00
2024-03-05T00:45:11-12:00
Zondervan Releases Amplified Journal the Word Bible
<p>Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is pleased to announce the release of the <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/amplified-journal-the-word-bible-leathersoft-brown-reflect-take-notes-or-create-art-next-to-your-favorite-verses?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-ampjtw">Amplified® Journal the Word® Bible</a>.</em> Zondervan published the first <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/collections/journal-the-word-bibles?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-ampjtw">Journal the Word Bible</a></em> in 2016 and is now making it available in the Amplified translation for the first time.</p>
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<p>“At Zondervan, our mission is to publish beautiful Bibles in translations readers love,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “We are delighted to release a wide-margin edition, with room for journaling, available for faithful readers of the Amplified Bible – equipping them to engage with Scripture in a meaningful and thoughtful way.” The<em> Amplified Journal the Word Bible</em> is a double-column Bible featuring thick paper with lightly ruled lines in extra-wide margins, perfect for reflecting on God’s Word.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/9780310463627.cover_.05-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/9780310463627.cover_.05-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Amplified Journal the Word Bible" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Amplified-Bible-AMP">Amplified Bible translation</a> delivers enhanced understanding of the rich nuances and shades of meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew words in Scripture. Using a unique system of brackets, parentheses, and italics, the Amplified Bible defines and expands key words and phrases within the text of Scripture, unfolding the fuller meaning of God’s Word, verse by verse.</p>
<p><strong>Features of the <em>Amplified Journal the Word Bible</em>:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Complete Amplified Bible text</li>
<li>Lined, wide margins for notes and personal reflections</li>
<li>Thick cream paper for enduring note-taking or personal artwork</li>
<li>Double column format</li>
<li>Two satin ribbon markers</li>
<li>Leathersoft<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/72x72/2122.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="™" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> cover lies flat when open</li>
<li>Type size: 9.5</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/9780310463627.interior.03-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/9780310463627.interior.03-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Amplified Journal the Word Bible Interior" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p><em>The </em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/amplified-journal-the-word-bible-leathersoft-brown-reflect-take-notes-or-create-art-next-to-your-favorite-verses?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-ampjtw">Amplified Journal the Word</a> Bible <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/02/zondervan-releases-amplified-journal-the-word-bible/">Zondervan Releases Amplified Journal the Word Bible</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7358227
2024-02-21T01:04:00-12:00
2024-02-27T10:15:02-12:00
God Wants to Hear Us Say Yes
<p><strong><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Zach-Williams_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Zach Williams: God Wants to Hear Us Say Yes" width="33%" />By Zach Williams</strong></p>
<p>One Sunday after church, the pastor found me and said, “Zach, we’ve been watching you and Crystal for a while now as you’ve been involved with the prison ministry and Celebrate Recovery. We’ve seen how much your family has grown and matured. We all feel like God has placed you here. We’ve been wanting to launch a new campus for a long time, but we’ve not been able to find the right fit for some of the leadership positions. We feel like with your story, you two can reach people we can’t. Zach, would you help us launch this campus by being involved with the worship and the music? Would you come on staff with us here part-time at the church?”</p>
<p>I had a <em>lot</em> of questions, especially about our past and how that would affect our involvement with the church staff. Plus, at that point, I didn’t consider myself a “worship leader,” either as a role or as a job title. To all my rapid-fire questions, the pastor just kept saying, “Don’t worry, Zach, we’ll figure that out.” Finally, he offered, “Starting out, we won’t call you a pastor, we’ll call you a director. There’s a full-time pastor you’d be working with.” The plan was to keep my construction job with Dad but also to have specific music responsibilities with this new service. Fast-forward—the church staff made it happen, and I helped them launch a new service called the Refuge.</p>
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<h2>A Unique Venue</h2>
<p>The service met on the church campus in the basketball gym. Because of the people we were trying to reach, everything we did was a totally different style than what was happening in the main sanctuary. As soon as we launched the service, people began to show up. We were definitely hitting the target, as most of them were “outsiders” for various reasons: people who had never been able to find their place in a church, people who had never been involved in anything connected to a church.</p>
<p>Folks from Celebrate Recovery came, and also some of the inmates we had ministered to came after getting out of prison. To no surprise, considering my testimony, we also attracted a lot of musicians and bikers. The Refuge reminded me of Jesus’s parable in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+22&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matthew 22</a> where the king tells his servants to go out and invite the people off the street to come to his banquet—the good and the bad alike. Just open up the doors, because everyone is welcome here. I wanted to provide a place that the old Zach Williams would have been able to walk in and be welcomed, not judged.</p>
<h2>Learning to Say Yes</h2>
<p>In that season of ministry, I learned one major lesson about God and how He seems to work, something I didn’t understand for so long. The biggest reason or excuse that keeps too many of us from saying yes to what God calls us to do is that we don’t feel “qualified” or “prepared.” We worry that we won’t have the right words to say or know what to do. We focus on what <em>we can’t</em> do instead of what <em>He can</em> do. Many of us try to ignore God’s voice when He just wants to hear us say, “Yes, Lord, I’ll do it,” and to simply trust Him for whatever is next, getting ready to go do whatever He says.</p>
<p>I learned through prison ministry and Celebrate Recovery that when I say yes to God, I may not have any idea what I’m going to do or say. But after the yes, He always works everything out and gives me the words. When the pastor came to us that day with his invitation, my first response was, “But I’m not qualified to do any of this. I don’t belong in leadership. This is not something I feel comfortable doing.” Yet when I stopped asking all the questions and just said yes, God Himself qualified me and gave me everything I needed. And He’s still doing that.</p>
<p>Because of the yes, the first time I led worship onstage was the first time I felt completely comfortable in my own skin playing music. After a decade of playing to thousands of people in the US and Europe in bars and clubs, to emphasize, that moment with God was the first time I felt <em>completely</em> comfortable playing music. That was because it was the first time I had truly submitted to the reason He created me. I realized that when I lead worship, the music isn’t about <em>me</em>. There is a vertical relationship happening.</p>
<p>Bottom line—God just wants to hear each of us say yes. And I’m here to tell you, there’s nothing else like it when we do.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/rescue-story-faith-freedom-and-finding-my-way-home?variant=41344099090568" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Rescue-Story_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Rescue Story by Zach Williams" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/rescue-story-faith-freedom-and-finding-my-way-home?variant=41344099090568" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Rescue Story: Faith, Freedom, and Finding My Way Home</em></a> by Zach Williams. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/rescue-story-faith-freedom-and-finding-my-way-home?variant=41344099090568" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>From a hard-rocking life fueled by substance abuse to a hope-filled life of freedom and joy—this is music star Zach Williams’s bold and vulnerable story of faith and redemption.</p>
<p>Before two-time GRAMMY Award® winner Zach Williams penned heartfelt, faith-filled ballads like “Chain Breaker,” “There Was Jesus” (featuring Dolly Parton), and “Fear Is a Liar,” there was darkness. A rock-and-roll singer who thought he had all he ever wanted to make him happy, Zach instead felt empty. The drugs, alcohol, and late-night gigs played around the world couldn’t satisfy the longing in his heart for a place to belong. He was desperate for change.</p>
<p>It came while on tour in Spain with his band, and in this powerful and poignant memoir, Zach shares in vivid detail his personal <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/rescue-story-faith-freedom-and-finding-my-way-home?variant=41344099090568" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Rescue Story</em></a>. He reflects on his childhood and the prophecy that kept his parents from giving up hope, his descent into the substance abuse that held him captive for so long, and ultimately the rescue he didn’t think was possible but embraced with open arms.</p>
<p>A compelling, honest story of God’s unconditional love, grace, and redemption, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/rescue-story-faith-freedom-and-finding-my-way-home?variant=41344099090568" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Rescue Story</em></a> shares the intimate journey of a beloved music artist and challenges you to seek resilient hope in the trials of your own life—because Jesus offers real freedom and joy, despite the mistakes of your past.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/rescue-story-faith-freedom-and-finding-my-way-home?variant=41344099090568" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Rescue Story: Faith, Freedom, and Finding My Way Home</em></a> by Zach Williams is published by Zondervan Books, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</p>
<p><strong>Zach Williams</strong> has become one of CCM’s leading artists and songwriters by carving a niche with his singular blend of southern rock, country, and faith-filled songwriting, which quickly awarded him his first GRAMMY Award® with his debut album, 2017’s <em>Chain Breaker</em>. <em>Rescue Story</em> followed in 2019, and in 2022 Zach returned with his third full-length album, <em>A Hundred Highways</em>. Zach and his family live near Nashville, Tennessee.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/02/god-wants-to-hear-us-say-yes/">God Wants to Hear Us Say Yes</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7358228
2024-02-19T09:19:39-12:00
2024-02-27T10:15:02-12:00
Meet the Women of God’s Story: Zondervan Releases NIV Kingdom Girls Bible
<p>Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is proud to announce the release of the <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-kingdom-girls-bible-full-color-hardcover-teal-comfort-print-meet-the-women-in-gods-story?variant=41259800166536&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-kingdomgirls">Kingdom Girls Bible</a> </em>in the bestselling New International Version (NIV) translation.</p>
<p>The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-kingdom-girls-bible-full-color-hardcover-teal-comfort-print-meet-the-women-in-gods-story?variant=41259800166536&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-kingdomgirls">NIV Kingdom Girls Bible</a></em> is specifically crafted to highlight the stories and lessons of the inspiring, famous, and sometimes infamous women of the Bible. With more than 400 engaging features, illustrations, and notes, this Bible is perfect for girls ages 8 to 12 as they learn about the strong and faithful women who came before them. From Eve to Ruth, Esther to Mary, this Bible brings the stories of these women to life and shows how their faith and strength can still inspire girls today.</p>
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="The NIV Kingdom Girls Bible by ZonderKidz" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AnPIz9nfREw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>“The <em>NIV Kingdom Girls Bible</em> provides the antidote to the negativity girls are exposed to daily,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “The lessons learned from the fierce and fearless women of the Bible will be invaluable as our young people face the challenges of the times and those to come.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kingdom-Girls.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kingdom-Girls-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="NIV Kingdom Girls Bible" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p><strong>Features:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Her Story –</strong> Character sketches of 75 good and not-so-good female role models of the Bible </li>
<li>
<strong>Action Plans –</strong> Prayer, art, outdoor activities, and music</li>
<li>
<strong>Take It to Heart –</strong> Great verses to memorize</li>
<li>
<strong>Step Into the Story –</strong> Solid advice on how to live a godly life in today’s world</li>
<li>
<strong>Meet ______ –</strong> Meet 50 lesser-known women of the Bible and discover ways to help build character and godliness</li>
<li>
<strong>A Letter to Myself –</strong> A place for a girl to make a commitment about who and what she wants to be, and, even more important, who she wants to follow</li>
<li>
<strong>Book Introductions –</strong> An overview of each book of the Bible</li>
<li>
<strong>Subject Index –</strong> Find features written about specific topics like courage, kindness, or joy</li>
<li>
<strong>Beautiful illustrations</strong> and <strong>full color</strong> throughout</li>
<li>Presentation page for gift-giving </li>
<li>Satin ribbon marker </li>
<li>Print size: 9</li>
<li>Exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print® typeface </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kingdom-Girls-2.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kingdom-Girls-2-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="NIV Kingdom Girls Bible" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p>“What a privilege it has been to write the notes for this girls’ Bible. My heart and soul are in every word,” said Jean Syswerda, author/editor of the<em> Kingdom Girls Bible. </em>“It was a genuine labor of love! I prayed as I wrote and now continue to pray it will impact girls as they read and interact with God’s Word.”</p>
<p>The <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-kingdom-girls-bible-full-color-hardcover-teal-comfort-print-meet-the-women-in-gods-story?variant=41259800166536&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-kingdomgirls">NIV Kingdom Girls Bible</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/02/meet-the-women-of-gods-story-zondervan-releases-niv-kingdom-girls-bible/">Meet the Women of God’s Story: Zondervan Releases NIV Kingdom Girls Bible</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7358229
2024-02-13T23:22:00-12:00
2024-02-27T10:15:02-12:00
The Power of Pre-Decision
<p><strong><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Craig-Groeschel_Portrait24.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Craig Groeschel: Do you like the direction your decisions are taking you? If not, it’s time to take back your life. How? Through the power of pre-decision." width="33%" />By Craig Groeschel</strong></p>
<p>It’s safe to say that life is the sum of the decisions we make. Why? Because a successful life is based not on a few big decisions made at a few big moments but on thousands of normal decisions made at thousands of normal moments.</p>
<p>As James Clear says, “Every decision you make is a vote toward who you will become.” That’s why we need to think ahead. That’s why we <em>have</em> to think ahead. Each seemingly inconsequential decision has such value because our decisions are rarely isolated. Have you noticed how good decisions tend to compound in the right direction and bad decisions tend to compound in the wrong direction?</p>
<p>I bet you’ve made a bad decision thinking it was only a one-time thing, then later realized it put you on a slippery path. It felt like that choice gave you permission to keep making the same choice or similarly bad ones. Somehow your bad decision multiplied.</p>
<p>You’ve also made good decisions that seemed isolated, but weren’t at all. Your choice seemed normal, but it was actually enormous. You made the right choice and somehow it had a compound effect. It’s like this: We make our decisions, and then our decisions make us.</p>
<p>The decisions you make today determine the stories you tell tomorrow.</p>
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<p>C. S. Lewis, a brilliant Christian thinker and author, wrote about this in his book <em>Mere Christianity:</em> “Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.”</p>
<p>Your decisions determine your direction, and your direction determines your destiny.</p>
<p>So if your life is moving in the direction of your decisions, do you like the direction your decisions are taking you?</p>
<p>Do you feel good about who you are and where you are in life? Do you believe God is pleased with your direction?</p>
<p>If not, it’s time to take back your life.</p>
<p>How?</p>
<p>Through the power of pre-decision.</p>
<h2>Decide Now, Do Later</h2>
<p>You will decide <em>now</em> what you will do <em>later</em>.</p>
<p>You will <em>decide</em> now what you will <em>do</em> later.</p>
<p>That might sound simplistic, but it is a profound spiritual tool that will help you live in a forward-looking, people-loving, God-glorifying way that leads you to become who you want to become and live the life you want to live.</p>
<p>When you’re in the moment, decision fatigue, fear, and emotions wreak havoc on your ability to make quality decisions, so why wait until you are in the moment to decide?</p>
<p>Ask God to help you decide now what you will do later.</p>
<p>With his help, what you do now can be different from what you did before on your own. We get stuck thinking, <em>I’ve always been this way, always done these things. It is what it is, I am what I am</em>. But God says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+43%3A18%E2%80%9319&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Isa. 43:18–19</a>). We partner with God in the new thing he wants to do in our lives by making new decisions. We make these decisions with God and submit them to him. And what does God do? “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+16%3A3&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prov. 16:3</a>).</p>
<p>Look at the heroes of our faith throughout the Bible.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+22&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Genesis 22</a>, God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Um, no one is going to decide to do that in the moment. But in the past Abraham had pre-decided, <em>My God is always trustworthy, so whatever he asks me to do, I will obey and honor him</em>.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth+1&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ruth chapter one</a>, we find Ruth and her sister Orpah with their mother-in-law, Naomi. Times are tough and getting worse. Naomi is headed back to her hometown, where her prospects are no better. Naomi tells the girls to stay and make new, better lives for themselves. It is the choice that gives them the best chances, so Orpah agrees to leave. But Ruth had pre-decided to make Naomi her ride-or-die: <em>Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your God will be my God</em> (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%201%3A16&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ruth 1:16</a>).</p>
<p>Ruth had pre-decided her commitment to Naomi.</p>
<p>Then there’s Daniel. He and his friends were essentially taken hostage and forced to live in a foreign land. Constant attempts were made to brainwash them into thinking like their captors and eating the food they ate. Yet Daniel believed eating the king’s food would dishonor God. We read in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1%3A8&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daniel 1:8</a>, “But Daniel resolved …” We could say, “Daniel pre-decided.” It says, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”</p>
<p>Daniel didn’t wait to get to the dining room, where he might have been tempted to go against his values by the perfectly seared tomahawk ribeye and the molten-chocolate lava cake. No, he pre-decided, <em>My values will be determined by God, not others. I will honor my God with my choices</em>.</p>
<p>Daniel pre-decided his commitment to God.</p>
<p>When we decide now what we will do later, with God’s help, we will determine our course of action before the moment of decision. It will look like this: When faced with [situation], I have pre-decided to [action].</p>
<p>For instance: “When I begin to worry, I will read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A7&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 Peter 5:7</a>, pray, and give the burden to God.”</p>
<p>Or “When I’m tempted to make an impulse purchase of more than fifty dollars, I will wait at least three days before I decide whether to buy it.”</p>
<p>Or “When I have written an angry email, I will sleep on it before deciding to hit send.”</p>
<h2>Benefits of Making Pre-Decisions</h2>
<p>If you were to start applying everything we have discussed so far in making pre-decisions, how might that positively affect your life? Here are three immediate benefits:</p>
<h3>Pre-Deciding Reduces the Number of Decisions to Make</h3>
<p>Pre-deciding combats feeling overwhelmed by all of our choices, which can lead to decision fatigue.</p>
<p>Steve Jobs famously wore the same outfit every day. Did he just really love his black turtleneck, Levi’s 501s, and New Balance sneakers? No. But he knew that not having to choose his clothes every day freed up energy for more important decisions.</p>
<p>Billionaire hedge-fund manager Ray Dalio wrote a book about pre-deciding. In his book <em>Principles: Life and Work</em>, Dalio writes, “Without principles, we would be forced to react to all the things life throws at us individually, as if we were experiencing each of them for the first time.” He goes on to say: “Using principles is a way of both simplifying and improving your decision making…. [This] will allow you to massively reduce the number of decisions you have to make (I estimate by a factor of something like 100,000) and will lead you to make much better ones.”</p>
<h3>Pre-Deciding Reduces the Fear of Deciding Wrong</h3>
<p>We often make poor choices because we are driven or stopped by fear. We fear with good reason: because we know our record and how much we have fighting against us in the moment of decision. But pre-deciding reduces our fear. Why? Because we base our decisions on our values. We discover, in advance, what is important to God and decide what is important to us, and we commit to make decisions that honor those values.</p>
<p>In my book <a style="font-size: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/think-ahead-7-decisions-you-can-make-today-for-the-god-honoring-life-you-want-tomorrow?variant=41265778196616" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Think Ahead</em></a><span style="font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">, I hope to help you find clarity on what is important to you. When our values are clear, our decisions are easier.</span></p>
<h3>Pre-Deciding Prevents Emotion from Taking Over</h3>
<p>We want to live wise, God-honoring lives, but in the moment, our emotions often take over and hijack our integrity. That’s why we need to decide before the moment. That way, our emotions don’t get a vote.</p>
<p>It has been proven that this concept is the key to doing what you want to do. Peter Gollwitzer, a psychology professor at NYU, reviewed ninety-four studies that analyzed the effectiveness of pre-deciding by people who actually implement their best intentions. He concluded that having goals is no guarantee of success, because it doesn’t account for the barriers that will arise along the way. So what did ensure success? Pre-deciding what to do when faced with such barriers.</p>
<p>In another study, 368 people in orthopedic rehabilitation were split into two groups. One group set goals. The other set goals and also pre-decided what they would do to achieve them. Only those in the second group achieved their goals. When we pre-decide, we let logic overrule emotion.</p>
<p>Are you ready to think ahead and take your life back?</p>
<p>Are you ready to choose who you will become?</p>
<p>Let’s do this!</p>
<p>Let’s pre-decide.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/think-ahead-7-decisions-you-can-make-today-for-the-god-honoring-life-you-want-tomorrow?variant=41265778196616" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Think-Ahead_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Think Ahead by Craig Groeschel" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/think-ahead-7-decisions-you-can-make-today-for-the-god-honoring-life-you-want-tomorrow?variant=41265778196616" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Think Ahead: 7 Decisions You Can Make Today for the God-Honoring Life You Want Tomorrow</em></a> by Craig Groeschel. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/think-ahead-7-decisions-you-can-make-today-for-the-god-honoring-life-you-want-tomorrow?variant=41265778196616" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Why do we keep making choices we later regret—sometimes even the same bad choices over and over? Drawing on Scripture, story, and cutting-edge research into human behavior, pastor Craig Groeschel reveals the key to making the choices we want to make and experiencing the joy and freedom God has for us.</p>
<p>We all want to make great decisions. So what happens between our good intentions and the choices we actually make in the moment? If only we could make decisions ahead of time rather than when we’re under stress, overwhelmed, or swayed by fear or emotion. In <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/think-ahead-7-decisions-you-can-make-today-for-the-god-honoring-life-you-want-tomorrow?variant=41265778196616" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Think Ahead</em></a>, we learn how to do just that.</p>
<p>Pastor Craig Groeschel knows from personal experience and as a counselor to others what being trapped in a cycle of poor decision-making is like. In <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/think-ahead-7-decisions-you-can-make-today-for-the-god-honoring-life-you-want-tomorrow?variant=41265778196616" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Think Ahead</em></a>, he shares what he has discovered about the power of “pre-deciding.”</p>
<p>With thought-provoking exercises and questions for reflection, this interactive book teaches us that the quality of our decisions determines the quality of our lives. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/think-ahead-7-decisions-you-can-make-today-for-the-god-honoring-life-you-want-tomorrow?variant=41265778196616" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Think Ahead</em></a> will help you:</p>
<ul>
<li>Understand the science behind your decision-making habits</li>
<li>Overcome decision fatigue and debilitating fears</li>
<li>Diminish the role of emotions in decision-making</li>
<li>See how your small choices shape the kind of person you become</li>
<li>Define and put into action the seven life-defining pre-decisions you can make today</li>
</ul>
<p>Becoming the person you want to be starts before you even make a decision. In <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/think-ahead-7-decisions-you-can-make-today-for-the-god-honoring-life-you-want-tomorrow?variant=41265778196616" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Think Ahead</em></a>, you’ll discover the power of making decisions today to help you live the life you want to have tomorrow.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/think-ahead-7-decisions-you-can-make-today-for-the-god-honoring-life-you-want-tomorrow?variant=41265778196616" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Think Ahead: 7 Decisions You Can Make Today for the God-Honoring Life You Want Tomorrow</em></a> is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, the parent company of Bible Gateway.</p>
<p><strong>Craig Groeschel</strong> is a <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author and the founding and senior pastor of <a href="https://www.life.church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Life.Church</a>, which created the free <a href="https://www.youversion.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouVersion Bible App</a> and is one of the largest churches in the world. He has written more than fifteen books and hosts the top-ranking <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7tznexFwtbxfPOYF5mxkxI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast</a>. He speaks regularly for the Global Leadership Network, which reaches hundreds of thousands of leaders around the world annually. Craig and his wife, Amy, live in Oklahoma. Connect with Craig at <a href="https://www.craiggroeschel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">craiggroeschel.com</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/02/the-power-of-pre-decision/">The Power of Pre-Decision</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7358230
2024-02-05T22:30:00-12:00
2024-02-27T10:15:02-12:00
Jesus’ Last Words on the Cross: It Is Finished
<p><strong>By Charles Mart<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/it-is-finished-a-40-day-pilgrimage-back-to-the-cross?variant=41250709733512&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_it_is_finished"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Charles-Martin_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Charles Martin" height="280" width="280" /></a>in</strong></p>
<p>If the death of Jesus means something, then I think the doorway to a better understanding is one word. Spoken by Jesus with His last breath, just before He gave His Spirit to His Father. The mushroom cloud rising out of the kingdom of darkness was ignited by one word. <em>Tetelestai</em>—“It is finished” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A30&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_it_is_finished">John 19:30</a>)—may be the most significant word ever uttered across the stratosphere. The single most important statement in all of human history. Spoken by the innocent and dying only begotten Son of God. <em>Tetelestai</em> is a stake driven into eternity, which stands there still, and the kingdom of darkness is powerless against it.</p>
<p><span id="more-72791"></span></p>
<p>Let’s jump to the other side of the Cross. Twenty-three years later. To a day and time when people were still alive who had seen it. Eyewitnesses. In A.D. 56, Paul wrote a letter to the church in Corinth. Corinth was a leading commercial city in its day, centered on the city’s chief deity, Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of love, where over one thousand prostitutes served in the temple dedicated to her. So extensive was their service that “to Corinthianize” meant to practice prostitution. Given its access to trade and markets, the city was a leading influencer in philosophy and reason, with no shortage of stoic prognosticators. Twenty-three years after Jesus’ death, Paul told the church in Corinth, “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. . . . For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1%3A17-18%2C+22-24&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_it_is_finished">1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 22-24</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Question: How is the Cross of Jesus Christ, the merciless death of a Galilean carpenter, both the power and the wisdom of God?</strong> In the very next chapter, Paul doubled down, saying, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+2%3A2&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_it_is_finished">1 Corinthians 2:2)</a> Why did the greatest theologian and evangelist and writer the world has ever known summarize his own ministry in two words: “Christ crucified”? Why not Christ feeding the five thousand? Or Christ healing the paralytic? Or Christ turning the tables over in the temple? Or Christ raising Lazarus?</p>
<p>Why focus on His crucifixion? His death?</p>
<p>Twenty years after Jesus’ death, Paul also wrote a letter to the church in Galatia, a church that we might describe as Spirit-filled, even charismatic, containing eyewitnesses to Jesus’ crucifixion. To those people, Paul said, “Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+3%3A1+&version=NASB1995&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_it_is_finished">Galatians 3:1 NASB1995</a>) Translation? “What happened to your focus? You stood there and watched this man bleed and die. You heard the word come out of His mouth. What has happened to you since? Why have you taken your eyes off this man and His cross?”</p>
<p>The Cross is the sole basis for God’s total provision for us. Period. Everything He did, does, and will do for us and in us, He does through the Cross and the shed blood of His only Son. There is no path back to Him that does not go through the Cross. Paul told the Romans, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A32&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_it_is_finished">Romans 8:32</a>) With and through Jesus, the Father grants us all things—and first on the list is a path back to Himself. Without Jesus, we receive nothing. And no way back.</p>
<h2><strong>How Do We Respond to Jesus’ Words?</strong></h2>
<p>While “it is finished,” He is not. His work on the Cross was perfect. Complete. Absolute. And because of it and through it, He continues working in and through us. The Cross is the singular basis of Christ’s total defeat of satan and his kingdom. satan had no response then and has none now. There’s nothing he can do about it. his defeat was complete, everlasting, and irrevocable. And while satan can’t change what happened on that Friday, he has been working ever since to hide what happened there. To obscure the work of the Cross. To avert our eyes. This is why Paul told the Galatians they’d been “bewitched.” Even though they were Spirit-filled eyewitnesses to the death and resurrection of Jesus and even though God was actively doing miracles in their church, they’d taken their eyes off the Cross. Some power of darkness had obscured the work of the Cross, and they were focused on something else.</p>
<p>If Paul were alive today, I think he’d take one look around and say, “See my letter to the Galatians.” We are no different. We are too easily bewitched and routinely take our eyes off the Cross. Off Jesus Christ crucified. God, in His mercy, has provided one path back to Himself, and that path is through the Cross. The Father delivered the Son to the Cross, and in return, the Cross became the symbol of our deliverance and the enemy’s defeat. Our job is to “believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+4%3A24-25&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_it_is_finished">Romans 4:24-25</a>)</p>
<p>Throughout history, there have been two primary responses to the death of Jesus: mock, spit, curse, beat, scourge, and crucify, or fall at His feet and cry out, “My Lord and my God.”</p>
<p>A third response is indifference, which is simply a variation on the first.</p>
<p>Let me pose a question. And in asking, I’m not poking you in the chest. I’m hoping to wrap an arm around your shoulder, come alongside, and walk with you. Pilgrims, headed in the same direction: What will you do with this man, Jesus? Shove a sponge in His mouth, or bow?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/it-is-finished-a-40-day-pilgrimage-back-to-the-cross?variant=41250709733512&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_it_is_finished"><em>It Is Finished: A 40-Day Pilgrimage Back to the Cross</em></a> by Charles Martin. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/it-is-finished-a-40-day-pilgrimage-back-to-the-cross?variant=41250709733512&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_it_is_finished">Click here</a> to learn<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/it-is-finished-a-40-day-pilgrimage-back-to-the-cross?variant=41250709733512&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_it_is_finished"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/It-Is-Finished_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="It Is Finished by Charles Martin" height="280" width="280" /></a> more about this book.</p>
<p><strong>Across forty days of vivid storytelling, </strong><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/it-is-finished-a-40-day-pilgrimage-back-to-the-cross?variant=41250709733512&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_it_is_finished"><strong><em>It Is Finished</em></strong><strong> </strong></a><strong>offers you a unique and vital roadmap to trace the power and necessity of the cross throughout the Bible, from the book of Genesis all the way to your present-day reality.</strong></p>
<p>Through forty slices of the story of Calvary, master storyteller and vivid Bible teacher Charles Martin, will walk you back to the cross to look up at it from a different angle each day and ask the Father to reveal to you:</p>
<ul>
<li>What exactly did he mean when the dying Jesus said, “It is finished”—what was finished at the cross?</li>
<li>When did what Jesus finish at the cross even begin?</li>
<li>What does this man’s death 2,000 years ago have to do with me today?</li>
<li>What is God offering at the cross that I so easily forget and take for granted?</li>
<li>What do I not realize about myself that the Father God has never forgotten?</li>
</ul>
<p>Whether it is your first, tenth, or ten thousandth time looking up at the cross of Christ, you can trust <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author Charles Martin, to wrap an arm around your shoulder, come alongside and walk with you as a fellow pilgrim headed in the same direction and answering the same question: “What will I do with this man, Jesus?”</p>
<p>Because before we can celebrate the resurrection, we need to backtrack to where Jesus has been, how He got there, and what His presence there accomplished. And while Satan can’t change what happened on that Friday, he has been working ever since to hide what happened there. To obscure the work of the Cross. To avert our eyes. But on this 40-day pilgrimage your eyes will open wide and your heart will race as you discover the answer to the question that can change your life, <em>Lord, why me? Why would you endure the cross and despise the shame, for me?</em></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p><strong>Charles Martin</strong> is a <em>New York Times</em> and <em>USA TODAY</em> bestselling author. He and his wife, Christy, live in Jacksonville, Florida. Learn more at charlesmartinbooks.com; Instagram: @storiedcareer; Twitter: @storiedcareer; Facebook: @Author.Charles.Martin.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/it-is-finished/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=itisfinished"><img src="https://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/It%20Is%20Finished%20600x600px%20Headers%20(1).png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="450" /></a><figcaption><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/it-is-finished/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=itisfinished">Sign up for a 5-day devotional</a> from Charles Martin and learn about how the Holy Spirit is at work in us today!</figcaption></figure></div>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/02/it-is-finished/">Jesus’ Last Words on the Cross: It Is Finished</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7358231
2024-02-04T23:07:00-12:00
2024-02-27T10:15:02-12:00
Build a Biblical Foundation for Your Marriage with the NIV Couples’ Devotional Bible
<p>Spend time every day with two of the most important elements in your life – your partner, and God’s Word. The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-couples-devotional-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-growing-together-in-christ?variant=41223686750344&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-couples">NIV Couples’ Devotional Bible</a></em> from Zondervan includes 260 weekday devotions, perfect for beginning or ending the day with an inspiring lesson from Scripture. These devotions to share will spark conversations about important topics, and get you reading the Bible together throughout the entire year. On the weekends, the devotions include advice from bestselling writers, marriage therapists, and pastors, including Les and Leslie Parrott, Gary Thomas, John Townsend, Henry Cloud, and Gary Smalley. These longer weekend readings also include tips, quizzes, activities, and a “Let’s Talk” section that will help you and your partner apply the Bible to your own lives.</p>
<span id="more-72800"></span>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/9780310464037.lifestyle-shot.02-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/9780310464037.lifestyle-shot.02-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="NIV Couples' Devotional Bible" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p>With devotions that reflect the joys and challenges that many couples face today, the bestselling <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-couples-devotional-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-growing-together-in-christ?variant=41223686750344&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-couples">NIV Couples’ Devotional Bible</a></em> is designed to help you build your relationship on the one foundation you can count on: God’s Word. The devotions cover a variety of topics, including communication, careers, sex, money, fears, setting goals, step parenting, forgiveness, and more. By learning to openly discuss these topics through the lens of Scripture, you will become more aligned in your marriage as you grow together in Christ.</p>
<p>The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-couples-devotional-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-growing-together-in-christ?variant=41223686750344&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-couples">NIV Couples’ Devotional Bible</a></em> was developed in partnership with the team at Christianity Today International and features material from bestselling experts in relationships and marriage, so you can be confident that the devotions are relevant, trusted, and honest. </p>
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="NIV Couples' Devotional Bible by Zondervan" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EOqViMD6RE4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-couples-devotional-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-growing-together-in-christ?variant=41223686750344&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-couples">NIV Couples’ Devotional Bible</a></em> is now available in Zondervan’s exclusive NIV Comfort Print® typeface for smooth reading. Expertly designed specifically to be used for the New International Version (NIV) text, Comfort Print offers an easier reading experience that complements the most widely read modern-English Bible translation. It also includes a fresh, updated page design and brand new covers.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://churchsource.com/products/the-new-testament-for-everyone-third-edition-hardcover-a-fresh-translation?variant=40800868728929&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles_ntfe">NIV Couples’ Devotional Bible</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/02/build-a-biblical-foundation-for-your-marriage-with-the-niv-couples-devotional-bible/">Build a Biblical Foundation for Your Marriage with the NIV Couples’ Devotional Bible</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7358232
2024-01-31T06:15:20-12:00
2024-02-27T10:15:02-12:00
The World God Loves Has a Face
<p><strong><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Terry-Crist_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Terry Crist. Why did Jesus have to go to Samaria? Why couldn’t the Samaritans come to him as so many others did throughout the Gospels?" width="33%" />By Terry Crist</strong></p>
<p>We all come from places. We live in places. In first-century Israel, the land was dotted with approximately 240 closely knit communities, much like modern neighborhoods. These small villages ranged in size from just a handful of families to around one hundred residents, covering three to four acres—a scale comparable to a modern high-rise.</p>
<p>Jesus himself resided in one such community in a place named Nahum’s Village, which is known to most of us through our Bibles as Capernaum. This was Jesus’ neighborhood, the setting for his daily life. He selected the majority of his disciples from within these intimate communities, performed the majority of his miracles there, and delivered most of his sermons and parables in these settings. In every sense, Jesus was a product of his neighborhood, deeply rooted and engaged in the life of his community. He was a neighborhood kid through and through.</p>
<p>Though he was embedded in a neighborhood, Jesus saw a world of mission and ministry beyond it. Refusing to be confined to the block, he ventured into other communities throughout Galilee and beyond, which is how he ended up in Samaria.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Gospel of John</a>, a beautiful, textured, and rich literary masterpiece, offers layers that cannot be fully appreciated by those of us living two millennia after it was written. This challenge invites us to engage with the story in a deeper, more personal way.</p>
<p>While the efforts of scholars who delve into historical-critical exegesis are valuable, understanding John requires a more nuanced appreciation of its literary artistry. His distinct editorial vision emerges not only from his claim to have witnessed enough of Jesus’ ministry to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A25&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fill the world with endless volumes</a> but also from his choice of stories to recount. These choices are designed to guide readers to know and believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that through faith, they may have eternal life (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020%3A31&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">see John 20:31</a>). We must read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Gospel of John</a> with our hearts and our heads.</p>
<p>In a sudden and beautiful turn of phrase, John introduces us to an unexpected movement within his writings, without any prior warning or explanation: “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A4&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Now he had to go through Samaria.</a>” But why? Why did he <em>have</em> to go anywhere? Why couldn’t the Samaritans come to him as so many others did throughout the Gospels? For that matter, why do we have to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A19-20&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">take the gospel into all the world</a>? Why can’t we leave it to people far from God to find us?</p>
<p>Because some never will.</p>
<h2>Samaria, Land of “The Other”</h2>
<p>Samaria was unlike any other place Jesus visited. It had a painful history and an ongoing legacy of rejection and marginalization. It was the place religious Hebrew people avoided for this reason: generations earlier, invaders had taken the land, bringing in foreign peoples for resettlement and labor. This already “mixed” population intermarried with Jews, mixing their ethnicity and their religion into the bloodline of the chosen people—and all of this right in the promised land. As a result, the Jewish community hated the people of Samaria. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204%3A9&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No self-respecting Jew would have dealings with them</a> if they could avoid it.</p>
<p>The Samaritans were often perceived as the other, a faceless group defined not by their individuality but by their collective identity. They were not seen as individuals with whom one could meet, befriend, or interact. Rather, they were a category, a monolithic “them,” their humanity obscured by generalizations and stereotypes. Many of their Jewish neighbors would have viewed them through the lens of their different religion, appearance, and way of life.</p>
<p>But these distinctions were more than mere observations; they were barriers. The term <em>Samaritan</em> seemed to blot out individual characteristics, reducing a diverse community to a single, simplified label. This label was believed to tell you everything you needed to know, rendering personal engagement undesirable and even unnecessary. It was as though understanding of or empathy toward the Samaritans was out of reach or somehow inappropriate. Safer to avoid them in person, to keep them at arm’s length, and perhaps even to condemn them from the comfortable distance of unfamiliarity.</p>
<h2>Breaking the Rules</h2>
<p>Jesus, however, wasn’t playing by the rules. He did not conform to the expectations or rules of the religious community of his time. He was not there to reinforce prejudices, promote discrimination, or teach the pious how to be more virtuous. Instead, his presence in Samaria was guided by a singular, compelling force: love. This love was not an abstract or generalized sentiment; it was specific, personal, and deeply passionate. God’s love reaches out to real people, each with their unique stories, struggles, and complexities.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A4-42&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The story of Jesus’ encounter with the woman at Jacob’s well in Samaria</a> doesn’t merely recount a passing moment in his itinerant ministry, it illuminates a profound spiritual reality. God will not allow us to cling to our prejudices, stereotypes, or broad-brush judgments of others. Jesus’ connection to the Samaritan woman breaks down barriers and puts a face to a place often reduced to a stereotype. It is a poignant reminder that God’s love is not just broad, encompassing all of humanity, but also deep, reaching each individual with profound intimacy and care. It is a love that refuses to let us think of entire groups of people in abstract ways and in impersonal terms.</p>
<h2>The Depth of God’s Love</h2>
<p>While we celebrate the vast embrace of God’s love for the world, this story calls us to remember the depth and personal connection of that love, recognizing each person’s value and significance. Sometimes our focus on the width of God’s love, wide enough to surround the whole world, makes us forget about the depth of God’s love for each person.</p>
<p>There’s a reason the beloved verse in John’s gospel proclaiming that “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son</a>” is followed up with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A4-42&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the story of that son in Samaria</a>. God is telling us that the world is more than a sea of humanity. And just as Jesus saw this woman, with all of her pain, complexity, and humanity, we are called to see the faces around us.</p>
<p>What if we saw the world not merely as a faceless mass of people but as a tapestry of individual faces, each cherished by God? How might such a perspective transform our understanding of community, influence national conversations, and shape global awareness? What positive impact might it have on the quality and authenticity of our daily interactions? By recognizing the sacred worth of each person, we can enrich our souls and create a world more aligned with the love that pursues us all.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/loving-samaritans-radical-kindness-in-an-us-vs-them-world?variant=41240938807432" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Loving Samaritans</em></a> is more than a call to mere empathy, it is an invitation to radical love, mirroring Jesus’ love affair with the Samaritans. It’s about recognizing the special nature of every person we encounter, regardless of their appearance or behavior. It’s about seeing others as God sees them and loving them as he loves them, fully and unconditionally. This is the profound message of the gospel: the story of a God who loves not in the abstract but in the real, the raw, the messiness of our world without reservation or retreat.</p>
<p>Why does this matter?</p>
<p>Because the world has a face. And <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A4-42&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in this story</a>, it is the face of a woman at a well, waiting to be seen, heard, and loved.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/loving-samaritans-radical-kindness-in-an-us-vs-them-world?variant=41240938807432" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Loving-Samaritans_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Loving Samaritans" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/loving-samaritans-radical-kindness-in-an-us-vs-them-world?variant=41240938807432" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Loving Samaritans: Radical Kindness in an Us vs. Them World</em></a> by Terry Crist. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/loving-samaritans-radical-kindness-in-an-us-vs-them-world?variant=41240938807432" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p><strong>You can live a radically inclusive life without compromising your beliefs or the truth of the gospel.</strong></p>
<p>Humanity is more divided now than ever, gridlocked over social issues, race, gender, climate change, immigration, and our responsibility to vulnerable people. How did we get here? And what can we do to build bridges where walls exist?</p>
<p>As a pastor committed to building deep relationships with people whose life experiences are different than his own, Terry Crist knows the beauty and challenge of connecting across dividing lines of race, economic status, faith, and much more. And in this book, he shares how you can too.</p>
<p>Profoundly weaving the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well with his own stories and examples from culture today, Terry addresses how we’ve strayed from the unity God intended and how we can trade judgment for grace, disputes for harmony, apathy for empathy, and hate for love and acceptance. By the end of <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/loving-samaritans-radical-kindness-in-an-us-vs-them-world?variant=41240938807432" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this book</a>, you will be able to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Identify how you personally see the world and why it matters</li>
<li>Recognize those on the margins who are right around you</li>
<li>Imitate Jesus’s love for all humanity in the interactions you have with others</li>
<li>Extend dignity to those suffering from mental illness, homelessness, and addiction</li>
<li>Maintain thriving relationships when family members are on opposing sides of issues</li>
<li>Be an ambassador of reconciliation in your community</li>
</ul>
<p>It doesn’t have to be one or the other—you can both love God and love your neighbor.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/loving-samaritans-radical-kindness-in-an-us-vs-them-world?variant=41240938807432" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Loving Samaritans: Radical Kindness in an Us vs. Them World</em></a> by Terry Crist is published by Zondervan Books, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</p>
<p><strong>Terry Crist</strong> is the co-lead pastor of City of Grace in Phoenix alongside his wife, Judith. He has a TH.M. and a D.Min. and has a business certificate in nonprofit management from Harvard Business School.</p>
<p>Terry is also passionate about community transformation and promotes adoption and foster care through his work in state government. An avid outdoorsman and gifted communicator, he has adventured and preached the gospel in 65 nations.</p>
<p>Terry and Judith have three married sons and three grandchildren. They live in Phoenix, Arizona.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/01/the-world-god-loves-has-a-face/">The World God Loves Has a Face</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7358233
2024-01-29T05:36:39-12:00
2024-02-27T10:15:02-12:00
Zondervan’s Teen Study Bible Speaks to Today’s Teens
<p>Being a teen in today’s changing world is hard. Pressure to perform in school, sports, and extracuricular activities can be stressful, while unrealistic expectations from social media damages self confidence. Bullying can cross platforms, from real life to virtual communications, and post-pandemic, teens are feeling more isolated and lonely than ever. In this difficult environment, it’s important for teens to remember that there is always someone who is at their side, no matter how challenging life may seem.</p>
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<p>Full of study features that will help today’s teen learn more about God, the Bible, and how God’s Word relates to their lives, the <em>Teen Study Bible</em> will help them keep in step with all God has done, is doing, and will do in the world. It helps them discover the eternal truths of God’s Word and apply them to the issues they face every day, including offering biblical advice about dealing with everything from friends, family, and school to problems such as bullying and depression. As teens navigate their hectic and sometimes stressful lives, this study Bible will teach them to deepen and understand their faith while reassuring them that God is always with them and they are never alone.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="NIV Teen Study Bible by Zondervan (Comfort Print Edition)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g4J-lsXj5SQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>With over 4 million copies sold, the <em>Teen Study Bible</em> continues to be a teen’s top resource for discovering the foundational truths of the Bible. NIV (New International Version) editions are available in <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-teen-study-bible-comfort-print?variant=40425570697352&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-teenstudy">standard</a> and <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-teen-study-bible-compact-comfort-print?variant=40425572466824&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-teenstudy">compact</a> size, while <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/kjv-teen-study-bible-hardcover-comfort-print?variant=41118725374088&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-teenstudy">KJV (King James Version)</a> and <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/nkjv-teen-study-bible-hardcover-comfort-print?variant=41118724554888&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-teenstudy">NKJV (New King James Version)</a> editions are available in standard size only.</p>
<p>All translations feature updated content, to ensure that the resources inside are as relevant as possible to today’s teens. “We Believe” articles unpack the Apostles’ Creed to reveal the biblical foundation of faith, while “Panorama” notes keep the big picture of each book of the Bible in view. “Dear Jordan” articles feature a letter asking for advice, with an answer based on the teachings of Scripture. Together, these resources allow teens to find comfort and encouragement in their faith, while also teaching them how to apply the lessons of the Bible to their modern lives.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Hardcover_Teen-Staggered_9627-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Hardcover_Teen-Staggered_9627-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="KJV, NIV & NKJV Teen Study Bibles" height="683" width="1024" /></a><figcaption>KJV, NIV, and NKJV Teen Study Bibles</figcaption></figure>
<p>Now available in exclusive Comfort Print® typefaces for smooth reading, the <em>Teen Study Bible</em> is as easy to read as it is to understand. Expertly designed specifically to be used for each translation’s text, Comfort Print offers an easier reading experience that complements that translation.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-teen-study-bible-comfort-print?variant=40425570697352&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-teenstudy">NIV</a>, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/kjv-teen-study-bible-hardcover-comfort-print?variant=41118725374088&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-teenstudy">KJV</a>, and <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/nkjv-teen-study-bible-hardcover-comfort-print?variant=41118724554888&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-teenstudy">NKJV </a>Teen Study Bible <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/01/zondervans-teen-study-bible-speaks-to-todays-teens/">Zondervan’s Teen Study Bible Speaks to Today’s Teens</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7358234
2024-01-15T22:00:00-12:00
2024-02-27T10:15:02-12:00
Is God Really Good? How to Be Trained in Truth
<p><strong>By Susie Larson<img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Susie-Larson_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Susie Larson" height="280" width="280" /></strong></p>
<p>Our Enemy sees our potential long before we ever do. He starts when we’re young and not only targets our gifting and future calling, but he also goes after those tender places of vulnerability. All you need to do is look back into your childhood, and you’ll likely find a pattern of losses and hurts that conflict with God’s message of hope and redemption for you. A friend once reflected, “Our Enemy starts when we’re young and conditions us to believe his lies.”</p>
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<p>Why does he do that? If we’re conditioned to believe lies, he can steal from us without us ever even realizing it. If you think you’re an outsider, you’ll assume God doesn’t have a community for you, and you won’t contend for it. If you believe you’re a reject, you’ll allow the Enemy to use every hardship and setback to confirm that you’re unacceptable. Those trials are meant to train you to be strong in battle and secure in your identity. If you believe you’re only a victim of your circumstances, you’ll never dare to imagine and fight for your victory. The truth is, no demon in hell can keep you from all God has for you!</p>
<p>If you believe God is the one who made you ill or caused you pain, you’ll feel conflicted about contending for your healing and restoration. If you don’t know all Jesus won for you, how will you know when it’s stolen?</p>
<p>In every way, the Enemy takes God’s ideas and counterfeits them. He has a history of conditioning us to believe his lies. Thankfully, God has a history of continually setting us free:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+34%3A19&version=NLT&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_trained_in_the_truth">Psalm 34:19</a></p>
<p>The beautiful thing about Jesus is that He’s not impatient with us. He knows how perpetually we fall into the Enemy’s traps and how quickly we believe his lies. But He does intend for us to mature and grow. There are things He wants us to know—some of which we’re not ready for until we’ve won some victories and have gained new ground. Because our healing most often comes in layers, so does our knowledge of and capacity for the truth.</p>
<p>Every time you decide to hold fast to God’s truth in the face of contrary circumstances, you grow in knowledge of God and His ways. Every time you rehearse the truth about who you are because of who God is, you reinforce the truth in your innermost being, which is a good thing because that’s where most lies go to hide:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51%3A6&version=AMP&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_trained_in_the_truth">Psalm 51:6</a></p>
<p>God is so good. He intends for you to gain wisdom, authority, and credibility where you’ve experienced loss, heartbreak, and messages that distort His love. Train yourself in the truth that sets you free.</p>
<p>Picture yourself tightening that belt of truth around your waist (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A14&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_trained_in_the_truth">Ephesians 6:14</a>). It holds the rest of the armor in place. Imagine yourself walking through the ashes of your pain with your head high, your shoulders back, and your heart warmed by the fact that you belong to God—the Redeemer of your story. These things are possible with God.</p>
<p>_________</p>
<p>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/waking-up-to-the-goodness-of-god-40-days-toward-healing-and-wholeness?variant=41223687340168&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_trained_in_the_truth"><em>Waking Up to the Goodness of God: 40 Days Toward Healing and Wholeness</em></a> by Susie<img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Waking-Up-to-the-Goodness-of-God_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="280" width="280" /> Larson. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/waking-up-to-the-goodness-of-god-40-days-toward-healing-and-wholeness?variant=41223687340168&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_trained_in_the_truth"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about the book.</p>
<p><strong>For those who have been disappointed when the “good life” let them down or discouraged by life’s struggles, the goodness of God is trustworthy, life-giving, and everlasting. Jesus wants to lead you on a healing path to redeem your story and to make you whole.</strong></p>
<p>The words we say and the things we pray matter to God and to our health. Where we rest our gaze and how we think about God directly impacts the condition of our souls. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+14%3A30&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_trained_in_the_truth">Proverbs 14:30</a> states, “A heart at peace gives life to the body.” God is well able to restore and renew us even when culture swirls around us. The world needs healing. But we can’t impart what we don’t possess.</p>
<p>Scripture highlights the significance of 40 days as a kind of pilgrimage or spiritual journey toward a deeper dependence and reliance upon God. Science highlights how 40 days of practice (of a habit, a renewed thought, a healthy discipline, etc.) directly impacts our brain’s structure and physiological health.</p>
<p>Join best-selling author, popular radio host, and Bible teacher Susie Larson on a 40-day pilgrimage to explore God’s invitation to flourish, heal, and know His peace in a way that changes us forever. Through this journey, readers will discover how to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Retrain their brains and renew their minds to notice God’s goodness and to make that their default setting</li>
<li>Revive their faith by immersing in God’s promises, saying and praying them more than ever</li>
<li>Restore a right view of God’s character based on His Word and stop drawing wrong conclusions about Him</li>
<li>Redeem their story and renew their strength by following the Healer</li>
</ul>
<p>Do you still believe God is good? Do you believe He cares about the condition of your soul? And that He still answers prayer? Are you ready to position yourself on the path of His promises and see what He might do in and through you?</p>
<p><strong>Susie Larson</strong> is a bestselling author, national speaker, and host of the popular radio show <em>Susie Larson Live</em>. Whether behind a desk or behind a mic, Susie lives out her passion to see people everywhere awakened to the depth of God’s love, the value of their soul, and the height of their calling in Christ Jesus.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/01/how-to-be-trained-in-truth/">Is God Really Good? How to Be Trained in Truth</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7358235
2024-01-09T09:28:45-12:00
2024-02-27T10:15:03-12:00
Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. to Leave Footprints by Senate Chaplain Barry Black
<p><strong>From <a href="https://www.harpercollinschristian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HarperCollins Christian Publishing</a>, Bible Gateway’s parent company, comes <a href="https://churchsource.com/products/share-the-dream-bible-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-shining-a-light-in-a-divided-world-through-six-principles-of-martin-luther-king-jr?variant=40756696383585" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a six-session video Bible study</a> based on the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In <em><a href="https://churchsource.com/products/share-the-dream-bible-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-shining-a-light-in-a-divided-world-through-six-principles-of-martin-luther-king-jr?variant=40756696383585" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Share the Dream</a></em>, you will look at 6 biblical principles that shaped Dr. King’s life and motivated him to speak out in the Civil Rights Movement: love, conscience, freedom, justice, perseverance, and hope.</strong> Below is commentary from United States Senate Chaplain Barry Black, who is featured in the video portion of the <a href="https://churchsource.com/products/share-the-dream-bible-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-shining-a-light-in-a-divided-world-through-six-principles-of-martin-luther-king-jr?variant=40756696383585" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Share the Dream</em> Bible Study</a>.</p>
<p>I am excited about the <a href="https://churchsource.com/products/share-the-dream-bible-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-shining-a-light-in-a-divided-world-through-six-principles-of-martin-luther-king-jr?variant=40756696383585" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Share the Dream</em> Bible Study</a> and how it will help individuals benefit from the amazing gift of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://churchsource.com/products/share-the-dream-bible-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-shining-a-light-in-a-divided-world-through-six-principles-of-martin-luther-king-jr?variant=40756696383585"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_20231010_101657394-1024x710.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Share the Dream" height="355" width="512" /></a></figure></div>
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<p>Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the great American poet, wrote a wonderful poem, <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44644/a-psalm-of-life">A Psalm of Life</a>. He ended that poem by saying this, and it is apropos when you are thinking about the impact of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. <em>“Lives of great men all remind us we can live our lives sublime and departing leave behind us footprints on the sands of time.”</em> Martin left footprints and has inspired me, and I hope will inspire others to leave footprints on the sands of time.</p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ShareTheDream_PDF_Final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>DOWNLOAD A FREE 5-DAY <em>SHARE THE DREAM</em> DEVOTIONAL FROM BIBLE GATEWAY HERE</strong></a></p>
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<p>Martin King inspired me to leave footprints on the sands of time because his life made an indelible impression on me. I was a teenager when he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington DC, that great march where some 250,000 people gathered and heard him say so many things that influenced the progress of the Civil Rights movement.</p>
<p>One of the things he said that made an indelible impression on my life was we are as human beings wrapped in a blanket of mutuality and tied to a single garment of destiny. I had not come face to face with a white person when Martin King made his I Have a Dream speech. It would not be until a few years later that I would actually shake hands with a white person. But his reminder that we as human beings are wrapped in a blanket of mutuality and tied to a single garment of destiny made an indelible impact on my life, inspiring me to try to walk in his footsteps.</p>
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<p>But it was not just the words of his speech. I have been inspired by his life to try to leave some footprints. I would watch on television as he would go to jail for what he believed. He was a man who had a PhD and had all kinds of other options, and yet he said, “Those who haven’t found something worth dying for are not fit to live.” Martin inspired me by his words, but also by his example, to strive to leave laudable footprints.</p>
<p>And then Martin exemplified in the living of his life qualities that have made such a powerful impact on me. He lived manifesting the quality of excellence and encouraged others to do so, so to live with excellence. He said, “Whatever job you do, do it so well that the living, the dead, or the unborn couldn’t do it better.” He said, “If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, go out and sweep streets like Michelangelo carved marble, sweep streets like Raphael painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, and like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.”</p>
<p>Martin emphasized the quality of excellence, but he emphasized the quality of agape love. He said in a speech at Drew University, “I’m glad God didn’t tell me to like people or command me to like people, he said love.” He said there are three words in the Greek word for love, there is <em>eros</em>, which is romantic. It’s the love of Edgar Allen Poe’s <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44885/annabel-lee" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annabel Lee</a> with an affection surrounded by a halo of eternity. And then there’s <em>phileo</em>, from which we get our Philadelphia, the <em><u>phileo</u></em>, friendship, <em>adelphos</em>, brother, city of Brotherly love. It is a reciprocal love. We love because we are loved.</p>
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<p>But he said, when Jesus of Nazareth said, love your enemies, he was talking about <em>agape</em> love. <em>Agape</em> in the Greek is understanding, creative, redemptive, goodwill for humanity. It is an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return. Martin would say it is the love of God operating in the human heart, so his qualities of love and of excellence, but also of service transformed my life and inspired me to attempt to leave laudable footprints.</p>
<p>He said about service, “If any of you are around when it comes my time to meet my day,” this was his last sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church before he was assassinated. “If you are around, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get someone to deliver the eulogy, tell him or her not to talk too long. Tell him or her not to mention that I won a Nobel Peace Prize and many other awards. I want somebody to be able to say in that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to live his life serving others.” <em>Agape</em> love, living with excellence, and service for others.</p>
<p>I sometimes find myself asking, in these challenging times, what would Martin Luther King say and what would Martin Luther King do? I think he would continue to be that drum major for justice and that drum major for truth and that drum major for righteousness. And as he ended his sermon, his final sermon at Ebenezer, he would be striving, as he said, to help somebody as he passed along, to cheer somebody with a word or a song, to show somebody he or she is traveling wrong, so that his living would not be in vain.</p>
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<p>The reverberations of his I Have a Dream speech would be manifested in his life. “I have a dream that one day on the Red Hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day, even the state of Mississippi, a desert state sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and brotherhood. I have a dream that one day my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their characters.” And I believe he would live in such a way that we would be inspired by his life to hasten the day when all of God’s children, black and white, red and yellow, brown, will be able to join hands and say, “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”</p>
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<p>On June 27, 2003, Rear Admiral Barry C. Black (Ret.) was elected the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He began working in the Senate on July 7, 2003. Prior to coming to Capitol Hill, Chaplain Black served in the U.S. Navy for over twenty-seven years, ending his distinguished career as the Chief of Navy Chaplains.</p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ShareTheDream_PDF_Final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>DOWNLOAD A FREE 5-DAY <em>SHARE THE DREAM</em> DEVOTIONAL FROM BIBLE GATEWAY HERE</strong></a></p>
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<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://churchsource.com/products/share-the-dream-bible-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-shining-a-light-in-a-divided-world-through-six-principles-of-martin-luther-king-jr?variant=40756696383585"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_20231010_112116918-768x1024.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="512" width="384" /></a></figure></div>
<p>Dr. King and the men and women around him were able to change history through the power of a dream that was not rooted in mere human principles. That dream was rooted in the love of God for all his children made in his image.</p>
<p><a href="https://churchsource.com/products/share-the-dream-bible-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-shining-a-light-in-a-divided-world-through-six-principles-of-martin-luther-king-jr?variant=40756696383585" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Share the Dream<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/72x72/2122.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="™" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /></em> is a six-session video Bible study</a> (streaming code included) based on the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each session revolves around one of the biblical principles that shaped Dr. King’s life and motivated him to speak on behalf of African Americans in the Civil Rights Movement.</p>
<p>Be a part of the <a href="https://churchsource.com/products/share-the-dream-bible-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-shining-a-light-in-a-divided-world-through-six-principles-of-martin-luther-king-jr?variant=40756696383585" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Share the Dream</em><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/72x72/2122.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="™" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /></a> movement that’s helping a new generation understand, live, experience, and form a community around the unifying principles at the heart of the dream to which Dr. King dedicated his life.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/09162806/Share-the-Dream-website-banner.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Share-the-Dream-website-banner.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="300" width="970" /></a></figure></div>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2024/01/inspired-by-martin-luther-king-jr-to-leave-footprints-by-senate-chaplain-barry-black/">Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. to Leave Footprints by Senate Chaplain Barry Black</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7226466
2023-06-14T01:27:00-12:00
2023-10-16T02:55:15-12:00
Why Confession is Imperative for Our Common Life in Philippians 3:1b-11
<p>In this ninth posting, we are continuing the blog series with content from biblical scholar Scot McKnight. McKnight has recently published <a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a> series with Harper<em>Christian</em> Resources. McKnight combines interpretive insights with pastoral wisdom for all the books of the New Testament. Each volume provides original meaning, fresh interpretation, and practical application.</p>
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<p>In this blog series, we’ll be sharing Scot’s insights and wisdom on the book of Philippians. It is available as a book as well: <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/philippians-and-1-2-thessalonians?variant=39991840473224"><em>Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Kingdom Living in Today’s World</em>.</a></p>
<p>For twelve weeks, Bible Gateway will publish a chapter from the Bible study book, taking you through the full text of McKnight’s study on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201&version=NIV">Philippians</a>. For this week, here is the ninth study, A Common Life of Co-Workers | <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A1b-11&version=NIV">Philippians 3:1b-11</a></p>
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<p><em>1 It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.</em></p>
<p><em>If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.</em></p>
<p><em>7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss be- cause of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.</em></p>
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<p>No one has stronger criticisms of one’s former life than a convert. Some talk about how bad of a sinner they were or how deep they were into drugs or money or alcohol or sexual escapades. Some talk about their former religion the way divorced people at times describe their ex. </p>
<p>In my lifetime I’ve heard nothing less than vituperations and accusations for one’s former Roman Catholic or Methodist or Presbyterian or just plain “liberal” church: “I was raised in that church and never once heard the gospel.” As one who has done research in conversion stories, I’ve heard that tale more times than I can count. Nasty rhetoric about one’s former life seems irresistible.</p>
<p>And always has been. Paul himself is such a person. He describes his past in a way that permits him to criticize his present opponents. That is, his past is where his opponents are now.</p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>A Strong Accusation</strong></p>
<p>The language ancients used for their opponents does not play well today. In fact, that kind of strong language, often calling one’s enemy some animal, was only part of the prophetic toolbox. John the Baptist was harsh, Jesus was harsh, Peter was harsh, Revelation ramps up harshness, and Paul was harsh too. (If you really want to read harsh accusations against one’s opponents, read what Luther and Calvin say about the Catholics and Anabaptists. Yikes.) </p>
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<p>I’m not excusing anyone, and I don’t think we should talk like this about one another, but I do want us to see the harsh accusations of Paul in their context. What was said in their world may not be license to say the same in our world.</p>
<p>Paul opens chapter three with a line that quickly erupts with explosive clarity. He starts with, “It is no trouble for me” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A1&version=NIV">3:1</a>), which could be translated, “I have no hesitation” to write to you about these things. This rather sedate statement suddenly shifts in tone to, “Watch out for those dogs!” Then he adds “those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A2&version=NIV">3:2</a>). </p>
<p>To call someone “dog,” which is still an insult in Germany, is an insult. That insult is unfolded into two categories, one moral (“evildoers”) and the other about law observance (“mutilators of the flesh” refers to circumcising gentiles). Which makes it clear that some opponents of Paul in Philippi were law-observant Jewish Christians.</p>
<p>Here’s another problem. Christians have easily slid from Jesus’ exaggerated rhetoric about Pharisees to thinking all Jews are Pharisees. Then they mix into the bowl of group denunciations Paul’s exaggerated rhetoric about “dogs.” Then they drop the exaggerated talk of opponents to think all ordinary Jews are worthy of such condemnations and before long we have outright prejudice and racial hatred, the kind that saw Jews as Christ-killers. Then we have the Holocaust. This is the danger of exaggerated rhetoric, and it must be made clear right here. Be careful. Our world is not their world. These words don’t work in our world.</p>
<p>What also must be emphasized, and this kicks the stool out from under many, is that Paul is not here opposing Jews per se nor is his beef with Judaism. Paul’s heated rhetoric aims at Christians who think gentiles or all believers must observe the law. Those Christians were probably Jewish Christians, but it’s not the Jewish part that concerns him.</p>
<p>One does not find here, then, an argument with another religion. Rather, Paul perceives a dangerous departure from the true gospel about Jesus Christ by Christians bent on being as zealous as Paul was in his former life about observing the law of Moses.</p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>A Strong Claim</strong></p>
<p>Paul makes strong claims about his past so he can crush the claims of his opponents. He crushes them so he can magnify the gospel about Jesus Christ. Those are the two moves he makes in this passage.</p>
<p>Paul turns his past completely upside down when he says “we,” not they, are the “circumcision.” That is, the true circumcision is not fleshly removal of skin but serving “God by his Spirit” and those who “boast in Christ Jesus” and those “who put no confidence in the flesh” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A3&version=NIV">3:3</a>). </p>
<p>These are all jabs at his Jewish Christian opponents who believe Paul has denied the law and cut into the core identity of Israel/Jews. (One reading of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+3%3A19%E2%80%9329&version=NIV">Galatians 3:19–29</a> reveals how Paul thinks about the topic.) Their “confidence in the flesh” is an appeal to their circumcision and, at the same time, a very strong criticism by Paul. For him, “flesh” is corrupted human flesh that rejects the Spirit and Jesus as their own Messiah.</p>
<p>But Paul decides to play their game of flesh confidence. He’s a Jew of the Jews, Israelite of the Israelites, Hebrew of the Hebrews. When it comes to his style of Judaism, that is, which approach to law observance he embodies, he’s a Pharisee. This meant someone who interpreted the law carefully by expanding it to spell things out more clearly, and thus someone who followed it scrupulously and strictly. Like Catholics, evangelicals, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists adhering to their very special group-taught traditions today.</p>
<p>So committed had Paul been to law observance that he persecuted the church. He tops these strong claims off with the strongest of all claims. He puts forward the standard of standards, “righteousness.” A righteous person–like Joseph (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A19&version=NIV">Matthew 1:19</a>)–is one who consistently follows the law. By Pharisee standards, Paul says he was “faultless,” and Bockmuehl says it well: many “cringe at this claim” by Paul. </p>
<p>Jews believed they could follow God’s law; they believed failures were atoned for on the Day of Atonement. Sacrifices meant they were clean with respect to law observance. Those who lived like this were “faultless.” This does not mean sinless. Paul had been a faultless sinner! These strong claims are not exaggerations, and neither are they claims to perfection. Have you ever heard someone say they are a devout Catholic or an observant Jew? That’s the kind of claim Paul was making about his past.</p>
<p>His various claims were also boundary markers between Jews and gentiles that became symbols of one’s radical commitment to Israel’s God and to God’s law. They function then as public statements of one’s allegiance. Much the way daily devotions, or weekly church attendance, or serving in a homeless shelter do in our world. Such practices identify us and mark us off from others who don’t do such things.</p>
<p>So Paul’s boundary-marking claims are strong: he was initiated into the covenant by law observant parents; he’s from the innermost tribes (Judah, Benjamin); he can speak and read Hebrew; he’s a Pharisee; his zeal has no limits; and when it gets right down to it, he was a totally observant Pharisee. </p>
<p>There is no duplicity here. Paul was not a man crushed by a guilty conscience. Paul was not worried about going to heaven when he died. He was not in fear of losing his salvation. That man had a robust confidence in his God, in the law, and in his faithfulness to it. No, he didn’t convert to Christ to assuage guilt. He converted because he met Jesus. That encounter shattered his old way of life.</p>
<p>Think about it this way: he magnified his Jewishness; he boasted about his faithfulness. Not as personal bragging but so he can speak to his law-observant opponents, best them, and then say, “In spite of all my zeal, I was wrong. I did not know that the church’s gospel was right. Jesus met me, and I now know that he is the Messiah. That means my former zeal was misguided.” Which then implies, “So is yours. So is theirs.”</p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>A Strong Confession</strong></p>
<p>His former way of life was shattered by an entirely new perspective: what were “gains” are now a “loss” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A7%E2%80%938&version=NIV">3:7–8</a>). The term will reverberate among some of his opponents all the way back to Jerusalem. A term that will be heard in synagogues all over the Mediterranean is that Paul considers his former law-observant life as “garbage.” The Greek term is <em>skubala</em>. Some wonder here if this might be a momentary cuss word for Paul, something like “crap” or its more vulgar alternative that rhymes with “skit.” The term, however, is best translated as feces. <em>Skubala</em> was used in medical manuals for excrement tossed into the garbage. So his former life was trashed.</p>
<p>What matters now is “knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A8&version=NIV">3:8</a>). The person-centeredness of this expression cannot be missed. His faith is in a real person, the man from Galilee who walked its hills and taught in parables and opened doors to the table fellowship inside some had never imagined possible. Who made astounding claims for him- self and worked wonders and miracles and healed people outside and inside homes. Who entered Jerusalem in protest, was crucified, was buried, and was raised and then ascended to the right hand of the Father. </p>
<p>The gospel is about Jesus the person, not just what he accomplished. The gospel is not a set of ideas but a living, breathing incarnation of God. He is the One Paul now knows, and knowing Jesus has transformed his life.</p>
<p>On this side of his conversion, he is “in him,” and that means his righteousness is not Pharisee-based law observance but the righteousness that comes “through faith in Christ . . . that comes from God on the basis of faith” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A9&version=NIV">3:9</a>). We hear a new echo of “not by works of the law but by faith,” a very common expression on Paul’s lips in the days of writing Galatians and Romans. He wants to “know Christ” in his fullness. Paul wants to know “the power of his resurrection” and that means he wants to know–think about this slowly–“participation in his sufferings” so he can, like Jesus, be “like him in his death.” Because the death of Jesus–remember the U-shaped theology of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A6%E2%80%9311&version=NIV">2:6–11</a>–led to his exaltation, so Paul knows if he participates in his death he will also participate in his resurrection and be raised from among the dead.</p>
<p>Paul’s writing leaps and bounds and shifts and turns and returns. So readers have to grip his letters tightly and hang on for all those moves. We started with his calling his opponents “dogs,” and we find him on the near side of his former life where he is so in tune with Jesus he wants the pattern of Jesus’ life to shape his own life. He’s ready to die because the One who has died is the One who was raised. His confidence in the flesh never attained the kind of confidence he now finds in Jesus.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><em>Questions for Reflection and Application</em></strong></p>
<ol type="1"><li>How does Paul use his strong rhetoric about his former life to denounce his opponents? What is hi linguistic and confessional strategy here?</li></ol>
<ul><li>Who is Paul criticizing and opposing in this passage?</li></ul>
<ul><li>How has Christian rhetoric been used to move beyond Paul’s intent here into demonizing Jews?</li></ul>
<ul><li>What “group-taught traditions” or “boundary markers” do you notice in your own denomination of Christianity?</li></ul>
<ul><li>What is your conversion tale? How did you come to follow Jesus? Have you told your story in the past, and how has this lesson impacted how you might tell that story in the future?</li></ul>
<p></p>
<p>The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a></em> <em>is published by HarperCollins Resources, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/06/why-confession-is-imperative-for-our-common-life-in-philippians-31b-11/">Why Confession is Imperative for Our Common Life in Philippians 3:1b-11</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7222702
2023-06-07T01:12:00-12:00
2023-06-07T05:15:13-12:00
Why Friendship is Vital to a Common Life in Philippians 2:19-3:1a
<p>In this eighth posting, we are continuing the blog series with content from biblical scholar Scot McKnight. McKnight has recently published <a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a> series with Harper<em>Christian</em> Resources. McKnight combines interpretive insights with pastoral wisdom for all the books of the New Testament. Each volume provides original meaning, fresh interpretation, and practical application.</p>
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<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="334" width="500" /></a></figure></div>
<p>In this blog series, we’ll be sharing Scot’s insights and wisdom on the book of Philippians. It is available as a book as well: <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/philippians-and-1-2-thessalonians?variant=39991840473224"><em>Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Kingdom Living in Today’s World</em>.</a></p>
<p>For twelve weeks, Bible Gateway will publish a chapter from the Bible study book, taking you through the full text of McKnight’s study on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201&version=NIV">Philippians</a>. For this week, here is the eighth study, A Common Life of Co-Workers | Philippians 2:19-3:1a</p>
<p></p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><em>19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.</em></p>
<p><em>25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.</em></p>
<p><em>27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.</em></p>
<p><em>3:1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>An outsider in Philippi, after observing Paul and those in his inner circle, would describe that circle as “friends.” Friendship was deeply valued in Philippi. Furthermore, it was discussed endlessly among the elite male circles. Friendship has been discussed for centuries. The two best thinkers in the ancient world about friendship were the Athenian philosopher Aristotle and the Roman orator Cicero. I quote only Cicero:</p>
<p>For friendship is nothing else than an accord [or unity] in all things, human and divine, conjoined with mutual goodwill and affection, and I am inclined to think that, with the exception of wisdom, no better thing has been given to man by the immortal gods (Cicero, De Amicitia 6.20).</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Philippians-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Philippians-1024x768.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="357" width="475" /></a></figure></div>
<p>Friendship is about unity and emotional affection and is prized above all of life’s blessings. Notice that “no better thing has been given” to humans than friendship. That’s how high the Romans valued friendship. The word “friend” in friendship translates philos, which was one of the most popular terms for love in that world. </p>
<p>C.S. Lewis famously talked about four loves, one of which was friendship. Friends voluntarily love one another and through that love for one another grow in virtue. It’s a pity the writing about friendship has fallen off in the last half century.</p>
<p>But Paul never once called those in his inner circle “friends.” Sometime sit down for an afternoon and read especially the end of Paul’s letters and compose a list of his “friends.” There are dozens of names, but he never calls them “friends,” while all those watching him thought they were his friends. </p>
<p>Paul’s top-of-the-list favorite term for Christians of all sorts was siblings or “brothers and sisters” (NIV), and his favorite term for his inner circle was “co-workers” (<em>sunergoi</em>). In this passage a window is opened on Paul’s relationship with two of them, Timothy and Epaphroditus. </p>
<p>When I travel with students in Turkey and Greece, and one time to Rome and Pompeii, I give short talks on various co-workers of Paul. The list includes Priscilla and Aquila, Urbanus, Timothy, Phoebe, Titus, Epaphroditus, Epaphras, Clement, Jesus called Justus, Philemon, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke. We find in vignettes of his co-workers the relational heart of Paul, three of which chambers in that heart can be seen here.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center">Co-Workers Affirm One Another</p>
<p>Men, given as too many are to competition with one another, struggle to affirm other men. I’m not saying that’s not true about women, but I do know a few fellow professors who seem never to be able to affirm the scholarly work of others. It’s like if they do, they will lose some kind of status. The only ones such persons tend to affirm are those who praise their own work! Ugh. Paul knew a culture like that among the Romans. As one who cared about</p>
<p>God’s glory and who recognized God’s gifts among us, the apostle practiced public commendation and affirmation of others. One can read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+16&version=NIV">Romans 16</a> to see numerous examples.</p>
<p>We who are men need to learn from Paul. Starting today.</p>
<p>Paul had no trouble affirming his co-workers in public. Here’s what he says about Timothy in our passage: “I have no one else like him” and he has “genuine concern” for others, and he has “proved himself” as a “son” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A20%E2%80%9322&version=NIV">2:20–22</a>). In saying there is “no one like him,” Paul uses a wonderful term: <em>isopsychos</em>, an equivalent person, a total equal, equal in soul. </p>
<p>Now add verses like <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+4%3A17&version=NIV">1 Corinthians 4:17</a>: “Timothy, my son [or child] whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord” and recall Paul thinks the younger man can be trusted to pass on Paul’s teachings. He was often Paul’s substitute (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+3%3A2%2C+6&version=NIV">1 Thessalonians 3:2</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+3%3A6&version=NIV">6</a>). </p>
<p>Again, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+1%3A1&version=NIV">1:1</a> of Philippians shows just how close the two were: though the letter is in Paul’s voice he makes Timothy a co-sender and co-author of the letter. That’s how close they were: Paul’s words and Timothy’s words were so intermingled one could not discern who said what.</p>
<p>About Epaphroditus Paul says this: “my brother, co- worker and fellow soldier” whom the Philippians sent on to Paul (either to Rome or to Ephesus) to care for Paul. He’s also one who “longs for all of you” so much that he is “distressed because you heard he was ill” and almost died. Paul loved the man so much that he says about Ephroditus’s surviving a death scare, he was spared “sorrow upon sorrow.” Epaphroditus’ arrival in Philippi will relieve them of “anxiety” and they are to “honor people like him” because he “risked his life” so he could aid Paul when they could not (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A25%E2%80%9330&version=NIV">2:25–30</a>). </p>
<p>Epaphroditus delivered to Paul a financial gift from the Philippians (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+4%3A18&version=NIV">4:18</a>), and now returning home probably carried this letter and then pastorally and persuasively read it to the Philippians. Many wonder why such a strong commendation is given for this man. We do not know for sure but it’s just possible he was a “messenger” in the sense of an “apostle” who was sent to join Paul in the mission and through sickness or perhaps even lack of gifting was unable to sustain that mission.</p>
<p>Settle into your chair, and imagine you are in the church in Philippi. Now hear Paul speak of you like this when the letter is read. Does your chest not swell a bit? Do you not feel a sense of affirmation and a little rise in your self-esteem? Of course you do.</p>
<p>We need to do this more in our own circles, whether in churches or in our homes or in our workplaces. Public affirmations, so say the business leaders, make for a healthier work culture. The same is true for homes and churches. Not only can we learn to affirm one another, but we can learn to care for one another and to pitch in for one another.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center">Co-Workers Care for One Another</p>
<p>Paul says Timothy will “show genuine concern for your welfare” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A20&version=NIV">2:20</a>) in a world where “everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A21&version=NIV">2:21</a>). But not Timothy. He was other-oriented. Timothy also “served with” Paul “in the work of the gospel” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A22&version=NIV">2:22</a>). The word is stronger: he was “enslaved with” Paul in that work. Slavery was the color of water in those days so it was easy for them to describe their own relationship to one another and to Christ as slaves.</p>
<p>Epaphroditus was a “messenger” for the Philippians, a go-between, who arrived to care for Paul’s needs, which probably indicates food and drink and clothing and news and conversation. Prisons didn’t provide such things. </p>
<p>When Epaphroditus heard the Philippians were sorrowed over his illness, he was sorrowed over their sorrow–such was the man’s empathy and care for others. Paul himself was spared his own empathic sorrow when his co-worker survived death. The Philippians will be filled with joy when Epaphroditus arrives, and they will publicly affirm him (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A29&version=NIV">2:29</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+3%3A1&version=NIV">3:1</a>). At the heart of this man’s care for others is that he risked his life because he loved Paul so much.</p>
<p>You may notice someone in your circle who hears what others do not hear. That someone is looking for a special kind of mask during the Covid-19 pandemic and sends them some. That someone loves a certain kind of coffee and so provides an anonymous gift card to their favorite café. That someone shows interest in Lil Copan’s novel, <em>Little Hours</em>, and so another someone drops one in the mail to that other someone. Christians care for one another like this. It’s the quotidian or routine stuff of life where care shows up.</p>
<p class="has-text-align-center">Co-Workers Pitch in for One Another</p>
<p>Many attributes color in the lines between co-workers, including learning the gentle art of pitching in when another needs aid. Paul says of Epaphroditus that he risked death “to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A30&version=NIV">2:30</a>). The word Paul uses here could be translated “fill up” the way one supplies the extra funds to someone when they are running short. Sunday School teachers do this; home Bible study leaders do this; parents do this for other parents; teachers do this for other teachers; neighbors do this; friends do this; and co-workers do this too.</p>
<p>When our friend Beth Allison Barr’s church, located among those without great resources or means, was dis- covered to be running low during the pandemic . . . well, here’s what happened. She passingly mentioned this on Twitter in the context of a not-so-pleasant situation and her “friends” all over the country–and let’s call them co- workers, how about it?–erupted into nothing less than an avalanche of generosity for the church. Beth messaged me after giving a lecture at a university with a “Praise God!” and the astounding dollar amount.</p>
<p>Just like Epaphroditus, except for the risking one’s life part!</p>
<p>Friends may pitch in like this, but co-workers do so even more. They form what Hawthorne and Martin call a “network of mutual service.” Why? Because Christians and co-workers share a common life shaped by the Way of Christ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A6%E2%80%9311&version=NIV">2:6–11</a>). </p>
<p>Our passage opened on this very tone: because Paul himself could not get to Philippi he planned soon to send Timothy to “fill up” what Paul had been doing and then to report back to Paul what was going on in Philippi (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A19&version=NIV">2:19</a>). </p>
<p>True enough but notice the opposite, too. Some were instead looking “out for their own interests” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A21&version=NIV">2:21</a>; look at <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+4%3A10&version=NIV">2 Timothy 4:10</a>). He is probably pointing us back to the envy and rivalry problems of some gospel workers (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A15%E2%80%9317&version=NIV">Philippians 1:15–17</a>). In other words, not like Christ who did not look to his own interests! Back to the good examples among Paul’s co-workers. Before Timothy could be sent, Epaphroditus pitched in to take the long and hazardous trip to Philippi. Timothy and Paul would follow later (some think this may be recorded in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+20%3A1%E2%80%936&version=NIV">Acts 20:1–6</a>).</p>
<p>That’s what friends are for. No, better. That’s what Christians are for.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><em>Questions for Reflection and Application</em></strong></p>
<ol type="1"><li>How was friendship viewed in Paul’s world?</li></ol>
<ul><li>What terms does Paul use for his friends instead of calling them “friends”? Why do you think he used those terms?</li></ul>
<ul><li>What does Paul say about his close colleagues Timothy and Ephaphroditus?</li></ul>
<ul><li>Who in your life have shown special care for you the way Ephaphroditus cared for Paul? Or who have you cared for in those ways?</li></ul>
<ul><li>Have you had any special co-working relationships in your Christian life? What did you most value about those people and your interactions with each other?</li></ul>
<p></p>
<p>The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a></em> <em>is published by HarperCollins Resources, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/06/why-friendship-is-vital-to-a-common-life-in-philippians-219-31a/">Why Friendship is Vital to a Common Life in Philippians 2:19-3:1a</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7221941
2023-06-05T22:00:00-12:00
2023-06-06T01:15:03-12:00
Finding the Faith to Move Forward After Loss
<p><strong>By Granger Smith<img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Granger-Smith_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Granger Smith - Finding faith to move forward after loss" height="280" width="280" /></strong></p>
<p><em>Is there a purpose behind your losses? How do we find the faith and strength to move forward after heartache? Granger Smith reflects on the verses he turned to for comfort and answers after the heartbreaking loss of his son. </em></p>
<p>Have you ever lost something important to you?</p>
<p>Maybe it was a job. When the thing that provides your income and stability gets taken away, it shakes you to the core.</p>
<p>Maybe it was a dream. Something you wanted your entire life and worked and worked to achieve only to come up short. If you’ve ever had a moment where you realized your dream isn’t going to come to pass, you know how hopeless it can feel. As if the very thing that used to get you out of bed in the morning no longer has the power to do so.</p>
<p>Or perhaps it was a relationship. You met someone, and you thought they were the one. You were convinced you were going to spend the rest of your life with them until they decided they didn’t feel the same way. And suddenly, you felt like half of yourself was missing.</p>
<p>Or maybe, like me, your something is a someone. I lost my three-year-old son to a drowning.</p>
<p>So many people have said to me something like, “I’m embarrassed to tell you that I’m hurting, because you’ve lost a son, and that loss is much worse than losing my grandpa.” I reject that idea. Your story is relevant to your life. Pain is pain. It’s not something that can be compared to anyone else’s.</p>
<p>The place where our stories overlap is in the fact that our lives are like a river. Although we can pretend to contain our piece of waterfront, we can’t control the power of the river itself. To a small extent we can balance ourselves with effort and persistence, but once the river reaches a certain level of turbulence, even the strongest, most skilled sailors will capsize.</p>
<p>We can’t control the speed, or the direction, or the obstacles along the way, we can control only how much or how little we surrender to the Source of it. Until we finally connect with the Source of the river, everything done downstream is useless and therefore powerless to make a difference.</p>
<h2>God is the Source of the River</h2>
<p>I found my way to the Source through my hope that the pain of my loss wasn’t purposeless. I longed for this to be true. Don’t we all to some extent? I believe that desire to look for meaning in the ashes of tragedy comes programmed into our DNA because we were beautifully made in the image of our Creator.</p>
<p>All of us have stories where we’ve seen some kind of evidence that there is an unexplainable rhythm to this planet, things that lead us to believe there’s an orchestrated purpose or design or destiny underlining our otherwise directionless existence. Many times we call it luck, karma, chance, a glitch in the Matrix, an accident, or a coincidence, but is that the correct way to define it?</p>
<p>Whatever term you might use, when someone says, “It was meant to be,” wouldn’t the next logical question be “Meant to be by whom?” And then, “Why would said designer make some things meant to be, but not all other things?” If anything is meant to be, then aren’t all things meant to be? If some things were meant to be and other things were left to chance, then wouldn’t the things left to chance mess up the things that were meant to be?</p>
<p>That’s a lot to think about. As I navigated the many months after my son’s death, these are questions I really needed to unpack.</p>
<p>I turned to the Bible for answers. Here’s small sampling of what I found:</p>
<p>“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+19%3A21&version=ESV&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_like_a_river">Proverbs 19:21</a>)</p>
<p>“I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+45%3A7&version=ESV&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_like_a_river">Isaiah 45:7</a>)</p>
<p>“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+42%3A2&version=ESV&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_like_a_river">Job 42:2</a>)</p>
<p>“The LORD has made everything for its purpose.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+16%3A4&version=ESV&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_like_a_river">Proverbs 16:4</a>)</p>
<p>These verses and many others support the clear picture of God that is woven throughout all sixty-six books of the Bible. According to Scripture, God, the Source of the river of our lives, is in complete control of everything that happens downstream.</p>
<p>“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28&version=ESV&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_like_a_river">Romans 8:28</a>)</p>
<p>If this is true, then the response to that knowledge could only be complete surrender, humility, and trust in His purpose. And instead of wasting our futile efforts fighting against the current, can align ourselves with the flow.</p>
<p>What is the result of that surrender?</p>
<p>Peace, joy, and hope. These are things I did not have in my early months of loss.</p>
<p>Loss is a part of life. But know this: loss is our teacher. Loss reminds us that nothing here is permanent. If we spend all our time clinging to something, trying to control and preserve it, then we miss out on the beauty of what God wants to do in our lives.</p>
<p>It doesn’t mean there won’t be any suffering; in fact, the Bible promises tribulation. But trusting the Source allows me to see a meaningful reason behind all of it. Today, with my eyes wide open, I’m still discovering new reasons.</p>
<p>_________<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/like-a-river-finding-the-faith-and-strength-to-move-forward-after-loss-and-heartache?variant=41036481003656&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_like_a_river"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Like-a-River_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Like a River - Finding faith to move forward after loss" height="280" width="280" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Adapted from </strong><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/like-a-river-finding-the-faith-and-strength-to-move-forward-after-loss-and-heartache?variant=41036481003656&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_like_a_river"><em>Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache</em></a> <strong>by Granger Smith </strong></p>
<p><strong>Like a river, life is full of twists and turns. But like a river, there is a path downstream.</strong></p>
<p>On a sunny day in 2019, country music singer Granger Smith found his three-year-old son, River, face down in their pool, unconscious. Emergency responders restarted River’s heart, but doctors could not revive his oxygen-starved brain. After he and his wife, Amber, buried their youngest child, Granger found himself caught in a runaway river of grief that he could not escape.</p>
<p>Driven by the hope that River’s death had a purpose, Granger soon encountered the God of love who could be trusted with every current, hazard, twist, and turn. Granger’s vulnerable testimony will lead you to the truth that:</p>
<ul>
<li>God is the Source of everything that happens on your river of life and loss.</li>
<li>God has a purpose for your pain and a wonderful plan for your life.</li>
<li>God will lovingly take over the oars of your life as soon as you’re ready to surrender to Him.</li>
<li>God is waiting to give you a life of peace, hope, and joy, even in grief.</li>
</ul>
<p>As Granger, Amber, and their two older children began their walk in faith, they discovered the purpose of their suffering: to point others who are hurting to the Source of all peace, hope, comfort, and freedom.</p>
<p><strong>Granger Smith</strong> is giving everything to God. After 24 years touring as an award-winning, platinum-selling country music singer-songwriter, Smith chose to leave the music business to pursue ministry. The “Like a River” summer tour in 2023 will mark his last as he moves full throttle toward his faith. Honoring his late son, River, Granger’s first book<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/like-a-river-finding-the-faith-and-strength-to-move-forward-after-loss-and-heartache?variant=41036481003656&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_like_a_river">, <em>Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward after Loss and Heartache</em></a>, will be released on August 1, 2023 (W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson).</p>
<p>Compelled by the call to ministry, Granger intends to serve his local church under the teaching, council, and leadership of his pastor and elders while he continues work on a master’s degree at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, along with public speaking and authorship. Granger and his wife, Amber, live north of Austin, Texas, with their kids London, Lincoln, and Maverick. Visit grangersmith.com for more.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/like-a-river-finding-the-faith-and-strength-to-move-forward-after-loss-and-heartache?variant=41036481003656&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_like_a_river">Like a River</a><em> is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/06/faith-to-move-forward-after-loss/">Finding the Faith to Move Forward After Loss</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7218418
2023-05-31T01:10:00-12:00
2023-05-31T06:00:18-12:00
Why Sacrifice is Vital in a Common Life in Philippians 2:12-18
<p>In this seventh posting, we are continuing the blog series with content from biblical scholar Scot McKnight. McKnight has recently published <a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a> series with Harper<em>Christian</em> Resources. McKnight combines interpretive insights with pastoral wisdom for all the books of the New Testament. Each volume provides original meaning, fresh interpretation, and practical application.</p>
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<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="334" width="500" /></a></figure></div>
<p>In this blog series, we’ll be sharing Scot’s insights and wisdom on the book of Philippians. It is available as a book as well: <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/philippians-and-1-2-thessalonians?variant=39991840473224"><em>Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Kingdom Living in Today’s World</em>.</a></p>
<p>For twelve weeks, Bible Gateway will publish a chapter from the Bible study book, taking you through the full text of McKnight’s study on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201&version=NIV">Philippians</a>. For this week, here is the seventh study, A Common Life of Sacrifice | <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A+12-18&version=NIV">Philippians 2: 12-18</a></p>
<p></p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><em>12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed— not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence— continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,</em></p>
<p><em>13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.</em></p>
<p><em>14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.</em> </p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>Paul’s big idea for the Philippians, intoxicated as some were with Rome’s status-climbing way of life, was living a common life with one another shaped by the other-serving humility of Christ himself. That’s a big idea, a bit abstract at times, and they may have wondered if it had legs. He’s about to give them some legs so they walk straight toward the kingdom of God: they can respond to God’s work, and they can cling to God’s word.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Responding to God’s Work</strong></p>
<p></p>
<p>The core expression in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A12%E2%80%9313&version=NIV">2:12–13</a> is “work out your salvation,” with the NIV adding “continue to” because the verb has both a vivid sense as well as an intense engagement by each person in the assembly. “Work out” indicates human responsibility but that word “salvation” tends to trip up many readers. Cohick knows for many the wording here “registers a 9.0 on the theological Richter scale.” </p>
<p>Indeed, gluing the word “work” to “salvation” provokes a raised eyebrow or two for any Christian steeped in justification by faith (not works). Lower the eyebrow because what Paul means is this: Saved people live saved lives. In this context, a saved life is a Christoform-based unity with one another. That’s what a saved life looks like because salvation is holistic: heart, mind, soul, body, personal and group.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A12%E2%80%9313&version=NIV">Philippians 2:12–13</a> works just as <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A1-4&version=NIV">2:1–4</a> worked: since they are saved they are to live like the saved.</p>
<p>One can be tripped as well by the rather gloomy “with fear and trembling” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A12&version=NIV">2:12</a>). Bible readers may well recall this expression echoing what God’s people experienced in God’s presence (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+15%3A16&version=NIV">Exodus 15:16</a>). But “fear and trembling” evokes not terror but an all-consuming reverence and awe and humility in the face of God’s majesty and glory. </p>
<p>Saved people put a saved life into effect in humility before a mighty God. Yet, let’s not get too comfortable. God’s sheer presence overwhelms us, prompting our sense of finitude and gratitude to be in God’s presence.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-medium is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Philippians-2-13.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Philippians-2-13-300x251.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="362" width="433" /></a></figure></div>
<p>Our responsibility before God is just that: response- ability. </p>
<p>We respond to God’s saving work in us because it is God’s work in us to which we respond. Paul is not giving a 1st Century version of a “God helps those who help themselves.” He’s got a different mind, saying instead “for it is God”–not you, not me –”who works [or energizes] in you to will and to act” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A13&version=NIV">2:13</a>). </p>
<p>God’s energy in us promotes desire “to fulfill his good purpose.” I prefer a translation of “good pleasure” or even “delight” over “purpose.” Think of the Father’s delight in the Son at the baptism of Jesus (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+3%3A17&version=NIV">Matthew 3:17</a>). Think, then, not so much of God’s working in us to accomplish something but of the Father working in us for God’s delight in us and, by extension, our sheer pleasure of knowing and loving God. </p>
<p>God works in us so we will find life’s deepest joy and pleasure in God.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Clinging to God’s Word</strong></p>
<p>You can count on one hand the number of churches in the history of the church who have not had some “grumbling or arguing” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A14&version=NIV">2:14</a>) and the devastating impact of gossip and slander. Cohick says, “How tempting to tear another down . . . How subtly delicious to nibble on another’s good reputation and eat away at it; we feel our own self nourished.” She continues, “Yet in fact we are ingesting poison.”</p>
<p>Like “fear and trembling,” the term “grumbling” echoes the children of Israel in their march from Egypt to the promised land (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+20%3A2%E2%80%935&version=NIV">Numbers 20:2–5</a>). Notice what can happen though: if we avoid a grumbling posture toward unfulfilled (and sometimes mistaken) expectations we are taking steps toward “blameless and pure.” </p>
<p>Paul quotes <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+32%3A5&version=NIV">Deuteronomy 32:5</a> from that amazing Song of Moses, a song rehearsing God’s steady faithfulness in the face of Israel’s clunky faithfulness. But to those words of Moses, Paul inserts into Moses’ negative words “without fault.” Not only would they be without fault but they “will shine . . . like the stars” while they are surrounded in Philippi with a “warped and crooked generation” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A15&version=NIV">Philippians 2:15</a>). </p>
<p>Paul has taken the words of Moses and made them fit his con- text because he wants them to “shine” with the light of the gospel, a shining that is both in word and deed. His words echo Jesus’ own words (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A14%E2%80%9316&version=NIV">Matthew 5:14–16</a>).</p>
<p>Great ideas, but surely we may be asking how we can do this.</p>
<p>We can discover a without-fault and shining-like-stars faithfulness if we “hold firmly” or cling to “the word of life” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A16&version=NIV">2:16</a>). We should not reduce the “word of life” to the Bible no matter how important the Bible is to us. Rather, this is Life itself’s word, that is, the gospel about Jesus Christ. </p>
<p>Jesus is both the Life himself and the one who gives life, and the life he gives works in us to form a life-fitting salvation. We can learn daily to cling to Jesus.</p>
<p>Paul has some personally invested goals. If they cling to Jesus as the word of Life itself, Paul will be able to stand proud “on the day of Christ,” that is, the second coming (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A16&version=NIV">2:16</a>). He suddenly flips a switch to anticipate that he may not live that long by saying “even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A17&version=NIV">2:17</a>). The imagery is that drink offerings were poured out on the sacrifice at the altar, and here the Philippians are the sacrifice and Paul is the drink offering, which suggests Paul realizes he just may become a martyr for the faith. No matter for Paul: “I am glad and rejoice with all of you.”</p>
<p>We can tie Paul’s mixing of imagery together now. Christlikeness and salvation and sacrificial service are each one image of how the Philippians are to live a common life marked by humble other-centeredness, the very paradigm of God’s own life embodied in Jesus Christ.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><em>Questions for Reflection and Application</em></strong></p>
<ol type="1"><li>How does the phrase “saved people live saved lives” help nuance the idea of “work out your salvation”?</li></ol>
<ul><li>What is Paul’s view of sacrifice? How does he himself expect to be a sacrifice?</li></ul>
<ul><li>How does Paul alter Moses’ words to fit Paul’s context?</li></ul>
<ul><li>What does a “saved life” look like for you?</li></ul>
<ul><li>If God works in us to accomplish God’s delight in us, how does that impact your view of your interactions with God? In what ways do you find pleasure and delight in God, and how do you experience God’s delight in you?</li></ul>
<p></p>
<p>The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a></em> <em>is published by HarperCollins Resources, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/05/why-sacrifice-is-vital-in-a-common-life-in-philippians-212-18/">Why Sacrifice is Vital in a Common Life in Philippians 2:12-18</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7217927
2023-05-30T03:50:00-12:00
2023-05-30T07:15:03-12:00
What Does Philippians Say about Anxiety?
<p><strong><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Curtis-Chang_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Curtis Chang: The most commonly cited verse about anxiety is Philippians 4:6. But Philippians 3 provides the foundation for what this verse means." width="33%" />By Curtis Chang</strong></p>
<p>You’ve heard it.</p>
<p>The most commonly cited verse about anxiety is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4:6</a>: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”</p>
<p>Dr. Dan Allender, professor of counseling psychology at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, cautions the use of this verse in addressing anxiety. He says <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4:6</a> can often be used by those who aren’t experiencing anxiety as a means of “‘clobbering’ those who are anxious.” Dr. Allender warns against “the idea of hearing Philippians 4 and assuming ‘my anxiety goes away.’”</p>
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<p>I happen to like <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4:6</a>, but I also don’t like how it is used as a “clobber verse” to make anxious people feel like they’re doing something wrong or, even worse, that there is something wrong about them. As with most clobber verses, in this situation it is being used out of context.</p>
<h2>The Theological Framework</h2>
<p>To understand the verses in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4</a>, you have to grasp the teachings of the previous chapter, which presents the theological core of the entire letter. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 3 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 3</a> sets the overall context for Paul’s words in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4:6</a> about anxiety and, in fact, establishes a key framework for how Christians should understand all aspects of their life.</p>
<p>The framework of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 3 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 3</a> is that Christians live as “Now and Not Yet” people. This is sadly undertaught in Christian circles, which is why anxiety is so often misunderstood and why many clobber verses are misused.</p>
<p>What is a “Now and Not Yet” person? This person is summarized by <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A21&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 3:21 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 3:21</a>, which declares that “our current lowly bodies are being transformed to the body of Christ’s glory.” The Now and Not Yet life is defined by the life goal of becoming like Jesus. This is the amazing promise of the gospel: God is at work to transform every bit of ourselves to conform to Jesus, the one who will give us his “glory.”</p>
<p><em>Glory</em> is the biblical term describing the amazingly good way of life when we fully reflect God’s intentions for us. Jesus obtained his glory because he fully reflected God’s intentions in his life. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A21&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 3:21 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 3:21</a> promises that as we become like Jesus, we will share in that same “glory.”</p>
<p>However, the same verse assumes that this glorious destiny requires an understanding of spiritual growth that allows for the struggles of our current “lowly bodies.” Note that <em>lowly</em> in Paul’s usage here means “incomplete” (it does <em>not</em> mean “sinful”). He is emphasizing that the full completion of our transformation awaits the future, the Not Yet when Jesus returns (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A10&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 3:10 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 3:10</a>).</p>
<p>In the Now, we will still struggle with experiences like complex physical and neurological misfirings. My current “lowly body” will still fall quite short of “glory.” Nevertheless, the Now and Not Yet are organically connected. This is what it means that our current lowly bodies are <em>being transformed</em> to the body of Christ’s glory. Our Not Yet body of glory grows out of our Now body of struggle.</p>
<p>Paul isn’t making up this Now and Not Yet dynamic. He gets it straight from Jesus. Jesus often used agricultural metaphors to convey this dynamic of spiritual growth. His favorite metaphor was to point to how a seed of some plant is growing in the present Now and still is on its way to becoming its fully completed self in the future Not Yet (see, for example, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A3-8%2C+19%E2%80%9323&version=NIV" title="Read Matthew 13:3-8, 19-23 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 13:3–8, 19–23</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4%3A3%E2%80%939%2C+14%E2%80%9332&version=NIV" title="Read Mark 4:3-9, 14-32 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mark 4:3–9, 14–32</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+8%3A4%E2%80%938%2C+11%E2%80%9315&version=NIV" title="Read Luke 8:4-8, 11-15 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luke 8:4–8, 11–15</a>; and more).</p>
<p>Because this is such a complex and crucial truth, Paul often adds to Jesus’ agricultural metaphors for the Now and Not Yet. In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 3 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 3</a>, for example, Paul draws on the metaphor of a runner in the middle of a race, who is “straining toward what is ahead” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A13&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 3:13 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3:13</a>) at the finish line. He switches to the metaphor of dual citizenship to capture the duality of the two time frames—living as citizens of the present earthly reality while awaiting the future arrival of a heavenly citizenship (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A20&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 3:20 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3:20</a>).</p>
<h2>Is Anxiety a Sin?</h2>
<p>This overall “Now and Not Yet” framework is critical to understanding why <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4:6</a> should not be wielded as a clobber verse that defines anxiety as a sin. Anxiety is an intrinsic and unavoidable feature of our Now and Not Yet incompleteness and should not be conflated with moral failure. Incompleteness is not the same as sin. We would be mistaken if we morally blamed an eight-year-old for being small or not knowing calculus . . . or for being racked with worry about their parents coming home.</p>
<p>In Paul’s letters, he is not shy about calling out actions rightly labeled as sin and disobedience. But he’s not using such moral categories in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%2C+4&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 3 and 4 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 3 and 4</a>. For instance, the encouragement right before <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4:6</a> is to “celebrate joyfully in the Lord, all the time” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A4&version=NTE" title="Read Philippians 4:4 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4:4</a> NTE). But no one actually stays at this elevated spiritual state “all the time.” We all regularly slip back down into more “lowly” moods.</p>
<p>Continual celebration is an aspirational description of the final transformation of our emotional self. While Christians are invited to taste more and more of those celebratory emotions here and now, I do not fall into sin when I stop celebrating joyfully in the Lord and, for example, lament the awful pitching of the Chicago Cubs. Paul describes periods when he is decidedly not in a celebratory mood but is instead struggling with deep despair (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1%3A8&version=NIV" title="Read 2 Corinthians 1:8 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2 Corinthians 1:8</a>, for example). He never labels those negative emotional experiences as sin.</p>
<p>Similarly, the encouragement right after <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4:6</a> is to think only about holy, upright, virtuous things (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A8&version=NTE" title="Read Philippians 4:8 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4:8</a> NTE). Again, our minds will one day be transformed by the resurrection so we’ll be able to accomplish this constant mental focus. In the meantime, we only sometimes experience periods of such a pure mindset, though we should aspire to have more of it.</p>
<p>When our minds wander to, say, the latest celebrity gossip news, we have not committed wrong. Paul reveals how his own mind occasionally wanders to some fairly uncharitable (and crass) thoughts about his enemies. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A12&version=NIV" title="Read Galatians 5:12 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Galatians 5:12</a> includes some trash talking that would make a National Basketball Association player blush. Paul seems to accept these thoughts as part of his life in the Now.</p>
<p>In fact, those who wield <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4:6</a> as a clobber verse to condemn anxiety as a sin neglect an important detail. Earlier in the letter, Paul describes his own anxiety for the Philippian church. Worry surrounded his decision to send his colleague Epaphroditus back to them. “This has made me all the more eager to send him, so that you’ll see him again and be glad,” he writes, adding, “and my own anxieties will be laid to rest” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A28&version=NTE" title="Read Philippians 2:28 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 2:28</a> NTE).</p>
<p>Having freely admitted his own anxiety—without a trace of self-condemnation—it would be bizarre for Paul to intend his words “do not be anxious” in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4:6</a> to be taken as an expectation that Christians would—or should—never feel anxious.</p>
<p>Therefore, in context, “do not be anxious” in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4:6</a> is not meant as condemnation; it is encouragement to experience anxiety within the larger “Now and Not Yet” dynamic of spiritual growth where our current lowly bodies are being transformed to the glory of Christ’s body. Even as we aspire to more freedom from anxiety—an aspiration that will be met completely only in the Not Yet—we simultaneously should expect anxiety to always be part of our current life in the Now.</p>
<p>We should no more expect Christians to be free of anxiety than we should expect Christians to be free of colds, mosquito bites, flat tires, sadness, or mental distraction. Paul brings up anxiety in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4:6</a> precisely because he expects it to be a persistent problem for his audience.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-anxiety-opportunity-how-worry-is-the-doorway-to-your-best-self?variant=40910505803912" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Anxiety-Opportunity_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Anxiety Opportunity" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-anxiety-opportunity-how-worry-is-the-doorway-to-your-best-self?variant=40910505803912" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self</em></a> by Curtis Chang. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-anxiety-opportunity-how-worry-is-the-doorway-to-your-best-self?variant=40910505803912" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>What if instead of battling anxiety, you saw your worries as a doorway to spiritual transformation? Challenging the assumption that anxiety is the enemy, theologian, popular podcaster, and fellow sufferer of chronic anxiety Curtis Chang gives you a different framework for approaching fears. You will discover profound new ways of relating to Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and those you love.</p>
<p>Curtis Chang knows what it’s like to view anxiety as a sin to overcome. He also knows how trying to get rid of anxiety through sheer faith or willpower usually leads to feelings of shame and frustration. After losing his job as a pastor due to debilitating anxiety, Curtis began the process of healing his heart. Combining years of personal experience, spiritual practice, and biblical study, Curtis discovered an alternative approach—one that sees anxiety as the path to our best selves in Christ.</p>
<p>For all of us who feel stuck in a never-ending war with worry, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-anxiety-opportunity-how-worry-is-the-doorway-to-your-best-self?variant=40910505803912" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Anxiety Opportunity</em></a> offers:</p>
<ul>
<li>Biblical wisdom about how anxiety can lead to rich spiritual growth</li>
<li>An invitation to examine our fears as a way of pursuing our calling</li>
<li>Simple practices for converting nervous energy into fruitful energy</li>
<li>Insights into why trying to avoid loss generates more anxiety</li>
<li>A renewed sense of peace as we realize what God can do through our fears</li>
</ul>
<p>It’s time to think differently about the relationship between anxiety and spiritual growth. This unique and profound exploration of one of the greatest epidemics of our time shows us how anxiety can be the very place we meet Jesus—and how channeling our anxiety can help us become more like him.</p>
<p><strong>Curtis Chang</strong> is a theologian and consulting faculty member of Duke Divinity School and a Senior Fellow at Fuller Theological Seminary. Curtis has recently written for the <em>New York Times</em> and <em>Christianity Today</em> and has appeared on CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, and NPR’s <em>All Things Considered</em>. Curtis is also the cohost of <em>Good Faith</em>, a podcast with David French.</p>
<p>His ministry, speaking, and writing are fueled by a passion to help Christians recognize the surprising authority and relevance of Jesus for parts of life that are often left to the secular world.</p>
<h2>
<img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/26104609/EncouragementCover-194x300.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Three Principles of and Three Guidelines for Encouragement by Dr. Larry Crabb and Dr. Dan Allender" width="220" />Looking for More?</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-faith-in-action/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up today</a> for the Zondervan Books Faith in Action <strong>monthly</strong> email newsletter and receive the PDF eBook <em>Three Principles of and Three Guidelines for Encouragement</em> by Dr. Larry Crabb and Dr. Dan Allender, adapted from <em>Encouragement: The Unexpected Power of Building Others Up</em>.</p>
<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more life-changing books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-faith-in-action/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p>
<p>________</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/05/what-does-philippians-say-about-anxiety/">What Does Philippians Say about Anxiety?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7214869
2023-05-24T05:18:44-12:00
2023-05-24T08:15:06-12:00
What Does Jesus Say When Nothing Seems to Be Working?
<p><strong><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Kyle-Idleman_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Kyle Idleman: What Does Jesus Say When Nothing Seems to Be Working?" width="33%" />By Kyle Idleman</strong></p>
<p>“How’s that working for ya?” is the question I ask people who need to make a change. My <s>executive coach</s> therapist asked it more gently and a little less passive-aggressively than I would have, but I’ve asked the question enough to know it’s a rhetorical question. The answer was so obvious that it didn’t need to be said out loud. We both knew my way wasn’t working.</p>
<p>I will somewhat begrudgingly share more of my situation with you in my book <a title="When Your Way Isn't Working by Kyle Idleman" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/when-your-way-isnt-working-finding-purpose-and-contentment-through-deep-connection-with-jesus?variant=40953395413128" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>When Your Way Isn’t Working</em></a>. But for now, would you start by asking yourself that same question: <em>How is your way working for you?</em></p>
<p><span id="more-72279"></span></p>
<h2>The Final Words of Jesus to His Followers</h2>
<p>After my first meeting with my <s>executive coach</s> therapist, I was getting ready to start a new sermon series that would expound on <a title="Read John 14-17 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%E2%80%9317&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 14–17</a>. Recorded in these chapters of John are the final words of Jesus to his closest followers before his crucifixion.</p>
<p>This passage of Scripture is often referred to as the “Farewell Discourse.” Four different discourses of Jesus are identified in the Gospels, but this is the longest and certainly the most personal. Jesus knows he doesn’t have much time left on earth—his time with the disciples is coming to an end—so he has some things he wants to make sure to say to them.</p>
<p>If you’ve ever spent time with someone in the final moments of their lives, you know that the conversations are especially personal and intentional. The disciples don’t realize that this is the end of their time with Jesus, but he knows full well what is coming.</p>
<p>He knows the uncertainty they will experience in the days ahead. He knows the challenges they’ll face and the insecurity they’ll feel. He knows how overwhelmed they will feel regarding the mission he will give them. He knows how people will misunderstand them and falsely accuse them. He knows they will soon feel worn-out and weak. And Jesus knows that if his disciples try to do things their way, it won’t work.</p>
<p>Doing things their way will create division and cause them to turn on each other. Doing things their way will cause them to feel discouraged with the lack of progress.</p>
<p>It will make them feel like quitting because of their own inadequacies. It will leave them feeling overwhelmed by everything that is out of their control. Doing things their way will leave them angry with God and with each other, but especially with themselves.</p>
<h2>The Key Metaphor</h2>
<p>Here I want to highlight one verse from the Farewell Discourse—<a title="Read John 15:5 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+15%3A5&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 15:5</a>:</p>
<p><em>I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me </em><em>and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you </em><em>can do nothing.</em></p>
<p>The phrase <em>can do nothing</em> captures the exasperation of your way that isn’t working. You feel like you’ve put in the work but you’re not getting the results. Despite your good intentions and maybe even your disciplined routines, you’re not seeing the gains.</p>
<p>There are other ways to translate “can do nothing.” You might say:</p>
<ul>
<li>“Nothing seems to be working” or</li>
<li>“I can’t catch a break” or</li>
<li>“The deck’s stacked against me” or</li>
<li>“What’s the point?” or</li>
<li>“I’ve tried everything.”</li>
</ul>
<p>When nothing you do is working, Jesus gives a metaphor to help you know what to focus on, and it all comes down to one word: <em>connection</em>. Jesus says he is the vine and we are the branches, and as long as we stay connected with him, we will bear much fruit, but apart from him nothing works the way it should.</p>
<p>The word that keeps showing up as Jesus unpacks this metaphor is <em>remain</em>. The English Standard Version translates the Greek word <em>meno</em> here as “abide.” It shows up eleven times in <a title="Read John 15:1-15 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A1%E2%80%9315&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 15:1–15</a>. In his final moments, Jesus tells his followers again and again to <em>stay connected with him</em>.</p>
<p>No matter what happens in the future, no matter how discouraged you become, no matter how disappointed you are, no matter how frustrating the situation is, no matter how tired you feel, no matter what trouble you experience, here’s the one thing you must never forget to do: <em>stay connected</em>.</p>
<p>When your way isn’t working, check your connection with the Vine. You are the branch, and the branch’s most important job is to stay connected with the Vine.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a title="When Your Way Isn't Working by Kyle Idleman" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/when-your-way-isnt-working-finding-purpose-and-contentment-through-deep-connection-with-jesus?variant=40953395413128" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/When-Your-Way-Is-Not-Working_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="When Your Way Isn't Working by Kyle Idleman" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a title="When Your Way Isn't Working by Kyle Idleman" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/when-your-way-isnt-working-finding-purpose-and-contentment-through-deep-connection-with-jesus?variant=40953395413128" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>When Your Way Isn’t Working: Finding Purpose and Contentment through Deep Connection with Jesus</em></a> by Kyle Idleman. <a title="When Your Way Isn't Working by Kyle Idleman" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/when-your-way-isnt-working-finding-purpose-and-contentment-through-deep-connection-with-jesus?variant=40953395413128" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>When you are worn-out, when you feel discouraged, when you think you don’t have what it takes, what is the one thing that Jesus wants you to never forget? <a title="When Your Way Isn't Working by Kyle Idleman" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/when-your-way-isnt-working-finding-purpose-and-contentment-through-deep-connection-with-jesus?variant=40953395413128" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>When Your Way Isn’t Working</em></a> equips you to discover authentic connection to God and others so you are free to live the life you long for.</p>
<p>In some of his final words to his closest friends, Jesus didn’t suggest a five-year plan for success or a checklist of things to do. Instead, he offered a metaphor about what the good life really looks like: I am the vine. You are the branches. Abide in me. In other words, No matter what happens next, the most important thing is to stay connected to me.</p>
<p>In <a title="When Your Way Isn't Working by Kyle Idleman" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/when-your-way-isnt-working-finding-purpose-and-contentment-through-deep-connection-with-jesus?variant=40953395413128" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>When Your Way Isn’t Working</em></a>, pastor and bestselling author Kyle Idleman offers a unique exploration of <a title="Read John 15 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+15&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 15</a> for all of us who are going through the motions and feel frustrated. Idleman reminds us that it’s connection, not production, that leads to a fruitful life—relationships, not circumstances, that bring joy. He offers his distinctive, biblical perspective on how to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Find greater rest, depth, and connection in your life</li>
<li>Embrace freedom from the pressures of performance and production</li>
<li>Recognize what you can’t do makes room for what God can do</li>
<li>Step out of isolation even when it feels scary</li>
<li>Discover the top distractions that keep you from connecting to God—and how to counter them</li>
</ul>
<p>In the end, the fruit of your life won’t have to do with what you accomplished but with whom you stayed connected. Because no matter what happens next in this uncertain world, what matters most, lasts the longest, and brings the greatest joy is staying connected to the God who never leaves you.</p>
<p><strong>Kyle Idleman</strong> is the senior pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, one of the largest churches in America. On a normal weekend, he speaks to more than twenty-five thousand people spread across eleven campuses.</p>
<p>More than anything else, Kyle enjoys unearthing the teachings of Jesus and making them relevant in people’s lives. He is a frequent speaker for national conventions and influential churches across the country.</p>
<p>Kyle and his wife, DesiRae, have been married for over twenty-five years. They have four children, two sons-in-law, and recently welcomed their first grandchild. They live on a farm in Kentucky.</p>
<h2>Looking for More?<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30134528/SpectacleGloryCover2-220.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni's devotional A Spectacle of Glory: God's Light Shining through Me Every Day" height="338" width="220" /></a>
</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up today</a> for the Zondervan Books Growth <strong>monthly</strong> email newsletter and receive the PDF eBook <em>A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days</em> by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni’s devotional <em>A Spectacle of Glory: God’s Light Shining through Me Every Day</em>.</p>
<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more incredible books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p>
<p>________</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/05/what-does-jesus-say-when-nothing-seems-to-be-working/">What Does Jesus Say When Nothing Seems to Be Working?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7214670
2023-05-24T01:55:00-12:00
2023-05-24T03:30:14-12:00
The Common Life with God | Philippians 2:5-11
<p>In this sixth posting, we are continuing the blog series with content from biblical scholar Scot McKnight. McKnight has recently published <a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a> series with Harper<em>Christian</em> Resources. McKnight combines interpretive insights with pastoral wisdom for all the books of the New Testament. Each volume provides original meaning, fresh interpretation, and practical application.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="334" width="500" /></a></figure></div>
<p>In this blog series, we’ll be sharing Scot’s insights and wisdom on the book of Philippians. It is available as a book as well: <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/philippians-and-1-2-thessalonians?variant=39991840473224"><em>Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Kingdom Living in Today’s World</em>.</a></p>
<p>For twelve weeks, Bible Gateway will publish a chapter from the Bible study book, taking you through the full text of McKnight’s study on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201&version=NIV">Philippians</a>. For this week, here is the sixth study, The Common Life of God | <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A5-11&version=NIV">Philippians 2:5-11</a>.</p>
<span id="more-72245"></span>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><em>5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:</em></p>
<p><em>6 Who, being in very nature God,</em></p>
<p><em>did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;</em></p>
<p><em>7 rather, he made himself nothing</em></p>
<p><em>by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.</em></p>
<p><em>8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself</em></p>
<p><em>by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!</em></p>
<p><em>9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should</em></p>
<p><em>bow,</em></p>
<p><em>in heaven and on earth and under the earth,</em></p>
<p><em>11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,</em></p>
<p><em>to the glory of God the Father.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The common life into which Christians are to grow transcends the business strategy of building a cohesive team, to get along with others in the city of Philippi, or to be effective in ministry. Each may be desirable but there is something profoundly deep about the common life into which Christians are to be formed. What is said in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A6&version=NIV">Philippians 2:6</a> taps into the very nature of God’s very Self. Who Jesus Christ was and is and what Jesus did on earth for us all express the heart of God.</p>
<p>Jesus is what God is like. In Jesus we see God most clearly. His life is the God-shaped life. To deny self- promotion in order to serve others is God-like and godly because it is Christ-like. Lynn Cohick calls us to begin this passage in a way that flows from the previous passage, beginning with the “If” statements in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A1&version=NIV">2:1</a>. That is, since we already are participating in Christ, let us live in a way that reflects the pattern of his life. The common life into which we are called is nothing less than the God-life.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Common Life with One Another</strong></p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A1-4&version=NIV">2:1–4</a> Paul exhorted the Philippians to a unity rooted in humility that emerges from being in Christ. That observation rushed Paul immediately to how Jesus him- self conducted himself, which he will set out in a series of poetic lines (notice how the NIV makes our passage poetic). </p>
<p>The challenge is the foundational principle: in Christ we can have a common life that exhibits the way Jesus lived. Peter and John, it was said, impressed the authorities in Jerusalem as “ordinary men” who “had been with Jesus” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+4%3A13&version=NIV">Acts 4:13</a>). Others and outsiders who come into the circles of Christian fellowship will be most impressed if we look like we have spent time with Jesus.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fellowship-Graphic-FB.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fellowship-Graphic-FB.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="-162" width="-194" /></a></figure></div>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Common Life in the Heart of God</strong></p>
<p>Paul now recites (and probably edits) in vv. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A6%E2%80%9311&version=NIV">6–11</a> an early Christian poem, and perhaps a hymn, about the pattern of Jesus’ life. And these lines were probably composed for early Christian worship and meditation. They sing into worship the teachings of Jesus himself (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+8%3A31%E2%80%939%3A1&version=NIV">Mark 8:31–9:1</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13&version=NIV">John 13</a>). A Roman leader named Pliny observed not long after this letter was written that the Christians assembled to “sing hymns to Christ as if to a god.” This poem in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2&version=NIV">Philippians 2</a> could have been one of those hymns. It’s worth remembering that, as Marilynne Robinson once said, “Caesar Augustus was also said to be divine” but “there aren’t any songs about him.” We still sing about Jesus.</p>
<p>Here are the important words that take us to the common-life heart of God: “Who, being in the very nature God.” The RSV, ESV, NRSV, NLT, and CEB have “though he was in the form of God” or something close. The word “though” expresses a concession. That is, though he was God and transcendent and invisible and immortal, nonetheless God condescended to become a human. This very traditional interpretation impacted the history of how most Christians have read this text. The Greek behind this is not so explicit as “though” suggests.</p>
<p>Instead of “though,” most recent translations have gone with what can be called a simple, literal translation: “being in the very nature God.” “Being” is the plain sense of the term, no more and no less. The word behind “very nature” is <em>morphē</em>, which points to the defining, visible attributes of Jesus, including equality with God. Many today read “being” as pointing to something innate and essential to who God is. That is, it is God-like for God to extend himself out of love into human form in order to express that love.</p>
<p>It’s complicated, but we need to get this right. Instead of “though,” we should think like the meaning is this: because he was God, or being the kind of God God was, he became human to redeem humans.</p>
<p>Which reveals something profound about our God. God is and always has been and always will be a God who reaches out to others in self-giving love. God the Father loves God the Son and God the Spirit, and the Son loves the Father and the Spirit, and the Spirit loves the Son and the Father. In eternity past God has always been a self- giving God. This is why John says, “God <em>IS</em> love” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A16&version=NIV">1 John 4:16</a>). To love is to give oneself for another, and in loving to encircle them in a common life.</p>
<p>The implication of this reading boggles: we are to share a Christ-like common life because God in God’s own Self is a common-life self-giving God. When we “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” we experience the heart of God. In Philippians this had to do with such things as sharing resources with one another and supporting the gospel mission to reach others with that gospel. But the common life for them was so profound it affected every dimension of life.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Common Life Embodied in Christ</strong></p>
<p>God’s very self-giving essence was embodied in the pattern of Jesus’ own life. I was taught as a college student to read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A6%E2%80%9311&version=NIV">Philippians 2:6–11</a> as a “U”: from the throne room of God’s own inner life (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A6&version=NIV">2:6</a>), down into human flesh (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A7&version=NIV">2:7</a>), then down even further into the degradation of human degradations, death on a cross (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A8&version=NIV">2:8</a>), which then turns upward into God’s exaltation of Christ “to the highest place” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A9&version=NIV">2:9</a>) where the crucified One will be One worshiped by all and declared Lord of all (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A10-11&version=NIV">2:10–11</a>). That’s the U–from heaven to earth and back. (The downward-upward imagery, of course, is imagery and not reality. Heaven is no more upward than downward since heaven is wherever God is, and God is everywhere.)</p>
<p>This U-pattern reveals Who God is and how God acts.</p>
<p>As Hawthorne and Martin express this poetically,</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>“in the divine economy of things, by giving people receive,</p>
<p>by serving they are served,</p>
<p>by losing their lives they find them, by dying they live,</p>
<p>by humbling themselves they are exalted.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Jesus did not seize or hang on to “equality with God,” and this text affirms as well as any other text in the Bible the deity of Christ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A6&version=NIV">2:6</a>). The NIV’s “used to his own advantage” expresses the very heart of Paul’s challenge to the Philippians. Instead of self-protection and self-promotion, Jesus chose other-protection and other-promotion. Instead of hanging on to glory, Jesus entered into the human condition all the way to the bottom. </p>
<p>Nothing more ignominious can be experienced in the human condition than being a slave (not “servant” as in the NIV) and then, as a slave, suffering the vicious humiliation of the Roman powers crucifying naked and in public a just, good man, which was Jesus’ fate among them.</p>
<p>Think about this: the Way of Jesus counters the Way of Rome, and the Way of Rome has had too much play among the Philippians. So Paul has to remind them all over again about the Way of Jesus. The Way of Jesus is the Way of God.</p>
<p>Notice that these were choices made by Jesus. He “did not consider equality” and “he made himself” and “by taking” and “he humbled himself.” He consciously and intentionally chose the cross-shaped life (cruciformity) at each stage of the journey. </p>
<p>The Son did not surrender divinity but became human as the one equal to God. He was the God-Human, not the Human formerly known as God. Just as mothers and fathers do not cease being parents when they lay on the floor to play with a child and so enter into that child’s world. Jesus’ choices are matched by the Father’s choices to reward him: “God exalted him” and “gave him” so Jesus would be given the glory he deserved.</p>
<p>The challenge to unity through humility, to a Christo-form life, is a choice. No, it is daily choices. In relationship with those we love and those we don’t even like, at home, at play, at work, at church. In the ordinary and in the unusual. We experience glory on the far side of the cruciform life, though at times we glimpse that glory now.</p>
<p><strong><em>Questions for Reflection and Application</em></strong></p>
<ol type="1">
<li>In what ways does Jesus show us what God is like?</li>
<li>How does God express God’s love through a life-in-common?</li>
<li>What is the “U-shaped” pattern of Jesus’ life?</li>
<li>In what ways does your life look like Jesus, like you have spent time with him?</li>
<li>What does “cruciform” mean? How can you live a more cruciform, or Christoform, life, especially regarding unity?</li>
</ol>
<p>The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a></em> <em>is published by HarperCollins Resources, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/05/the-common-life-with-god-philippians-25-11/">The Common Life with God | Philippians 2:5-11</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7209871
2023-05-15T22:00:00-12:00
2023-05-16T01:15:05-12:00
Heroes of Faith and The Art of Overcoming
<p><strong>By Tim Timberlake<img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tim-Timberlake_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Tim Timberlake" height="280" width="280" /></strong></p>
<p><em>How do we trust God’s faithfulness through challenges, loss, grief, and hurt, the way heroes of faith did? Author and Pastor Tim Timberlake explores the lives of biblical heroes listed in the book of Hebrews to reveal how their stories teach us to overcome obstacles, deal with adversity, and trust God in difficult times. </em></p>
<p>Allowing faith to coexist with death experiences—everyday setbacks and disappointments, grief, pain, and hurt—is important because sometimes we try to use faith to <em>avoid</em> them when God is asking us to use faith to <em>deal with</em> them.</p>
<p>Instead of walking through death experiences with grace, we think we can believe, hope, trust, claim, quote, and pray our way out of them. When that doesn’t work, we blame ourselves for our lack of faith, or we get mad at God for not holding up his end of the deal, or we pendulum back and forth between the two.</p>
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<p>If you think every bad thing that happens is because you didn’t have enough faith, you’re going to spend a lot of time feeling ashamed and condemned. Plus, what we are suffering from or what we have lost is only part of our story. Faith in God allows us to see difficult situations in their wider context: they are just one part of a complex, long, layered, beautiful life.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11+&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">Hebrews 11</a> lists numerous people from Israel’s history. For each one it says, “By faith so-and-so did such-and-such.” It’s easy to look at that list and think, <em>Wow, those men and women were incredible</em>. <em>They believed, and God did miracles. Their faith was proved by their life</em>.</p>
<p>But look at <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A13&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">verse 13</a>: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”</p>
<p>They didn’t just live in faith; they died in faith, knowing that God is faithful in this age and in the age to come.</p>
<p>What if we stopped looking at our death experiences as a sign that we <em>lacked </em>faith, and instead looked at them as simply another way to <em>walk by </em>faith? What if we stopped thinking we somehow <em>failed </em>God and instead remembered we are <em>following </em>God?</p>
<p>That would change our whole perspective on loss, pain, and disappointment. It would change our perspective on ourselves too. We would give ourselves space to grieve and time to heal instead of hiding our pain or beating ourselves up over it.</p>
<p><strong>Overcome By Letting Go</strong></p>
<p>“Letting go” is easier said than done. It takes foresight and maturity to look beyond your present pain and realize something better is coming.</p>
<p>Many heroes of the Bible had to say goodbye to things they cared for deeply. We remember the victory at the end of their stories, but we often forget the emotional choices they made along the way to let go of a past or a dream or a relationship that needed to be laid to rest. Only then could they step into the future God was offering them.</p>
<p>Remember in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+22&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">Genesis 22</a> when God asked Abraham to give up his son? Isaac was his only son, his promised son, his beloved son, the answer to decades of prayer and patience. God’s instruction must have felt like death to Abraham (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A17-19&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">Hebrews 11:17-19</a>). But he was willing to let go, and God applauded him for his faith and trust. In fact, the Bible calls him the father of all who believe.</p>
<p>Or how about when Moses tried and failed to deliver Egypt in his own strength, then fled to hide in the wilderness in fear and shame (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+2&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">Exodus 2</a>)? I can only imagine the guilt and insecurity that must have plagued him for decades. Then, one day, God told him to go back.</p>
<p>Moses had more excuses than a teenager being told to clean his room, but God finally talked him into it. Moses had to let two things die: his idea of how Israel would be set free (control) and his feelings of failure (shame). When he let go of those, God used him to deliver Israel from Egypt (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A24-28&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">Hebrews 11:24-28</a>).</p>
<p>Ruth let go of her homeland and her own family (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth+1%3A16-17&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">Ruth 1:16-17</a>). Hannah had to leave her son Samuel behind to grow up at the temple (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+1%3A22&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">1 Samuel 1:22</a>). Esther had to leave her adoptive uncle to move into the palace of a maniacal, pagan ruler (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+2%3A8&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">Esther 2:8</a>). Jesus had to find comfort and healing after his cousin John the Baptist was killed (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A13&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">Matthew 14:13</a>).</p>
<p>Mary had to say goodbye to her son on the cross (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A26-27&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">John 19:26-27</a>). I could go on and on, but you get the picture. Overcoming adversity is not just about what we <em>get</em>, but it’s also about what we <em>give up</em>.</p>
<p>These stories from the heroes of our faith should remind us that letting go is just as much a part of faith as holding on. We need to remove the stigma that is often attached to grief. What are we so embarrassed about? What are we so afraid of?</p>
<p>Closing a business, going bankrupt, or having a chronic illness doesn’t mean we are failures. Nor does it mean that we don’t have faith. These circumstances and others like them simply mean we are alive, and we are human, and we are normal, and we are <em>moving forward</em>.</p>
<p>There is a natural movement or trajectory to life, and what works for one season doesn’t necessarily work for the next. Losing, leaving, and laying to rest are necessary stages of growth. Nobody likes to lose, but if we can’t lose, we can’t gain either. We will just stay where we are, and that’s unnatural.</p>
<p>A lot of overcoming is simply moving forward, growing, and adapting as we go. It is leaving the past behind without bitterness or regret, but rather with honor, knowing what we had was important for a season, but that the season has ended. In other words, we learn to let things rest in peace without losing our peace.</p>
<p>Having faith in God doesn’t mean you never lose a job, loved one, or friendship. It means that even when you lose what you thought you couldn’t survive without, you keep living. You keep loving. You keep giving.</p>
<p>Your pain runs deep, but your faith runs deeper. Your circumstances have changed, but God hasn’t.</p>
<p>_________<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-art-of-overcoming-letting-god-turn-your-endings-into-beginnings-1?variant=40910506229896&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tim-Timberlake_280x280-1.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Art of Overcoming by Tim Timberlake" height="280" width="280" /></a></p>
<p>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-art-of-overcoming-letting-god-turn-your-endings-into-beginnings-1?variant=40910506229896&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming"><em>The Art of Overcoming: Letting God Turn Your Endings Into Beginnings</em></a> by Tim Timberlake. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-art-of-overcoming-letting-god-turn-your-endings-into-beginnings-1?variant=40910506229896&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more.</p>
<p><strong>Life is full of everyday setbacks. In </strong><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-art-of-overcoming-letting-god-turn-your-endings-into-beginnings-1?variant=40910506229896&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming"><em><strong>The Art of Overcoming</strong></em></a><strong>, you will learn how to process these moments and triumphantly move beyond them.</strong></p>
<p><em>The Art of Overcoming </em>explores how we deal with loss, grief, and hurt, and challenges readers to keep what looks like endings from discouraging or derailing us. The pain we experience is real—but there’s a difference between acknowledging it and giving into it.</p>
<p>Rather than seeking a fake hope that pretends loss doesn’t exist or doesn’t matter, author and pastor Tim Timberlake encourages us to pursue hope rooted in God and gives this reminder: don’t quit! The process of overcoming is not about understanding everything or living without pain, but about finding healthy ways to process the scary, strange, and sometimes devastating circumstances we face.</p>
<p><em>The Art of Overcoming </em>is divided into four parts, using the imagery of a traditional funeral ceremony as a framework to process the “death experiences” we face regularly in this crazy journey called life:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<em>A Matter of Life and Death </em>explores five foundational perspectives about grief and loss</li>
<li>
<em>The Processional </em>encourages us to face head-on the reality of our experiences</li>
<li>
<em>The Eulogy </em>helps us memorialize and honor what has been lost and how to process grief in a healthy way</li>
<li>
<em>The Recessional </em>is about closure as we discover life after death and move forward</li>
</ul>
<p>No matter what you’ve gone through or are in the middle of right now, better days are ahead. Let God heal your heart in His timing, take time to grieve what needs to be grieved, and then celebrate the new life God lays out before you.</p>
<p><strong>Tim Timberlake</strong> is the lead pastor of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida and Creedmoor, North Carolina. He is a gifted communicator and teacher who has the ability to communicate to people from all walks of life. His sense of humor, combined with his in-depth Bible teaching, gives the listener and reader the tools to transform their lives from the inside out. Tim is graduate of the Pistis School of Ministry in Detroit, Michigan. He is an avid sports fan and a cultural thought leader.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-art-of-overcoming-letting-god-turn-your-endings-into-beginnings-1?variant=40910506229896&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_art_of_overcoming">The Art of Overcoming</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/05/the-art-of-overcoming/">Heroes of Faith and The Art of Overcoming</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7207010
2023-05-11T02:44:42-12:00
2023-05-11T05:30:18-12:00
Examples of a Common Life in Philippians 2:1-4
<p>In this fifth posting, we are continuing the blog series with content from biblical scholar Scot McKnight. McKnight has recently published <a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a> series with Harper<em>Christian</em> Resources. McKnight combines interpretive insights with pastoral wisdom for all the books of the New Testament. Each volume provides original meaning, fresh interpretation, and practical application.</p>
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<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="334" width="500" /></a></figure></div>
<p>In this blog series, we’ll be sharing Scot’s insights and wisdom on the book of Philippians. It is available as a book as well: <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/philippians-and-1-2-thessalonians?variant=39991840473224"><em>Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Kingdom Living in Today’s World</em>.</a></p>
<p>For twelve weeks, Bible Gateway will publish a chapter from the Bible study book, taking you through the full text of McKnight’s study on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201&version=NIV">Philippians</a>. For this week, here is the fifth study, A Common Example | <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A1-4&version=NIV">Philippians 2:1-4</a>.</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><em>Therefore</em></p>
<p><em>if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,</em></p>
<p><em>if any comfort from his love,</em></p>
<p><em>if any common sharing in the Spirit,</em></p>
<p><em>if any tenderness and compassion,</em></p>
<p><em>2 then make my joy complete by being</em></p>
<p><em>like-minded,</em></p>
<p><em>having the same love,</em></p>
<p><em>being one in spirit and</em></p>
<p><em>of one mind.</em></p>
<p><em>3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Living in unity as a fellowship, or a common life together, is a great idea. <em>Until you have to get along with someone you don’t like</em>. It only takes a little while to encounter such a person. We cannot expect uniformity or consensus on everything, but we are to strive for an achievable unity.</p>
<p>The emphasis on a common life and unity in this short letter requires that we assume fractures and fissures had formed among the believers in Philippi, and Paul is urging them to transcend their divisions.</p>
<p>The apostle proposes in our verses a theological basis that appeals to the “affective faculties.” Just as <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A27%E2%80%9330&version=NIV">Philippians 1:27–30</a> was one long sentence, so <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A1%E2%80%934&version=NIV">2:1–4</a> is another one and a rather complex one at that.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fellowship-Graphic-FB.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fellowship-Graphic-FB.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="338" width="403" /></a></figure></div>
<p>Verse one is the <em>If-clause </em>and verses two through four are the <em>then-clause</em>: This “if” could be translated “since” or “supposing” or “assuming.” That is, <em>assuming </em>verse one to be the case, verses two through four should happen! That is, if you’ve got all these blessings then you can also achieve unity with one another. The translation above is reformat- ted to make the listing more visible.</p>
<p></p>
<h2 class="has-text-align-center">If . . .</h2>
<p>Notice that there are four terms here in verse one – ”encouragement,” “comfort,” “common sharing,” and the doubled expression “tenderness and compassion.” The “encouragement” and “comfort” result “from being united with Christ,” and the “common sharing” or fellowship, along with “tenderness and compassion,” derive from “the Spirit.” We can diagram it like this:</p>
<p>Encouragement and comfort <strong>in Christ</strong>. Common life, tenderness and compassion <strong>in the</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>.</p>
<p>Verse one then describes what we get from God, that is, these items are God-given, emotionally experienced redemptive realities. They are not human virtues. They are palpable intimacies we feel in our relationship with Christ and the Spirit. Cohick observes that “The church’s life force is the breath of the Spirit, the blood of Jesus, the mind of Christ, the will of the Father.”</p>
<p>Let me then just jump ahead to get right to the point: </p>
<p><em>If God is at work in you in Christ and in the Spirit, you can grow as well to experience unity’s virtues</em>. </p>
<p>The blessings of verse one, then, are not hard-earned moral accomplishments. They are instead grace-empowered, Christ-achieved, and Spirit-drenched acts of God in us.</p>
<h2 class="has-text-align-center">. . . Then</h2>
<p>If God is at work in you, Paul says, <em>Make me happy! </em>That is, “make my joy compete” or “fill me up with joy.” What makes Paul happy? Let’s broaden that: What makes the Christian discipler, the pastor, the mentor, the parent, the teacher happy? God-established unities. </p>
<p>Paul lists four of these unities in 2:2–the “like-minded,” the “same love,” “one in spirit,” and “one mind.” Monya Stubbs puts it all into a three-word package: “<strong>communal mental cohesiveness</strong>.”</p>
<p>Before we move on, a brief clarification. The NIV’s “one in spirit” surely misleads as much as it helps. </p>
<p>The Greek expression, literally, is something like “co-souled” or “one-souled” or “together in soul.” It combines the term for <em>with </em>and the term <em>psyche</em>, which is often translated “soul.” The normal word for “spirit” or “Spirit” is not here. What Paul wrote says it all: he wants them to be co-souled, or together at the core of their very being, together in life’s basic principle for living.</p>
<p><strong>But unity is not uniformity.</strong> </p>
<p>We are not going to get everyone on the same page about the same concerns. We can’t get people to agree on songs or lengths of sermons or women preaching or the rapture or war or racial reconciliation or financial equities. The Bible’s not creating a dream world. It knows we don’t agree and wants us to strive for unity <em>in the midst of differences</em>. I can worship with someone who is either Democrat or Republican because unity in Christ transcends partisan politics.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>I can worship with someone who is either Democrat or Republican because unity in Christ transcends partisan politics.</p></blockquote></figure>
<p>The one-nesses in verse two are God-formed participations in Christ and the Spirit that yield capacities to live with one another’s differences in behaviors and attitudes and feelings. But this unity transcends differences. Yes, something needs to be heard because we easily miss it. </p>
<p>Paul’s emphasis on equality and sameness horrified those intoxicated with the Roman system of upward mobility. A God-shaped unity empowers the believers to shed “selfish ambition” and “vain conceit” (or airheadedness), two habits of life that flourished in the lives of those committed to the ways of Rome. Bockmuehl cleverly describes them as “that strangely addictive and debasing cocktail of vanity and public opinion.”</p>
<p>The Christian solution is so un-Roman but it is just as un-American. God calls us to “humility,” a Christian virtue that turns the way of Rome upside down into valuing others above oneself. In that world humility was the same as humiliation. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>The Christian solution is so un-Roman but it is just as un-American.</p></blockquote></figure>
<p>A Christlike and Spirit-given life opens up for us a way of life that turns away from our “own interests” to favor “the interests of others.” Paul speaks here into the world of vain-seeking glory in the public sector. </p>
<p>He is not criticizing the need for a healthy self-image or denying the sacred importance of emotional, psychological boundaries. Tension between boundaries to protect ourselves and actions for the sake of others accompanies all genuine Christian living. Respecting the boundaries others have for themselves reflects what “the interests of others” actually means.</p>
<p>You may know what comes next in Philippians, and it is best to put this book down now to read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A1%E2%80%9311&version=NIV">Philippians 2:1–11</a> straight through. We are done now with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A1%E2%80%934&version=NIV">2:1–4</a> and Paul is about to write up an early Christian song about Jesus that becomes the paradigm of paradigms for how the Philippians were to live with one another in a most <em>un-</em>Roman of ways! </p>
<p>The selfish tendencies of a Philippian life is challenged by the Christlike life, all visibly embodied in the life of Jesus (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A5%E2%80%9311&version=NIV">2:5–11</a>). Think about it this way: kingdom citizens (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A27%E2%80%9330&version=NIV">1:27–30</a>) who are led by Christ in the Spirit (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A1&version=NIV">2:1</a>) can achieve a unity (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A2&version=NIV">2:2</a>) by living like Christ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A5%E2%80%9311&version=NIV">2:5–11</a>), that is, denying self-interest and thinking of the others (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A3%E2%80%934&version=NIV">2:3–4</a>).</p>
<p>Easier said than done.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><em>Questions for Reflection and Application</em></strong></p>
<ol type="1">
<li>How does the Holy Spirit work in us to generate fellowship and community?</li>
<li>What is the difference between unity and uniformity in the church?</li>
<li>What has been your experience with church unity or church disunity? How have those experiences impacted you?</li>
<li>How is humility un-Roman and un-American?</li>
<li>McKnight writes about the tension between our boundaries to protect ourselves and the actions we take on behalf of others. How do you balance caring for yourself in healthy ways with also living a life of service to others?</li>
</ol>
<p>The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a></em> <em>is published by HarperCollins Resources, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/05/examples-of-a-common-life-in-philippians-21-4/">Examples of a Common Life in Philippians 2:1-4</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7206416
2023-05-10T02:13:50-12:00
2023-05-10T06:30:05-12:00
Discover the Secret to Suffering Well in Philippians 1:27-30
<p>In this fourth posting, we are continuing the blog series with content from biblical scholar Scot McKnight. McKnight has recently published <a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a> series with Harper<em>Christian</em> Resources. McKnight combines interpretive insights with pastoral wisdom for all the books of the New Testament. Each volume provides original meaning, fresh interpretation, and practical application.</p>
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<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="334" width="500" /></a></figure></div>
<p>In this blog series, we’ll be sharing Scot’s insights and wisdom on the book of Philippians. It is available as a book as well: <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/philippians-and-1-2-thessalonians?variant=39991840473224">Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Kingdom Living in Today’s World</a></em>. For twelve weeks, Bible Gateway will publish a chapter from the Bible study book, taking you through the full text of McKnight’s study on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201&version=NIV">Philippians</a>. For this week, here is the fourth study, <strong>Our Common Life of Suffering</strong> | <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A27-30&version=NIV">Philippians 1:27-30</a>.</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><em>27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>How do some people seem to be prepared to endure suffering for Christ? </p>
<p></p>
<p>When I was a child, our church celebrated global missions with an annual conference. Every year we heard about someone suffering for the gospel. The stories were not only uplifting but challenging. <em>Would I be willing to endure the same? </em>I sometimes asked myself. I also heard stories from <em>Foxe’s Book of Martyrs</em>, which put suffering on the top tier of Christian experiences. </p>
<p>As a college student I learned the stories of Dietrich Bonhoeffer under Hitler and Nelson Mandela under South African apartheid. Some are prepared because they have learned such stories and have witnessed suffering for the gospel. Suffering for Jesus was the way of the church in the earliest decades (and centuries).</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Phil-NTE-social-graphic-2.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Phil-NTE-social-graphic-2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="-262" width="-313" /></a></figure></div>
<p>Paul’s persecution stories were known to the Philippians. But Paul’s instructions transcend storytelling, and his instructions are all formed into one very long sentence – yes, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A27-30&version=NIV">1:27–30</a> is one sentence in Greek. </p>
<p>In fact, as Carolyn Osiek observes, this long sentence forms the core message of the entire letter. The message is that the Christian life is a “public act having social or community consequences,” including opposition that may lead to extreme consequences.</p>
<p>First, he begins at the beginning of all Christian living: <em>become a King Jesus citizen</em>. The NIV’s “conduct yourselves” translates the Greek word <em>politeuomai</em>, and if you stare at it, you can see it stands behind our word “politics.” </p>
<p>My friend and colleague, <a href="https://www.seminary.edu/faculty/dr-nijay-gupta/">Nijay Gupta</a>, paraphrases it so well with “be good citizens of the gospel kingdom of Christ.” Such a claim to a King Jesus citizenship demoted a claim to Roman citizenship. Gupta describes what Paul meant with these claims:</p>
<ol type="1">
<li>The earth may be our home, but our commonwealth is heaven (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A20&version=NIV">3:20</a>).</li>
<li>Our enemy is not the state or a party but sin.</li>
<li>We are called to be a light together.</li>
<li>And this heavenly commonwealth has higher standards for our behavior.</li>
</ol>
<p>Bockmuehl describes it as a lifestyle that “is conceived as a deliberate, publicly visible, and . . . <em>politically </em>relevant” way of life. A kingdom worldview prepares a person to endure hardship for the kingdom, and that’s exactly what “worthy of the gospel of Christ” means.</p>
<p>Second, we are empowered to be kingdom citizens when we “stand firm in the one Spirit” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A27&version=NIV">1:27</a>). Now that’s a stunning expression. You may know that the Greek word for “Spirit” is <em>pneuma</em>, which can be translated as wind. </p>
<p>Every Christmas season folks in our community have Santas and Angels and Elves that lay flat during the day but are filled with air in the evening. And they have lights. Paul’s image works similarly: the Spirit fills us up so much we can stand up for Christ as citizens of King Jesus. The “one” Spirit is the Spirit that brings us into a common life, a united front in a divided world.</p>
<p>Third, the image behind “striving together” suggests athletes training or competing <em>with one another </em>to achieve victory (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A27&version=NIV">1:27</a>; notice the same term at <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A3&version=NIV">4:3</a>). Instead of training for a laurel wreath, the Roman world’s gold medal, they are training in faithful allegiance to the gospel and its reward of the kingdom. Training like this produces fearless courage to live under King Jesus (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A28&version=NIV">1:28</a>).</p>
<p>A fourth element of their readiness to face whatever comes their way is a famous Christian irony. We find it in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A28&version=NIV">1:28</a>. The experience of faithful endurance to opposition reveals its exact opposite, namely, that their opponents will meet God in judgment but the Philippian faithful “will be saved”! This element’s irony is underscored when Paul says in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A29-30&version=NIV">1:29–30</a> that suffering is a gift from God because in suffering they join Paul who joins Jesus. </p>
<p>Nothing was more Christian for those first believers than participating in the sufferings Christ himself suffered. It is not clear who these opponents are. However, that Paul connects their suffering to his could indicate they too are experiencing harassment from the Roman authorities. It must be stated as well, perhaps because we are insensitive at this point, that Paul is not endorsing suffering as redemptive. </p>
<p>As Monya Stubbs puts it, Paul here “does not sacralize suffering.” No, rather, this suffering is the result of joining in what God is doing and experiencing the backhand of evil and injustice–all in a struggle to bring about God’s justice.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><em>Questions for Reflection and Application</em></strong></p>
<ol type="1">
<li>What is the core message of Philippians, summarized in this section of the letter?</li>
<li>What does it mean to be a good citizen of God’s kingdom, according to Nijay Gupta?</li>
<li>How does the Holy Spirit empower our Godly citizenship?</li>
<li>How does Paul connect the suffering of faithful followers with the suffering of Jesus?</li>
<li>How well prepared are you to endure suffering for Jesus? What could you do to become better prepared?</li>
</ol>
<p></p>
<p><em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a></em> <em>is published by HarperCollins Resources, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/05/discover-the-secret-to-suffering-well-in-philippians-127-30/">Discover the Secret to Suffering Well in Philippians 1:27-30</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7205800
2023-05-09T05:13:11-12:00
2023-05-09T07:15:11-12:00
Deeper Meanings in The Old Testament
<p><em>Written by Michael Williams</em></p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/13162957/Michael-Williams.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Michael Williams" /></figure></div>
<p>My love for the Old Testament began in an unusual place. I was hundreds of feet below the North Atlantic on patrol in a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine when I first understood the gospel, placed my faith in Jesus Christ, and began reading the Bible. Most of the Bible is the Old Testament, and Jesus himself said that the Old Testament Scriptures were all about him (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A44&version=NIV">Luke 24:44</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+5%3A39&version=NIV">John 5:39</a>). Studying the Old Testament seemed like a great way to start learning about the Bible and Jesus.</p>
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<p>I soon realized that understanding the Old Testament might not be as easy as I had hoped. Suspecting there was more to the stories than I was grasping, I pursued academic study. I learned the original languages and began to see how the biblical authors used language in creative ways to add depth and power to their messages.</p>
<p>After my education, I taught Old Testament and ancient Near Eastern languages and literature for 24 years at Calvin Theological Seminary. One of my favorite courses invited students to search the creative ways biblical authors crafted their accounts to draw in readers and pack literary punch. Every year, we discovered a tactic that we had previously missed. This raised my understanding and appreciation for biblical literature to another level.</p>
<p>Most believers don’t have these opportunities to study biblical languages and cultural environment. And, when most biblical scholars write about these things, they often write for other biblical scholars. I wrote <a href="about:blank"><em>30 Old Testament Passages with Deeper Meaning</em></a> to make these studies available for the wider church. The book shows how the message of the Bible is deepened for us by an appreciation for its literary techniques, cultural allusions, and theological focus on Jesus.</p>
<p></p>
<h2>A Seemingly Ordinary Verse</h2>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>“For giving prudence to those who are simple…”</p>
<cite><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1%3A4&version=NIV">Proverbs 1:4</a></cite>
</blockquote>
<p>The book of Proverbs provides an array of benefits to those are willing to internalize its wisdom. We are told that the proverbs will enable us to gain wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1%3A2&version=NIV">1:2</a>), and receive instruction in prudent behavior so that we can do what is right and just and fair (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1%3A3&version=NIV">1:3</a>). In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1%3A4&version=NIV">1:4</a>, we are told these proverbs will also give prudence to those who are simple. “Simple” is not an adjective most people would like to have ascribed to them. Those with even a modicum of self-esteem might conclude that this book was not written for them. But this conclusion would be based on a faulty understanding of the biblical meaning of the word “simple.”</p>
<h2>But Wait, There’s More!</h2>
<p>The Hebrew word translated as “simple” here does not have anything to do with mental acuity or even urbane sophistication. It refers instead to those who are inexperienced or untrained in the potentially dangerous ways of the world. Such people are overly trusting, naive, easily led astray, and probably have not been taken advantage of by others.</p>
<p>None of us is born with immunity from this. However, those who are simple—that is, those who are aware of and admit their vulnerability—have one characteristic that differentiates them from those described in Proverbs as “fools”: the simple are teachable. To all of us who are teachable, then, who acknowledge that we too are susceptible to the trickery of malicious opportunists, our verse offers “prudence.” But this word in our passage has a surprisingly significant meaning that is probably much deeper than you think it is.</p>
<h3>Knowledge for Good or for Evil</h3>
<p>In the context of the opening verses of Proverbs, prudence is presented as the antidote to simpleness. If the simple are those who are easily led astray and taken advantage of, then prudence is something that can prevent that from happening. We might describe prudence as “street smarts.”</p>
<p>The book of Proverbs, therefore, is offering us the means to develop an awareness of how things really work in everyday life, and how to live circumspectly in light of that knowledge. This knowledge is, however, amoral in itself. Its morality depends on how it is used. Consequently, the insight Proverbs gives us into the inner workings of the world and human beings can be used either for good or for evil.</p>
<h2>A Surprising Connection</h2>
<p>Through our deeper consideration of prudence, or street smarts, we also discover a hidden connection between our verse and the first appearance of evil in the world.</p>
<p>To understand this connection, we must note some details of the Hebrew underlying our English translations. The word “prudence” is a translation of the Hebrew word עָרְמָה (<em>‘ormâ</em>) In Hebrew, words are formed around a base of three consonants. By adjusting the vowels, prefixes, and suffixes around these three consonants, different nuances of the word can be expressed. In the case of “prudence” in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1%3A4&version=NIV">1:4</a>, the three Hebrew consonants that communicate the basic meaning of the word are ע-ר- ם (ʿ-r- m). The vowels surrounding these consonants let us know that this word עָרְמָה (<em>‘ormâ</em>) is a noun. By putting different vowels around these same three consonants, one can express the basic meaning of the word as an adjective.</p>
<h3>Genesis 3:1</h3>
<p>This is precisely what we find in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A1&version=NIV">Genesis 3:1</a>, where the serpent in the garden of Eden is described as “more crafty [ עָרוּם <em>‘ārûm</em>] than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.” You probably noticed that the same three consonants are used in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A1&version=NIV">Genesis 3:1</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1%3A4&version=NIV">Proverbs 1:4</a>: ע-ר- ם (ʿ-r- m). The only difference is that the vowels used to indicate the noun form of the word (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1%3A4&version=NIV">Prov 1:4</a>) are different from the vowels used to indicate the adjectival form of the word (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A1&version=NIV">Gen 3:1</a>).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A1&version=NIV">Genesis 3:1</a> is saying that the serpent had the same street smarts that the book of Proverbs offers its readers, but the serpent used that insight for evil instead of good. The book of Proverbs, on the other hand, wants its readers to use that knowledge for good. “Prudence” or “shrewdness,” therefore, is neither a positive nor a negative characteristic when considered by itself. It’s how that situational and interpersonal awareness is used that makes it positive or negative.</p>
<h2>Be as Shrewd as Snakes</h2>
<p>This reexamination of this verse helps us understand what Jesus meant when he gave instructions to his disciples before he sent them out with the gospel. He told them that, as they encountered those who would test them, they should “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt+10%3A16&version=NIV">Matt 10:16</a>).</p>
<p>The connection between Jesus’s encouragement to be “as shrewd as snakes” and the shrewdness of the serpent in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A1&version=NIV">Genesis 3:1</a> is supported by the Greek word Jesus used. In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), the word used to describe the serpent is φρονιμος (<em>phronimos</em>). This is the same Greek word Jesus used in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt+10%3A16&version=NIV">Matthew 10:16</a>!</p>
<p>Jesus’s words remind us that being his disciple does not mean closing our eyes to the realities of life. It means being keenly aware of those realities and using that awareness to advance the gospel of peace. Christian prudence is an ability to recognize and artfully sidestep the many traps set before us so that we can progress safely along the path of true life and invite others to join us on that path.</p>
<p>What a wonderful depth of meaning in the words of this passage! Our fresh insight into the meaning of these words helps us live out our Christian lives in a world full of dangers, which we can avoid with a little prudence, available in the book of Proverbs.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/27151943/9780310144328.cover_.03.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/9780310144328.cover_.03.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="30 Old Testament Passages with Deeper Meaning" height="720" width="720" /></a></figure>
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<p><em><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">30 Old Testament Passages with Deeper Meaning</a></em> contains easy-to-read chapters that focus on a verse or passage, and:</p>
<ul>
<li>Examine its cultural, historical, linguistic, and/or theological context.</li>
<li>Explain how it is enhanced by the added context and perspective.</li>
<li>Provide questions to facilitate further reflection, study, and discussion.</li>
</ul>
<p>Helping to bridge the gap between the academy and the church, this broadly accessible and edifying book will help Christians get more out of their Bible. This is an ideal small group, Bible study, or expository preaching resource.</p>
</div>
</div>
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<p><strong>Michael Williams</strong> (PhD, University of Pennsylvania) is Emeritus Senior Professor of Old Testament Studies at Calvin Theological Seminary, a member of the NIV Committee on Bible Translation, Chairman of the NIrV Committee, and author of many books, including <em>How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens</em> and <em>Hidden Prophets of the Bible</em>. His passion is to provide curious believers with knowledge of the Old Testament and its culture so that they may grow in their comprehension and appreciation of redemptive history and be adequately prepared to promote and defend the faith through word and action.</p>
<p><em><em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/30-old-testament-passages-with-deeper-meaning-the-surprising-significance-of-seemingly-ordinary-verses?variant=40877291470984&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=bg_blog_30passages">30 Old Testament Passages with Deeper Meaning</a></em> is published by Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/05/deeper-meanings-in-the-old-testament/">Deeper Meanings in The Old Testament</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7202191
2023-05-03T00:41:00-12:00
2023-05-03T03:45:20-12:00
Discover the Secret of Gospel Mission in Philippians 1:12-26
<p>In this third posting, we are continuing the blog series with content from biblical scholar Scot McKnight. McKnight has recently published <a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a> series with Harper<em>Christian</em> Resources. McKnight combines interpretive insights with pastoral wisdom for all the books of the New Testament. Each volume provides original meaning, fresh interpretation, and practical application.</p>
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<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="334" width="500" /></a></figure></div>
<p>In this blog series, we’ll be sharing Scot’s insights and wisdom on the book of Philippians. It is available as a book as well: <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/philippians-and-1-2-thessalonians?variant=39991840473224">Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Kingdom Living in Today’s World</a></em>.</p>
<p>For twelve weeks, Bible Gateway will publish a chapter from the Bible study book, taking your through the full text of McKnight’s study on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201&version=NIV">Philippians</a>. For this week, here is the third study, <strong>Our Common Life in Gospel Mission</strong> | <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A12-26&version=NIV">Philippians 1:12-26</a>.</p>
<p></p>
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<p><em>12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.</em></p>
<p><em>15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>Pressure applied to a person, whether physical or emotional or financial, often reveals character. Persecution, whether physical or social and status-shaming, puts a per- son in the dock to declare (or not) her allegiance to Jesus as the world’s true Lord and King. Instead of blaming others, instead of running to safety, and instead of going silent, the faithful believer confesses before her persecutors and says, “Jesus is the Lord. He is my Lord. And I will follow him.” Paul knew pressure. In fact, it is more than possible he had been in prison for four years. But, instead of pouting and moaning, he responded with bold confessions of the Lord Jesus. Remember back when Paul was first in Philippi? You might know the impact of that singular witness by Paul in prison. We call the impact the “Philippian Jailer,” as we read about him in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+16&version=NIV">Acts 16</a>.</p>
<p>Pressure also reveals personality, and this passage is special among the Pauline letters for all its I’s and Me’s and My’s. (You might underline each one in the passage above.) However, he is not being self-centered. Rather, Paul lives in an honor-shame world where everyone knew their status location in society. Being in prison for being connected to a crucified Galilean man degraded one’s status. But Paul flipped the honor-shame script: what was degrading for the Romans was for Paul upgrading or honoring, and what was honoring among the Romans was degrading for the apostle. The whole letter in some ways turns on this flipped script. Paul’s “I” is actually “Christ.”</p>
<p></p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Philippians-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Philippians-1024x768.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="413" width="550" /></a></figure></div>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>We Need Courage</strong></p>
<p>Paul is sitting in prison where he awaits a trial and verdict. One was not sent to prison after but before one’s sentence in that world. One was in prison to await trial. We see this in Paul’s own life while in Caesarea Maritima (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+23%E2%80%9326&version=NIV">Acts 23–26</a>). Paul experiences an entirely new perspective on sufferings that promotes his courage. He perceives that his imprisonment enabled him to “advance the gospel” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A12&version=NIV">Philippians 1:12</a>). How so? “It has become clear” or even “obvious” to the entire Roman Praetorian Guard, a massive group of soldiers who protected no less than the emperor (Nero), that his imprisonment is because of his witness “for Christ” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A13&version=NIV">1:13</a>). He’d done nothing other than tell people that Jesus is the Lord.</p>
<p>Paul turned his imprisonment in Philippi in his original mission there into an opportunity to gospel the inmates and authorities (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+16%3A19%E2%80%9334&version=NIV">Acts 16:19–34</a>). He was doing the same thing again in Rome. It was the Pauline prison habit. Paul and Timothy knew the reality of opposition to the gospel, which meant the sting of rejection, the shame of verbal insults, and the wounds of persecutions. His witness in prison in Rome has made others “confident in the Lord” so that they “dare all the more” to tell others about the Lordship of Jesus (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A14&version=NIV">Philippians 1:14</a>).</p>
<p>One suspects Paul is urging the Philippians to learn from this description of his own experience, and that is why he describes them inclusively as “brothers and sisters” or siblings (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A12&version=NIV">1:12</a>). In the next passage he makes their common experience explicit: “since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had.”</p>
<p>Sibling language evokes equality and that we are all in this together. People are watching us. Our children absorb the patterns of our lives, our neighbors observe us, our workmates notice us, our church scans us, and the community watches our witness. Our fellow believers are encouraged by our courage and empowered by the power at work in us. They see that we don’t lash out but that we absorb opposition to the gospel as we walk in the way of the cross of Jesus. They notice that our rejections look like rejections of Christ.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>We Know Our Message</strong></p>
<p>In all that experience of suffering only one thing mattered: “Christ is preached” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A18&version=NIV">1:18</a>). In a few of his letters Paul clarifies what “gospel” means. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A1%E2%80%938&version=NIV">First Corinthians 15:1–8</a> is the classic example, but so too one should read both <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1%3A2%E2%80%934&version=NIV">Romans 1:2–4</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A8&version=NIV">2 Timothy 2:8</a>.</p>
<p>The essence of the gospel is the story about Jesus that fulfills the promises of Israel’s story, and this Jesus is announced in the gospel. Correct that: announcing and talking about Jesus is gospeling! This Jesus is the King, the Messiah, the Lord, and the Savior, and as Savior he brings all the benefits of salvation (forgiveness, justification, reconciliation, transformation). Paul is in prison because of his “defense of the gospel,” that is, for what he was gospe- ling about Jesus (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+1%3A16&version=NIV">1:16</a>).</p>
<p>As one who cares about Christian orthodoxy and faithfulness to the faith I can get a little anxious when Paul says that “some preaching Christ” do so in a quest for glory and honor (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+1%3A15&version=NIV">1:15</a>) or they do so out of “selfish ambition” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+1%3A17&version=NIV">1:17</a>). Are they, I ask, truly preaching Christ? Anyone watching the current American church scene knows this happens. Sadly, some are inadvertently preaching the gospel as they tear apart the reputation of Paul (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+1%3A17&version=NIV">1:17</a>).</p>
<p>It takes a big-hearted person to say, “Hey, they may not like me. They may oppose me. But they are at least telling people about Jesus!” Which is exactly what Paul says (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+1%3A18&version=NIV">1:18</a>), and he who said this is one who wrote stinging words against those who were preaching a false gospel. In chapter three he will call false gospelers “dogs” and “evil workers” and “those who mutilate the flesh” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+3%3A2&version=NIV">3:2</a> ESV). Strong disagreements to be sure! It’s hard to square up all these words.</p>
<p>When I scan the shelves of bookstores or read widely today on internet web pages and blogs, I observe wildly different messages. There are conservatives and progressives, both utterly convinced of their rectitude. There are Calvinists and Arminians and Baptists and Anglicans.</p>
<p>When I read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A18&version=NIV">Philippians 1:18</a> and mutter Paul’s question to myself, which was “But does it matter?” and know his answer is “Christ is preached,” I ask if my heart is big enough to stand with Paul. How about you? Sure, let’s cut this down in size to say, “What is claimed by others in the name of Christ still has to be consistent with the gospel.” Sure, I’ll sing harmony (or, I’ll at least try) with you on that one. But most of what we fight about on the internet is not whether or not we agree with Jesus being the North Star but what in many ways is peripheral and, to be frank, does not even matter.</p>
<p>What I return to in reading this passage is one simple observation: let’s concentrate our hearts and minds and souls on Jesus as the Lord and let everything be subsumed to that message. For some this sounds trite. I disagree. It is one of the greatest challenges of anyone preaching or teaching or leading to constrain what is said and done to what gives glory to Jesus.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>We Can Have Joy</strong></p>
<p>The word “joy” (or “rejoice”) has a habit of showing up in the New Testament when suffering and persecution also show up. You say “Persecution” and the early Christians cheer back with “Rejoice!” But theirs was not some kind of stoical endurance or some positive trick of the mind or some soul over body theory. Theirs was a fully embodied, emotional joy for the opportunity to walk with Jesus in the way of the cross.</p>
<p>Tom Holland (not the actor), in his magisterial romp through the history of how the modern world became more Christian than often recognized, in one chapter zeroed in on Lyons (in Gaul) in the days of Irenaeus. Of the Christians suffering persecution then he writes, “Whether gored by bulls, or savaged by dogs, or roasted on red-hot chairs of iron, they cried out only ‘the words they had repeated all along–the declarations of their faith.’” You say “Persecution” and they rejoice in the power of the resurrection. They could say this because they knew Jesus was with them, and they knew they were suffering with him. Amazingly they found joy in the midst of suffering.</p>
<p>His theme of joy hears another tone. The Philippians participate in his release from prison by their prayers (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A19&version=NIV">1:19</a>). Even deeper than that, his joy and confidence are rooted in “God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” I like to point out that “provision” can be translated “orchestration” (Greek epichorēgia). The Philippians were praying, but the Spirit will orchestrate the release and more (“my deliverance”). Confidence in that invisible orchestration gave them joy, which means this joy is a confidence in the irresistible work of God. His expression “will turn out for my deliverance” echoes the words of Job and “deliverance” evokes not only release from prison but ultimate vindication by God.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>We Live in Hope</strong></p>
<p>Christian hope is not simplistic “I hope so.” Hope is not so much utter certainty as it is confidence in the God who promises. Sufficient experiences have made Paul confidently hopeful of deliverance (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A25%E2%80%9326&version=NIV">1:25–26</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A24&version=NIV">2:24</a>). Perhaps his most confident claim of hope is to be found near the end of his life in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+4%3A18&version=NIV">2 Timothy 4:18</a> where, in prison again, he says “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom.” The translation in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A20&version=NIV">Philippians 1:20</a>, “I eagerly expect,” is a little more precise than the original, which could be translated “according to [or consistent with] my eager expectation and my hope.” These two terms–expectation and hope–express the courage necessary for him to remain faithful in the face of persecution. He is so confident in his hope that he knows he will “in no way be ashamed” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A20&version=NIV">1:20</a>). That is, God will vindicate those faithful to the gospel, either in this life or in the next.</p>
<p>Whether he dies into the presence of God or survives, he just wants “Christ to be exalted in my body” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A20&version=NIV">1:20</a>). This is an amazing expression. He wants his body to glorify God because it is in the body that he hopes and witnesses to Christ. One of his most famous lines follows: “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A21&version=NIV">1:21</a>). Gerald Hawthorne tells us that Paul here lets us in on “the turmoil of his soul,” which the NIV in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A23&version=NIV">1:23</a> translates as “torn between the two” options: if he does not survive the emperor’s judgment he will be with Christ; if he does, he will tell the world about Christ. Either way, it is all about Christ! Noticeably, so much was he aching to be with Christ–for him to see Jesus again–that he wasn’t sure which he wanted: death or life.</p>
<p>So he intuits–and I don’t know how else to explain his next words–that “I will remain” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A25&version=NIV">1:25</a>), that is, live on to minister the gospel so they can “progress” into Christlikeness. A wonderful image is used with this term “progress”: the term means “cut one’s way through something one hack at a time.” That image is tied to “joy” and both are formed “in the faith.” Paul seems to give himself quite the credit here for that progress. He says, “through my being with you again” and “on account of me” you Philippians will be boasting in Christ. The overall aim though gets it just right: Paul gets no credit. It all goes to Christ, but he does realize the importance of his giftedness and ministry at this time in their hacking way forward in Christian growth.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><em>Questions for Reflection and Application</em></strong></p>
<ol type="1"><li>Hope and joy in this passage are more than simply spiritual states—they are real emotions. What role do joy and hope play in Paul’s life?</li></ol>
<ul><li>Paul turns shame into honor and prison into a gospel mission. How do you think Paul accomplished turning things upside down in his culture?</li></ul>
<ul><li>What is the gospel, according to McKnight?</li></ul>
<ul><li>Is your heart big enough to stand with Paul to say about those opposing you or those seeking selfish fame, “at least they are preaching Christ”? If not, what would it take for God to work that out in your heart?</li></ul>
<ul><li>How do true, emotional hope and joy function in your life in Christ?</li></ul>
<p></p>
<p><em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a></em> <em>is published by HarperCollins Resources, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/05/discover-the-secret-of-gospel-mission-in-philippians-112-26/">Discover the Secret of Gospel Mission in Philippians 1:12-26</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7197374
2023-04-26T02:37:00-12:00
2023-04-26T06:15:09-12:00
Discover the Secret of Community in Philippians 1:1-11
<p>We are continuing the blog series with content from biblical scholar Scot McKnight. McKnight has recently published <a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a> series with Harper<em>Christian</em> Resources. McKnight combines interpretive insights with pastoral wisdom for all the books of the New Testament. Each volume provides original meaning, fresh interpretation, and practical application.</p>
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<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="274" width="410" /></a></figure></div>
<p>In this blog series, we’ll be sharing Scot’s insights and wisdom on the book of Philippians. It is available as a book as well: <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/philippians-and-1-2-thessalonians?variant=39991840473224">Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Kingdom Living in Today’s World</a></em>.</p>
<p>Each week for the next 12 weeks Bible Gateway will publish a chapter from the Bible study book, taking your through the full text of McKnight’s study on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201&version=NIV">Philippians</a>. For this week, here is the second study, <strong>Our Common Life </strong>| <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+1%3A1-11&version=NIV">Philippians 1:1-11</a></p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><em>1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,</em></p>
<p><em>To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:</em></p>
<p><em>2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.</em></p>
<p><em>3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will car- ry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.</em></p>
<p><em>7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.</em></p>
<p><em>9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Imagine two things as you read this passage.</p>
<p>First, imagine the first two verses written on the front of an envelope. Those verses inform us of the sender and address as our envelopes do today. Second, imagine someone reading this letter aloud to the house churches in Philippi – in fact, not just reading but <em>performing </em>the letter in such a manner that you suddenly find yourself thinking you see Paul and Timothy and not the person standing there reading it. It is the reader’s voice, but you hear Paul and Timothy.</p>
<p>Timothy often occurs at the top of Paul’s letters. Not only are you hearing them, but you are feeling every word of the letter because the reader has so mastered the letter that he’s (or she’s) not even looking at it. She’s (or he’s) memorized it and you know the reader is even adlibbing at times to make it all very clear just for you. To imagine this, you and I will have to remove ourselves from thinking this is the Bible being read.</p>
<p>We will have to remember this is an actual letter by actual authors sent and read to actual people in actual homes in the Roman colony Philippi, an utterly gorgeous colony not far from a decline down to the northern tip of the beautiful Aegean Sea.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Phil-NTE-social-graphic-2.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Phil-NTE-social-graphic-2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="788" width="940" /></a></figure>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Our Common Life</strong></p>
<p>Paul and Timothy like the word “partnership,” which can be translated as “fellowship” or “friendship” or “sharing” or “partnership” or “common life” or “together.” The central idea is to participate with one another in a common life, which is a theme important to the entire letter. Lynn Cohick develops a linear thought process in this letter: God and our salvation in Christ leads to our life together in Christ. There’s that word “together.” In this letter we have a common life “in the gospel” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+1%3A5&version=NIV">1:5</a>), in God’s grace (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+1%3A7&version=NIV">1:7</a>), in the Spirit (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A1&version=NIV">2:1</a>), in the sufferings of Christ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+3%3A10&version=NIV">3:10</a>), in the troubles Paul himself experienced (4:14), and the need to share in one’s provisions (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+4%3A15&version=NIV">4:15</a>). It is indeed quite likely that the “partnership” of 1:5 also involved their providing financially for Paul’s mission work (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+9%3A15&version=NIV">2 Corinthians 9:15</a>). All of this is what life together looks like.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Our Greetings</strong></p>
<p>Believers in Jesus can greet one another in ways they can’t greet others. Notice how the authors identify themselves: “servants of Christ Jesus.” Actually the word is stronger so it’s worth running a line through your word “servant” and writing “slaves” above it. To call themselves slaves both locates them at the bottom of the status heap and affirms the intensity of their devotion to the Lord Jesus (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+6%3A20&version=NIV">1 Corinthians 6:20</a>). Oddly enough, in this common life to be a slave of Christ is to be at the top of the status heap. We will soon read that Jesus himself was a slave (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A7&version=NIV">Philippians 2:7</a>)! Plus, some of God’s major leaders in the Bible used the term “slave” for themselves. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+12%3A7&version=NIV">Numbers 12:7</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+25%3A4&version=NIV">Jeremiah 25:4</a>). With one another we know our relationship to Jesus: he is Lord, and we are but slaves of the Lord. Carolyn Osiek makes an important observation: “A slave’s status did not derive from the legal condition of slavery, but from the status of his or her owner, the slave’s own position, and its importance.”</p>
<p>For a Christian to be a slave of Jesus was to be owned by the Lord of all, and this would have given the Christian transcendent status. Lynn Cohick rightly counters the leadership craze of our culture with the terms Paul and Timothy use for themselves. They are not “leaders” or “vision casters” or “entrepreneurs” or “senior pastors” or “teaching pastors” but slaves together of the Lord Jesus.</p>
<p>They address their letter to “all,” not just the upper crust and inner wheels, “God’s holy people.” This does not mean these people are sinless, because the term “holy” means someone devoted to God and therefore no longer devoted to Rome and its gods, to the market and its monies, or to status growth in the Roman upward climb to honor and fame and glory and a monument on Main Street when you die. His wish for them is to know and to indwell in the special “grace and peace” that come our way only in the power of God the Father and in the “Lord Jesus Christ.” There’s some definite insider talk, but it all is set up for a major theme in this letter: fellowship or the common life together that believers in Jesus now have in Philippi.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Our Affections</strong></p>
<p>The common life of Christians means reciprocating affections for one another.</p>
<p>So many think of Paul as some gruff old guy hobbling along, always in a hurry, from city to city along the Mediterranean barking out orders to one new church after another. Any reading of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A7%E2%80%938&version=NIV">Philippians 1:7–8</a> reveals to the contrary a warm and fuzzy Paul! He says they hold him in his heart, like our saying “I heart you!,” and they together share in God’s abundant grace of redemption and love and transformation. They risk this new life together even though he is in prison in Rome for gospeling, and we might need to learn again that identifying with an imprisoned troublemaker does not make for friends with Philippi’s Rome-based authorities. In fact, they share a life in preaching the gospel. All this is in verse seven.</p>
<p>Then Paul goes fizzy in his fuzzy: “I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A8&version=NIV">1:8</a>). His love for them is the kind of love that lays down one’s life for others. He learned the heart of a life together in the way Jesus lived (and we’ll see more of this in chapter two).</p>
<p>A common life entails affections in our relationships with one another, but this common life is more than the classical sense of friendship because (1) it is in Christ and (2) it transcends gender and status. Friendship in the Roman world was voluntary, between males especially, and was elitist. Paul never calls another believer “friend” because their relationship is deeper than friendship; they are siblings.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Our Prayers</strong></p>
<p>Since Paul speaks so much in the first person we need to remind ourselves that Timothy was a co-author and not just a co-sender. After all, Timothy’s not just sitting there letting Paul make all the decisions. The letter is Paul’s voice but behind that voice were contributions from Timothy. The Philippians knew Timothy well: he was with Paul when the church was planted (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+16%3A3%E2%80%934&version=NIV">Acts 16:3–4</a>), and Paul is about to send Timothy to Philippi (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A19%E2%80%9323&version=NIV">Philippians 2:19–23</a>).</p>
<p>A common life in Christ includes praying for one another.</p>
<p>We discover the theme of prayer in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A3%E2%80%93+6&version=NIV">1:3– 6</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A9%E2%80%9311&version=NIV">1:9–11</a>. It’s not hard to exaggerate verse three: “I thank my God every time I remember you” can make us think Paul was thanking God for them every day all day long, but behind his “every time” is the common spiritual practice of praying what we today call the “hours of prayer.” That is, Jews prayed at sunset, at sunrise, and in the middle of the day. Three times a day. Every day. Except on the day of the funeral of one’s parents.</p>
<p>Three times a day Paul says he prayed for the Philippians. He prays “with joy.” When this was read to the churches in Philippi there were some smiles of pride about Paul’s affirmations. His joyful prayers are rooted in their common life commitment to the work of the gospel–preaching it and teaching it and living it and suffering for it–and his utter confidence in God’s powerful work of transforming the Philippian believers into people fit for the eternal presence of God. In spite of appearances, the work of God cannot be stopped.</p>
<p>We can learn how to pray for others in following the categories Paul uses for his intercessions for the Philippian believers. His prayers were not reducible to the “Bless Sarah and Sam” prayers we so often hear. No, he prayed specifically for profound transformations (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A9%E2%80%9311&version=NIV">1:9–11</a>). As the Lord’s Prayer can be a model prayer for us, so this prayer can be a guide for all those ministering, mentoring, and parenting others.</p>
<p>First, he prays for their love to flourish (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A9&version=NIV">1:9</a>). To “flourish” is not so much bigger and better as it is deeper and wider.</p>
<p>Second, he prays their love will flourish into “knowl- edge and depth of insight,” that is, into wise living (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A9&version=NIV">1:9</a>). This flips the order for moderns who think first comes knowledge then comes love. Not so for Paul: love leads to a deeper knowing. N.T. Wright has often observed this order: “Ordinary human wisdom, ordinary human knowledge, is not just cancelled. It is taken up into something” and that “new ‘something’ is agape, love.”</p>
<p>Third, he prays their flourishing wise love will lead to profound discernment of how to live as believers in Philippi (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A10&version=NIV">1:10</a>).</p>
<p>And fourth, following hard on this flourishing, wise, and discerning love, that the vines of their moral life will be loaded with the fruit of doing what is right–a kind of doing that can only be accomplished because of their common life participation in Christ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A11&version=NIV">1:11</a>). Notice how Paul’s petitions unfold:</p>
<ul>
<li>Love</li>
<li>Flourishing</li>
<li>Wisdom</li>
<li>Discernment</li>
<li>Right-living</li>
<li>God’s glory!</li>
</ul>
<p>Such an orderly unfolding set of prayers leads me to examine what I pray for when I pray for others. One leads to the next and the next and so on until it brings “glory and praise” to God, not to the believers, not to Paul and Timothy, and not to the “overseers and deacons” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A1&version=NIV">1:1</a>), that is, supervisors (or mentors) and servants. That they single out these leaders cracks a door slightly on church order and pastoral care in Philippi and the importance they will have in explaining the letter.</p>
<p>A common life will include our greetings, our affections, and our prayers. And next we will see it involves mission.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><em>Questions for Reflection and Application</em></strong></p>
<ol type="1"><li>What are some key elements of the “common life” together in Christian living as seen in Philippians?</li></ol>
<ul><li>How does Paul and Timothy calling themselves “slaves” run counter to today’s culture of church leadership?</li></ul>
<ul><li>What are the elements of Paul’s prayers for the Philippians?</li></ul>
<ul><li>Think about your relationships. Who in your Christian life has been to you like Timothy to Paul? Like Paul to Timothy? Like the Philippians to Paul, and vice versa?</li></ul>
<ul><li>Write a prayer for a beloved Christian friend or church community following Paul’s prayer model.</li></ul>
<p></p>
<p><em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a></em> <em>is published by HarperCollins Resources, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/04/discover-the-secret-of-community-in-philippians-11-11/">Discover the Secret of Community in Philippians 1:1-11</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7197375
2023-04-26T01:35:00-12:00
2023-04-26T06:15:08-12:00
The Unshakable Community Called Church
<p><strong><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Rebekah-Lyons_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Rebekah Lyons: The Unshakable Community Called Church" width="33%" />By Rebekah Lyons</strong></p>
<p>What is <em>church?</em> How do we define it when our definitions change over time and can depend on a number of variables such as the passing of time and the experience of crises? When do we lose track of what it means and how? How do we bring meaning back to the word?</p>
<p>I wasn’t sure how to define <em>church</em> in early 2020, and if truth be told, before the lockdowns began, I didn’t even know I would have to revisit the concept of church.</p>
<p><span id="more-72211"></span></p>
<p>The women had a front-row seat as the men in our circles experienced real life together—studying, praying, and serving each other. Together they were recreating the church of the first Christians. I wanted in, and other wives did as well. So we began our own weekly Bible study. Each Tuesday, we gathered as women—same structure, same vision. We entered inspired and hopeful. Eager and vulnerable, we tended to each other’s needs with a simple group text thread.</p>
<p>As we worked together in community, I was reminded of something the ancient apologist Blaise Pascal once wrote about a great wager that everyone must make. He urged his readers to bet on God in this wager, for “if you win you win everything”—truth, happiness, and the good—and “if you lose you lose nothing. Do not hesitate then; wager that he does exist.” Investing in community is the same kind of wager. If we win, we win a full and flourishing life, and if we lose, we’ve made a lot of friends to help us endure the hardship.</p>
<p>We began waking up together—waking to passion and purpose, to conviction, to what it means to be the church. Our awakening propelled us to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world around us. We were being revived one by one, and once we’re revived personally, we begin to be revived corporately.</p>
<p>Our community began hosting town hall meetings with local business owners, curating conversations with city leaders, laying groundwork for community gardens, planning schooling alternatives, and organizing medical support for frontline workers. Just as in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%201&version=NIV" title="Read the book of Acts on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">book of Acts</a>, numbers were being added to the men’s Bible study and community initiatives by the day. The women were activated too, and we looked for ways to serve one another, starting a group text thread to facilitate needs.</p>
<ul>
<li><em>Who needs prayer?</em></li>
<li><em>Who needs a mean or a care basket because of a loss?</em></li>
<li><em>Who needs a ride?</em></li>
<li><em>Anyone requiring a doctor recommendation?</em></li>
<li><em>Who needs a wedding venue because their previously chosen venue closed its doors?</em></li>
</ul>
<p>It wasn’t just the text thread. We rolled up our sleeves and got about our work of being the church. We hosted “church” on our front lawn because we couldn’t forsake our “meeting together” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10%3A25&version=NIV" title="Read Hebrews 10:25 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hebrews 10:25</a>). Family blankets took the place of pews. One family led worship from their blanket, with my friend Christy leading the chorus and her husband, Nathan, accompanying with his guitar. Another family read Scripture and led a discussion. Since each family brought their own Communion elements, other families led in the time of Communion and prayer.</p>
<p>By early summer, the First Front Lawnist Church of Franklin was on a roll. Not only were we hosting worship gatherings, but on one beautiful May Saturday, we hosted a wedding for Molly and Peter, one of the men in this multigenerational community. Because every venue was shut down, we created our own.</p>
<p>The families and several guests gathered—seated in a dozen or so wooden chairs under a canopy of trees, with wind chimes as our backdrop. A path meandered down the slope to a short hop over the stream for the bride’s entrance. It was a full Lyons family affair, with Pierce playing guitar, Joy serving as flower girl, and Gabe and I reading the Scriptures. It was glorious.</p>
<p>Real-life church services brought a breath of fresh air, particularly for our kiddos. The extended isolation was hitting them hard, especially those with differing abilities who were nonverbal. During the many months of not meeting together, events were canceled, including our annual Best Buddies prom. Live events were substituted with online events, which weren’t necessarily helpful for everyone, including Cade, our son with Down syndrome.</p>
<p>A couple families had seen how much our in-person community lawn gatherings had helped Cade, and they decided to put on the best prom ever for Cade and many friends in our community. It was a highlight of their spring.</p>
<p>In our first five years in Franklin, we thought we had been “doing community.” We attended church regularly and would often have people in our home for dinner or impromptu parties. In 2020, we learned a different way of <em>being</em> a true Christian community. It was the kind of community that depended on one another, not just as some sought-after Christian ideal, but as a genuine mechanism for flourishing.</p>
<p>We depended on one another for even our most basic needs—food, fellowship, and even the occasional financial need. We came to realize that resilient lives are not formed in isolation; resilient lives are forged in community.</p>
<h2>The Church Is a Communal People Created by a Communal God</h2>
<p>In what became known as his “farewell discourse,” Jesus prayed for a unified community, a collective church that was bigger than any one individual: “<em>My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I am in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me</em>.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A20-23&version=NIV" title="Read John 17:20-23 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 17:20-23</a>)</p>
<p>In the same way that God has inherent interpersonal relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so Jesus prays that we will be image bearers of God in the way we participate in our own community. In the book of Acts, we see the first vision of Jesus’ prayer come to fruition when the Holy Spirit is poured out on the people of God and the church comes into existence.</p>
<p>Jesus recognized that the church is made up of individuals who believe in him, but he did not simply pray for “them alone.” He prayed for them together—in community. He prayed for our relationship with one another, that we would experience the kind of relationship he has with God the Father—a relationship of complete unity. That prayer for unity came to life in the earliest gatherings of the church. It came to life in our own gatherings too.</p>
<p>What did we find?</p>
<p>In a unified community, we found a more holistic version of resilience. We became an unshakable community that helped meet one another’s needs. This began to spread to our broader community among friends in other cities.</p>
<p>We are far more resilient as a whole community than as self-sufficient individuals. The difference is staggering. When the Holy Spirit unites his people, the church, through consistent commitment to the Scriptures, prayer, and one another, a holistic resilience emerges that becomes unshakable both in the individual and in the group. It’s an irrepressible force that creates a more resilient world.</p>
<h2>We Were Made to Need One Another</h2>
<p>We live in an individualistic society, one that teaches us that <em>self-sufficiency</em> is resilience. We were not made to resist adversity alone; we were made to have our needs met in community, which is why resilience isn’t cultivated in a vacuum.</p>
<p>In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes the role of community in building resilience: “Community health resilience measures the ability of people, businesses, governments, nonprofit groups, and faith-based organizations to <em>work together</em> to create systems that can withstand, adapt to, and recover from a public health emergency.”</p>
<p>True community reminds you who you really are. A community of like-minded people calls forth the character and integrity they believe you embody. They hold you accountable so that your inside matches your outside, your private life matches your public life. It reminds you that you’re stronger than you think, you’re braver than you think, you’re more loved than you think.</p>
<p>Christ-centered community reminded me of who I really was and called forth character and integrity in me and others. Christ-centered community encouraged each of us to use our gifts for the good of the group and to press into our purpose and calling. As a result, we became an <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=NIV" title="Read Acts 2 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts 2</a> community, the by-product of seeking the Word together, which cultivated a unity pointing to the kingdom where every need is expressed and people respond to meet it. It was that community that made us a truly resilient people.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/building-a-resilient-life-how-adversity-awakens-strength-hope-and-meaning?variant=40877289963656" title="Building a Resilient Life" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Building-Resilient-Life_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Building a Resilient Life: How Adversity Awakens Strength, Hope, and Meaning" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/building-a-resilient-life-how-adversity-awakens-strength-hope-and-meaning?variant=40877289963656" title="Building a Resilient Life" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Building a Resilient Life: How Adversity Awakens Strength, Hope, and Meaning</em></a> by Rebekah Lyons. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/building-a-resilient-life-how-adversity-awakens-strength-hope-and-meaning?variant=40877289963656" title="Building a Resilient Life" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Even if you’re walking through a difficult season or feeling overwhelmed with the chaos of life, you can build a peace-filled resilience that equips you with strength for today—and for every day ahead.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/building-a-resilient-life-how-adversity-awakens-strength-hope-and-meaning?variant=40877289963656" title="Building a Resilient Life" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Building a Resilient Life</em></a>, Rebekah offers five practical, life-changing rules that help you live into God’s unshakable peace in a world that seems more uncertain every day. Through Rebekah’s unique blend of story, psychology, theology, and biblical teaching, you will:</p>
<ul>
<li>Discover five rules of resilience to thrive in difficult times</li>
<li>Experience adversity as a friend rather than an enemy</li>
<li>Reset triggers of overwhelm with a fortified faith</li>
<li>Cultivate strong community to rally in stressful seasons</li>
<li>Overcome temporary setbacks without giving up</li>
</ul>
<p>As you use these rules to build your own resilient life, you’ll encounter the God who offers you a peace beyond understanding, a hope beyond today, and a strength and joy you never even knew you had.</p>
<p><strong>Rebekah Lyons</strong> is a national speaker, host of the <em>Rhythms for Life</em> podcast, and bestselling author of <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/rhythms-of-renewal-trading-stress-and-anxiety-for-a-life-of-peace-and-purpose?variant=20534934700143" title="“Rhythms" of="" renewal target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Rhythms of Renewal</em></a>, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/you-are-free-be-who-you-already-are?variant=13765315264623" title="“You" are="" free target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>You Are Free</em></a>, and <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/rhythms-for-life-planner-and-journal-90-days-to-peace-and-purpose?variant=33787302412424" title="“Rhythms" for="" life="" planner="" and="" journal target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Rhythms for Life Planner and Journal</em></a>. An old soul with a contemporary, honest voice, Rebekah reveals her own battles to overcome anxiety and depression—and invites others to discover and boldly pursue their God-given purpose. Alongside her husband, Gabe, Rebekah finds joy in raising four children, two of whom have Down syndrome. Her work has been featured on <em>The TODAY Show</em>, <em>Good Morning America</em>, <em>CNN</em>, <em>FOX News</em>, <em>Publishers Weekly Starred Reviews</em>, and more.</p>
<h2>Looking for More?<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30134528/SpectacleGloryCover2-220.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni's devotional A Spectacle of Glory: God's Light Shining through Me Every Day" height="338" width="220" /></a>
</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up today</a> for the Zondervan Books Growth <strong>monthly</strong> email newsletter and receive the PDF eBook <em>A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days</em> by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni’s devotional <em>A Spectacle of Glory: God’s Light Shining through Me Every Day</em>.</p>
<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more incredible books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p>
<p>________</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/04/the-unshakable-community-called-church/">The Unshakable Community Called Church</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7193059
2023-04-19T01:26:00-12:00
2023-04-19T03:45:16-12:00
Discover the Secret of Gratitude and Generosity in Philippians 4:10-20
<p>We are continuing the blog series with content from biblical scholar Scot McKnight. McKnight has recently published <a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a> series with Harper<em>Christian</em> Resources. McKnight combines interpretive insights with pastoral wisdom for all the books of the New Testament. Each volume provides original meaning, fresh interpretation, and practical application</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="274" width="410" /></a></figure></div>
<p>In this blog series, we’ll be sharing Scot’s insights and wisdom on the book of Philippians. It is available as a book as well: <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/philippians-and-1-2-thessalonians?variant=39991840473224">Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Kingdom Living in Today’s World</a></em>.</p>
<p>Each week for the next 12 weeks Bible Gateway will publish a chapter from the Bible study book, taking your through the full text of McKnight’s study on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201&version=NIV">Philippians</a>. For this week, here is the first study, <strong>A Common Life of Gratitude for Generosity</strong> | <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil+4%3A10-20&version=NIV">Philippians 4:10-20</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Special Note to the Reader:</strong> We open this study guide to Philippians by starting with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A10%E2%80%9320&version=NIV">chapter 4:10–20</a> that sets the context before us. At the heart of Paul’s letter is that he and they share a common life, and this passage puts into words major elements of that common life. Not the least of which is generosity with resources, which created a special bond with the Philippians and Paul and his co-workers. From this point on in the letter, every time we see the word “<strong>common life</strong>” or “<strong>fellowship</strong>” we need to have in mind the tangible, generous gifts at work in such a fellowship of believers.</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-default">
<p><em>10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.</em></p>
<p><em>14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.</em></p>
<p><em>20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The final passage in Philippians opens the front door to the entire letter because its theme shapes so much of this letter. It details Paul both being contented in all situations and thanking the Philippians for financially supporting him. A key word here gets translated with various English words but behind them all are koinos, which means “common,” and koinonia, “<strong>common life</strong>” or “fellowship.” But this <strong>common life</strong> is more than living a similar life. The terms indicate participating in one another’s life and livelihood. It means praying for one another and supporting one another materially and participating with one another in a common mission. I have underlined the terms above where we see this.</p>
<p>Here’s how Paul’s understanding of <strong>common life</strong> of gratitude and generosity is constructed. First, God is a God of “grace,” which is a similar term to “gift.” Second, Jesus impoverished himself by becoming human and dying for our sins. This is the supreme act of God’s giving or God’s grace. Third, Jesus’ intent in becoming poor was so that we could become rich through his grace and giving. Fourth, we receive his grace and so become rich in blessings so that, fifth, we can reciprocate in giving to others. By this we participate in the cycle of God’s generosity and grace, the common life mentioned in this letter so often. Gift giving in the 1st Century created a social bond between giver and receiver, obligated the receiver to reciprocate in exchange, either by thanksgiving or more likely by a return gift, and this sealed their relationship. Our passage jumps right into this theory of generosity, not by explaining it but by doing it. Grace transforms humans into agents of grace. That’s what happens with grace unleashed.</p>
<p>But Paul seems to have had a <strong>common life</strong> policy about financial support that worked like this: he received no financial support as he was planting a church and when he resided in that church plant’s city. Instead, while there, he worked a manual job to support himself and his co- workers. Once a church was on its own feet and probably in good order (unlike Corinth, from whom he seemed not to take funds) and Paul was on the road again, he would accept donations, that is, he and they could participate in a <strong>common life</strong> of generous giving and receiving. The Philippians would then have been mature enough to support him, and he welcomed their gifts. But this <strong>common life</strong> had some unusual twists and turns as it learned to express God’s own gracious gift-giving. The best kind of common life involves gratitude, contentment, and affirmations.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Gratitude Extended</strong></p>
<p>The Philippians expressed their generosity to Paul in gift- giving of some sort, most likely in providing funds for his well-being and mission. This is seen in “you renewed your concern for me” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A10&version=NIV">4:10</a>) but at that time there was no opportunity for them to give. Instead, “it was good of you to share in my troubles” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A14&version=NIV">4:14</a>) but then he can say a gift has arrived through one of his best co-workers: “I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply sup- plied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A18&version=NIV">4:18</a>). The desire they had to help eventually led to a gift.</p>
<p>As believers who experience God’s grace reciprocate in thanksgiving to God, so Paul expresses his gratitude in the above words. Noticeably he does not say “thanks” as one might expect. It’s difficult to know why the word does not appear and perhaps too much has been made of its absence. It may be that Paul does not want to be drawn into a dependent relationship with them. Perhaps so, but I suggest Paul’s understanding of grace and giving may well help us here. Christians know the gifts they receive from God lead to God’s glory not to their having earned them. But Paul starts with giving the Philippians some glory, which is a kind of thanks. He says, “I desire . . . that more be credited to your account” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A17&version=NIV">4:17</a>). But he doesn’t stop there as he extends that expression of gratitude to God when he says the gifts “are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A18&version=NIV">4:18</a>). He turns from them to giving God the glory. For Paul all thanks to others leads to a greater thanks and glory to God.</p>
<p>Christian responses to receiving gifts may well be expressed in a word of thanks to the givers but the ultimate glory belongs to God, not to the human giver. This should not shrink our expressions of thanks. Rather, this theory of generosity anchors all good gifts in God’s good graces. Many of our churches and institutions have walls of honor for those who have given generously. May I recommend that at the bottom and the top of those names we say, “All for God’s glory”?</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Contentment Enlarged</strong></p>
<p>Paul has received a gift from the Philippians, but he is at pains–read this aloud and you will feel the tension–to say they are not obligated to him and that he has learned the art of enlarged contentment, and “content” can be translated as “self-sufficient.” Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A11%E2%80%9313&version=NIV">4:11–13</a> slowly. He’s not “in need, for I have learned to be content,” because he’s learned to live “in plenty or in want.” God is the one who gives him the strength to endure the “want” as he knows the good- ness of generosity in times of “plenty.” A few verses later he states this even more directly: “Not that I desire your gifts” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A17&version=NIV">4:17</a>). The word “desire” could be translated “seek after” or “push for.”</p>
<p>There is no demand in Paul, and that means there is no sense of obligation or duty for the Philippians to respond to the gift of gospel grace preached to them by Paul. This counters one of the mostly unwritten rules of ancient gift giving. Receivers were to reciprocate as an obligation according to their own resources. Paul saws the legs off the table of obligation, and they discover they are sitting across from one another with nothing between them. They sit together as siblings who desire to be generous as an expression of gratitude to one another and to God. If they are unable at that time to provide for Paul, Paul’s fine. If they are able, Paul’s fine with that too.</p>
<p>We may need to work on the discipline of contentment more. That is, we (or I) live in an affluent Western world where we have all we need and far more. I can get irritated when my computer responds slower than I think it ought where Paul was learning to live without food and shelter and safety. Contentment is a Christian virtue that roots itself in God’s providential care for us. Lenten disciplines remind us of our affluence as does sacrificial giving. Some of us serve the homeless or live among the poor and these too can remind us of our need for contentment.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Affirmations Expressed</strong></p>
<p>The Philippians were early givers as we sometimes say in church talk after an appeal for funds. Way back “in the early days . . . not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving,” and we should notice his theory of generosity at work in “giving and receiving.” Not one church “except you only” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A15&version=NIV">4:15</a>). They were then the early givers, and this surely gave Paul a sense of honor and pride in them. (Which they knew.) He is affirming them, and everyone in the church will hear this letter read aloud.</p>
<p>Public affirmations of givers can get dicey. Jesus had very strong words about giving in order to be seen (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A1%E2%80%934&version=NIV">Matthew 6:1–4</a>), and some will want to give in order to get public glory. True enough, but there is a Christian approach to publicly affirming givers. Paul’s theory helps us. Let us learn to express thanksgiving to the wealthy givers among us through Paul’s theory: God unleashed a kind of grace that transforms us into agents of grace, so our giving owes its energies in God’s grace, and we are but agents who turn any gratitude into God’s glory, not ours.</p>
<p>Not only does he affirm them, he also has a “backatcha” promise, something he has himself learned over the years in gospel work: “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+4%3A19&version=NIV">4:19</a>). Again, this verse is a one-verse summary of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+8%E2%80%939&version=NIV">2 Corinthians 8–9</a>. His theory is at work: God is a God of grace, God gives grace in Christ Jesus, we receive grace, we give thanks and glory to God, and we become agents of generosity because of that grace at work in us.</p>
<p>When he ties the knot on this section, he takes us to the goal of all his theory of generosity: God is to receive all the glory (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+4%3A20&version=NIV">4:20</a>).</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><em>Questions for Reflection and Application</em></strong></p>
<ol type="1"><li>What do Paul and the Philippians share with one another? What does their “common life” look like?</li></ol>
<ul><li>How does Christians’ generosity to each other bring glory to God?</li></ul>
<ul><li>What seems to be Paul’s policy about financial support from churches?</li></ul>
<ul><li>How can you cultivate contentedness in your life?</li></ul>
<ul><li>How would both your giving and your receiving gifts change if you embraced Paul’s view that generosity glorifies God?</li></ul>
<p></p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a></em> <em>is published by HarperCollins Resources, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/04/discover-the-secret-of-gratitude-and-generosity-in-philippians-410-20/">Discover the Secret of Gratitude and Generosity in Philippians 4:10-20 </a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7192490
2023-04-17T23:00:00-12:00
2023-04-18T04:45:14-12:00
Trusting God’s Plan: A Lesson from Nahum
<p><strong>By Lisa Whittle<img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lisa-Whittle_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Lisa Whittle" height="280" width="280" /></strong></p>
<p>Five years ago, two noteworthy things happened to me.</p>
<p>The first thing was night terrors. Despite prayer and counseling, I still sometimes experience them. They come as bad dreams, or sometimes I am simply jolted awake by fear. Often, as I pray through them, God speaks to me both during and after them. I am only able to go back to sleep with His assurance that He has me and my family, and we are okay.</p>
<p>I have come to believe night terrors are a part of how Satan attacks me in the night as I work on projects for the kingdom of God. If he can frighten me enough to stop me, he takes one more person out of the game. His goal is always to destroy us, and mental anguish is a primary method.</p>
<p>Around the same time the night terrors started, another event of spiritual significance took place. Similar to the night terrors, this appeared to come out of the blue. This time, though, it was a gift from God. He spoke to me about something very specifically while I was in church.</p>
<p><span id="more-72187"></span></p>
<p>I heard Him say these words to my heart: <em>“I want you to study the book of Nahum</em>.” The pastor wasn’t preaching on Nahum, nor had I seen it recently referenced somewhere, so I could determine no subconscious prompting. Sometimes people ask me, “How can I know I am hearing from God?” Often my experience has been very simply like this: He says things I would not say to myself. I wouldn’t have told myself to study Nahum. If you’ve ever read the book, you know why.</p>
<p>Nahum is a short, three-chapter Old Testament collection of prophetic poems, sandwiched between Habakkuk and Micah, the seventh book of the twelve Minor Prophets. It has a lot of strong words in it like <em>burning fury, destruction, </em>and <em>crushed—</em>not a book I am typically drawn to in my Bible reading and certainly not during wearying times of life. At the time, when I was experiencing night terrors, this book felt particularly harsh and uncomfortable.</p>
<p>I needed to read Psalms, not Nahum. I needed God to love and comfort me, not remind me I needed to repent. This was a confusing biblical narrative. “Why would you send me here, God?” I often asked out loud while reading the book.</p>
<p>But while we judge things by the surface, God knows the subplot.</p>
<h2>Learning from Nahum</h2>
<p>The words of Nahum look harsh, but the deeper picture of Nahum is a representation of life: things don’t always look like they really are. God knows what we don’t. And God is taking care of it. Even reading it was a reminder to me that I don’t know what I think I do.</p>
<p>I wanted comfort for my night terrors. It appeared Nahum would be the last place to look. Was God oblivious to my needs? <em>Not at all</em>. Nahum’s name, itself, means comfort and relief<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a>, and God knew exactly what He was doing when He had me read it. I could only believe that the timing of my night terrors and reading Nahum was a coincidence if I didn’t believe God knows.</p>
<p>Isn’t this so often our testimony: God knew when we did not? What we assumed He was doing wasn’t what He was actually doing?</p>
<p>On the surface, Nahum is a message from God to the people in the Assyrian Empire capital city of Nineveh. They were in grave trouble for their horrific abuses of the people of Judah, which He had not missed. But the story beneath that story? God’s assurance of rescue (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nahum+1%3A15&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_god_knows">Nahum 1:15</a>). God’s plan is always thorough like that. Nothing is hidden from Him, and there is nothing that will not be made right.</p>
<p>Only seven verses into the first chapter of Nahum, it’s all there. Very plainly, while all the things are burning and blazing and crumbling and quaking, there is this short word that’s everything: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nahum+1%3A7&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_god_knows">Nahum 1:7 NKJV</a>).</p>
<p>The Lord is good.</p>
<p>God knows.</p>
<p>Maybe your pain is coming from a place in your past, and you need to believe God will make right what you cannot.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s coming from your need to believe in something again after you’ve had hope after hope and dream after dream crushed.</p>
<p>Maybe you are gripped by fear or consumed by the pain of loss and you’re holding on so tightly because you believe holding on helps you control the things that feel out of your control.</p>
<p>God’s message to you is that He knows where you are going, even when you can’t see or feel or find Him.</p>
<p>He is asking you to trust Him for the relief you may not be able to see, but it will come, just like it did for the people of Judah.</p>
<p>_________<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/god-knows-when-your-worries-and-whys-need-more-than-temporary-relief?variant=40842601496712&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_god_knows"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lisa-Whittle_280x280-1.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="God Knows by Lisa Whittle" height="280" width="280" /></a></p>
<p>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/god-knows-when-your-worries-and-whys-need-more-than-temporary-relief?variant=40842601496712&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_god_knows"><em>God Knows: When Your Worries and Whys Need More Than Temporary Relief</em></a> by Lisa Whittle. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/god-knows-when-your-worries-and-whys-need-more-than-temporary-relief?variant=40842601496712&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_god_knows"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about the book.</p>
<p><strong>If we really believed that God knowing was enough—and left it there—our questions, worries, and angst over life’s struggles would find more than temporary relief.</strong></p>
<p>Many of us wake up every day with looming anxieties over our future and a weariness we can’t shake. We have more questions than answers and live with difficult daily realities and secrets we feel we cannot share. The question remains for most believers: How can I fix it, make sense of it, or solve it?</p>
<p>Enter <em>God Knows</em>: a guidebook to lead the modern believer to a place of release, relief, and reliance upon the omniscience of God. Inspired by the seldom-studied book of Nahum, <em>God Knows</em> details the behind-the-scenes picture we are missing, what His great knowing entails, and how his omniscience provides daily perspective to bring the healing and peace we are all desperate to find.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/god-knows-when-your-worries-and-whys-need-more-than-temporary-relief?variant=40842601496712&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_god_knows"><em>God Knows</em></a>, you will:</p>
<ul>
<li>experience freedom by learning the difference between privacy and secrecy,</li>
<li>develop renewed belief in your abandoned dreams and goals, still known by God,</li>
<li>realign your idea of God’s omniscience being far away to how it daily affects you,</li>
<li>release your fears for the future as you develop a different outlook on tomorrow through God’s lens, and</li>
<li>learn how to deal with injustice in light of God’s knowledge of it.</li>
</ul>
<p>God is doing his job well: the justice, the plan, the working together for our good even when we can’t see or understand. The problem is not God. Learn to release what has been burdening you and watch His plan for your life unfold.</p>
<p><strong>Lisa Whittle</strong> is the author of eight books and a sought-after Bible teacher. A pastor’s daughter and longtime ministry leader in issues relevant to the church, Lisa is the founder of Ministry Strong and the popular Jesus over Everything podcast, which debuted in the top twenty-five Christian podcasts. Her love runs deep to see people pursue Jesus for life, grow deep roots of faith, and walk strong in the midst of a world that so often seems to have gone crazy. Lisa has done master’s work in marriage and family counseling, is the cofounder of Called Creatives, and has been featured on numerous media outlets through the years. She and her family live in North Carolina.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/god-knows-when-your-worries-and-whys-need-more-than-temporary-relief?variant=40842601496712&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_god_knows">God Knows</a><em> is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Steven Tuell, “Nahum, Book of,” ed. John D. Barry et al., <em>The Lexham Bible Dictionary </em>(Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/04/trusting-gods-plan/">Trusting God’s Plan: A Lesson from Nahum</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7191662
2023-04-16T21:04:00-12:00
2023-04-17T01:00:05-12:00
Discussing the NIV Student Bible with Authors Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford about the creation of the original <em>NIV Student </em>Bible, and what’s been updated in the newest edition to keep it relevant for today’s college students and young adults. New editions of the <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-student-bible-hardcover-comfort-print?variant=40803988799624&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_niv-student-bible" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIV Student Bible</a></em> are now available from Zondervan.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Group_image.02.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Group_image.02-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="NIV Student Bible" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<h2>Tell us a little bit of the story of how the <em>NIV Student Bible</em> came to be.</h2>
<p>As young men, both of us worked at <em>Campus Life, </em>a Christian magazine for high school students. We were dedicated to communicating the Christian faith to teenagers in a way that was fresh and interesting. At that time the magazine published a Bible that added pictures of teenagers and very brief introductions to the original Living Bible. That Bible, known as <em>The Way,</em> was very successful, but we thought something more serious was needed—a Bible that would truly help young people to read and understand it.</p>
<p>Our surveys and focus groups showed that young people have great respect for the Bible, and want to read it, but keep hitting roadblocks in the process. Philip kickstarted the <em>NIV Student Bible</em>, and later asked Tim to join him.</p>
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<h2>Tell us a little bit about the three key challenges to Bible reading that you are trying to overcome with the <em>NIV Student Bible</em>. How do the features that were developed help overcome the three challenges to Bible reading?</h2>
<p>In interviewing young people about the problems they encountered in reading the Bible, we heard three statements repeatedly: “I get discouraged,” “I can’t understand it,” and “I can’t find it.” Many young people earnestly wanted to read the Bible, but these problems dragged them down. We applied our journalistic skills to eliminating these barriers.</p>
<p><em>“I get discouraged</em>” reflects the fact that the Bible is a very big book. People of all ages start with enthusiasm but get bogged down, usually by Numbers or Deuteronomy.</p>
<p>Our answer was the 3-Track Reading Plan, which lets a reader start at a doable level of commitment and builds gradually on success. From our interviews with beginning Bible readers, we learned that most could hardly imagine a daily commitment of more than two weeks. As a result, the first track requires just two weeks to begin, guiding a reader to some of the most readable and significant chapters in the Bible. Track 2 asks a commitment of six months, covering at least one chapter of every book in the Bible and following the Bible story from Genesis to Revelation. Track 3 covers every verse in the Bible but gives you three years to read it. The 3-Track Reading Plan lets a reader gain steam as they gain experience, and helps launch them into some of the most important content.</p>
<p>“<em>I can’t understand it” </em>reflects the difficulty in reading a book that comes from ancient cultures. Names like Abraham and Methusaleh, customs like circumcision—there is a culture gap that can leave readers confused and uncomprehending</p>
<p>Our answer was to add short, practical notes—Introductions and Insights, Profiles and Highlights. These don’t aim at in-depth Bible scholarship, but orientation and background, such as you’d expect in a magazine article. They give readers just enough information to bridge the culture gap, so they can read and understand for themselves.</p>
<p>“<em>I can’t find it” </em>speaks to readers who spend hours flipping through the Bible trying to find something familiar. They know it’s there—maybe they heard it in church—but they’re lost. The Ten Commandments? Daniel in the lion’s den? They can’t find it, which adds to their confusion and discouragement.</p>
<p>Our answer is “Where to Find It,” which includes a subject guide and indexes to help locate familiar psalms, Bible characters, miracles and parables of Jesus, and a capsule history of prophets and kings in the Old Testament.</p>
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<h2>Who would find the <em>NIV Student Bible</em> helpful?</h2>
<p>The <em>NIV Student Bible</em> is ideal for young people in high school or college who don’t know the Bible forward and back. The truth is, however, that many adults struggle with the same issues of discouragement and disorientation when they set out to read the Bible. The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-student-bible-hardcover-comfort-print?variant=40803988799624&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_niv-student-bible" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIV Student Bible</a></em> can help anyone of any age become a regular reader.</p>
<h2>How is this study Bible different from others?</h2>
<p>We think the <em>NIV Student Bible </em>stands out as readable and thoughtful. Our journalistic backgrounds taught us never to condescend to readers of any age, but to pass on the information they need in an interesting and understandable way. It doesn’t focus on our contemporary culture so much as on the Bible itself. We’ve tried to translate scholarly learning into language that ordinary readers can understand. Study Bibles typically focus on details such as author and date, but don’t really address the barriers that keep people from reading the Bible.</p>
<h2>The <em>NIV Student Bible</em> was first released in the 1980s and a lot of things have changed in our world since then. What unique challenges might students face now that they didn’t then?</h2>
<p>The distractions have increased. Video games, social media and smart phones barely existed when the <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-student-bible-hardcover-comfort-print?variant=40803988799624&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_niv-student-bible" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIV Student Bible</a></em> was first published. And meanwhile, the challenges of living by God’s Word have multiplied in a society increasingly untethered from the Bible. The Bible’s wisdom is needed all the more, but the challenge of making time to find understanding has grown.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/9780310461630.PT01.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/9780310461630.PT01-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="NIV Student Bible, Hardcover" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<h2>What is it like to now see multiple generations now benefit from the <em>NIV Student Bible</em> and consequently read Scripture more deeply?</h2>
<p>When we first published the <em>NIV Student Bible</em> we had no idea how it would be received. Frankly, we were almost the only people who believed in it. We’ve watched with astonishment as it’s reached literally millions of people. We’ve talked to innumerable people who credit it with helping them to ground their lives in Scripture. Talk about a happy surprise! Over the years we’ve looked repeatedly for areas that need updating, but the truth is, there’s very little in the <em>NIV Student Bible </em>that gets dated. It’s not geared to the latest cultural phenomena, but to helping bridge gaps in Biblical understanding. That doesn’t really change. We hope that this Bible will speak to another generation yet, and even to generations yet unborn.</p>
<h2>What’s new with this updated edition?</h2>
<p>It’s been carefully examined for out-of-date language and information, so it reads as fresh and relevant. The cover and interior design are all new with a look that’s dignified yet contemporary.</p>
<h2>Why would you say that this study Bible is still relevant for students today?</h2>
<p>The Bible is God’s Word. As God is eternal, so is the significance and relevance of what he wants to teach us. The <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-student-bible-hardcover-comfort-print?variant=40803988799624&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_niv-student-bible" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIV Student Bible</a> </em>enables people to read the Bible and become regular Bible readers. It breaks down barriers that keep people from God’s Word. That never gets old.</p>
<p><strong>Philip Yancey</strong> previously served as editor-at-large for <em>Christianity Today</em> magazine. He has written thirteen Gold Medallion Award-winning books and won two ECPA Book of the Year awards, for <a href="https://faithgateway.com/collections/whats-so-amazing-about-grace?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_niv-student-bible" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>What’s So Amazing About Grace?</em> </a>and <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-jesus-i-never-knew-participants-guide-six-sessions-on-the-life-of-christ-1?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_niv-student-bible" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Jesus I Never Knew</a></em>. Four of his books have sold over one million copies. He lives with his wife in Colorado. </p>
<p><strong>Tim Stafford</strong> is an award-winning author of more than thirty books, and co-editor of the<em> NIV Student Bible.</em> He wrote many of the notes for the <em>NIV Student Bible</em>, especially in the Old Testament portions. Tim and his wife, Popie, have three children and live in Santa Rosa, California.</p>
<p><em>The </em>NIV Student Bible <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/04/discussing-the-niv-student-bible-with-authors-philip-yancey-and-tim-stafford/">Discussing the NIV Student Bible with Authors Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7189498
2023-04-12T23:34:00-12:00
2023-04-13T04:30:02-12:00
Zondervan Releases the Revised and Updated NKJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible
<p>Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is pleased to announce the release of Zondervan’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/21EEA5CD-8EB7-489A-BCD5-63117D8A46AF?channel=bg-blog"><em>Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible, Revised and Updated</em> in the New King James Version (NKJV)</a>. This is the third updated and revised edition of a <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> since Zondervan acquired the Bible line from Kirkbride Bible Company in 2020.</p>
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<p>“We are honored to continue the legacy of the <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> through the publication of this NKJV edition,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “We are thrilled to introduce this timeless resource to loyal NKJV readers. We hope these new editions will serve them well for many years to come.” </p>
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<p>With an acclaimed patented reference system, the <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> is a well-recognized Bible that has been in publication for more than 100 years. First published in 1908, it now contains more than 100,000 references, covering over 8,000 topics, making the chain-reference system an ideal tool for comprehensive topical study. The <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> also offers a library of additional study resources that allows readers to interpret the Bible using related scripture passages rather than consulting a commentary.</p>
<p>The <em>NKJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> is printed in the NKJV Comfort Print® typeface for easy reading. Expertly designed specifically to be used for the New King James Version (NKJV) text, Comfort Print offers an easier reading experience that complements the translation. It also features a two-color design that preserves the original look of the chain-reference system, while making each page cleaner and easier to read.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/9780310459347.interior.01.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/9780310459347.interior.01-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="NJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible Interior" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<h1 style="font-size:18px"><strong>The updated and revised editions of the <em>NKJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles</em> feature:</strong></h1>
<ul>
<li>Complete text of the New King James Version (NKJV)</li>
<li>Easy-to-understand chain-reference system with over 100,000 references</li>
<li>Alphabetical and numerical indexes highlight study materials for over 8,000 topics, each with its own topic number, for exhaustive topical study</li>
<li>An extensive study resource section includes biographical sketches, illustrated studies of the Bible, a concordance, Bible harmonies, and many other helpful study tools</li>
<li>Fresh, two-color page design</li>
<li>66 book introductions</li>
<li>16-page full-color map section with map index</li>
<li>Line-matched text for enhanced readability</li>
<li>Exclusive NKJV Comfort Print typeface</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-size:16px"><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/thompsonchainreference?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more about the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</a>.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/NKJV-Group_9291.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/NKJV-Group_9291-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="NKJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/04/zondervan-releases-the-revised-and-updated-nkjv-thompson-chain-reference-bible/">Zondervan Releases the Revised and Updated NKJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7188676
2023-04-12T01:24:11-12:00
2023-04-12T05:15:10-12:00
Uncovering the Surprising Secrets of Philippians: A Blog Series with Scot McKnight
<p>Bible Gateway is launching a new blog series today with content from biblical scholar <a href="https://twitter.com/scotmcknight">Scot McKnight</a>. McKnight is Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois. He is the author of more than eighty books, including the award-winning <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/jesus-creed-loving-others-anniversary-edition/scot-mcknight/9781612615783/pd/615783?product_redirect=1&search_term=jesus%20creed&Ntt=615783&item_code=&ps_exit=PRODUCT%7Clegacy&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP"><em>The Jesus Creed</em>.</a></p>
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<p>In this blog series, we’ll be sharing Scot’s insights and wisdom on the book of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Philippians&version=NIV">Philippians</a>. It is available as a book as well: <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/philippians-and-1-2-thessalonians?variant=39991840473224">Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Kingdom Living in Today’s World</a></em>.</p>
<p>Each week for the next 12 weeks Bible Gateway will publish a chapter from the Bible study book, taking your through the full text of McKnight’s study on Philippians. For this week, here is Scot’s introduction to the letter of Philippians:</p>
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<p>Philippians is one of the favorite letters of Paul for many Christians, not least because of its crisp ideas and special terms like joy and fellowship (a common life with others) and unity. Then too it has some of our favorite passages, like the poem of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A6%E2%80%9311&version=NIV">Philippians 2:6–11</a>, and favorite verses, not least <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A13&version=NIV">4:13’s</a> “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” That Paul was in a tough situation, in prison in probably Rome, causes many to turn to this short letter for wisdom and comfort. He tells the Thessalonians that he “was treated outrageously in Philippi” itself (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+2%3A2&version=NIV">1 Thessalonians 2:2</a>).</p>
<p>Philippi is a Roman colony, located between Thessalonica and today’s Istanbul, and not far from the coast of the Aegean. It is a beautiful city and was proud of its Roman connection. Paul founded a church in Philippi, as recorded in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+16&version=NIV">Acts 16</a>, which we can read about in the story of Lydia’s conversion. Perhaps she has died and makes no appearance in this letter.</p>
<p>Most date this letter to Paul’s time of imprisonment in Rome, thus about 60–63 AD, while others think he may have been in Ephesus, which would mean a date around 55 AD or so. We don’t know for sure, though some make very strong statements of certainty. At least the expression “Caesar’s household” in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+4%3A22&version=NIV">4:22</a> sure does sound like someone in a Roman prison.</p>
<p>To read Philippians well I suggest reading it front to back several times and then read it slowly again, marking major themes and terms, like joy and common life. One of the more fascinating threads in this letter, and I encourage you to keep your eyes open for suggestions, is about financial support of Paul. There are lots of economic terms in this letter, especially <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4&version=NIV">in the last chapter</a>, but the word often translated “fellowship” or “partnership,” which we translate as “common life,” has to do with this kind of generous sharing between them and Paul. Because this theme is not as easy to detect, I will begin the study guide with the most important passage on this theme, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A10%E2%80%9320&version=NIV">Philippians 4:10–20</a>. Starting there changes how one reads the letter.</p>
<p>Overall, Paul writes an encouraging letter to the Philippians about his own life, about his confidence that he will be released, and about their value to him. Through the whole letter we sense the importance of a common life for the earliest Christians, and hence he urges them to think about this new way of life with one another. He wants them to learn humility in relating to one another.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<p>Thanks for reading through this introduction to Philippians by Scot McKnight from his book Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Scot has recently published <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/796FDD71-79DD-46DB-9502-F0ECD2472F8F?ingress=6&visitId=57efe684-c053-4e04-a725-e1ca93449638&store_ref=storeRecs_dp_aplus">New Testament Everyday Bible Study series</a> with Harper<em>Christian</em> Resources. McKnight combines interpretive insights with pastoral wisdom for all the books of the New Testament. Each volume provides:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Original Meaning.</strong> Brief, precise expositions of the biblical text and offers a clear focus for the central message of each passage.</li>
<li>
<strong>Fresh Interpretation.</strong> Brings the passage alive with fresh images and what it means to follow King Jesus</li>
<li>
<strong>Practical Application.</strong> Biblical connections and questions for reflection and application for each passage</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series">New Testament Everyday Bible Study</a></em> <em>is published by HarperCollins Resources, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/04/uncovering-the-surprising-secrets-of-philippians-a-blog-series-with-scot-mcknight/">Uncovering the Surprising Secrets of Philippians: A Blog Series with Scot McKnight</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7183454
2023-04-03T06:24:41-12:00
2023-04-03T09:15:18-12:00
The Six Phases of Faith
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/28160116/RickWarren_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Rick Warren: The Six Phases of Faith" width="33%" />By Rick Warren</strong></p>
<p>As a pastor, I’m most often asked this question: “Why is this happening to me? I don’t understand it. I thought I was pursuing God’s dream, but now I’m ready to give up.” Sound familiar?</p>
<p>You see, when you don’t understand the six phases of faith, you may become resentful, even depressed. You will certainly worry. You may become fearful about the future. And, worst of all, you won’t be able to cooperate with what God wants to do in your life.</p>
<p>But when you understand the six phases that God takes every believer through—and he takes us through them over and over—then you can say, “Oh, I see, I’m in stage four right now,” or stage six or stage two. You will understand what’s going on, and you’ll be less likely to get discouraged when times are tough.</p>
<p>So let me introduce you to the six phases of faith and their role in pursuing God’s dream.<br><span id="more-72130"></span></p>
<h2>Faith Phase 1: Dream</h2>
<p>How does God build your faith? He always starts with a dream. Nothing happens until you start dreaming. You have to get an idea, a vision, a goal, or a target. When God wants to work in your life, he gives you a dream about what he wants you to do and the impact he wants you to have in the world.</p>
<h2>Faith Phase 2: Decision</h2>
<p>You have to make the decision to go for it! Nothing will happen to your dream until you wake up and put it into action. For every ten dreamers in the world, there is only one decision maker. The only way to move forward in faith is to decide to take a risk.</p>
<h2>Faith Phase 3: Delays</h2>
<p>When you pursue your dream, there is always a waiting period. Why does God make you wait? Because God wants to work on <em>you</em> before he works on your project. The purpose of the delay phase is to teach you to trust God and to be patient with his timing. How you handle God’s waiting rooms of life is a clear measure of the strength of your faith.</p>
<h2>Faith Phase 4: Difficulties</h2>
<p>Not only will you have to wait, but you will also have problems while you’re waiting. There are problems even when your dream lines up with God’s dream, because God is working on your faith and character.</p>
<p>Finally, the difficulties become so bad that you come to your limit. You’ve tried everything, you’ve exhausted all your options … and now you’ve reached the fifth phase of faith.</p>
<h2>Faith Phase 5: Dead Ends</h2>
<p>In the dead-end phase, the situation deteriorates from difficult to impossible. If you are at this stage, congratulations! You are in good company. Even the apostle Paul experienced dead ends. He wrote, <em>“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”</em> (See <a title="Read 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1%3A8-9&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2 Corinthians 1:8-9</a>.)</p>
<p>God not only can raise people from the dead physically but also can raise people from the dead emotionally. He can raise a dead marriage. He can resurrect a dead career. He can breathe new life where all hope has died.</p>
<h2>Faith Phase 6: Deliverance</h2>
<p>In the end, God delivers. He performs a miracle. He provides a solution. God loves to turn crucifixions into resurrections, hopelessness into victory, and dead ends into deliverance. Why? Because he gets the glory.</p>
<h2>What Phase Are You in Today?</h2>
<p>Has God given you a dream? That’s what phase one is about. If you don’t have a dream, then you’re not really living—you’re just existing.</p>
<p>Maybe you are in phase two. You have a dream from God but have not made the decision to pursue it. You’re still sitting on the fence. You think you’re waiting on God, but God is waiting on you. God’s word for you in the decision phase is, “Go for it!” Heaven is cheering you on!</p>
<p>You might be in phase three right now. You have a dream and have made the decision, but now it’s been delayed. You’re asking God, “Why hasn’t my prayer been answered yet?” If you’re in phase three, remember, you’re in God’s waiting room. Don’t detour, and don’t get ahead of God either. Wait for him to open the right door.</p>
<p>Perhaps you are in phase four—you are being tested. What difficulties are you facing while you wait for the dream to be fulfilled? God says, “I know exactly what you’re going through. I see it. I’m watching. Don’t think I’ve forgotten you, because I haven’t.”</p>
<p>Or maybe you are in phase five and are thinking, “I’ve hit the wall. I’m at a dead end. I’m ready to give up.” Well, you’re right where God wants you. God is saying to you, “Hang on! Keep on believing! Don’t give up!” You’re on the verge of phase six: deliverance.</p>
<p>Do you expect God to deliver you? God is faithful. What he promises to do, he will do. Where God guides, he provides. But it doesn’t happen overnight. You go through the phases of the dream, the decision, the delays, the difficulties, and the dead ends … and then comes the deliverance.</p>
<p>Look at this verse: <em>“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!”</em> (See <a title="Read Ephesians 3:20 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3%3A20&version=MSG" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ephesians 3:20</a>.) It’s as if God says to you, “Think of the greatest dream for your life—I can top it.” That’s the kind of dream God has for you. It’s bigger and better than any ambition, goal, or desire you could ever dream up on your own.</p>
<p>Are you ready to do what God created you to do? God’s dream awaits you.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/created-to-dream-the-6-phases-god-uses-to-grow-your-faith?variant=41016159993992" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Created-to-Dream_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Created to Dream: The 6 Phases God Uses to Grow Your Faith by Rick Warren" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/created-to-dream-the-6-phases-god-uses-to-grow-your-faith?variant=41016159993992" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Created to Dream: The 6 Phases God Uses to Grow Your Faith</em></a> by Rick Warren. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/created-to-dream-the-6-phases-god-uses-to-grow-your-faith?variant=41016159993992" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>God has a dream for your life—and in this concise yet powerful volume, beloved pastor and trusted teacher Rick Warren explains the process God uses to fulfill the dream he gives you.</p>
<p>The Bible is full of stories of people whose God-given dreams became reality—but not without first going through the six phases of faith. In <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/created-to-dream-the-6-phases-god-uses-to-grow-your-faith?variant=41016159993992" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Created to Dream</em></a>, Pastor Rick will help you understand how God uses these phases to grow people to spiritual maturity while fulfilling the dreams he gives them. Each phase is a test of your faith.</p>
<p>The process God uses to grow your faith:</p>
<ul>
<li>Phase 1: Dream—God puts an exciting dream in your heart.</li>
<li>Phase 2: Decision—You make the decision to go after the dream.</li>
<li>Phase 3: Delays—God allows delays to get you ready for the dream.</li>
<li>Phase 4: Difficulties—You face problems that grow your character.</li>
<li>Phase 5: Dead Ends—Your situation becomes impossible.</li>
<li>Phase 6: Deliverance—God miraculously fulfills the dream!</li>
</ul>
<p>Knowing these biblical six phases of faith will allow you to stop wondering, “Why is this happening to me?” and begin cooperating with God’s process of growing you and your faith. You’ll find yourself thinking, “So that’s why that happened!” and you’ll be prepared for all that God has dreamed up for your future.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/created-to-dream-the-6-phases-god-uses-to-grow-your-faith?variant=41016159993992" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Created to Dream</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p><strong>Rick Warren</strong> is executive director of Finishing the Task, a global movement of denominations, organizations, churches, and individuals working together on the Great Commission goals of ensuring that everyone everywhere has access to a Bible, a believer, and a local body of Christ.</p>
<p>Rick and his wife, Kay, founded Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He is the cofounder of Celebrate Recovery with John Baker. Tens of millions of copies of Pastor Rick’s books have been published in 200 languages. His best-known books, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-purpose-driven-life-what-on-earth-am-i-here-for-1?variant=33626127237256" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Purpose Driven Life</em></a> and <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-purpose-driven-church-every-church-is-big-in-gods-eyes?variant=13744997171311" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Purpose Driven Church</em></a>, were named three times in national surveys of pastors (by Gallup, Barna, and Lifeway) as the two most helpful books in print.</p>
<p>A <em>Time</em> magazine cover article named Rick Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Pastor Rick has spoken in 165 nations. He has spoken at the United Nations, US Congress, numerous parliaments, the World Economic Forum, TED, Aspen Institute, and lectured at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and other universities.</p>
<h2>Looking for More?<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30134528/SpectacleGloryCover2-220.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni's devotional A Spectacle of Glory: God's Light Shining through Me Every Day" height="338" width="220" /></a>
</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up today</a> for the Zondervan Books Growth <strong>monthly</strong> email newsletter and receive the PDF eBook <em>A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days</em> by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni’s devotional <em>A Spectacle of Glory: God’s Light Shining through Me Every Day</em>.</p>
<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more incredible books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p>
<p>________</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/04/the-six-phases-of-faith/">The Six Phases of Faith</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7179777
2023-03-28T00:43:10-12:00
2023-04-03T09:15:18-12:00
The Barnabas Way of Shaping Lives for Jesus
<p><strong>By Jonathan Murphy<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/authentic-influencer-the-barnabas-way-of-shaping-lives-for-jesus?variant=40783954739336&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jonathan-Murphy_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Jonathan Murphy" height="280" width="280" /></a></strong></p>
<p><em>Barnabas (“son of encouragement,” </em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+4%3A36&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way"><em>Acts 4:36</em></a><em>), was just an ordinary member of his local church, but we shouldn’t overlook his significance in leading the early church. Jonathan Murphy explores Barnabas’ crucial role in spreading the gospel and shows us what his life teaches us about becoming a servant leader as we seek to be everyday influencers for Christ. </em></p>
<p>Barnabas was a picker and a piggybacker. He got those around him involved. He made sure he gave them the lift they needed to succeed as God intended. We see this clearly as his role in the book of Acts begins to increase and he is used by God to lead the first globally minded church in history, the church in the city of Antioch.</p>
<p>Up until this point in Acts, we’ve seen Barnabas emerge gradually through a few verses in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+4&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">Acts 4</a> and one in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">Acts 9</a>. But in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11%3A19-30+&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">Acts 11:19-30</a> God begins to shine the spotlight on him some more in the pages of Scripture. God wants us to see His choice role model as the leader of the first church that strategically planned to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.</p>
<p><span id="more-72114"></span></p>
<p>When we left Barnabas in that cameo appearance back in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A27&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">Acts 9:27</a>, he was the human hinge that swung open the door for Paul’s acceptance into the church. Furthermore, he was the human bridge Paul walked across toward ministry life.</p>
<p>Much has happened since then in the book of Acts. If you recall, Acts is the record of the activities of the Holy Spirit through followers of Jesus. Acts tells the story of the unfolding of Jesus’ words in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A8&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">Acts 1:8</a> that His followers bear witness to Him in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth—all in the power of the Holy Spirit. And this was occurring.</p>
<p>The book of Acts captures this flow in its broad structure. In its introduction (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A1-11&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">1:1–11</a>), we read Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples, just before He is taken up to heaven: “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A8&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">v. 8</a>). Then the rest of the book of Acts shows Jesus’ followers carrying out that mission:</p>
<ol>
<li>Witnesses of Jesus throughout <em>Jerusalem </em>(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A12-8%3A3&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">1:12–8:3</a>)</li>
<li>Witnesses of Jesus throughout <em>Judea and Samaria </em>(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8%3A4%E2%80%9311%3A18&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">8:4–11:18</a>)</li>
<li>Witnesses of Jesus throughout the <em>ends of the earth </em>(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11%3A19%E2%80%9328%3A31&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">11:19–28:31</a>)</li>
</ol>
<p>What I want you to see is that this next account of Barnabas launches the third major section of that flow of Acts—the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Barnabas is key to this right at the beginning of this global move.</p>
<p>Barnabas was chosen by God to play a crucial role in the establishment of that first church that actively implemented God’s vision to take the gospel to all. Again, our passage makes it clear that the hand of God was driving this move (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11%3A21&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">11:21</a>). These are the activities of the Holy Spirit! Sometimes He uses persecution or hardship to accomplish His purposes (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11%3A19%E2%80%9320&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">vv. 19–20</a>), but He also uses regular people like Barnabas and you and me.</p>
<h2><strong>The Barnabas Way Guides Others</strong></h2>
<p>An authentic influencer leads regardless of any formal position of leadership. We’ve already seen that Barnabas influenced those around him from wherever God placed him. Up to this point it’s not been from an official leadership role. We, too, must lead whoever is nearby from whatever position God has us in, even if it means stepping into formal leadership roles from time to time. Several insights emerge from Barnabas’s willingness to step up into a more formal leadership role.</p>
<p><strong>Barnabas is picked to lead and bring organization to the task at hand.</strong> Barnabas emerges in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">Acts 11</a> as sort of senior pastor in the church at Antioch. He brings order and direction to this new church plant. Barnabas was specifically picked to do this, which again reveals his reputation among the leaders of the church in Jerusalem. In fact, previously in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">Acts 8</a>, the leadership sent none other than the apostles Peter and John up to Samaria to assess and organize the spread of the gospel into the second phase of God’s plan: the witness of the gospel in Judea and Samaria (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8%3A4%E2%80%9311%3A18&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">8:4–11:18</a>). As we enter this third movement, they pick Barnabas. That’s a massive vote of confidence in Barnabas’s leadership approach and organizational skills.</p>
<p>Barnabas is chosen and so he steps up. He doesn’t shrink back. Upon arrival, he takes note of what’s happening. He discerns it to be the work of God. He rejoices with the believers and encourages them to live with devotion to God. He also becomes their teacher, a role in Acts so far that is associated with the apostles as leaders of the church. Barnabas establishes this church plant into a healthy and outward-looking body. He moves them in the right direction; he leads them to catch God’s vision for the world.</p>
<p><strong>Barnabas is a leader qualified by godly character.</strong> A key qualification in the Scriptures for a godly influencer—be it a servant leader in a ministry or an everyday believer wanting to shape those around them—is godly character. When character, competence, and convictions merge in an individual, you have the makings of an authentic influencer. Skill sets and know-how (competence) and a commitment to truth with passion and vision (convictions) will collapse if the person does not have moral qualities and integrity (character)—<em>godly</em> character. It is indispensable.</p>
<p>Influence, at whatever level, is godly only if the heart is transformed to follow the pattern of Jesus Christ and produces the fruit of the Spirit. God wants us to know that Barnabas’s qualification to represent Him in this pastoral role is in his heart: “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11%3A24&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">Acts 11:24</a>)<em>.</em></p>
<p><strong>Barnabas is a generous leader who leads a church to generosity.</strong> When we were introduced to Barnabas in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+4&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">Acts 4</a>, he was a role model of generosity to those around him; he was sacrificial in his giving. This emerges again. While it is mentioned briefly, it is significant. God sent word through a prophet concerning a famine that was about to occur, and those whom Barnabas had taught to discern God’s Word responded with a relief mission. They set up a benevolence fund. The outward and self-sacrificial generosity of the believers at Antioch is but one expression of what they’d been taught from their leader. Barnabas had been their teacher for a year, and as we’ve seen, he showed God’s people how to be generous. He was contagious!</p>
<p>Barnabas was always available to do what God needed done; he didn’t care if the matter was big or small. Barnabas was always a breath of fresh air to those around him: he encouraged the apostles, he encouraged Paul, and he encouraged the churches in Jerusalem, Antioch, and all over what is modern-day Turkey.</p>
<p>No, Barnabas didn’t write any book on theology or an epistle in the Bible, but he did give us the apostle Paul. He didn’t write a gospel, but he gave us John Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark. It is also believed that under Barnabas’s ministry in Antioch, Dr. Luke—the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles—came to faith. Yes, Barnabas was just an everyday Christian, but he is a perfect example of how God uses ordinary believers to accomplish His extraordinary purposes on earth.</p>
<p>_________<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/authentic-influencer-the-barnabas-way-of-shaping-lives-for-jesus?variant=40783954739336&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Authentic-Influencer_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Authentic Influencer by Jonathan Murphy" height="280" width="280" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Adapted from </strong><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/authentic-influencer-the-barnabas-way-of-shaping-lives-for-jesus?variant=40783954739336&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way"><em>Authentic Influencer: The Barnabas Way of Shaping Lives for Jesus</em></a> by Jonathan Murphy.</p>
<p><strong>You may feel like an ordinary believer, but God has a knack of using ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. </strong><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/authentic-influencer-the-barnabas-way-of-shaping-lives-for-jesus?variant=40783954739336&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way"><em><strong>Authentic Influencer</strong></em></a><strong> encourages you to walk with Barnabas, learn from God, and shape the world for Jesus Christ— one life at a time.</strong></p>
<p>God’s approach to influencing the world is through His people. People shape people. And yet, many of God’s people spectate from the sidelines unsure of what to do. <em>Authentic Influencer</em> is rooted in principles emerging from the life of God’s choice example in the Scriptures—a man called Barnabas—rather than recycled quotes from corporate leadership works.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/authentic-influencer-the-barnabas-way-of-shaping-lives-for-jesus?variant=40783954739336&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way"><em>Authentic Influencer</em></a> is a Christian leadership book that:</p>
<ul>
<li>Highlights 15 key principles that emerge from Barnabas that are relevant, practical, and customizable to every believer</li>
<li>Inspires you to shape those around you for Christ</li>
<li>Urges you to practice investing in others through discipleship</li>
<li>Challenges you with inspiring stories and practical wisdom emerging from biblical truths</li>
</ul>
<p>By studying the life of Barnabas, we see how he influenced the world for Jesus Christ in practical and doable ways. Become encouraged to shape our world for Jesus— beginning with whoever happens to be close by.</p>
<p><strong style="color: initial;">Jonathan Murphy </strong><span style="color: initial;">is a professor, pastor, and author. He is the Chair of the Department of Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary, a board member of Insight for Living Ministries, and a teaching pastor at Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Jonathan’s cross-cultural ministry is wide in scope. He was born in Northern Ireland, raised in Spain as a missionary kid, and educated in Scotland and the United States. He resides in Texas with his wife, Sarah Jane, and their four children.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/authentic-influencer-the-barnabas-way-of-shaping-lives-for-jesus?variant=40783954739336&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_the_barnabas_way">Authentic Influencer</a><em> is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/03/the-barnabas-way-of-shaping-lives-for-jesus/">The Barnabas Way of Shaping Lives for Jesus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7176425
2023-03-22T01:01:00-12:00
2023-03-22T02:30:10-12:00
Vine’s Dictionary is now available with Bible Gateway Plus
<p>Do you want a deeper understanding of the original meaning of the Bible? This classic dictionary can and will simplify the process you go through to understand the Bible’s original meaning. It makes understanding individual words quick and easy.</p>
<p><em>Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words</em> includes thousands of biblical words to enhance your Bible word study.</p>
<p>As you read a passage, access word definitions to enhance your study of the Bible. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of each verse when you learn the original meaning of each word.</p>
<p>Pastors and Bible study leaders can use the definitions to prepare lessons or sermons or to inspire meaningful conversations about a verse.</p>
<p>Each entry provides details about a word:</p>
<ul>
<li>The English transliteration</li>
<li>The original language word</li>
<li>The Strong’s number</li>
<li>How the word is used</li>
<li>Key occurrences in the Bible</li>
<li>Definitions of its uses in the Old and New Testament</li>
</ul>
<p>It joins with the following original language dictionaries available in Bible Gateway Plus:</p>
<ul>
<li>The abridged edition of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+3%3A16&version=NIV&resource_entry=nidntt/g172&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology</em></a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+3%3A16&version=NIV&resource_entry=mounce-expository-dictionary/eternal&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words</em></a></li>
</ul>
<p>Don’t let the names of these resources intimidate you. With these dictionaries and a Bible Gateway Plus membership, you will have access to a comprehensive understanding of Scripture.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/vines-john316-eternal.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/vines-john316-eternal.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="378" width="366" /></a><figcaption>Open <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%203%3A16&version=KJV;NIV&resource_entry=vines-complete-expository-dictionary/ETERNAL&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John 3:16</a>. <br></figcaption></figure></div>
<p>Follow these steps:</p>
<ol>
<li>Log in to Bible Gateway Plus.</li>
<li>Find a verse, such as <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%203%3A16&version=KJV;NIV&resource_entry=vines-complete-expository-dictionary/ETERNAL&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 3:16, and review it side by side with another translation</a>. </li>
<li>If you compare the <em>King James Version </em>(KJV) with the <em>New International Version</em> (NIV), you will find that the KJV includes the phrase, “everlasting life” while the NIV says “eternal life.”</li>
<li>Click the Resources tab and filter to “Dictionaries.”</li>
<li>Select “Vines Complete Expository Dictionary,” and a list will appear.</li>
<li>Read more about any word you have a question about by clicking and expanding the article. Find “Eternal” and review the definition.</li>
</ol>
<p>Anyone who enjoys biblical word studies will enjoy having these tools available as they read their Bible online at BibleGateway.com.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn more about Bible Gateway Plus today!</a></p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/03/vines-dictionary-is-now-available-with-bible-gateway-plus/">Vine’s Dictionary is now available with Bible Gateway Plus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7174816
2023-03-19T22:00:00-12:00
2023-03-19T23:15:06-12:00
6 Bible Study Methods You Need to Know (and Try)
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/TNB-word-study-reference.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/TNB-word-study-reference-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Interior of The Word Study Reference Bible from Thomas Nelson, a Bible that can be used with any of the Bible study methods outlined in this article." height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p>What is the goal or purpose of Bible study? While there are a number of different ways to say it they all boil down to this: We study the Bible to discover the intended meaning of a passage of Scripture and apply it to our lives today. It’s simple, but also not. </p>
<p>The “simple” is that we have a clear purpose. The “not” is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to getting there. That’s why different Bible study <em>methods</em> exist. </p>
<h2>What is a Bible Study method?</h2>
<p>A Bible study method is a framework that help us understand and apply Scripture. Every method shares certain characteristics. They all incorporate observation, interpretation, application, and personal reflection. They all also place a different emphasis on one or another. Here are 6 methods we recommend:</p>
<ul>
<li>The Inductive Method</li>
<li>The SOAP Method</li>
<li>The TEXT Method</li>
<li>The Verse-mapping Method</li>
<li>The Topical Study Method</li>
<li>The Character Study Method</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Inductive Method</h2>
<p>The Inductive Bible Study Method is a process by which you make observations of a passage and draw conclusions from those observations. The questions at the heart of this approach typically follow the five Ws (and one H) approach many of us learned in elementary school:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Who </strong>(who is speaking; who is the intended audience; who is present in the moment, etc.)</li>
<li>
<strong>What</strong> (what is this passage about; what problem is this addressing; what is happening; what is being said; what commands need to be obeyed, etc.)</li>
<li>
<strong>When</strong> (when is this event taking place?)</li>
<li>
<strong>Where</strong> (where is this event taking place, where does it fit in the larger context of the book and Scripture?)</li>
<li>
<strong>Why</strong> (why is this message needed, why is it relevant today?)</li>
<li>
<strong>How</strong> (how does this change what I know about God and humanity; how do I apply this to my life so that I can live more faithfully as a follower of Jesus?)</li>
</ul>
<p>Many popular Bible study methods are variations of this tried-and-true approach (including many on this list). It’s also important to note that an inductive Bible study doesn’t require asking all of these types of questions every time. All you need are the passages that help you to best understand the meaning of the message and apply it. </p>
<h2>The SOAP Method</h2>
<p>The SOAP Method is a proven and effective approach to Bible study built on four practices:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Scripture</strong>, reading a passage and writing out 1–2 specific verses by hand</li>
<li>
<strong>Observation</strong>, asking questions of the text (who, what, where, when, how)</li>
<li>
<strong>Application</strong>, considering how you should respond to what you’ve read</li>
<li>
<strong>Prayer</strong>, thanking God for what he’s shown you, and for his empowerment as you seek to live faithfully in light of what you’ve discovered in your time in the Word</li>
</ul>
<p>This method is at the heart of the <a href="https://faithgateway.com/collections/love-god-greatly-bible"><em>Love God Greatly Bible</em></a>. And best of all, SOAP can be used in in a verse-by-verse progression or in a topical study.</p>
<h2>The TEXT Method</h2>
<p>The TEXT Method is an accessible and memorable Bible study approach using four steps:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>T</strong>alk to God in prayer before you read.</li>
<li>
<strong>E</strong>ncounter God and humanity in Scripture as you reflect on two simple questions: what does this passage say about God, and what does it say about humanity?</li>
<li>e<strong>X</strong>amine your heart, considering what needs to be confessed, added, taken away, or maintained as a follower of Jesus.</li>
<li>
<strong>T</strong>alk to God and others, thanking God for what he has shown you in Scripture, and sharing what he’s shown you with someone else.</li>
</ul>
<p>This method was introduced in <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/net-the-text-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-uncover-the-message-between-god-humanity-and-you?variant=39991846109320"><em>The TEXT</em></a>, a Bible designed for teens, young adults, and new believers, and can be practiced in a verse-by-verse or topical approach.</p>
<h2>The Verse-mapping Method</h2>
<p>The verse-mapping method of Bible study allows you to study the historical context, transliteration, translation, connotation, and theological framework of a verse in the Bible. After choosing a verse (or verses) to study, do the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Write out your chosen verse(s)</li>
<li>Write them in at least two other translations (Remember, you can read a verse in multiple translations using Bible Gateway’s free tools)</li>
<li>Circle keywords to look up in the original languages and write down the definitions, synonyms, and root words</li>
<li>Explore the meaning and message of the verse or verses as you consider the people, places, and context involved, and make connections to other relevant passages and concepts in Scripture (the cross references in your Bible are ideally suited for this)</li>
<li>Write a 1–2 sentence summary of what you learned and consider how you can apply it</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Topical Bible Study Method</h2>
<p>As the name suggests, this method helps you to explore in-depth a specific topic or concept within Scripture. To put this method into practice, follow the following steps:</p>
<ul>
<li>Choose a topic you want to explore, perhaps a theological concept or aspect of how we’re meant to live as God’s people</li>
<li>Look up references to this topic (an exhaustive concordance is a helpful tool for this)</li>
<li>Choose the verses you wish to study</li>
<li>Ask questions about the topic</li>
<li>Read the verses and see how they address your questions</li>
<li>Summarize your conclusions</li>
<li>Write out your application</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Character Study method</h2>
<p>Similar to a topical study, this method focuses on a specific biblical character to learn about how God worked in and through that individual and apply what we discover to our lives. Character studies involve the following steps:</p>
<ul>
<li>Choose the biblical character you want to study</li>
<li>Find the relevant passages about him or her</li>
<li>Read your passages, and consult additional Bible study tools like Bible dictionaries, to learn everything you can about this character (the trustworthy questions who, what, when, where, and how will serve you well here)</li>
<li>Find the application points for your life</li>
</ul>
<h2>Many Bible Study Methods to Reach One Truth</h2>
<p>These different Bible study methods all share the same goal: they are designed to help you better understand and live out the truth of God’s Word. Try them all and see how they help you to know, love, and obey God daily. </p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/03/6-bible-study-methods-you-need-to-know-and-try/">6 Bible Study Methods You Need to Know (and Try)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7171149
2023-03-13T23:36:00-12:00
2023-03-14T03:30:14-12:00
A Faith Lesson from Peter’s Denial of Jesus
<p><strong><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Michele-Cushatt_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Michele Cushatt - A Faith Lesson from Peter’s Denial of Jesus" width="33%" />By Michele Cushatt</strong></p>
<p><em>Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock</em>.<br>
—<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A24%E2%80%9325&version=NIV" target="_blank" title="Read Matthew 7:24–25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 7:24–25</a></p>
<p>Before his death, Jesus dined with His disciples. It was Passover, the annual feast to remember Yahweh’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt after hundreds of years of slavery. (See <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+11-12&version=NIV" target="_blank" title="Read Exodus 11 and 12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">Exodus 11 and 12</a>.) To those seated at the table, it was simply another Jewish celebration. Jesus knew otherwise.</p>
<p>This would be the Passover to which all the other Passovers had pointed. He would be the lamb sacrificed, His blood providing cover and allowing the sentence of death to pass over God’s people, setting us free from our slavery to sin.</p>
<p><span id="more-72046"></span></p>
<p>I’ve tried to imagine what that night must’ve been like for Jesus, agonizing over His upcoming suffering while also preparing the disciples for theirs. For three years, He’d poured into them, teaching and mentoring them. And yet they still didn’t grasp what was about to take place. They didn’t understand that their hopes were about to be hung on a cross. Instead, like teenagers vying for popularity, they argued about who was the greatest (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A24&version=NIV" target="_blank" title="Read Luke 22:24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luke 22:24</a>).</p>
<p>Which is why, I believe, Jesus turned to Simon Peter, a leader among them, with a few pointed words:</p>
<p><em>“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. . . .”</em></p>
<p><em>But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”</em></p>
<p><em>Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”</em><br>
—<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A31%E2%80%9334&version=NIV" target="_blank" title="Read Luke 22:31–34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luke 22:31–34</a></p>
<p>For much of the last several years I’ve thought about this scene. Later that night, Peter faced his own crucible. Passionate but overly confident, he thought he was ready for the worst. He couldn’t have been more wrong.</p>
<p>Jesus could see what Peter couldn’t. Peter’s good intentions would fail him long before he fled that night’s garden. Which is why what happened next is so important.</p>
<p>Hidden in Jesus’ poignant words to a perplexed Peter sit two extraordinary gifts.</p>
<p>First, a warning. “Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.”</p>
<p>Oof. Talk about bad news. It’s not every day you hear the devil is about to eat you for lunch.</p>
<p>And second, a promise. “I have prayed for you, Simon.”</p>
<p>Whoa. Let that sink in. Jesus, the one Peter had declared to be “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A16&version=NIV" target="_blank" title="Read Matthew 16:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 16:16</a>), prayed for the man who would, before the end of the night, deny he ever knew Him. Long before the shock of Jesus’ arrest shattered Peter’s confidence, long before he tucked tail and fled in fear, long before he sat around a community fire and told accusing onlookers, “I don’t know the man!” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A74&version=NIV" target="_blank" title="Read Matthew 26:74 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 26:74</a>), yes, long before Peter failed, Jesus prayed.</p>
<p>Peter’s spiritual sifting wasn’t a war that would be won by confidence or even the wielding of a sword. Instead, Peter needed the fortifying prayers of the Savior.</p>
<p>A warning (bad news). And a promise (ridiculously good news).</p>
<p>Jesus had all of His Father’s power and authority at His fingertips. He could’ve called down fire and lightning or weapon-wielding angels, or even wrapped Peter in bubble wrap. Of all the things Jesus could’ve done to mitigate Peter’s pain, He prayed.</p>
<p>He didn’t pray for Peter’s health, his family, his finances, or even his ability to fight back and escape arrest and death.</p>
<p>Instead, Jesus prayed for his faith.</p>
<p>In our places of suffering, we believe what is most at stake are our relationships, family, safety, financial security, health, or even our very lives. We think the diagnosis, divorce, or death is the worst that could happen.</p>
<p>We couldn’t be more wrong.</p>
<h2>My Faith Journey</h2>
<p>Storms are a universal part of the human experience. No one escapes suffering or the day-to-day wear and tear on our human existence. “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous,” Jesus reminds us (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A45&version=NIV" target="_blank" title="Read Matthew 5:45 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 5:45</a>). And “in this world you will have trouble,” He warns (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A33&version=NIV" target="_blank" title="Read John 16:33 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 16:33</a>).</p>
<p>Although our choices impact our path, we can’t control the weather as we walk it. And just as weather reveals the stability of a home, suffering exposes the status of a person’s faith.</p>
<p>Yes, I’m often asked how I can still believe after all I’ve endured. How did I survive so much suffering with my faith still intact? Here is my two-part answer. First, like Peter, I take no credit for the faith that still grounds and guides me. As John Newton wrote in the lyrics of his now-famous hymn, “Amazing Grace”:</p>
<p><em>Through many dangers, toils and snares</em><br>
<em>I have already come:</em><br>
<em>’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,</em><br>
<em>and grace will lead me home.</em></p>
<p>And second, although the grace of my Father carries me still, my years of following Jesus provided a foundation that helped me weather the worst life had to offer. As Bible teacher Jen Wilken says, “Spiritual disciplines nurture steadfastness. What we repeat in times of ease we will recall in times of hardship.”</p>
<p>Like Peter, I’ve long been a disciple, albeit a poor one. I’m well intentioned but weak, at times overconfident and impulsive, and often underprepared. Although I love Jesus, I often fail Him. Even so, following Jesus has taught me practices that proved firm. Like a slow and steady renovation, these practices strengthened me a little at a time so that, when the storms came, my faith remained.</p>
<p>You may not have the same history with Jesus that I do. Some of you have journeyed much longer than I have, and others of you are just starting out. For those with an impressive Christian resume, don’t mistake a devout life for a devoted love. It is possible to check all of the religion boxes and still miss out on real faith. The first is about performance; the second is about relationship.</p>
<p>And to those new to this Jesus thing, don’t equate your lack of spiritual experience as weakness or, worse, a lesser love. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A3&version=NIV" target="_blank" title="Read Matthew 18:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 18:3</a>). Although your faith is new, you are uniquely able to approach Him without the arrogance that often accompanies religious performance.</p>
<p>Come as you are. He’s already head over heels for you.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/a-faith-that-will-not-fail-10-practices-to-build-up-your-faith-when-your-world-is-falling-apart?variant=40783955820680" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Faith-That-Will-Not-Fail_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A Faith That Will Not Fail" height="280" width="280" /></a>Taken from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/a-faith-that-will-not-fail-10-practices-to-build-up-your-faith-when-your-world-is-falling-apart?variant=40783955820680" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>A Faith That Will Not Fail: 10 Practices to Build Up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart</em></a> by Michele Cushatt. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/a-faith-that-will-not-fail-10-practices-to-build-up-your-faith-when-your-world-is-falling-apart?variant=40783955820680" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Beloved author and Bible teacher Michele Cushatt offers ten practices to strengthen your confidence in God’s daily presence and power and build a faith strong enough to endure even the toughest seasons.</p>
<p>Life can be hard. Although there are moments of beauty and goodness, more often than not, life is marked by fear, struggle, disappointment, and loss. And we don’t know what to do with it. We’ve tried to find hope and security in various people and places—but each has proved unworthy of our trust. We need more. Something—or Someone—who won’t fail us when our world falls apart.</p>
<p>In this book, beloved author and Bible teacher Michele Cushatt presents a better way. By exploring powerful personal, historical, and biblical stories of people of extraordinary faith, she curates and shares ten practices to help you deepen your confidence and certainty in the God who can be trusted with your worry, questions, confusion, and grief. As a woman who has been through immeasurable suffering, she writes with both deep compassion and practical insight as she guides you to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Practice lament and process grief without guilt or shame</li>
<li>Understand what keeps you from trusting God and how to navigate doubt with truth</li>
<li>Learn simple ways to foster shalom and gratitude on a daily basis</li>
<li>Develop a fresh, eternal perspective that delivers both peace for today and hope for tomorrow</li>
<li>Savor daily “faith-builder” practices to strengthen your confidence in God’s love and purposes for you, no matter what happens</li>
</ul>
<p>There is hope in your hardship and a God who is both with you and for you. These ten practices point the way to the only One you can truly trust, and ultimately, to a faith in him that will not fail.</p>
<p><strong>Michele Cushatt</strong> speaks internationally to a wide variety of audiences and has published three previous books, including <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/undone-a-story-of-making-peace-with-an-unexpected-life?variant=13765206638703" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Undone</em></a> and <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/i-am-a-60-day-journey-to-knowing-who-you-are-because-of-who-he-is?variant=13753360810095" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>I Am</em></a>. A three-time head and neck cancer survivor and parent of “children from hard places,” Michele is a (reluctant) expert of trauma, pain, and the deep human need for authentic connection and enduring faith. She and her husband, Troy, share a blended family of six children, including biological children, stepchildren, and foster-adopt children. They live on eight acres outside of Denver, Colorado. For more information, visit <a href="https://michelecushatt.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MicheleCushatt.com</a>.</p>
<h2>Looking for More?<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30134528/SpectacleGloryCover2-220.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni's devotional A Spectacle of Glory: God's Light Shining through Me Every Day" height="338" width="220" /></a>
</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up today</a> for the Zondervan Books Growth <strong>monthly</strong> email newsletter and receive the PDF eBook <em>A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days</em> by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni’s devotional <em>A Spectacle of Glory: God’s Light Shining through Me Every Day</em>.</p>
<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more incredible books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p>
<p>________</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/03/a-faith-lesson-from-peters-denial-of-jesus/">A Faith Lesson from Peter’s Denial of Jesus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7170213
2023-03-12T22:00:00-12:00
2023-03-12T23:15:22-12:00
How do you study the Bible with a TEXT (method)?
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NET-TEXT-Devotional.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NET-TEXT-Devotional-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A devotional from The TEXT Bible, that showcases the TEXT Method of study" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p>It can be difficult to know how to start when we’re just getting started with studying the Bible. Should we just pick it up and start reading? Is there a plan to follow? Are there any tools that can help? </p>
<p>For those just starting out with studying the Bible, <strong>the TEXT Method</strong> is a memorable and accessible entry point.</p>
<h2>What is the TEXT Method?</h2>
<p>Developed by Michael and Hayley DiMarco, the TEXT Method is a Bible study approach built on four steps:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>T</strong>alk to God in prayer before you read.</li>
<li>
<strong>E</strong>ncounter God and humanity in Scripture as you reflect on two simple questions: what does this passage say about God, and what does it say about humanity?</li>
<li>e<strong>X</strong>amine your heart, considering what needs to be confessed, added, taken away, or maintained as a follower of Jesus.</li>
<li>
<strong>T</strong>alk to God and others, thanking God for what he has shown you in Scripture, and sharing what he’s shown you with someone else.</li>
</ul>
<h2>The TEXT Method in Practice</h2>
<p>As you can tell from the four steps above, using the TEXT Bible Study method is easy to do. But sometimes it’s helpful to see it in practice. So grab your Bible, turn to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A26-28&version=NET" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genesis 1:26–28</a>, and let’s try it as we see how Scripture reveals God as the Creator of all.</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.”</p>
<p>God created humankind in his own image,<br>in the image of God he created them,<br>male and female he created them.</p>
<p>God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.” </p>
<cite>(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A26-28&version=NET" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genesis 1:26–28</a>, NET)</cite>
</blockquote>
<h3>Talk to God</h3>
<p>Ask God to soften your heart and open your mind to reveal who he is and who you are with and without him.</p>
<h3>Encounter God and humanity</h3>
<p>Make two columns with “God” over the left and “Humanity” over the right. Read the passage and write down all the attributes of each that you find in it. Once you’re done (or you get stuck), read this:</p>
<p>Have you ever been to a town with a statue of some famous person in the middle of it? This statue might look a lot like the person looked, but it isn’t him, of course. It’s not made of flesh but of steel or stone, and it’s not breathing; it’s solid and lifeless. </p>
<p>The idea of the statue is that it bears the image of the person or shows us something of what the person looked like. A statue made in the image of a person is meant to remind us of them, to help us never forget what they did in their lifetime, and to think about them every time we see the statue.</p>
<p>You’re not a statue, but you were made in the image of God. God created us in his image, both male and female. But does that mean that God looks like you? Not exactly. Just like a statue made in a man’s image has some features of that man, so you have some of the features of God. </p>
<p>For example, God is spirit, and though you have a body, you have spirit as well. Your soul makes up who you are, what you think, and how you feel. This spirit makes you different from the rest of creation, different from the animals, plants, and stars.</p>
<p>God is the source of all intelligence and creativity, and he made us like him when he made us able to think and reason. Because we are intelligent, we can build, farm, design, and improve. God is also relational, and so he made us to live in community and enjoy the company of others, just like the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit live in community. </p>
<p>God didn’t make us to live lonely lives, never connecting to other human beings. He made us to live in relationship with others, to laugh, to cry, to care, to talk. That’s because all people, even non-believers, were made in God’s image. But to glorify God, we have to recognize his image in the lives of those around us. As we do, we will become more and more aware of his continual presence in the world around us.</p>
<p>God created humans in his image so that there would be billions of created lives all pointing back to the Creator, revealing the truth about who he is.</p>
<h3>eXamine your heart</h3>
<p>Do you see yourself as created in the image of your Father? When you look at the people around you, do you see all the amazing things they do, think, and create? Do you see the amazing power, creativity, and love of God?</p>
<h3>Talk to others</h3>
<p>Conversations about people’s differences can be lively and combative. Try something different by talking with others and building community through commonality, appreciating God’s creativity in the differences.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-medium is-resized"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/25081217/The-Text-Bible-leathersoft.jpg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/25081217/The-Text-Bible-leathersoft-200x300.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="NET Text Bible for Students 9780785247708" height="225" width="150" /></a></figure></div>
<h2>Uncover the message between God, humanity, and you</h2>
<p>The devotional above is adapted from <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/net-the-text-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-uncover-the-message-between-god-humanity-and-you?variant=39991846142088" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The TEXT</a></em>, a new Bible published by Thomas Nelson. Made with students, young adults, and new believers in mind, <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/net-the-text-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-uncover-the-message-between-god-humanity-and-you?variant=39991846142088" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The TEXT</a></em> Bible introduces a memorable and effective Bible study method you’ve just experienced and dozens of easy-to-understand features to help younger and newer believers develop a habit of lifelong Bible study.</p>
<div style="height:10px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/03/how-do-you-study-the-bible-with-a-text-method/">How do you study the Bible with a TEXT (method)?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7168483
2023-03-09T06:37:38-12:00
2023-03-09T10:45:13-12:00
God has never done anything by accident – 5 Questions with Louie Giglio
<p>You may find it difficult to figure out exactly where your story is going. You might think that your life is a little off or wonder, “What is the purpose in it all?” But the truth is, you cannot understand the story of your life apart from Jesus.</p>
<p>Your story begins with a creating God. The Bible proclaims that <em>you </em>are created in God’s image. Your beginning started in the mind of a majestic God. Everything beautiful, spiritual, wonderful, and eternal about you is the result of God’s divine image woven into your spirit from the start.</p>
<p><a href="https://louiegiglio.com/">Louie Giglio</a> is Pastor of Passion City Church and the Founder of the Passion movement, which exists to call a generation to leverage their lives for the fame of Jesus. Louie is also the author of national-bestseller <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?q=Don%27t%20Give%20the%20Enemy%20a%20Seat%20at%20Your%20Table">Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table</a></em>, <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?q=Goliath%20Must%20Fall">Goliath Must Fall</a></em>, and <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/seeing-god-as-a-perfect-father-bible-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-and-seeing-you-as-loved-pursued-and-secure">Seeing God as a Perfect Father</a> (June 2023). He is also the general editor for <a href="https://www.thejesusbible.com/">The Jesus Bible</a>, born out of the Passion Movement. <a href="https://www.thejesusbible.com/studies">The Jesus Bible Study Series</a> explores the six acts of Scripture. Below we speak with Louie about the first volume in that series, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/beginnings-study-guide-the-story-of-how-all-things-were-created-by-god-and-for-god">BEGINNINGS: The Story of How All Things were Created by God and for God.</a></p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<h1>In the Welcome section of The Jesus Bible, you wrote that the Bible is “the unique story of God from beginning to end, with one central character <strong>–</strong> Jesus Christ.” How does that influence the way you read Scripture?</h1>
<p>When you understand that the main thread of the entire Scripture is the person and work of Jesus, it changes everything about how you and I can engage with the Word. It shifts the text from information to revelation. The individual books are no longer just collections of random stories, but each chapter, every verse, becomes a lamp illuminating a slightly wider view of this central character. </p>
<p>Seeing Jesus as the central thread magnifies the beauty of this Holy Scripture. It elevates the intentionality of the Author, recognizing this story didn’t come to be by accident or by coincidence. The one central character of Jesus gives credibility to the power of sustaining faithfulness from generation to generation, language to language, culture to culture. </p>
<p>When you begin to see Jesus on every page, your heart and mind can’t help but be overwhelmed by the enormity of God’s love. Highlighting Jesus as the central character enriches the text and extends the implications of what you are reading. It’s no longer words on a page. It’s a peek behind the veil. It’s no longer a duty to check off. It’s a work of relational intimacy as you continue to uncover truths about your Savior that stuns your heart anew.</p>
<span id="more-72014"></span>
<h1>What are the six “acts” in the story of Scripture, and how do they help us connect with Jesus better?</h1>
<p>Scripture can seem like a massive story, especially if you are just picking it up off a shelf and flipping through the pages. But just because it’s dense doesn’t mean it has to be daunting.</p>
<p>That’s why we summarized the major movements of Scripture into six “acts”: <em>Beginnings</em>, <em>Revolt</em>, <em>People</em>, <em>Savior</em>, <em>Church</em>, and <em>Forever</em>.</p>
<p>These acts provide a quick outline that you can use to dive deeper into specific moments of the overarching story. They also give you a framework for seeing Jesus throughout the entire Bible.</p>
<p>If we’re not careful, it’s easy to isolate Jesus to the <em>Savior </em>act. After all, that’s when He seems to come onto the scene. Yet, because we know the different acts are interconnected and know that God set everything into motion from the beginning, we are challenged to go looking for Jesus in the other 5 acts. And as we look, we begin to see Him everywhere.</p>
<p>Colossians 1 tells us that by Jesus and for Jesus all things were created. He was in <em>Beginnings</em>. Romans 5 outlines the distinction between the one man Adam and the one man Jesus, and as you read, you begin to understand that the promise of Genesis 3:15 was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. He was there in the <em>Revolt </em>as well.</p>
<p>Jesus is in the covenantal promises to his <em>People </em>through Abraham, Moses, and David. He is the originator and sustainer of the <em>Church</em>, and He will be the centrality of all glory and worship <em>Forever</em>.</p>
<p>When you begin to see Jesus in every act, there is more of Him to connect with. He’s no longer just the baby in the manger. He’s the builder of the mountains. He’s no longer just the</p>
<p>miracle-worker and parable-teller. He’s the culmination of God’s faithfulness to His people, fulfilling every promise and every covenant perfectly. He’s not just the perfect man who died for the sins of the world. He’s the ongoing head and leader of God’s rescue mission on planet Earth.</p>
<p>Ultimately, seeing Jesus in every act deepens our awe of His power and our appreciation of His sacrifice.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-medium"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Every-story-has-a-beginning....png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Every-story-has-a-beginning...-300x251.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Jesus Bible and BEGINNGINGS" height="251" width="300" /></a></figure></div>
<p></p>
<h1>What’s the benefit of studying one “act” of the Bible at a time?</h1>
<p>As we continue to walk with Jesus and interact with His Word, it’s vital that we not only know the grand Story of Scripture but that we also look more closely at each of the individual “acts.” It’s a constant balance of zooming out and zooming in, of switching between your telescope and your microscope as you study.</p>
<p>Any great thing that’s worth studying is better understood when you zoom out and zoom in. Take the Apollo 11 mission, for example. What might stand out to many about that particular flight is the fact that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. And that’s a big deal. But that’s just the zoom out.</p>
<p>In talking about that mission, Neil Armstrong himself said that it was only with the help of “hundreds of thousands of people all doing their job a little better than they have to,” that the moon landing was successful. Each detail, each component, each role, combining together to make a lasting mark on history. That’s what you see when you zoom in.</p>
<p>The same is true of Scripture. We want to know the grand story, the telescope view because it helps assure us of the big picture. Jesus wins. He fought for us on the Cross and broke the hold of death by His resurrection. The outcome is that redemption is now possible for people who were once far off from God.</p>
<p>But if you zoom in, the details and examples of how this all happened start to become more clear. Each act has threads that give context to the larger narrative. The people, events, promises, places; each of these things help add more layers, and consequently, more appreciation, to what we know is the eventual outcome: the victory of Jesus.</p>
<p></p>
<h1>The first volume of The Jesus Bible Series is appropriately titled <em>Beginnings</em>. What is the scope of this study?</h1>
<p>The scope of <em>Beginnings </em>takes readers on a journey through Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. You might read that and think, “Seriously? Only two chapters?” But that’s the beauty of the Word of God; even a single line of Scripture could merit our study and attention for years or generations to come.</p>
<p>Within Genesis 1-2, we see the seeds of six major ideas or threads that will continue throughout the rest of the Old and New Testaments. That’s where this <em>Beginnings </em>study goes. Starting with the first seed, or the act of Creation, we look deeper at the inspiration of wonder and worship, of God’s intentionality and His desire for relationship with His creation.</p>
<p>Then we look more closely at The Trinity. The three persons of God and their roles and inner workings as One God. We look at the Imago Dei and the confidence and responsibility that comes with being made in God’s image. We dig deeper into the seed of Uniqueness and the dazzling beauty and unending creativity of God’s creation. We finish this study by expanding on the idea of Work as seen in the Garden of Eden and throughout the Word, before we conclude with the necessity of Community and the power of the relationships around us as we lean towards God.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
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</div></figure>
<p></p>
<h1>What is one takeaway that you want participants to understand after completing this <em>Beginnings </em>study?</h1>
<p>I think that the <em>Beginnings </em>study ultimately is a great reminder that God has never done anything by accident. He’s been working, from day one–and even before that–to accomplish His plans and purposes. That includes you and me.</p>
<p>From the beginning, He was intentional. From the beginning, He was loving. He was full of goodness, life, hope, and peace. From the beginning, He was in control, all-powerful,</p>
<p>all-inspiring.</p>
<p>Because He is God and we know that He cannot change, that must mean that He is still all of those things today. If you’re in a place or a season where you need that to be true, you can look back to the beginning and be assured that He is still speaking, still creating, still drawing near, still fulfilling His promises.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/03/god-has-never-done-anything-by-accident-5-questions-with-louie-giglio/">God has never done anything by accident – 5 Questions with Louie Giglio</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7162271
2023-02-28T03:29:21-12:00
2023-02-28T06:00:10-12:00
What Is the Key to a Life Well Lived?
<p><strong><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Robert-Wolgemuth_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Robert Wolgemuth: What Is the Key to a Life Well Lived?" width="33%" />By Robert Wolgemuth</strong></p>
<p><strong>Editor’s Note</strong>: <em>There is one event most people don’t want to think about: their own death. And for good reason. We’re too focused on living our lives well. But that begs the question: what is the key to a life well lived? How can we face death knowing that we have finished well? Robert Wolgemuth addresses these questions in his new book </em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/finish-line-dispelling-fear-finding-peace-and-preparing-for-the-end-of-your-life?variant=40708123558024" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Finish Line</a><em>. What follows is an excerpt that explores Simon Peter’s experiences with Jesus, which reveal the key to a life well lived.</em></p>
<p>Like almost all Jesus’ inner circle, Simon Peter was executed for what he believed. About Jesus.</p>
<p>Of all the disciples, I guess I identify most with Peter. Maybe not as outwardly brash as this guy, but I’m every bit as impetuous. Sometimes leading with my mouth rather than my thoughtfulness. Thankfully, the older I’ve grown, the more successful I’ve become at controlling myself.</p>
<p>So walk with me to one of the most important conversations Jesus had with this disciple. It took place on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, home base for many of the disciples.</p>
<p><span id="more-71981"></span></p>
<p>Except for Judas, we don’t know why the remaining disciples were not in this narrative, but we do know that seven of them were there: Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and two unnamed guys (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A2&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 21:2</a>).</p>
<p>As the story unfolds in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 21</a>, the writer cuts to the chase. The result of these fishermen’s all-night net casting: “They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A3&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">verse 3</a>).</p>
<p>Someone might quip that this is the very reason it’s called “fishing” and not “catching.” But these guys would not have been in the mood for levity. I’m sure of it.</p>
<h2>A Crazy Idea</h2>
<p>As the morning sun was peeking over the horizon, Jesus shouted from the shoreline something you and I have said to discouraged—and likely angry—fishermen every time they come back from an excursion: “Friends,” Jesus hollered out to them, “haven’t you any fish?” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A5&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 21:5</a>).</p>
<p>If this doesn’t conjure up at least a smile from you and me, we’re not paying attention. Here’s Jesus Christ. The Creator of Heaven and earth. The One who spoke these men into existence. The One who made the dry land and the sea. The One who made the fish and the water on which the disciples sailed and in which the fish swam. The One who, at that moment, ordered the earth to rotate ever so slightly, exposing the day-breaking sun so the men in the boat could see the form of a Man standing on the shore. This Man who did all these things, asking a question about their success on the lake. As though He didn’t know full well how unsuccessful their trip had been.</p>
<p>Seriously?</p>
<p>But when they heard His naive-sounding query, they called back. “No.”</p>
<p>Then Jesus threw out an idea that surely was received as pure contempt. The men obeyed anyway. Read it for yourself: “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A6&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wplink-edit="true">John 21:6</a>).</p>
<p>Here is a sweet lesson in faith and trust, right in the middle of this story. These seasoned fishermen could have dissed the Rabbi. “What on earth does a holy man know about our trade?”</p>
<p>Jesus told them to try something other than what they had been doing all night. So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. John breathlessly exclaimed to Peter, “It is the Lord!” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A7&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 21:7</a>).</p>
<p>Again, let these words sink in. Fishing all night. Nothing to show for it. Throw the nets on the other side? A crazy idea. Then—more fish than they can haul in. Let’s call this a miracle. A clear realization that snagging all these fish was anything but ordinary.</p>
<p>After shouting the words, Peter, knowing that only Jesus could have done such a thing, did what we’d expect him to do. He stripped and jumped into the water, swimming like a bandit to see his friend, Jesus, the Miracle Worker, face-to-face.</p>
<p>By the time Peter arrived on the shore, there was a charcoal fire going with a fish already grilling. Don’t you just love this part?</p>
<p>Eventually the disciples joined Peter, dragging and heaving their catch—153 fish . . . “large” ones—onto the shore. These were likely tilapia, and their average weight would have been two pounds each. That’s a lot. You do the math.</p>
<p>“Come and have breakfast,” Jesus invited. And not only did He have fish they didn’t catch, but He also had bread that He tore apart and gave to them. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>What did the disciples say in the face of this incredible moment? They said nothing. Why? The text tells us: “None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A12&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 21:12</a>).</p>
<p>In that moment, the sand on the Galilean beach became holy ground. The grains, like precious stones.</p>
<h2>Jesus Talks with Simon Peter</h2>
<p>Jesus broke the silence and spoke. To Peter. His words must have cut deeply to the heart of this tough man. And as you and I read these words, they may sound like a change of subject. They’re not. Listen carefully.</p>
<p>“Simon . . . do you love me more than these?” Jesus asked.</p>
<p>“Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.”</p>
<p>“Feed my lambs,” Jesus responded.</p>
<p>Then He asked again, “Simon . . . do you love me?”</p>
<p>“Yes, Lord. You know that I love you,” Peter said again.</p>
<p>“Take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.</p>
<p>Then Jesus went for the trifecta. “Simon . . . do you love me?”</p>
<p>Because of the limitations of the English language, this sounds completely repetitive. But it’s not. The first two times, Jesus uses the word <em>agape</em> for “love” in asking Peter. This is best defined as perfect, flawless, unfailing love. Even though Peter responds in the affirmative, he knows better. And he knows that Jesus knows better. Peter’s denial on the night Jesus was convicted of something He had not done exposes Peter’s flawed love for his Friend.</p>
<p>The third time, Jesus uses a different word for love. He returns to the word Peter uses. Jesus could have said, “I know you can’t love Me with a perfect love. But are you My friend?”</p>
<p>Here’s another way of looking at this powerful exchange: “Even the best efforts of our human love are but a shadow to the love of God. But holiness is not achieved by our own efforts to love—and thank God! True holiness derives from the love of Christ working within us. We can only love at all, because he first loved us (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A19&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 John 4:19</a>).”</p>
<p>Back on the shore, hunched over the fire, Jesus spoke to Peter. It was just the two of them. We don’t know exactly how long it had been since Peter had lied about his relationship with Jesus, standing with strangers in a courtyard outside the place where Jesus was being cross-examined by Caiaphas the high priest (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A54%E2%80%9362&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luke 22:54–62</a>). But it’s certain that his lies were front and center in his mind as he and his Friend spoke.</p>
<p>Can you imagine the relief coming from Peter’s heart? Finally, he had a chance to speak to the Someone he had so desperately wronged. You and I know this feeling, don’t we?</p>
<p>And from Peter’s point of view, this would have been a powerful, life-transforming exchange if it had stopped there. But it didn’t. Listen carefully.</p>
<h2>The Key to a Life Well Lived</h2>
<p>Having Peter’s undivided attention, Jesus spoke of the eventual crossing of Peter’s own finish line. To be candid, it does feel like a complete change of the subject.</p>
<p>Jesus continued: “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go. He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A18%E2%80%9319&version=CSB" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 21:18–19</a> CSB).</p>
<p>Suddenly you and I realize the importance of this seaside conversation. It’s a setup. The miracle of the experiences Peter had just witnessed—his denial, the crucifixion, the empty tomb, the visitation of Jesus in a locked room, the invoking of the power of the Holy Spirit, the failed fishing trip, breakfast on the beach, and the bold challenge of Peter’s love and certain death—was all a precursor to Jesus’ loving, final prediction. And admonition about Peter’s finish line.</p>
<p>Are you ready for it? Am I ready for it? We find Jesus’ words to this bold disciple in the nineteenth verse of the narrative. It’s all that you and I need to know about the time between now and our predicable and inescapable death. A death that we truly hope, as Jesus promised Peter, would literally glorify Him: “Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’ ” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A19&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">21:19</a>).</p>
<p>Here’s your assignment, my reader friend. And it’s a clear message from Jesus in the years leading up to our deaths. It’s for you and me too. For us. Two simple words. Words for this life. And the next.</p>
<p><em>Follow me</em>.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/finish-line-dispelling-fear-finding-peace-and-preparing-for-the-end-of-your-life?variant=40708123558024" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Finish-Line_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Finish Line: Dispelling Fear, Finding Peace, and Preparing for the End of Your Life" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/finish-line-dispelling-fear-finding-peace-and-preparing-for-the-end-of-your-life?variant=40708123558024" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Finish Line: Dispelling Fear, Finding Peace, and Preparing for the End of Your Life</em></a> by Robert Wolgemuth. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/finish-line-dispelling-fear-finding-peace-and-preparing-for-the-end-of-your-life?variant=40708123558024" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Facing your ultimate death can be scary, but in light of God’s promises, it doesn’t have to be. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/finish-line-dispelling-fear-finding-peace-and-preparing-for-the-end-of-your-life?variant=40708123558024" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Finish Line</em></a> provides practical and biblical help on topics such as finances, blessing others, end-of-life choices, heaven, and caring for those you leave behind so you can approach your own finish line with hope, joy, and peace.</p>
<p>It’s normal to have questions about how to face the last season of our lives well, and though we long to end our lives with grace and gratitude, sometimes we feel fear and uncertainty instead.</p>
<p>Robert Wolgemuth knows what it is like to face death, having lost his first wife of almost 45 years to cancer and battling cancer twice himself. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/finish-line-dispelling-fear-finding-peace-and-preparing-for-the-end-of-your-life?variant=40708123558024" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Finish Line</em></a> distills a lifetime of spiritual wisdom as Robert helps you:</p>
<ul>
<li>Find true peace and reassurance about the end of life</li>
<li>Discover the things you can do to prepare those you love before you die</li>
<li>Understand the truth about heaven and what God has for his followers in the next life</li>
<li>Learn from people in the Bible about what crossing the finish line should—and shouldn’t—look like</li>
<li>Take care of specifics such as planning your funeral service, determining end-of-life issues, and preparing a will</li>
<li>Let go of physical, relational, and emotional clutter</li>
<li>Receive what God has for you in your final years</li>
</ul>
<p>A rich guide for this season of your life, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/finish-line-dispelling-fear-finding-peace-and-preparing-for-the-end-of-your-life?variant=40708123558024" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Finish Line</em></a> offers unvarnished—even lighthearted—truth to comfort your heart, practical help to ease your mind, and a reminder of God’s promises to comfort your spirit so you can look toward your own finish line with both peace and hope.</p>
<p><strong>Robert Wolgemuth</strong> has been in the book publishing business for over forty years. A former president of Thomas Nelson Publishers, he is the founder of Wolgemuth & Associates, a literary agency representing the work of more than two hundred authors.</p>
<p>The author of over twenty books, Robert is known as a relentless champion for the family, relationship building, and biblical truth. His favorite “audience” is one friend, a corner table in a small café, and a steaming cup of coffee (extra cream but no sugar) between them.</p>
<p>A graduate of Taylor University, from which he received an honorary doctorate in May 2005, Robert has two grown daughters, two sons-in-law, five grandchildren, one grandson-in-law, and a great-grandson named Ezra. He and his wife, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, live in Southwest Michigan.</p>
<h2>
<img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/26104609/EncouragementCover-194x300.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Three Principles of and Three Guidelines for Encouragement by Dr. Larry Crabb and Dr. Dan Allender" width="220" />Looking for More?</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-faith-in-action/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up today</a> for the Zondervan Books Faith in Action <strong>monthly</strong> email newsletter and receive the PDF eBook <em>Three Principles of and Three Guidelines for Encouragement</em> by Dr. Larry Crabb and Dr. Dan Allender, adapted from <em>Encouragement: The Unexpected Power of Building Others Up</em>.</p>
<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more life-changing books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-faith-in-action/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p>
<p>________</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/02/what-is-the-key-to-a-life-well-lived/">What Is the Key to a Life Well Lived?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7162272
2023-02-28T01:39:00-12:00
2023-02-28T06:00:09-12:00
What Old Testament Prophecies Reveal About Jesus
<p><strong><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Every-Woman-a-Theologian_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Phylicia Masonheimer" height="280" width="280" />By Phylicia Masonheimer </strong></p>
<p><em>How many Old Testament prophecies did Jesus fulfill, and what does this mean for us today? Phylicia Masonheimer explores key Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, and what these verses reveal about Jesus’ identity as the Messiah.</em></p>
<p>God’s goal has always been to restore perfect love and peace between Himself and His creation. But even God’s beautiful temple, a place for Jews and Gentiles alike to come and worship, could not be preserved from humanity’s sin. The temple was destroyed, the ark of the covenant stolen, and with it, all hope of God dwelling with humanity.</p>
<p><em>Until Jesus.</em></p>
<p>Israel went into exile and did not repent. Yet during this time of darkness, God was at work. The ancient words of previous years were throbbing with promise: The Messiah is coming.</p>
<p><span id="more-71947"></span></p>
<p>The Messiah did come, just not in the way He was expected. Instead of a reigning king or well-trained soldier, He came as the baby of a poor teenage girl and the adopted son of a carpenter. And when He came into the public eye, He did not rally Israel against their Roman overlords but invited them into a greater kingdom.</p>
<p>The authors of the Gospels linked their accounts to the Old Testament prophets as evidence of Jesus’ unique character. Here are a few of the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus’ birth:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=numbers+24%3A17&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Numbers 24:17</a>—He would be from the line of Jacob</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+11%3A1&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Isaiah 11:1</a>—He would be born from the family of Jesse</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+23%3A5%E2%80%936&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Jeremiah 23:5–6</a>—He would be David’s kingly heir</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+5%3A2&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Micah 5:2</a>—He would be born in Bethlehem</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+7%3A14&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Isaiah 7:14</a>—He would be immaculately conceived (born of a virgin)</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+72%3A10&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Psalm 72:10</a>—He would be worshiped and given gifts at His birth</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+31%3A15&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Jeremiah 31:15</a>—A king would murder children in an attempt to kill Jesus<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Jesus was not the Messiah He was expected to be; He was the Savior the world didn’t know they needed.</p>
<h2><strong>What Do Old Testament Prophecies Reveal about Jesus’ Identity? </strong></h2>
<p>Jesus, then, was both expected and unexpected. His Jewish family was expectant for the Messiah, but He did not take the form many thought He would. Even today there is some debate about whether prophecies about Jesus were really meant to be about Jesus at all. One answer to this question lies in the <em>dual fulfillment</em>, or the “double meaning,” of these prophecies.</p>
<p>Think of a word with two meanings. English provides plenty of these; they’re called homonyms. The word <em>arm </em>can mean “the thing attached to your body, holding this book” or “the act of using weapons to defend yourself.” Or how about the word <em>date</em>? A date can be a fruit, a time on the calendar, or a cute guy who takes you out for coffee. In each instance, the word has meaning but the <em>context</em> determines its meaning.</p>
<p>A dual fulfillment prophecy is kind of like a homonym: in its original historical context, the prophecy has fulfillment and application. But it also has fulfillment in a future, Messianic context. Prophecies about Jesus typically had both types of fulfillment.</p>
<p>Dr. David Jeremiah describes the prophecies and psalms about Jesus as “double reference prophecy.”<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2">[2]</a> This type of prophecy has three distinct characteristics:</p>
<ul>
<li>The first fulfillment is found in a person or event close to when the prophet spoke for God.</li>
<li>This first fulfillment is <em>partial</em>; it has more to come.</li>
<li>The ultimate fulfillment is found in Christ.<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3">[3]</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>So when we look at the promises about Jesus, we’re often looking at statements or prophecies that applied <em>both </em>to the time they were written <em>and </em>to Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. Here are a few:</p>
<ul>
<li>The Messiah would be called a Nazarene (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+11%3A1&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Isaiah 11:1</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A23&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Matthew 2:23</a>).</li>
<li>He would speak in parables (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+78%3A2%E2%80%934&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Psalm 78:2–4</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A10%E2%80%9315&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Matthew 13:10–15</a>).</li>
<li>He would be called a King (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+9%3A9&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Zechariah 9:9</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A37&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Matthew 27:37</a>).</li>
<li>He would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, and a potter’s field would be bought with the money (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+11%3A12%E2%80%9313&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Zechariah 11:12–13</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A47%E2%80%9348&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Luke 22:47–48</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A9%E2%80%9310&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Matthew 27:9–10</a>).</li>
<li>He would be silent when accused (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53%3A7&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Isaiah 53:7</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+15%3A4%E2%80%935&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Mark 15:4–5</a>).</li>
<li>He would be killed with criminals (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53%3A12&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Isaiah 53:12</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A38&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Matthew 27:38</a>).</li>
<li>He would be a sacrifice for sin (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Isaiah 53</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A6%E2%80%938&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies">Romans 5:6–8</a>).</li>
</ul>
<p>This is just the tip of the iceberg. Scholars have concluded that Jesus fulfilled anywhere from 300 to 570 Old Testament prophecies.<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4">[4]</a> Many of these are woven into the fabric of psalms of worship. Others are part of more immediate prophecies regarding coming judgment on evil nations. Both Jesus and His disciples attributed these prophecies to Christ.</p>
<p>In other words, Jesus is who He says He is—the Son of God.</p>
<p>_________<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/every-woman-a-theologian-know-what-you-believe-live-it-confidently-communicate-it-graciously?variant=40686940160136&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Every-Woman-a-Theologian_280x280-1.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Every Woman a Theologian Book" height="280" width="280" /></a></p>
<p>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/every-woman-a-theologian-know-what-you-believe-live-it-confidently-communicate-it-graciously?variant=40686940160136&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies"><em>Every Woman a Theologian: Know What You Believe. Live It Confidently. Communicate It Graciously.</em></a> by Phylicia Masonheimer. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/every-woman-a-theologian-know-what-you-believe-live-it-confidently-communicate-it-graciously?variant=40686940160136&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book, and <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/every-woman-a-theologian-workbook-know-what-you-believe-live-it-confidently-communicate-it-graciously?variant=40732487319688&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies"><strong>click here</strong></a> to learn more about the workbook.</p>
<p>Know what you believe and live it boldly! Phylicia Masonheimer believes that every woman should be a theologian and a student of the heart of God. Learn the basics of theology and why it’s so important, continuing your biblical education one step at a time. Discover how deeper scriptural knowledge can help you navigate the world, answer your toughest questions, and engage culture in loving ways.</p>
<p>All of us have guiding principles at work behind our choices, even if we don’t realize it. We hold beliefs about the world, ourselves, and God—beliefs perhaps we may have adopted unknowingly based on experience or culture’s messages.</p>
<p>But God has revealed himself through Scripture so it can transform how we view and navigate the world—how we think, act, love, work, marry, and parent. When we do that, we become theologians. No, we’re not wearing tweed suits or giving lectures; we’re driving to our corporate job every morning, or juggling babies on our own, or connecting with our communities. We’re women want to know who God is and how He answers our toughest questions.</p>
<p>Through engaging stories and compelling truths, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/every-woman-a-theologian-know-what-you-believe-live-it-confidently-communicate-it-graciously?variant=40686940160136&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_old_testament_prophecies"><em>Every Woman a Theologian</em></a> will help you:</p>
<ul>
<li>Identify your existing beliefs about God, salvation, and the Christian life</li>
<li>Learn how to lovingly communicate Christian truths to those who disagree</li>
<li>Understand theological concepts without feeling overwhelmed</li>
<li>Grow closer to the heart of God Believing and following Jesus means daily forward motion into the heart of God.</li>
</ul>
<p>Step in that direction with Phylicia Masonheimer as your guide, and you will grow as a woman able to discern truth, who knows what she believes, and who lives her faith boldly in a post-Christian world.</p>
<p><strong>Phylicia Masonheimer</strong> is a blogger, author, speaker and podcast host teaching Christians how to know what they believe and live it boldly. Her heart is to teach women the history and depth of the Christian faith; the “why” behind the Bible. Her social media and blog cover topics ranging from sexuality to motherhood to Bible study and faith in seasons of grief and loss.</p>
<p>Phylicia graduated from Liberty University with a B.S. in Religion. While there, she met her husband, Josh, and together they have two daughters. After living in Virginia and Pennsylvania, they returned to Phylicia’s hometown in northern Michigan, where they live on a small farm in the country.</p>
<p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Cory Mansfield, “The Ultimate Guide to Old Testament Prophecies Jesus Christ Fulfilled,” https://www.preaching.com/articles/the-ultimate-guide-to-old-testament-prophecies-jesus-christ-fulfilled/.</p>
<p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2">[2]</a> David Jeremiah, “The Principle of Double Fulfillment in Interpreting Prophecy,” accessed June 23, 2022, https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/grace-journal/13-2_13.pdf</p>
<p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3">[3]</a> Jeremiah, “The Principle of Double Fulfillment.”</p>
<p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4">[4]</a> “How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill?” Got Questions, accessed June 23, 2022, https://www.gotquestions.org/prophecies-of-Jesus.html.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/02/what-old-testament-prophecies-did-jesus-fulfill/">What Old Testament Prophecies Reveal About Jesus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7159442
2023-02-23T01:41:00-12:00
2023-02-23T07:30:10-12:00
The Africa Bible Commentary is now available with Bible Gateway Plus
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=africabiblecom_feb2023"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0044/1309/6047/products/9780310291879_590x590@2x.jpg?v=1644529527" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="224" width="172" /></a><figcaption><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=africabiblecom_feb2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Africa Bible Commentary is now available with a Bible Gateway Plus membership.</a></figcaption></figure></div>
<p>As Black History Month closes in the United States and Canada, Bible Gateway is proud to announce that the <em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205&version=Nlt&resource_entry=africa-bible-commentary/matthew-5-7-the-merciful&tab=study">Africa Bible Commentary</a></em> is now available as one of the premium resources available with a Bible Gateway Plus membership. </p>
<p>Created to meet the needs of African pastors, students, and lay leaders, it is a one-volume commentary written by 70 African Scholars and was produced in Africa. </p>
<p>With the global reach of Bible Gateway and Bible Gateway Plus members living and working in over 75 countries, it is a blessing to include this title to help fulfill our mission to equip you to read and understand the Bible <em>wherever you<strong> </strong>are</em>.</p>
<span id="more-71915"></span>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><em>For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, <sup> </sup>and he began to teach them.</em></p>
<cite><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt+5&version=NIV&resource=africa-bible-commentary&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matthew 5:1,2</a> (NIV)</cite>
</blockquote>
<p>This title brings a global perspective to your Bible study, with 70 unique articles dealing with topics of crucial importance to ministry in Africa today and transcends the African context. </p>
<p>Anyone studying the Bible and accessing the <em>Africa Bible Commentary</em> will benefit from and appreciate the commentary’s insights and direct style that engage both heart and mind. </p>
<p>You will find a contextual, readable, and handy guide to the Bible tied to the passage you are reading. </p>
<p>The gentle instruction, like that on <em>“The merciful” </em>from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205&version=Nlt&resource_entry=africa-bible-commentary/matthew-5-7-the-merciful&tab=study">Matthew 5:7</a> below, brings clear insights from the biblical text and the Christian faith for readers to implement in their daily lives. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205&version=Nlt&resource_entry=africa-bible-commentary/matthew-5-7-the-merciful&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AfricaBibleCommentary_Mathew5-7_The-merciful.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Africa Bible Commentary note on Matthew 5:7, "The Merciful"" height="466" width="716" /></a><figcaption><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205&version=Nlt&resource_entry=africa-bible-commentary/matthew-5-7-the-merciful&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Africa Bible Commentary note on Matthew 5:7, “The merciful”</a></figcaption></figure></div>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=africabiblecom_feb2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sign up today</a> and gain fresh insight into your Bible study with the <em>Africa Bible Commentary</em>.</p>
<p></p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=africabiblecom_feb2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sign up for Bible Gateway Plus today and gain access to <strong>over $2,400 worth </strong>of premium Bible study resources, including the <em>Africa Bible Commentary</em>. All for <strong>less than $5/month</strong>. In addition, new members get a 14-day free trial. Join today!</a></p></blockquote>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/02/the-africa-bible-commentary-is-now-available-with-bible-gateway-plus/">The Africa Bible Commentary is now available with Bible Gateway Plus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7157193
2023-02-19T22:00:00-12:00
2023-02-20T03:15:18-12:00
A Spirit of Fear Versus Fear of the Lord
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/John-Bevere.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="John Bevere" height="280" width="280" /></figure></div>
<p><strong>By John Bevere</strong></p>
<p><em>How many times is Fear mentioned in the Bible? Depending on the translation you search, the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=fear&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIV Bible tells us—about 350 times</a>—and “fear not” is in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=fear+not&version=KJV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">almost 175 verses in the KJV Bible</a>. The NKJV encourages us to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=fear+God&version=NKJV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“fear God” 134 times</a>. We recommend that you find what the Bible says about fear, and read below how, as John Bevere explains, there is a difference between destructive fear and the virtue of fearing God, which helps us become closer to God.</em></p>
<p>In the summer of 1994, I was asked to minister for a church conference in the Southeastern United States. At the time, I was on a journey to discover holy fear. I strongly sensed the need to lay aside this apprehension and minister on the fear of the Lord in the first evening session.</p>
<p>The next evening after worship the head pastor took the platform for what I assumed would be a routine introduction, but this wasn’t the case. For fifteen minutes he corrected what I had spoken about the previous evening. He confidently stated, “The fear of the Lord only applies to Old Testament times, but as Christians, we’ve not been given ‘a spirit of fear,’” referencing <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1%3A7&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">2 Timothy 1:7</a>.</p>
<span id="more-71902"></span>
<p>He continued, “We are told in the New Testament, ‘There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear’ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A18&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">1 John 4:18 NKJV</a>). So, what John taught last evening is error, and I want to protect you from it.” His elaborate correction of my message continued for several more minutes.</p>
<p>Once he finished, to my surprise, he introduced me to the platform to minister. I still remember walking up and thinking to myself, <em>How can I</em> <em>minister to these people after what he just did? This can’t be happening.</em></p>
<h2><strong>Is There Such a Thing as “Holy Fear”?</strong></h2>
<p>The next morning I prayed earnestly, anticipating God’s correction. With sincerity, I asked, “Lord, have I hurt Your church? Have I taught something untrue? Am I putting Your people in bondage?”</p>
<p>I continued for quite some time, and as I prayed, what I uttered began to change. I didn’t sense God’s dissatisfaction but rather His pleasure in what I had done. He began to bring to my remembrance numerous scriptures in the New Testament regarding the fear of the Lord. In time I found myself no longer befuddled but now crying out in a loud, passionate voice, “Father, I want to know the fear of the Lord, I want to walk in it!”</p>
<p>The New Testament writers did write the words the pastor quoted, but they also penned other statements:</p>
<ul>
<li>The apostle Paul writes, “Work out your own salvation with <em>fear </em>and <em>trembling</em>” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A12+&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">Philippians 2:12 NKJV</a>).</li>
<li>Again, he instructs, “Beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in <em>the fear of God</em>” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+7%3A1+&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV</a>).</li>
<li>The writer of Hebrews pens, “Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with <em>reverence </em>and <em>godly fear</em>” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A28+&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">Hebrews 12:28 NKJV</a>).</li>
<li>The apostle Peter writes, “If you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here <em>in fear</em>” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1%3A17+&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">1 Peter 1:17 NKJV</a>).</li>
<li>The apostle Jude declares, “Save with <em>fear</em>” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+23&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">Jude v. 23 NKJV</a>).</li>
<li>And Jesus urges us, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10%3A28+&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">Matthew 10:28 NKJV</a>).</li>
</ul>
<p>I could continue, but I hope you get the point: <em>Holy fear </em>is a New Testament truth. These are but a few of the scriptures the Lord brought to my heart as I prayed.</p>
<h2><strong>Contrasting Fears</strong></h2>
<p>I realized that morning the pastor had confused the “spirit of fear” with the “fear of the Lord.” There is a huge difference, and it is illustrated by what took place when Moses led the nation of Israel to Mount Sinai to meet with God.</p>
<p>Once the entire nation arrives, Moses goes up for an initial private meeting. The Almighty reveals the purpose behind His powerful deliverance:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:</p>
<p>“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’</p>
<p>wings and <em>brought you to Myself</em>.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+19%3A3%E2%80%934+&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">Exodus 19:3–4 NKJV</a>)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The chief reason for God’s mighty deliverance was to gather <em>all the people </em>to Himself. He longed for them and desired a meeting so they could know Him as Moses did. However, three days later, when God comes down on the mountain to introduce Himself, the people respond by quickly retreating. In terror they cry out to Moses, “‘You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die’” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A19+&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">Exodus 20:19 NKJV</a>). In an attempt to console them, their leader replies, “‘<em>Do not fear</em>; for God has come to test you, and that <em>His fear may be before you</em>, so that you may not sin’” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A20+&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">Exodus 20:20 NKJV</a>).</p>
<p>At first glance it seems Moses contradicts himself: “Do not fear” because God has come “that His fear may be before you.” Is he speaking out of both sides of his mouth? The answer is no. Moses is merely differentiating between being “scared of God” and having “the fear of the Lord.” Again, there is a huge difference.</p>
<p>Someone who’s scared of God has something to hide. Recall, in the garden, once Adam sinned, he and Eve hid from the presence of the Lord. Their reaction wasn’t unique to them; similar behavioral responses exist throughout Scripture in those who venture into darkness.</p>
<p>However, the person who fears God has nothing to hide. He or she is terrified of being away from God. This is illustrated by the fact that while the people drew back, Moses simultaneously drew nearer to God.</p>
<p><em>Holy fear is not being scared of God and therefore withdrawing from Him</em>. How can we enjoy intimacy with someone we’re afraid of? Pulling away is the opposite of what He desires. In Psalms we read, “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming’” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+27%3A8&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">Psalm 27:8).</a> Do you hear the call to intimacy? He desires for you to come close, to interact, laugh together, share together, and do life together. The psalmist also writes, “The Lord is a friend to those who fear him” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+25%3A14&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord">Psalm 25:14</a>). The firm reality is this: God wants to be close and intimate with you. So rest assured, holy fear does not quench intimacy; it does just the opposite—it enhances our interaction with God.</p>
<p>_________</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright"><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-awe-of-god-the-astounding-way-a-healthy-fear-of-god-transforms-your-life?variant=40837314412680&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/The-Awe-of-God_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Awe of God Cover" height="280" width="280" /></a></figure></div>
<p>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-awe-of-god-the-astounding-way-a-healthy-fear-of-god-transforms-your-life?variant=40837314412680&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord"><em>The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life</em></a> by John Bevere. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-awe-of-god-the-astounding-way-a-healthy-fear-of-god-transforms-your-life?variant=40837314412680&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p><strong>Do you long for an intimate relationship with your Creator, but He seems elusive? Perhaps it is because something utterly essential is missing—the fear of the Lord. Don’t let this frighten you. Fearing God is very different than being afraid of God. It’s the key to everything.</strong></p>
<p>Holy Fear is not a topic you’ll hear much about these days. But if you want to build a faith that stands strong through troubled times, you cannot afford to ignore this book.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-awe-of-god-the-astounding-way-a-healthy-fear-of-god-transforms-your-life?variant=40837314412680&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_fear_of_the_lord"><em>The Awe of God</em></a><em>,</em> John Bevere invites you to take a fresh look at what it means to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. This healthy, holy, and largely forgotten virtue is the uncommon path to a more fulfilled and fruitful life. In this book you will see why godly fear is the foundation of:</p>
<ul>
<li>Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge</li>
<li>Foresight, clarity, and divine direction</li>
<li>Maturity and conformity to the image of Jesus Christ</li>
<li>Building an eternal legacy</li>
<li>Confidence, fearlessness, and security</li>
<li>Freedom from the fear of man as all lesser fears are eclipsed</li>
</ul>
<p>If you look at the men and women in Scripture, the ones who lived and finish well all have one thing in common: they are marked by holy fear.</p>
<p><em>The Awe of God </em>was designed to be read slowly and intentionally. At the end of each of the 42 chapters are five tools to help you deepen your understanding and apply what the Spirit of God is teaching you. Experience the intimate relationship with God that you have always longed for by unlocking this countercultural message.</p>
<p><strong>John Bevere</strong> is a minister known for his bold, uncompromising approach to God’s Word. He is also an international bestselling author who has written more than 20 books that have, collectively, sold millions of copies and been translated into 129 languages. Along with his wife, Lisa, John is the co-founder of Messenger International—a ministry committed to revolutionizing global discipleship. Driven by a passion to develop uncompromising followers of Christ, Messenger has given over 50 million translated resources to leaders across the globe, and to extend these efforts, the MessengerX app was developed, providing translated, digital discipleship resources at no cost to users in 118 languages and counting. MessengerX currently has users in over 19,000 cities and 228 nations. When John is home in Franklin, Tennessee, you’ll find him loving on his g-babies, playing pickleball, or trying to convince Lisa to take up golf.</p>
<h2>Looking for More?</h2>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/13153459/The-5-Ps-AWE-OF-GOD.pdf"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to download John Bevere’s free Bible study tool: a 5-step guide to studying Scripture verses, adapted from <em>The Awe of God. </em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/02/a-spirit-of-fear-versus-fear-of-the-lord/">A Spirit of Fear Versus Fear of the Lord</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7154278
2023-02-14T22:00:00-12:00
2023-02-15T04:00:16-12:00
Why do we have so many English Bible translations?
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NELSON-NKJV-Verse-Art-Interior.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NELSON-NKJV-Verse-Art-Interior.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Interior of the NKJV Verse Art Bible, one of the many English Bible translations available." height="800" width="1200" /></a></figure>
<p>It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of English Bible translations we have today. It’s not uncommon to wonder why we have so many. Why do all these translations exist? Do they serve different purposes? Is there one that’s best—and if so which one? Let’s find out together.</p>
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<h2>The long history of Bible translation (in brief)</h2>
<p>God’s people have been translating the Bible for about as long as we’ve had the writings that make up this book we call the “Bible.” The Jewish people translated the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek so that Greek-speaking Jews could read and understand the Scriptures. This is what we know as the Septuagint, which was completed around 130 BC. (It’s also what the New Testament writers most frequently directly and indirectly referenced in their works.)</p>
<p>The Scriptures were translated into Aramaic in the mid-first century AD, which became known as the Peshitta Bible and the first complete Bible translation of the Christian era. In the late fourth century AD, Jerome was commissioned to create what became known as the Vulgate, a new Latin translation of the entire Bible from Greek and Hebrew texts. The proceeding centuries saw translation work continue, with full texts or significant passages completed in Slavic, Arabic, Old English, and French.</p>
<p>In the 14th century, John Wycliffe translated the Bible into Middle English so it could be read by the average person. Jan Hus translated it into Hungarian and Bohemian (Czech). The 15th and 16th centuries launched the modern translation movement with the invention of the printing press and western scholars regaining access to Greek and Hebrew Bible manuscripts (long story). Erasmus of Rotterdam completed a copy of the Greek New Testament. Martin Luther translated the Bible into German (while also kicking off a little movement known as the Reformation). By 1600, the Bible was available in 15 different European languages. Today, the Bible is available in 700 languages, with more than 2000 additional translation projects in process.<sup><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#fn">[1]</a></sup></p>
<p>Okay, that’s some of the very broad history. But why do we have so many different <em>English</em> Bible translations?</p>
<h2>A slightly briefer history of English Bible translations (and why we have so many)</h2>
<p>William Tyndale completed his translation of the Bible into English in 1530. This became the de facto English Bible until King James I commissioned another in 1604. First printed in 1611, the King James Version (KJV) became the preeminent English Bible for the next 300 years and remains the most widely read English translation in history.</p>
<p>But the KJV wasn’t the only English translation, even at its height. From the 19<sup>th</sup> century until today, multiple English translations have been commissioned and completed. Some, like the RSV and ESV, used existing translations as their foundation. Others, like the NIV and NET, were conceived with a “start fresh” approach.</p>
<p>So why do we have so many different English Bible translations? The most significant reason is that English is a relatively young language. This means it is also (sadly) a very fluid one. Because the way we use words changes, as does the <em>meaning</em> of words because of how we use them, we always need new English translations to present the message of Scripture to the modern reader.</p>
<h2>Different translations use a different approach to reach a shared goal</h2>
<p>Even though every English translation shares the same goal, <em>meeting</em> that goal isn’t easy. Translators do their work in tension, having to choose between, as <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2015/05/what-distinguishes-one-bible-translation-from-another/">NIV translation committee member William Mounce</a> said, whether they are going to “err on the side of words or meaning.”</p>
<p>Some choose to focus on words, taking the <strong>formal equivalence</strong> approach to translation. This means to attempt to render the words of Scripture into English as accurately as possible, even at the expense of readability for the modern reader. The NASB, ESV, NKJV, and KJV are among the most widely read translations of this nature, with interlinear translations being the most “word-for-word” of these.</p>
<p>Others opt for a “thought-for-thought” approach, called the <strong>functional (or dynamic) equivalence </strong>method. This approach aims to render the <em>meaning </em>of Scripture into English as clearly as possible, even if it deviates from the precise wording. The NLT, GNT, and CEB are among the most widely read translations of this sort.</p>
<p>A third group of translations take a different approach, aiming for a balance between accuracy to the words and meaning of Scripture (insomuch as possible). This is sometimes called <strong>optimal equivalence</strong>, with the NIV, NET, CSB, and NRSV being its best—and most widely read—representatives.</p>
<h2>What’s the right Bible translation for you?</h2>
<p>With so many different translations available, it’s easy to be overwhelmed when it comes to choosing one. But fear not! The short answer to choosing the right translation is to choose the one that works best for <em>you</em>:</p>
<ol type="1">
<li>If your primary focus is on in-depth study, especially as an academic, you’ll likely opt for a translation that’s more on the word-for-word end of the spectrum. An interlinear Bible and translations like the NASB and the NKJV will serve you well in this regard.</li>
<li>For those of us mainly focusing on teaching or daily personal reading and study, a translation in that optimal realm like the NET, CSB, or NIV might be the best bet. From my own experience, these have been the most fruitful for me to use in multiple teaching contexts, including in community group settings and the pulpit.</li>
<li>If you’re developing and maintaining a good daily habit of reading the Bible, a thought-for-thought translation like the NLT is fantastic, especially for those of us who maybe don’t read all that frequently. That being said, I default to translations like the NET, NIV, and CSB for regular reading in addition to teaching. It’s hard to beat the blend of accessibility and accuracy that they offer.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Different English Bible translations work together</h2>
<p>In practice, I find it best to not limit myself to one translation all the time. It’s healthier for me to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/05/you-can-always-use-one-more-translation-or-why-i-read-the-nivnkjvesvnltnasbmsgkjvcsbnet-bible/">explore multiple translations</a>. Different translations act as a sort of prism, helping you see different facets of the timeless truth of Scripture. The more we read God’s truth, and the more ways we experience it, the more beautiful it becomes. Consider <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Psalm%20143:8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Psalm 143:8</a> in five different translations:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<em>Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.</em> (NASB)</li>
<li>
<em>Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.</em> (NKJV)</li>
<li>
<em>May I hear about your loyal love in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should go, because I long for you. </em>(NET)</li>
<li>
<em>Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. </em>(NIV)</li>
<li>
<em>Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. </em>(NLT)</li>
</ul>
<p>Despite how differently one version might read from the next, each one communicates the same core truth, and expands our picture of God’s love. His love is the unfailing, faultless, perfect, and merciful love that we can always rely on. The “never stopping, never giving up, always and forever love” we desperately need, as Sally Lloyd-Jones described it in <em>The Jesus Storybook Bible</em>.</p>
<h2>Feast on the one that works for you</h2>
<p>Bible translation has been happening for almost as long as the Bible has existed. And as long as there are people in the world who need a Bible to read, Bible translation is going to continue, in English and in every language. But even though there are so many options available, you don’t need to stress about which one to read. Instead, find the one that fits your purposes, dig in, and enjoy!</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<ol id="fn" class="has-small-font-size"><li>The Wycliffe Society offers a slightly more comprehensive sketch of the history of Bible translation that is very helpful and worth your time. <a href="https://wycliffe.org.uk/story/a-brief-history-of-bible-translation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">You can read that here</a>.</li></ol>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/02/why-do-we-have-so-many-english-bible-translations/">Why do we have so many English Bible translations?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7150184
2023-02-07T03:46:49-12:00
2023-02-07T09:45:18-12:00
I Can’t but God Can
<p><strong><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Craig-Groeschel_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Craig Groeschel - I Can't but God Can" width="33%" />By Craig Groeschel</strong></p>
<p>My first car — an old Buick Century — was the “Sport Coupe” model. It said so right under the spoiler. Or it had before the accident. The guy who’d fixed it painted “Turbo Coupe” instead of “Sport Coupe.” <em>Whaaa?</em> My Sport Coupe was now a Turbo Coupe? Yes!! A Turbo Coupe had a turbocharged engine! Way. More. Power.</p>
<p>Despite what it said on the back of my car, my Buick Century did not really have more power.</p>
<p>Because willpower doesn’t work, you and I really require more power. We can think we’re a Turbo Coupe, but we’re still just a Sport Coupe.</p>
<h2>Paul’s Need for God’s Power</h2>
<p>Paul knew he needed more power. That’s why he asked in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A24&version=NLT" title="Read Romans 7:24 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Romans 7:24</a>, “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (NLT). That is the question we all need to answer.</p>
<p>But Paul answered his own question with his next sentence in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A25&version=NLT" target="_blank" title="Read Romans 7:25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">verse 25</a>: “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (NLT).</p>
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<p>Paul understood, <em>I can’t get myself unstuck, so I need a power I don’t possess</em>. The power he found was Jesus. Paul discovered, <em>I can’t. But God can</em>.</p>
<p>Discovering that same truth transformed my life.</p>
<h2>My Need for God’s Power</h2>
<p>I finally realized I couldn’t do what I couldn’t do because I was trying in my power. Then I learned how to turn to God and access his power. It worked. He worked! I could do what I couldn’t do—by his power. I could stop doing what I couldn’t stop doing—by his power.</p>
<p>“Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”</p>
<p>It was all God. God’s power.</p>
<p>The good news is that the same power that helped Paul and helped me is available to you. Actually, this is more accurate: the same power that got Jesus out of a grave, resurrected from death to life, is available to you.</p>
<h2>Your Need for God’s Power</h2>
<p>Let’s look at something Paul wrote in another of his letters: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A1&version=NIV" title="Read Ephesians 2:1 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eph. 2:1</a>).</p>
<p>Wow. The reality is, we don’t just feel stuck, we are stuck. Worse than stuck, we are dead.</p>
<p>Have you noticed dead people don’t have a lot of power? Ask a dead person to help you carry a heavy box or arm wrestle. Not gonna happen. Dead people don’t have a lot of power. And we are dead. Powerless.</p>
<p>That’s discouraging. But Paul provided some hope-inducing truth. “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A19%E2%80%9320&version=NLT" target="_blank" title="Read Ephesians 1:19–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eph. 1:19–20</a> NLT).</p>
<p>The same power God used to raise Jesus from the dead is available to you!</p>
<p>If you feel dead in some area of your life, you don’t need to stay dead. Why? Because resurrection power is available to you. If you feel stuck, you don’t need to stay stuck. Think about it. If God can get Jesus unstuck from death in a grave, he can certainly get you unstuck.</p>
<p>In the next chapter of Ephesians, Paul wrote, “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A4%E2%80%935&version=NLT" title="Read Ephesians 2:4–5 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2:4–5</a> NLT).</p>
<p>There are several Bible passages, like this one, that describe how we’ve messed things up and gotten stuck. Reading them, you can start to feel depressed, but then this amazing word appears—“but.”</p>
<h2>But God</h2>
<p>You’ve probably never been thankful for God’s “but.” But you should. Because when God puts his “but” into your situation, it changes everything.</p>
<p>What was is no longer what is because “but God.”</p>
<p>What’s behind you is not what’s ahead of you because “but God.”</p>
<p>Your past doesn’t have to be your future because “but God.”</p>
<p>We were dead, “but God” gave us life, new life, in Jesus. Why?</p>
<p>Because God is “rich in mercy” and “loved us so much.”</p>
<p>Paul then described God’s grace. Grace means to get the opposite of what you deserve. God loves us in spite of us, not because of us. He loves us not because of what we do but because of who he is. When we’re at our worst, God’s love is at its best.</p>
<p>Paul wrote that because of God’s grace, you have been “saved.” <em>Saved</em> is a verb. You can write a verb in past, present, future, or perfect tense.</p>
<p>Past tense speaks of something that has already happened.</p>
<p>Present tense describes something happening right now.</p>
<p>Future tense refers to something that will happen eventually but hasn’t yet.</p>
<p>Perfect tense speaks of something that has happened in the past, is still happening in the present, and will continue in the future. It draws attention to the continuing effects of something that has happened in the past.</p>
<p>Paul wrote “saved” in perfect tense! You were saved by God’s grace in the past, but the effect is still happening. His grace is always going to impact your life. God will continue giving you new life in your dead places until his work is complete in you.</p>
<p>You never have to feel defeated.</p>
<p>You can never give up.</p>
<p>Because God didn’t just save you. He <em>saves</em> you. He is constantly saving you.</p>
<p>You can’t, but God can. And God will, if you turn to his power.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-power-to-change-mastering-the-habits-that-matter-most?variant=40635776794760" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Power-to-Change_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Power to Change by Craig Groeschel" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-power-to-change-mastering-the-habits-that-matter-most?variant=40635776794760" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Power to Change: Mastering the Habits That Matter Most</em></a> by Craig Groeschel. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-power-to-change-mastering-the-habits-that-matter-most?variant=40635776794760" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Feeling stuck no matter how hard you try to make positive changes in your life? You can start living the life you want through the practical, biblical, and highly doable strategies in <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-power-to-change-mastering-the-habits-that-matter-most?variant=40635776794760" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Power to Change</em></a>.</p>
<p>Few things in life are more frustrating than knowing you need to change, wanting to change, and trying to change, but not changing. Craig Groeschel knows what it’s like to be caught in that demoralizing cycle. That was his own story—until he discovered practical principles for experiencing lasting change. Since then, Craig has helped countless others find true change in their relationships, habits, and thoughts.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-power-to-change-mastering-the-habits-that-matter-most?variant=40635776794760" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Power to Change</em></a>, Craig helps you understand:</p>
<ul>
<li>How God’s power, not your willpower, leads to true transformation</li>
<li>The real reasons you do what you do</li>
<li>Why falling isn’t failure</li>
<li>The power of creating small habits that lead to big change</li>
<li>How to choose what you want most over what you want now</li>
</ul>
<p>A powerful blend of biblical wisdom and fascinating psychology, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-power-to-change-mastering-the-habits-that-matter-most?variant=40635776794760" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Power to Change</em></a> includes helpful exercises, real-life stories, and life-changing spiritual insights. Whether you are trying to lose weight, breathe new life into your marriage, read the Bible more, get out of debt, or give up an addiction, Craig’s step-by-step, time-tested strategies will equip you to start living the life God wants for you.</p>
<p><strong>Craig Groeschel</strong> is the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, one of the largest churches in the world and the creator of the free YouVersion Bible App. The <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author of fifteen books, Craig hosts the top-ranking Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast and speaks to hundreds of thousands of leaders around the world annually through the Global Leadership Network. Craig and his wife, Amy, live in Oklahoma. Connect with Craig at <a href="https://www.craiggroeschel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.craiggroeschel.com</a>.</p>
<h2>Looking for More?<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30134528/SpectacleGloryCover2-220.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni's devotional A Spectacle of Glory: God's Light Shining through Me Every Day" height="338" width="220" /></a>
</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up today</a> for the Zondervan Books Growth <strong>monthly</strong> email newsletter and receive the PDF eBook <em>A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days</em> by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni’s devotional <em>A Spectacle of Glory: God’s Light Shining through Me Every Day</em>.</p>
<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more incredible books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p>
<p>________</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/02/i-cant-but-god-can/">I Can’t but God Can</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7147167
2023-02-01T08:17:56-12:00
2023-02-01T11:00:21-12:00
Announcing the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) is now available on Bible Gateway
<p class="has-text-align-left"><strong><em>We are happy to announce that the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Legacy-Standard-Bible-LSB-Bible/">Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)</a> is now available to read, search and use for your Bible study on BibleGateway.com. We received a steady stream of requests for this translation and pray that the addition of this translation helps bring clarity to your understanding of God’s Word. Working with <a href="https://316publishing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Three Sixteen Publishing</a> and <a href="https://www.lockman.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lockman Foundation</a> to make it available was a long process but well worth it. Below, Three Sixteen Publishing has provided a short history of how this translation came to be.</em></strong></p>
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<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-large"><a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/legacy-standard-margin-reddish-brown-leather/9781636640723/pd/640723?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog"><img src="https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/web/f400/640723.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></a></figure></div>
<p>In January 2020, members of The Lockman Foundation, The MacArthur Trust, and Three Sixteen Publishing met to discuss the possibility of refining the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-American-Standard-Bible-NASB1995/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New American Standard Bible 1995</a>. Within two months, a team from The Master’s University and The Master’s Seminary, led by Dr. Abner Chou began working through the translation process word-by-word. The Covid pandemic and lockdowns actually provided more time for the men to devote to the project.</p>
<p>In February of 2021 a New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs was released, followed by the first full print edition of the Legacy Standard Bible in October of the same year. The LSB was also reviewed by a team of 70+ scholars, pastors, and every-day NASB readers from around the world. This ensures readers from all walks of life can easily engage and interact with the literal beauty of the Legacy Standard Bible.</p>
<p>Now available <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=LSB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">online</a> and in various <a href="https://316publishing.com/collections/lsb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">print</a> editions, the LSB team hopes it will become a useful tool for those who love Scripture and want a fresh glimpse into the precision and depth of its language. The LSB advances the aims of the NASB by bringing out textual connections through consistent translation of words, highlighting literary artistry like alliteration, and tightening grammatical structure.</p>
<p>The goal was not to create a new translation but to refine an already excellent one. Carefully working word-by-word through the New American Standard Bible, the LSB improves word consistency, revealing a depth of clarity not seen before. With careful reading, the student of Scripture will see how the 66 books are a divinely orchestrated masterpiece from a single Author—eternal and without error.</p>
<p>One hallmark of the LSB is the use of “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=yahweh&version=LSB&oq=yaweh">Yahweh</a>” where the original manuscripts use God’s personal covenant name, rather than replacing it with “LORD.” Another hallmark is the consistent translation of the Greek word <em>doulos</em> as its more literal English equivalent, “slave.” Consistency of word choice was one of the team’s primary goals. Many English translations have a tendency to use synonyms for the sake of style, even when the original text uses the same word repeatedly. But the LSB team believes that the use of repetition within and across books of Scripture is actually one of the ways the Bible conveys meaning.</p>
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<p>“You have dealt well with Your slave,<br>O Yahweh, according to Your word.”</p>
<cite>(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A65&version=LSB;NASB;NASB1995">Psalm 119:65</a>, LSB)</cite>
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<p>To learn more <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Legacy-Standard-Bible-LSB-Bible/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">about</a> the Legacy Standard Bible please visit <a href="http://lsbible.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LSBible.org</a> and discover the full lineup of print editions at <a href="http://316publishing.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">316publishing.com</a>. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bg-bibles/bg-lsb?p=1227186" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/web/f400/641119.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="140" /></a></figure></div>
<p><strong><em>Search Bible Gateway for your favorite verse and start reading the Legacy Standard Bible today. </em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>If you love it, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bg-bibles/bg-lsb?p=1227186" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">explore the breadth of print products available</a>.</em></strong></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/02/announcing-the-legacy-standard-bible-lsb-is-now-available-on-bible-gateway/">Announcing the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) is now available on Bible Gateway</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7146766
2023-01-31T08:25:52-12:00
2023-01-31T16:00:20-12:00
Top 10 Verses in the Bible to Study for Black History Month
<p>As we celebrate Black History Month, here’s something you may not have been aware of: the Bible should be our starting point for conversations about race and God’s vision for unity among all people in Christ. From the opening pages of Genesis to the teachings of Jesus and Paul to the closing scenes before the throne of God, the Bible shines a light on the path we can take to reconciliation, freedom, justice, and inclusion. Here are the top ten Bible verses you can read and study, along with five video Bible studies at <a href="https://www.studygateway.com/">StudyGateway.com</a> to help you explore the important principles highlighted by Black History Month.</p>
<p>Not a Study Gateway subscriber? <a href="https://www.studygateway.com/join" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Sign up for the free</strong></a> 7-day trial and get immediate access to all of these videos – and thousands more – in the video library! </p>
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<h2>Black History Month Scripture Readings</h2>
<p><strong>Genesis 5:1 – Recognize the image of God in every person.</strong></p>
<p><em>This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. </em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%205:1-2&version=NIV">Genesis 5:1</a></p>
<p><strong>1 Samuel 16:7 – See people as God sees them, not based on their outward appearance.</strong></p>
<p><em>But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+sam+16%3A7&version=NIV">1 Samuel 16:7</a></p>
<p><strong>Luke 24:47 – Salvation is for all people, no exclusions.</strong></p>
<p><em>Repentance</em><em> for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem</em>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=lk+24%3A47&version=NIV">Luke 24:47</a></p>
<p><strong>John 8:31-32 – Freedom from bondage comes through knowing the truth.</strong></p>
<p><em>To </em><em>the</em><em> Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jn+8%3A31-32&version=NIV">John 8:31-32</a></p>
<p><strong>Acts 10:34-35 – Root out favoritism.</strong></p>
<p><em>God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. </em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+10%3A34-35&version=NIV">Acts 10:34-35</a></p>
<p><strong>Acts 17:26 – Embrace diversity.</strong></p>
<p><em>From</em><em> one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands</em><strong>.</strong><strong> </strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=lk+24%3A47&version=NIV">Acts 17:26</a> </p>
<p><strong>Colossians 3:11 – Seek unity with people different than you.</strong></p>
<p>Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=col+3%3A11&version=NIV">Colossians 3:11</a></p>
<p><strong>Ephesians 2:14 – Pursue reconciliation.</strong></p>
<p><em>For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. </em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph+2%3A14&version=NIV">Ephesians 2:14</a></p>
<p><strong>Galatians 3:7 – It is our faith that determines our identity.</strong></p>
<p><em>Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gal+3%3A7&version=NIV">Galatians 3:7</a></p>
<p><strong>Revelation 5:9 – Jesus died for all – we should welcome all.</strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rev+5%3A9&version=NIV"></a></p>
<p><em>And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you</em> <em>were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.</em><a> </a><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rev+5%3A9&version=NIV">Revelation 5:9</a></p>
<h2>Dive deeper into the Bible with studies for Black History Month – or anytime of the year – on themes of racial unity, diversity, justice, and equality at Study Gateway</h2>
<p>Study Gateway is the place to find life-changing Bible teaching from established and emerging Black voices!</p>
<p>In celebration of Black History Month, we recommend the following Bible studies or sermon series, found in our <a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/black-voices">Black Voices collection</a>, that will especially highlight the important themes of racial justice, liberation, reconciliation, and unity.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/black-voices"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/top-10-bible-verses-black-history-month.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="390" width="468" /></a></figure>
<h2>Black History Month — Featured Bible Studies and Sermon Series</h2>
<p><a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/black-history-month-elijah-mcdavid"><strong>Black History</strong></a> by Pastor Elijah McDavid III</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/black-history-month-elijah-mcdavid"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/top-10-verses-black-history-month-black-history-mcdavid.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bible verses for Black History Month Black History sermons by McDavid" height="254" width="468" /></a></figure>
<p>Why do we choose the problems and patterns of our past instead of the freedom that God has called us into? Drawn from the Biblical examples of Moses and Paul, Pastor McDavid’s three-part sermon series celebrates Black History Month.</p>
<p><a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/color-of-compromise"><strong>The Color of Compromise</strong></a> by Jemar Tisby</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/color-of-compromise"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/top-10-verses-black-history-month-color-of-compromise-tisby.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bible verses for Black History Month – Color of Compromise by Tisby" height="254" width="468" /></a></figure>
<p>An acclaimed, timely study of how people of faith have historically—up to the present day—worked <em>against</em> racial justice. In a call for urgent action by all Christians today, Jemar guides our thinking through concrete solutions.</p>
<p><a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/beautiful-word-galatians"><strong>Galatians: Accepted and Free</strong></a> – A Beautiful Word Bible Study by Jada Edwards</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/beautiful-word-galatians"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/top-10-verses-black-history-month-galatians-edwards.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bible verses for Black History Month – Beautiful Word Galatians by Edwards" height="268" width="493" /></a></figure>
<p>There is certain and specific freedom in receiving our acceptance in Christ. Jada shows us that when we’re rejected, we can find security, authority, assignment, adoption, and restoration in the liberating acceptance of Christ.</p>
<p><a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/40-days-through-the-book-ephesians"><strong>Ephesians: Life in God’s Diverse Family</strong></a><strong> </strong>– A 40 Days Through the Book Study by Derwin Gray</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/40-days-through-the-book-ephesians"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/top-10-verses-black-history-month-ephesians-gray.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bible verses for Black History Month – 40 Days Through the Book Ephesians by Gray" height="268" width="493" /></a></figure>
<p>The same Jesus who united the Jews and Gentiles, enslaved and free people, men and women, and people from every tribe and tongue some 2,000 years ago in Ephesus, is ready to do it again. Derwin addresses our world of division, conflict, and polarization from the book of Ephesians.</p>
<p><a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/god-and-race"><strong>God and Race</strong></a><strong> by Wayne Francis and John Siebeling</strong></p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/god-and-race"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/top-10-verses-black-history-month-god-and-race-francis-siebeling.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bible verses for Black History Month – God and Race by Francis and Siebeling" height="278" width="512" /></a></figure>
<p>Racial tension is a major problem in this country, and Wayne and John are modeling the kind of open dialog the church needs to have about it.</p>
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<p><strong>FOR FURTHER READING</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/3-important-bible-lessons-black-history-month" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3 Important Bible Lessons for Black History Month</a>, about recognizing the image of God in every person, embracing the power of forgiveness, and celebrating our differences. [Source: FaithGateway.com] </p>
<p> <a href="https://churchsource.com/blogs/ministry-resources/5-verses-5-bible-studies-black-history-month" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5 Verses + 5 Bible Studies for Black History Month</a> – with a discussion guide for small groups to talk about five Scripture passages that can help them gain insights from Black History Month [Source: ChurchSource.com] </p>
<p><a href="https://churchsource.com/blogs/ministry-resources/the-color-of-compromise" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scripture’s Motivation to Seek Racial and Ethnic Unity Right Now</a> [Source: ChurchSource.com] </p>
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<p><strong>LEARN MORE: WATCH THE VIDEO TRAILERS</strong> <br><em>Subscribe to Study Gateway to watch the full studies…</em> </p>
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Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7143529
2023-01-25T08:02:33-12:00
2023-01-25T12:45:07-12:00
Top Six Bible Verses on Faith
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Top-Verses-on-Faith.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Top-Verses-on-Faith-1024x643.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Top Verses on Faith" height="264" width="421" /></a><figcaption>A leap of Faith.</figcaption></figure></div>
<p>Faith is at the core of our belief in the Son of God. It is something we all strive for and struggle with, depending on what happens in our lives. When things are going well, it’s easy to have faith, but so much harder when tragedy strikes.</p>
<p>If you search the New International Version (NIV) for “Faith” you will find it in <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=faith&version=NIV?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">458</a> verses. In the English Standard Version (ESV), you will see <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=faith&version=ESV?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">475</a> results. And, the New King James Version (NKJV), you’ll have <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=faith&version=NKJV?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">391</a> results. You can search any translation on Bible Gateway to see how many times a word appears and each search will reveal a list of verses to explore. </p>
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<p>It can seem overwhelming to try and study this way and find the inspiration you need. But, if you follow the links above, each of the translations searched recommend that you read <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011&version=KJV?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">Hebrews 11.</a> Hebrews 11 gives us a guide to “Faith in Action” which is worth reading in depth.</p>
<p>But, what are a few Bible verses on faith that you can get started with now?</p>
<h2>Here are 6 verses you can turn to at difficult times:</h2>
<h3>1. <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16&version=KJV&?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">John 3:16</a>
</h3>
<p>For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)</p>
<h3>2. <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2017:20&version=NIV&?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">Matthew 17:20</a>
</h3>
<p>“.. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (NIV)</p>
<h3>3. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2015:13&version=NABRE&?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Romans 15:13</a>
</h3>
<p>May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit. (NABRE)</p>
<h3>4. <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203:5&version=NRSVUE&?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">Proverbs 3:5</a>
</h3>
<p>Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. (NRSVUE)</p>
<h3>5. <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206:35&version=ESV&?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">John 6:35</a>
</h3>
<p>Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (ESV)</p>
<h3>6. <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2016:13&version=NIV&?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">1 Corinthians 16:13</a>
</h3>
<p>Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. (NIV)</p>
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<h2>From the above passages, ask yourself the following questions:</h2>
<p>1. What is your reflection on <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16&version=NIV&?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">John 3:16</a>?</p>
<p>2. What is mustard seed faith in the Bible?</p>
<p>3. What is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2015:13&version=NABRE&?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Romans 15</a> talking about?</p>
<p>4. Why is faith so important to God?</p>
<p>5. What does it mean when they say Jesus is the bread of life?</p>
<p>6. In <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013:2&version=NIV&?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">1 Corinthians 13:2</a>, how does faith move a mountain?</p>
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<h2>Where to go from here.</h2>
<p>You can dig deeper into each of the verses listed above with the free resources, like Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary on Bible Gateway, or by upgrading to Bible Gateway Plus. Or, maybe you can start new searches by pulling out key phrases from some of the verses above. Searching for “bread of life” for example, only occurs twice in the King James Version (KJV). Both in the book of John, where you read more from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206%3A35&version=KJV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/John.6.28-John.6.59&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith%22" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary</a>.</p>
<p>But, let’s get back to Hebrews 11 for a moment. In the <a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011&version=NIV&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/heb-11-1&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">CSB Tony Evans Study Bible, on Hebrews 11:1-2</a>, Dr. Evans says, “To exercise <strong>faith </strong>is to have confidence about an expectation without visible proof that it will happen. What makes this confidence possible? The trustworthiness of the object of faith. The question we must answer is this: Is God trustworthy? And as I like to say, faith is acting like God is telling the truth. Notice that each of the heroes of the faith mentioned in this chapter acted on what they believed.”</p>
<p>Read Hebrews 11 in full and ask yourself how you can be like each hero and become the gift of God you were meant to be. If you want to dig deeper into a study on Faith, we recommend that you consider the studies available from StudyGateway.com. <a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/bible-studies-on-surrender-living-by-faith?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">Explore the studies on<em> Discipleship: Surrender & Living By Faith.</em></a></p>
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<figure class="wp-block-pullquote has-text-align-center has-border-color has-white-border-color" style="border-style:solid;font-size:9px;font-style:normal;font-weight:200"><blockquote><p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">Create a free account</a> with Bible Gateway to mark or highlight your favorite verses and take notes on the verses you’ve read. Then, consider upgrading to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=bgblog&utm_campaign=6versesonfaith" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener">Bible Gateway Plus for access to over 50 premium resources </a>(including notes like the one from Dr. Evans above) and deepen your Bible study.</p></blockquote></figure>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/01/top-six-bible-verses-on-faith/">Top Six Bible Verses on Faith</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7135640
2023-01-09T09:19:38-12:00
2023-01-09T13:30:04-12:00
What Does the Bible Really Say About “Righteous Anger?”
<p><strong>By Brant Hansen</strong></p>
<p>Why isn’t righteous anger ever listed among the things that a Spirit-filled life will bring us? If it’s<a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/09103400/Brant-Hansen_280x280.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Brant-Hansen_280x280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Brant Hansen Image" height="280" width="280" /></a> righteous, why is it not akin to the “fruit of the Spirit,” like love, joy, peace, and gentleness? Why is anger in Scripture so consistently lumped in the <em>other </em>lists with things like, say, slander and malice, with no exclusions for the “righteous” variety? (See, for example, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=colossians+3%3A8&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Colossians 3:8</a>).</p>
<p>We aren’t to just pretend anger away or feel guilty for the initial emotion of anger. But we are to deal with it, with the goal of eradicating it within us. This, of course, is not easy to do, but it’s not complex to understand, either.</p>
<p>Few ever present the radical implications of what it means to die to ourselves and what it means to practice a lifestyle of forgiveness. “Stepping out of anger,” Dallas Willard says, “means you are surrendering your will to God. It means you have accepted that you don’t have to have your way.”<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a> When I’ve read commentaries on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A31&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Ephesians 4:31</a>, where Paul says to get rid of bitterness, anger, evil speaking, and so on, the commenter very often inserts the word <em>unreasonable </em>before anger. But that’s not in the text, and the commenter doesn’t extend the “unreasonable” standard to anything else on the list. (What about “unreasonable bitterness”?)</p>
<p><span id="more-71715"></span></p>
<p>We take something like “Love your enemies” and “Pray for those who persecute you,” and tack on “But, really, holding on to anger is justified.” We do this with the apostle James, who, in the Bible, said point-blank that anger does <em>not </em>produce the kind of righteousness God wants in us: “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A20&version=ESV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">James 1:20 ESV</a>).</p>
<p>“But didn’t some biblical heroes act out of anger?” Well, sure they did. They were humans. I’m so thankful the Bible is not a just-so story, not a singsongy, children’s pop-up book of SuperClean Heroes. Its stories are of people, like us moderns, who lie and cheat and steal and harbor anger and occasionally even kill innocent people. It’s a mess. To say, “Well, Moses got angry at injustice in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+2&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Exodus 2</a>” is not to say that we should kill Egyptians too. Those stories aren’t how-to templates for our lives; they’re stories that point us, ultimately, to the goodness of God.</p>
<h2><strong>How does the Bible Deal with Anger?</strong></h2>
<p>Feeling powerless is sometimes excruciating. We want justice, and we want it now. If we can’t get it, we can at least harbor our self-righteous anger and righteous indignation. Sometimes, it’s all we think we can do.</p>
<p>The Bible tells us to do something truly revolutionary, certainly un-American, and completely at odds with that: <em>wait.</em></p>
<ul>
<li>Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord! (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+27%3A14&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Psalm 27:14 NKJV</a>)</li>
<li>For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. (<a style="font-size: revert;" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37%3A9&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Psalm 37:9 NKJV</a><span style="font-size: revert; color: initial;">)</span>
</li>
<li>Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. (<a style="font-size: revert;" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37%3A34&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Psalm 37:34 NKJV</a><span style="font-size: revert; color: initial;">)</span>
</li>
<li>Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; wait for the Lord, and He will save you. (<a style="font-size: revert;" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+20%3A22&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Proverbs 20:22 NKJV</a><span style="font-size: revert; color: initial;">)</span>
</li>
</ul>
<p>This is really, really, really, really, really hard. I know; I just wrote <em>really </em>five times, and that’s pretty unprofessional, but I could’ve written a lot more. I know it’s hard, because it’s hard for me right now, and yet, there it is. <em>Wait!</em></p>
<p>And if I’m overemphasizing by writing <em>really </em>a lot, the writers of the Bible emphasize <em>wait </em>far more. I picked just a few verses of dozens. Waiting is not a subtle theme of Scripture.</p>
<p>And yes, we’re also told to be just and to love mercy, in the meantime: “The Lord has told you, human, what is good; he has told you what he wants from you: to do what is right to other people, love being kind to others, and live humbly, obeying your God” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+6%3A8&version=NCV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Micah 6:8 NCV</a>).</p>
<p>Living “humbly” is the part I’m so often missing in my anger. I want comeuppance for the proud, and I want it now. I don’t want to wait.</p>
<p>In fact, I don’t fully trust God. I’m worried He won’t handle things the way I’d like.</p>
<p>Worry and anger often go hand in hand. They’re both about feeling threatened, and they both represent, ultimately, a lack of trust. But there’s a flipside, and it’s good news: we get to see all over again how freeing it really is to trust God.</p>
<p>My anger isn’t a sign of trust; it’s the very opposite. I’m worried someone’s going to get away with something, like God’s not noticing and it’s all up to me. This kind of anger is perfectly human, of course, and perfectly natural, and just as perfectly destructive as any other kind of anger.</p>
<p>Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—<em>it </em>only causes harm. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37%3A7-8&version=NKJV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Psalm 37:7–8 NKJV</a>)</p>
<p>So let’s joyfully work for justice and mercy. And while we do it, let’s trust that God, our Father, who actually loves us, and also loves mercy and justice more than we ever could, is ultimately going to set things right (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Romans 12</a>). We don’t need to act like kids who’ve been abandoned and are forced to take matters into our own hands, defending ourselves at every turn. Our Father is coming home, and He tells us, over and over, He’s going to take care of things.</p>
<p>Choosing to be unoffendable, or relinquishing my right to anger, does not mean accepting injustice. It means actively seeking justice, and loving mercy, while walking humbly with God.</p>
<p>And that means remembering I’m not Him.</p>
<p>What a relief.</p>
<p>_________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/unoffendable-how-just-one-change-can-make-all-of-life-better-1?variant=40532200292488&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/9781400333592_image-2-197x300.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Unoffendable - Revised Edition" height="300" width="197" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/unoffendable-how-just-one-change-can-make-all-of-life-better-1?variant=40532200292488&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger"><em>Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better</em></a> by Brant Hansen. <strong><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/unoffendable-how-just-one-change-can-make-all-of-life-better-1?variant=40532200292488&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Click here</a></strong> to learn more about this book, and <strong><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/unoffendable-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-how-just-one-change-can-make-all-of-life-better?variant=40532158709896&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">click here</a></strong> to learn more about the video Bible study.</p>
<p>It turns out giving up your “right” to be offended can be one of the most freeing, healthy, simplifying, relaxing, refreshing, stress-relieving, encouraging things you can do. It’s a radical, provocative idea: We’re not entitled to get offended or stay angry. The idea of our own “righteous anger” is a myth. It is the number one problem in our societies today and, as Dallas Willard says, Christians have not been taught out of it. But what if Christians were the most unoffendable people on the planet?</p>
<p>In <em>Unoffendable</em> you will find concrete, practical ways to live life with less stress, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Adjusting your expectations to fit human nature</li>
<li>Replacing perpetual anger with refreshing humility and gratitude</li>
<li>Embracing forgiveness and beginning to love others in unexpected ways</li>
</ul>
<p>Newly revised with two brand-new chapters on forgiveness and what Hansen has learned since writing his original book, this updated edition of the bestselling book is a must-read for every Christian. In a humorous and conversational style, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/unoffendable-how-just-one-change-can-make-all-of-life-better-1?variant=40532200292488&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger"><em>Unoffendable</em> </a>seeks to lift religious burdens from our backs and allow us to experience the joy of gratitude, perhaps for the first time, every single day of our lives—flourishing the way God intended.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/unoffendable-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-how-just-one-change-can-make-all-of-life-better?variant=40532158709896&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Revised-Edition_280x280-1.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Unoffendable Bible Study" height="280" width="280" /></a>Brant Hansen</strong> is a syndicated radio host, and one of the most listened-to in the country. He also hosts a popular podcast (“The Brant and Sherri Oddcast”) and works extensively as an advocate of CURE International, a global network of hospitals and programs for children with correctable disabilities. In addition to his books, <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/unoffendable-how-just-one-change-can-make-all-of-life-better-1?variant=40532200292488&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Unoffendable</a>, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/blessed-are-the-misfits-great-news-for-believers-who-are-introverts-spiritual-strugglers-or-just-feel-like-theyre-missing-something?variant=13752162943087&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_righteous_anger">Blessed Are the Misfits</a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/truth-about-very-good-news-are/brant-hansen/9780801094514/pd/094514?event=ESRCG">The Truth About Us</a>, </em>and<em> <a href="http://biblegateway.christianbook.com/purpose-manly-avid-indoorsman-willing-show/brant-hansen/9780801094521/pd/094521?event=ESRCG">The Men We Need</a>,</em> Brant has written for the Washington Post, USNews.com, CNN.com, InTouch, and Relevant. Brant is married to Carolyn, and they have two adult children.</p>
<p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Dallas Willard, “Divine Conspiracy 11: Living Without Anger,” 1:20:59, lecture recorded during the Harvey Fellows 2007 Summer Institute, posted by “Daniel dliver,” June 22, 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBBB9G6WW3w.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/01/what-does-the-bible-really-say-about-righteous-anger/">What Does the Bible Really Say About “Righteous Anger?”</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7115739
2022-12-02T00:15:00-12:00
2022-12-02T05:30:08-12:00
When You Want to Trust but Life Won’t Let You
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/27072417/Groeschel3_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Craig Groeschel: When You Want to Trust but Life Won’t Let You" width="33%" />By Craig Groeschel</strong></p>
<p>“I want to believe God cares about me; I really do,” she told me, wiping tears from under her darkened, bloodshot eyes. Under the harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital corridor, Marci barely resembled the vibrant girl I remembered, that kid I’d watched grow up in our youth group at church.</p>
<p>When she was a teenager, Marci was outgoing, fun-loving, and full of life, even as she was growing more and more serious about her faith, coming early to youth group and staying late. No one loved to worship and talk about God more than Marci.</p>
<p>Then, in her early 20s, Marci met Mark, a great Christian guy with a charismatic personality. They fell in love practically overnight, marrying almost a year to the day after they met. Mark’s dynamic personality served him well, helping him land a great sales job. Before long, he was making more money than most other professionals his age. They bought their dream home, and as Mark and Marci served God together at our church, they just knew life couldn’t get any better.<br>
<span id="more-39157"></span><br>
But then it did.</p>
<p>After just two months of trying, they learned they were pregnant with their first child. When beautiful little Chloe was born, my wife, Amy, and I joined Mark and Marci at the hospital to thank God for his blessings. Celebrating with them was amazing, all of us thanking God for this wonderful family that he was growing in his presence.</p>
<p>Back then, none of us could see even a hint of cracks around the foundation of their lives. But as the years ticked by, Mark’s job had him working longer and longer hours and required ever more frequent travel. Even so, when he came home one day and informed Marci that he was leaving her—for one of her closest friends—she never saw it coming.</p>
<p>Devastated, Marci found herself battling on two fronts, coping on the one hand with Mark’s betrayal and struggling on the other as a single mom trying to build a new life for herself and Chloe. She took small comfort in thinking that at least things couldn’t get any worse.</p>
<p>Until they did.</p>
<p>Chloe, by then in fifth grade, started rapidly losing weight and feeling tired all the time. When the headaches and dizzy spells began, a series of tests revealed the unthinkable—cancer. In just a few short months, Chloe shriveled from being a healthy, popular girl at school into a pale, bedridden patient on a ventilator. Cancer mercilessly ravaged her already weakened body. Chemo didn’t even make a dent. Her doctors decided to shift their focus onto doing all they could to make her last days as comfortable as possible.</p>
<p>As I stood there in that bleak hospital hallway, the tireless Marci I had once known was long gone, swallowed up by this weary, defeated woman. She was beyond exhaustion, past depression, dangerously discouraged. She grasped desperately for anything even remotely resembling that bottomless faith that used to come to her so easily.</p>
<p>But her unshakeable trust in God was nothing more than a sad memory now. She drew a deep breath, fighting back the sobs. As her forlorn gaze pierced me, it took all the resolve I could muster to remain strong for her.</p>
<p>She sighed. “I <em>really</em> want to believe that God is with me right now. I mean, I want to know that he’s good, that he cares. I want that so badly, but . . .” Her voice trailed off. This time there was no stopping the tears.</p>
<p>“But, Craig, when I see my baby girl wasting away in there, in so much pain, how can I surrender to a God who allows this? And on top of everything else that we’ve already been through? I <em>want</em> to trust, but I just don’t know how.”</p>
<h2><strong>I Want to Trust</strong></h2>
<p>That one little phrase, “I want to trust,” put down roots in my own heart. Everywhere I look, I see people who understand exactly how Marci felt in that cold, sterile hospital. So many people want to believe in God’s presence and goodness, but they just have too many unanswered questions.</p>
<p>Something in them longs to trust in God—to know him, to feel his presence, to sink into his peace, to believe he’s there for them, helping them carry their burdens. They want to pray and know that he hears them. They want comfort. They want to know that he’s with them, that he’ll protect them. Deep down, they hope God is more than just some kind of made-up cosmic figure that gullible people naively trust. They want him to inhabit more than retreaded clichés thrown around by politicians, activists, and Jesus freaks.</p>
<p>I believe there are a lot of people like Marci, people who once believed God took an active interest in their lives, but they’re just not so sure anymore. Maybe he exists, maybe he’s sovereign, but does he care? It doesn’t feel like it to them. I’ve even been one of those people myself (more about that later). You may be one right now. Do you ever wonder:</p>
<ul>
<li>“Where was God when I was being abused? Did he care? If he did, why didn’t he do something about it?”</li>
<li>“Why can’t we have a baby? There are so many unwanted pregnancies, and so many people seem to have kids they abandon or don’t take care of. We go to church. We’re good people. We’ve prayed for years. Why won’t God give us a child?”</li>
<li>“What happened to my marriage? More than anything, I wanted at least that to be good. We used to love each other so much, but . . . And Lord knows, I tried as hard as I could. I trusted him. I prayed every day. But now all I have is broken pieces. Why did God let this happen to me?”</li>
<li>“Why was my child born with a disability?”</li>
<li>“Why did I get laid off?”</li>
<li>“Why is everyone I know married and I’m still alone?”</li>
<li>“Why can’t I seem to get ahead?”</li>
<li>“Why did the cancer come back?”</li>
<li>“Why have my kids abandoned the faith?”</li>
</ul>
<p>Do you want assurance that God is there when you need him most, but for whatever reason, you doubt he is?</p>
<p>You’re not alone. Throughout <a title="Read, hear, study, search, compare, and share the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Bible</a>, people questioned God’s involvement in their lives. Even Jesus encountered doubters, one of them his own disciple, the original Doubting Thomas. But there’s one exchange in particular that Jesus had with a spiritual doubter that I’d like us to focus on. Just like Marci, he was a parent who struggled as he watched his child suffering:</p>
<p><em><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/03142941/HopeInTheDark1_330.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Hope in the Dark meme: When You Want to Trust but Life Won’t Let You by Craig Groeschel" height="330" width="330" />Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been</em><br>
<em>like this?”</em></p>
<p><em>“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown</em><br>
<em>him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything,</em><br>
<em>take pity on us and help us.”</em></p>
<p><em>“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for</em><br>
<em>one who believes.”</em></p>
<p><em>Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe;</em><br>
<em>help me overcome my unbelief!”</em></p>
<p><a title="Read Mark 9:21-24 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9%3A21%E2%80%9324&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mark 9:21–24</a></p>
<p>Can you imagine the pain this dad experienced? Over and over again, he had to stand by helplessly as his son convulsed, wrestling with an evil spirit that had taken possession of him years before. This loving father would have done anything to ease his son’s suffering. But no matter what he tried, his boy still lived in anguish.</p>
<p>As a dad of six children, I don’t want to imagine what that must have been like: a powerful evil spirit hurling your child into water like a rag doll or thrashing him into fire. If the father hadn’t dutifully protected his son, it’s possible that spirit might have already killed him.</p>
<p>It’s no wonder this burdened and desperate dad struggled to believe. After trying everything he knew to do, this man said to Jesus the same thing I might have said in his situation: “<em>If</em> you can do <em>anything, take pity</em> on us and <em>help us</em>” (<a title="Read Mark 9:22 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9%3A22&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">v. 22</a>, emphasis mine).</p>
<p>Some Christians might criticize this question. But this dad was at the end of his rope. After doing everything he could think to do, it’s possible that he’d finally resigned himself to despair and loss.</p>
<p>He had nowhere else to turn.</p>
<p>Nothing left that he could do.</p>
<p>His hope was gone.</p>
<p>His world was dark.</p>
<p>But then Jesus makes things clear, first by repeating the father’s hopelessness in the form of a question—“‘<em>If</em> you can’?”—and then by challenging him: “<em>Everything is possible</em> for one who believes” (<a title="Read Mark 9:23 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9%3A23&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">v. 23</a>, emphasis mine).</p>
<p>Just think about this. Why didn’t Jesus say, “Well, as a matter of fact, I can help you”? Or why didn’t he say, “I’m the Messiah, the Son of God, and my Father in heaven will heal your son”? Both of those things were true. Instead Jesus put the ball back in the dad’s court. While turning to the one and only true God and asking for his help is always a good idea, Jesus said that the key was having trust—faith—that “with God all things are possible” (<a title="Read Matthew 19:26 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+19%3A26&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matt. 19:26</a>).</p>
<p>The dad’s response is even more striking: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (<a title="Read Mark 9:24 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9%3A24&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mark 9:24</a>). You hear what he’s saying, don’t you?</p>
<p>I want to believe.</p>
<p>Lord, I want to believe, but I can’t. I’m struggling. <em>Really</em> struggling. Help me overcome my unbelief, my doubts.</p>
<p>It’s a kind of paradox. This man whose son has been possessed by an evil spirit, a force that’s commandeered his son’s body and tried to harm him in every way imaginable—for <em>years</em>—says, “I <em>wish</em> I could believe, but I don’t know how anymore. I’m in such a dark and desperate place, I can’t see how things could change for the better. But I want to. I wish I could. Help me believe again, Lord. Restore my hope.”</p>
<p>Immediately after Jesus has this exchange with the father, he commands the spirit to leave, and the boy convulses as it comes out, then appears to be dead. “But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up” (<a title="Read Mark 9:27 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9%3A27&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">v. 27</a>).</p>
<p>Here’s what moves me personally about the story: The boy wasn’t the only one healed when Jesus drove out the evil spirit. His father was healed too. Because Jesus drove out the hopelessness that had overtaken him. In the man’s sincere request, Jesus could hear the conflicting messages emanating from his battle-scarred heart.</p>
<p>And God still honors this prayer today, if we’ll only allow him to.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=342958&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/03133536/HopeDark_Cover2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Hope in the Dark" height="280" width="280" /></a>Taken from <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=342958&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not</em></a> by Craig Groeschel. <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=342958&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this title.</p>
<p>Perhaps you’ve thought or said this: “I want to believe, I want to have hope, but . . .”</p>
<p>Pastor Craig Groeschel hears these words often and has asked them himself. We want to know God, feel his presence, and trust that he hears our prayers, but in the midst of great pain, we may wonder if he really cares about us. Even when we have both hope and hurt, sometimes it’s the hurt that shouts the loudest. Can God be good when life is not?</p>
<p>In <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=342958&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Hope in the Dark</em></a>, Groeschel explores the story of the father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus, saying, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” In the man’s sincere plea, Jesus heard the tension in the man’s battle-scarred heart. He healed not only the boy but the father too, driving out the hopelessness that had overtaken him. He can do the same for us today.</p>
<p>As Groeschel shares his pain surrounding the current health challenges of his daughter, he acknowledges the questions we may ask in our own deepest pain: “Where was God when I was being abused?” “Why was my child born with a disability?” “Why did the cancer come back?” “Why are all my friends married and I’m alone?” He invites us to wrestle with such questions as we ask God to honor our faith and heal our unbelief.</p>
<p>In the middle of your profound pain, you long for authentic words of understanding and hope. You long to know that even in overwhelming reality, you can still believe that God is good. Rediscover a faith in the character, power, and presence of God. Even in the questions. Even now.</p>
<p><strong>Craig Groeschel</strong> is a <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author and the founding and senior pastor of <a href="https://www.life.church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Life.Church</a>, an innovative and pacesetting church meeting in multiple locations around the United States and globally online. He is the author of several books, including <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=0343059&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Divine Direction</em></a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=343069&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Liking Jesus</em></a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=333746&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Fight</em></a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=332221&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Christian Atheist</em></a>, and <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=493099&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>It</em></a>. Craig, his wife, Amy, and their six children live in Edmond, Oklahoma. To learn more, visit <a href="https://craiggroeschelbooks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CraigGroeschelBooks.com</a>.</p>
<h2>
<img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/26104609/EncouragementCover-194x300.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Three Principles of and Three Guidelines for Encouragement by Dr. Larry Crabb and Dr. Dan Allender" width="220" />Looking for More?</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-faith-in-action/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up today</a> for the Zondervan Books Faith in Action <strong>monthly</strong> email newsletter and receive the PDF eBook <em>Three Principles of and Three Guidelines for Encouragement</em> by Dr. Larry Crabb and Dr. Dan Allender, adapted from <em>Encouragement: The Unexpected Power of Building Others Up</em>.</p>
<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more life-changing books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-faith-in-action/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p>
<p>________</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/12/when-you-want-to-trust-but-life-wont-let-you/">When You Want to Trust but Life Won’t Let You</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7115098
2022-12-01T07:29:00-12:00
2022-12-01T11:15:12-12:00
2022 Year in Review
<p>As each year comes to a close, we publish our <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/year-in-review/2022/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=yearinreview2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">year in review</a> and take the opportunity to pause and reflect on the ups and downs we’ve experienced, what we have learned and how we have grown. As you can imagine, for Bible Gateway, we care most about helping you to learn more about the Bible and hope that you continue to grow in your faith and knowledge of the Bible.</p>
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<p>We’ve seen that <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NIV&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=yearinreview2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John 3:16</a> continues to the most popular Bible verse for good reason. It is considered one of the most succinct views of the Christian faith and its number one status has not wavered since it was briefly was pushed down to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/year-in-review/2018/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=yearinreview2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">#2 in 2018</a>. Overall, the most popular Bible verses and keyword searches remained stable compared to last year. You can read more in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/year-in-review/2022/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=yearinreview2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bible Gateway’s 2022 year in review</a> for a peek at how people read the Bible this year.</p>
<p>The biggest gainer this year, however, jumping 30 places in the rankings, was <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204%3A12&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hebrews 4:12</a>: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (NIV).</p>
<p>We won’t expound on why this verse gained in its ranking, but instead encourage you to study <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A12&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible%2Fheb-4-11-13&tab=study&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=yearinreview2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hebrews 4:12</a> for yourself with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=yearinreview2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bible Gateway Plus</a>. And, continue this study as you explore the most popular Bible verses listed in our <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/year-in-review/2022/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=yearinreview2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">year in review</a> for 2022. </p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/12/2022-year-in-review/">2022 Year in Review</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7112201
2022-11-28T05:16:32-12:00
2022-11-28T09:15:10-12:00
How the Root of Insecurity Is Tied to Your Identity
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Nona-Jones-280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Nona Jones — The root of insecurity is when your identity is built on an insecure foundation: something or someone other than God." height="280" width="280" /></figure></div>
<p><strong>By Nona Jones</strong></p>
<p>I leaped out of bed when the alarm signaled it was time to wake up and hit the pavement. Ten minutes later, I was outside pressing “start running” on my fitness app and putting in my earbuds to listen to a worship music playlist. I was excited to run because the cool, crisp mornings between winter and spring are my favorite time of year.</p>
<p>I made it home just in time to give my seven-and ten-year-old sons sweaty hugs and my husband a sweaty kiss before they left for the day. Then I started my post-run routine of showering, stretching, making a pot of tea, and having some quiet time with the Lord. I was looking forward to my Bible study time because the cancelation of many of my speaking engagements allowed me to study for the fun of it without the pressure of preparing to give a message.</p>
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<p>The Holy Spirit had led me to take an interest in the life of Jonathan, King Saul’s son. A lot was written about his father, and even more was written about his best friend, David, but I had never looked closely at Jonathan.</p>
<p>I started reading in <a title="read 1 Samuel 14 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+14&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 Samuel 14</a>, which tells the story of how Jonathan waged an attack on a Philistine outpost with only his young armor-bearer by his side. As Jonathan made his way to Mikmash to fight two dozen Philistines by himself, his father, the king, rested comfortably under a pomegranate tree in Gibeah with six hundred soldiers. The juxtaposition of the two scenes was striking.</p>
<p>When Jonathan and his young armor-bearer reached the outpost, they saw that the Philistines were positioned on a cliff. This put Jonathan and his armor-bearer at a strategic disadvantage because it robbed them of the element of surprise. The climb to the Philistines’ position would also use precious energy they needed for the battle.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, Jonathan turned to his armor-bearer and said, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few” (<a title="read 1 Samuel 14:6 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+14%3A6&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 Samuel 14:6</a>).</p>
<p>I repeated that last line to myself: “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” Something about it resonated. <em>When the Lord is for us, we can be outnumbered but are never unprotected</em>.</p>
<h2>Insecurity Exposed</h2>
<p>I read a couple more chapters and then decided it was time to start my day. I quickly checked my Facebook page to respond to comments and messages and then did the same on Instagram. Although I normally go straight to my Instagram notifications, that day I caught a glimpse of my newsfeed first. And that’s when the downward emotional spiral started.</p>
<p>After scrolling for what felt like an eternity, I counted no fewer than eight friends posting the exciting news that they were joining an amazing roster of speakers for a major women’s conference that was going virtual because of the pandemic. Since I don’t follow many people on social media, it seemed like the only thing in my newsfeed was an avalanche of exciting announcements about speaking at the Full Blossom Conference.</p>
<p>“Why wasn’t <em>I</em> invited to speak?” I asked aloud. “It’s like Susie asked everyone we mutually know except me.”</p>
<p>With each new post, I felt what can only be described as the stab of an emotional ice pick to the heart. My mind was clouded with hurt, so I stopped scrolling, closed Instagram, and looked out my living room window into a beautiful day. The skies were blue and filled with fluffy white clouds. Birds bounded from limb to limb on the tree just outside my window. But the beauty outside couldn’t overcome the ugliness churning inside me.</p>
<p>An old, familiar hurt resurfaced inside—the hurt of being unwanted.</p>
<p>I’ve had a full speaking schedule for years, despite never once advertising myself as a speaker or asking to speak at events. And I receive more speaking invitations for business and church conferences than I can accept. I’ve been invited to speak on multiple continents and keynoted major conferences across the United States and abroad. Yet, somehow, not being invited to speak at <em>this</em> conference bothered me.</p>
<p>I’d heard of Full Blossom before and had never desired to speak at it, but after I saw many of the people in my ministry circle invited to speak there, my exclusion catalyzed a self-worth inquisition. Comparison makes what never mattered before the thing that matters most.</p>
<p>As I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop, I felt a magnetic pull back to Instagram. I had back-to-back video conferences every thirty minutes for the next seven hours, so I set my phone down and logged on for the first meeting. Within ten minutes, I had discreetly unlocked my phone, opened Instagram, and continued the scroll. An irresistible and poisonous thread tugged on my heart and distracted me from work.</p>
<p>I went to Susie’s profile and saw post after post of her gushing about each speaker: how incredible they were and how perfect the conference would be because of them. My chest tightened, and a lump grew in my throat as I watched a video of her enthusiastically naming several of my friends as speakers. Although she spoke about them, my heart heard her speaking to me: <em>Nona, I know who you are. I’ve seen what you do. And you’re not good enough. You’re not what I’m looking for. You’re just average</em>.</p>
<p>I had not only constructed the full-blown, play-by-play narrative for why Susie hadn’t invited me but also decided I needed to unfollow everyone she had invited to speak. My heart felt like it would shatter if I saw one more friend’s post about the awesome conference I wasn’t invited to speak at. I didn’t want to wade through endless reminders that they were speaking at the conference and I wasn’t.</p>
<p>“Why did she pick everyone around me but not me?” I asked aloud again. The more I thought about it, the more my hurt turned to anger. But in my anger, I heard the Holy Spirit ask a different question: “Why does it matter?”</p>
<p>“Why does it matter?” I responded incredulously. “Because everyone who’s anyone will be speaking there. And I’m not. This will be the largest online women’s ministry gathering of the year, and I will be absent.”</p>
<p>“So you think you matter only because of the speaking invitations you receive?” the Holy Spirit asked.</p>
<p>“No,” I said. “I know I matter to <em>you</em>. I just . . . I just . . .” I stammered as the weight of the truth settled on me.</p>
<p>“Go ahead,” the Holy Spirit prompted, “say it.”</p>
<p>“I just want to matter to <em>them</em> too,” I whispered, tears forming in the corners of my eyes.</p>
<p>“I know, Nona. You want to matter to them because you’re insecure,” the Holy Spirit said matter-of-factly.</p>
<p>“Insecure?” I responded with disbelief. “I’m not insecure! Far from it. I know who I am in you. I preach about it regularly. Besides, I have everything I could ever want and more than I could ever have imagined. I’m definitely <em>not</em> insecure!”</p>
<h2>The Root of Insecurity</h2>
<p>With love and conviction, the Holy Spirit said, “Nona, you think people are insecure if they don’t like how they look or don’t like what they have or don’t like what they do. Those are <em>expressions</em> of insecurity, but they’re not the <em>root</em> of insecurity. The root of insecurity is when your identity is built on an insecure foundation.”</p>
<p>As I considered what the Holy Spirit said, I felt defensive. “My identity is secured to you, Lord. I know what the Word says about who I am, and I believe it. How can you say I’m insecure?”</p>
<p>“Yes, you know what my Word says, and you also believe it,” affirmed the Holy Spirit. “But knowledge and belief are not the same as faith. As long as you know my Word in your head and believe it in your heart but don’t practice it daily, your identity will continue to be secured to the affirmation of others. You have built your identity on people’s approval. People show their approval with likes on social media, but I demonstrated my approval through love on the cross. I approved of you before you were formed in your mother’s womb. And my approval is unchanging.”</p>
<p>The truth in these words hit me like a Mack truck. So much of my life had been spent trying to win people’s approval, and maybe yours has too.</p>
<p>The approval of others is never permanent, and it often depends on variables that are beyond our control. People use things such as height, weight, wealth, popularity, theology, position, or political affiliation as “approval filters” to determine whether we’re good enough for them. Yet God approved of us before there was anything to approve of. God created us <em>on</em> purpose, <em>with</em> purpose.</p>
<p>The Holy Spirit said, “Nona, the reason you’re hurt by not being invited to speak at that conference is because you measure your worth based on how much people approve of you <em>compared</em> to others. When you aren’t secured to the stable foundation of who I say you are, you drift with the shifting currents of others’ opinions about you. When you drift from me, you have to secure your identity to people’s opinions to stay afloat. Your insecurity didn’t start this morning. You’ve been insecure most of your life.”</p>
<p>I sat in silence with my eyes closed, reflecting on what the Holy Spirit had said. Before I knew it, my eyes were brimming with tears. The Holy Spirit was right—as always.</p>
<p>Somewhere along the line, I had surrendered my purpose for performative applause. God had valued me before I even had the ability to perform my way into his love. Though God determined I was worth dying for at my worst (<a title="read Romans 5:8 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A8&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Romans 5:8</a>), I made the mistake of conflating my eternal, intrinsic value with likes, follows, shares, and speaking invitations. And the craziest part of it all is that no one knew. <em>Not even me</em>. It happened subtly, over time.</p>
<p>With every larger platform I stepped onto, my heart had slowly detached from the secure foundation of God’s approval and attached itself to the insecure foundation of other people’s approval, creating insecurity.</p>
<p>“Lord, you’re right,” I said. “You say in your Word that people honor you with their lips but their hearts are far from you. I now understand what you mean. I have honored you with my lips, but I’m not honoring you with my life. Lord, I need your help. Please deliver me from insecurity.”</p>
<p>“Nona, what you’re asking will require more than you expect, but if you trust me and obey me, I will help you get to freedom. You must no longer look to others for approval; you must look only to me.”</p>
<p>“Lord, I’m ready,” I said.</p>
<p>“No, you’re not. But that’s what my grace is for.”</p>
<p>Just as Jonathan was outnumbered against the Philistines, we can feel overwhelmed by seeming to never measure up. But the same divine grace that enabled <em>his</em> victory is the same grace that enables our victory over insecurity too.</p>
<p>________</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright"><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/killing-comparison-reject-the-lie-you-arent-good-enough-and-live-confident-in-who-god-made-you-to-be?variant=40174880424072" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Killing-Comparison_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Killing Comparison by Nona Jones" height="280" width="280" /></a></figure></div>
<p>Adapted from <a title="Killing Comparison: Reject the Lie You Aren't Good Enough and Live Confident in Who God Made You to Be by Nona Jones" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/killing-comparison-reject-the-lie-you-arent-good-enough-and-live-confident-in-who-god-made-you-to-be?variant=40174880424072" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Killing Comparison: Reject the Lie You Aren’t Good Enough and Live Confident in Who God Made You to Be</em></a> by Nona Jones. <a title="Killing Comparison: Reject the Lie You Aren't Good Enough and Live Confident in Who God Made You to Be by Nona Jones" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/killing-comparison-reject-the-lie-you-arent-good-enough-and-live-confident-in-who-god-made-you-to-be?variant=40174880424072" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Leave behind the discontent of comparison and discover a free and joyful life.</p>
<p>Nearly all of us deal with the struggle of comparison and finding ourselves lacking. But there is a way to break free from internal and external messages communicating a lack of self-worth. It starts with identifying the basis of your urge to compare and ends with securing your identity to the unchanging confidence of God’s love for you.</p>
<p>Pastor Nona Jones knows this journey all too well. Throughout her life and in her career—most recently as an executive for the world’s largest social media company—Nona discovered that despite professional success, true confidence can only be achieved by defeating toxic comparison and securing our identity to God’s approval alone.</p>
<p><a title="Killing Comparison: Reject the Lie You Aren't Good Enough and Live Confident in Who God Made You to Be by Nona Jones" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/killing-comparison-reject-the-lie-you-arent-good-enough-and-live-confident-in-who-god-made-you-to-be?variant=40174880424072" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Killing Comparison</em></a> provides a fresh, biblically rooted perspective on an age-old human dilemma–the pressure to compare oneself to others—that the era of social media has exacerbated and heightened. This timely and necessary guide will help you:</p>
<ul>
<li>Determine your true source of self-worth</li>
<li>Develop practical ways to conquer daily comparison</li>
<li>Learn how to control social media instead of letting it control you</li>
<li>Discover how to accomplish your dreams without comparing yourself at every turn</li>
<li>Identify the root cause leading you to compare your life to others</li>
</ul>
<p>Through practical insight and down-to-earth encouragement, Nona helps you avoid the despair of comparison and pursue a free, joyful life.</p>
<p><strong>Nona Jones</strong> is an international speaker, preacher, author, and the head of global faith-based partnerships at Facebook. Previously, Nona held executive leadership roles across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. A graduate of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program, Nona was named one of <em>Essence</em> magazine’s Under 40 Women to Watch. Nona and her husband lead a church together in Gainesville, Florida. You can follow Nona at <a href="https://www.nonajones.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.nonajones.com</a>.</p>
<h2>Looking for More?<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30134528/SpectacleGloryCover2-220.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni's devotional A Spectacle of Glory: God's Light Shining through Me Every Day" height="338" width="220" /></a>
</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up today</a> for the Zondervan Books Growth <strong>monthly</strong> email newsletter and receive the PDF eBook <em>A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days</em> by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni’s devotional <em>A Spectacle of Glory: God’s Light Shining through Me Every Day</em>.</p>
<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more incredible books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p>
<p>________</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/11/how-the-root-of-insecurity-is-tied-to-your-identity/">How the Root of Insecurity Is Tied to Your Identity</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7106637
2022-11-19T22:35:00-12:00
2022-11-20T01:00:11-12:00
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Abridged: Popular in Bible Gateway Plus.
<p>Since its release as part of the<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_expbc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Bible Gateway Plus</a> library, the <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-expositors-bible-commentary-abridged-edition-two-volume-set?variant=13747125059695?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Abridged edition</a></em> has become one of the most popular study resources available to Bible Gateway Plus members.</p>
<p>The Abridged edition of the <em>Expositor’s Bible Commentary</em> is based on the original 12-volume set used by pastors, students and scholars around the world. While it’s broken down into two volumes (Old Testament and New Testament), it offers the key verse-by-verse commentary that leaves out technical jargon, allowing you to gain insight into your Bible study.</p>
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<p>One of the best ways to use the <em>Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Abridged edition</em> in Bible Gateway Plus is to access it during while you are reading Scripture as you normally do. Given this time of year, as we head into Thanksgiving, you may be reading Psalm 100 with your church. </p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>The “Plus Library” has been such a valuable tool for my personal study, as well as preparations for my Sunday Class. </p>
<cite>Bob W.</cite>
</blockquote>
<p>As you are reading this Psalm, open the Resources tab and filter to the Expositor’s Bible Commentary. When you select it (either on your desktop computer or mobile device), the exposition that aligns with verse in Psalm 100 will be accessible. You can read through each of these by Expanding and Collapsing each individual article.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Biblegatewayplus_Expositors_Psalm100.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Biblegatewayplus_Expositors_Psalm100.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Expositor's Bible Commentary open to Psalm 100" /></a><figcaption><strong>A note from the Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Abridged edition on Psalm 100</strong></figcaption></figure>
<p>In particular, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+100&version=NIV&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-ot/call-to-give-thanks-100-1-2&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">verse 3</a>, starting out with “Know that the <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Lord</span> is God” may catch your attention. “Know” is one of those words that can be taken many ways. With the Expositor’s Bible Commentary, you can read more about how it is more than an acknowledgement of a truth. </p>
<p>Not everyone will be drawn to the Bible passages in the same way, but the idea that <em>knowing</em> the Lord is the only true God is also a <em>confession </em>that we are held accountable for is a truly enlightening take on our relationship with God and worth <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=confession&version=NIV?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_expbc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studying further</a>.</p>
<p>W<em>e encourage you to dig in and learn more with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_expbc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bible Gateway Plus</a>. You’ll gain access to over $2,300 in digital Bible study resources. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog_expbc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more today!</a></em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/11/the-expositors-bible-commentary-abridged-popular-in-bible-gateway-plus/">The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Abridged: Popular in Bible Gateway Plus.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7105423
2022-11-18T01:19:09-12:00
2022-11-18T02:45:16-12:00
Zondervan Releases the Revised and Updated KJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible
<p style="font-size:16px">Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is proud to announce the release of the <em>Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible, Revised and Updated</em> in the King James Version (KJV). This is the second updated and revised edition of a <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> since Zondervan acquired the Bible line from Kirkbride Bible Company in 2020.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/9780310459217.lifestyle-shot.01.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/9780310459217.lifestyle-shot.01-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="KJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible Hardcover" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p style="font-size:16px">“We are honored to continue the legacy of the <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> through the publication of this edition,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “We are thrilled to introduce this timeless resource to loyal KJV readers. It is our hope that those who have loved the KJV TCR for decades will enjoy the updates we’ve made like easy-to-read page designs, completed chain references, beautiful illustrations, and the transition to the KJV Comfort Print® typeface. We hope these new editions will serve them well for many more years to come.” </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles by Zondervan (Comfort Print Editions)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tRW7RmS0xxg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>
<p style="font-size:16px">With an acclaimed patented reference system, the <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> is a well-recognized topical study Bible that has been in publication for more than 100 years. First published in 1908, it now contains more than 100,000 references, covering over 8,000 topics, making the chain-reference system an ideal tool for comprehensive topical study. The <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> also offers a library of additional study resources that allows readers to interpret the Bible using related scripture passages rather than consulting a commentary.</p>
<p style="font-size:16px">The <em>KJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> is printed in the KJV Comfort Print typeface for easy reading. Expertly designed specifically to be used for the King James Version (KJV) text, Comfort Print offers an easier reading experience that complements the translation. This Bible also features a two-color design that preserves the original look of the chain-reference system, while making each page cleaner and easier to read. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/9780310459088.interior.03.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/9780310459088.interior.03-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="KJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible Interior Page" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<h1 style="font-size:18px"><strong>The updated and revised editions of the <em>KJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles</em> feature:</strong></h1>
<ul style="font-size:16px">
<li>Complete text of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/King-James-Version-KJV-Bible/#booklist?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">King James Version (KJV)</a>
</li>
<li>Easy-to-understand chain-reference system with over 100,000 references</li>
<li>Alphabetical and numerical indexes highlight study materials for over 8,000 topics, each with its own topic number, for exhaustive topical study</li>
<li>An extensive study resource section includes biographical sketches, illustrated studies of the Bible, a concordance, Bible harmonies, and many other helpful study tools</li>
<li>Fresh, two-color page design</li>
<li>66 book introductions</li>
<li>16-page full-color map section with map index</li>
<li>Line-matched text for enhanced readability</li>
<li>Words of Jesus in red</li>
<li>Two double-sided satin ribbon markers, each 3/8-inch wide</li>
<li>Exclusive KJV Comfort Print typeface</li>
<li>Print size: 9.5</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-size:16px"><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/thompsonchainreference?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more about the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</a>.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/KJV-TCR-group.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/KJV-TCR-group-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="KJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/11/zondervan-releases-the-revised-and-updated-kjv-thompson-chain-reference-bible/">Zondervan Releases the Revised and Updated <em>KJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em></a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7102714
2022-11-15T01:26:40-12:00
2022-11-15T05:15:15-12:00
Growing Gratitude
<p><strong>By Christopher Reese</strong></p>
<p>As we approach Thanksgiving, our thoughts turn to giving thanks for all the good things the Lord has done and provided, especially since the beginning of the year. At the same time, we know that gratitude is a virtue that we should continually pursue as followers of Christ. In what follows, we’ll consider several ways we can grow in the often-neglected virtue of gratitude and make it part of our daily lives.</p>
<h2><strong>Called to Give Thanks</strong></h2>
<p>Before we start, it’s important to recall how much the giving of thanks is emphasized in Scripture. The Psalms encourage God’s people to “come before him with thanksgiving” and to “give thanks to him and praise his name” (Psalm <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps.+95%3A2&version=NIV&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/ps-95-2&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">95:2</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.+100%3A4&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/ps-100-4&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">100:4</a>). Jesus gave thanks for God’s provision when he fed the multitudes and at the last supper (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A16&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-first-century-study-bible/lk-9-10-17&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Luke 9:16</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A26-27&version=NIV&resource_entry=quest-study-bible/how-did-jesus-give-new-meaning-passover-26-26-29&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Matthew 26:26-27</a>). Paul regularly expressed gratitude to God (e.g., <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A57&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/1co-15-57&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">1 Corinthians 15:57</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+2%3A14&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-cultural-backgrounds/2co-2-14&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">2 Corinthians 2:14</a>), and instructed believers to give thanks in all circumstances, as well as in our prayers (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5%3A18&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-1-thess-5-18&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">1 Thessalonians 5:18</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-study-bible/php-4-6&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Philippians 4:6</a>). The book of Revelation gives a preview of both angels and humans giving thanks to God in heaven (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+7%3A12&version=NIV&resource_entry=believers-bible-commentary/7-11-12-3&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Revelation 7:12</a>). </p>
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<p>All of this suggests that thanksgiving should be a way of life for God’s people. Yet, gratitude is a spiritual habit that is developed over time, and often doesn’t come naturally. Below, we’ll consider three ways that we can grow in and practice thankfulness.</p>
<h2><strong>Cultivate Humility</strong></h2>
<p>Gratitude grows from the root of humility. Humility flows from the recognition that all we are and have are gifts from God—our existence, the universe we live in, every good thing we enjoy, our salvation, to name a few. When we recognize that these are gifts and not something we’re entitled to, the natural response is gratitude. It’s notable that the opposite of humility, pride, was the root cause of the rebellion of Satan and the fall of Adam and Eve (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+28%3A12-17&version=NIV&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/ezek-28-12&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Ezekiel 28:12-17</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen.+3&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/ge-3-1-24&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Genesis 3</a>). Pride blinds us to God’s goodness and our dependence on him. </p>
<p>The book of Proverbs equates humility with “the fear of the Lord”—that is, a proper respect for God’s authority and sovereignty—and adds that humility’s wages “are riches and honor and life” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+22%3A4&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-prov-22-4&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Proverbs 22:4</a>). Similarly, James observes that “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A6&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/jas-4-6&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">James 4:6</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A34&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/pr-3-34-humble&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Proverbs 3:34</a>). God wants us to acknowledge his authority, and rewards those who do. Reflecting on God’s status as Creator and ours as fortunate recipients of his good gifts helps us cultivate an attitude of humble thanksgiving. </p>
<h2><strong>Remember God’s Blessings</strong></h2>
<p>Ingratitude often stems from forgetfulness—of who God is, as we just saw, or what he has done for us. As Bernard of Clairvaux observed, “Ingratitude is a searing wind which dries up the springs of pity, the dew of mercy, the streams of grace.” Yet, we can reawaken our sense of thankfulness to God by remembering some of the amazingly gracious things he has done for us, especially in relation to salvation. Meditating on the following points, to which many more could be added, can remind us of the multitude of ways God has blessed us—even when we experience life’s trials. We can give thanks for/that: </p>
<ul>
<li>God’s goodness and mercy (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+106%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=esv-global-study-bible/ps-106-1-ps-106-3&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Psalm 106:1</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps+107%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/ps-107-1&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">107:1</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps+136%3A1%E2%80%933&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-study-bible/ps-136-1&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">136:1–3</a>)</li>
<li>The nearness of God’s presence (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A8&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-wiersbe-study-bible/ps-139-7-12&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Psalm 139:8</a>)</li>
<li>The supply of our physical needs (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A19&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-wiersbe-study-bible/php-4-14-20&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Philippians 4:19</a>)</li>
<li>Jesus’ sacrifice to reconcile us with God (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+peter+3%3A18&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/1pe-3-18-for-christ-also-suffered&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">1 Peter 3:18</a>)</li>
<li>Victory over death and the grave (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A20-22&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/1co-15-21-22&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">1 Corinthians 15:20-22</a>)</li>
<li>Deliverance from indwelling sin (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A23-25&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-jesus-bible/romans-7-25&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Romans 7:23-25</a>)</li>
<li>Being more than conquers (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A37&version=NIV&resource_entry=orthodox-study-bible/45-8-31-45-8-39&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Romans 8:37</a>)</li>
<li>We are God’s workmanship (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A10&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-eph-2-10&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Ephesians 2:10</a>)</li>
<li>The very hairs of our head are numbered (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12%3A7&version=NIV&resource_entry=believers-bible-commentary/12-6-7&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Luke 12:7</a>).<a id="_ftnref1" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn1">[1]</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>What else would you add to this list?</p>
<h2><strong>Appreciate the Ordinary</strong></h2>
<p>As we navigate the challenges of everyday life, it’s easy to take the ordinary for granted. But our daily path is strewn with God’s mundane blessings—the rising and setting of the sun, the stars, a gentle breeze, a friend’s laughter. As the English poet William Blake expressed it,</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p> To see a World in a Grain of Sand<br> And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,<br> Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand<br> And Eternity in an hour.</p></blockquote>
<p>Through the prophet Zechariah, the Lord warned the people of Judah not to “despise the dayof small things” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+4%3A10&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/zec-4-10-the-day-of-small-things&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Zechariah 4:10</a>). Although the disciples tried to shoo them away, Jesus took time to bless small children (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+19%3A13-14&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/mt-19-13&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Matthew 19:13-14</a>), and commended servants who had been faithful “with a few things” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A21&version=NIV&resource_entry=new-spirit-filled-life-bible/mt-25-14-30&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Matthew 25:21</a>). He took the time to admire the beauty of a flower, declaring that “not even Solomon in all his splendorwas dressed like one of these” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A29&version=NIV&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-nt/mt-6-28-30&tab=study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog">Matthew 6:29</a>). As pastor and author Joshua Kang helpfully notes,</p>
<p>When we experience God’s grace, our perspective is changed, and we are able to recognize the good in the ordinary. We see the good side of the people we meet, and the light in the midst of darkness. We learn to appreciate any kind of person and any circumstance, often being impressed and touched by nearly everything around us. When that happens, we notice God’s love in every situation. We become grateful for everything we enjoy, seeing how undeserving we are.<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftn2" id="_ftnref2">[2]</a></p>
<p>To grow in the depth of your gratitude toward God, make it a habit to pay attention to the commonplace, and recognize God’s fingerprints on the everyday blessings in your life.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-thumbnail"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14105340/Christopher-Reese.jpg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14105340/Christopher-Reese-150x150.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="150" width="150" /></a><figcaption>Christopher L. Reese</figcaption></figure></div>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/authwall?trk=bf&trkInfo=AQEc7_Tbz3eUHQAAAYPNRrog0hfxsyKt3K9fKzHLh9nSXzG7bxxjShW4Hhi_SNUDJIlwMbbq6jvK2ixJgt00Be1qufJ0Z7JyyLo11NK3TuB7em48Mz9odddrZGMokSwJ65BMndQ=&original_referer=&sessionRedirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fchristopher-l-reese-078b085a%2F" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Christopher L. Reese</a> (MDiv, ThM) writes about the Bible at <a href="https://bibleexposition.substack.com/p/a-few-favorite-quotations-about-bible?utm_source=substack%2C%2Fsearch%2Fbible%2520exposition&utm_medium=web%2Creader2&utm_campaign=reader2&showWelcome=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Bible Exposition</a>. He is a writer, editor, and journalist and has published two books with Zondervan as a general editor. His work has appeared in <em>Christianity Today</em>, Beliefnet, Summit Ministries, and other sites. </p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<p><a id="_ftn1" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref1">[1]</a> Parts of this list are adapted from Moisés Silva and Merrill C. Tenney, <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-zondervan-encyclopedia-of-the-bible-volume-3-revised-full-color-edition?variant=33618320851080?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible</a>, D-G</em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009).</p>
<p><a id="_ftn2" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#_ftnref2">[2]</a> Joshua Choonmin Kang, <em><a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/spirituality-gratitude-the-unexpected-blessings-thankfulness/joshua-kang/9780830846030/pd/846038?event=ESRCG?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spirituality of Gratitude: The Unexpected Blessings of Thankfulness</a></em> (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2015), Logos edition. I’m indebted to Kang’s insights for my discussion here. </p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/11/growing-gratitude/">Growing Gratitude</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7098693
2022-11-09T02:29:02-12:00
2022-11-09T05:30:26-12:00
Pray Like a Band of Wild, Unruly Monks
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/23121914/TylerStaton_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Tyler Staton: The way to pray like Jesus taught us to pray includes this unavoidable invitation: learn to live like a monk in the ordinary world." width="33%" />By Tyler Staton</strong></p>
<p>The way to pray like Jesus taught us to pray includes this unavoidable invitation: learn to live like a monk in the ordinary world. Historically speaking, this is the drum that God’s people have always been beating.</p>
<p>In the Hebrew tradition, which contains the very roots of the Christian faith, there has always been a daily prayer rhythm: pausing to pray three times a day—morning, midday, and evening. In fact, all the great spiritual traditions insist on some kind of a daily prayer rhythm. This is the central plot point of the book of <a title="Read Daniel on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Daniel&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Daniel</a>. He refuses to renounce prayer to Yahweh in a Babylonian culture. He won’t stop kneeling to pray <a title="Read Daniel 6:10 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+6%3A10&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">three times a day</a> in front of his Jerusalem-facing window. He lives by a daily prayer rhythm, and he will not order his prayer life according to the culture, customs, and expectations of that foreign land. That’s the offense that gets him <a title="Read Daniel 6 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%206&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">thrown to the lions</a>.</p>
<p><span id="more-71542"></span></p>
<p>Likewise, the psalmist unites the voice of all God’s people: “<a title="Read Psalm 55:16-17 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+55%3A16-17&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice</a>.”</p>
<p>Jesus himself observed a daily prayer rhythm. Every one of the Gospels contains descriptions of Jesus withdrawing from his activity for set times of prayer. There are seventeen scenes of Jesus at prayer.</p>
<p>It’s important to note that not every reference to Jesus in prayer was planned according to a fixed, daily rhythm. It wasn’t temple custom to stay up all night on a moonlit prayer hike, for instance, so Jesus did pray spontaneously. But it’s equally important to note that Jesus did pray according to a fixed, daily rhythm. The overwhelming historic evidence is that Jesus prayed according to the temple rhythm—three times a day—observing the same morning, midday, and evening rhythm we see in <a title="Read Daniel on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Daniel&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Daniel</a> and the <a title="Read Psalms on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Psalms&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Psalms</a>. In fact, many of the biblical references to Jesus in prayer fall into that category.</p>
<p>New Testament theologian Scot McKnight summarizes, “Jesus prayed within the sacred rhythms of Israel, and he knew firsthand their formative influence.” Jesus prayed spontaneously and routinely, alone and with others, pouring out his emotions in his own words and guided by the psalms at fixed hours in the temple. Jesus prayed like a wild, unruly monk.</p>
<p>The early church, whose shared life we’ve been trying to recapture for about seventeen hundred years now, lived by a daily prayer rhythm. In <a title="Read Acts on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Acts&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts</a>, the apostles picked up exactly where their rabbi had left off, praying like Jesus taught them:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<em>One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon</em>. (<a title="Read Acts 3:1 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+3%3A1&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts 3:1</a>)</li>
<li>
<em>On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God</em>. (<a title="Read Acts 4:23-24 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+4%3A23%E2%80%9324&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts 4:23–24</a>)</li>
<li>
<em>About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray</em>. (<a title="Read Acts 10:9 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10%3A9&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts 10:9</a>)</li>
</ul>
<p>The earliest nonbiblical document we have from church life is called the Didache, which, among other things, details the morning, midday, and evening prayers observed by all Christians in the early church.</p>
<p>Have you ever wondered how the apostles were able to gather their scattered congregations for emergency prayer meetings in a huge city in a world before cell phones? The most likely explanation is that they were already gathering for prayer at set points throughout the day.</p>
<p>A shared, daily prayer rhythm was the assumption in the church for centuries, and then the Roman Empire fell. When that happened, the church, for the first time in its history, buddied up with political power and lost its <a title="Read Matthew 5:13 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205%3A13&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">saltiness</a>, as Jesus put it. At that same time, they lost a taste for prayer.</p>
<p>The first monasteries were founded in the fourth and fifth centuries simply to continue the common life of the early church. Linking arms with power, church life had become diluted, and so a few believers withdrew to return to the potent expression of earlier days that had spread through the Greco-Roman world like wildfire. The original monks, now known as desert mothers and fathers, were ordinary people who wanted to continue living the common way of Jesus and the apostles. Those desert communities prayed like wild, unruly monks.</p>
<p><a title="Read Acts on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=acts&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts</a> is the biblical history book of the early church. I challenge you to read it in its entirety, highlighting every reference to “<a title="Read Acts 16:16 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016%3A16&version=NASB" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">as we were going to the place of prayer</a>” (or the equivalent phrase in your translation), and observe what comes along with a commitment to a life that is daily rooted in prayer.</p>
<p>In <a title="Read Acts 2 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+2&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts 2</a>, the flaming tongues of Pentecost descended while the believers were gathered for <em>morning prayer</em> (nine in the morning). In <a title="Read Acts 3 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+3&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts 3</a>, Peter and John performed the first miraculous healing after the resurrection <em>on the way to midday prayer</em> (three in the afternoon). In <a title="Read Acts 4 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+4&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts 4</a>, the foundations of the temple shook in response to the church’s <em>ordinary prayer gathering</em>. In <a title="Read Acts 10 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+10&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts 10</a>, Peter received a vision that the gospel was for not just the Jewish people but the entire world, and the family of Jesus expanded to all nations <em>while praying midday prayers</em>.</p>
<p>Even in <a title="Read Acts 2 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+2&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts 2</a>, we read this summary of the church’s inception: “<a title="Read Acts 2:42 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202%3A42&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer</a>.” The Greek word translated “prayer” is plural, a fact reflected in some translations, and almost certainly refers to the fixed rhythm of daily prayer. And what followed that devotion to prayer? The early church’s supernatural life included signs and wonders, wild generosity, countercultural community, and a daily tide of salvation washing in.</p>
<p>The early Christians placed a higher value on gathering to pray than we commonly do today, and they possessed a higher concentration of the Spirit’s power than we commonly do today. When we pray, expressing our love to God, the power of God, more or less, just inadvertently gets thrown in.</p>
<p>Throughout the whole of the biblical drama and into the early church history, prayer was the anchor of the Christian life in community. My suspicion is that when the apostle Paul instructed the church to “<a title="Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5%3A17&version=NKJV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pray without ceasing</a>,” he had in mind both a constant state of interior being and an outward, committed, concrete rhythm. The invitation is something like “pray like a band of wild, unruly monks,” and as you do, love and power will bloom together from within you.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/praying-like-monks-living-like-fools-an-invitation-to-the-wonder-and-mystery-of-prayer?variant=40201737633928" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Praying-Like-Monks_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="280" width="280" /></a>Taken from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/praying-like-monks-living-like-fools-an-invitation-to-the-wonder-and-mystery-of-prayer?variant=40201737633928" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer</em></a> by Tyler Staton. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/praying-like-monks-living-like-fools-an-invitation-to-the-wonder-and-mystery-of-prayer?variant=40201737633928" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>An invitation to an ordinary yet radical way of life, using historic Christian practices as both inspiring vision and practical instruction for how to encounter the wondrous, mysterious, living God through prayer.</p>
<p>Prayer is the source of Jesus’s most astonishing miracles and the subject of Jesus’s most audacious promises, and yet, most people—even most Bible-believing Christians—find prayer to be boring, obligatory, disappointing, confusing, or, most often, all of the above.</p>
<p>If you’ve ever felt this way, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/praying-like-monks-living-like-fools-an-invitation-to-the-wonder-and-mystery-of-prayer?variant=40201737633928" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools</em></a> is your invitation to trade your conceptions and misconceptions about prayer for prayer in its purest form: a vital, sustaining, powerful connection with God that is more real and alive than you could have ever imagined. In these pages, Tyler Staton—author, pastor, and national director of the 24/7 Prayer movement—addresses common roadblocks to prayer and gives you the confidence to come to God just as you are.</p>
<p>Through biblical teaching, powerful storytelling, and insights on historic Christian practices, Staton helps you:</p>
<ul>
<li>Express your doubts and disappointments about prayer</li>
<li>Discover and practice multiple postures of prayer, including silence, persistence, confession, and more</li>
<li>Understand and embrace the wonder and mystery of prayer in everyday life</li>
<li>Realize that prayer is a powerful invitation to partner with God in the redemption of a fallen world</li>
<li>And, ultimately, open or reopen the line of communication with your Creator and experience afresh his divine power on earth.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tyler Staton</strong> is the lead pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, and national director of the 24/7 Prayer movement in the United States. Tyler is also the author of <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/searching-for-enough-the-high-wire-walk-between-doubt-and-faith-1?variant=34736584949896" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Searching for Enough: The High-Wire Walk Between Doubt and Faith</em></a>. He lives in Portland with his wife, Kirsten, and their three sons, Hank, Simon, and Amos.</p>
<h2>Looking for More?<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30134528/SpectacleGloryCover2-220.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni's devotional A Spectacle of Glory: God's Light Shining through Me Every Day" height="338" width="220" /></a>
</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up today</a> for the Zondervan Books Growth <strong>monthly</strong> email newsletter and receive the PDF eBook <em>A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days</em> by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni’s devotional <em>A Spectacle of Glory: God’s Light Shining through Me Every Day</em>.</p>
<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more incredible books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p>
<p>________</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/11/pray-like-a-band-of-wild-unruly-monks/">Pray Like a Band of Wild, Unruly Monks</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7097835
2022-11-07T22:00:00-12:00
2022-11-08T02:00:20-12:00
Is Matthew Henry’s teaching still relevant for today?
<p>Matthew Henry has been considered one of the church’s most trusted teachers for more than three centuries. His work has been consulted and quoted by teachers and students the world over. In fact, the first commentary I ever used for Bible study was the one-volume edition of Henry’s work.</p>
<p>But as time passes, it’s natural to wonder if his teaching is still matters. Have the scholarly insights of the generations that followed him made his work irrelevant for our day?</p>
<h2>Who was Matthew Henry?</h2>
<p>But before we answer the question at hand, it might be helpful to familiarize ourselves with this esteemed Bible teacher. Born in Broad Oak, Iscoid, Wales, on October 18, 1662, Henry became a Christian at the age of 10. He studied law and was ordained in 1687, serving as a pastor in Chester, England, from that year until 1712. The Presbyterian minister regularly taught from the Old Testament in the mornings and New in the afternoons, demonstrating a deep spiritual capacity that stemmed from his knowledge of the Bible’s original languages. This teaching formed the basis of what became his six-volume commentary on the whole Bible, which he began writing in 1704. Henry completed Genesis through Acts over the following 10 years. </p>
<p>When he died in 1714, thirteen fellow non-conformist theologians set to work completing the final volume of Henry’s commentary, covering Romans through Revelation. Henry’s theology is a faithful testimony of historic evangelical truth, trusted by teachers and ministers across denominational and theological traditions, including Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and John & Charles Wesley.<sup><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#fn">[1]</a></sup></p>
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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-center"><p><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">right now!</a></em></p></blockquote>
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<h2>Does Time Move Us Beyond Matthew Henry?</h2>
<p>So back to the question at hand: Matthew Henry’s teaching has influenced many Bible teachers and students throughout the centuries. Regardless of our background or theological heritage, we have undoubtedly benefited from his teaching. But is it still relevant for today—has our knowledge of Scripture grown past Henry’s? </p>
<p>We have gained many additional insights into Scripture over the last 300 years, it’s true. We have access to more manuscripts and manuscript fragments that help us better see the reliability of the Bible. We have new information that has helped us better interpret the words and context of Scripture. But rather than invalidate Henry, much of what we have learned affirms his teaching, especially at its foundation. Because the foundation of his teaching was the gospel itself. </p>
<h2>The Example from Ezekiel</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+36%3A26%E2%80%9327&version=NKJV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ezekiel 36:26–27</a> is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. In this passage, the Lord gave Ezekiel a prophecy promising the renewal of God’s wayward people. He said, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+36%3A26%E2%80%9327&version=NKJV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ezekiel 36:26–27, NKJV</a>).</p>
<p>Henry’s commentary offers a beautiful example of his gospel-saturated perspective. He wrote:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>Don’t you think this promise to the children of Israel includes us? By nature aren’t we just as cold and indifferent as they were, and just as selfish? But thanks to God’s mercy and grace, He can and will give each of us a new heart—a tender, sincere, living heart conscious of spiritual pleasures. In order to do this, God puts His Spirit within us as our Teacher and Guide; He inclines us to walk in His statutes; He furnishes us with the wisdom, the will, and the power for every good work we do. </p>
<p>If we walk in newness of life, if we have a share in the divine nature, and if we have a title to the new Jerusalem, we have a new heart and a new spirit. If we have a new spirit, we act from new principles; we aim at new goals. It’s only by God’s renewing grace, however, that such a drastic change can be created in our hearts and lives. Paul said, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”</p>
<p>Therefore, if God graciously gives us a new heart and a new spirit, we must keep His judgments and make His Holy Word our guide. God does His part; we must do our part. The promise of God’s grace should constantly quicken us to do our best. Without His grace, we can do nothing. Surely converting grace makes the soul that was once a wilderness “blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing.”<sup><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#fn">[2]</a></sup></p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Faithful Teaching Endures Because the Gospel Endures</h2>
<p>This is what makes Henry’s teaching as valuable today as it was in the 18th century. The gospel was the focus of all Henry desired his hearers, then and now, to embrace and delight in. For the life-giving power of Christ to pour into the dry bones of those weary and heavy-laden from their sins. His teaching endures because the gospel endures. And because the gospel endures, we will continue to benefit and be blessed as we learn from faithful teachers like Matthew Henry.</p>
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<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-medium"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/9780785246558-HC-White-200x300.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Matthew Henry Daily Devotional Bible, Hardcover edition" height="300" width="200" /></figure></div>
<h2 style="font-size:24px">Experience Henry’s trusted guidance through the Word every day in the <em>Matthew Henry Daily Devotional Bible</em>
</h2>
<p>Featuring 366 devotions, the <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/nkjv-matthew-henry-daily-devotional-bible-hardcover-red-letter-comfort-print-366-daily-devotions-by-matthew-henry?variant=40269857554568" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matthew Henry Daily Devotional Bible</a></em> will help you gain greater understanding and appreciation of Scripture and encounter God’s heart every day. Drawn from Henry’s enormously popular commentary, his insights paired with Scripture will guide you into a deeper relationship with the Father as you find comfort, knowledge, and wisdom from God’s Word.</p>
<p><strong>Features include:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The complete Bible text in the New King James translation</li>
<li>366 daily devotions tailored to the days reading to easily connect God’s Word to your life’</li>
<li>Line-matched 2-column paragraph format for improved clarity when reading</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Perfect for new and mature believers alike, <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/nkjv-matthew-henry-daily-devotional-bible-hardcover-red-letter-comfort-print-366-daily-devotions-by-matthew-henry?variant=40269857554568" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Matthew Henry Devotional Bible</a></em> is an opportunity to delve into God’s Word every day and be transformed as a result. </strong></p>
<p><em>The </em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/nkjv-matthew-henry-daily-devotional-bible-hardcover-red-letter-comfort-print-366-daily-devotions-by-matthew-henry?variant=40269857554568" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matthew Henry Daily Devotional Bible</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<ol id="fn" class="has-small-font-size">
<li>This biographical sketch is adapted in part from the biography that appears in <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-new-matthew-henry-commentary-the-classic-work-with-updated-language?variant=13745030201455" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The New Matthew Henry Commentary</a></em> (Zondervan 2010).</li>
<li>“November 30,” <em>Matthew Henry Daily Devotional Bible </em>(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Bibles, 2022), 959.</li>
</ol>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/11/is-matthew-henrys-teaching-still-relevant-for-today/">Is Matthew Henry’s teaching still relevant for today?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7092173
2022-10-30T21:03:00-12:00
2022-10-31T03:15:12-12:00
How I Escaped the World of Trafficking
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/10161506/RebeccaBender_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="For nearly six years, Rebecca Bender was sold across the underground world of sex trafficking in Las Vegas. This is how she escaped." height="280" width="280" />By Rebecca Bender</strong></p>
<p><em>Editor’s Note: For nearly six years, Rebecca Bender was sold across the underground world of sex trafficking in Las Vegas. She was branded, beaten, told when to sleep and what to wear, and traded between traffickers. This article shares the beginning of her restoration and deliverance from slavery and drug addition, adapted from her book</em> <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/in-pursuit-of-love-one-woman-s-journey-from-trafficked-to-triumphant?variant=29460649181295" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">In Pursuit of Love</a>.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”</em> — <a title="Read Matthew 21:31 (NIV, NIrV in parallel) on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A31&version=NIV;NIRV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 21:31</a></p>
<p>I knew I needed professional help if I wanted to get my life together and my little girl back. Bryan my pimp was furious about the hospital incident due to my drug overdose and kept his distance, spending time with his other girls. Yet somehow he convinced me that it was my drug use that caused all the prostitution, and that he wanted me to go to rehab because <em>he loved me</em>. I called my mom and got a list of women’s rehabs in the Pacific Northwest that she’d compiled for me. Last on the list was Victory Outreach, a Christian women’s home.</p>
<p>“Those Christians don’t have a clue what real life on the streets is like,” I told her as she read the phone numbers to me. I hung up and began calling the numbers on the list.</p>
<p><span id="more-53592"></span></p>
<p>No vacancy.</p>
<p>No vacancy.</p>
<p>No vacancy.</p>
<p>It was as if they had all teamed up against me. I learned that most treatment centers fill up right before Christmas. Apparently, there is no shortage of addicts and homeless people searching for a “room at the inn” for the holidays.</p>
<p>I swiftly came to the last treatment center on my list: Victory Outreach. I called, and a young lady answered.</p>
<p>“Hi,” I said. “I was wondering if you have any beds available?”</p>
<p>“No, sorry,” she replied quickly.</p>
<p>Overwhelmed by all the closed doors, I started bawling.</p>
<p>“Listen,” I sniffed, “I’m a prostitute and a drug addict, and I’m in Las Vegas, and my mom has my daughter. I need to get her back . . . please, I’m begging you . . . can you <em>please</em> help me?”</p>
<p>“Hold on,” she quipped.</p>
<p><em>Great</em>, I thought. <em>I probably shocked the poor Christian girl</em>. I blew my nose and sat patiently for a few minutes until I heard an older woman’s voice.</p>
<p>“Hello, this is sister Debbie. How can I help you?”</p>
<p>“Hi. I live in Las Vegas, but my mom lives in Oregon. She has my daughter, and I need to get clean before I can get her back. I’m a drug addict and a prostitute, and I was hoping you have a bed available.”</p>
<p>“Well, sister, God must really want you here. I’ll tell you what. I have one bed left, but I can hold it for only 24 hours. Can you be here by tomorrow?”</p>
<p>“Yes, I can,” I blurted without thinking. She explained that I would have to commit to a one-year program. I agreed, privately planning to leave as soon as I was clean.</p>
<p>The only problem was, I had zero dollars to my name. I called and got the cost of a plane ticket: $342. I cleaned up in a flash and dialed the escort service to request a call, knowing full well that calls were scarce during the holidays. Most men spend that season with their families, not with working girls in Vegas.</p>
<p>After a long wait, a call came in. I walked out of that hotel room with $350 in my pocket. The next morning, I drove directly to the airport. I bought the first ticket to Portland, Oregon. I had already called Mom to let her know when I was arriving and where she could take me. I left a message to my drug dealer and a terse voicemail for Bryan.</p>
<p>“I’m done. I’m going home.”</p>
<p>As I boarded the plane, I wondered what this place would make of me. Would the sheltered Christians be disgusted by my past? Would they judge me? Would they make me feel like the girls in Grandma’s Sunday school class did, staring and keeping their distance as if divorce were contagious?</p>
<p>I stared out the plane window at the miniature casinos. How bad could this Victory Outreach place be? I’d survived worse things than detox.</p>
<h4>A New Beginning</h4>
<p>Mom, Ken, my daughter Deshae, and I squeezed into their Toyota Tacoma at the Portland airport parking lot. I was talking a mile a minute, happy to see everyone, but the waves of dread crashing over me made the cramped 30-minute drive to Battle Ground, Washington, feel like hours. The name of the city was fitting, though I had zero understanding of the significant spiritual battleground I was about to enter.</p>
<p>At first sight, Victory Outreach wasn’t what I’d expected. I later learned that the ministry was renting out the U-shaped building, formerly a nursing home, to operate their rehab home for men and women.</p>
<p>I stepped out of the truck grateful that I still had a few cigarettes left. I lit one and sucked in the menthol deeply. The drag calmed my nerves. Deshae and Mom were grateful to stretch their legs after their five-hour drive from home. I leaned back and exhaled smoke into the crisp, chilly air. The clear sky was rare for this part of the rain-ridden Pacific Northwest.</p>
<p>A man came out of the house attached to one side of the building. A wide smile lit up his weathered olive complexion, and a tattoo peeked out from his shirt collar. He walked with a confident skip in his step. His look reminded me of an old school gang member. He extended his hand to me.</p>
<p>“You must be sister Rebecca from Las Vegas,” he said with a gravelly voice. His thick accent gave away his Latino roots. I nodded, taking my last drag, and shook his hand weakly.</p>
<p>“I’m Pastor Joe, the home director. It’s nice to have you,” he said. Strangely, I believed he meant it, likely because he hadn’t heard my whole story.</p>
<p>“You ready for Jesus to change your life, sister?” He half smiled and laughed.</p>
<p>I smiled back in agreement. I was ready, and Pastor Joe struck me as someone I could open up to without the fear of shocking him. <em>Maybe homeboy is a’right</em>.</p>
<p>Inside, Pastor Joe took me to an intake room where a tall African American woman greeted us. She stood as we entered.</p>
<p>“I’m sister Monica,” she said, smiling warmly. “Nice to meet you.”</p>
<p>I felt an instant connection to this woman, who was the assistant head staff. <em>I can do this. I’ll do 30 days, get clean, and get Deshae back</em>.</p>
<p>We filled out a bunch of forms, and they searched my clothes to make sure I had no weapons or drugs, then we toured the building. The first room in the long hallway was known as the “detox room.” I would spend three days detoxing without having to adhere to the daily routine. After that, it’d be one week of blackout—no phone calls or visits. It was supposed to help me adjust to the new daily schedule. The “women’s side” was a hallway that housed up to 18 women in nine bedrooms, each with two twin beds. There was a half bathroom between each pair of rooms and one shower at the end of the hall. We were restricted to five-minute showers on a closely monitored schedule and would be disciplined for going over time.</p>
<p>After the tour ended, my family and I circled up for prayer with Pastor Joe, who walked me through the “Sinner’s Prayer.” I was too strung out to appreciate its spiritual significance, but I knew I was beginning a new journey. Whatever was ahead couldn’t be worse than what I’d been through. I would dig my heels in and stay for Deshae.</p>
<h4>Detox and Much More</h4>
<p>Cocaine detox is not as extreme as heroin withdrawal. I experienced fatigue, restlessness, nausea, and strong cravings. But after a few days with more sleep than I was used to and regular meals, the cravings began to lessen. I relied on the buzz from my nicotine patch and nicotine gum, since smoking was not allowed.</p>
<p>I adjusted to the new routines, which were mostly a welcome distraction from all my cravings. Much like military boot camp, we woke at five o’clock and had to keep our rooms clean and our beds made. We’d groggily walk into our small living room area and pour cups of coffee (with sugar and powdered milk if some kind soul had donated them). The building was old and musty, with moldy window seals and peeling linoleum. The living space was filled with an odd combination of garage sale furniture. A “Read the Bible in a Year” plan torn from the back of <em>Our Daily Bread</em> was taped to the wall. We’d find the date and read the Scripture while waiting for sister Monica to finish room checks.</p>
<p>One morning, not long after detox, I turned to our required daily reading. Tingles swept across my entire body as I read the words of <a title="Read Exodus 3:6 (NLT, NIV in parallel) on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+3%3A6&version=NLT;NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Exodus 3:6</a> (NLT 2000): “When Moses heard this, he hid his face in his hands because he was afraid to look at God.” And then in <a title="Read Exodus 14:13 (NLT, NIV in parallel) on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+14%3A13&version=NLT;NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Exodus 14:13</a>: “Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the Lord rescue you.”</p>
<p>Those were <em>his</em> words. The words my friend Kyra had spoken to me in her sweet voice: <em>Do not be afraid</em>.</p>
<p>Sitting on the dumpy couch in the Victory Outreach living room that morning, I stared back at the words in <a title="Read the book of Exodus (NLT, NIV in parallel) on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1&version=NLT;NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Exodus</a>.</p>
<p>“He hid his face in his hands because he was afraid to look at God . . . Do not be afraid.”</p>
<p><em>Did that really happen? Could God have actually sent a working girl to deliver a word to me?</em> Moses was afraid to look at God. I’d been unable to look at Kyra, hiding my face in my hands. <em>Is it possible that this book, written thousands of years ago, has the same words that Kyra spoke to me that day?</em></p>
<p>Something stirred in me, and the <a title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bible</a> didn’t seem quite so boring anymore.</p>
<p>Every morning after Bible reading, we’d go into the dining area, where we’d pray for one hour. At first I didn’t know what to make of this. <em>An entire hour? What the heck could we pray about for a whole hour? Bless the food, keep it movin’!</em></p>
<p>Sister Monica showed us what to do. As worship music filled the dining room, she prayed out-loud. She started by praying for the women’s home, then for our pastors, the home directors, the city, the government, each woman, the lost, the brokenhearted. By this time, the Spirit of God was flowing out of sister Monica, and she wept and prayed for her family, her children, her marriage, and thanked God for her deliverance and the renewal of her mind and heart.</p>
<p>I was mesmerized. I’d never heard or seen this kind of prayer. I listened to the music, soaking up the peace I felt in these still moments of the early morning. I looked out the window to the earliest whispers of light before sunrise. I yawned and stretched my arms above my head. I wasn’t used to being up early unless I was coming home from a call.</p>
<p>I closed my eyes and lifted my hands.</p>
<p>A strange sensation crept over me and my body quivered. It felt exactly the same as the night a man tried to strangle me, right before he stopped. Memories of that night came racing back. It startled me, and I opened my eyes.</p>
<p><em>Why am I remembering this now?</em> I thought I had buried that terror in the back of my mind.</p>
<p>A silent thought, much like my own but altogether different and set apart, came suddenly, piercing my heart: “That is the feeling of life, not death. It was me who released his hands from your neck.”</p>
<p>I fell to my knees and wept tears of gratitude.</p>
<p>“Well then, my life is yours to use as you wish,” I prayed silently. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here. Why did you save <em>me?</em> You not only helped me escape; you saved my life. What do you have for me, God?”</p>
<p>A fire lit my soul and made me hungry for more. I began soaking up God’s Word daily. For the first time in my life, I read the stories of <a title="Read verses about Mary Magdalene on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Mary+Magdalene&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mary Magdalene</a>, <a title="Read verses about Rahab on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Rahab&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rahab</a>, <a title="Read verses about Tamar on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Tamar&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tamar</a>, <a title="Read verses about the woman at the well on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A4-42&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the woman at the well</a>, and <a title="Read verses about the alabaster jar on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=alabaster+jar&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the alabaster jar</a>. I realized that Jesus loves girls like me.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/in-pursuit-of-love-one-woman-s-journey-from-trafficked-to-triumphant?variant=29460649181295" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/10162051/InPursuitLove_Cover2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="In Pursuit of Love: One Woman’s Journey from Trafficked to Triumphant" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/in-pursuit-of-love-one-woman-s-journey-from-trafficked-to-triumphant?variant=29460649181295" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>In Pursuit of Love: One Woman’s Journey from Trafficked to Triumphant</em></a> by Rebecca Bender. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/in-pursuit-of-love-one-woman-s-journey-from-trafficked-to-triumphant?variant=29460649181295" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to lean more about this book.</p>
<p>Through her own gripping story of escape from human trafficking, Rebecca Bender teaches us what trafficking in America looks like — and what we can do about it — as she reveals the light of God in even the darkest places. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/in-pursuit-of-love-one-woman-s-journey-from-trafficked-to-triumphant?variant=29460649181295" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>In Pursuit of Love</em></a> is a riveting read that will give you the confidence to pursue your own purpose and take you on a journey to places you never thought possible.</p>
<p>Born and raised in a small Oregon town, all-American girl Rebecca Bender was a varsity athlete and honor roll student with a promising future. Then a predator pretending to be her boyfriend lured her into a web of lies that sent her down a path she never imagined possible.</p>
<p>For nearly six years, Rebecca was sold across the underground world of sex trafficking in Las Vegas. She was branded, beaten, told when to sleep and what to wear, and traded between traffickers. Forced into a dark sisterhood, Rebecca formed bonds with her trafficker and three other women, creating a false sense of family. During that time, God began revealing himself to her. And in the midst of her exploitation, she found the hope she needed to survive.</p>
<p>After a federal raid, Rebecca escaped. Her life was forever changed as she felt the embrace of her heavenly Father guiding her to healing and wholeness. Rebecca soon began to use her own experiences to change the lives of others as she went back into the darkest places she had known — assisting FBI, VICE, and law enforcement across the country in some of their most difficult cases.</p>
<p>Through Rebecca’s incredible story of redemption, we remember that our past does not have to determine our destiny.</p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eY-AnwQo4Ek" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></center>
<p><strong>Rebecca Bender</strong> received the kind of restoration that only God provides after escaping nearly six years of human trafficking. Now an award-winning social entrepreneur, she is the CEO & Founder of the Rebecca Bender Initiative, a nonprofit that works with law enforcement, FBI, Homeland Security, and aftercare programs and provides expert testimony, trainings, and consultation across the globe. She is also the founder of Elevate Academy, an online school for women who want to pursue the call of God regardless of their pasts. Rebecca has earned her Masters in Christian Thought from Bethel Seminary and enjoys influencing culture by teaching biblical truths for various audiences. Rebecca and her husband, Matt, live in the Pacific Northwest with their four daughters.<br>
________</p>
<h2>
<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-stories-of-lives-transformed/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/12085302/RWQCover-Vol-1.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Wisdom for Life: Inspiring and Insightful Quotes from the Author of the Purpose Driven Life, Volume 1 by Rick Warren" width="280" /></a>Looking for More?</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-stories-of-lives-transformed/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up today</a> for the Zondervan Books Stories of Lives Transformed monthly email newsletter and receive the PDF eBook <em>Wisdom for Life: Inspiring and Insightful Quotes from the Author of the Purpose Driven Life</em>, Volume 1 by Rick Warren.</p>
<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more incredible books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-stories-of-lives-transformed/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/10/my-escape-from-trafficking/">How I Escaped the World of Trafficking</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7090076
2022-10-27T07:04:19-12:00
2022-10-27T08:45:07-12:00
Stan Gundry’s Tribute to the Late Gordon D. Fee
<p>I first became acquainted with Gordon when we were both still young men—about 50 years ago. The man I came to know was one to be admired, respected, and emulated:</p>
<ul>
<li>A devout Christian whose faith inspired those who knew him.</li>
<li>A New Testament scholar of the first rank whose scholarship was admired and appreciated by both liberals and conservatives. </li>
<li>A Bible translator committed to communicating the Bible’s message to ordinary people accurately and accessibly.</li>
<li>An author who wrote scholarly tomes for the academy but who had the ability to write books for beginning Bible students.</li>
<li>A believer who was loyal to the Pentecostal tradition in which he was raised but was also able and willing to subject that tradition to biblical correctives.</li>
<li>A man of integrity who held others to the same standard.</li>
<li>A family man who was obviously devoted to his wife and children.</li>
</ul>
<span id="more-71478"></span>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/feeg_portrait_bcccff05c25f7a936ec8e7afd5e552fc.jpg"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/feeg_portrait_bcccff05c25f7a936ec8e7afd5e552fc-1024x769.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Gordon Fee" height="240" width="320" /></a><figcaption>Dr. Gordon Fee. Author of <em>How to Read the Bible for All its Worth</em>.</figcaption></figure></div>
<p>Dr. Fee’s commentaries on the New Testament are used by students, pastors, and scholars around the world. But in my view Gordon’s most lasting legacy to the Christian church will be his (a) contribution as one of the scholars who worked on keeping the New International Version of the Bible current in the light of the best biblical scholarship and current English usage, and (b) the two books for students he co-authored with Douglas Stuart, <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/how-to-read-the-bible-for-all-its-worth-fourth-edition?variant=13752418107503&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgblog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth</a> </em>and <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/how-to-read-the-bible-book-by-book-a-guided-tour?variant=13761679327343" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to Read the Bible Book by Book</a>.</em></p>
<p>Gordon, thank you for being the person you were and for all that you left us as your legacy. We already miss you.</p>
<p>Stan Gundry</p>
<p>SVP and Group Publisher for Zondervan Academic and Zondervan Reflective. </p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/10/stan-gundrys-tribute-to-the-late-gordon-d-fee/">Stan Gundry’s Tribute to the Late Gordon D. Fee</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7088615
2022-10-25T07:53:54-12:00
2022-10-25T10:45:15-12:00
Scripture Engagement is Different than Bible Study – An Interview with Phil Collins
<p>Has anyone ever taught you how to read the Bible so that you grow spiritually? Do you know how to come to the Scriptures in a manner that promotes a thriving, living relationship with Christ? For many, the guidance ends with someone telling you to “read your Bible and pray every day.” Too many people have come to the Bible with an inadequate approach, flounder around, get distracted and then stop coming to the Bible; thinking that something was wrong with the Bible or with themselves.</p>
<p>In <em>The Abide Bible Course</em>, a professor and a pastor – Dr. Phil Collins and Randy Frazee – walk through five transformative Christian practices for reading the Bible. In this Q&A, Bible Gateway interviewed Dr. Phil Collins about the 6-session video Bible study, <a href="https://churchsource.com/collections/abide-bible-course"><em>The Abide Bible Course</em></a>, (HarperChristian Resources, 2022).</p>
<p><strong>What is The Abide Bible Course?</strong></p>
<p>It’s a six-session small group video curriculum designed as a very practical training tool to help people learn how to engage Scripture – how to read it in a way that’s vibrant and life changing. Each session has a set of opening questions for discussion, a 20-minute or so video, notes for the video teaching, directions for activities and discussion questions. One of the great things about the sessions is that each one has a series of personal studies for individuals to practice between sessions. Our friend, pastor, and author J.R. Briggs, did an amazing job developing the written materials.</p>
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<iframe title="The Abide Bible Course - Promo | Video Study with Randy Frazee and Phil Collins" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gIkQ2AJX1CM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>
<p><strong>How did the <em>Abide Bible Course</em> come about?</strong></p>
<p>It’s really been a collaborative process between the <a href="https://www.taylor.edu/center-for-scripture-engagement/">Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/7374656.Randy_Frazee">Randy Frazee</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/">Bible Gateway</a>, <a href="https://www.kairospartnerships.org/">J.R. Briggs</a>, and <a href="https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/abide-Bible/">HarperChristian Resources</a>. We all deeply believe that the Scriptures are at the center of the discipleship process. That it’s through God’s Word that we primarily learn to love Christ and are transformed into the image of Christ. It was the good people at HarperChristian who brought us all together on the project. </p>
<p><strong>What are the six sessions in the Abide Bible Course about?</strong></p>
<p>The first session is about Scripture engagement and why the Bible is so important to our abiding in Christ. The other five sessions are about the following specific Scripture engagement practices and how to do them, 1) praying Scripture, 2) engaging Scripture through art, 3) journaling Scripture, 4) picturing Scripture, and 5) contemplating Scripture. The sessions are all fun, collaborative, and very practical.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Abide-5-Practices-FB.png"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Abide-5-Practices-FB.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="788" width="940" /></a></figure>
<p><strong>Are those the only Scripture engagement practices that exist?</strong></p>
<p>Not at all, but they’re a pretty good place to start. You can read about others in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/">Scripture engagement section of Bible Gateway</a>. We believe there isn’t just one right way to engage with Scripture. In the same way that there are many ways to exercise that lead to being healthy, there are a variety of ways to engage Scripture that lead to spiritual health. Different people seem to be attracted to different Scripture engagement practices. There doesn’t seem to be a one-size-fits-all way of coming to the Scriptures, the spiritual life is more personal than that.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<p><a href="https://churchsource.com/products/the-abide-bible-course-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-five-practices-to-help-you-engage-with-god-through-scripture?variant=39659470028897">Learn More about the Abide Bible Course and pick up a copy of the Study Guide + Streaming Video from our friends at ChurchSource today.</a></p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<p><strong>What do you mean by “Scripture engagement?”</strong></p>
<p>Did you know the Bible tells us how we’re to read or listen to it? It uses words like </p>
<p>“abide” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+2.14&version=NKJV"><strong>1 John 2:14</strong></a>) “meditate” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps+1.2&version=NKJV"><strong>Ps. 1:2</strong></a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=josh+1.8&version=NKJV"><strong>Josh. 1:8</strong></a>), “consider” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+tim+2.7&version=NKJV"><strong>2 Tim. 2:7</strong></a>), “look into” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james+1.25&version=NKJV"><strong>James 1:25</strong></a>), “dwell” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=col+3.16&version=NKJV"><strong>Col. 3:16</strong></a>), “see” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jer+2.31&version=NKJV"><strong>Jer. 2:31</strong></a>), “bind” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deut+6.7&version=NKJV"><strong>Deut. 6:7</strong></a>), “receive” and “search” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+17.11&version=NKJV"><strong>Acts 17:11</strong></a>), “hide” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps+119.11&version=NKJV"><strong>Ps. 119:11</strong></a>), “hold fast” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor+15.2&version=NKJV"><strong>1 Cor. 15:2</strong></a>), and even “eat” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jer+15.16&version=NKJV"><strong>Jer. 15:16)</strong></a>. Those are all words of deep engagement. Too often we come to the Bible and just skim it. You might say we tend to be fast food consumers of the Bible when we really need to slow down and take our time so that the truths of Scripture sink into our very souls. </p>
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<p><strong>Isn’t Scripture engagement the same thing as Bible study?</strong></p>
<p>No, it’s a <em>complement</em> to deep study of the Bible. We study to discover what a passage means. We must know what the Bible means if we’re to have an accurate understanding of God as we meet with him. But just studying the Bible isn’t enough. It’s possible to study the Bible so that it becomes a mere academic exercise, studying in a way that ends up not impacting spiritual growth. Scripture engagement calls us to having knowledge of a text along with a personal insight about that text. Scripture engagement encourages us to listen with our minds and with our hearts. The ideal process is to come to the Bible by first working hard to study what it means. The next step is to reflect, in the power of the Holy Spirit, on the meaning of the passage for your own life and community. Reflection will bring up more questions about the meaning of the text and drive you back to study, which will then lead to the need for more reflection. A cycle of study-reflection-study-reflection, which leads to a deepened relationship with God and a changed life, is the most powerful process for developing spiritually.</p>
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<p><strong>Why do you think so many people find Bible reading to be so hard?</strong></p>
<p>A few reasons come to mind. First is that most Christians report that no one has really taught them how to read the Bible to grow spiritually. We value Scripture reading, we just don’t know how to do it. </p>
<p>A second reason is that people have a natural tendency to avoid anything that will cause them to change. Meeting and knowing God is always a life-changing process and is always for our good. However, it involves a death to ourselves, which can be intimidating (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A24">Matthew 16:24</a>). Studying the Bible for information can be done in the spirit of trying to master the text so that <em>we</em> are the ones who control the Bible instead of putting ourselves under the authority of God’s Word (think of the Pharisees). Meeting with God will change our lives. Being willing to admit that we need change (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+2%3A17">Mark 2:17</a>) is a critical first step in Scripture engagement. Our sinful, prideful nature fights against yielding to God’s renewing work in our lives.</p>
<p><br>Lastly, people don’t tend to think of the Bible as a relational book. It’s a book about God revealing himself to us. He’s telling his story of salvation, through Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing better than knowing God (Jer. 9:23-24)! It is through the Scriptures that we meet Christ (John 5:39-40). No wonder the Bible says that we are to delight in the God’s Word (Psalm 1:2)!<br></p>
<p>Our hope is that The Abide Bible Course will help people with each of these concerns; that it will equip people to read the Bible, it will encourage them to yield to God’s work in their lives, and that it will inspire them to come to the Bible with delight because that’s the place they’ll meet God. Like the Ethiopian eunuch, we often need a “Philip” to come along side of us to help us know what to do when we come to the Bible (Acts 8:26-40), someone who can model the process. </p>
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<p><strong>Is it significant to have a pastor and professor work together on this project?</strong></p>
<p>We hope so – if nothing else, we sure have had fun on this project! Bringing together the pastoral and academic worlds has helped keep us grounded in both the practical day-to-day lives of real people and in the latest cutting edge thinking and research on Scripture engagement. </p>
<p><a href="https://churchsource.com/products/the-abide-bible-course-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-five-practices-to-help-you-engage-with-god-through-scripture?variant=39659470028897">Learn More about the Abide Bible Course and pick up a copy of the Study Guide + Streaming Video from our friends at ChurchSource today.</a></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/10/scripture-engagement-is-different-than-bible-study-an-interview-phil-collins/">Scripture Engagement is Different than Bible Study – An Interview with Phil Collins</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7085390
2022-10-20T03:44:42-12:00
2022-10-20T07:45:12-12:00
A Conversation with OneHope About the New NIV Telos Bible
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<p>Bible Gateway interviewed Erika Andujar, Director of Publishing for Bible Media Group/OneHope. She shared the inspiration behind <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-the-telos-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-a-student-s-guide-through-scripture?variant=40425579970696&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-telos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The NIV Telos Bible</a></em>, now available from Zondervan.</p>
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<h2><strong>What inspired OneHope to create <em>The NIV Telos Bible</em>?</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Erika Andujar:</strong> For more than 10 years, OneHope has been researching and building a community of youth pastors, next generation ministry leaders, and theologians to address the condition and challenges spiritually facing North America. We live in a post-truth age when the claims and teachings of the Word have been deconstructed, relativized, and challenged in ways that it never has been before. We created <em>The Telos Bible</em> to help students search the scriptures to find the life-giving truths they so desperately need.</p>
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<figcaption>Learn more about <em>The NIV Telos Bible</em></figcaption></figure>
<h2><strong>Why do you think it’s important to target high school and college students with this type of Bible?</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Erika Andujar:</strong> Recent <a href="https://www.globalyouthculture.net" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> around Scripture engagement shows a steady decrease in biblical literacy and engagement among the next generation. Only one in four Christian teens read the Bible on their own at least once a week or more. However, the research also revealed that the number one indicator of spiritual vibrancy in students was daily biblical engagement. With <em>The Telos Bible</em>, we’re giving the Church a tool that can help the next generation rediscover the importance of God’s Word for their lives.</p>
<h2><strong>What is the goal of <em>The Telos Bible</em>?</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Erika Andujar:</strong> We wanted all of the content to function as a friendly guide, bridging the gap between students and God’s big story. The Bible is an incredible library of ancient books that can be very intimidating to new readers. Our world is not the same as the ancient world. It is important to help readers better grasp the historical, literary, and theological context of each biblical book. Many of the materials students will encounter in this Bible are designed to do just that. </p>
<p>But the Bible is also so much more than an ancient library. When we read the Bible, we are receiving God’s Word for all of us. Because of this, we have also included several articles or short sidebar pieces throughout <em>The Telos Bible</em> that will help students as they seek to hear the voice of God and respond in their own lives.</p>
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<h2><strong>Why <em>Telos</em>?</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Erika <strong>Andujar:</strong> </strong>In Greek, the noun <em>telos </em>refers to an ultimate goal, object, or aim. It’s a word that speaks about the purpose for which something exists. We believe that the Bible delivers the most compelling and true <em>telos </em>for our lives, and we want young people to experience that for themselves. The noun<em> telos </em>also sometimes appears in the New Testament as an adjective, <em>teleios</em>, which means “mature,” “complete,” or “perfect.” God has given us His Word to help us grow towards the maturity and perfection of being like Jesus. </p>
<p>As a Scripture-engagement ministry, our heart’s desire is the same as Paul’s in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A28&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colossians 1:28</a>: “He [Jesus] is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature (<em>teleios</em>) in Christ.”</p>
<h2><strong>What makes <em>The Telos Bible</em> unique?</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Erika Andujar:</strong> This isn’t just another study Bible for students. This is a study Bible for students that was <em>made</em> along with students every step of the way. Students from around the nation had an active role and voice in everything from the style and design of the cover to the exploration of hot topics such as mental health and sexual identity. Christian psychologists, spiritual formation experts, and next-gen leaders joined together to make <em>The Telos Bible</em> as accessible and relatable as possible for its readers.</p>
<h2><strong>What do you think is the most important thing that the next generation can learn from <em>The Telos Bible</em>?</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Erika <strong>Andujar:</strong> </strong>Although it was written thousands of years ago, God’s Word is still relevant to us and the world we live in. It’s both our roadmap and our compass, showing us the scope of God’s Big Story while also equipping us for the role we must play in it. The resources within <em>The Telos Bible</em> will help break barriers and allow students to feel and accept God’s invitation to be transformed by the power of His Word.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><a href="https://d3iqwsql9z4qvn.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/11205349/Sampler-from-OneHope_Revised.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/9780310458685.interior.11-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The NIV Telos Bible Interior" height="683" width="1024" /></a></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
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<p>Take a look inside The NIV Telos Bible</p>
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<h2><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to share about <em>The Telos Bible</em>, or the missions of OneHope or Feed?</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Erika Andujar:</strong> In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8%3A26-40&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acts 8:26-40</a>, the apostle Philip is led by the Holy Spirit to an Ethiopian eunuch traveling along the road. Philip hears the Ethiopian reading from the scroll of Isaiah, and he asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The Ethiopian responds, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” Philip then climbs into the chariot next to the Ethiopian and begins to help him understand what the Scripture teaches.</p>
<p>Young people today relate to the Bible like the Ethiopian did. They know it’s supposed to be important, but they feel lost and confused when they try to read and understand it on their own. Our mission is to encourage and empower more leaders in the Church to be like Philip. We want them to come alongside the next generation to help them discover the beauty and truth of God’s Word. We pray that <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-the-telos-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-a-student-s-guide-through-scripture?variant=40425579970696&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-telos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Telos Bible</a></em> might be a tool that can help us achieve this goal.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-the-telos-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-a-student-s-guide-through-scripture?variant=40425579970696&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=zbibles-telos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/TelosGroup-2-1024x683.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The NIV Telos Bible" height="683" width="1024" /></a><figcaption>The NIV Telos Bible is Available in Charcoal Leathersoft (left) and Hardcover (right).</figcaption></figure>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/10/a-conversation-with-onehope-about-the-new-niv-telos-bible/">A Conversation with OneHope About the New NIV Telos Bible</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7074550
2022-10-04T08:55:39-12:00
2022-10-04T10:15:16-12:00
Identity: Who Do You Think You Are?
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/04144810/Dharius-Daniels-Portrait-280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Dr. Dharius Daniels discusses our identity, specifically who each of us was uniquely created to be." width="33%" />By Dr. Dharius Daniels</strong></p>
<p>“Who do you think you are?”</p>
<p>That phrase usually has a negative connotation in today’s culture. It’s a challenge. It’s confrontational. When someone is getting up in our space or operating outside their area of expertise, we may ask that question as a way to say, “Check yourself.” “Step back.” “Take a moment to evaluate your actions and attitudes.”</p>
<p>Who do you think you are?</p>
<p>Notice the emphasis on the word <em>think</em>. We’re not asking, “Who are you?”—which is a valid question in and of itself. We’re asking, “Who do you <em>think</em> you are?” What is your opinion about who you are? Who do you believe yourself to be?</p>
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<p>I mention that because it illustrates an important point—namely, that your opinion of who you are isn’t necessarily the same thing as the reality of who you are. Those two are connected, of course, but your opinion of who you are can influence the reality of who you are. Sometimes your opinion can even supersede that reality.</p>
<p>To offer an example, we all know people who think of themselves as “less than.” Less than lovable. Less than intelligent. Less than competent. Less than attractive. Less than whatever.</p>
<p>Is that reality? No. Each of those individuals has been <a title="Read Psalm 139:14 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139%3A14&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">handcrafted by the Creator of the universe</a>. Each of those individuals is bursting with potential and blessed with skills, abilities, and talents. Each of those individuals possesses immeasurable value simply because they are members of the human race and <a title="Read Genesis 1:27 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A27&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">image bearers</a> of the Almighty.</p>
<p>That’s reality. But when people <em>believe</em> themselves to be less than, that belief will supersede their reality.</p>
<p>Here’s a principle that lies at the core of my book <em><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/your-purpose-is-calling-your-difference-is-your-destiny?variant=40150623191176" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Your Purpose Is Calling</a>:</em> Who you think you are plays a critical role in everything you do and everything you experience in your life. Why? Because you will always behave in a way that is consistent with how you view yourself.</p>
<p>Let me repeat that. <em>You will always behave in a way that is consistent with how you view yourself</em>.</p>
<p>Do you believe at the core that you are and always will be poor? If so, you’re going to live and behave and make decisions as a poor person. The same is true if you believe yourself to be unattractive. Or believe that you don’t have a good sense of humor. Or that you’re not good at making friends. Or any other convictions that connect with the core of your character.</p>
<p>Thankfully, the flip side also applies. When you and I believe at the core that we are successful, we will behave in ways that increase our chances of success. When we trust that we are likable and worthy of being loved, we will find ourselves much more comfortable in our closest relationships. When we know in our hearts that God loves us and cares for us, we will live as people who are worthy of that love and care.</p>
<p>I’m not talking about wishful thinking. If you spend a full day telling yourself, <em>I’ve got a million dollars in the bank. I’ve got a million dollars in the bank</em>. <em>I’ve got a million dollars in the bank</em>—well, you’re going to be disappointed when you check your balance. There is some power in positive thinking, but the idea of sending good vibes to the universe has never been enough.</p>
<p>What I am talking about is <em>identity</em>. What I’m talking about is your personal assessment of your internal reality, your core convictions about what kind of person you are and what you are capable of achieving.</p>
<p>So let me ask that question again: Who do you think you are?</p>
<p>What do you believe to be true about yourself? What are the key opinions and core principles that serve as the foundation of your sense of self? And how are those beliefs driving and influencing everything you do and everything you experience?</p>
<p>I don’t know how you would answer those questions. I don’t know who you think you are. But I do know you’re correct. Just as the proverb says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (<a title="Read Proverbs 23:7 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+23%3A7&version=KJV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Proverbs 23:7</a>, my translation).</p>
<h2>The Power of Your Unique Identity</h2>
<p>As a pastor and a coach, I have the regular privilege of interacting with people on a deeper level. A lot of people. Like, tens of thousands over the past twenty years. Walking alongside an individual, a couple, or a family is an honor I take seriously, and I absolutely love the work of digging in to identify and help remove the obstacles holding people back from experiencing genuine transformation and real abundance in their lives.</p>
<p>You know what I’ve learned after two decades of that work? Very few people have a strong sense of their own identity. Very few people truly know who they are.</p>
<p>That’s a big problem. Why? Because our identity is a foundational element for all the wonderful things each of us is looking for in our lives: meaning, peace, fulfillment, joy, abundance, and so on. Identity is one of the keys in our pockets that helps us unlock all of that and more.</p>
<p>Let’s take a moment to focus on an important word that is intimately connected with unique identity. That word is <em>calling</em>. If we don’t know who we are, how can we understand who we were created to be? How can we fully grasp our gifts and talents and experiences? Identity has a huge impact on personal peace and self-esteem, because those benefits are generated by a proper understanding of who we are.</p>
<p>Here’s another critical word: <em>purpose</em>. If we don’t know who we are, how can we understand what we were created to do? How can we feel certain about our vocation, our reason for being, and the larger goals we are striving to achieve? Identity is intimately connected with our purpose.</p>
<p>If you don’t have a strong sense of your identity—the core of who you are—then you are running the risk of living most of your life before you figure out what you’re supposed to do with it. You’re at risk of continuing to be swallowed up by frustration, confusion, anxiety, and restlessness for another week. Another month. Another year. Another decade.</p>
<p>That’s why I’ve written <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/your-purpose-is-calling-your-difference-is-your-destiny?variant=40150623191176" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Your Purpose Is Calling</em></a>. Because it doesn’t have to be that way. It <em>won’t</em> be that way for you if we walk together through <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/your-purpose-is-calling-your-difference-is-your-destiny?variant=40150623191176" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Your Purpose Is Calling</em></a>, because you’re going to discover the power not just of your identity, but of your<em> unique identity</em>.</p>
<p>That’s key. Because you <em>are</em> unique. You are handcrafted and carefully planned by your Creator, which means you are unlike any other person who exists or has ever existed—past, present, and future. You aren’t just one in a million; you are one in eight billion and counting.</p>
<p>Yes, you’re different. But that’s a blessing! Your difference is your superpower. The fact that you are unique means you have something special to offer the world—something only you can deliver.</p>
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<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/04144251/YourPurposeIsCalling_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Your Purpose Is Calling" height="280" width="280" />Adapted fro<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/your-purpose-is-calling-your-difference-is-your-destiny?variant=40150623191176" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">m<em> Your Purpose Is Calling: Your Difference Is Your Destiny</em></a> by Dr. Dharius Daniels. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/your-purpose-is-calling-your-difference-is-your-destiny?variant=40150623191176" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this excellent book.</p>
<p>Discover exactly who you were created to be and what you were created to do by learning to see yourself the way God sees you.</p>
<p>The key to understanding, embracing, and unleashing your God-given uniqueness is possessing an accurate picture of your true identity. After all, if you don’t know who you are, how could you ever know what you’ve been born to do?</p>
<p>In <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/your-purpose-is-calling-your-difference-is-your-destiny?variant=40150623191176" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Your Purpose Is Calling</em></a>, Dr. Dharius Daniels, founder of Change Church, takes you on a journey of discovering your identity through a threefold solution of finding fulfillment, fit, and fruitfulness. In the process, you’ll learn to:</p>
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<li>Overcome the obstacles—such as comparison, approval seeking, and emotional injuries—that inhibit you from fully embracing yourself</li>
<li>Exit the boat of normal living and step onto the sea of the abnormal</li>
<li>Thrive through effective self-leadership</li>
<li>Uncover your unique design, desires, dreams, and destiny</li>
</ul>
<p>God says that his people are exceptional, which means your future need not be limited by the world’s expectations. Move forward with the confidence that your individual purpose is as unique and exceptional as you are.</p>
<p><strong>Dr. Dharius Daniels</strong>, one of the most prolific communicators of our day, is on a mission to help as many people as possible become their best selves while doing their best work. Speaker, coach, and certified emotional intelligence specialist, Dharius specializes in helping others self-optimize without self-destructing. With over twenty years of leadership experience, Dharius understands that right information can cause a comprehensive revolution. His most recent book, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/relational-intelligence-the-people-skills-you-need-for-the-life-of-purpose-you-want?variant=29460649410671" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Relational Intelligence</em></a>, became an instant bestseller. Dr. Dharius serves thousands of members through the Daniels Den Mentoring & Coaching Program. He is lead pastor of the multisite and multiregional Change Church, has served as adjunct professor at Princeton, and hosts <em>The Dharius Daniels</em> Podcast. Dharius is married to his college sweetheart, Shameka, and they are the proud parents of two sons, Seth and Gabriel.</p>
<h2>Looking for More?<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30134528/SpectacleGloryCover2-220.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni's devotional A Spectacle of Glory: God's Light Shining through Me Every Day" height="338" width="220" /></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/10/who-do-you-think-you-are-dharius-daniels/">Identity: Who Do You Think You Are?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7065703
2022-09-21T04:13:22-12:00
2022-09-21T08:00:33-12:00
The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God: An Interview with Tim Challies
<p><a href="http://www.challies.com/brief-biography" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/18092519/TimChallies.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Tim Challies" width="26%" /></a>What do you do when you receive the shocking news that your son has suddenly died? How is God sovereign over loss? How is he good in loss? How do you pass through times of grief while keeping your faith? How is it possible to love God more after loss than you loved him before?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="https://www.challies.com/brief-biography/" title="Tim Challies" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Tim Challies</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/challies" title="Tim Challies Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@challies</a>) about his book, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/seasons-of-sorrow-the-pain-of-loss-and-the-comfort-of-god?variant=40178225053832&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Seasons of Sorrow in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022).</p>
<p><strong>Please describe how this book came to be.</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/seasons-of-sorrow-the-pain-of-loss-and-the-comfort-of-god?variant=40178225053832&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/12100106/seasons-of-sorrow.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Seasons of Sorrow in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Tim Challies:</strong> On November 3, 2020, my family received the news that my son had collapsed and died. Nick was a seminary student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary when, without warning, his heart failed and he passed away. We were quickly able to get a flight down to Louisville to be with our daughter who was also a student there. While I was on the plane I began to write. I wasn’t writing a book yet—just writing for the sake of processing my shock and grief. Over the months that followed I continued to write as my way of thinking and meditating, of considering my fears and doubts, my joys and laments. And as time went on and the amount of writing grew, I began to wonder if I may have been writing a book all along. It eventually grew to become <em>Seasons of Sorrow</em>.</p>
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<p><strong>Why is your book divided into seasons of fall, winter, spring, and summer?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Tim Challies:</strong> For two reasons. The first is simply because the book was written over the course of a year, beginning on the evening Nick died and continuing until the first anniversary of his death. The second is that dividing the book by seasons provides a bit of structure for the narrative that unfolds as I grapple with what had happened, what it meant, and how the Lord was calling me to respond.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/03/christian-history-told-through-33-objects-an-interview-with-tim-challies/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Christian History Told Through 33 Objects: An Interview with Tim Challies" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Christian History Told Through 33 Objects: An Interview with Tim Challies</em></a>]</p>
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<p><strong>What did you mean when you and your wife said to each other, “We can do this”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Tim Challies:</strong> On that very first evening, when we had known for only a few minutes that our son had died, I took my wife by the shoulders and looked into her eyes and said, “We can do this.” I knew immediately that Nick’s death had not happened apart from the will of God, and this gave me assurance that God was calling us to something—he was calling us to endure this trial in a distinctly Christian way. If our faith had ever been real, it needed to be real now! In that moment I wanted to reassure my wife that God had given us all we needed to succeed in this calling. He had given us his Word, he had given us his Spirit, and he had given us his church. If we simply took hold of what God had given, we would be able to endure our trial in a way that would bring him glory.</p>
<p><strong>Early on you write, “I know I am heading into a future that is utterly unknown, utterly foreign, utterly opaque.” What is the correct way people can help others who feel the same way in their darkest moments?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Tim Challies:</strong> When we’re in times of great grief and sorrow, we need other Christians who can guide us to what is true. God’s Word provides the anchor we need. When our circumstances are dire and when everything else seems uncertain, we can always rely on God. And so the best thing we can do to help others is to help them understand and believe and rely on what is true, what is fixed, and what is unchanging. God makes so many precious promises, and we can honor him and love our friends by drawing their hearts and minds to these promises.</p>
<p><strong>You recount a time when Nick was three and became upset that a character in a movie died. You write you wanted to tell him of the death of death. What do you mean?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Tim Challies:</strong> Part of the beauty of the gospel is that it assures us that death is no longer solely an enemy but, in a strange way, also a friend. Without Christ, death delivers us only to condemnation, but with Christ, death delivers us to heaven. We all long to be delivered from sin and all its consequences, we all long to be with Christ, we all long to be reunited with those whom we have loved and lost. Death is the means through which we close our eyes to all that is sinful and painful in this world and open them to all that is perfect and glorious in heaven. Through Christ, death itself has been put to death as the great and fearsome enemy of our souls.</p>
<p><strong>What role did (and does) the Bible have in your time of grief?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Tim Challies:</strong> I don’t know how I could have endured this trial without the Bible. We made the conscious decision from the very beginning that we would allow the Bible to guide us in our sorrow—that we would believe what it says about life and death, about pain and loss, about grief and hope. We made the decision that we would trust the Bible, that we would take hold of its truths, and that we would rely on its promises. We determined that we would not interpret the Bible through our circumstances, but that we would interpret our circumstances through the Bible. It would be the lamp to our feet and the light to our path, illumining the way God was calling us to go.</p>
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<p><strong>How do you hope this book will help readers?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Tim Challies:</strong> None of us can avoid all sorrow and suffering. None of us will escape this life unscathed by grief and loss. And so I very much hope that <em>Seasons of Sorrow</em> will help readers better understand grief, loss, sorrow, and suffering. This may be their own or it may be that they are helping loved ones or church members through trials and difficulties. And then I hope it may articulate what other people may be thinking or feeling, but are perhaps having trouble expressing, as they go through their own times of suffering and sorrow.</p>
<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Tim Challies:</strong> After Nick died, I asked my father-in-law to make a glass case in which to store Nick’s Bible. He built one that is just perfect and ever since he brought it to us, Nick’s Bible has been in it, laid open to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2560-Jesus-Christ-resurrection&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 15</a>. These words remind me that Christ’s triumph over death was also mine, and also Nick’s. They remind me that death itself has been vanquished in the death of Christ so that “as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” I express in one part of the book that on days when a particularly deep sorrow washes over me, on days when it seems as if I may be overwhelmed, I raise the glass and take the Bible from its case. I rest it in my lap, read that very passage, and imagine my precious boy doing the same. Then I consider its wonderful promises and smile to think that Nick has already seen the best of them fulfilled.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Tim Challies:</strong> I’m so thankful for the access we have to the Bible itself (in so many translations) and to tools meant to help us study it. We need the Bible so desperately and Bible Gateway is committed to helping us have full and unfettered access to it. What could be better than that?</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/seasons-of-sorrow-the-pain-of-loss-and-the-comfort-of-god?variant=40178225053832&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Seasons of Sorrow in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Seasons of Sorrow</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Bio:</strong> A pastor, noted speaker, and author of numerous articles, Tim Challies is a pioneer in the Christian blogosphere. Tens of thousands of people visit Challies.com each day, making it one of the most widely read and recognized Christian blogs in the world. Tim is the author of several books, including <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/visual-theology-seeing-and-understanding-the-truth-about-god?variant=13761206780015&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Visual Theology in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Visual Theology</em></a> and <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/epic-an-around-the-world-journey-through-christian-history?variant=30303415926920&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Epic in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Epic: An Around-the-World Journey through Christian History</em></a>. He and his family reside near Toronto, Ontario.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/the-pain-of-loss-and-the-comfort-of-god-an-interview-with-tim-challies/">The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God: An Interview with Tim Challies</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7063653
2022-09-19T05:28:07-12:00
2022-09-19T06:30:08-12:00
Five Tips to Help Your Marriage Survive Catastrophic Loss
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02102005/GaryThomas_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Five Tips to Help Your Marriage Survive Catastrophic Loss by Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Marriage" width="33%" />By Gary Thomas</strong></p>
<p>Loss brings heartache. Catastrophic loss brings catastrophic heartache.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, some marriages are buried alive by the avalanche of grief, and they never recover. Joe and Janell found a way to push forward in the face of the worst kind of loss.</p>
<p>If you talk with Joe on Zoom, his head is framed by a giant baseball jersey with the number 17. That was the number Joe’s son, Garrett, wore as a celebrated high school catcher. Garrett was Joe and Janell’s only child, a gifted boy with a promising future.</p>
<p>Everything changed on November 4, 2012, when Joe and Janell got the worst knock on their door you could ever imagine.</p>
<p>Garrett, their only child, was dead.<br>
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For the next year, Joe and Janell had to work hard to keep pursuing honesty, to process their grief, and to learn how to stay together. Here are some tips they learned along the way.</p>
<h2>Understand You’re Both Grieving in Different Ways</h2>
<p>A catastrophic loss changes you, but <em>it changes you differently than it changes your spouse</em>. Your spouse is going through a similar, but in another sense completely different, transformation. A mother’s grief and a father’s grief are both just as deep, but they are different.</p>
<p>Joe sought refuge in an incredibly challenging vocational task. He couldn’t afford to stop and think. Janell had her worship music and friends to help her process her grief. Hers was definitely a healthier approach in the long term, but what really helped Janell was finally realizing why Joe was hesitant to come home to her. When he explained that her face reminded him of the son he had lost and that it was difficult to reconcile past loss and current devotion, Janell reached a new level of empathy and understanding.</p>
<h2>Accept the Fact That Time Doesn’t Heal All Wounds</h2>
<p>When you face a catastrophic loss, you’re not just experiencing grief; you’re experiencing trauma. And medically speaking, trauma takes a long time (and usually professional counseling) to heal from.</p>
<p>Janell cautions couples, “When you lose a child, the pain does not go away. Time does not heal. What happens is you become stronger and you learn how to live with the hole and live with the pain and hopefully develop the emotional strength to help others. But even years later, there will be times of overwhelming grief when you just need to cry.”</p>
<p>Professional licensed counseling can provide tools to process your hurt and help you develop inner strength, as well as offer strategies to face anxiety, depression, manic episodes, or panic attacks when they hit.</p>
<h2>Fight Bitterness with Gratitude</h2>
<p>An early church father named Ambrose lost a beloved brother who was his closest earthly companion. In his reflections on his brother’s death, he said something particularly memorable: “To this must be added that I cannot be ungrateful to God; for I must rather rejoice that I had such a brother than grieve that I had lost a brother, for the former is a gift, the latter a debt to be paid.”</p>
<p>Joe and Janell celebrate the two wonderful decades that Garrett had with them. He had influenced many young people. He was a son to be proud of. They had enjoyed many wonderful times together, watching him play ball and spiritually encourage younger boys. They are as grateful for what they had as they are sad for what they’ve lost.</p>
<h2>Maintain Your Faith</h2>
<p>Joe and Janell couldn’t make the grief go away, but they could allow God’s Word to come in and speak God’s message to them. As the psalmist promises, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (<a title="Read Psalm 119:105 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A105&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Psalm 119:105</a>).</p>
<p>Joe explains: “We have sought to live out our faith in the full expression of all that it means: singing and dancing, teaching classes, being a deacon, being a choir mom, cooking hamburgers for outreach events—whatever the church needs.</p>
<p>“In the end, there was no question of where our strength came from. Because of all those years from when I became a Christian at seven and Janell gave her heart to Jesus at thirteen, everything that God had poured into us came into fruition and strengthened us. We don’t know what new challenges we’ll face in the future, but we want to keep growing in the Lord and growing our marriage to face them.”</p>
<h2>Take Hold of the Hope of Heaven</h2>
<p>This is the part of Joe and Janell’s story that inspired me so much. They have a profound theological understanding of the hope of heaven and have applied it to their loss. “God didn’t just take Garrett <em>from</em> us,” Janell told me with deep conviction. “He called Garrett <em>to</em> something. It is God’s will that Garrett is in heaven this day. I believe that Garret is fulfilling his heavenly calling in a glorious way.”</p>
<p>I teared up thinking about this application of faith. The real promise of heaven—to be “away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord” (<a title="Read 2 Corinthians 5:8 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A8&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2 Corinthians 5:8</a>)—holds Joe and Janell up so strongly that, in one sense, they can see even the benefits of Garrett’s death.</p>
<p>For couples still striving to make the choice of giving in or persevering, Janell counsels, “Your grief will bring you into the fog, but the Holy Spirit is present in that fog. Keep your mind and ears open. I heard songs and Bible verses I needed to hear. Some days it was like I was bombarded with holy missives of help. Just keep your ears and eyes open, and God will bring you what you need. If a couple will just lean into the fog, they’ll find that the Holy Spirit is present in the fog.”</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/making-your-marriage-a-fortress-strengthening-your-marriage-to-withstand-lifes-storms?variant=40201745203336" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/19125218/MakeMarriageFortress_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Making Your Marriage a Fortress" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/making-your-marriage-a-fortress-strengthening-your-marriage-to-withstand-lifes-storms?variant=40201745203336" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Making Your Marriage a Fortress: Strengthening Your Marriage to Withstand Life’s Storms</em></a> by Gary Thomas. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/making-your-marriage-a-fortress-strengthening-your-marriage-to-withstand-lifes-storms?variant=40201745203336" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>The wisdom and insight every couple needs to keep your marriage together when the trials of life threaten to rip it apart and how you can fortify your marriage ahead of time.</p>
<p>Every marriage will face disaster. Illness or cancer. Job loss or financial burdens. Addiction. Anxiety. Infidelity. Loss of faith. It’s not a question of if your marriage will face trials. It’s a question of when.</p>
<p>Whether you’ve been married for five years or fifty, your marriage will either become part of the problem or part of the solution, and it’s within your power to ensure your marriage is prepared for those seasons, is a place of refuge and safety throughout those seasons, and can recover well after those seasons.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/making-your-marriage-a-fortress-strengthening-your-marriage-to-withstand-lifes-storms?variant=40201745203336" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Making Your Marriage a Fortress</em></a>, Gary Thomas, bestselling author of <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/sacred-marriage-what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us-holy-more-than-to-make-us-happy?variant=13755151482991" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Sacred Marriage</em></a>, guides you and your spouse in building a marriage that can withstand any storm or difficult season. In these pages, you will …</p>
<ul>
<li>Discover helpful and practical principles to protect your marriage from any struggle</li>
<li>Learn to detect the warning signs of trouble and how to act on them</li>
<li>Understand how the state of your marriage is magnified during a crisis and how to improve it</li>
<li>Be encouraged through stories from Gary’s marriage, as well as others, that you and your spouse are not alone</li>
<li>Gain spiritual insight about God’s view of marriage and how to live it out in all circumstances—for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, till death do you part</li>
</ul>
<p>Every marriage will face setbacks and seasons of disappointment, but this book will help you keep your marriage strong before and after a setback happens.</p>
<p><strong>Gary Thomas’s</strong> writing and speaking draw people closer to Christ and closer to others. He is the author of twenty books that together have sold more than two million copies and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. These books include <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/sacred-marriage-what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us-holy-more-than-to-make-us-happy?variant=13755151482991" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Sacred Marriage</em></a>, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/cherish-the-one-word-that-changes-everything-for-your-marriage?variant=13751203954799" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Cherish</em></a>, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/married-sex-a-christian-couples-guide-to-reimagining-your-love-life?variant=39332701012104" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Married Sex</em></a>, and the Gold Medallion-award winning <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/authentic-faith-the-power-of-a-fire-tested-life?variant=13762849964143" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Authentic Faith</em></a>.</p>
<p>Gary holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Western Washington University, a master’s degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR). He serves as a teaching pastor at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/five-tips-to-help-your-marriage-survive-catastrophic-loss/">Five Tips to Help Your Marriage Survive Catastrophic Loss</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7063654
2022-09-19T00:54:26-12:00
2022-09-19T06:30:08-12:00
Scripture Read At Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral
<p><a href="https://www.royal.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/12084050/queen-elizabeth.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="See the Bible verses that were either alluded to or directly read during the funeral service of Queen Elizabeth II" width="40%" /></a><a href="https://www.royal.uk/queens-life-and-reign-1" title="Queen Elizabeth Life and Reign website" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Queen Elizabeth II</a> (born Princess Elizabeth of York), 96, the mother of the United Kingdom’s King Charles III, died September 8, 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, a residence of the British royal family.</p>
<p>[Read the <a href="https://www.westminster-abbey.org/media/15467/order-of-service-the-state-funeral-of-her-majesty-queen-elizabeth-ii.pdf" title="Read the Order of Service for The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">“Order of Service for The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”</a>]</p>
<p>Her televised State Funeral September 19 at <a href="https://www.westminster-abbey.org/" title="Westminster Abbey website" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Westminster Abbey</a> in London, watched by an estimated 4 billion people, was attended by heads of state and dignitaries from around the world, including US President Joe Biden. She reigned 70 years, the longest of any British monarch and the longest recorded of any female head of state in history.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/12/the-faith-of-queen-elizabeth-an-interview-with-dudley-delffs/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Faith of Queen Elizabeth: An Interview with Dudley Delffs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Faith of Queen Elizabeth: An Interview with Dudley Delffs</em></a>]</p>
<p>The following Bible verses were either alluded to or directly read during the service:</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A+25-26&version=AKJV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Reveals-Himself-Martha-as&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read John 11:25-26 (KJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">John 11:25-26</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-faith-of-queen-elizabeth-the-poise-grace-and-quiet-strength-behind-the-crown?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/17102039/TheFaithofQueenElizabeth.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Faith of Queen Elizabeth: The Poise, Grace and Quiet Strength Behind the Crown in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a>Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection, and the life<br>
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live<br>
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+19%3A25-27&version=AKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/9315-resurrection-believers&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Job 19:25-27 (KJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Job 19:25-27</a></h3>
<p>I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth<br>
and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God<br>
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.</p>
<p><span id="more-71177"></span></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+6%3A7&version=AKJV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/1Tim.6.6-1Tim.6.12&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read 1 Timothy 6:7 (KJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">1 Timothy 6:7</a></h3>
<p>We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1%3A21&version=AKJV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Job.1.20-Job.1.22&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Job 1:21 (KJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Job 1:21</a></h3>
<p>The L<small>ORD</small> gave, and the L<small>ORD</small> hath taken away; blessed be the name of the L<small>ORD</small>.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/04/scripture-read-at-uks-prince-philips-funeral/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Scripture Read At UK’s Prince Philip’s Funeral" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Scripture Read At UK’s Prince Philip’s Funeral</em></a>]</p>
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<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+14%3A13&version=AKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5059-rest-eternal&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Revelation 14:13 (AKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Revelation 14:13</a></h3>
<p>I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, “Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the Lord<br>
even so saith the Spirit; for they rest from their labours. Amen.</p>
<p><span></span></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A20-26%2C+53-58&version=AKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2560-Jesus-Christ-resurrection&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read 1 Corinthians 15:20–26, 53–58 (AKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:20–26, 53–58</a></h3>
<p>Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.</p>
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<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+42%3A1-7&version=AKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1080-God-living-self&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Psalm 42:1–7 (AKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Psalm 42:1–7</a></h3>
<p>Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks<br>
so longeth my soul after thee, O God.<br>
My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God<br>
when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?<br>
My tears have been my meat day and night<br>
while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God?<br>
Now when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself<br>
for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house of God;<br>
In the voice of praise and thanksgiving<br>
among such as keep holy-day.<br>
Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul<br>
and why art thou so disquieted within me?<br>
Put thy trust in God<br>
for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A1-9&version=AKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2324-Jesus-Christ-as-Saviour&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read John 14:1–9a (AKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">John 14:1–9a</a></h3>
<p>“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” Thomas saith unto him, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” Philip saith unto him, “Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” Jesus saith unto him, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A8&version=AKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1050-God-goodness&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Psalm 34:8 (AKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Psalm 34:8</a></h3>
<p>Taste and see how gracious the L<small>ORD</small> is<br>
blest is the man that trusteth in him.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13&version=AKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1045-God-glory&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Matthew 6:9-13 (AKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Matthew 6:9–13</a></h3>
<p>Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A35%2C+38-39&version=AKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2048-Jesus-Christ-love&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Romans 8:35a, 38b–39 (AKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Romans 8:35a, 38b–39</a></h3>
<p>Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Alleluia! Amen.</p>
<hr>
<p>[Read the <a href="https://www.royal.uk/sites/default/files/media/order_of_service_1.pdf" title="Read the Order of Service for a Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Majesty The Queen at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">“Order of Service for a Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Majesty The Queen”</a> at St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland, Monday September 12.]</p>
<hr>
<p>Following The State Funeral was the Committal Service later in the day at <a href="https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/" title="St. George’s Chapel website" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">St. George’s Chapel</a>, Windsor. The following Bible verses were either alluded to or directly read during the service:</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121&version=AKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1330-God-provider&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Psalm 121 (AKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Psalm 121</a></h3>
<p>I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills<br>
from whence cometh my help.<br>
My help cometh even from the L<small>ORD</small><br>
who hath made heaven and earth.<br>
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved<br>
and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.<br>
Behold, he that keepeth Israel: shall neither slumber nor sleep.<br>
The L<small>ORD</small> himself is thy keeper<br>
the L<small>ORD</small> is thy defence upon thy right hand;<br>
So that the sun shall not burn thee by day<br>
neither the moon by night.<br>
The L<small>ORD</small> shall preserve thee from all evil<br>
yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.<br>
The L<small>ORD</small> shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in<br>
from this time forth for evermore.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A1-7&version=AKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4028-world-as-redeemed&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Revelation 21:1–7 (AKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Revelation 21:1–7</a></h3>
<p>I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” And he that sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And he said unto me, “Write: for these words are true and faithful.” And he said unto me, “It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+103%3A13-17&version=AKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1030-God-compassion&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Psalm 103:13–17 (AKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Psalm 103:13–17</a></h3>
<p>Like as a father pitieth his own children:<br>
even so is the L<small>ORD</small> merciful unto them that fear him.<br>
For he knoweth whereof we are made:<br>
he remembereth that we are but dust.<br>
The days of man are but as grass:<br>
for he flourisheth as a flower of the field.<br>
For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone:<br>
and the place thereof shall know it no more.<br>
But the merciful goodness of the L<small>ORD</small> endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him:<br>
and his righteousness upon children’s children</p>
<p>[Read the <a href="https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/committal_of_her_majesty_queen_elizabeth_ii_-_order_of_service.pdf" title="Read the Order of Service for The Committal of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">“Order of Service for The Committal of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”</a>]</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/scripture-read-at-queen-elizabeth-iis-funeral/">Scripture Read At Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7061904
2022-09-16T01:55:00-12:00
2022-09-16T06:30:09-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of September 11, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/weekly-brief-week-of-september-11-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of September 11, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7061120
2022-09-15T03:01:50-12:00
2022-09-15T07:45:18-12:00
Prepare for Spiritual Warfare: Put On the Armor of God
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206%3A10-18&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/eph-6-10-13&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/12153113/Armor-of-God-2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read this article to see how putting on the full armor of God will protect and arm you for spiritual warfare." width="65%" /></a>Around <small>AD</small> 60, while a prisoner in ancient Rome for preaching the gospel, the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the church in Ephesus, using the armor of a Roman soldier as a metaphor to describe how Christians must live out their faith by strapping on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=armor&resultspp=500&version=NIV" title="Read Bible verses about armor on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the full armor of God</a> to properly conduct and prevail in spiritual warfare. More than 2,000 years later, we must do the same.</p>
<h2>Function of Armor</h2>
<p>The purpose of armor is to defensively protect the body against a deadly attack and its accompanying weaponry are the means to wage offensive assaults on the enemy.</p>
<h2>History of Armor in the Bible</h2>
<p>It’s commonly thought the origin of Paul’s armor reference in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-20&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/eph-6-10-13&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Ephesians 6:10-20 from the NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:10-12</a> is the uniform of Caesar’s army. But, according to the study note in the <em>Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the New Testament</em> (available with your <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong> membership), each of the battle equipment Paul lists is also found in the Old Testament, especially in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Isaiah on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Isaiah</a> (see this chart).</p>
<p><span id="more-71203"></span></p>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/13084534/spiritual-warfare-chart-zibbcnt.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/13084534/spiritual-warfare-chart-zibbcnt.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Enlarge this chart from the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the New Testament (available with your Bible Gateway Plus membership) showing the Old Testament connection from the book of Isaiah to the armor of God." width="90%" /></a></p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/08/spiritual-warfare-questions-answered/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Spiritual Warfare Questions Answered" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Spiritual Warfare Questions Answered</em></a>]</p>
<h2>How to Conquer in Spiritual Warfare</h2>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/overcomer-8-ways-to-live-a-life-of-unstoppable-strength-unmovable-faith-and-unbelievable-power-1?variant=33623648108680&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/30160916/Overcomer.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read this article to see how putting on the armor of God will protect and arm you for spiritual warfare." width="25%" /></a></p>
<p>In his book, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/overcomer-8-ways-to-live-a-life-of-unstoppable-strength-unmovable-faith-and-unbelievable-power-1?variant=33623648108680&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Overcomer: 8 Ways to Live a Life of Unstoppable Strength, Unmovable Faith, and Unbelievable Powers in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Overcomer: 8 Ways to Live a Life of Unstoppable Strength, Unmovable Faith, and Unbelievable Power</em></strong></a> (Thomas Nelson, 2018), Dr. David Jeremiah teaches that to put on the armor of God is the way to overcome falsehood with truth, evil with good, anxiety with peace, fear with faith, confusion with wisdom, and temptation with Scripture.</p>
<p>[Visit <a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/overcomer-live-a-life-of-unstoppable-strength-unmovable-faith-and-unbelievable-power" title="Visit Study Gateway to watch the trailer for the 6-part video Bible study Overcomer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Study Gateway</a> to watch the trailer for the 6-part video Bible study <a href="https://watch.studygateway.com/overcomer-live-a-life-of-unstoppable-strength-unmovable-faith-and-unbelievable-power" title="Visit Study Gateway to watch the trailer for the 6-part video Bible study Overcomer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Overcomer</em></a> by Dr. David Jeremiah]</p>
<h2>Importance of Garments in the Bible</h2>
<p>This isn’t the only time <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paul</a> refers to a Christian’s necessary attire. In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+11%3A5&resource_entry=zondervan-illustrated-bible-dictionary/dress&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Colossians 3:1-17 from the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Colossians 3:1-17</a> he says, “Clothe yourselves with</p>
<ul>
<li> compassion</li>
<li> kindness</li>
<li> humility</li>
<li> gentleness and<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/13093410/read-verse-narrow.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Join Bible Gateway Plus and get this free Bible study to learn how to read a verse for all its worth." width="25%" /></a>
</li>
<li> patience.”</li>
</ul>
<p>According to the <em>Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary</em> (available with your <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong> membership), clothing worn by the Hebrew people of biblical times was considered so much a part of them that the apparel not only told who and what they were, but was an external symbol of the individual’s innermost feelings and deepest desires, and his or her moral urge to represent God aright.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/12/what-is-spiritual-warfare-an-interview-with-sam-storms/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Is Spiritual Warfare?: An Interview with Sam Storms" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>What Is Spiritual Warfare?: An Interview with Sam Storms</em></a>]</p>
<h2>Who Are Christians’ Enemies</h2>
<ul>
<li> <strong>NOT FLESH AND BLOOD</strong>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Paul says followers of Jesus must stand firm against the devil’s schemes, a reminder that Satan is actively planning and strategizing to make believers retreat or fall. Our major threat is not a matter of “flesh and blood” (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A6&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/heb-13-6&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Hebrews 13:6 from the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Hebrews 13:6</a>), but the demonic coercion that motivates evil behavior on earth and is active in the spiritual dimension.</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>RULERS, AUTHORITIES, THE POWERS OF THIS DARK WORLD</strong>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Referring to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A18-21&resource_entry=zibbc-nt/far-above-all-rule-and-authority-power-and-dominion-eph-1-21&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Ephesians 1:3 in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the New Testament with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 1:18-21</a>, the <em>Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the New Testament</em> says the enemies Paul is talking about are not the Romans or any other physical army, but the invisible dark powers of this world that have brought death into God’s creation. He assures Christians that God bestows on us “incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead.” Paul echoes the message of that power in his <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 1 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">first letter to the Corinthian</a> church: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A55-57&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5454-power-Gods-saving&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:55-57</a>).</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS</strong>
</li>
</ul>
<p>By expanding our spiritual warfare’s theater of operations to “the heavenly realms,” the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A3&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/eph-1-3-2&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Ephesians 1:3 in the NIV Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>NIV Study Bible</em></a> commentary says Paul is describing what’s at stake: “God’s eternal eschatological purpose (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3.10-11&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/eph-3-11&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Ephesians 1:3 in the NIV Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">3:10-11</a>) and the titanic conflict between God and the powerful spiritual forces arrayed against him—a purpose and a conflict that come to focus in the history of redemption.”</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2018/01/why-is-spiritual-warfare-a-continuing-struggle-an-interview-with-havilah-cunnington/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Why Is Spiritual Warfare a Continuing Struggle?: An Interview with Havilah Cunnington" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Why Is Spiritual Warfare a Continuing Struggle?: An Interview with Havilah Cunnington</em></a>]</p>
<h2>Stand Your Ground</h2>
<p>Paul says the whole armor of God is what will help us to firmly stand against Satan’s continuous onslaught: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A11-13&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-eph-5-21-6-24&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 6:11-13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:11-13</a>). And in his <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 2 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">second letter to the Corinthians</a>, Paul acknowledges that God’s armor is unconventional: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2010:3-4&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-2co-8-1-10-6&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 10:3–4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 10:3–4</a>). The reference note in the <em>NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible</em> (available with your <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong> membership) says we need to fight with God’s weapons because every battle, ultimately, is a spiritual battle.</p>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<h2>What Are the 7 Pieces of the Armor of God</h2>
<p>Paul references 7 essential components of a soldier’s battle gear, which includes having a battle plan for clear communication with the commander: the armor of God prayer. Here’s the list of God’s armor for us to put on at all times, each one described with the reference notes of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/csb-tony-evans-study-bible-notes-now-in-bible-gateway-plus/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, CSB Tony Evans Study Bible Notes Now In Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>CSB Tony Evans Study Bible</em></a> (available with your <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong> membership):</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>The Belt of Truth</strong> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+11%3A5&resource_entry=zondervan-illustrated-bible-dictionary/dress&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Isaiah 11:5 from the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Isaiah 11:5</a>) —<br>
“To wear truth like a belt is to live in authenticity before God. Since Satan is a liar, he can’t function in an environment of integrity.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A14&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/eph-6-14&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Ephesians 6:14 from the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:14</a>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <strong>The Breastplate of Righteousness</strong> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+59%3A17&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/isa-59-17&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Isaiah 59:17 from the NIV Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Isaiah 59:17</a>) —<br>
“Our righteousness is not our own. God imputed Christ’s perfect righteousness to us (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Cor+5%3A21&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/2cor-5-21&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for 2 Corinthian 5:21 from the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">2 Cor 5:21</a>). When Satan accuses you, then, protect your heart with the truth of your righteous standing in Christ that is to be reflected by righteous living based on the truth. Unrighteousness acts like an open invitation to Satan and his demonic forces to invade our hearts and lives in order to defeat us spiritually.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A14&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/eph-6-14&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Ephesians 6:14 from the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:14</a>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <strong>The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace</strong> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+52%3A7&resource_entry=case-for-christ-study-bible/isa-52-7&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Isaiah 52:7 from the NIV Case for Christ Study Bible
with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Isaiah 52:7</a>) —<br>
“Having your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace refers to the peace of God that confirms we are moving in the right direction.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A15&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/eph-6-15&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Ephesians 6:15 from the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:15</a>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <strong>The Shield of Faith</strong> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+21%3A5&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/isa-21-5&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Isaiah 21:5 from the NIV Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Isaiah 21:5</a>) —<br>
“What is faith? It’s acting like God’s telling the truth—being obedient to God’s view on a matter. Whatever temptations the devil fires at you, you can overcome him by believing God’s Word and acting on it. Acting in faith is like activating a divine fire extinguisher.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A16&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/eph-6-16&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Ephesians 6:16 from the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:16</a>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <strong>The Helmet of Salvation</strong> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+59%3A17&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/isa-59-9-21&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Isaiah 59:17 from the NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Isaiah 59:17</a>) —<br>
“To wear the helmet of salvation means to make decisions with a biblical mindset. We are to think God’s thoughts and not operate in human wisdom.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A17&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/eph-6-17&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Ephesians 6:17 from the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:17</a>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <strong>The Sword of the Spirit</strong> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+49%3A2&resource_entry=esv-global-study-bible/isa-49-1-isa-49-13&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Isaiah 49:2 from the ESV Global Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Isaiah 49:2</a>) —<br>
“The sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God—is the only offensive weapon in the spiritual armor ensemble. The term Paul uses does not describe a long sword but something more like a dagger intended for hand-to-hand combat. He’s talking about the Word of God spoken, made effective by the Spirit, to cut through the devil’s lies. When Jesus was tempted, he declared, ‘It is written’ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204%3A1-11&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/matt-4-4&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Matthew 4:1-11 from the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Matt 4:1-11</a>), defeating the devil by using the Word. And just as Jesus did when tempted in the wilderness, Christians must learn to use Bible study against the devil. He is allergic to the Word of God when it is consistently used against him.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A17&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/eph-6-17&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Ephesians 6:17 from the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:17</a>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <strong>The Battle Communication of Prayer</strong> —<br>
“Prayer is the divine means of putting on our spiritual armor, which is a reflection of the person and work of Jesus Christ on our behalf.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A18-20&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/eph-6-18&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the reference note for Ephesians 6:18 from the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:18</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>Study the armor of God and other topics with the help of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/resource-library-profile?" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more than 50 premium Bible reference resources</a> when you become a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. Get biblically wise and spiritually fit. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it free right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/prepare-for-spiritual-warfare-put-on-the-armor-of-god/">Prepare for Spiritual Warfare: Put On the Armor of God</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7060587
2022-09-14T08:37:34-12:00
2022-09-15T07:45:18-12:00
The Treasure Map of Bible Study: How to Read a Verse for All Its Worth
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/14161802/read-verse-large-blue.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Join Bible Gateway Plus and get the free Bible study, How to Read a Verse for All Its Worth, to learn how to read a verse for all its worth." width="45%" /></a>If you knew a vast treasure was buried somewhere, would you rather have the occasional jewel or piece of gold that someone retrieved for you, or a map showing the location of the entire treasure? If you’re like most people, the answer’s a no-brainer.</p>
<p>What’s true about <em>material</em> treasure is also true for <em>spiritual</em> treasure. For this reason, we’ve created <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Join Bible Gateway Plus and get the free Bible study, How to Read a Verse for All Its Worth, to learn how to read a verse for all its worth." target="_blank"><strong>the brand-new downloadable 5-day Bible study, <em>How to Read a Verse for All Its Worth</em></strong></a> that provides the map for you to uncover the hidden riches of God’s Word for yourself!</p>
<p>As Christians, we know the Bible is the ultimate source of everything we should believe and practice, and we want to understand it better. But it’s also true that this isn’t easy. We’re separated from the original authors and audience of the Bible by time, language, culture, and geography.</p>
<p>Fortunately, there are a series of steps used by serious students of the Bible to discover the meaning of biblical passages, and you can learn and apply these steps yourself to greatly increase your knowledge and understanding of the Bible.</p>
<p><span id="more-71148"></span></p>
<p>Each day of the 5-day study walks you through a key step for uncovering the meaning of a biblical passage. Reflection questions at the end of each lesson provide opportunities to put the principles into practice. Among the critical insights you’ll learn are:</p>
<ul>
<li> The 3 types of contexts needed to understand any passage of Scripture and how to find them.</li>
<li> How to make sense of a biblical passage in light of the Bible’s Big Storyline.</li>
<li> How to use tools like cross-references, study Bibles, and commentaries to illuminate your understanding of Scripture, and how to easily access these using Bible Gateway.</li>
<li> How to carefully observe a Bible verse or passage and discern the key details.</li>
<li> Three crucial questions to ask in order to correctly and practically apply a verse or passage to your life.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you’re ready to uncover the treasures of Scripture for yourself, sign up today for this study, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Join Bible Gateway Plus and get the free Bible study, How to Read a Verse for All Its Worth, to learn how to read a verse for all its worth." target="_blank"><strong><em>How to Read a Verse for All Its Worth</em></strong></a>. You’ll also gain access to more than 50 Bible study tools and reference works that put an entire premium biblical reference library at your fingertips!</p>
<p>Using the principles and steps explained and illustrated in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Join Bible Gateway Plus and get the free Bible study, How to Read a Verse for All Its Worth, to learn how to read a verse for all its worth." target="_blank"><em>How to Read a Verse for All Its Worth</em></a>, you’ll be equipped to “present yourself to God and receive his approval” as one who “correctly explains the word of truth” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A15&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1614-Scripture-understanding&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read 2 Timothy 2:15 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">2 Timothy 2:15</a>), whether you’re brand new to Bible study or have been doing it for years.</p>
<p>Find the treasure map <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Join Bible Gateway Plus and get the free Bible study, How to Read a Verse for All Its Worth, to learn how to read a verse for all its worth." target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/14162313/read-verse-horizontal-red-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Join Bible Gateway Plus and get the free Bible study, How to Read a Verse for All Its Worth, to learn how to read a verse for all its worth." width="95%" /></a></p>
<blockquote>
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<center>Deepen your study of the Bible when you become a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_read_verse" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/questions-about-bible/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_read_verse" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it right now during a FREE trial period!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/the-treasure-map-of-bible-study-how-to-read-a-verse-for-all-its-worth/">The Treasure Map of Bible Study: How to Read a Verse for All Its Worth</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7060392
2022-09-14T03:29:17-12:00
2022-09-14T09:15:26-12:00
How to Live the Bible — More Mistakes in Bible Application
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-twenty-fifth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/how-to-live-the-bible-mistakes-in-bible-application/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — Mistakes in Bible Application" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">continued from last time…</a>] Application is the last step in the so-called inductive method of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/" title="Become a member of Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible study</a>. The first step is to <strong><em>observe</em></strong> (examining the words, the structure, the details), the second is to <strong><em>interpret</em></strong> (figuring out what the author meant), and then <strong><em>application</em></strong> (figuring out how the truths we uncover connect with everyday life). We know that if our observation is incomplete or our interpretation is askew, we will miss the truth and power of Scripture. But it’s also true that misapplication of the meaning of biblical texts is invalid and even dangerous.</p>
<p>Here are a couple of other mistakes to avoid…</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/09154516/HowToLiveTheBibleConfusedMan.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Mel Lawrenz says it's a mistake to apply a Bible verse to modern living that is not connected with the actual meaning of the text." width="90%" /></p>
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<p><strong>3. <em>Using an application that is not connected with the actual meaning of the text.</em></strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A35&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/3-teaching-about-the-bread-of-life-6-25-59&tab=study" title="Read John 6:35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jesus’ statement</a>: “I am the bread of life” is not about physical nutrition. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Heb.12.1-Heb.12.2&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 12:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 12:1</a>, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” is not about competing with your co-workers or neighbors. It’s about perseverance, as is directly stated in the text. Sometimes we’re inclined to take a biblical text and use it as a springboard to whatever our imagination conjures. But the words of Scripture are not springboards. The authors of Scripture always mean something specific in what they’re saying. Our applications of a biblical text may go different directions, but they should always have a meaningful connection with the original meaning of the text.</p>
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<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><strong>4. <em>Reading your own theology into the text.</em></strong></p>
<p>If someone has strong convictions about baptism, that’s fine, but it’s a mistake to see baptism wherever there’s water splashing about in the Bible. Grace is amazing, it really is. And it appears throughout Scripture, including in words like mercy, love, benevolence. But grace is balanced by truth. Likewise, someone who loves to proclaim truth must not leave grace behind. It’s hard for us to see what our theological presuppositions are, but if we do not, we’ll frequently apply Scripture in unbalanced ways, and we’re less likely to have the joy of discovery of truths we had not seen before.</p>
<p>Applying Scripture is the reward of study well done. We just need to make sure we’re applying the truth exactly where it belongs.</p>
<p>[See previous – <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/how-to-live-the-bible-mistakes-in-bible-application/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — Mistakes in Bible Application" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Mistakes in Bible Application</em></a>]</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/how-to-live-the-bible-more-mistakes-in-bible-application/">How to Live the Bible — More Mistakes in Bible Application</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7058418
2022-09-11T23:59:41-12:00
2022-09-12T02:30:12-12:00
Zondervan Releases The Jesus Bible Artist Edition In Limited Leather
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/collections/jesus-bible?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/09124127/the-jesus-bible-leather.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Jesus Bible Artist Edition (NIV and ESV translations) is now available for a limited time from Zondervan in green calfskin leather." width="65%" /></a>Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is excited to announce the release of the limited editions of <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-jesus-bible-niv-edition-comfort-print?variant=40425601990792&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Jesus Bible Artist Edition NIV in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>The Jesus Bible Artist Edition</em>, New International Version (NIV)</strong></a> and <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-jesus-bible-esv-edition?variant=40425601335432&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Jesus Bible Artist Edition ESV in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>The Jesus Bible Artist Edition</em>, English Standard Version (ESV)</strong></a> both in green calfskin leather.</p>
<p>Each limited edition Bible features one-of-a-kind cover designs by Florida-based artist and 2021 Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Top Shelf Book Cover Award Winner, <a href="http://www.joshuanoom.com/info" title="Joshua Noom" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Joshua Noom</a>, who specializes in bold illustrations with organic-feeling typography. Readers may be familiar with his work from past collaborations with brands: Old Spice, Burton Snowboarding, Sony Music, and Warner Music Groups.</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>When you become a member of <strong><a title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>, you’ll have instant access to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/resource-library-profile" title="See the list of Bible reference resources available to you with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">more than 50 Bible reference resources</a>, including <strong><em>The Jesus Bible</em></strong>. <a title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Try it free right now!</a>
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<p><span id="more-71151"></span></p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lYVPjvFm0RI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/zondervan-releases-the-jesus-bible-artist-editions/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Zondervan Releases The Jesus Bible Artist Editions" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Zondervan Releases The Jesus Bible Artist Editions</em></a>]</p>
<p>These beautiful special editions feature:</p>
<ul>
<li> Introduction by Louie Giglio</li>
<li> Limited edition featuring cover art by Joshua Noom imprinted onto a green calfskin cover</li>
<li> The complete text of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New International Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New International Version</a> or the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">English Standard Version</a>
</li>
<li> 66 book introductions highlight the story of Jesus in every book</li>
<li> Six compelling essays on the grand narrative of Scripture guide you to treasure Jesus and encourage you to faithfully follow him as you participate in his story</li>
<li> Over 300 full-page articles and nearly 700 sidebar articles reveal Jesus throughout all of Scripture</li>
<li> Room for notes and journaling throughout</li>
<li> Concordance</li>
<li> Three satin ribbon markers</li>
<li> Exclusive Zondervan Comfort Print typeface (NIV-only)</li>
</ul>
<p>See multiple editions of <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bg-bibles/bg-the-jesus-bible?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=cbdproduct" title="Buy your copy of The Jesus Bible in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><em>The Jesus Bible</em></strong></a> in the Bible Gateway Store.</p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E-MkZZ1Sejc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/26144519/TheJesusBibleInfographic.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/26144519/TheJesusBibleInfographic.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge The Jesus Bible Infographic" width="85%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>About Zondervan</strong><br>
Zondervan, a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is located in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/" title="Visit the Zondervan website" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.zondervan.com</a>.</p>
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<center>Get biblically wise and spiritually fit. Become a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/zondervan-releases-the-jesus-bible-artist-edition-in-limited-leather/">Zondervan Releases <em>The Jesus Bible Artist Edition</em> In Limited Leather</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7056949
2022-09-09T01:55:00-12:00
2022-09-09T06:15:15-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of September 4, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
<font color="711F14">⇨</font> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/weekly-brief/2022/09/09/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=biblenewsroundup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway <em>Weekly Brief</em></a><br>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/weekly-brief-week-of-september-4-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of September 4, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7055285
2022-09-07T03:44:23-12:00
2022-09-07T08:45:20-12:00
New Bible Engagement Podcast for Church Leaders
<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bible-roots-podcast/id1624732853" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/07101205/The-Bible-Roots-Podcast.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Bible Roots Podcast is a new Bible-engagement-centered podcast for pastors and church leadership who want to help their congregation actively and effectively engage with the Bible." width="80%" /></a></p>
<p>A new Bible-engagement-centered program, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bible-roots-podcast/id1624732853" title="Listen to The Bible Roots Podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong><em>The Bible Roots Podcast</em></strong></a> hosted by <a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?q=frazee&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="See resources by Randy Frazee in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">author and pastor Randy Frazee</a> and produced by <a href="https://churchsource.com/pages/harperchristian-resources" title="Visit the HarperChristian Resources website" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HarperChristian Resources</a>, is for pastors and church leadership who want to help their congregation or ministries actively and effectively engage with the Bible.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/" title="See the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">See the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway</a>]</p>
<p>“We’ve designed this podcast for anyone who longs to see people engage with God’s Word. Everyone is welcome, but our crosshairs are on pastors and church leaders,” said Frazee.</p>
<p>Learn from Randy and other experienced leaders in their respective branches of church ministry, as they bring a rich and valuable perspective that makes this podcast a practical and useful resource for anyone in church and ministry leadership.</p>
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<p>[See the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast/" title="Listen to the Bible Connection Podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Bible Connection Podcast</em></a> section on the Bible Gateway Blog]</p>
<p>The first two episodes of Season One of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bible-roots-podcast/id1624732853" title="Listen to The Bible Roots Podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Bible Roots Podcast</em></a> are now available wherever podcasts are streamed—including <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bible-roots-podcast/id1624732853" title="Listen to The Bible Roots Podcast on Apple Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2YTY5O5YgEJ7aLctfN4dlo" title="Listen to The Bible Roots Podcast on Spotify" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Roots-Podcast/dp/B0B1JMD95Y/ref=sr_1_1" title="Listen to The Bible Roots Podcast on Amazon Music" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon Music</a>—while the next eight release each Wednesday beginning September 14th through November 2nd, totaling 10 episodes.</p>
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<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>The first season topics, release dates, and guests are slated as follows:</p>
<p><strong>Episode 1: The One Thing Your People Want (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bible-roots-podcast/id1624732853" title="Listen to The Bible Roots Podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">now available</a>)</strong><br>
<em>Featuring Cally Parkinson, Director for REVEAL</em></p>
<p><strong>Episode 2: The Science of How People Grow (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bible-roots-podcast/id1624732853" title="Listen to The Bible Roots Podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">now available</a>)</strong><br>
<em>Featuring Scott Beck, CEO and Co-Founder of Gloo</em></p>
<p><strong>Episode 3: Storytelling to Engage a Congregation (Sept. 14 release)</strong><br>
<em>Featuring Kyle Idleman, Pastor at Southeast Christian Church and bestselling author</em></p>
<p><strong>Episode 4: The Movable Middle (coming Sept. 21)</strong><br>
<em>Featuring Nicole Martin, Sr. VP of Ministry Impact at the American Bible Society</em></p>
<p><strong>Episode 5: Instilling a Love of the Bible in the Next Generation (Sept. 28 release)</strong><br>
<em>Featuring Dr. Phil Collins, Professor of Christian Ministries and Director of the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement</em></p>
<p><strong>Episode 6: The Story: Equipping parents to disciple their kids (Oct. 5 release)</strong><br>
<em>Featuring Shelley Leith, Director of Church Relations for HarperCollins Christian Publishers</em></p>
<p><strong>Episode 7: Leading Your Church in a Divided World (Oct. 12 release)</strong><br>
<em>Featuring pastor and author Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor at National Community Church and New York Times bestselling author</em></p>
<p><strong>Episode 8: The New Roadmap of Youth Ministry (Oct. 19 release)</strong><br>
<em>Featuring Matt Markins, President and CEO of Awana</em></p>
<p><strong>Episode 9: People Are Reading Less, But Listening More (Oct. 26 release)</strong><br>
<em>Featuring Morgan Jackson, Sr. VP of Faith Comes By Hearing</em></p>
<p><strong>Episode 10: The Power of Student Discipleship Through Music (Nov. 2 release)</strong><br>
<em>Featuring Mark Hall, Storyteller, teacher and lead singer and songwriter for Grammy Award-winning band Casting Crowns</em></p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/new-bible-engagement-podcast-for-church-leaders/">New Bible Engagement Podcast for Church Leaders</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7055286
2022-09-07T02:03:00-12:00
2022-09-07T08:45:20-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Mistakes in Bible Application
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-twenty-fourth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>I always feel a little insulted when I read instructions on something like a tube of antiseptic ointment and they tell me: APPLY TOPICALLY. NOT TO BE INGESTED. I figure that much is obvious. There is a real problem, of course, if someone somewhere swallows a medicine that’s supposed to be applied to the skin.</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/15130452/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Worry.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Mel Lawrenz says we're flirting with danger if we don't correctly observe, interpret, and apply the meaning of Bible passages." width="90%" /></p>
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<p>Application is the last step in the so-called inductive method of Bible study. The first step is to <em>observe</em> (examining the words, the structure, the details), the second is to <em>interpret</em> (figuring out what the author meant), and then <em>application</em> (figuring out how the truths we uncover connect with everyday life). We know that if our observation is incomplete or our interpretation is askew, we’ll miss the truth and power of Scripture. But it’s also true that misapplication of the meaning of biblical texts is invalid and even dangerous.</p>
<p>Here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid when applying Scripture:</p>
<p><strong>1. <em>Imagining a spiritual meaning in a narrative text that is not embedded in the text itself.</em></strong></p>
<p>Narrative texts—whether they are the stories of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/whats-the-difference-between-the-old-testament-and-the-new-testament/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Old Testament</a> historical books, or the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/what-are-the-gospels-2/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Are the Gospels?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">four Gospels</a>, or the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Acts on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Acts</a>—mostly tell us the unfolding of real-life stories. We gain lessons about life from the stories, but usually there is not a simple “moral to the story” unless indicated by the text itself. The way God guided the Israelites through the wilderness is not the way he guides you or me to a job opportunity. The military tactics of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Joshua on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua</a> are best understood as a description of what happened, not as a strategy for successful living. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2017&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/mt-17-1-4&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Matthew 17 from the NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">transfiguration of Jesus</a> on the mountain was a unique historic event. Its significance is about the identity of Jesus, and does not really have a parallel in my life. Narrative texts have meaning in the context of the whole sweeping story of the people of God. But their details may be applied only when clearly indicated or there is a transcendent principle like Joshua telling the people “choose this day whom you will serve” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+24%3A15&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8462-priority-God&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 24:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 24:15</a>).</p>
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<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p><strong>2. <em>Taking historical narratives as prescriptive rather than descriptive.</em></strong></p>
<p>Narratives tell us what happened, they don’t necessarily tell us what should have happened then, or what should happen today in our lives. For example, we glean from the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/introduction-to-acts&tab=study" title="Read the introduction to the book of Acts from the NIV Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Acts</a> how the first generation of Christians lived, but that does not mean these prescribe how we should live. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A46&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/d-structure-of-the-new-community-2-43-47&tab=study" title="Read Acts 2:46 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 2:46</a> says the first believers met every day in the temple courts. That does not mean that believers today are obligated to gather every day in one specific place. They sold their property and gave the proceeds away, an example of generous, open hearts, but not a command that believers must adopt socialist politics. We know that in the first century churches were led by elders, sometimes supervised by an apostle or apostle’s representative (like <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+1&resource_entry=niebc/timothy&tab=study" title="Read about Timothy from the New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Timothy</a>). Later in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/whats-the-difference-between-the-old-testament-and-the-new-testament/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Testament</a> the role of deacons was developed. But this does not mean it’s wrong today for a church to have new designated roles like having a senior pastor, or for there to be pastors of children and evangelism and worship or small group leaders.</p>
<p>[to be continued…]</p>
<p>[See previous – <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/how-to-live-the-bible-applying-the-meaning-of-scripture/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — Applying the Meaning of Scripture" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Applying the Meaning of Scripture</em></a>]</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/how-to-live-the-bible-mistakes-in-bible-application/">How to Live the Bible — Mistakes in Bible Application</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7054447
2022-09-06T06:58:00-12:00
2022-09-07T08:45:20-12:00
How to Define Bitterness and Then Avoid It
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/every-bitter-thing-is-sweet-tasting-the-goodness-of-god-in-all-things?variant=13747324584047&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Every-Bitter-Thing-Is-Sweet.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read this article to see how God can shape the bitterness you have over your lost expectations into deep, new places of knowing him." width="25%" /></a>How do you define <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=bitterness&resultspp=500&version=NIV" title="Read Bible verses about bitterness on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bitterness</a>? Do you wonder how God can turn the bitterness of unmet desire into new flavors of joy?</p>
<p>Like the flicker of a single match that ends up destroying millions of forrested acres in a wildfire, so bitterness starts small but enlarges with festering cultivation.</p>
<p>An example of one person’s approach to keeping bitterness at bay in her life is Sara Hagerty, who describes in her book, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/every-bitter-thing-is-sweet-tasting-the-goodness-of-god-in-all-things?variant=13747324584047&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet: Tasting the Goodness of God in All Things in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet: Tasting the Goodness of God in All Things</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2016), how she found the Bible, anew, when her circumstances were stifled with external struggles. She refused to let bitterness overtake her outlook.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2014/11/bitter-becomes-sweet-an-interview-with-sara-hagerty/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Bitter Becomes Sweet: An Interview with Sara Hagerty" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Bitter Becomes Sweet: An Interview with Sara Hagerty</em></a>]</p>
<h2>What Are Bitters</h2>
<p>Bitters is a flavoring added to a beverage or food preparation to create a sharp, pungent, tart, or sour taste. In culinary considerations, bitters may contribute (for some people) to a pleasingly complex taste on a person’s palette, but in personal relationships, the characteristic of bitterness can be harsh and destructive.</p>
<p>For its negative qualities, bitter herbs are what Israel was commanded at the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+12&resource_entry=zibbc-ot/blood-will-be-a-sign-for-you-exod-12-13&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Exodus 12 in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the Old Testament with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Feast of Passover</a> to eat with the roast lamb and unleavened bread. The observance was meant to symbolize the bitterness and agony of their Egyptian slavery (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1%3A14%3B+12%3A8&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/ex-12-8&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Exodus 1:14; 12:8 in the NIV Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 1:14; 12:8</a>).</p>
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<h2>Bitterness Definition</h2>
<p>The definition of bitterness is the emotional state of feeling distressed disappointment from unmet expectations or having the perception of being treated unfairly. When a person allows this feeling to fester, the negative emotional mood can spill over to create physical health problems. Research shows that bitter people can have higher blood pressure and heart rate, and can be more likely to die of heart disease and other illnesses.</p>
<h2>Signs Of Bitterness</h2>
<p>Bitterness is the root from which spring other offensive attitudes and behaviors. The Bible says, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A15&version=NIV&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/heb-12-15&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Hebrews 12:15 in the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 12:15</a>).</p>
<p>The writer of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Hebrews on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews</a> goes on to use Esau in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/whats-the-difference-between-the-old-testament-and-the-new-testament/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Old Testament</a> as an example of being bitter <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+27&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/ge-27-30-41&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Genesis 27 in the NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">due to his brother, Jacob’s, deception</a>, which leads Esau to thoughts of murder. That encounter is similar to the first crime recorded in the Bible of Cain killing Abel. Perhaps out of jealousy and bitterness sprang Cain’s anger toward his brother that caused God to ask Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-genesis/confrontation-4-6-7&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Genesis 4:6-7 in the NIV Application Commentary: Genesis with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 4:6-7</a>). Cain refused to rule over his harmful attitude and murder was the outcome.</p>
<h2>The Branches of Bitterness</h2>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Resentment:</strong> The feeling of annoyance when you think someone has wronged you or humiliated you in public. It’s the desire to lash back in kind at the person.</li>
<li> <strong>Grudges:</strong> The persistent and cultivated feeling of ill will resulting from a past insult or injury.</li>
<li> <strong>Anger:</strong> The fierce displeasure that, when left unchecked, can grow into indignation, fury, and rage.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>Lessons of Bitterness in the Bible</h2>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+32%3A32&resource_entry=niv-thompson-chain/bitterness-471&tab=study" title="Follow the links for the word bitterness in Deuteronomy 32:32 in the Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Deuteronomy 32:32</strong></a> — Moses refers to bitter clusters of grapes in speaking of the moral corruption of the nations in Canaan.</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+17%3A8&version=WYC&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-ot/2sa-17-5-13&tab=study" title="Read the study note for 2 Samuel 17:8 in the Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>2 Samuel 17:8</strong></a> — “Bitter of soul” is the description of David’s mental attitude and menacing disposition.</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+4%3A18&resource_entry=esv-global-study-bible/jer-4-18&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Jeremiah 4:18 in the ESV Global Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Jeremiah 4:18</strong></a> — The prophet Jeremiah describes Judah’s wickedness as bitter, so much so that it overwhelms the heart.</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+8%3A10&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/am-8-4-10&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Amos 8:10 in the NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Amos 8:10</strong></a> — In Amos’ denunciations of Israel’s sins he predicts the loss of their feasts and music with the replacement by sackcloth and mourning, all of it constituting a bitter day.</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8%3A9ff&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5799-bitterness&tab=study" title="Read the verse links for Acts 8 in the Dictionary of Bible Themes on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Acts 8</strong></a> — The apostle Peter sternly rebuked Simon the sorcerer when he attempted to buy the gift of the Spirit. He accused Simon of being in the “gall of bitterness,” an expression intended to awaken the offender to the depth of his depravity and ungodliness.</li>
</ul>
<h2>What Qualities Are the Opposite of Bitterness</h2>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Contentment:</strong> “I have learned how to be content in any circumstance. 12 I know the experience of being in need and of having more than enough; I have learned the secret to being content in any and every circumstance, whether full or hungry or whether having plenty or being poor. 13 I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A11-13&version=CEB&resource_entry=believers-bible-commentary/4-11-6&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Philippians 4:11-13 in the Believer's Bible Commentary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 4:11-13</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Geniality:</strong> “Be still before the L<small>ORD</small> and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37%3A7&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-lord-can-be-trusted-vv-1-11&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Psalm 37:7 in the Warren Wiersbe BE Bible Study Series on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 37:7</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Happiness:</strong> “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5%3A16-18&version=ESV&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-nt/1th-5-16&tab=study" title="Read the study note for 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 in the Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Thessalonians 5:16-18</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Sweetness:</strong> “Kind words are like honey. They are sweet to the spirit and bring healing to the body.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+16%3A24&version=NIRV&resource_entry=niv-student-bible/guided-tour-proverbs-words&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Proverbs 16:24 in the NIV Student Bible Notes with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 16:24</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>How to Avoid Bitterness</h2>
<p>“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A31-32&version=ESV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/eph-4-29-32&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Ephesians 4:31-32 in the NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:31-32</a></p>
<p>“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A12-13&version=NET&resource_entry=nidntt/g918&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Colossians 3:12-13 in the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 3:12-13</a></p>
<blockquote>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/how-to-define-bitterness-and-then-avoid-it/">How to Define Bitterness and Then Avoid It</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7054174
2022-09-06T02:34:48-12:00
2022-09-06T10:00:21-12:00
The Path to Your Dream Job
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/06101003/JeffHenderson_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Jeff Henderson. If you want to find your dream job or change your situation but aren't sure how, this helpful article will help you move toward reevaluating your purpose and determining your next best step." width="33%" />By Jeff Henderson</strong></p>
<p><em>Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. </em>—<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203%3A23-24&version=NIV" target="_blank" title="Read Colossians 3:23-24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer">Colossians 3:23-24</a></p>
<p>I’ve lost track of the number of conversations I’ve had with people who are unsatisfied with their job and looking to get out. Sometimes people are fine where they are but feel like something is missing. At the end of the conversation, I tell them I have a final suggestion, and it’s the very best one I can provide.</p>
<p>“Go back to where you work and do your very best.”</p>
<p>Cue the puzzled look. I can almost hear what they’re thinking. <em>Jeff, have you not been paying attention? I’m trying to leave where I am</em>.</p>
<p><span id="more-71039"></span></p>
<p>I <em>have</em> been listening, and I understand. But from my experience, your day job (and those you’ve had in the past) provide distinct clues about your future. Here’s why: <em>the path to your dream job often leads through your day job</em>.</p>
<p>This is true even for those of us who don’t currently have a day job. Each place we’ve ever been teaches us and shows us a path.</p>
<h2>Finding the Strongest You</h2>
<p>One of my first “real” jobs was in the promotions department for the Atlanta Braves. As a lifelong Braves fan, it was a dream come true. (Not to mention that Hank Aaron, the home run king, worked two offices down from me.)</p>
<p>This was back in the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium days, way before Atlanta started naming ballparks after companies. (As a sidenote, we’ve built more stadiums than we’ve won championships in Atlanta. It’s a tough life.)</p>
<p>This job with the Braves was such a great opportunity because I had a chance to do all sorts of things:</p>
<ul>
<li>work with corporate sponsors</li>
<li>manage pregame and postgame promotions</li>
<li>create promotional ideas for sponsors and the Braves</li>
<li>write television and radio scripts</li>
<li>write player features for the team magazine</li>
<li>sell program ads</li>
</ul>
<p>One night, the person who was supposed to don the costume for our mascot failed to show up. So for one game I even got to be a major league mascot! I think I lost ten pounds from heat exhaustion in the costume.</p>
<p>Here’s why I bring this up. In that promotions job, I realized there were some things I was good at and some things I was really bad at, some tasks I enjoyed and others I didn’t. For example, I discovered I had some strong creative ideas that sponsors and the Braves organization not only liked but implemented. On the other hand, I was terrible at selling program ads. Not just terrible, but Charles Barkley “turrable.”</p>
<p>My hands would sweat while making the phone calls. I would stutter and talk too fast. I was convinced no one would buy an ad. It was an awful experience, and I felt like a failure. That is, until my dad told me that discovering what you’re not good at (let’s call it a weakness) is a huge win.</p>
<p>“You’re learning,” he said. “You’re learning what your strengths are and what your weaknesses are. Always play to your strengths. But you can’t play to your strengths until you know what they are, and where your weaknesses are.”</p>
<p>Okay, so I’m probably not going to be a professional program ad seller. But I learned to play to my strengths.</p>
<p>Fast-forward many years later to when I worked in the marketing department at Chick-fil-<br>
A. I connected again with my friend Tommy Newberry, the founder of the 1% Club. He asked me to email seven friends and ask them this question: “What do you think I’m good at?”</p>
<p>Despite ending in a preposition, it’s a fantastic question.</p>
<p>The feedback gave me clues, some I saw and some I had taken for granted. That’s what we do with our strengths. They come naturally to us, more so than for others. And we assume since it’s easier for us, it’s easier for everyone. For example, there were employees with the Braves who crushed selling program ads. And they couldn’t figure out why it made my hands sweat. They were in their strengths. I was sweating.</p>
<p>Here’s what I believe about you. I’ll just be honest. You don’t have to believe this about yourself, but let me believe this about you: I believe God created you. God’s thumbprints are on you. And because I believe this about you, it leads me to a truth about you: <em>God’s thumbprints on you are clues about his plans for you</em>.</p>
<p>Let me point out that my new book <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/what-to-do-next-taking-your-best-step-when-life-is-uncertain?variant=40045811597448" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>What to Do Next</em></a> isn’t a religious book. But I do believe you have been created and gifted by God. Those gifts aren’t just for you; they’re gifts for the world. And the more you recognize, understand, and leverage them, the better positioned you’ll be to find what’s next.</p>
<p>I discovered this one Sunday when an elderly woman confronted me at a church. At the time, I was working in marketing at a resort called Lake Lanier Islands in North Atlanta. One Friday afternoon, my dad called to tell me a pastor friend had reached out to him about a family emergency. He asked my dad if he could preach for him that Sunday. My dad wasn’t available, but he suggested me as a replacement.</p>
<p>Now it may seem odd for a resort marketing person to be a guest preacher, but my dad and I had gone around during my high school and college years speaking to church youth groups. It’s how I learned how to speak in front of groups.</p>
<p>Long story short, I ended up preaching that Sunday. It was a small church, and at the end of the service, the preacher typically stood at the back of the church and said goodbye to everyone. This was in the 1990s, long before preachers got feedback on their sermon via Twitter.</p>
<p>Everyone was kind—until she arrived. She looked relatively harmless, probably in her eighties. (I’m convinced Dana Carvey created his <em>Saturday Night Live</em> Church Lady character based on the woman standing in front of me that day.) We shook hands. She combined a smile with a frown—a hard thing to do, by the way—and said, “You’re wasting your gift.”</p>
<p>At first I thought she was complimenting me. She was telling me I had the gift of public speaking. But I quickly discovered she wasn’t there to encourage me; she was there to confront.</p>
<p>“Young man,” she said—the phrase <em>young man</em> convinced me I was in trouble—“ you have a gift. From what I understand, you work at a lake somewhere. You should be speaking. If not, someday you’ll have to give an account to God as to why you wasted your gift.”</p>
<p>And then she walked off. How’s that for a nice Sunday morning at church? And yet here I am, more than two decades later, remembering what she said.</p>
<p>A couple of years ago, <em>Forbes</em> magazine named me one of twenty speakers you shouldn’t miss. When I got word of that, I thought of her. I never knew her name, but I never forgot her advice. In essence what she was saying was, “Young man, pay attention to the thumbprints.”</p>
<p>The same is true for you. Spend time being curious about your past jobs and roles. What were you good at? What are you not so good at? What’s your version of selling program ads? Don’t beat yourself up over your weaknesses. You win when you see them, define them, and move toward your strengths. Your past work experience leaves all sorts of clues for what’s next.</p>
<p>My experience is that we overlook those clues. That’s why I think it’s true: the path to your dream job often leads through your day job.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/what-to-do-next-taking-your-best-step-when-life-is-uncertain?variant=40045811597448" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/06095224/WhatToDoNext_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="What to Do Next by Jeff Henderson. If you want to find your dream job or change your situation but aren't sure how, this practical guide will help you reevaluate your purpose and determine your next best step." height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/what-to-do-next-taking-your-best-step-when-life-is-uncertain?variant=40045811597448" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>What to Do Next: Taking Your Best Step When Life Is Uncertain</em></a> by Jeff Henderson. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/what-to-do-next-taking-your-best-step-when-life-is-uncertain?variant=40045811597448" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>If you want to change your career and circumstances but aren’t sure how, this practical guide from business leader Jeff Henderson will help you reevaluate your purpose and determine your next best step.</p>
<p>Navigating what’s next in life—whether in your career, personal life, or relationships—often brings a level of uncertainty and anxiety and presents more questions than answers. Entrepreneur, speaker, and pastor Jeff Henderson has experienced this firsthand—first when he left his marketing position at Chick-fil-A to start a church and nonprofit, and then again when he left that nonprofit in the middle of a global pandemic to … well, he didn’t know. He just knew he needed to make a move.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/what-to-do-next-taking-your-best-step-when-life-is-uncertain?variant=40045811597448" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">This insightful book</a> outlines the process he used to determine the next best step for him and how you, too, can pursue more meaning and purpose in your life and work. Sharing personal stories and best practices he’s learned along the way, he eloquently and practically guides you through the minefield of knowing what’s next by helping you:</p>
<ul>
<li>Take the Career Risk Calculator and discover if you’re ready for change</li>
<li>Plan for change—both the changes you want and the changes you can’t see coming</li>
<li>Cultivate “optimal options” in your life that will guide you to better decision-making when the time comes</li>
<li>Identify what to do and what not to do when making decisions about what’s next</li>
<li>Exchange fear, confusion, and hopelessness for confidence, freedom, and purpose</li>
</ul>
<p>The next chapter of your life starts today, with one simple step. And you’ll know how to take that step because you know <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/what-to-do-next-taking-your-best-step-when-life-is-uncertain?variant=40045811597448" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>What to Do Next</em></a>.</p>
<p><strong>Jeff Henderson</strong> is an entrepreneur, speaker, pastor, and business leader. For seventeen years, he has led three of North Point Ministries’ multisite locations in Atlanta, Georgia—Buckhead Church and two Gwinnett Church locations. He also helped launch North Point Online, which now reaches over 200,000 people.</p>
<p>His bestselling book, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/know-what-youre-for-a-growth-strategy-for-work-an-even-better-strategy-for-life?variant=20534937845871" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Know What You’re FOR</em></a>, launched a movement in nonprofits around the world and has become a focal point for many businesses. As the founder of the FOR Company, Jeff’s aim is to help organizations build a good name where purpose and profit grow together.</p>
<p>Jeff was recently named by <em>Forbes</em> Magazine as one of twenty speakers you shouldn’t miss. Prior to working as a pastor, Jeff started his career in marketing with the Atlanta Braves, Callaway Gardens, Lake Lanier Islands, and Chick-fil-A, Inc., where he led the company’s regional and beverage marketing strategies.</p>
<h2>Looking for More?<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30134528/SpectacleGloryCover2-220.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni's devotional A Spectacle of Glory: God's Light Shining through Me Every Day" height="338" width="220" /></a>
</h2>
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<p>Each month you’ll receive an email with a deal, a feature article, and book samples designed to help you find more incredible books for your reading and listening lists.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/the-path-to-your-dream-job/">The Path to Your Dream Job</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7051958
2022-09-02T01:55:00-12:00
2022-09-02T06:45:43-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of August 28, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/weekly-brief-week-of-august-28-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of August 28, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7050946
2022-08-31T23:31:45-12:00
2022-09-02T06:45:44-12:00
September Is “Promises of God Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 30 Bible Verses Calendar
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/18103603/you-are-built-to-love-large.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Download this free PDF Bible study that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" width="40%" /></a>We all face moments of uncertainty, discouragement, and stress in life. This month, we want to remind you of the promises of God in those times. There is hope, you are loved, and God will be with us always. We invite you to click the verse references below to read each of their contexts and to print this calendar to be reminded daily of the promises from our Savior, the promise keeper.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/august-is-attributes-of-god-month-on-bible-gateway-download-this-free-31-bible-verses-calendar/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, August Is Attributes of God Month on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>August Is “Attributes of God Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar</em></a>]</p>
<p>Download and use this <a href="https://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/September-Promises-of-God.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=augustattributes" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, September Promises of God Bible Verses" target="_blank"><strong>free daily September Promises of God Bible Verses calendar</strong></a> every day:</p>
<p><span id="more-70802"></span></p>
<p><a href="https://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/September-Promises-of-God.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=augustattributes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/22084457/September-Promises-of-God.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, September Promises of God Bible Verses" width="90%" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li>September 1 — God Will Never Change. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+3%3A6&resource_entry=zondervan-illustrated-bible-dictionary/immutability&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Malachi 3:6 in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Malachi 3:6</a>
</li>
<li>September 2 — God Is At Work. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A13&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1305-God-activity&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 2:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 2:13</a>
</li>
<li>September 3 — God Will Give You Rest. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A2&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5058-rest-spiritual&tab=study" title="Read xxxxxxxxxxx on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23:2</a>
</li>
<li>September 4 — God Will Provide. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A20-21&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1175-God-will&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 13:20-21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 13:20-21</a>
</li>
<li>September 5 — God Will Bless You. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+6%3A24&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1335-blessing&tab=study" title="Read Numbers 6:24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Numbers 6:24</a>
</li>
<li>September 6 — God Will Deliver You. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+97%3A10&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5330-guard&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 97:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 97:10</a>
</li>
<li>September 7 — God Cares For You. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A7&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1030-God-compassion&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 5:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 5:7</a>
</li>
<li>September 8 — God’s Love Perseveres. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A4-7&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8292-love&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13:4-7</a>
</li>
<li>September 9 — God’s Promises Will Never Fail. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+23%3A14&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1035-God-faithfulness&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 23:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 23:14</a>
</li>
<li>September 10 — God Will Teach You. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+32%3A8&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8125-guidance-Gods-promises&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 32:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 32:8</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/july-is-bible-affirmations-month-on-bible-gateway-download-this-free-31-bible-verses-calendar/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, July Is Bible Affirmations Month on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>July Is “Bible Affirmations Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar</em></a>]</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<ul>
<li>September 11 — God Will Give You Peace. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Thessalonians+3%3A16&resource_entry=matthew-henry/2Thess.3.16-2Thess.3.18&tab=study" title="Read 2 Thessalonians 3:16 on Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Thessalonians 3:16</a>
</li>
<li>September 12 — God Works On Your Behalf. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+64%3A4&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5854-experience-God&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 64:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 64:4</a>
</li>
<li>September 13 — God’s Word Will Endure Forever. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5%3A23-24&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1035-God-faithfulness&tab=study" title="Read 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Thessalonians 5:23-24</a>
</li>
<li>September 14 — God Gives New Life. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A3&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6647-eternal-life-experience&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 3:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 3:3</a>
</li>
<li>September 15 — God Will Never Leave You. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A5&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5467-promises-divine&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 13:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 13:5</a>
</li>
<li>September 16 — God Is Close To You. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+43%3A2&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1110-God-present-everywhere&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 43:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 43:2</a>
</li>
<li>September 17 — God Prepares A Place For You. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A34&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/9413-heaven-inheritance&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 25:34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 25:34</a>
</li>
<li>September 18 — God Will Carry You. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+46%3A4&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1330-God-provider&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 46:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 46:4</a>
</li>
<li>September 19 — God Has Cancelled Your Sin. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2%3A13-14&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6028-sin-Gods-deliverance&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 2:13-14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 2:13-14</a>
</li>
<li>September 20 — God Has Good Planned For You. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40%3A5&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8125-guidance-Gods-promises&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 40:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 40:5</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/may-is-bible-declarations-month-on-bible-gateway-download-this-free-31-bible-verses-calendar/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, May Is Bible Declarations Month on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>May Is “Bible Declarations Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar</em></a>]</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<ul>
<li>September 21 — God Will Restore You. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A3&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/pasture-adequacy-vv-1-3&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:3 on Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23:3</a>
</li>
<li>September 22 — God Will Build You Up. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+24%3A6&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8413-edification&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 24:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 24:6</a>
</li>
<li>September 23 — God Will Strengthen You. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+12%3A2&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8221-courage-as-strength-God&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 12:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 12:2</a>
</li>
<li>September 24 — God Hears Our Cries. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40%3A1&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-praise-god-for-all-he-has-done-vv-1-5&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 40:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 40:1</a>
</li>
<li>September 25 — God Stays Faithful. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A13&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1035-God-faithfulness&tab=study" title="Read 2 Timothy 2:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 2:13</a>
</li>
<li>September 26 — God Has Set You Free. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A1&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6658-freedom&tab=study" title="Read Galatians 5:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 5:1</a>
</li>
<li>September 27 — God’s Mercy Is Everlasting. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+16%3A34&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1050-God-goodness&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 16:34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 16:34</a>
</li>
<li>September 28 — God Is Our Security. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+14%3A26&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5292-defence-divine&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 14:26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 14:26</a>
</li>
<li>September 29 — God Will Carry Your Burdens. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+68%3A19&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/3-our-god-is-dwelling-us-vv-19-27&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 68:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 68:19</a>
</li>
<li>September 30 — God Will Give You Wiscom. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A5&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8261-generosity-Gods&tab=study" title="Read James 1:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James 1:5</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Download and start using this <a href="https://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/September-Promises-of-God.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=augustattributes" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, September Promises of God Bible Verses" target="_blank"><strong>free daily September Promises of God Bible Verses calendar</strong></a> right now!</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/dont-merely-read-the-bible-engage-with-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!</em></a>]</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/09/september-is-promises-of-god-month-on-bible-gateway-download-this-free-30-bible-verses-calendar/">September Is “Promises of God Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 30 Bible Verses Calendar</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7050432
2022-08-31T05:48:49-12:00
2022-08-31T09:45:09-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Holding and Pondering
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-twenty-third lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A16&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1613-Scripture-purpose&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 3:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 3:16</a>).</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/21103607/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Man-Praying-With-Bible.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Mel Lawrenz says meditation is a word the Bible uses to describe a way of holding and pondering God’s truth so that it sinks in." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-71006"></span></p>
<p>This passage says there are a variety of ways the word of Christ goes deep enough to dwell. Teaching is paramount, so we need to keep searching like eagles for teachers, authors, and Bible study leaders who explain and apply the word faithfully. “Admonishing with wisdom” suggests a flow of quality conversation among believers about what they are learning from God. “Singing” praise is another powerful way the word of God is carried deeply into our hearts. Singing “with gratitude in [our] hearts to God” is a way that the crusty and hardened exterior of our lives gets cracked open, and seeds drop deeply in, and they begin to live and grow.</p>
<p>Here is the connection between Bible study and worship. Why sing? So the word will dwell richly. Why a variety of sounds (psalms, hymns, spiritual songs)? So the word will knock on every door of our hearts that is the least bit cracked open. Why teach? So that the word will be clearly explained and powerfully applied. Worship is not the span between the start and the end of singing, but this great and varied advance of the word of God on our souls. God takes up as many fronts as he needs to so that we will stop and listen.</p>
<p>And then there is meditation—a way of reading Scripture in such a way that it has a chance to get planted. Meditation is a word the Bible uses to describe a way of holding and pondering God’s truth so that it sinks in. It is wise, pensive concentration.</p>
<p>At the edge of the promised land, Joshua told the people they were going to need real spiritual muscle. Wars lay ahead. Three times at the Jordan River he said: “be strong and courageous,” and then: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1%3A8&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Josh.1.6-Josh.1.9&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 1:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 1:8</a>).</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Psalms on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalms</a> speak about meditating on the word of God, and continuing that meditation through every pulse of life. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-119&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 119</a> describes a committed discipline of taking the word in:</p>
<ul>
<li> “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A15&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8662-meditation&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vs. 15</a>).</li>
<li> “Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A23&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8662-meditation&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119:23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vs. 23</a>).</li>
<li> “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A27&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1614-Scripture-understanding&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vs. 27</a>).</li>
<li> “I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A48&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-abide/journal-psalm-119-41-48&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119:48 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vs. 48</a>).</li>
<li> “May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A78&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5191-thought&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119:78 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vs. 78</a>).</li>
<li> “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A97&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1690-word-God&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119:97 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vs. 97</a>).</li>
<li> “I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A99&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Ps.119.1-Ps.119.176&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119:99 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vs. 99</a>).</li>
<li> “My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A148&version=NIV&resource_entry=zondervan-illustrated-bible-dictionary/meditation&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119:148 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vs. 148</a>).</li>
</ul>
<p>Okay, now, be honest. Did you just skim <em>over</em> those verses, or did you <em>ponder</em> them? If you’re like me, then you will find yourself occasionally reading over quotations of Scripture instead of reading through them. How hurried we can be!</p>
<p>That’s what Christian meditation is all about—turning hurry into rumination. Slowing from a run into a walk. Tasting and digesting instead of devouring. It’s the only way to build spiritual muscle for the good times and the tough times.</p>
<p>[See previous – <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/how-to-live-the-bible-applying-the-meaning-of-scripture/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — Applying the Meaning of Scripture" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Applying the Meaning of Scripture</em></a>]</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/how-to-live-the-bible-holding-and-pondering/">How to Live the Bible — Holding and Pondering</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7049686
2022-08-30T06:20:47-12:00
2022-08-30T11:30:06-12:00
Grace and Truth: Reversing the Effects of the Fall
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30120636/HenryCloud_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Grace and Truth: Reversing the Effects of the Fall by Dr. Henry Cloud, clinical psychologist, pastor to pastors, and New York Times bestselling author. His 45 books include the iconic Boundaries." width="33%" />By Dr. Henry Cloud</strong></p>
<p>Grace and truth together reverse the effects of the fall, which were separation from God and others. Grace and truth together invite us out of isolation and into relationship. Grace, when it is combined with truth, invites <em>the true self</em>, the “me” as I really am, warts and all, into <em>relationship</em>.</p>
<p>It is one thing to have safety in relationship; it is quite another to be truly known and accepted in this relationship.</p>
<p>With grace alone, we are safe from condemnation, but we cannot experience true intimacy. When the one who offers grace also offers truth (truth about who we are, truth about who he or she is, and truth about the world around us), and we respond with our true self, then real intimacy is possible. Real intimacy always comes in the company of truth.</p>
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<p>Jesus’ treatment of the adulterous woman in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A3%E2%80%9311&version=NIV" title="Read John 8:3–11 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 8:3–11</a> provides a wonderful example of safety and intimacy. Jesus had gone to the temple courts at dawn to teach the people. He had just sat down when the teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in an adulterous woman and made her stand before the group.</p>
<p>“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery,” they said. “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus. The Romans did not allow the Jews to carry out the death sentence, so if Jesus said, “Stone her,” he would be in conflict with the Romans. If he said, “Don’t stone her,” he could be accused of undermining Jewish law.</p>
<p>But Jesus refused to fall into their trap. He bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”</p>
<p>When they heard his answer, they began to slink away, one by one. Soon Jesus was left alone with the woman. He asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”</p>
<p>“No one, sir,” she said.</p>
<p>“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”</p>
<p>In this one encounter, Jesus shows what it means to know grace and truth in him. He offered this woman grace in the form of forgiveness and acceptance. He said, in effect, that she did not have to die for her sin. She was accepted and did not have to be separated from him.</p>
<p>He also showed the power of grace as an agent to end separation from her fellow human beings as well. The Pharisees were no different from her: she was a sinner, and they were sinners. Jesus even invited the Pharisees to commune with her as a member of the human race, an invitation they declined. Grace has the power to bring us together with God and with others, if others will accept it.</p>
<p>But Jesus did not stop with just acceptance. He accepted her <em>with full realization</em> of who she was: an adulteress. He accepted her true self, a woman with sinful desires and actions. He then gives her direction for the future: “Go now and leave your life of sin.” These two ingredients together—acceptance and direction—serve to bring the real self into relationship, the only way that healing ever takes place.</p>
<p>Jesus said it in another way in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A23%E2%80%9324&version=NIV" title="Read John 4:23–24 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 4:23–24</a>: “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the <em>Spirit and in truth</em>, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship <em>in the Spirit and in truth</em>” (italics mine). We must worship God in <em>relationship and in honesty</em>, or we do not worship him at all.</p>
<p>The sad thing is that many of us come to Christ because we are sinners, and then spend the rest of our lives trying to prove that we are not! We try to hide who we really are.</p>
<h2>The Real Self versus the False Self</h2>
<p>When the real self comes into relationship with God and others, an incredible dynamic is set into motion: we grow as God created us to grow. It is only when you are connected to the Head (Jesus Christ) and connected to others (the Body) that “the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Col.+2%3A19&version=NIV" title="Read Colossians 2:19 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Col. 2:19</a>).</p>
<p>A coming together of grace and truth in Jesus Christ is our only hope, and indeed it is a hope that does not disappoint.</p>
<p>If the true self is in hiding, the false self takes over. The false self is the self that is conformed to this world (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom.+12%3A2&version=NIV" title="Read Romans 12:2 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rom. 12:2</a>). The false self is the self we present to others, the false front, if you will, that we put up for others to see. Paul speaks of the false self this way:</p>
<p><em>That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.</em></p>
<p><em>Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.</em> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph.+4%3A20%E2%80%9325&version=NIV" title="Read Ephesians 4:20–25 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eph. 4:20–25</a>)</p>
<p>As long as the lying, false self is the one relating to God, others, and ourselves, then grace and truth cannot heal us. The false self tries to “heal” us by its own methods; it always finds false solutions, and the real self that God created to grow into his image stays hidden and unexposed to grace and truth.</p>
<h2>The Guilt Barrier</h2>
<p>Grace and truth are a healing combination because they deal with one of the main barriers to all growth: guilt. We have emotional difficulties because we have been injured (someone has sinned against us) or we have rebelled (we have sinned) or some combination of the two. As a result of this lack of love or lack of obedience, we are hidden in a world of guilt.</p>
<p>Adam and Eve had to hide themselves because of the guilt and shame of their sin, and also because of what they had become (less than perfect).</p>
<p>Guilt and shame too often send us into hiding. If we have to hide, we cannot get help for our needs and brokenness; we cannot become “poor in Spirit,” and therefore be blessed. When grace comes along and says that we are not condemned for who we truly are, then guilt can begin to be resolved, and we can begin to heal.</p>
<p>Sometimes the church reinforces our inclination to hide. My friend Jake found an end to his hiding only after he joined an AA group. When he came into a culture where he did not have to be ashamed of his failures and was forgiven for his sins, then truth and grace began to have their effect in his life.</p>
<p>It is interesting to compare a legalistic church with a good AA group. In this kind of church, it is culturally unacceptable to have problems; that is called being sinful. In the AA group it is culturally unacceptable to be perfect; that is called denial. In the former setting, people look better but get worse, and in the latter, they look worse but get better.</p>
<p>Certainly there are good churches and poor AA groups, but because of a lack of grace and truth in some churches, Christians have had to go elsewhere to find healing.</p>
<p>It is only in a combination of grace and truth that the real Jesus is present. It is only when the real Jesus is present that we can begin to grow into the image of our Creator.</p>
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<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30122134/ChangesThatHeal_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The article Grace and Truth: Reversing the Effects of the Fall is adapted from Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You by Dr. Henry Cloud" height="280" width="280" />Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/changes-that-heal-four-practical-steps-to-a-happier-healthier-you?variant=13756390637679" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You</em></a> by Dr. Henry Cloud. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/changes-that-heal-four-practical-steps-to-a-happier-healthier-you?variant=13756390637679" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>A down-to-earth plan to help us recover from the wounds of the past and grow more and more into the image of God.</p>
<p>Many of us struggle with anxiety, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy. We know that God created us in his image, but how can we be loving when we feel burned out? How can we be free when we struggle with addiction? Will we ever enjoy the complete healing God promises?</p>
<p>Combining his professional expertise and personal experience, renowned psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud guides us through four basic ways to become joy-filled, mature followers of Christ:</p>
<ul>
<li>Connect more deeply with others</li>
<li>Separate from others in healthy ways</li>
<li>Understand the good and the bad in ourselves and others</li>
<li>Grow into greater emotional and spiritual maturity</li>
</ul>
<p>With fascinating case studies and helpful techniques we can start using immediately, <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/changes-that-heal-four-practical-steps-to-a-happier-healthier-you?variant=13756390637679" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Changes That Heal</em></a> reminds us that God promises to complete his good work in us.</p>
<p><strong>Dr. Henry Cloud</strong> is a clinical psychologist, pastor to pastors, and <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author. His 45 books, including the iconic <em>Boundaries</em>, have sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Throughout his storied career as a clinician, he started treatment centers, created breakthrough new models rooted in research, and has been a leading voice on issues of mental health and leadership on a global scale. Dr. Cloud lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Tori, and their two daughters, Olivia and Lucy.</p>
<h2>Looking for More?<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/zondervan-books-to-help-you-grow/#newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30134528/SpectacleGloryCover2-220.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A Spectacle of Glory: The First 28 Days by Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from Joni's devotional A Spectacle of Glory: God's Light Shining through Me Every Day" height="338" width="220" /></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/grace-and-truth-reversing-the-effects-of-the-fall/">Grace and Truth: Reversing the Effects of the Fall</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7049459
2022-08-30T05:17:00-12:00
2022-08-30T07:00:02-12:00
What Are the Beatitudes? Why Are the Beatitudes Important?
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30062755/reverse-interlinear-blessed.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/30062755/reverse-interlinear-blessed.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="This article answers the question, what are the Beatitudes" width="45%" /></a>On a hillside, possibly in the Korazim Plateau in northern Israel near the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A12-22&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="See the map of Galilee on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sea of Galilee</a>, Jesus began his <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Sermon-on-Mount&tab=study" title="Read about the Sermon on the Mount in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sermon on the Mount</a>—the term first used by the 5th century theologian, Augustine—with a grouping of virtues we know as <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Beatitudes&tab=study" title="Read about the Beatitudes in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Beatitudes</a>, in which he repeatedly emphasized the Greek word <em>makarios</em>, meaning “blessed (receiving God’s favor), fortunate, good (in a position of favor), happy (feelings associated with receiving God’s favor),” according to the <em>NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary</em> for the reverse interlinear function in <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A3-12&resource_entry=nivac-matthew/the-beatitudes-of-the-kingdom-of-heaven-5-3-12&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Matthew 5:3-12 in the NIV Application Commentary for Matthew with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>NIV Application Commentary for Matthew</em></a> on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a> says, <em>“Makarios</em> is a state of existence in relationship to God in which a person is ‘blessed’ from God’s perspective even when he or she doesn’t feel happy or isn’t presently experiencing good fortune. Negative feelings, absence of feelings, or adverse conditions cannot take away the blessedness of those who exist in relationship with God.”</p>
<p>“Since it contains the very heart of Jesus’ teaching, we may think of the Sermon on the Mount as being to the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/whats-the-difference-between-the-old-testament-and-the-new-testament/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Testament</a> what the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5377-law-Ten-Commandments&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ten Commandments</a> are to the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/whats-the-difference-between-the-old-testament-and-the-new-testament/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Old Testament</a>,” says <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A3-12&resource_entry=halleys-bible-handbook/sermon-mount-matthew-5-7&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Matthew 5 in Halley's Bible Handbook with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Halley’s Bible Handbook</em></a>. “Every Christian ought to read and be familiar with the Sermon on the Mount and strive earnestly to live according to its teachings.”</p>
<p>In his <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/csb-tony-evans-study-bible-notes-now-in-bible-gateway-plus/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, CSB Tony Evans Study Bible Notes Now In Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">study Bible notes, Dr. Tony Evans</a> calls the Sermon on the Mount Jesus’ kingdom manifesto. He says, “We could call the Beatitudes antibiotics from God’s pharmacy that can aid life transformation. They are a reminder that Jesus is primarily concerned with what’s happening on your inside, which should be the basis of what you’re showing on the outside.”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-mt-5-1-48&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Matthew 5 in the NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Max Lucado, in his study Bible notes</a>, says, “Sacred delight is what Jesus promises in the Sermon on the Mount.”</p>
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<h2>What Are the Beatitudes</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/mt-5-1-1&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Matthew 5 in the NIV Study Bible Notes, Fully Revised Edition with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>NIV Study Bible Notes, Fully Revised Edition</em></a> describes the beatitudes as “blessings Jesus pronounced on the most unlikely of people—the poor, the hungry, the meek—as the kingdom of God was arriving in his ministry.”</p>
<p>The opposite of curses, blessings are the bestowment of favor, mercy, and protection upon a person, resulting in that person’s happiness and feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment.</p>
<h2>Who Gave the Beatitudes</h2>
<p>The Beatitudes were the pronouncements <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-1-jesus-mary-john-the-baptist/#Jesus" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 1 (Jesus, Mary, John the Baptist)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jesus</a> used to start his Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was born and lived in the early three decades of the first century during the reign of Roman emperor Tiberius Caesar Augustus and two rulers in Israel with the dynastic title Herod: the Idumean <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/12/who-was-herod/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Who Was Herod?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Herod the Great</a>, and Herod Antipas, according to the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2&resource_entry=niebc/herod&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Matthew 2 in the New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters</em></a>.</p>
<h2>How Did the Name “Beatitudes” Originate</h2>
<p>The Beatitudes were named from the word translated “blessed” in its Latin root, <em>beatus</em>. “Aristotle used this Greek word to mean ‘divine’ blessedness in contrast to human happiness. It included the idea of not being subject to fate,” according to the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Sermon-on-Mount&tab=study" title="Read about the Sermon on the Mount in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Encyclopedia of the Bible</em></a> on Bible Gateway. “Jesus apparently pointed with this word to the intention of God for human life, and thus a person in the condition of being truly well-off. This divine intention for life was a portrait of Jesus himself in a sense. Jesus was the very embodiment of the Sermon on the Mount.”</p>
<h2>Where Are the Beatitudes in the Bible</h2>
<p>When people talk of the Beatitudes, they usually think first of the Scripture passage <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A1-12&version=NIV;MSG" title="Read Matthew 5:3–12 in the NIV and The Message versions in parallel on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 5:3–12</a>. But four Beatitudes can be found also in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A20-22&version=NIV;MSG" title="Read Luke 6:20–22 in the NIV and The Message versions in parallel on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 6:20–22</a>, set within the Sermon on the Plain (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A17-49" title="Read Luke 6:17–49 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 6:17–49</a>).</p>
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<h2>What Do the Beatitudes Describe</h2>
<p>Named from the initial words (<em>beati sunt</em>, “blessed are”) of those sayings in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthaeus+5&version=VULGATE" title="Read Matthew 5 in the Latin Vulgate Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Latin Vulgate Bible</a>, the Beatitudes describe the blessedness of those who have certain qualities or experiences that identify people belonging to the kingdom of heaven. “In the Beatitudes Jesus announces that God’s values are often radically different from the world’s,” according to the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A17-49&resource_entry=zibbc-nt/blessings-and-woes-luke-6-20-26&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Luke 6:17–49 in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the New Testament with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the New Testament</em></a> on <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. “God will bless those who pursue the ethics of his kingdom and choose to put him first over the things of this world.”</p>
<p>Here is a list of the Beatitudes found in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Matthew on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospel of Matthew</a>:</p>
<ul>
<li> Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</li>
<li> Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.</li>
<li> Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.</li>
<li> Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.</li>
<li> Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.</li>
<li> Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.</li>
<li> Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.</li>
<li> Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</li>
<li> Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.</li>
</ul>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]</p>
<h2>How Many Beatitudes Are There</h2>
<p>Bible scholars differ as to the exact number of Beatitudes. They have been counted as seven, eight, nine, or even ten. Each Beatitude begins with the word “Blessed.” In Matthew 5’s grouping of verses, the word “blessed” occurs nine times, but some scholars say the last two (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A10-11&version=NIV;MSG" title="Read Matthew 5:10-11 in the NIV and The Message versions in parallel on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">verses 10–11</a>) can be considered as being connected.</p>
<h2>In What Context Were the Beatitudes Given</h2>
<p>“The Sermon was not delivered to a general audience nor to novices, but to selected disciples who had been for some time in association with Jesus. The reason given for Jesus’ going up the mountain was to escape the crowds (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-5-1-Matt-5-48&tab=study" title="Watch The LUMO Project video dramatizing Matthew 5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt 5:1</a>). The Sermon was thus addressed to the disciples and not the crowds, though the latter may have been sitting on the fringe of the disciple group,” according to the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Sermon-on-Mount&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Matthew 5:3-12 in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Encyclopedia of the Bible</em></a> on Bible Gateway. “Matthew omits all indications of date, and it is incorrect to assume that it was at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry because the crowds came later. Jesus here is a teacher, not an evangelist.”</p>
<h2>What do the Beatitudes Mean</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A3-12&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Matt.5-Matt.7&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Matthew 5:3-12 in the Reformation Study Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Reformation Study Bible</em></a> says, “We must recognize that the sermon is directed to the disciples and through them to the whole church today. The sermon addresses both inward motives and outward conduct (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A21-22%2C+27-28&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Matt.5.22&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28 in the Reformation Study Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">5:21, 22, 27, 28</a>). These legitimate demands are so strict (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A48&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Matt.5.48&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Matthew 5:48 in the Reformation Study Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">5:48</a>) that no one can completely obey them, and we are therefore driven to the grace and mercy of God. In some cases Jesus uses obviously intentional exaggeration to illustrate the absolute requirements of God’s law (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A29-30&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Matt.5.29&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Matthew 5:29-30 in the Reformation Study Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">5:29-30</a>).”</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A3-12&resource_entry=nivac-matthew/the-beatitudes-of-the-kingdom-of-heaven-5-3-12&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Matthew 5:3-12 in the NIV Application Commentary for Matthew with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>NIV Application Commentary for Matthew</em></a> says the kingdom of God “belongs to those who know they have no resources, material or spiritual, to help themselves before God. These are the “poor” to whom Jesus has come to announce “good news” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A5&resource_entry=nivac-matthew/john-the-baptist-questions-jesus-11-1-6&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Matthew 11:5 in the NIV Application Commentary for Matthew with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">11:5</a>) and to whom the kingdom of heaven belongs. Jesus teaches that the norm of the kingdom of heaven is spiritual bankruptcy, unlike the spiritual self-sufficiency that was characteristic of the religious leaders. Jesus’ disciples will experience their most complete personal fulfillment as they draw on the resources of the kingdom of heaven to guide their lives.”</p>
<p>“Character is the identity of who we <em>are</em>, but conduct is what we <em>do</em>,” says <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt+5&resource_entry=vines-expository-bible/living-the-message-matt-5&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Matthew 5:3-12 in Vines Expository Bible Notes with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Vines Expository Bible Notes</em></a>. “Character comes first and conduct flows from it. Behavior follows belief. The Beatitudes display the beauty of kingdom life.”</p>
<blockquote>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/what-are-the-beatitudes-why-are-the-beatitudes-important/">What Are the Beatitudes? Why Are the Beatitudes Important?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7048920
2022-08-29T08:13:18-12:00
2022-08-29T13:00:12-12:00
CSB Tony Evans Study Bible Notes Now In Bible Gateway Plus
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/05124838/Tony-Evans.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Now with your Bible Gateway Plus membership, you’re able to study Scripture with the vivid insight of the Tony Evans Study Bible" width="30%" />Now with your <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong> membership, you’re able to study Scripture with the vivid insight of <strong>Dr. Tony Evans</strong>, founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, founder and president of The Urban Alternative, former chaplain of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, and author of over 100 books, booklets, and Bible studies.</p>
<p><strong><em>The Tony Evans Study Bible</em></strong> (Holman Bible Publishers, 2019) features</p>
<ul>
<li> study notes</li>
<li> book introductions</li>
<li> videos summarizing each of the 66 books of the Bible<a href="https://biblegateway.com/plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/30113150/The-Tony-Evans-Study-Bible.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Join Bible Gateway Plus to have immediate 24-7 access to The Tony Evans Study Bible Notes and more than 50 other Bible reference resources" width="30%" /></a>
</li>
<li> “Kingdom Living” lessons</li>
<li> application questions-and-answers on key passages</li>
<li> words of hope</li>
<li> inspirational articles</li>
<li> life applications</li>
</ul>
<p>and other tools designed for digging deeper into God’s Word. These notes and resources are from Dr. Evans’ sermons, teachings, and writings. They’re strategically placed alongside the biblical text you’re reading with your <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong> membership to explain God’s Word in a fresh way to help you live according to the values of God’s kingdom.</p>
<p><span id="more-69719"></span></p>
<h2>Commentary Notes Example</h2>
<p>In his commentary notes for <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A1-5&version=CSB&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/matt-1-1-1&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 1:1-5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 1:1-5</a>, Dr. Evans writes:</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://biblegateway.com/plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/29155934/tony-evans-matthew.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Join Bible Gateway Plus to have immediate 24-7 access to The Tony Evans Study Bible Notes and more than 50 other Bible reference resources" width="40%" /></a><em>Jesus had a legitimate legal claim to be the Messiah. He was the Son of David, heir to the throne (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+7%3A12-16&version=CSB&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/2sam-7-12&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 7:12-16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Sam 7:12-16</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+11%3A1-10&version=CSB&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/isa-11-1&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 11:1-10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isa 11:1-10</a>). The women mentioned in Jesus’s line were particularly questionable. Tamar (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A3-5&version=CSB&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/matt-1-3&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 1:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:3</a>) was a Canaanite who posed as a prostitute. Rahab (1:5) was a prostitute. Ruth (1:5) was from Moab, a non-Israelite nation that worshiped idols.</em></p>
<p><em><br>
</em><em> Moreover, the women were of Hamitic descent. Their mention here is a reminder that Jesus’s background is mixed racially, including both Jews and Gentiles and indicating that Jesus’s kingdom identity and rule extends to all people. It blesses me to know that Jesus had black in his blood because this destroys any perception of black inferiority. In Christ we find perfect man and sinless Savior. This knowledge frees blacks from an inferiority complex, and at the same time it frees whites from the superiority myth. In Christ, we all have our heritage. Black people and all others can find historical, cultural, and racial identity in him.</em></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<h2>Eloquent Style</h2>
<p>Dr. Evans’ eloquent and poetic preaching style with cadence is evident in his study notes. For example, for <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+3%3A6-8&version=CSB&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/matt-3-7&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 3:6-8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 3:6-8</a> he writes:</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://biblegateway.com/plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/29161014/tony-evans-matthew3-8.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Join Bible Gateway Plus to have immediate 24-7 access to The Tony Evans Study Bible Notes and more than 50 other Bible reference resources" width="40%" /></a><em>By confessing their sins and being baptized, the people were making a public declaration that they had changed their minds and agreed with what God said about their sins. Why did John accept other people but not this group? Because, although they were okay with listening to his message, they wanted their lives left alone. Like some people today, they didn’t mind attending a church service as long as it didn’t affect how they were running their own affairs. They wanted <strong>information</strong>, but not <strong>transformation</strong>. Genuine repentance is confirmed by actions.</em></p>
<p><em><br>
</em><em>When I travel, I tell the airline agent, “I’m Tony Evans, and I have a <strong>reservation</strong>.” The agent then asks, “Can I see your proof of <strong>identification</strong>?” They don’t want mere <strong>communication</strong> that I am who I claim to be; they want <strong>authentication</strong>. Therefore, they want to see something that verifies what I affirm. Similarly, shouting, “Hallelujah! Amen! Praise the Lord!” is fine but insufficient. Repentance shows up in your hands and feet, not just in your lips. Without the fruit, the visible proof of true heart repentance, judgment is coming (3:10).</em></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<h2>Kingdom Emphasis</h2>
<p>Dr. Evans <a href="https://tonyevansstudybible.csbible.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/09/CSB_TonyEvansStudyBible_DigitalSampler-FNL-1.pdf" title="Read Dr. Tony Evans' description of The Tony Evans Study Bible on the last page of this PDF sampler" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">says</a> this study Bible’s notes are “based on a simple yet profound biblical worldview: the glory of God through the advancement of his kingdom. This is the unifying theme of Scripture, from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=CSB&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/gen-1-1&tab=study" title="Read Tony Evans' introduction to the book of Genesis with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis</a> through <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&version=CSB&resource_entry=csb-tony-evans-study-bible/gen-1-1&tab=study" title="Read Tony Evans' introduction to the book of Revelation with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation</a>. The concept of God’s kingdom is what ties all of the Bible together. When this central point of connectivity is lost to the reader, it is easy for Scripture to seem like a series of disconnected stories, events, personalities, and doctrines that do not strategically and thematically connect to one another.”</p>
<p>The reference notes of <strong><em>The Tony Evans Study Bible</em></strong> help <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong> members see Scripture’s big picture of God’s kingdom.</p>
<p>While published with the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Christian-Standard-Bible-CSB/#booklist" title="Read the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) translation of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Christian Standard Bible (CSB)</a> translation of the Bible, <em>The Tony Evans Study Bible</em> reference content can be read next to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/" title="Read the Bible in multiple languages and versions on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">any Bible translation</a> on Bible Gateway.</p>
<p>[Read Bible Gateway Blog posts <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/tag/tony-evans/" title="Read Bible Gateway Blog posts by and about Tony Evans" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">by and about Tony Evans</a>]</p>
<p>The first African American to earn a doctorate of theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, Dr. Evans is named one of the 12 Most Effective Preachers in the English Speaking World by Baylor University. Dr. Evans holds the honor of writing and publishing the first full-Bible commentary and study Bible by an African American. His radio broadcast, <em>The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans</em>, can be heard on more than 1,400 US outlets daily and in more than 130 countries.</p>
<blockquote>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/csb-tony-evans-study-bible-notes-now-in-bible-gateway-plus/">CSB <em>Tony Evans Study Bible</em> Notes Now In Bible Gateway Plus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7046687
2022-08-26T01:55:00-12:00
2022-08-26T04:30:26-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of August 21, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/weekly-brief-week-of-august-21-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of August 21, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7045878
2022-08-25T03:18:58-12:00
2022-08-25T05:45:23-12:00
New Bible Introduces the TEXT Bible Engagement Method
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/net-the-text-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-uncover-the-message-between-god-humanity-and-you?variant=39991846076552&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/25081204/The-Text-Bible-hardcover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The TEXT Bible: Uncover the Message Between God, Humanity, and You in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="30%" /></a>Thomas Nelson Bibles, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and bestselling authors Michael & Hayley DiMarco, announce the release of <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/net-the-text-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-uncover-the-message-between-god-humanity-and-you?variant=39991846076552&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The TEXT Bible: Uncover the Message Between God, Humanity, and You in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>The TEXT Bible: Uncover the Message Between God, Humanity, and You</em></strong></a> (Thomas Nelson, 2022), a new Bible for students, young adults, and new believers.</p>
<p><em>The TEXT</em> Bible (<a href="https://textbible.com/" title="Visit The TEXT Bible website" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>) introduces the new Bible engagement method called TEXT</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>T</strong>alk to God</li>
<li> <strong>E</strong>ncounter God and humanity in Scripture</li>
<li> e<strong>X</strong>amine your heart</li>
<li> <strong>T</strong>alk to others</li>
</ul>
<p>to help readers of every experience level interact with God’s message</p>
<p><span id="more-70879"></span></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Along with this memorable and easy-to-use Bible engagement technique, <em>The Text</em> includes features designed to help younger Christians, teachers, and leaders overcome the challenges many believers face in reading and studying Scripture on their own.</p>
<p>“In all our years of writing books for teens, young adults, and new believers, we dreamed of a Bible like this,” say the DiMarcos. “Our hope is that it becomes the go-to Bible for everyone that has struggled to read, study, and engage directly with it.”</p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UnZHf1wNtCU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/09/learn-more-about-the-net-bible-with-this-panel-discussion/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Learn More About the NET Bible with This Panel Discussion" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Learn More About the NET Bible with This Panel Discussion</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/25083601/NET-footnotes.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/25083601/NET-footnotes.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge the image of the footnotes option for the NET Bible on Bible Gateway" width="25%" /></a><em>The TEXT</em> Bible is written using the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-English-Translation-NET-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New English Translation (NET) Bible version on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New English Translation (NET)</a>, a ministry-first translation that combines clarity of language with unprecedented transparency and more than 60,000 translator footnotes, which are freely available on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=NET" title="Read the New English Translation (NET) Bible version footnotes on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BibleGateway.com</a>.</p>
<p>“<em>The TEXT</em> helps students engage the Bible in a way that makes sense to everyday living,” says Philip Nation, vice president and publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles. “It offers up a simple process that anyone can use to understand every Scripture passage. I’m excited to see how <em>The TEXT</em> is going to impact an entire generation of Bible readers.”</p>
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Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7044576
2022-08-23T08:07:53-12:00
2022-08-25T05:45:24-12:00
7 Reasons Why Baptism Is Important
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/understanding-four-views-on-baptism?variant=13764375576687&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/22160544/Understanding-Four-Views-On-Baptism.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Gain an understanding of why baptism is important and what its four main traditional perspectives are: Baptist, Reformed, Lutheran, and Church of Christ views" width="25%" /></a>Why is baptism important? For thousands of years, the ceremony of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/topical/Baptism/Torrey" title="Search the Bible for the topic of baptism on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">baptism</a> has been, and continues to be, an emotionally powerful depiction of positive change in a person’s life. While it extends beyond Christianity, for the Christian there are at least 7 reasons why baptism is important: Jesus modeled it, Jesus commanded it, it’s a public confession, it signifies a new name, it represents a new life, it establishes a new identity and it unifies the faith.</p>
<p>In the book <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/understanding-four-views-on-baptism?variant=13764375576687&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Understanding Four Views on Baptism in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Understanding Four Views on Baptism</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2007), editor John H. Armstrong says, “From the earliest days of Christianity baptism has been a rite of initiation. By this watery sign, made in the triune name of God, people are openly admitted into the life and community of the church. All agree that baptism is the symbolic door into the church.”</p>
<p><span id="more-70809"></span></p>
<h2>What Is Baptism?</h2>
<p>The English word “baptism” derives from the Greek word <em>baptisma</em> and denotes the action of washing or plunging in water. Ancient pagans had ceremonial cleanings, but its Christian origin is primarily traced to Old Testament Jewish ritual purifications.</p>
<p>Its imagery is rich in Hebrew Scripture, as in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51%3A1-7&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-cleanse-me-vv-1-7&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Psalm 51:1-7 in the Warren Wiersbe BE Bible Study Series on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 51:1-7</a> <em>“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin….Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”</em> In his <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51%3A1-7&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-cleanse-me-vv-1-7&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Psalm 51:1-7 in the Warren Wiersbe BE Bible Study Series on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">commentary</a>, Warren Wiersbe says, “’Wash’ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51%3A2%2C+7&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-cleanse-me-vv-1-7&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Psalm 51:1-7 in the Warren Wiersbe BE Bible Study Series on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vv. 2, 7</a>) refers to the cleansing of dirty clothing (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1%3A18&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/isa-1-16-20&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Isaiah 1:18 in the NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isa. 1:18</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+64%3A6&resource_entry=thru-the-bible/Isa-64-6&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Isaiah 64:6 in the Thru The Bible commentary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">64:6</a>). In the Jewish society of that day, to wash and change clothes marked a new beginning in life (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+35%3A2%3B+41%3A14%3B+45%3A22&resource_entry=zibbc-ot/get-rid-of-the-foreign-gods-gen-35-2&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Genesis 35:2; 41:14; and 45:22 in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the Old Testament with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gen. 35:2; 41:14; 45:22</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+19%3A10%2C+14&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/7426-ritual-washing&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Exodus 19:10, 14 in the Dictionary of Bible Themes on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ex. 19:10, 14</a>), and David made such a new start (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+12%3A20&resource_entry=nkjv-chronological-study-bible/create-me-clean-heart&tab=study" title="Read the study note for 2 Samuel 12:20 in the NKJV Chronological Study Bible Notes with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Sam. 12:20</a>).”</p>
<p>The Old Testament story of Naaman, the commander of the king of Aram’s army, is another precursor to the concept of baptism, where the prophet Elisha told Naaman to wash 7 times in the Jordan river as the method God chose to heal him of his leprosy and demonstrate God’s life-changing power and far reaching love, even to those outside the Israelite fold (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+5%3A1-14&resource_entry=niebc/naaman-1&tab=study" title="Read the study note for 2 Kings 5:1-14 in the New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 5:1-14</a>).</p>
<p>At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptizer used this Jewish imagery in his work where the people’s confession of sin, and their repentance and forgiveness, was ratified by baptism. The <em>New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters</em> on Bible Gateway Plus says, “The use of water rituals was not uncommon in Judaism. Cleansing from the impurities of sin was certainly one of the ideas conveyed by this ceremony. However, in view of the associations of water with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+6&resource_entry=nivac-genesis/reason-for-the-flood-6-5-11-13&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Genesis 6-9 in the NIV Application Commentary - Genesis with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Noah’s Flood</a> and the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+13%3A17-14%3A31&resource_entry=vines-expository-bible/living-the-message-ex-13&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Exodus 13:17-14:31 in Vines Expository Bible Notes with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">destruction of the Egyptians</a> in the Red Sea, John’s baptism was probably intended also to remind the people that sin requires divine judgment (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A19-21&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/1pe-3-17-22&tab=study" title="Read the study note for 1 Peter 3:20-21 in the NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 3:20-21</a>).”</p>
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<h2>What Are the Forms of Baptism?</h2>
<p>Here are abbreviated descriptions of Christian forms of baptism from the <em>Encyclopedia of the Bible</em> on Bible Gateway:</p>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Baptism-Baptist-view" title="Read about the Baptist view of baptism in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Baptist view:</strong></a> baptism of the professing regenerate by immersion. “The outward rite confirms and seals to recipients their inward faith.”</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Baptism-Reformed-view" title="Read about the Reformed view of baptism in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Reformed view:</strong></a> infant baptism of children of the covenant. “Parents eligible to receive baptism for their offspring are only such as are faithful in their confession and in the discharge of their covenant obligations. Those who do not give evidence of the union with Christ which baptism signifies cannot claim the grace and promise extended in this institution.”</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Baptism-sacramentarian-view" title="Read about the Sacramentarian view of baptism in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Sacramentarian view:</strong></a> infant baptism by sprinkling as a regenerative act. “The Spirit as the Lord and Giver of life is believed to regenerate the child and to make him a living member of the body of Christ, the family of God. This is sacramental because it is seen in faith and not empirically, and it is believed to begin a process of growth in grace which carries the new creature into his eternal destiny.”</li>
</ul>
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<h2>Why Is Baptism Important?</h2>
<p>“From the earliest days of Christianity baptism has been a rite of initiation (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A41&resource_entry=niv-cultural-backgrounds/ac-2-41&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Acts 2:41 in the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 2:41</a>),” says Armstrong. “By this watery sign, made in the triune name of God, people are openly admitted into the life and community of the church.”</p>
<p>A person’s baptism is a proclamation that her sins are washed away by the blood of Christ and that she is now united with Christ by the Holy Spirit in the newness of Christ’s resurrection life.</p>
<p>Here are 7 reasons why baptism is important.</p>
<h3>1. Jesus Modeled Baptism</h3>
<p>• <em>Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.</em> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+3%3A13&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/mt-3-13-15&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Matthew 3:13 in the NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 3:13</a>)<br>
• <em>At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.</em> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1%3A9&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/mk-1-9&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Mark 1:9 in the NIV Study Bible Notes, Fully Revised Edition with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 1:9</a>)<br>
• <em>When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too.</em> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+3%3A21&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-luke/luke-3-1-22&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Luke 3:21 in the NIV Application Commentary - Luke with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 3:21</a>)</p>
<h3>2. Jesus Commanded Baptism</h3>
<p>• <em>Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A19-20&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-matthew/jesus-great-commission-28-16-20&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Matthew 28:19-20 in the NIV Application Commentary - Matthew with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 28:19-20</a></p>
<h3>3. Baptism Is a Public Confession</h3>
<p>• <em>Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A38&version=NIV&resource_entry=zibbc-nt/repent-acts-2-38&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Acts 2:38 in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the New Testament with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 2:38</a></p>
<h3>4. Baptism Signifies a New Name</h3>
<p>• <em>So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+3%3A26-29&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-jesus-bible/galatians-3-23-29&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Galatians 3:26-29 in The Jesus Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 3:26-29</a></p>
<h3>5. Baptism Represents a New Life</h3>
<p>• <em>Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.</em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6%3A1-11&version=NIV&resource_entry=zondervan-illustrated-bible-dictionary/baptism&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Romans 6:1-11 in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 6:1-11</a></p>
<p>• <em>Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A17&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-wiersbe-study-bible/2co-5-15-17&tab=study" title="Read the study note for 2 Corinthians 5:17 in the NKJV Wiersbe Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:17</a></p>
<h3>6. Baptism Establishes a New Identity</h3>
<p>• <em>I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+2%3A20&version=NIV&resource_entry=esv-global-study-bible/gal-2-20&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Galatians 2:20 in the ESV Global Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 2:20</a></p>
<p>• <em>In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2%3A11-12&version=NIV&resource_entry=believers-bible-commentary/2-12-12&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Colossians 2:11-12 in the Believer's Bible Commentary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 2:11-12</a></p>
<h3>7. Baptism Unifies the Faith</h3>
<p>• <em>There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A4-6&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-abide/journal-ephesians-4-1-6&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Ephesians 4:4-6 in the NKJV Abide Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:4-6</a></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/7-reasons-why-baptism-is-important/">7 Reasons Why Baptism Is Important</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7044099
2022-08-23T02:03:26-12:00
2022-08-23T03:45:19-12:00
Colossians Confronts Individualism: An Interview with Jay Y. Kim
<p><a href="https://churchsource.com/products/colossians-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-one-jesus-one-people?variant=39847035437153&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/18173504/Colossians-Video-Study.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="In Colossians, Paul wrote to Christians in the Colossae church to confront their individualism and the lie that the world revolved around them." width="23%" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Colossae&tab=study" title="Read about Colossae in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossae</a> was an ethnically and religiously diverse city in modern-day Turkey where Jews and Gentiles co-existed. But the believers there had found themselves floundering as they tried to navigate what following Jesus looks like in a pluralistic society. So Paul wrote to the young church to confront individualism and the falsehood that the world revolved around them. This wasn’t just an issue for the Colossian Christians . . . it’s an issue for us today.</p>
<p class="has-text-align-left">In this Q&A, <a href="http://jaykimthinks.com/">Jay Y. Kim</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/jaykimthinks">@jaykimthinks</a>) talks about his 6-session streaming video Bible study in the <a title="Buy your copy of Ephesians: Life in God's Diverse Family in the ChurchSource Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://churchsource.com/pages/40-days-through-the-book" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">40 Days Through the Book</a> series, <strong><em><a href="https://churchsource.com/products/colossians-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-one-jesus-one-people?variant=39847035437153">Colossians: One Jesus, One People</a></em></strong> (HarperChristian Resources, 2022).</p>
<p></p>
<strong>What would you say is the core message of the letter to the Colossians?</strong>
<p></p>
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<p></p>
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<strong>How is ancient Colossae similar to modern-day North America?</strong>
<p></p>
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="How is Ancient Colossae Similar to Modern Day North America? Jay Y. Kim" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pMM74ilAcmU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<strong>What is a specific way you have learned to slow down and fix your eyes on Jesus in the busyness of life? How has this practice helped you keep Jesus in the center of your life?</strong>
<p></p>
<p>In his book <em>Deep Work</em>, the writer Cal Newport describes what he calls “frenetic shallowness.” The busyness of life in the modern world leaves us prone to living in a constant frenzy, moving about from one thing to the next. In turn, this leaves us shallow, as we lose our aptitude and ability to stay and linger for extended periods of time with anyone or anything.</p>
<p>But the life of discipleship to Jesus, being formed into Christlikeness, is, in the words of Jesus himself, like <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Calls-Disciples-Remain&tab=study" title="Read John 15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a branch remaining attached to the vine</a>, in order to bear fruit over the long haul, across many seasons of waiting. This isn’t easy. It takes practice and effortful participation.</p>
<p> In my life, this has come down to the pragmatics of allowing specific disciplines to disrupt my calendar and my daily rhythms—waking up early to sit with a hot cup of coffee and immerse myself in the Scriptures, before the mad rush of life begins to take hold. I also try my best to practice digital sabbaths—one hour a day and one day a week—when I detach myself from all digital distractions to spend focused and intentional time with God and those he’s entrusted in my care.</p>
<p></p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/jesus-is-more-beautiful-than-you-know-an-interview-with-pastor-derwin-gray/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Jesus is More Beautiful Than You Know: An Interview with Pastor Derwin Gray" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Jesus is More Beautiful Than You Know: An Interview with Pastor Derwin Gray</em></a>]</p>
<strong>What are some deceptive philosophies that are increasingly embraced and accepted in the culture today?</strong>
<p></p>
<p>The first that comes to mind is the myth of autonomy and individualism as the path to human flourishing. This is a replaying of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3&version=NIV&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.3&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 3</a>, when the first humans believe the serpent’s lie, that by disobeying God’s command and eating the forbidden fruit, their eyes would be opened and they’d be like God. But as the story goes, autonomy from God leads not to God-like status for the humans but rather, to shame and eventually to death. Nothing’s changed.</p>
<p>Especially in the hyper-individualistic culture of our day, when “you do you” is the norm and “my truth is my truth” our assumed ethic, we find ourselves mired in shame, living through little deaths every day—the death of hope, the death of meaning, the death of identity. As Paul makes clear in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Colossians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians</a> and so many of his other letters, it is only when Jesus becomes the center that we find true hope, meaning, and identity.</p>
<p></p>
<strong>What is Paul getting at when he declares that we have “died” and that we are called to put these sinful actions to “death” in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A3-5&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/a-moral-exhortations-for-christian-living-3-1-11&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 3:3-5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 3:3-5</a>?</strong>
<p></p>
<p>God’s rule and reign is often called his “upside down kingdom.” This is in large put because the kingdom of God looks so diametrically opposed to the kingdoms of this world.</p>
<p>In God’s kingdom, the first are last and the last are first, the rich are poor and the poor are rich. In God’s kingdom those who are persecuted and those who mourn are actually blessed.</p>
<p>In the same vein, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, idolatry are in many ways held in high regard in culture at large. We have different names for them, of course—sexual freedom, individual autonomy, pleasure, affluence, prosperity, etc. But they are the values of worldly kingdoms, not God’s kingdom. So to put them to death is to live and embody a sort of death; death to the kingdoms of this world, in order to find true life in the kingdom of God.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/18134900/Colossians-social-graphic-9.png"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/18134900/Colossians-social-graphic-9-1024x1024.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="544" width="544" /></a></figure></div>
<strong>In a time of growing conflict, division, and fractured relationships, how can taking off old ways of life and putting on the clothing of Jesus help us find peace with fellow believers?</strong>
<p></p>
<p>Paul writes in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A11&resource_entry=nivac-colossians-philemon/the-new-humanity-3-9b-11&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Colossians 3:11 in the NIV Application Commentary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 3:11</a>, “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once explained that, “Christian brotherhood is not an ideal, but a divine reality.” He also wrote that, “Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community.”</p>
<p>Putting off the old life means putting off not only our obvious sinful desires but also discarding the more insidious, earthly, even sinful, ideals we have about the sorts of communities we want to belong to. It means relinquishing preferences and personal opinions in order to be drawn into the brand new family of God, allowing the peace of Christ to bind us together and form us into the single community of God, formed together into his image.</p>
<p></p><blockquote></blockquote>
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<p></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<strong>What’s the benefit of spending 40 days in a book or theme?</strong>
<p></p>
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<strong>What is the one takeaway that you want participants to understand after completing this study?</strong>
<p></p>
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<strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong>
<p></p>
<p>Difficult to narrow it down to one. Seeing as how I’ve been deep in Colossians for a while, I’ll go with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A15-20&version=NIV&resource_entry=read-bible-jesus-lens/colossians-exalted-christ&tab=study" title="Read the study note for Colossians 1:15-20 in How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 1:15-20</a>: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”</p>
<p> That’s it! That’s the source of all hope for all of life. Christ reigns supreme and we, his people, are held together in him. Doesn’t get much better than that. </p>
<p></p>
<strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and/or the Bible Gateway App and/or Bible Audio App?</strong>
<p></p>
<p>I’ve been using Bible Gateway for years and we recommend it to the people at our church all the time. It’s such a tremendous gift to have the Bible and so many Biblical resources accessible to anyone.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]</p>
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<p></p><blockquote><center>Learn more about Colossians when you become a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it free right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/colossians-confronts-individualism-an-interview-with-jay-y-kim/">Colossians Confronts Individualism: An Interview with Jay Y. Kim</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7041551
2022-08-19T01:55:00-12:00
2022-08-23T03:45:20-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of August 14, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/weekly-brief-week-of-august-14-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of August 14, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7040743
2022-08-18T01:29:00-12:00
2022-08-18T05:15:03-12:00
6 Bible Verses On How to Not Be Depressed
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/finding-quiet-my-story-of-overcoming-anxiety-and-the-practices-that-brought-peace?variant=17654470770799&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/09162428/FindingQuiet.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Prominent philosopher and professor J.P. Moreland explains how to not be depressed in his book Finding Quiet: My Story of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought Peace available in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="25%" /></a></p>
<p>Do you wonder how to not be depressed as you encounter the personal pressures, polarization, and news stories of everyday living?</p>
<h2>The Definition of Depression</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=depression&resultspp=50&version=NIV" title="Read a Bible verse about depression" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Depression</a>—one of the most common mental health issues—is a mood disorder that negatively affects how you think, feel, and conduct your daily routines. Also identified as major depressive disorder, clinical depression, or chronic depression, the symptoms of depression can be subtle or obvious.</p>
<p>Prominent philosopher and professor J.P. Moreland experienced depression in its various forms and explains how to not be depressed in his book <a title="Buy your copy of Finding Quiet: My Story of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought Peace in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://faithgateway.com/products/finding-quiet-my-story-of-overcoming-anxiety-and-the-practices-that-brought-peace?variant=17654470770799&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><em>Finding Quiet: My Story of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought Peace</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2019).</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/05/how-to-overcome-anxiety-and-depression-an-interview-with-j-p-moreland/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Overcome Anxiety and Depression: An Interview with J.P. Moreland" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>How to Overcome Anxiety and Depression: An Interview with J.P. Moreland</em></a>]</p>
<h2>The Signs of Depression</h2>
<p>Ongoing and progressive depression—for a period of two weeks or longer—can disrupt your everyday life. The symptoms of being depressed include:</p>
<p><span id="more-70648"></span></p>
<ul>
<li> a loss of interest or pleasure in something you once enjoyed</li>
<li> feeling sad, anxious, indifferent, or hopeless</li>
<li> feeling irritable, frustrated, or restless</li>
<li> feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless</li>
<li> overcome with pessimism<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/18103603/you-are-built-to-love-large.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="You are not worthless. God loves you and built you to love. Get the free 5-day Bible study, You Are Built to Love" width="45%" /></a>
</li>
<li> persistent fatigue</li>
<li> sleep problems</li>
<li> loss of appetite or other eating issues</li>
<li> unplanned weight changes</li>
<li> lack of energy</li>
<li> loss of concentration</li>
<li> difficulty remembering or making decisions</li>
<li> problems with self-image or confidence</li>
<li> ongoing thoughts of death or suicide.</li>
</ul>
<p>Another experience of depression is seasonal affective disorder, where you find yourself feeling oppressed or moody, typically starting in late fall and early winter and ending during spring and summer. Being depressed can be debilitating and depleting.</p>
<p>Severe depression should be treated with professional care.</p>
<h2>How to Not Be Depressed</h2>
<p>You may be surprised to know the Bible covers a variety of the moods and feelings we face every day. You are not worthless. God loves you and built you to love. Learn more with the free 5-day Bible study, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Get the free 5-day Bible study, You Are Built to Love" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><em>You Are Built to Love</em></strong></a>.</p>
<p>The following chart (click to enlarge) depicts the negative and positive sentiment storyline of the Bible—chapter by chapter in chronological order:</p>
<p><a href="http://a.openbible.info/blog/2011-10-sentiment-big.png" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/16075614/Sentiment-Analysis-of-the-Bible.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sentiment Analysis of the Bible" width="70%" /></a></p>
<p>Rather than being depressed obsessively and pessimistically worrying, fearing, or focusing on adverse conditions in the world today, the Bible offers counsel that redirects our attention to God, our heavenly Father, as the way to live larger than ourselves. Here are Scripture verses with associated commentary (available to <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong> members) to that end:</p>
<blockquote>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A17-18&version=ESV&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-ot/ps-34-15-22&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 34:17-18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 34:17–18 ESV</a></h3>
<p><strong><em>When the righteous cry for help, the L<small>ORD</small> hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The L<small>ORD</small> is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.</em></strong></p>
<p>The “ears” of the Lord hear the cry of the righteous. His “face” is close to the “brokenhearted” and “crushed.” They need not be overcome by their troubles. The way of wisdom assures those who walk by it that God is present, even when they suffer “many troubles.” But they do not need to be afraid, because the Lord will deliver his own.” <em>Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament</em></p>
</blockquote>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+49%3A13&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-jesus-bible/people&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 49:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 49:13 NIV</a></h3>
<p><strong><em>Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the L<small>ORD</small> comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.</em></strong></p>
<p>We find a constant reminder of God’s mercy, mercies that are new every day. We are encouraged by his provision as we see over and over a God who is able to be more than we need in every situation. While the Old Testament serves as a reminder that our effort will never be enough to make us acceptable to God, it still invites us to draw near to God. <em>The Jesus Bible</em></p>
<blockquote>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+3%3A22-23&version=CSB&resource_entry=esv-global-study-bible/lam-3-22&tab=study" title="Read Lamentations 3:22-23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lamentations 3:22–23 CSB</a></h3>
<p><strong><em>Because of the L<small>ORD</small>’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!</em></strong></p>
<p>God’s steadfast love never ceases…. Each day presents another opportunity to experience God’s grace. God’s constant goodness and personal integrity remain intact no matter what happens. <em>ESV Global Study Bible</em></p>
</blockquote>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A5-6&version=NIRV&resource_entry=niv-student-bible/highlight-proverbs-3-6-walking-god&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 3:5-6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 3:5–6 NIrV</a></h3>
<p><strong><em>Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.</em></strong></p>
<p>In the original Hebrew, “in all your ways submit to him” is more literally “in all your ways <em>know</em> him.” This fundamental statement of how to relate to God implies more than mere reverence. Nodding in God’s direction is not enough: You must know him by living closely with him, relating to him personally in every aspect of your life. <em>NIV Student Bible Notes</em></p>
<blockquote>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6-7&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-study-bible/php-4-7&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV</a></h3>
<p><strong><em>Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.</em></strong></p>
<p>Paul’s choice of a military term (“will guard”) implies that the mind is in a battle zone and needs to be “protected by a military guard.” Since the purpose of such a guard in a wartime situation is either to prevent a hostile invasion or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from escaping, the peace of God operates in the same way: to protect the mind from external corrupting influences and to keep the mind focused on God’s truth. <em>NKJV Study Bible</em></p>
</blockquote>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6-7&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-study-bible/php-4-7&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 41:10 NET on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 41:10 NET</a></h3>
<p><strong><em>Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you—yes, I help you—yes, I uphold you with my victorious right hand!</em></strong></p>
<p>When we try to carry our burdens alone, we crumble. Only when we give our troubles to God can we truly rest and enjoy all that comes with God’s grace. <em>NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible</em></p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>Study the hope we have in Christ with the help of more than 50 top Bible reference resources when you become a member of <strong></strong><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. Get biblically wise and spiritually fit. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it free right now!</em></a>
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</blockquote>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/6-bible-verses-on-how-to-not-be-depressed/">6 Bible Verses On How to Not Be Depressed</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7040013
2022-08-17T05:01:13-12:00
2022-08-17T06:15:13-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Applying the Meaning of Scripture
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-twenty-second lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>The world is a better place when millions of Christians <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">study the Bible</a> seriously, searching hard for the original meaning of its authors, uncovering the foundations on which all of life can be based. But the world is not a better place when those students of the Bible neglect to apply the truth of Scripture to real life, accurately and faithfully.</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/11104549/HowToLiveTheBibleWalking.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Mel Lawrenz says there is only one singular and specific meaning of Scripture passages, but a particular passage does have multiple valid applications." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-70725"></span></p>
<p>There was a group of people in Jesus’ time who prided themselves on studying the Scriptures, but their application of it was selfish and skewed. We know them as the Pharisees and Sadducees and “teachers of the law.” One day when Jesus confronted them over their interpretation of the Scriptures Jesus just came out and said: “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A29&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1105-God-power&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 22:29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt. 22:29</a>). A shocking statement, for sure.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/11/the-bible-table-of-contents/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Bible Table of Contents" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Bible Table of Contents</em></a>]</p>
<p><em>Knowing</em> the Scriptures means careful reading, observation, analysis, background checking, etc. and then <em>applying</em> the meaning of the Scriptures to real life.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Here is an extremely important principle: a particular biblical passage has a singular and specific meaning—that is, it does not have many different meanings. But a particular biblical passage does have multiple valid applications.</p>
<p>For example, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A19-20&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-maxwell-leadership/listening-to-connect-with-hearts-use-your-ears&tab=study" title="Read James 1:19-20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James 1:19-20</a> says, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”</p>
<p>We study this passage to get at the specific and singular meaning. We note that this injunction is similar to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Proverbs on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs</a> in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/whats-the-difference-between-the-old-testament-and-the-new-testament/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Old Testament</a> (which is true for much of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of James on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of James</a>). It is not directed at one particular group of people (as might be the case in a book like <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of James on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians</a> or <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 1 Timothy on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Timothy</a>), but is a principle of healthy living for all believers. We look at key words like “listen” and “angry” and “anger.” We conclude that this passage is a general exhortation to believers that we should listen more and react less. Especially, we should hold in check any knee-jerk reaction of anger.</p>
<p>Then we apply the singular meaning of that passage to life. The application goes to many different real-life situations, and validly so.</p>
<ul>
<li> Husbands and wives should take the effort to really listen to each other, which may mean asking back and forth for clarification, rather than reacting in anger, which erodes a marriage.</li>
<li> When people react negatively to a Christian leader’s decisions, the leader should not react in resentment, but listen carefully, seeking to understand and even to acknowledge the validity of at least a portion of the objection. Above all, the leader should not react in anger.</li>
<li> When a believer is confronted by a fellow-worker, it can be good Christian witness to listen to the confrontation, try to understand what it means, and to honestly engage the critic, rather than just reacting in anger.</li>
<li> A parent whose kid is upset can choose to take the time to understand what exactly is going on rather than just reacting in anger.</li>
</ul>
<p>The applications of James’ “quick to listen… slow to speak… slow to become angry” can go on and on. And that is what is exciting about studying and applying the Scriptures. When we <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">study the Bible</a> we’re acting as objective analysts. We commit ourselves to getting at the objective meaning that the prophets and apostles intended to convey. We do so out of respect for the authors, and even more, out of respect for God. And once we get the meaning, we enthusiastically seek to apply it to as many different life situations as we can.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]</p>
<p>[See previous – <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/how-to-live-the-bible-reading-scripture-naturally/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — Reading Scripture Naturally" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Reading Scripture Naturally</em></a>]<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/how-to-live-the-bible-applying-the-meaning-of-scripture/">How to Live the Bible — Applying the Meaning of Scripture</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7039783
2022-08-17T00:04:01-12:00
2022-08-17T01:45:06-12:00
Country Music’s Biggest Stars Narrate the New Testament
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?q=niv%20COUNTRY%20GOSPEL%20AUDIO%20new%20testament&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/17072637/NIV-Country-Gospel-Audio-New-Testament.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="New audio Bible features 14 of country music’s biggest stars, such as Charlie Daniels and Josh Turner, reading the New Testament." width="50%" /></a>Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is proud to announce the release of the <a href="https://faithgateway.com/search?q=niv%20COUNTRY%20GOSPEL%20AUDIO%20new%20testament&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NIV Country Gospel Audio New Testament in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>NIV Country Gospel Audio New Testament</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022). This new audio Bible features 14 of country music’s biggest stars reading the New Testament in today’s bestselling modern-English Bible translation: the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New International Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New International Version (NIV)</a>.</p>
<p>“We are thrilled to have partnered with country music artists we grew up listening to as well as some of today’s biggest names to bring this one-of-a-kind project to life. They all bring a new voice to this sacred text,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “Our hope is that it reaches listeners right where they are with the beautiful message of God.”</p>
<p><span id="more-70708"></span></p>
<p>Whether it’s nine-time Grammy Award winner Hillary Scott reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Luke on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke</a>, legendary Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Daniels reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Mark on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark</a>, 14-time Grammy and eight-time CMA and ACM winner Ricky Skaggs reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Hebrews on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews</a>, or New Artist of the Year Lauren Alaina reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of James on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James</a>, listeners will find encouragement and faith as they listen to Scripture read by some of their favorite performers. The full lineup includes:</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Rory Feek</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Matthew on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Charlie Daniels</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Mark on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Hillary Scott</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Luke on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Cheryl White</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Sharon White</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Acts on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Randy Owen</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Romans on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Carly Pearce</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book 1 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Tracy Lawrence</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 2 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Linda Davis</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Galatians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Ephesians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Philippians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Colossians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Neal McCoy</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 1 Thessalonians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Thessalonians</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NIV&tab=intro2+Thessalonians" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 2 Thessalonians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Thessalonians</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 1 Timothy on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Timothy</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 2 Timothy on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Titus on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Titus</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philemon+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Philemon on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philemon</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Ricky Skaggs</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Hebrews on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Lauren Alaina</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of James on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>Josh Turner</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 1 Peter on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 2 Peter on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Peter</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 1 John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 2 John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 John</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=3+John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 3 John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">3 John</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Jude on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jude</a>
</li>
<li> <strong>T. G. Sheppard</strong> reading <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Revelation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/harperaudio_us/niv-country-gospel-sampler/s-HIoU9MBFdWK?si=11df78c3d38842879801ecfaea3be514" title="Click here for an audio sample of the NIV Country Gospel Audio New Testament" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here for an audio sample</a>.</p>
<p><strong>About Zondervan</strong><br>
Zondervan (<a href="https://twitter.com/Zondervan" title="Zondervan Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@Zondervan</a>), a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is located in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.zondervan.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Visit the Zondervan website" target="_blank">www.zondervan.com</a>.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/country-musics-biggest-stars-narrate-the-new-testament/">Country Music’s Biggest Stars Narrate the New Testament</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7036549
2022-08-12T01:55:00-12:00
2022-08-12T02:45:16-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of August 7, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/weekly-brief-week-of-august-7-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of August 7, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7035138
2022-08-10T06:29:07-12:00
2022-08-10T09:30:52-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Reading Scripture Naturally
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-twenty-first lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>I shudder to think how close I came to giving up on the Bible. Like many people, I tried for years to read Scripture in ways that were doomed to fail. My way of reading made the Bible hard to understand, and it made me think this book was perhaps too inscrutable or too out of date for me to pay attention to it.</p>
<p>Yes, it was convenient when other people picked out the good bits and made juicy quotes just perfect for a bumper sticker:</p>
<ul>
<li> “The L<small>ORD</small> is my shepherd” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Ps.23.1&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ps. 23:1</a>)</li>
<li> “Do not worry about tomorrow” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A34&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Matt.6.34&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6:34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt. 6:34</a>)</li>
<li> “Take delight in the L<small>ORD</small>, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37%3A4&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Ps.37.1-Ps.37.11&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 37:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ps. 37:4</a>).</li>
</ul>
<p>And then there is, “God helps those who help themselves.” Oops! That’s not actually in the Bible. But like many biblically illiterate people, I thought it was.</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/23111440/BibleOpenInHands.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Mel Lawrenz offers 4 tips for reading the Bible, such as being sure we know the original context of the particular biblical book we’re reading." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-70606"></span></p>
<p>This was dangerous. I was missing the word of God. Worst, I was misinterpreting the word of God because when we quote a verse out of context, we usually twist its true meaning and use it to reinforce our preconceptions. The solution is to read Scripture on its own terms. To read it widely and repeatedly. To accept the fact that these are ancient documents written in a time and place far removed, and so it takes patience and work to understand. But as any gold miner knows, it’s worth as much time and effort as it takes to get gold out of the mine.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/11/the-bible-table-of-contents/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Bible Table of Contents" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Bible Table of Contents</em></a>]</p>
<p>What is the most natural way to read the Bible?</p>
<p><strong>1. <em>We need to learn the context of the particular biblical book we’re reading.</em></strong> We read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Jeremiah on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah</a> differently than we read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Ephesians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians</a> or <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Revelation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation</a>. These are all the word of God, but given to us through the words of three very different men in different circumstances. If you have <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a good study Bible</a>, all you need to do is carefully read the introduction at the start of the book, where the biblical scholars will outline the author, circumstances, and content. Look up the biblical book in a <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/free-bible-commentaries-dictionaries-and-encyclopedia-for-you-to-consult-on-bible-gateway/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Free Bible Commentaries, Dictionaries, and Encyclopedia for You to Consult on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible dictionary or encyclopedia</a>, and you’ll get much more information—and more yet if you read the introduction in a <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/free-bible-commentaries-dictionaries-and-encyclopedia-for-you-to-consult-on-bible-gateway/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Free Bible Commentaries, Dictionaries, and Encyclopedia for You to Consult on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">commentary</a>.</p>
<p>[See previous – <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/how-to-live-the-bible-the-many-voices-of-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — The Many Voices of the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Many Voices of the Bible</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>2. <em>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/" title="Read the Bible in multiple languages and translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Bible translation</a> that you can understand and that motivates you to keep reading.</em></strong> Remember, the best translation for you is the one you’ll actually read. There have been times in my life when reading a thought-by-thought translation was the best thing to do (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2014/11/what-about-bible-translations/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What About Bible Translations?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>What About Bible Translations?</em></a>), and other times reading a word-for-word translation. It’s best to settle into one version you’ll typically read and reread.</p>
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<p><strong>3. <em>Read at a reasonable pace and try to ignore the chapter and verse numbers.</em></strong> We would all understand the Bible much better if we read it freely and naturally, rather than like a step-by-step instruction manual. When you get a letter from a friend or relative, you just sit down and read it through because that’s the best way to understand his or her message. No one watches movies in 5-minute installments, and no one would say that after viewing still photos of a movie, you have seen that movie. Yet reading a “verse of the day” is very popular. If you take 20 minutes instead of 5 to read a biblical book, you’ll get through <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Romans on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans</a> in three sittings, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Genesis on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis</a> in about six sittings, and many biblical books, like the epistles, in single sittings. Reading for comprehension is all about synthesis—connecting all the small ideas with the large controlling ideas. The payoff is enormous.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/01/how-long-does-it-really-take-to-read-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How Long Does It Really Take to Read the Bible?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>How Long Does It Really Take to Read the Bible?</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>4. <em>Follow a reading plan. No one wants to open the Bible randomly each day and read what’s there.</em></strong> There are many <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/" title="Select a Bible reading plan that's right for you on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">excellent reading plans</a> that organize a comprehensive reading of Scripture. Some go from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/chronological/next" title="Read the Bible using the Chronological Reading Plan on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis to Revelation</a>, but many help the reader by moving about the Bible, going back and forth in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/whats-the-difference-between-the-old-testament-and-the-new-testament/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Old and New Testaments</a>, for instance. Many offer a way to read the whole Bible in a year. This is not too difficult. It takes only 15 minutes a day.</p>
<p>However, this is the key: Don’t get bogged down when you’re doing that 15 minutes of reading and you’re having a hard time understanding it. This is why most people give up. Just keep reading. Read if you understand and read if you’re in a passage you do not understand. If you’re reading the word of God as a lifestyle, you’ll come back to that passage again and again. It may be that you’ll understand it the fourth time you read it, or you’ll understand it when you get to the end of the book. If you have doubts you’ll be able to be committed to reading 15 minutes a day, then choose a two-year reading plan, which takes just seven minutes a day.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]</p>
<p>Look at it this way: God is there for you for your whole life. On good days and bad days. And the word of God is there for you for your whole life. Just read. Just read. Just read.</p>
<p>[See previous – <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/how-to-live-the-bible-finding-good-answers/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — Finding Good Answers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Finding Good Answers</em></a>]<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/how-to-live-the-bible-reading-scripture-naturally/">How to Live the Bible — Reading Scripture Naturally</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7033849
2022-08-09T00:17:07-12:00
2022-08-10T09:30:52-12:00
How Is God’s Grace Sufficient in My Weakness?: An Interview with Jacob Armstrong
<p><a href="http://www.jacob-armstrong.com/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/30161527/Jacob-Armstrong.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Jacob Armstrong explains how the Bible says, with God’s sufficient grace, disappointments in life don’t have to break you down; they can lead to healing & abundant life." width="23%" /></a>Heartache. Disappointment. Loss. Depression. Loneliness. Feelings of despair can overtake us and cause us to mentally, emotionally, or physically breakdown. But what does the Bible say is the answer? How does trusting God and applying biblical instruction in our lives lead to healthy and hopeful living? How is God’s grace sufficient?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="http://www.jacob-armstrong.com/about/" title="Jacob Armstrong" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Jacob Armstrong</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/armstrongjacobc" title="Jacob Armstrong Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@armstrongjacobc</a>) about his book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/breaking-open-how-your-pain-becomes-the-path-to-living-again?variant=39933414703240&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Breaking Open in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Breaking Open: How Your Pain Becomes the Path to Living Again</em></strong></a> (W Publishing Group, 2022).</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/breaking-open-how-your-pain-becomes-the-path-to-living-again?variant=39933414703240&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/30161653/Breaking-Open.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Breaking Open in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What message are you communicating with the title of this book?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jacob Armstrong:</strong> <em>Breaking Open</em> is all about acknowledging a common ache, acknowledging that we all have places of pain, and that it’s actually in acknowledging this ache and facing it that we find the path to true life. As a pastor for 20 years of people of different ages, races, and life experiences, I’ve seen lots of differences in people. Culturally, financially, and politically.</p>
<p>But all the people I’ve had the pleasure to be around have one thing that’s familiar to them; one shared experience. What we all share is an ache. Everybody I’ve ever talked to has this same ache. It’s a longing. And I feel it too.</p>
<p><span id="more-69774"></span></p>
<p>Everyone aches to be whole, to be healed. Most of the time, though, we wouldn’t put it in those words. We just know we’re broken because our child is addicted. We ache because the depression of our youth is now the depression of our golden years. We’re stretched to the point of breaking because our career ambitions position us to commit to a pace we can’t sustain. Miscarriage, divorce, loneliness. In all of it, we ache. We ache for some way to walk through this life and not give up or give in.</p>
<p>We hear from Jesus in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A9&resource_entry=nivac-sample/2Cor.12.9&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 12:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12</a> that his strength is made perfect in our weakness. In our places where we feel most insufficient, Jesus’ grace is sufficient. That’s what <em>Breaking Open</em> is all about. Yes, we will all break in this life, but we don’t have to break <em>down</em>; we can follow the example of Jesus and break <em>open</em>.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/breaking-open-how-your-pain-becomes-the-path-to-living-again-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39933412507784&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/30162454/Breaking-Open-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Breaking Open audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="18%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>How does the Bible speak to your theme of breaking open and not breaking down?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jacob Armstrong:</strong> The Bible is filled with stories of people who faced breaking moments. What we might even call break downs. So, I’m not against break downs. Sometimes it seems that our only option is a good old-fashioned, on-the-floor meltdown.</p>
<p>But, what we see in the Bible is, with God’s power, these breaking moments don’t <em>leave</em> the people down. They break in an open way that leads to healing and life. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Nehemiah on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nehemiah</a> hit the ground in anguish for days before he rose to rebuild a wall, a city, and a people. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Esther on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Esther</a> almost broke as she faced her wailing uncle, then resisted safe silence and finally spoke up. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Pauls-Conversion-Early&tab=study" title="Read Acts 9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Saul</a> felt the dust of the Damascus road on his skin before he stood with new eyes to see. We might call those breakdowns, but there was something else happening there too. Something much different. For Nehemiah, Esther, Saul, and others, these moments were actually the first step on the path to living again.</p>
<p>But, the best example is how Jesus encountered brokenness. Instead of using a supernatural force field to hold suffering at bay, he embraced it. Fully. And he himself broke. On the cross, but also in the way he served and sacrificed for those he encountered on earth. Jesus experienced brokenness, but he did it in a way that brought healing, that brought others in, and brought life.</p>
<p>Jesus invites us to live a healed, whole life as those who break open toward God. That’s right. For Jesus, this isn’t about leading us down a road where we break. He knows the road we’re on is broken, so he’s leading us to hope, healing, and wholeness.</p>
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<p><strong>Briefly summarize your chapter titled, “Space not Pace.”</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jacob Armstrong:</strong> Yes, this is one of my favorite parts of the <em>Breaking Open</em> journey! So often in life we encounter difficulty and suffering, and what we do is we pick up the pace. We go faster. We neglect what we’re feeling. Again, we just kind of sit on top of the ache and as long as we keep moving, we can kind of ignore it.</p>
<p>But, that only lasts so long. Eventually we’ll have to face the ache, the grief, the pain, the disconnection, whatever it is we’re feeling. In my chapter, “Space not Pace,” I talk about how Jesus is actually inviting us to create space in our lives, rather than simply pick up the pace. In fact, the pace of life is often times out of our control. Circumstances dictate whether we have to go fast or go slow. What we can control is how we intentionally create space to meet with God. The Bible tells us that God desires this. In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+18&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/god-rewards-when-we-obey-vv-19-27&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 18:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 18</a>, David says, “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”</p>
<p>God is working a great rescue mission. The rescue involves getting us into a more spacious place where we can experience the delight of God. This doesn’t happen by ignoring how we’re feeling, but getting some space to be with Jesus. I imagine many of the people that go to Bible Gateway on a given day are doing just this. Getting some intentional space and time with God. That’s a great place to be.</p>
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<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jacob Armstrong:</strong> Oooh, tough one. I have a few that I really lean on in my journey and struggle with anxiety. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6-7&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Phil.4.6-Phil.4.8&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4:6-7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 4:6-7</a> that promises a peace that transcends all understanding is always on the tip of my tongue. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A5-6&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/2-wisdom-directs-your-path-prov-3&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 3:5-6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 3:5-6</a> that speaks of a way to trust in God is very important to my faith. But, my life verse is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A9&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1055-God-grace-mercy&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 12:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:9</a> I already mentioned. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. I remember that Jesus is grace is enough. Enough for me right now. Enough for whatever I’m facing. And that actually God’s strength is not perfected in my <em>strong</em> places, but my <em>weakest</em> ones. Man, I love that. I believe it. I cling to it.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jacob Armstrong:</strong> I use Bible Gateway every day. And I have for a long time! I use it a lot for my sermon and teaching preparation as a pastor. I love how quickly I can access a verse and see it in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/" title="Read the Bible freely in multiple languages and versions on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">different versions</a>. I write my sermons on Tuesday, and every Tuesday the tab to Bible Gateway stays open for easy access!</p>
<p>But, I also use Bible Gateway in my own personal study and reading. Every morning in my devotional time, I still use the old fashioned kind of Bible; you know, the one with pages that you turn. But most of the time after that I’m accessing the Bible through Bible Gateway. Again, it’s always at my fingertips whether I’m sitting at <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/" title="Read, hear, study, search, compare, share the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">my computer</a> or holding <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/app/" title="Download the free Bible Gateway App for your mobile device" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">my phone</a>. So, thank you Bible Gateway for getting God’s Word out to so many of us!</p>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/breaking-open-how-your-pain-becomes-the-path-to-living-again?variant=39933414703240&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Breaking Open in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Breaking Open</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Jacob Armstrong is a published author, speaker, and pastor of Providence Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Jacob and his wife, Rachel, founded Providence Church in 2008 with a vision to see people who feel disconnected from God and the church find hope, healing, and wholeness in Jesus Christ. Providence Church has been one of the 100 fastest growing churches in the nation the last three years.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/how-is-gods-grace-sufficient-in-my-weakness-an-interview-with-jacob-armstrong/">How Is God’s Grace Sufficient in My Weakness?: An Interview with Jacob Armstrong</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7033101
2022-08-07T23:51:11-12:00
2022-08-08T02:45:14-12:00
Where Is the Apostles’ Creed Found in the Bible?
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/18103603/you-are-built-to-love-large.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Download this free PDF Bible study that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" width="35%" /></a>Tenets of the Christian faith were encapsulated in the Apostles’ Creed and have been recited repeatedly by Christians for millennia since it was written a few hundred years after the birth of Jesus. While not composed by the apostles of Christ, it contains a brief summary of their teachings as recorded in Scripture.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2014/05/why-creeds-are-still-a-big-deal-an-interview-with-justin-holcomb/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Why Creeds are Still a Big Deal: An Interview with Justin Holcomb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Why Creeds are Still a Big Deal: An Interview with Justin Holcomb</em></a>]</p>
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<p>Perhaps you wonder where in the Bible each element of the Creed is reflected. The following list of Scripture references for each of the Apostles’ Creed’s phrases is found in the <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-teen-study-bible-comfort-print?variant=40425570730120&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NIV Teen Study Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>NIV Teen Study Bible</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022), which includes features that explain each thought from the Apostles’ Creed, tying it with the Scripture passage it reflects.</p>
<p><span id="more-69992"></span></p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2014/05/the-long-reach-of-christian-beliefs-the-apostles-creed-and-more/" title="Read Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Long Reach of Christian Beliefs (The Apostles’ Creed and More)"><em>The Long Reach of Christian Beliefs (The Apostles’ Creed and More)</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-teen-study-bible-comfort-print?variant=40425570730120&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/08093101/NIV-Teen-Study-Bible.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the NIV Teen Study Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="25%" /></a></p>
<ul>
I believe (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&resource_entry=bible-panorama/John.3&tab=study" title="Read John 3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3</a>)
<p>in God, the Father (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+103&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.103&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 103 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 103</a>)</p>
<p>almighty (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+89&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.89&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 89 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 89</a>)</p>
<p>creator of heaven and earth. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.1&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1</a>)</p>
<p>I believe in Jesus Christ, (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Col.1&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 1</a>)</p>
<p>his only Son, (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/John.1&tab=study" title="Read John 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1</a>)</p>
<p>our Lord, (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+14&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Rom.14&tab=study" title="Read Romans 14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 14</a>)</p>
<p>who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Luke.1&tab=study" title="Read Luke 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 1</a>)</p>
<p>born of the virgin Mary (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+7&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Isa.7&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 7</a>)</p>
<p>suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Isa.53&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 53 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 53</a>)</p>
<p>died, and was buried; (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.27&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 27</a>)</p>
<p>On the third day he rose again, (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Luke.24&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24</a>)</p>
<p>he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+9&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Heb.9&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 9</a>)</p>
<p>and will come again (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+13&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Mark.13&tab=study" title="Read Mark 13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 13</a>)</p>
<p>to judge the living and the dead. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+20&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Rev.20&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 20</a>)</p>
<p>I believe in the Holy Spirit, (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Acts.2&tab=study" title="Read Acts 2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 2</a>)</p>
<p>the holy universal church, (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/1Pet.1&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 1</a>)</p>
<p>the communion of saints, (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Eph.2&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 2</a>)</p>
<p>the forgiveness of sins, (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+31&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Jer.31&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 31</a>)</p>
<p>the resurrection of the body, (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+12&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Dan.12&tab=study" title="Read Daniel 12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daniel 12</a>)</p>
<p>and the life everlasting. Amen. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Rev.21&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 21</a>)</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/where-is-the-apostles-creed-found-in-the-bible/">Where Is the Apostles’ Creed Found in the Bible?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7031588
2022-08-05T01:55:00-12:00
2022-08-05T06:15:14-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of July 31, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/weekly-brief-week-of-july-31-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of July 31, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7030348
2022-08-03T08:33:28-12:00
2022-08-03T13:00:24-12:00
Eternity Now: A History-Shaping Story in a Ground-Breaking Format
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-box-set-comfort-print?variant=39910133891208&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/03151849/Eternity-Now.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Eternity Now is the rearranged collection of the New Testament books into 5 paperback volumes that are as easy to read as your favorite novel." width="27%" /></a>What if the Bible were as easy to read as your favorite novel? Take away the leather and ribbons. Take away the sometimes-confusing annotations. Leave out all the study notes. And finally, assemble the books together in a relatable grouping by content or by author. Just the simplicity of Scripture making it easy to carry and reader-friendly. What if?</p>
<p>Well, wonder no more! The <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-box-set-comfort-print?variant=39910133891208&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of NET Eternity Now, New Testament in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>NET Eternity Now, New Testament</em></strong></a> (Thomas Nelson, 2022) Bible series reveals the history-shaping story of how Jesus Christ changed the world and what that means to you in a format that can easily fit into your reading list. This new series makes it easy and convenient to read God’s Word with its familiar paperback format that presents the New Testament books divided into five easy-to-binge volumes.</p>
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<a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-legacy-net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-vol-1-matthew-hebrew-james-jude-paperback-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39910136414344&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/03154744/Eternity-Now-The-Legacy.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Volume One, The Legacy in the NET Eternity Now, New Testament in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="18%" /></a> <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/no-going-back-net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-vol-2-peter-mark-paperback-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39910134841480&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/03154723/Eternity-Now-No-Going-Back.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Volume Two, xxxxxxxx in the NET Eternity Now, New Testament in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="18%" /></a> <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/grand-tour-net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-vol-3-luke-paperback-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39910135857288&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/03154715/Eternity-Now-Grand-Tour.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Volume Three, Grand Tour in the NET Eternity Now, New Testament in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="17%" /></a> <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/death-to-life-net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-vol-4-paul-paperback-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39910137495688&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/03154703/Eternity-Now-Death-to-Life.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Volume Four, Death to Life in the NET Eternity Now, New Testament in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="17%" /></a> <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/now-but-not-yet-net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-vol-5-john-paperback-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39910133989512&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/03154735/Eternity-Now-Now-But-Not-Yet.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Volume Five, Now But Not Yet in the NET Eternity Now, New Testament in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="18%" /></a><br>
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<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/the-legacy-net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-vol-1-matthew-hebrew-james-jude-paperback-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39910136414344&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Volume One, The Legacy in the NET Eternity Now, New Testament Bible series in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Volume One, <em>The Legacy</em></strong></a> offers a rich story etched with pain and promise as detailed in the books of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NET" title="Read the Gospel of Matthew on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of Hebrews on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of James on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of Jude on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jude</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/no-going-back-net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-vol-2-peter-mark-paperback-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39910134841480&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Volume Two, No Going Back in the NET Eternity Now, New Testament Bible series in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Volume Two, <em>No Going Back</em></strong></a> tells a fast-paced account from the front row of history through the eyes of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=NET" title="Read the Gospel of Mark on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark</a> and Peter (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of 1 Peter on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter</a> & <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of 2 Peter on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Peter</a>).</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/grand-tour-net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-vol-3-luke-paperback-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39910135857288&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Volume Three, Grand Tour in the NET Eternity Now, New Testament Bible series in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Volume Three, <em>Grand Tour</em></strong></a> focuses on the books of Luke—the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&version=NET" title="Read the Gospel of Luke on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospel of Luke</a> and the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of Acts on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts</a>—bringing to life the amazing story that changed the world.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/death-to-life-net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-vol-4-paul-paperback-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39910137495688&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Volume Four, Death to Life in the NET Eternity Now, New Testament Bible series in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Volume Four, <em>Death to Life</em></strong></a> digs into the books of Paul including <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of Romans on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of 1 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of 2 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of Galatians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of Ephesians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of Philippians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of Colossians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of 1 Thessalonians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Thessalonians</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Thessalonians+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of 2 Thessalonians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Thessalonians</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of 1 Timothy on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Timothy</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of 2 Timothy on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of Titus on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Titus</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philemon+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of Philemon on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philemon</a>—all together they take us beyond what happened, to what it all means.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/now-but-not-yet-net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-vol-5-john-paperback-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39910133989512&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Volume Five, Now But Not Yet in the NET Eternity Now, New Testament Bible series in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Volume Five, <em>Now But Not Yet</em></strong></a> in which John wraps up the series with the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NET" title="Read the Gospel of John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospel of John</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of 1 John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+John+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of 2 John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 John</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=3+John+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of 3 John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">3 John</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&version=NET" title="Read the book of Revelation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation</a>, demonstrating that the beginning was shocking and the ending changes everything.</p>
<p>The best way to enjoy the entire series, however, is in <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/net-eternity-now-new-testament-series-box-set-comfort-print?variant=39910133891208&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of NET Eternity Now, New Testament in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>the box set</strong></a> containing all five volumes so you can take full advantage of the complete reading experience. It’s also a great book club or Bible study resource, and a great gift to share with a friend!</p>
<p>Published in the easy-to-read NET Comfort Print typeface, this series uses the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-English-Translation-NET-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New English Translation (NET) Bible version on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New English Translation</a>, that is an accurate and accountable ministry-first Bible translation more readers are turning to for their personal study.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/eternity-now-a-history-shaping-story-in-a-ground-breaking-format/">Eternity Now: A History-Shaping Story in a Ground-Breaking Format</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7030118
2022-08-03T05:51:22-12:00
2022-08-03T13:00:24-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Scripture and Community
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-twentieth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p><em>“I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5%3A27&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/1th-5-27&tab=study" title="Read 1 Thessalonians 5:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Thessalonians 5:27</a></p>
<p>Let’s imagine ourselves as believers in first century Thessalonica, Greece, the day that <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the Epistle of 1 Thessalonians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a letter</a> was received by the leaders of the church—a letter from the founder of the church, the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">apostle Paul</a>.</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23090425/HowToLiveTheBibleGroupBibleStudyIllustration.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Mel Lawrenz explains that a balanced way to study the Bible to get its meaning & apply it is on your own as well as with other believers." width="90%" /></p>
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<p>You are one of the elders of the church, and you read Paul’s instruction and admonitions with a sense of urgency and care. There is no “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/whats-the-difference-between-the-old-testament-and-the-new-testament/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Testament</a>” as the 27 books we know today. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/what-are-the-gospels-2/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Are the Gospels?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospels</a> have not been written yet. Not <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Romans on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans</a> or <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Hebrews on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews</a> or <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Revelation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation</a>. You and the rest of the leaders in Thessalonica are going on the gradually unfolding apostolic teaching which formed the foundation of the early church (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A20&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5317-foundation&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 2:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 2:20</a>). You listen carefully to the words, read out loud by one of the other leaders.</p>
<p>And then an important process unfolds. You and the other leaders of the church discuss what you have just heard from Paul. You go over what he has written about suffering, and sanctification, and salvation. You ask for someone to re-read the bit about the coming of Christ. Someone suggests the entire letter be read again, from the beginning.</p>
<p>You discuss Paul’s points. Sometimes there is a little disagreement over something specific Paul said. You talk about why he wanted this church, the believers in Thessalonica, to understand these specific things.</p>
<p>You discuss how to apply the meaning of Paul’s words. One leader suggests an application, and someone else enthusiastically suggests another application. After a couple of hours of discussion you realize that this short letter, this authoritative word from God’s chosen apostle, is going to reverberate in your community for a long time to come. Paul has addressed some controversies, reinforced some teachings, and pioneered new ideas.</p>
<p>You come to understand this letter to the Christian community in your city of Thessalonica because you have read it together, discussed it together, and applied it together.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>So here we are in the 21st century reading the same words, attempting to get the meaning and apply it responsibly and fully. We do so, not in isolation, but with other believers. We get the gold from the goldmine of Scripture not by prospecting in isolation, but as we work together.</p>
<p>Bible study is a community effort. For some people, that impulse comes naturally. They don’t want to be isolated, and they read Scripture and immediately want to compare reactions and interpretations with other people. Some people, however, so value that holy time when they privately read and explore Scripture, asking the Holy Spirit for illumination, enthused with new discoveries, slain by confrontation, inspired with new visions of God, that they almost want to avoid discussing the Bible with other people. They may believe that private interpretations of Scripture are sacrosanct, and that comparing notes with others takes something away from their genuine interaction with God.</p>
<p>We need to be balanced here. It is true that the truth of God in Scripture is available and accessible to any individual believer. No one stands between us and God. But on the other hand, we are in this together. God gives different insights to different people—not splitting the meaning of his word, but revealing different facets of it. That’s the way Scripture functioned in ancient times, and it is the way we should study it today.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/how-to-live-the-bible-scripture-and-community/">How to Live the Bible — Scripture and Community</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7029885
2022-08-02T23:31:25-12:00
2022-08-03T04:00:05-12:00
Forgiveness: Pulling Out the Snake’s Fang
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/01160508/DeborahLiu_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Former Facebook executive Deborah Liu recounts how a victim of the Charleston, SC church mass murderer freed herself through forgiveness." width="33%" />By Deborah Liu</strong></p>
<p><em>You don’t choose what happens to you, but you have</em><br>
<em>the power to choose how you are affected by it</em>.<br>
—Nona Jones</p>
<p>On June 17, 2015, Polly Sheppard attended Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. That night, Dylann Roof, a self-professed white supremacist, arrived and spent an hour in the study with his victims before pulling out a gun during prayer time. In all, he shot 12 people, nine of whom lost their lives, including Emanuel AME pastor and State Senator Clementa C. Pinckney. Polly witnessed her friends being gunned down in front of her, and when Dylann reached her, she recalled him saying, “I’m not going to shoot you. I’m going to leave you here to tell the story.”</p>
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<p>Dylann Roof wanted to start a race war that day. He chose Emanuel AME—also known as Mother Emanuel, the oldest AME church in the South—as the spark to ignite that war. But what he encountered was something wholly different. Though he meant to terrorize and devastate, relatives and friends of the victims stood up one by one just a few days later in court and told him they forgave him. They released the poison that he had inflicted on their community, taking that anger and turning it into grace. News of their act of forgiveness took over the news and drowned out Roof’s message of hate.</p>
<p>I met Polly at a private screening of <em>Emanuel</em>, a movie about the shooting. I sat next to her, and as we watched the movie side by side, I sensed her peace, even as the terrible events of that day unfolded on screen. To be willing to relive the worst day of your life over and over and still speak up about how love could triumph over hate took an act of courage I could barely conceive.</p>
<p>June 17, 2015, was also the day that allowed Polly to find her voice. It wasn’t an easy process. The anger and depression were all-consuming. At first she wasn’t sure if she was ready to forgive Roof’s actions, but she ultimately found an inner strength in the act of forgiveness. This led her to share her story over the next five years. A year after the shooting, she said, “To heal, we must forgive. That is what I learned this past year. The shooter in Charleston had hate in his heart. The shooter in Orlando had hate in his heart. And the shooter in Dallas did, too. So much hate, too much. But as Scripture says, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A8&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8292-love&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 13:3 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">love never fails</a>. So I choose love.”</p>
<p>Polly took back her power through forgiveness. She couldn’t undo what had been done, but she could rise above it and bring some good out of it. “By taking back my power,” she said, “I realize that I am not a victim. I am victorious. I had faith before, but now I have gained much more faith and strength.”</p>
<p>Knowing she couldn’t change the past, Polly decided to change the future instead. By turning her worst moments into something she would spend the rest of her life sharing with the world, she brought light out of the darkness. Her words and testimony helped heal a nation struggling with violence and racial tension. Now in her mid-70s, she continues that journey by helping raise money to fund young people who want to enter nursing, specifically serving in the prison system, where she spent her career.</p>
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<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<h2>Forgiveness Is Freedom</h2>
<p>Most of us will never face the stark reality of watching our friends die, of having to decide how to forgive what feels unforgivable. But for many of us, in each of our hearts, there is someone or something that holds us back, and those wounds continue to fester.</p>
<p>As the most senior member of the Christians at Facebook community, I was invited to be the opening speaker at the Emanuel movie screening, nearly four years to the day after the shooting. At first I considered turning it down. What the organizers didn’t know was that I had grown up in a town outside Charleston, less than 20 miles from where the shooting happened, and I had avoided going back for two decades.</p>
<p>The amount of verbal abuse and threats I received during my childhood scarred me in ways I never allowed myself to process. I had never fully come to terms with what it was like to grow up experiencing that level of mistreatment, and so I coped with it through avoidance. But it still haunted me. To stand on a stage and speak about the ultimate forgiveness of families who had lost those they loved felt contradictory when I myself had never come to terms with the trauma of my childhood. This discrepancy forced me to take a long, hard look at how much anger I still harbored. Sitting next to Polly, hugging her during the movie, and watching her tell her story to the world taught me what true grace looks like. If she could look back with dignity and forgiveness, then I could do no less.</p>
<p>Forgiveness creates its own power and soothes the pain of old wounds. It allows us to break free of the hold the past has over us. But it isn’t easy. I wish I could say that that one moment of decision changed everything, but I had yet to learn that forgiveness is both a choice and a process. Like any other kind of healing, it happens over time. The catharsis is gradual; it teaches us patience as we learn to let go of our pain.</p>
<p>Imagine the hurt of being wronged as a snake’s fang embedded in your skin. As long as it’s there, the poison continues to infect you, and the wound can’t heal. Your suffering continues, and resentment grows. The pain of removing the fang—of choosing to forgive—can be immense in the moment, but its benefits to your psyche cannot be overstated. It not only gives you a chance to heal and recover, but it stops the poison from continuing to enter your body. No longer festering, the wound can now close as your body filters out the remaining resentment, anger, and distress. Removing the fang is the first step to becoming whole again.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/take-back-your-power-10-new-rules-for-women-at-work-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39991843160200&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02111523/Take-Back-Your-Power.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Take Back Your Power audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>Though forgiveness is a powerful force, in American society it is sometimes viewed as a weakness, as if by forgiving someone, we are letting them off the hook for their transgressions. What we don’t realize is that forgiveness is for the forgiver, not for the forgiven. Not only does it yield psychological benefits, but it also yields physical and emotional dividends.</p>
<p>Dr. Loren Toussaint, professor of psychology at Luther College, has studied forgiveness for over two decades. According to his research, those who score high on measures of forgiveness showed evidence of major personal benefits, especially to mental health. In one study, his team demonstrated that among those living with a high level of stress, those who also exhibited high levels of forgiveness had fewer negative mental health outcomes. Simply put, forgiveness protects our minds from the negative consequences of stress. Further studies Toussaint performed show that forgiveness in the workplace is associated with a 25% increase in productivity. This means that a workplace where people are more forgiving of one another is one that also produces better results—for both the forgiver and their company.</p>
<p>Not everyone is asked to offer the grand gesture of forgiveness that Polly has displayed, but a grand gesture isn’t always necessary. Freedom is pulling out the snake’s fang to stop the resentment and pain from stealing your peace of mind. Only in this way can we process the hurt and find a path to peace.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/take-back-your-power-10-new-rules-for-women-at-work?variant=40342477308040" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/01160619/TakeBackYourPower_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Take Back Your Power" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/take-back-your-power-10-new-rules-for-women-at-work?variant=40342477308040" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Take Back Your Power: 10 New Rules for Women at Work</em></a> by Deborah Liu. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/take-back-your-power-10-new-rules-for-women-at-work?variant=40342477308040" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>You can’t make the world fair, but you can take back your power.</p>
<p>As a woman in Silicon Valley who worked her way to the top of the corporate ladder—she’s a former VP at Facebook and the current president and CEO of Ancestry—Deborah Liu knows firsthand the challenges and obstacles in the workplace that keep the deck stacked against women in the workplace … and the ways to overcome them.</p>
<p>For every woman who grew up competing on the uneven playing field, who is told she is too aggressive, assertive, dramatic, or emotional, this book is the battle cry you need to learn to thrive within the system that exists today, even if it’s not the one we wish it were.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/take-back-your-power-10-new-rules-for-women-at-work?variant=40342477308040" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Take Back Your Power</em></a> presents both hard data and Liu’s personal experiences from twenty years as a woman leader in the male-dominated tech industry to help you:</p>
<ul>
<li>Find your voice, learn how to ask, and achieve what you want in a system that isn’t fair and wasn’t created for you</li>
<li>Debunk the negative connotations of “power” and harness it for your own success</li>
<li>Discover how to be heard, seen, and taken more seriously at work by getting out of your own way</li>
<li>Overcome the lie that success is only achieved alone by finding the four types of allies you need to reach your goals</li>
<li>Become a great leader without losing yourself in the process</li>
</ul>
<p>You have the power to change the future of work for yourself—and for women everywhere.</p>
<p><strong>Deborah Liu</strong> is a seasoned technology executive based in Silicon Valley. She is the president and CEO of Ancestry, the company at the forefront of family history and consumer genomics. Prior to this, she served on the leadership team of Facebook, where she was the vice president of Facebook App Commerce. During her time there, she helped create Facebook Marketplace, Facebook Pay, Facebook Audience Network, and App Install Ads. Previously, she spent several years at PayPal, where she led the eBay marketplace product team, created the charitable donations and social commerce teams, and worked in corporate strategy. She also serves on the board of Intuit and cofounded the nonprofit Women in Product. She lives with her husband, three kids, and mom in California. Learn more at <a href="https://debliu.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">debliu.com</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/forgiveness-pulling-out-the-snakes-fang/">Forgiveness: Pulling Out the Snake’s Fang</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7029104
2022-08-02T00:54:30-12:00
2022-08-02T05:00:14-12:00
How to Break Free from Addiction: An Interview with Irene Rollins
<p><a href="https://irenerollins.com/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/25093733/Irene-Rollins.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Irene Rollins tells how she enjoyed a seemingly perfect life as a wife, mom, and leader of a megachurch while she hid her alcoholism that almost destroyed everything." width="25%" /></a>What does it take to break the cycle of addiction and shame? One woman knows. She enjoyed a seemingly perfect life as a wife, mom, and leader of a megachurch while she hid her alcoholism that almost destroyed everything. Are you, or someone you know, in an addiction cycle, unaware of how unmanageable your life has become?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="https://irenerollins.com/about/" title="Irene Rollins" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Irene Rollins</a> (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/irenerollins/" title="Irene Rollins Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@irenerollins</a>) about her book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/reframe-your-shame-experience-freedom-from-what-holds-you-back?variant=39972276895880&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Reframe Your Shame in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Reframe Your Shame: Experience Freedom from What Holds You Back</em></strong></a> (W Publishing Group, 2022).</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/reframe-your-shame-experience-freedom-from-what-holds-you-back?variant=39972276895880&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/21083630/Reframe-Your-Shame.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Reframe Your Shame in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What were the circumstances that led you to alcoholism?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong> Shame of my past caught up with me when carrying the weight of wounds that hadn’t been dealt with. I had an early introduction to alcohol and abused alcohol in my adolescent years. I had a lack of emotional health or awareness to carry the weight of the responsibilities that went along with leading a growing and thriving church alongside my husband while managing a home with three children and a marriage that was full of dysfunctional ways of communicating and operating. With trauma that hadn’t been dealt with and unhealthy emotional behaviors, using alcohol to escape after a long day at work unconsciously became my normal way of coping with stress. Without me seeing it coming, I fell down the slippery slope of addiction over a period of six years.</p>
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<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/reframe-your-shame-experience-freedom-from-what-holds-you-back-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39972279124104&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/21083639/Reframe-Your-Shame-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Reframe Your Shame audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="18%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Can you speak to the circumstances that lead you to hide your addiction?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong> Shame was the real reason I hid my issue with alcohol. I wish I had known it was okay to not be okay as a leader. I believed I had to have it all together, so admitting my brokenness, addiction, and marital issues seemed like an occupational hazard. Hiding is exhausting and magnified my marital issues, which led to more binging and an increase in dependency. Hiding my issues was the precipice to my rock bottom where my husband and I had to take time off from leading the church in order for me to go to rehab and when as a family we focused on getting emotionally well. Taking time off for what was most important—my personal health and marriage—became the new beginning God promised us! Emotionally healthy leaders with a healthy marriage equal a healthy church. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+43%3A18-19&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6659-freedom-acts-OT&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 43:18-19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 43:18-19</a> says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”</p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Usd-N8yVDNc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<p><strong>What did your counselor mean when she told you, “We create our own misery. The battle starts in our minds.”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong> Our emotions and our bodies send signals to our brains that it’s time to deal with something. The problem is that when we are unaware of or disconnected from our emotions or our bodies, we don’t notice or listen to what the signals are trying to tell us to address. This impacts our behaviors both consciously and unconsciously. My behavior of self-medicating with alcohol was leading to a sense of isolation and powerlessness. But I was clueless that the negative cycles in my thought life and my emotional world were the source of my motivation to medicate in the first place.</p>
<p>Before there was a drink to anesthetize my pain as a child, there was a mindset that trapped me into a negative way of thinking, which turned into a cycle of pain that cried out to be numbed. A mindset that led to negative self-talk, distorted thinking, blaming others, or denying my issues held me back. I struggled to define what was real and truthful versus what was a story or script I made up about something I experienced. These dysfunctional cycles began in my mind and compounded into debilitating emotional pain that would eventually lead to self-medicating and then my full-blown addiction to alcohol.</p>
<p><strong>How does shame become toxic?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong> When we believe the lie that what happened to us is our fault, we become the victim, and the negative cycle in the mind perpetuates the toxic shame responses. We can become stuck in the fight, flight, or freeze response that shame triggers. As a result, the emotion of shame can become toxic if we lack the tools to address it in a healthy way. When in shame we fear being truly known, accepted, and seen, so we hide, which causes isolation and mental health issues like depression and anxiety that can lead to medicating with a person, place, or thing. The vicious cycle is subtle, until it’s urgent. When we’re powerless over self-hate and believe the lie that we’re not enough, broken, unfixable, and too far gone to be forgiven, shame has become toxic.</p>
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<p><strong>What is a “functional adult”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong> Functional adults are those who are in touch with their inner wounds and their deepest feelings. They have affirming relationships with themselves, have healthy self-esteem, and know how to honor and respect themselves, which allows them to fully engage in relationship with others in a healthy way, trusting their intuition and gut.</p>
<p>As I worked my program of recovery, I became aware of my emotions and the importance of expressing them in moderation and asking for what I need and want. Functional adults know how to set functional boundaries both externally (physical boundaries) and internally (not allowing in what doesn’t belong to them). Prior to my recovery, I had empathy but took on the weight and responsibility of others’ problems, crises, etc. as if they were my own. Codependency is the culprit, and it starts in childhood when we experience imprints from caretakers who modeled dysfunction and had a lack of tools to be a functional adult themselves. The impact of this on a developing child can cause developmental immaturity that fractures relationship with self, God, and others.</p>
<p><strong>How did God lead you to stop drinking?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong> I couldn’t stop on my own. I needed to hit rock bottom and face the shame of my issue with alcohol. God’s hand was on me all along the way, ordering my steps even when I was at my worst. He gave my husband the courage to give me an ultimatum to go to rehab. He sent me friends and an amazing counselor who confronted me about my drinking in love and didn’t shame me about my behaviors. It was through my experience of the grace and compassion they demonstrated that I was able to finally agree to go to rehab. God was with me, leading in the choosing of the treatment center that was right for me. God was in every doctor, nurse, counselor, and patient I encountered in treatment who shared their testimony and gave me hope that I could recover too. I related to the stories I heard and used them to help me find freedom from addiction. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+12%3A11&version=AMP" title="Read Revelation 12:11 (AMP) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 12:11 AMP</a> says, “And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death.”</p>
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<p><strong>What do you mean when you tell readers to “reframe your fear”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong> Reframing involves choosing to look at something from a different point of view. When we’re functioning in fear-based thinking, we filter our perspective of the world, our circumstances, our relationships, and more through the lenses of fear and/or foreboding, which hinders us from walking in faith and hope. Fear prevents us from connection with God and others because we fear rejection. Shame reminds us that we’re exposed, imperfect, and vulnerable. The walls that go up in protection prevent us from being our authentic selves and coming boldly to the throne of God’s grace (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A16&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1055-God-grace-mercy&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 4:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 4:16</a>). We skew negative naturally as human beings so we must make an intentional effort to reframe what we have looked at as shameful or through a lens of fear. We can do this by asking ourselves, “What do we fear the most?” Then answer the question honestly. What if we chose to reframe our fear and shame rather believe the lies of the enemy?</p>
<p><strong>What are a few Scripture passages that helped you in recovery?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+27&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-27&tab=study" title="Read Psalms 27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalms 27</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.8.28&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8:28</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A9&resource_entry=nivac-sample/2Cor.12.9&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 12:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:9</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+11%3A29&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Rom.11.1-Rom.11.32&tab=study" title="Read Romans 11:29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 11:29</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+50%3A20&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/assurance-vv-18-21&tab=study" title="Read xxxxxxxxxxx on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 50:20</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A5&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/conditions-meet-vv-1-12&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 3:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 3:5</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Why did you write this book?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong> My goal is to bring awareness to readers that their shame around their issues and hurts can lead to mental health challenges and hang-ups (unforgiveness, fear, shame) that can be debilitating and lead to habits like addiction and, when unaware, can render them powerless and wreck their lives. Shame does not have to hold us back from being the best versions of ourselves. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A5&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/2-seek-lord-vv-4-8&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 34:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 34:5</a> promises that when we look to him, shame will not overtake us and we will be radiant with joy! We can reframe the shame of addiction and walk in freedom using practical and biblical tools as well as storytelling to heal and help others as well.</p>
<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/3-freedom-from-discouragement-no-frustration-8-18&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8:28</a> is my favorite passage of Scripture because I’m living proof of God reframing all the good, bad, and ugly of my past for not only my good, but for the good of others and generations to come.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong> Love the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/app/" title="Learn more about the free Bible Gateway App" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">App</a>! Listen to it throughout the day and use it for studying and diving deeper into God’s word. It’s a part of my daily recovery disciplines.</p>
<p><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to say?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Irene Rollins:</strong> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A1%E2%80%932&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Heb.12.1-Heb.12.2&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 12:1–2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 12:1–2</a> shows us that Jesus is the ultimate example of reframing as he experienced the shame of his crucifixion yet received honor as he is seated at the right hand of God. When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, it activates our faith that our future is in the hands of the Healer and that he will be faithful to complete the work he’s begun in us (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A6&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Phil.1.6&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 1:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 1:6</a>) regardless of what our past looks like or what we’ve done.</p>
<p>We, too, can experience the promises of God to reframe our shame into victory. We don’t have to be the victim of our circumstances. We can deal with our issues before our issues deal with us. We can endure shame as Jesus did and receive a double portion of joy on the other side of surrendering our brokenness and sin (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+61%3A7&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Hope&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 61:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 61:7</a>). His grace is sufficient and perfected in our weakness (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A9&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2027-Jesus-Christ-grace-mercy&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 12:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:9</a>), and I want to encourage readers to get honest with themselves and God, then receive the forgiveness and grace needed to overcome the shame of sin that tries to separate them from God and others so they can live free! Then once we get free, we must give it away and help set others free!</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/reframe-your-shame-experience-freedom-from-what-holds-you-back?variant=39972276895880&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Reframe Your Shame in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reframe Your Shame</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Irene Rollins is passionate about the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of all people. As a certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, she loves to study human behavior enabling her to understand a wide variety of people, guiding them to be the best version of themselves through her teaching, writing and coaching. Irene’s fervency to help others overcome their self-defeating habits comes from her life experience as an overcomer of alcohol addiction and trauma. Irene models accountability and often reminds those in the addiction community to “do the work” and “If you aren’t working on your recovery, you’re working on your relapse.”</p>
<p>After almost 25 years in full-time ministry, serving as senior pastors of a thriving church called i5 City, Irene and her husband Jimmy felt a shift in their ministry focus. Irene and Jimmy founded the ministry of TWO = ONE with a mission to help build strong marriages that result in healthy families that impact our communities for the better.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/how-to-break-free-from-addiction-an-interview-with-irene-rollins/">How to Break Free from Addiction: An Interview with Irene Rollins</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7028148
2022-07-31T23:37:48-12:00
2022-08-01T02:00:13-12:00
What Is God’s Purpose for Me?: You Are Built to Love
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/18103603/you-are-built-to-love-large.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Download this free PDF Bible study that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" width="45%" /></a>One of the most beloved passages about love in Scripture is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13&resource_entry=bible-panorama/1Cor.13&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13</a>. In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A4-7&resource_entry=esv-global-study-bible/1cor-12-1-1cor-14-40&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 in the ESV Global Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">verses 4-7</a>, especially, Paul provides a blueprint of what love looks like in action.</p>
<p><em>“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”</em></p>
<p>This key passage is one of several that you’ll understand, meditate on, and apply using our new free 5-day Bible study titled <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Download this free PDF Bible study from Bible Gateway that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>You Are Built to Love</em></strong></a>. Each day of the study walks you through a key biblical passage on love, explaining its meaning and significance for your life. You’ll learn the deep meaning of God’s love according to Scripture, gain insight into Jesus’ commands about love, discover how love leads to an abundant life, and much more. The following excerpt is a preview from this study on the passage noted above, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A4-7&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/1co-13-4-8a&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 in the NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13:4-7</a>.</p>
<p><span id="more-70295"></span></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 1 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of 1 Corinthians</a> was written by the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">apostle Paul</a> to the church in the Greek city of Corinth. In the chapter leading up to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13&resource_entry=zibbc-nt/the-priority-of-relationships-over-achievements-1cor-13-1-13&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Corinthians 13 in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the New Testament with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">13</a>, Paul has been instructing the Corinthians about the nature and use of spiritual gifts, since there had been division in the church on this issue. One of the most important things about spiritual gifts, Paul has been saying, is to use them in a spirit of love (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12&resource_entry=bible-panorama/1Cor.12&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 12</a>). But even more important than spiritual gifts, he goes on to say in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13&resource_entry=case-for-christ-study-bible/the-case-for-christ-1-corinthians-13-1-13-what-distinguishes-jesus-from-other-religious-figures&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Corinthians 13 in the NIV Case for Christ Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">chapter 13</a>, is love itself. In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A4-7&resource_entry=niv-cultural-backgrounds/1co-13-4-8a&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 in the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13:4-7</a>, Paul lays out in specific terms what <em>agapē</em> (divine) love looks like in practice, listing seven positive and eight negative characteristics. Let’s look at these characteristics in more detail.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/28130604/you-are-built-to-love-fan-large-1.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Download this free PDF Bible study that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" width="50%" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A4&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/1co-13-4-8a&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Corinthians 13:4 in the NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Verse 4</strong></a> — Paul begins with two positive aspects of love—<strong>patience</strong> and <strong>kindness</strong>. One scholar describes a patient person as being “‘long-tempered’—as opposed to being defensive or easily provoked. [Patience] does not rush to retaliation, but exercises self-control in trying circumstances.”</p>
<p>To show kindness is to be “actively engaged in doing good to others. It’s the picture of a person who spontaneously seeks the good for others and shows it with friendly acts.” Theologian and Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer once remarked that “constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”</p>
<p>While patience and kindness are focused on doing good to others, <strong>envy</strong>, <strong>boasting</strong>, and <strong>pride</strong> are self-focused in a negative way (there is a healthy sense of pride that rejoices in positive accomplishment [e.g., <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+cor.+7%3A4&resource_entry=believers-bible-commentary/7-4-5&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 2 Corinthians 7:4 in the Believer's Bible Commentary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 7:4</a>], but here Paul is referring to arrogant pride).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A5&resource_entry=niv-thompson-chain/unselfishness-3227&tab=study" title="Read the reference note about unselfishness for 1 Corinthians 13:5 in the NIV Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Verse 5</strong></a> — As we’ve been observing, <em>agapē</em> love seeks the best for others, and as a result it “<strong>does not dishonor others</strong>” and “<strong>is not self-seeking</strong>.” And because it’s patient, as we saw in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A4&resource_entry=new-spirit-filled-life-bible/1co-13-4-7&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Corinthians 13:4 in the NKJV New Spirit-Filled Life Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 4</a>, it “<strong>is not easily angered</strong>.” This Christlike love provides the context we need to keep offenses committed against us in perspective. As one biblical commentator explains,</p>
<p>“If we truly love someone with the love of the Lord, we shall see their strengths and their potential rather than their quirks and their foibles. When they do or say something which angers us, we shall be able to treat that in the context of what they are in Christ, instead of magnifying what has happened so that it consumes our vision.”</p>
<p>To continue the lesson on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13&resource_entry=nivac-1cor/1-corinthians-12-31-13-13&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Corinthians 13 in the NIV Application Commentary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13</a> and gain insights into 4 more indispensable passages about love, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Download this free PDF Bible study from Bible Gateway that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>visit our sign-up page here</strong></a>. You’ll receive immediate access to this inspiring study that will help you build the life of love you are meant to live!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Download this free PDF Bible study from Bible Gateway that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Sign up now</strong></a> and receive <strong>immediate access</strong> to the life-changing study, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Download this free PDF Bible study from Bible Gateway that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>You Are Built to Love</em></strong></a>, that will help you build an abundant life through love!</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/08/what-is-gods-purpose-for-me-you-are-built-to-love/">What Is God’s Purpose for Me?: You Are Built to Love</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7026548
2022-07-29T01:55:00-12:00
2022-07-29T05:15:21-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of July 24, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/weekly-brief-week-of-july-24-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of July 24, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7026549
2022-07-28T23:00:00-12:00
2022-07-29T05:15:21-12:00
August Is “Attributes of God Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/18103603/you-are-built-to-love-large.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Download this free PDF Bible study that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" width="40%" /></a>For the month of August, we’ve gathered a collection of Bible verses that describe God’s characteristics; his attributes. We invite you to click the verse references below and read each of their contexts to grow your understanding of God and his nature.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/july-is-bible-affirmations-month-on-bible-gateway-download-this-free-31-bible-verses-calendar/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, July Is “Bible Affirmations Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>July Is “Bible Affirmations Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar</em></a>]</p>
<p>Download and use this <a href="https://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/August-Attributes-of-God-Calendar.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=augustattributes" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, August Attributes of God Bible Verses" target="_blank"><strong>free daily August Attributes of God Bible Verses calendar</strong></a> every day:</p>
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<p><a href="https://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/August-Attributes-of-God-Calendar.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=augustattributes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/25153647/August-Attributes-of-God-Calendar.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, August Attributes of God Bible Verses" width="90%" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li>August 1 — He Is Awesome. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+10%3A17&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-ot/dt-10-17-22&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Deuteronomy 10:17 in the Expositor's Bible Commentary Abridged Edition with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 10:17</a>
</li>
<li>August 2 — He Is Holy. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+57%3A15&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1065-God-holiness&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 57:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 57:15</a>
</li>
<li>August 3 — He Is Truthful. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A3&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1150-God-truth&tab=study" title="Read John 17:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 17:3</a>
</li>
<li>August 4 — He Is Just. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+32%3A4&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1075-God-justice&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 32:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 32:4</a>
</li>
<li>August 5 — He Is Faithful. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+36%3A5&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Faith-Faithfulness&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 36:5on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 36:5</a>
</li>
<li>August 6 — He Is Steadfast. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+6%3A26&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1080-God-living-self&tab=study" title="Read Daniel 6:26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daniel 6:26</a>
</li>
<li>August 7 — He Is Good. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+16%3A34&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1050-God-goodness&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 16:34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 16:34</a>
</li>
<li>August 8 — He Is Compassionate. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+86%3A15&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1030-God-compassion&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 86:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 86:15</a>
</li>
<li>August 9 — He Is Infinite. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15%3A3&resource_entry=esv-global-study-bible/prov-15-3&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Proverbs 15:3 in the ESV Global Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 15:3</a>
</li>
<li>August 10 — He Is Jealous. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+34%3A14&resource_entry=thru-the-bible/Exod-34-13-14&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Exodus 34:14 in the Thru the Bible Commentary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 34:14</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/may-is-bible-declarations-month-on-bible-gateway-download-this-free-31-bible-verses-calendar/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, May Is Bible Declarations Month on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>May Is “Bible Declarations Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar</em></a>]</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<ul>
<li>August 11 — He Is Everlasting. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40%3A28&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1140-God-eternal&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 40:28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 40:28</a>
</li>
<li>August 12 — He Is Omnipresent. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15%3A3&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1110-God-present-everywhere&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 15:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 15:3</a>
</li>
<li>August 13 — He Is Love. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1085-God-love&tab=study" title="Read John 3:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a>
</li>
<li>August 14 — He Is Wise. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+12%3A13&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1180-God-wisdom&tab=study" title="Read Job 12:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job 12:13</a>
</li>
<li>August 15 — He Is Mighty. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah+3%3A17&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1105-God-power&tab=study" title="Read Zephaniah 3:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zephaniah 3:17</a>
</li>
<li>August 16 — He Is Omnipotent. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+37%3A23&resource_entry=zondervan-bible-commentary-one/Job.36.26-Job.37.24&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Job 37:23 in the Zondervan Bible Commentary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job 37:23</a>
</li>
<li>August 17 — He Is gracious. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+86%3A15&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6667-grace-OT&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 86:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 86:15</a>
</li>
<li>August 18 — He Is Omniscient. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1412-foreknowledge&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8:28</a>
</li>
<li>August 19 — He Is Sovereign. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A11&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1130-God-sovereignty&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 1:11on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 1:11</a>
</li>
<li>August 20 — He Is Perfect. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+22%3A31&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1100-God-perfection&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 22:31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 22:31</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<ul>
<li>August 21 — He Is Personal. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A25-31&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1330-God-provider&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6:25-31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6:25-31</a>
</li>
<li>August 22 — He Is Powerful. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+10%3A12&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1325-God-Creator&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 10:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 10:12</a>
</li>
<li>August 23 — He Is Pure. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+12%3A6&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8325-purity-nature&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 12:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 12:6</a>
</li>
<li>August 24 — He Is Righteous. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A21&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1125-God-righteousness&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 5:21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:21</a>
</li>
<li>August 25 — He Is Gentle. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+22%3A36&version=KJV&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Meekness&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 22:36 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 22:36</a>
</li>
<li>August 26 — He Is Peaceful. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A22&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/3215-Holy-Spirit-peace&tab=study" title="Read Galatians 5:22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 5:22</a>
</li>
<li>August 27 — He Is Trustworthy. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+7%3A28&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8354-trustworthiness&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 7:28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 7:28</a>
</li>
<li>August 28 — He Is the Creator. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A1&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1325-God-Creator&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 1:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1:1</a>
</li>
<li>August 29 — He Is Unchanging. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+3%3A6&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1160-God-unchangeableness&tab=study" title="Read Malachi 3:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Malachi 3:6</a>
</li>
<li>August 30 — He Is Merciful. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+116%3A5&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6688-mercy-demonstration-Gods&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 116:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 116:5</a>
</li>
<li>August 31 — He Is Worthy. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A14&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/god-made-us-wonderfully-we-cannot-ignore-him-vv-13&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 4:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 4:11</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Download and start using this <a href="https://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/August-Attributes-of-God-Calendar.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=augustattributes" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, August Attributes of God Bible Verses" target="_blank"><strong>free daily August Attributes of God Bible Verses calendar</strong></a> right now!</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/dont-merely-read-the-bible-engage-with-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!</em></a>]</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/august-is-attributes-of-god-month-on-bible-gateway-download-this-free-31-bible-verses-calendar/">August Is “Attributes of God Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7025745
2022-07-28T00:23:15-12:00
2022-07-29T05:15:21-12:00
What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/18103603/you-are-built-to-love-large.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Download this free PDF Bible study that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" width="45%" /></a><strong>By Christopher Reese</strong></p>
<p>The first thing people usually notice when they open the Christian Bible is that it’s divided into two major sections—the Old Testament and the New Testament. Why is it divided this way, and what are the differences between these two Bible Testaments?</p>
<h2>The Meaning of “Testament” in the Bible</h2>
<p>As we begin to answer these questions, it’s helpful to know the word “testament” means “covenant,” so these two major divisions refer to the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. A covenant in the Bible is a “solemn agreement between two parties, in which one or both promise to perform certain actions.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#1"><sup><strong>1</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>The Old Covenant refers to the agreement <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionary-of-bible-themes/1000-God" title="Read the entry for God in the Dictionary of Bible Themes on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">God</a> made with the nation Israel in which he promised, “I will be your God, and you will be my people” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+26%3A12&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/lev-26-12&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Leviticus 26:12 in the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leviticus 26:12</a>). God first made this covenant with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-1-adam-and-eve-abraham-jacob-joseph/#Abraham" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 1 (Adam and Eve, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Abraham</a>, the father of the Jewish people, and reaffirmed it with his descendants (such as <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-1-adam-and-eve-abraham-jacob-joseph/#Jacob" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 1 (Adam and Eve, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jacob</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-2-moses-joshua-david/#Moses" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 2 (Moses, Joshua, David)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Moses</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-2-moses-joshua-david/#David" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 2 (Moses, Joshua, David)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David</a>).</p>
<p><span id="more-70059"></span></p>
<p>At the same time, God also promised in the Old Testament he would make a new covenant with Israel that would also extend to all of humanity (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+31%3A31&resource_entry=niv-jesus-bible/jeremiah-31-31-34&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Jeremiah 31:31 in The Jesus Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 31:31</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel+2%3A28&resource_entry=nkjv-study-bible/joel-2-28&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Joel 2:28 in the NKJV Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joel 2:28</a>). This covenant was established by <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-1-jesus-mary-john-the-baptist/#Jesus" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 1 (Jesus, Mary, John the Baptist)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jesus Christ</a>, and the New Testament tells the story of how he brought it about through his life, death, and resurrection (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+11%3A23-26&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/1co-11-25-new-covenant-in-my-blood&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 in the NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 11:23-26</a>).</p>
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<h2>Differences Between the Old and New Testaments</h2>
<p>We’ll say more about the overall story of the Bible, and how it relates to both Testaments, shortly. But first let’s look at some other important differences between the Testaments. One significant distinction is size. The Old Testament has more than twice as much material as the New and comprises 39 books in the Protestant Bible. Catholic Bibles include an additional 7 books, and Orthodox Bibles an additional 10 books, known as the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books. All three branches of Christianity, however, recognize the same 27 books of the New Testament as authoritative. <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#2"><sup><strong>2</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/why-are-protestant-catholic-and-orthodox-bibles-different/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Why Are Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles Different?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Why Are Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles Different?</em></a>]</p>
<p>The two Testaments were also written in different languages, over different spans of time, and are set in somewhat different geographical areas. The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew, with a few chapters in Aramaic, a language similar to Hebrew. The New Testament was written in Greek.</p>
<p>The Old Testament was written over a period of about 1,000 years, while the New Testament was composed in about 60 years.</p>
<p>A good deal of the narrative material in both Testaments is set in the land of Israel, but some parts of the Old Testament take place in other lands, such as Egypt, Babylonia, and Persia. In the New Testament, along with Israel, some events take place in various regions that were controlled at the time by the Roman Empire, including countries in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), and in the city of Rome itself.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/bible-mapper-maps-on-bible-gateway-an-interview-with-david-barrett/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Bible Mapper Maps on Bible Gateway: An Interview with David Barrett" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Bible Mapper Maps on Bible Gateway: An Interview with David Barrett</em></a>]</p>
<p>The overall organization of the material in the two Testaments is different as well. The 39 books of the Old Testament are divided into 5 major sections:</p>
<ul>
<li> The Law or the Pentateuch (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Genesis on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis</a>–<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Deuteronomy on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy</a>)</li>
<li> History Books (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Joshua on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua</a>–<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Esther on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Esther</a>)</li>
<li> Wisdom Books (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Job on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job</a>–<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Songs+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Song of Songs on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Song of Songs</a>)</li>
<li> Major Prophets (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Isaiah on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah</a>–<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Daniel on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daniel</a>)</li>
<li> Minor Prophets (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Hosea on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hosea</a>–<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Malachi on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Malachi</a>) <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#3"><sup><strong>3</strong></sup></a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/11/the-bible-table-of-contents/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Bible Table of Contents" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Bible Table of Contents</em></a>]</p>
<p>The 27 books of the New Testament, on the other hand, are divided into 4 sections:</p>
<ul>
<li> Gospels (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Matthew on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew</a>–<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John</a>)</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Acts on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Acts of the Apostles</a>
</li>
<li> Epistles (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Romans on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans</a>–<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Jude on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jude</a>)</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Revelation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/what-are-the-gospels-2/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Are the Gospels?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>What Are the Gospels?</em></a>]</p>
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<h2>The Story Told by the Old Testament and the New Testament</h2>
<p>Despite being divided into two parts and composed of 66 separate books, a single storyline runs throughout the entire Bible, creating a unified, cohesive plot—the redemption of humankind. One helpful way to think of this story is as a drama that takes place in 4 “Acts”:</p>
<ol>
<li> Creation</li>
<li> Fall</li>
<li> Redemption</li>
<li> Consummation.</li>
</ol>
<p>The Old Testament contains Act 1 and Act 2, <strong>Creation</strong> and <strong>Fall</strong>, but also predicts and looks forward to Acts 3 and 4. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=quest-study-bible/introduction-genesis&tab=study" title="Read the introduction to the book of Genesis in the NIV Quest Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Genesis</a>, the first book of the Old Testament, records God’s creation of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-1-adam-and-eve-abraham-jacob-joseph/#AdamandEve" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 1 (Adam and Eve, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Adam and Eve</a> in a beautiful Garden. Although they lived in a perfect environment and enjoyed direct fellowship with God, they chose to rebel against God by disobeying the only rule God had given them—not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/ge-1-1-2-25&tab=study" title="Read the reference notes for Genesis 1-2 in the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1-2</a>). God had warned them that if they ate it, they would die. As <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen+3&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.3&tab=study" title="Read the reference notes for Genesis 3 in The Bible Panorama on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 3</a> records, they did die by losing their spiritual connection with God, and would also eventually die physically as a result. This separation from God is known as the Fall. Thus, Genesis records the key events of Act 1 and Act 2—<strong>Creation</strong> and <strong>Fall</strong>.</p>
<p>Despite their rebellion, which was instigated by <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/eastons-bible-dictionary/Satan" title="Read the entry for Satan in Easton's Bible Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Satan</a> (the serpent), God put a plan into motion that would remove the barrier of sin that humans had erected, and make it possible for humanity to once again have unbroken fellowship with God. After explaining the consequences of their sin, God promised: “I will cause hostility between you [the serpent] and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A15&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-gen-3-15&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Genesis 3:15 in the NASB Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 3:15</a>). God thus foretold that a male descendant of Eve would one day destroy the devil’s work, and from our vantage point we can see that this was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, who brought <strong>redemption</strong> (Act 3).</p>
<p>The New Testament, therefore, unfolds the final two Acts of the Bible’s storyline. In an amazing series of events, God himself came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A14&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/jn-1-14&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for John 1:14 in the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1:14</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A9-10&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Rom.5.1-Rom.5.11&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Romans 5:9-10 in the ESV Reformation Study Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 5:9-10</a>). In this way, God redeemed humankind and made it possible for us to enjoy eternal life with him (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-john-3-16&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for John 3:16 in the NASB Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a>).</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/introduction-to-the-bible/" title="Read Bible Gateway Blog Articles That Introduce the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read Bible Gateway Blog Articles That Introduce the Bible</a>]</p>
<p>This brings us to the final act, <strong>Consummation</strong>. Because the entire creation was damaged by the Fall (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A14-19&resource_entry=niv-storyline/the-fall&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Genesis 3:14-19 in the NIV Storyline Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 3:14-19</a>), in the future God will create new heavens and a new earth. As described in the New Testament <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&resource_entry=quest-study-bible/introduction-revelation&tab=study" title="Read the introduction to the book of Revelation in the NIV Quest Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Revelation</a>, God “‘will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A4&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/rev-21-1-8&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Revelation 21:4 in the NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 21:4</a>).</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/our-daily-bread-university-videos-teach-you-the-bible-on-bible-gateway/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Our Daily Bread University Videos Teach You the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Our Daily Bread University Videos Teach You the Bible on Bible Gateway</em></a>]</p>
<p>Thus, the entire Bible tells the story of God’s rescue of humankind from the consequences of their rebellion. In the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Old-Testament&tab=study" title="Read the entry for the Old Testament in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Old Testament</a>, paradise is lost, and in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A19-20&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/New-Testament&tab=study" title="Read the entry for the New Testament in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Testament</a> it’s restored, and once and for all those who trust in God “will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A3&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-jesus-bible/forever&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for Revelation 21:3 in The Jesus Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 21:3</a>).</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]</p>
<p><a id="1"></a></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Notes<br>
1. Mark D. Taylor, <em>The Complete Book of Bible Basics</em> (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005), 312.</p>
<p><a id="2"></a><br>
2. Jewish people refer to the Old Testament as the Hebrew Bible, Hebrew Scriptures, or the Tanakh, and recognize the same 39 books as authoritative that Protestants do.</p>
<p><a id="3"></a><br>
3. The Hebrew Bible divides the material into 3 major sections instead of 5: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings.</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14105340/Christopher-Reese.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Christopher Reese" width="20%" /></a><strong>BIO:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" title="Visit the LinkedIn page of Christopher Reese" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Reese</a> (MDiv, ThM) (<a href="https://twitter.com/clreese" title="Christopher Reese Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@clreese</a>) is a writer and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://worldviewbulletin.substack.com/archive?utm_source=menu-dropdown" title="Visit The Worldview Bulletin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Worldview Bulletin</em></a>. He is a general editor of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dictionary-of-christianity-and-science-the-definitive-reference-for-the-intersection-of-christian-faith-and-contemporary-science?variant=13746105909359&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dictionary of Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2017) and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/three-views-on-christianity-and-science?variant=34292904001672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Three Views on Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Three Views on Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2021). His articles have appeared in <em>Christianity Today</em> and he writes and edits for Christian ministries and publishers.</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>Deepen your study of the Bible when you become a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it right now during a FREE trial period!</em></a>
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</blockquote>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/whats-the-difference-between-the-old-testament-and-the-new-testament/">What’s the Difference Between the Old Testament and the New Testament?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7024993
2022-07-27T04:53:30-12:00
2022-07-27T07:45:15-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Finding Good Answers
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-ninteenth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>There are two basic ways we <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/new-creation/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_newcreation" title="Study the Bible with confidence, clarity, and convenience. Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now!" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">get to know the word of God</a>. The first way is to come to Scripture with open minds and hearts and with an attitude of discovery. It’s when we read Scripture, trying to minimize our preconceived notions, letting the words of the biblical authors have their impact. It’s to let the word of God set the agenda, form the issues, shape the questions, determine the emphases.</p>
<p>This is when we read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the introduction video to the book of Exodus on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus</a> and see new things about God’s love and power we never saw before, or read some of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the introduction video to the book of Psalms on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalms</a> and get a fresh sense of the main heart issues that come through, or read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the introduction video to the book of 2 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians</a> and understand the angst out of which Paul approaches a church that has given him many headaches. Reading the Bible in this way is true discovery. It is a spiritual attitude that says: <em>God, my mind and heart are open. Say what you will, tear down what you will, build what you will.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/30102824/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Finger-Reading.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Mel Lawrenz explains how to properly search the Bible for answers to our important life-impacting questions." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-70299"></span></p>
<p>The other main way we study the word of God is when we come to it with our questions. Your friend wants to divorce her husband and you go Scripture to see what it says about grounds for divorce. Your church gives you the option of having your newborn baptized or waiting until he or she can express faith, and you wonder: what does Scripture actually say about baptism? Your country is about to go to war and you think that there must be a difference between just war and unjust war—but what does Scripture say about it?</p>
<p>Both approaches are valid, and both build us up in different ways. If we only use the first method we’ll miss opportunities to apply Scripture to life as a skilled surgeon uses a scalpel. But if we only come to Scripture with our questions (the second approach) we’ll never let God have the first word and we’ll miss the big ideas of Scripture that our questions would never anticipate.</p>
<p>There are thousands of reasons we go to Scripture with our questions looking for answers, even though building our belief system through the first approach is the best long-term way to build a superstructure of faith.</p>
<p>[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</em></a>]</p>
<p>So how do we (in the second approach) properly approach Scripture with our questions? There are proper methods and deeply flawed approaches. For instance, it’s a mistake to have a question and go to the Bible hunting and pecking for a verse that perhaps God will use to solve the dilemma. If you’re deciding whether to take that job in Cincinnati and you happen upon a passage where God tells someone to “go forth,” that’s not a biblical answer to your question.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>We can find good answers in Scripture when we ask questions like:</p>
<ul>
<li> What is the meaning of sin?</li>
<li> What principles should govern my personal finances?</li>
<li> What is the basis of a good marriage?</li>
<li> What should I be trying to do in worship?</li>
<li> Am I responsible for the mistakes of my kids or are they?</li>
<li> What is the work of the Holy Spirit?</li>
<li> What does it mean to be a believer living in a secular society?</li>
<li> How should I pray?</li>
<li> How can I forgive someone who is not asking for forgiveness?</li>
</ul>
<p>Any of these are fair questions to ask of Scripture. Some answers are easy to find, others take much work.</p>
<p>Oftentimes the questions we ask get reshaped as we go looking for the answers. We realize we have not been asking exactly the right thing.</p>
<p>For instance, one of our most common questions is: <em>How can I know the will of God for my life?</em> Using a concordance or an <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?search=will+of+God&version=NIV&searchtype=phrase&resultspp=50" title="See the search results for “will of God” on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">online or computer search function</a> we can go looking for the phrase “will of God.” What we find is that the idea of “the will of God” in the Bible virtually always relates to the moral quality of our lives. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+4%3A3&version=ESV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1175-God-will&tab=study" title="Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Thessalonians 4:3</a> is typical: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (ESV). This implies that we don’t need to go through every decision of every day wondering what “the will of God” is. “God’s will,” as Scripture uses the phrase, has nothing to do with deciding between a two-door or four-door car, or getting a family pet, or what classes you sign up for in college. In such matters there are good choices and bad choices, and so we ask God for wisdom, but our study of the idea of “the will of God” in Scripture reframes what we assumed the ideal meant. We change the question itself.</p>
<p>And so we have these two approaches: studying the Bible and taking it as it comes, and going searching for answers for the important questions we have. In both approaches we study Scripture as an act of obedience and submission.</p>
<p>[See previous – <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/how-to-live-the-bible-respecting-the-text/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — Respecting the Text" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Respecting the Text</em></a>]<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/how-to-live-the-bible-finding-good-answers/">How to Live the Bible — Finding Good Answers</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7023989
2022-07-25T23:00:00-12:00
2022-07-26T04:31:15-12:00
ESV Global Study Bible Now In Bible Gateway Plus
<p><a href="https://biblegateway.com/plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/30112005/ESV-Global-Study-Bible.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Join Bible Gateway Plus to have immediate 24-7 access to the ESV Global Study Bible and more than 50 other Bible reference resources" width="30%" /></a>Cultivate a globally minded vision of God’s activity across cultures and around the world with the <strong><em>ESV Global Study Bible</em></strong> (Crossway, 2018), one of the more than 50 essential Bible study reference resources conveniently available to members of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. Learn how you can <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">try it free right now</a>!</p>
<p>[Read the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">English Standard Version (ESV)</a> Bible translation on Bible Gateway]</p>
<p>You’ll benefit from 12,000 verse-by-verse study notes in the <em>ESV Global Study Bible</em> written to be highly accessible worldwide when you read Scripture in any Bible version using your <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong> membership. Each book begins with an introduction, followed by a unique, insightful description of the global message of the book. For example:</p>
<p><span id="more-69714"></span></p>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/25122936/ESV-Global-Study-Bible-Intro.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/25125416/ESV-Global-Study-Bible-Intro.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Join Bible Gateway Plus to have immediate 24-7 access to the ESV Global Study Bible and more than 50 other Bible reference resources" width="80%" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/25124638/ESV-Global-Study-Bible-Message-Large.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/25124638/ESV-Global-Study-Bible-Message-Large.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Join Bible Gateway Plus to have immediate 24-7 access to the ESV Global Study Bible and more than 50 other Bible reference resources" width="80%" /></a></p>
<p>Also, nearly 900 Bible facts are interspersed throughout the notes, including at the start of each book of the Bible. For example:</p>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/22084843/ESV-Global-Study-Bible-Facts-2.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/22084843/ESV-Global-Study-Bible-Facts-2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Join Bible Gateway Plus to have immediate 24-7 access to the ESV Global Study Bible and more than 50 other Bible reference resources" width="80%" /></a></p>
<p>This unique study Bible’s reference notes call attention to global themes found in each book of Scripture, highlighting cross-cultural ministry and providing a greater understanding of global Christianity.</p>
<p>While published with the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">English Standard Version (ESV)</a> Bible translation, the <em>ESV Global Study Bible</em> reference content applies equally to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/" title="Read the Bible in multiple languages and versions on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">any Bible version</a> you prefer on Bible Gateway.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/esv-global-study-bible-now-in-bible-gateway-plus/"><em>ESV Global Study Bible</em> Now In Bible Gateway Plus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7023470
2022-07-25T05:18:12-12:00
2022-07-26T04:31:15-12:00
Am I a Kingdom-Minded Leader?
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/27072417/Groeschel3_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Craig Groeschel says a kingdom-minded ministry is one whose leaders care more about what God is doing everywhere than what God is doing right here." width="33%" />By Craig Groeschel</strong></p>
<p><em>What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. </em>—Albert Pike</p>
<p>A while back, I bumped into an older lady who recognized me as the pastor of Life.Church. She explained that she was a member of another church in town. Although I didn’t know her pastor well, I said that I’d heard a lot of great things about him. She responded, “Wow! I can’t believe you’re speaking well of the competition.” Shocked, I explained that in no way did I view her church as a competitor. She shot back, “Well, your church is definitely <em>our</em> competition. We’re fighting to make sure we get as many members as we can before you and other churches get them all.”</p>
<p>God’s heart must break over that kind of attitude. Jesus said in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+11%3A17&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/lk-11-14-28&tab=study" title="Read Luke 11:17 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luke 11:17</a>, “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.” Seventeenth-century Puritan minister Richard Baxter echoed Jesus’ sentiment when he lamented, “Is it not enough that all the world is against us, but we must also be against one another? O happy days of persecution, which drove us together in love, whom the sunshine of liberty and prosperity crumbles into dust by our contentions!”</p>
<p><span id="more-70255"></span></p>
<p>The more possessive and competitive we are, the more divided we become. Virtually every ministry I’ve ever known that had <em>it</em> was not divisive. The leaders were kingdom minded.</p>
<p>What do I mean by kingdom minded?</p>
<p>A kingdom-minded ministry is one whose leaders care more about what God is doing everywhere than what God is doing right here. Kingdom-minded leaders know it’s not just about their own ministry. A kingdom-minded ministry is generous and eager to partner with others to get more done for the glory of God.</p>
<p>It’s hard to have <em>it</em> without desiring that other ministries succeed. When you have <em>it</em>, you know that it doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to God. He gives it. And since it is his and not yours, you’re grateful to have it and willing to share it.</p>
<p>Those who have <em>it</em> know it is not about them. It is not about their personal names. It is not about North Point, Elevation Church, Transformation Church, Gateway Church, Wesley United Methodist, First Baptist, First Presbyterian, First Christian, Calvary Chapel, Hope City, Redeemer Covenant, Fresh Life, Lord of Life Lutheran, Holy Ghost Temple of Righteous Praise, or whatever your church is called. <em>It</em> is not about <em>your</em> student ministry, <em>your</em> children’s ministry, <em>your</em> YouTube presence, <em>your</em> church app, <em>your</em> new logo or website. And <em>it</em> is certainly not about your name. <em>It</em> is about Jesus. There’s <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+4%3A12&resource_entry=niv-jesus-bible/acts-4-12&tab=study" title="Read Acts 4:12 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">no other name under heaven</a> by which we can be saved, and so no other name really matters. It’s all about him.</p>
<p>I learned this the hard way. There was one particular year in our church when we definitely didn’t have <em>it</em>. This happened to be the year our church didn’t grow. I think we didn’t grow because we had lost focus—<em>I</em> had lost focus—and <em>it</em> blurred, faded, and disappeared.</p>
<p>One weekend that year, I was driving between our two campuses to speak. Each time I made that trip, I passed several churches. By the looks of one’s empty parking lot, very few people were attending. With a combination of pride and pity, I prayed, <em>God, help this little church. I pray you would bless them and they’d reach a ton of new people</em>.</p>
<p>As I was praying, I felt like God asked me a question. <em>Craig, would you be excited if their growth exceeded yours?</em></p>
<p>My honest answer was no.</p>
<p>That’s hard to admit. No, I wouldn’t have been happy if this church outgrew ours. It wasn’t that I didn’t want them reaching people. I just wanted to reach more. No matter how you slice that apple, I was territorial, insecure, and self-centered. While I had a heart for God’s kingdom, my biggest desire was to build my kingdom, and God simply won’t bless that. He <em>shouldn’t</em>. I think that’s why we weren’t growing. If I were God, I wouldn’t have grown our church either.</p>
<p>Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “I am surrounded by priests who repeat incessantly that their kingdom is not of this world and yet they lay their hands on everything they can get.” Do you know any pastors like that? We say our church or ministry is not about us. But for many of us, “us” is all we can talk or think about. Not only is our kingdom not of this world but to build our kingdoms is surely one of the grossest sins. After I recognized my sinful attitude, my prayers changed. <em>God, make me more generous. Expand my heart for others. Make me a kingdom-minded leader</em>.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/lead-like-it-matters-7-leadership-principles-for-a-church-that-lasts-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39972270211208&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/25122909/Lead-Like-It-Matters-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Lead Like It Matters audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>As pastors and Christian leaders, we should be thrilled when other ministries succeed. You may think you are, but have you noticed how much easier it is to be pumped for those who are growing in <em>another</em> town? <em>Yeah, God! I’m thrilled their ministry in that other state is growing!</em> But if they’re in my town, it’s easy to feel threatened or competitive. <em>What? The church down the street is doing well? They must be preaching a feel-good message</em>.</p>
<p>That attitude is wrong.</p>
<p>It’s dangerous.</p>
<p>I’d go so far as to say that God won’t let a ministry keep <em>it</em> for long if they won’t give it away. Keeping it to yourself is a sure way to kill it. Ministries that don’t have much of it often work hard to guard what little of it they have. What’s funny about <em>it</em> is that the more you try to hoard it, the less of it you tend to have. The more you’re willing to give it away, the more of it God seems to give.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/lead-like-it-matters-7-leadership-principles-for-a-church-that-lasts?variant=39972280270984" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/25101042/LeadLikeItMatters_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Lead Like It Matters" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/lead-like-it-matters-7-leadership-principles-for-a-church-that-lasts?variant=39972280270984" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Lead Like IT Matters: 7 Leadership Principles for a Church That Lasts</em></a> by Craig Groeschel. <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/lead-like-it-matters-7-leadership-principles-for-a-church-that-lasts?variant=39972280270984" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/lead-like-it-matters-7-leadership-principles-for-a-church-that-lasts?variant=39972280270984" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Lead Like It Matters</em></a> is a completely revised and updated version of the book previously published as <em>It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It</em>.</p>
<p><strong>Discover the secret to igniting a life-giving, soul-transforming, people-inspiring movement in your organization, church, or ministry.</strong></p>
<p><em>New York Times</em> bestselling author Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, an innovative multisite church known around the world and an organization that Glassdoor has named a #1 U.S. Best Place to Work. But it didn’t happen by accident. In 1996, a handful of congregants worshipped together in a two-car garage. Today, the church welcomes tens of thousands of attendees in multiple states across the country and globally at Life.Church Online.</p>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/lead-like-it-matters-7-leadership-principles-for-a-church-that-lasts?variant=39972280270984" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Lead Like It Matters</em></a> presents Groeschel’s transformative insights on how to effectively build a thriving, enduring ministry and organization. Using his skills as a top leader, he combines straight-talk and wry honesty with biblical and leadership principles to equip you with the tools to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Recognize when your organization or ministry has the indefinable but tangible “it” that leads to success</li>
<li>Identify and implement seven leadership principles for a church that lasts</li>
<li>Ignite a fire in your team to leave behind “what we’ve always done” for the meaningful ministry you know is possible</li>
<li>Discover the three areas every leader must master for success</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/lead-like-it-matters-7-leadership-principles-for-a-church-that-lasts?variant=39972280270984" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Lead Like It Matters</em></a> reveals the secret for building ministry momentum and then keeping it going.</p>
<p><strong>Craig Groeschel</strong> is the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, one of the largest churches in the world and the creator of the free YouVersion Bible App. <em>The New York Times</em> bestselling author of fifteen books, Craig hosts the top-ranking Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast and speaks to hundreds of thousands of leaders around the world annually through the Global Leadership Network. Craig and his wife, Amy, live in Oklahoma. Connect with Craig at <a href="https://www.craiggroeschel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.craiggroeschel.com</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/am-i-a-kingdom-minded-leader/">Am I a Kingdom-Minded Leader?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7020313
2022-07-22T01:55:00-12:00
2022-07-22T05:30:24-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of July 17, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/weekly-brief-week-of-july-17-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of July 17, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7018841
2022-07-20T05:22:02-12:00
2022-07-22T05:30:25-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Respecting the Text
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-eighteenth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Every person wants to be respected. A mature person does not expect everyone to agree with him or her, or have the same temperament, or even the same beliefs. We want other people to respect us in the sense of understanding who we are, what our values are, and what our motivations are. There is only one way people will respect us in that way, and that is through listening and knowing.</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Paul-the-Apostle-1024x707.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Mel Lawrenz says, when studying a book of the Bible, we have to focus on the original meaning first, which has to do with the intent of that book's author." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-70154"></span></p>
<p>Any serious approach to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/new-creation/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_newcreation" title="Study the Bible with confidence, clarity, and convenience. Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now!" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible study</a> must be founded on this value: a respect for the Bible and the intent of its authors. This is not something we can assume, because any of us may pick up the Bible, turn to the section we’re reading, let the words bounce on the kindling of our minds like sparks, hoping that a nice little fire will start. This is the easy way, treating the words of Scripture almost like magic or like a secret code. But what Scripture offers is far more profound and life-changing. It’s based on the intended meaning of the human authors and of God.</p>
<p>The truth of the word of God has been passed on to us through the story and the teachings of God’s chosen spokespeople. Whether we’re looking at historical narratives, or wisdom teaching, or prophecy, or Gospels, or epistles, the words were written by people inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. These people were not merely keyboards. The prophets and apostles did not sit around until words popped into their heads and then they wrote them down. They had a true intent which was to deliver the urgent messages of the truth of God to their audiences. Directly. Clearly. Deeply.</p>
<p>So our study of the Bible all these centuries later includes a reverence for the Bible as the word of the living God which has been transmitted through the words (and the lives, experiences, and commitments) of the biblical authors.</p>
<p>So it works like this. You’re studying <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 1 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians</a>. You see in the opening words who wrote it, to whom he wrote it, and the occasion for him writing it. As you study along and come upon so many issues—marriage, divorce, morality, church leadership, spiritual gifts, social relationships—you continually ask yourself:</p>
<ul>
<li> “What did the apostle Paul mean by this?”</li>
<li> “Why did he raise that issue?”</li>
<li> “What are the believers in Corinth asking him?”</li>
<li> “What did he want to happen among them?”</li>
<li> “What did Paul intend for them to understand his words to mean for them?”</li>
</ul>
<p>Some of the answers come easily, right out of the text. Others require deeper study. But our attitude as Bible students throughout must first be “what did this author mean in writing these particular words to that particular audience at that particular time?” We do not first ask “what does this mean to me?” because, as has often been pointed out, the Bible can never mean what it never meant. In other words, we have to focus on the original meaning first. And that has to do with the intent of the author.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/introduction-to-1-corinthians&tab=study" title="Read the introduction to 1 Corinthians in the NIV Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians</a> the apostle Paul intended to correct serious problems in a Christian community situated in a very immoral culture.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Jeremiah on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah</a> the prophet was warning God’s people to return to faith and commitment to God.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Acts on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts</a> is the intentional work of a man named Luke to lay down an orderly account of what had happened after the ministry of Jesus, following on his “orderly account” of the life of Jesus in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Luke on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospel we call Luke</a>.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Psalms on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalms</a> are patterns for worship and prayer.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Proverbs on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs</a> is an intentional set of guidelines for living a wise life and avoiding foolishness in all its forms.</p>
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<p>And so it goes, biblical book by biblical book. Dozens of authors. Locations spread around the whole Mediterranean world and the empires of Mesopotamia. Audiences that included true believers, lapsed followers, and people disconnected from God.</p>
<p>It is a privilege of study this word. It does take work and awareness. It takes a careful, listening ear. But that’s where respect happens.</p>
<p>When we find out “what it meant” at the time it was written, then we can move on to “what it means” in terms of timeless principles. And then, and only then, can we ask, “how does it apply to our lives today”? If we respect the text by respecting both God and the authors of Scripture we’ll find substance and power, which a superficial reading of Scripture will never yield.</p>
<p>[See previous – <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/how-to-live-the-bible-the-many-voices-of-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — The Many Voices of the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Many Voices of the Bible</em></a>]<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/how-to-live-the-bible-respecting-the-text/">How to Live the Bible — Respecting the Text</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7017408
2022-07-18T02:51:53-12:00
2022-07-20T08:15:28-12:00
What Does the Bible Say About How to Love?
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/18103603/you-are-built-to-love-large.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Download this free PDF Bible study that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" width="45%" /></a></p>
<p>“What’s love got to do with it?” The answer to Tina Turner’s iconic question, from a Christian perspective, is “Just about everything.” Scripture tells us God is love (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+4%3A8&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/1jn-8-2&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 4:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 4:8</a>), that the first fruit of the Spirit is love (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A22&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/gal-5-22-23&tab=study" title="Read Galatians 5:22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 5:22</a>), and that among the things that will last forever into eternity, love is the greatest (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor.+13%3A13&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/1co-13-13&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 13:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13:13</a>).</p>
<p>Yet, we encounter a constant barrage of messages about love from the world around us that run counter to the biblical perspective. We can easily absorb these and believe love is mainly about our feelings. We can fail to grasp the true nature of God’s love he desires us to imitate, and wonder what this love really looks like in practice. We may subconsciously ponder whether a brother or sister in Christ actually deserves our love and thus fail to walk in the light of life (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+3%3A14&resource_entry=nkjv-study-bible/1jn-3-14&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 3:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 3:14</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+2%3A9-10&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/1jn-2-7-17&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 2:9-10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 2:9-10</a>).</p>
<p>If you’d like to grow in your understanding and practice of the love of God unfolded in Scripture, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Download this free PDF Bible study from Bible Gateway that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>sign up</strong></a> for our new 5-day Bible study on love titled <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Download this free PDF Bible study from Bible Gateway that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>You Are Built to Love</em></strong></a>. Each day of the study walks you through a key Bible passage on love, explaining its meaning and significance for your life. Each study concludes with a series of reflections to help you meditate on and apply the passage. Reading through these devotional studies you’ll learn:</p>
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<ul>
<li> The true meaning of the biblical term for God’s love—the Greek word <em>agapē</em>.</li>
<li> How to understand and apply Paul’s description of love in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor.+13&resource_entry=bible-panorama/1Cor.13&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13</a>.</li>
<li> What Jesus meant when he said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A34-35&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/jn-13-34-38&tab=study&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_newcreation" title="Read John 13:34-35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 13:34-35</a>).</li>
<li> The often-overlooked details of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A25-37&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/lk-10-25-37&tab=study" title="Read Luke 10:25-37 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 10:25-37</a>) and what they mean for us.</li>
<li> How love leads to abundant life and a life lived in the light.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/built-to-love/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_join_abundant" title="Download this free PDF Bible study from Bible Gateway that will help you understand the biblical and practical application of love" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Sign up now</strong></a> and receive <strong>immediate access</strong> to this life-changing study that will help you build an abundant life through love!</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/what-does-the-bible-say-about-how-to-love/">What Does the Bible Say About How to Love?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7016951
2022-07-18T01:37:23-12:00
2022-07-18T01:45:10-12:00
The NIV Teen Study Bible Helps Teenagers Discern Today’s Issues
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-teen-study-bible-comfort-print?variant=40425570730120&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/08093101/NIV-Teen-Study-Bible.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The included reference sections in the NIV Teen Study Bible helps teenage readers discern today's issues for their lives" width="25%" /></a></p>
<p>Full of study features that will help today’s teens learn more about God, the Bible, and how God’s Word relates to their lives, the <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-teen-study-bible-comfort-print?variant=40425570730120&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NIV Teen Study Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>NIV Teen Study Bible</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022) will help them keep in step with all God has done, is doing, and will do in the world.</p>
<p>The included reference sections in this Bible will help teenagers discover the eternal truths of God’s Word and apply them to the issues they face every day, including offering biblical advice about dealing with everything from friends, family, and school to problems like bullying and depression.</p>
<p>As teens navigate their hectic and sometimes stressful lives, this study Bible will help them to deepen and understand their faith while reassuring them that God is always with them and they are never alone.</p>
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<em>Sign up to <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">get the</a></strong></em><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Know the Bible <em>free email lesson series</em></a></strong><em> from Bible Gateway.</em>
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<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4EbpI2zMg4g" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<p>With over 4 million copies sold, the <em>NIV Teen Study Bible</em> continues to be a teen’s top resource for discovering the foundational truths of the Bible. Now available in Zondervan’s exclusive NIV Comfort Print® typeface for smooth reading, the <em>NIV Teen Study Bible</em> is as easy to read as it is to understand. Expertly designed specifically to be used for the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New International Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New International Version (NIV)</a> text, Comfort Print offers an easier reading experience that complements the most widely read modern-English Bible translation.</p>
<p><a href="https://preview.aer.io/9780310455875?social=1&retail=0&emailcap=0" title="Read a sample of the NIV Teen Study Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Read a sample of the <em>NIV Teen Study Bible</em></a>.</p>
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<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>Features of the <em>NIV Teen Study Bible</em>:</p>
<ul>
<li> Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New International Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New International Version (NIV)</a>
</li>
<li> “We Believe” features unpack the Apostles’ Creed to reveal the biblical foundation of faith</li>
<li> “Panorama” features keep the big picture of each book of the Bible in view</li>
<li> Topical indexes help with in-depth Bible study</li>
<li> Book introductions provide an overview for each book of the Bible</li>
<li> Important Bible verses to memorize</li>
<li> Q and A’s test your Bible knowledge</li>
<li> Profiles of people in the Bible</li>
<li> Information about the Apostles’ Creed</li>
<li> 8-page full-color map section</li>
<li> Biblical advice about friends, family, school, and other issues</li>
<li> Exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print typeface</li>
<li> 9.5-point print size</li>
</ul>
<p>The <a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/niv-teen-study-bible-comfort-print?variant=40425570730120&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NIV Teen Study Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>NIV Teen Study Bible</em></a> helps teens keep in step with all God has done, is doing, and will do in the world—and in their lives. This bestselling Bible will help readers discover the eternal truths of God’s Word and apply them to the issues they face today. Included reference sections are:</p>
<p><strong>We Believe</strong> — Throughout this Bible, an exciting feature called “We Believe” lays out the foundation of the Christian faith by explaining the Apostles’ Creed, statement by statement, linking each one to the Bible passage that supports it. This feature will help you remember what Christians around the world agree on and will equip you to handle the many questions you are asked and challenges you face regarding your faith.</p>
<p><strong>Panorama</strong> — To help keep the big picture of each book of the Bible in view, this feature reminds you of the main theme from each book of the Bible as you work your way through it.</p>
<p><strong>To the Point</strong> — Does the Bible say anything about the problems and issues you face every day? Yes! “To the Point” shows you where and explains a passage of Scripture in the process.</p>
<p><strong>Dear Jordan</strong> — Are you looking for advice? Jordan willingly gives it. The questions you ask most often are answered in this advice column. The answers are based on a biblical character or situation. The characters of the Bible lived thousands of years ago. The teachings were written down thousands of years ago. But guess what! They are still relevant for today. And “Dear Jordan” shows you how.</p>
<p><strong>Character Bio</strong> — Profiles of people in the Bible.</p>
<p><strong>Book Introductions</strong> — Provide an overview for each of the 66 books of the Bible and relates it to your life. Includes “headlines” that outline key events that happen, and a “news ticker” along the bottom that lets you know what was happening in the world when each book was written.</p>
<p><strong>Instant Access</strong> — You’ve probably already faced lots of hard situations in your life. And you’ve probably wondered at times, “What do I do?!” “Instant Access” covers almost every problem and situation you can think of. It does it directly and honestly, telling you what God has to say.</p>
<p><strong>Bible Promises</strong> — There are many great verses in the Bible. This feature highlights some of them for you.</p>
<p><strong>Q&A</strong> — If you like trivia, this feature is for you. Tests your knowledge of the Bible.</p>
<p><strong>Key Indexes</strong> — Help with in-depth Bible study. The Bible Truth Index is tied to the “We Believe” and “To the Point” features. The Teen Life Index is tied to the “Instant Access” and “Dear Jordan” features. And the “We Believe” index provides a guide for where each of these features can be found in your Bible. Also, there is a separate index showing where to find Bible character bios.</p>
<p><strong>What Do I Read Today?</strong> — If you’ve been wondering what to read in the Bible or where to start, there’s a reading plan in the back to get you going.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/03/praying-the-scriptures-for-your-teens-an-interview-with-jodie-berndt/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Praying the Scriptures for Your Teens: An Interview with Jodie Berndt" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Praying the Scriptures for Your Teens: An Interview with Jodie Berndt</em></a>]</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/the-niv-teen-study-bible-helps-teenagers-discern-todays-issues/">The <em>NIV Teen Study Bible</em> Helps Teenagers Discern Today’s Issues</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7015612
2022-07-15T01:55:00-12:00
2022-07-15T05:45:29-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of July 10, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/weekly-brief-week-of-july-10-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of July 10, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7013791
2022-07-12T23:55:00-12:00
2022-07-13T04:00:18-12:00
How to Live the Bible — The Many Voices of the Bible
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-seventeenth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Sometime today I will go to my mailbox, remove its contents, go into the house, and sort the mail. I will be able to tell from the size, packaging, and addresses on the mail which pieces are advertising, bills, and personal mail. This sorting into types helps me discern the value of the different pieces.</p>
<p>There is a large bookstore I frequently visit. I know just where to find histories and biographies, novels and picture books, technical manuals and reference works. Knowing the different genres and where to find them helps me gain what I am looking for.</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/06144114/How-to-Live-the-Bible-Man-Open-Bible.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Mel Lawrenz says if we don’t account for genres (different styles of writing) in the Bible, we'll misunderstand what we're reading." width="90%" /></p>
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<p>When I open the Bible, I know from having studied it for a long time whether I’m reading a <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/what-are-the-gospels-2/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Are the Gospels?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospel</a> passage, a prophecy, a <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Psalms on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm</a>, or an epistle. I do not expect <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Isaiah on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah</a> to lay out the details of the history of Israel as do the books of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of 1 Kings on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kings</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of 1 Chronicles on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chronicles</a>. I know when I’m studying a Psalm that the forms of a poem or song will help me understand the meaning. And when I read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of 1 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians</a> I know I’m listening to one side of a two-sided conversation.</p>
<p>One of the most powerful and complex features of the Bible is that it consists of many different types, or genres, of texts.</p>
<p>The major genres of Scripture include the following:</p>
<h3>1. <em>Narrative</em>
</h3>
<p>This includes books of the Bible or sections of books which simply tell the story of what happened. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Exodus on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus</a> is an expansive, epic narrative. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Ruth on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ruth</a> focusses on the story of one family. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Acts on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts</a> tells the spectacular events of the first generation of Christians, as they were led and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Narrative tells us what happened, according to the purposes of the author. Sometimes there are spiritual lessons from events, and sometimes we’re just gaining the context of the history of God’s people.</p>
<h3>2. <em>Poetry</em>
</h3>
<p>This is all of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Psalms on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalms</a> and sections of other books. The power of poetry comes through the use of vivid figurative language (“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+42%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-longing-for-god-42-1-5&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 42:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ps. 42:1</a>.) Also, ideas are repeated, sometimes with the same words, other times with synonyms (synonymous parallelism). The Psalms and other poetic sections of the Bible communicate ideas, but they especially express emotion. They show life in its fullness.</p>
<h3>3. <em>Wisdom</em>
</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Proverbs on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Job on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Ecclesiastes on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes</a> are collections of wise sayings meant to shape the moral and ethical lives of their readers. They cover many practical topics. The book of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of James on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James</a> in the New Testament in many ways is like Proverbs in the Old Testament.</p>
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<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<h3>4. <em>Prophecy</em>
</h3>
<p>The four major prophets (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Isaiah on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Jeremiah on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Ezekiel on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezekiel</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Daniel on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daniel</a>) and the 12 minor prophets (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Hosea on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hosea</a> through <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Malachi on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Malachi</a>) are all God’s word to his covenant people, warning them and bolstering them during periods of pronounced spiritual and national danger. They are mostly oracles, later written down. We gain spiritual lessons from them about the disposition of God (e.g., disappointed, indignant, sorrowful, tender, caring), and the condition of the people addressed (e.g., frightened, disobedient, humbled, arrogant). We must read Old Testament prophetic books as God’s challenge to the original audiences, and then we apply the lessons to our day.</p>
<h3>5. <em>Gospels</em>
</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the Gospel of Matthew on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the Gospel of Mark on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the Gospel of Luke on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the Gospel of John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John</a> are similar to the genres of narrative or biography, but they are more than these. The Gospels are proclamation. The people who wrote them were true believers relating first-hand accounts about the life and teachings of Jesus. And so we read the genre of Gospel as faith documents, announcing a world-changing event centered in the person of Jesus. Gospels include narrative, but also other specialized literary forms like parables which are unique stories that communicate lessons embedded in extended similes and metaphors.</p>
<h3>6. <em>Epistles</em>
</h3>
<p>The letters of the New Testament were communications to specific individuals or groups for specific and varied purposes. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">apostle Paul</a> meant <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Romans on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans</a> to be an overarching description of Christian faith, whereas <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of 1 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians</a> was occasioned by problems, including a list of questions they had for Paul (“now concerning the matters you wrote about,” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+7%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=bible-panorama/1Cor.7&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 7:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Cor. 7:1</a>), and the letters to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of 1 Timothy on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Timothy</a> were to encourage and guide a younger church leader in a challenging spot. Epistles are “occasioned” texts, and so we need to get at the circumstances that led to them being written.</p>
<h3>7. <em>Apocalypse</em>
</h3>
<p>The book of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Revelation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation</a> and parts of the book of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Daniel on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daniel</a> are revelations. Like other prophecies, they proclaim urgent messages to their original audiences, in particular, warning and comfort. To a greater degree than other prophetic books, they employ much symbolic language, which can be understood by studying preceding similar expressions in Scripture.</p>
<p>When we sit down to study the Bible we recognize what genre we’re looking at in order to gain a head start in getting at the meaning. If we don’t account for genre we’ll certainly misunderstand and misapply the truth of God’s word. Genres also show how God’s word is wide and varied and deep, and worthy of a lifetime of study.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/how-to-live-the-bible-the-many-voices-of-the-bible/">How to Live the Bible — The Many Voices of the Bible</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7013638
2022-07-12T22:33:00-12:00
2022-07-12T23:30:32-12:00
Safely Raising Fearless Kids in a Fearful World
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/05192741/AmyOlrick_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Amy Elizabeth Olrick tells the importance of parents helping their kids mitigate risk and safely venture out to explore their surroundings" width="33%" />By Amy Elizabeth Olrick</strong></p>
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<em>Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.</em> —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+22%3A6&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/iii-the-proverbs-of-solomon-10-1-22-16&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 22:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 22:6</a>
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<p>So many things in life are beyond our control and even beyond our imagination. I think about that whenever I read an article about a tragedy involving a child—an eight-year-old drowned in a pool, a toddler run over in his driveway, the college freshman dead after drinking too much one night, a son lost to suicide.</p>
<p>I want to reach out to those mothers and say—say what? Maybe something like, <em>This article doesn’t talk about how you used to cut up his grapes to make sure he wouldn’t choke. It doesn’t mention how you would stay up all night, cradling her close when she had those high fevers. Remember how you waited by the phone all night, ready to pick him up and bring him home, and the hours you spent praying and desperate, trying to find help? Your baby had a good mother. You are a good mother</em>.</p>
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<p>Protection to me has come to feel like trusting my instincts, doing the best I can, and hoping I am making the right calls. It means knowing that bad things can and will happen and trying not to let that knowledge paralyze me. I know my fears could keep me from letting my kids do the things they need to do to develop and grow.</p>
<p>When our oldest boys were about 10 and 12, we began to notice they didn’t roam. We’d recently moved to a sprawling Florida community that wasn’t as easy to navigate as the hometowns Jeffrey and I had lived in growing up or the Virginia city our boys had been comfortable in before our move. And because we hadn’t been there long, the kids weren’t sure how to find their new friends. But those factors didn’t fully explain their lack of exploration. Part of it was due to a shifting culture—most kids our boys knew weren’t venturing out either, so it didn’t feel natural to ours to set out on their own.</p>
<p>But when Jeffrey and I were young, our minds carried within them detailed maps of our communities. We knew where each of our friends lived, could make our way to school and back, and took frequent trips to local stores to run errands for our moms or pick out treats with some pocket money. I learned to steer clear of the mean man who yelled at me for picking flowers, and Jeffrey figured out an alternate route to avoid the neighborhood bullies parked at the end of his block. These were simply things we had to learn to navigate on our own.</p>
<p>Jeffrey was concerned that our boys’ lack of roaming could set them back in the long run. By not learning early that they could survive some external stress and experience success on miniventures out into the world, the larger explorations that loomed on their horizons, like driving a car, getting a first job, or going off to college, could seem more anxiety provoking than they needed to be. His long view of parenting says that by not exposing them to small, navigable dangers early, they would be more prone to paralysis later when they ran into bigger, more adult-size troubles. He wanted to make a plan to push the boys out the door.</p>
<p>I had to think that through for a bit. I didn’t mind having my kids right there with me at home, safe and close. I worried about the things that could happen to them if we pushed them to freely explore. But I forced myself to dig deeper, to look beyond my immediate fears, and to tune out a 24-hour news cycle confirming that there is always something terrible happening somewhere in the world.</p>
<p>The truth was that the crime rates in our community were the same or even lower than when I was a kid, so in theory our boys would be in no more risk than I had been. I also had to face my own potential shame and worry about what other parents would think of me. Would sending our boys out on their own, even occasionally with their youngest brother, be frowned upon? I took a deep breath, and we decided to find out.</p>
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<p>Jeffrey went online and pulled up a map of his childhood hometown. He marked out the streets of his youth, figuring out the distance in miles he used to wander when he was young. Next he looked at a map of our new community and measured out a similar distance. He found landmarks and places of interest within that area and took the boys on a bike ride, showing them a little park they could bike to, pointing out friends’ houses, and finding a strip mall with a pizza and sandwich shop where they could go to buy a snack.</p>
<p>Finally, he created a few scavenger hunts for them, telling them they had to stick together while hunting for a rare lizard in the green space of a neighborhood next to ours, finding a tucked away playground, and dropping something off for a friend. After they were comfortable with these initial forays out, I took over and started to enjoy the now-old-fashioned role of pushing them out the door. “Go, just go! Go to the pond, or go find someone to play with, but get outside!” Or, “Here’s five dollars—go with your brother to get a slice of pizza.” I also contributed by making sure they had a flip phone with them on their adventures, more to reassure myself than anything else.</p>
<p>Given my childhood experiences, it’s a little odd to even have to write all that out—<em>Jeffrey’s instructions for how to get your kids to leave the house</em>. But with fear on the rise, it seems increasingly important. Yes, there are dangerous things out there, and trust me, my mind went to all of them. Imagine scrolling news headlines running through my worry-filled brain: <em>Cars! Alligators! Strangers! Friends with parents with unsecured guns!</em></p>
<p>But instead of saying no, we taught the boys to watch out for cars and how to turn and signal with their bikes on our sidewalk-less streets. We taught them about stranger danger. We told them to turn and leave immediately if one of their friends started talking about a real gun.</p>
<p>Our calculations would have been different had we been raising brown or black boys in our mainly white, homogeneous Florida neighborhood. We likely would have made a different call. Ultimately, this was one of the reasons why we decided to move our children again when an unexpected opportunity arose for us to travel overseas. We wanted to give the boys the chance to get to know people whose life experiences were very different from their own. We know there is also danger, soul danger, in learning to believe that people who don’t look like you should be regarded with fear and suspicion.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-6-needs-of-every-child-empowering-parents-and-kids-through-the-science-of-connection-audiobook-unabridged?variant=34712616730760&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/06083132/The-6-Needs-of-Every-Child-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The 6 Needs of Every Child audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>But while we were in Florida, I chose to swallow my concerns and believe what Jeffrey told me—that the long-term consequences of teaching our kids that the world is so scary that you can’t leave the house are significant. Going out into the world is not risk-free for anyone, especially children.</p>
<p>But seeing our boys holed up on the sofa, perfectly safe but not wanting to go out and explore, was an indication to Jeffrey that they were in trouble. To let them go, it helped me to understand there was a risk to our boys’ long-term sense of confidence and security if they didn’t set out into their childhoods and make them their own.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-6-needs-of-every-child-empowering-parents-and-kids-through-the-science-of-connection?variant=31366536102024" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/05192823/6Needs_Cover2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The 6 Needs of Every Child" height="280" width="280" /></a>Taken from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-6-needs-of-every-child-empowering-parents-and-kids-through-the-science-of-connection?variant=31366536102024" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The 6 Needs of Every Child: Empowering Parents and Kids through the Science of Connection</em></a> by Amy Elizabeth Olrick and and Jeffrey Olrick Ph.D. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-6-needs-of-every-child-empowering-parents-and-kids-through-the-science-of-connection?variant=31366536102024" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Like most parents, Amy and Jeffrey Olrick left the hospital with their first child desperate to know, “What do we do?” But years of parenting three kids and Jeffrey’s work as a child psychologist convinced them to ask a better question: “How shall I be with this new person?”</p>
<p>In a culture obsessed with parenting formulas, it’s easy to miss the fact that science and lived experience have proven that human development and thriving are a matter of relationship. Drawing on decades of psychological research, neuroscience, and their own experience as parents and people of faith, the Olricks present six relational needs for human growth that will transform the way you think about your child—and yourself. Together, the needs form a trustworthy compass to guide you and your child to a path of purpose and relational wholeness.</p>
<p>For parents who feel pulled in a hundred directions, dizzied by the volume of clashing strategies, and jaded by the parenting programs that complicated their own childhoods, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-6-needs-of-every-child-empowering-parents-and-kids-through-the-science-of-connection?variant=31366536102024" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The 6 Needs of Every Child</em></a> is a groundbreaking roadmap integrating the science of connection with practical tools. You’ll be equipped with:</p>
<ul>
<li>An in-depth look at the six essentials your child needs to thrive</li>
<li>Tools to use when you feel stuck</li>
<li>The secret to secure connection with your child</li>
<li>Self-assessment tools to discern your unique parenting style</li>
</ul>
<p>More than a parenting guide, this book is your invitation to break free from the myth of perfect parenting and embrace your child’s long journey of growth. With insight, humor, and compassion, it calls parents to discover the power of being imperfectly present with their children, developing mental, emotional, and spiritual resilience that will sustain them for a lifetime.</p>
<p><strong>Amy Olrick</strong> is an author and a techie who has spent her professional life working with organizations to build social movements grounded in the ethic of love. Her work and writing have been featured in <em>The Guardian</em> and <em>USA Today</em>. She lives in New Zealand with her husband and their three children.</p>
<p><strong>Jeffrey Olrick, Ph.D.,</strong> is a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children and families. Dr. Olrick has over twenty years of experience working in a variety of settings, including the University of Virginia, residential treatment, the public school system, community mental health, and private practice. He lives in New Zealand with his wife and their three children.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/safely-raising-fearless-kids-in-a-fearful-world/">Safely Raising Fearless Kids in a Fearful World</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7012820
2022-07-11T22:50:00-12:00
2022-07-12T01:00:17-12:00
Biblical Lessons from the Book of Esther: An Interview with Lynn Cowell and Amy Carroll
<p></p><center><strong>InScribed is a collection of Bible studies that lead women to not just survive but thrive by encouraging them to immerse themselves in the Word of God.</strong></center>
<p><a href="https://faithgateway.com/products/esther-obedience-beyond-comfort?variant=39910134546568&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/24123811/9780310141044_1b0e96fa-3032-47f6-bfe3-f211186f07ed.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="25%" /></a></p>
<p>In this Q&A, Lynn Cowell (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LynnCowell" title="Visit Lynn Cowell's Facebook page" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@lynncowell</a>) and Amy Carroll (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/amydohmcarroll" title="Visit Amy Carroll's Facebook page" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@amydohmcarroll</a>) talk about their new Bible study book in the InScribed series, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/esther-obedience-beyond-comfort?variant=39910134546568" title="Buy your copy of Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World</em></a> (HarperChristian Resources, 2022).</p>
<p><strong>Why did you write a study on the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/i-title-content-canonical-placement-1&tab=study" title="Read the book of Esther on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Esther</a>?</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Lynn</em></strong>: It’s funny; this Esther Bible study came out of a pile of rejection letters! But that’s not really where the story began. The beginning took place several years ago in our everyday friend conversations. Amy began sharing a process she was learning and writing about: listen, feel, do, speak. It’s a process she began with the Lord when working through the uncertainties of her life. I think Amy thought it was an “Amy process” and I think I did too. But one day, while reading my Bible, I saw this process being played out in the life of one of the characters in my Bible. It was right there in the life of Esther. I couldn’t wait to tell Amy! The process God gave Amy he didn’t just give Amy. It’s a process his people have been going through all throughout the Bible. In fact, recently I was thrilled to find this process again, played out in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Corneliuss-Vision&tab=study" title="Read Acts 10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 10</a> in the story of Peter, Cornelius and the gospel being available to all people.</p>
<p><a href="https://lynncowell.com/about-lynn/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/07102550/Lynn-Cowell.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Lynn Cowell explains that the book of Esther tells how our world needs everyday people to be influencers & difference-makers by clinging to God when all is in turmoil." width="25%" /></a></p>
<p>Listen, feel, do, speak isn’t just an Amy thing. It’s an all of us thing; a practice we can develop as we learn new things about and with God as we face uncertainties.</p>
<p><span id="more-69609"></span></p>
<p><strong>Esther is one of two books in the Bible where God’s name is never mentioned (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Songs+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Song of Songs on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Song of Songs</a> is the other one). How might it have seemed he had vanished to the people in that book?</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://amycarroll.org/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/07102606/Amy-Carroll.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Amy Carroll explains that the book of Esther tells how our world needs everyday people to be influencers & difference-makers by clinging to God when all is in turmoil." width="25%" /></a></p>
<p><strong><em>Amy</em></strong>: Esther takes place following the Jewish exile from Israel. Some of the exiles had begun to return home to rebuild, but Esther’s community in Persia, under the rule of King Xerxes, hadn’t returned yet.</p>
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<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Esther on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Esther</a> doesn’t name God or reveal the motives of the people involved, but I wonder if they believed some untruths about God based on their circumstances. After all, they were human just like us (we forget that sometimes!).</p>
<p>We can begin to believe God has vanished when:</p>
<ul>
<li>The consequences of our sin catch up to us.</li>
<li>We’re removed from all that’s comfortable.</li>
<li>We can’t hear his voice or sense his presence.</li>
<li>Threats are coming from all directions, and there’s no rescue yet in sight.</li>
</ul>
<p>All of those circumstances that can be true in our lives had come to pass in the lives of Esther’s community, and they all add up to a mound of uncertainty. In uncertain times, it can seem that God has vanished.</p>
<p>The truth that we have to cling to during times of uncertainty is that God <em>is</em> there. Even when we can’t hear his voice or feel his presence, God says that he never leaves us. He never forsakes us (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+31%3A6&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4966-present&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 31:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deut. 31:6</a>). He was there in Persia when the king was threatening to annihilate the Jews, and he’s here with us. Our invisible God isn’t hiding. But sometimes he’s standing in our blind spot, beckoning us to watch for the effects of his hand.</p>
<p></p><blockquote></blockquote>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/24123342/Esther-1.jpeg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/24123342/Esther-1-1024x1024.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="1024" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p><strong>Esther didn’t have a choice when she was thrown into the commanded competition of the king, yet she did have a choice on whether or not to become a difference-maker. She was living in an environment that would have felt foreign: the king’s palace. What initial steps did Esther take to put herself in a place to become a difference-maker?</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Lynn</em></strong>: Esther became a listener. She consulted and listened to someone who knew what she needed to know.</p>
<p>Before her big night, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+2%3A13&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Esth.2.1-Esth.2.20&tab=study" title="Read Esther 2:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Esther 2:13</a> says each woman “was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.” So the wisdom each woman needed fell on <strong><em>her</em></strong>; a girl or young woman who had lived a maximum of one year in an environment completely foreign to the majority of them. Esther understood that she didn’t know what she needed to know.</p>
<p>She wisely chose to get close to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+2%3A3&resource_entry=niebc/hegai&tab=study" title="Read Esther 2:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hegai</a>, the keeper of the women in the palace. Her action in asking for advice said, “I don’t know what I need to know. You do. Teach me. Direct me. Guide me.”</p>
<p>It takes humility to admit “I don’t know what I need to know” and humility is the best place to begin if we hope to impact our world.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>What process did Esther go through that helped her to not only hang in there but to actually become a person of influence when her life was so uncertain?</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Amy</em></strong>: Esther went through this process: Listen → Feel → Do → Speak. As Lynn said, she listened to Hegai for wisdom. Then, instead of standing aloof or protecting herself, she felt the grief of her people as they faced destruction. Once her heart was connected to God’s in that grief, she couldn’t stand by and do nothing. At the risk of her own life, she stepped up to intervene with the king. Finally, she used her voice to change the fate of her people. She spoke up boldly at just the right time. Even though supernatural miracles are absent in her story, Esther’s obedience joined with God’s providence <em>was</em> the miracle!</p>
<p>These are the same steps we can take, and they’re amazing steps.
</p><ul>
<li> We listen to God and those around us.</li>
<li> We let pain point us to the problems that are on God’s heart.</li>
<li> Then we act, converting our time and resources into righteous doing.</li>
<li> Finally, we speak up for the people and issues on God’s heart. We’ve earned the right to do it through the steps we’ve taken, so our voices are powerful.</li>
</ul>
<p>These four steps shift us from uncertainty to influence in our world. Our world needs everyday people who cling to God even when everything is shaken. <em>These </em>are the influencers/difference-makers who are needed!</p>
<p></p><blockquote></blockquote>
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<p class=""></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><strong>What purpose might God have for allowing uncertainty in our lives?</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Lynn</em></strong>: God is our Good Shepherd and Faithful Father and he wants us to know him intimately as both. Uncertainties give us the opportunity for this relationship to go deeper in knowing him this way. When our plans fail or we can’t discern our next step, can can to the end of us so that this relationship of dependence can flourish in the best possible way. Uncertainty can cause us to be vulnerable; in the space where we experience God even when we can’t see him.</p>
<p>When I’m in the space of uncertainty, one of my favorite tools is to rehearse the faithfulness of God. I literally write out in my journal the times I remember when God came through for me, answering my prayers and even taking care of things for me before I even knew there was something to be concerned about.</p>
<p>I wonder if Esther could have employed this same practice of rehearsing the faithfulness of God. As a Hebrew, she would have grown up hearing the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+37&resource_entry=niebc/joseph-the-son-of-jacob&tab=study" title="Read the story of Joseph beginning with Genesis 37 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">story of Joseph</a>. In fact, her story mirrors his closely. Going through Joseph’s story, we see God was with Joseph at every turn. Possibly Esther used this story in her family’s history to fuel her own faith just as I do my stories of God’s faithfulness.</p>
<p><strong>How did Esther handle God’s seeming absence (silence and lack of miracles)?</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Amy</em></strong>: Esther didn’t tackle her circumstances by herself. Wisely, she drew her community close. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+4%3A15-16&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8410-decision-making-examples&tab=study" title="Read Esther 4:15-16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Esther 4:15-16</a> says, “Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+4%3A15-16&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8430-fasting-nature&tab=study" title="Read Bible verses about fasting in the Dictionary of Bible Themes on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fasting</a> is the way the community came together to seek God’s guidance and protection. It’s an often-overlooked weapon today, but it’s one we should revisit. When uncertainty strikes and the obstacles seem too steep to overcome, fasting in community is a powerful tool outlined in both the Old and New Testaments.</p>
<p>Why would we overlook such a gift? I’m realizing that my well-fed ways often leave spiritual starvation! Studying Esther has given me a renewed passion for adding fasting back into my own spiritual disciplines.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/24123404/Esther-2.jpeg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/24123404/Esther-2-1024x1024.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="1024" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p><strong>How do we prepare ahead of time for periods of God’s silence?</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>Lynn</strong></em>: I know for me, when I feel like God is silent, I can be caught off guard; like I didn’t know it was coming. Yet if we read our Bibles, we can know that silence <em>is</em> coming. From accounts in the Bible, we can see God’s silence at times is normal. The Israelites, God’s people, between the Old Testament and New Testament times experienced hundreds of years of silence. God had given his Word, but he wasn’t saying anything new. Jesus, as he hung on the cross, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A46&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Dies-Wounded-but-Trusting-His&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 27:46 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">experienced God’s silence</a>. Today, those in prison for their faith or the mom dropping in exhaustion into bed may all experience what feels like God’s silence.</p>
<p>I believe this is one reason God has, in his wisdom, given us the directive to hide his word in our hearts in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A11&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1690-word-God&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 119:11</a>, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Maybe the sin the writer is referring to is the sin of giving up believing when God’s not speaking. Having his word hidden in our heart can be the words we need to hear when it feels as though God is silent. Like when my father was dying. God’s word had already told me, “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1%3A5&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/a-gods-charge-to-joshua-1-1-18&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 1:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">I will never leave you or forsake you</a>.” Even though my heart was broken, I could count on his truth.</p>
<p></p><blockquote></blockquote>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><strong>There are some passages in Esther that have caused a lot of theological dispute. Tell us about one of those.</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Amy</em></strong>: It was amazing to me to reread Esther for the first time in a long time. When you read it like it’s new, it’s a very gritty book, full of imperfect people and dubious motivations. In fact, many of the early church fathers didn’t like the book of Esther because of its sex and violence. Martin Luther famously said, “I am so great an enemy to the second book of the Maccabees, and to Esther, that I wish they had not come to us at all, for they have too many heathen unnaturalities.”</p>
<p>In our modern times, we’ve absorbed a sanitized version of Esther. Her story has been washed in spiritual Clorox by Hollywood, animations, and those who refer to it as a “beauty contest.”</p>
<p>Lynn and I really dug in, studying the text itself and what many respected commentators had to say. Myriads of controversies swirling around the character’s motives and actions. I was fascinated that Vashti’s motivation in refusing to come during the banquet was one that reputable commentators disagreed on. I share my own opinion in the study. (Spoiler alert: I’m on Queen Vashti’s side!)</p>
<p>Lynn and I concluded that it’s immensely unhealthy to sanitize Scripture, and doing so says more about our desires than God’s truth. When we push past the messiness of humanity in Scripture, we may come away with what we <em>want</em> but miss what we truly <em>need</em>.</p>
<p><strong>How can uncertainty counter-intuitively become a superpower when we’re studying our Bibles?</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Lynn</em></strong>: I think many of us have been taught to never question God, but I think that if we read our Bible, asking questions as we go, it can empower us to dig below the surface. If we read, looking for things that appear odd, out of place, or even out of the question, we can then begin to look for the hand of God even where his name is not mentioned or his hand is not overtly obvious, as it is in the book of Esther.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Amy</em></strong>: I use Bible Gateway almost everyday. It’s so easy to use for word searches, and I love the extra resources when I’m researching. My favorite use is comparing different translations of the same verse. Reading a passage in fresh language often helps me see it in a whole new way. Bible Gateway is one of my favorite resources for Bible study!</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide">
<p><strong>BIO:</strong> Lynn Cowell is a part of the Proverbs 31 Ministries speaking team, speaking to pre-teens, teens, multi-generational and women’s conferences and retreats on a regular basis. In addition to speaking on the national level, Lynn reaches many through her writing as an author of three books, blogger, and devotion writer. As a regular contributor for the Proverbs 31 Ministries’ daily devotions, Encouragement for Today, her devotions reach an audience of over 800,000 subscribers. She has been a regular contributor for The Whatever Girls and The Mom Initiative. Lynn and her husband, Greg, of 30 years, are the parents of three young adults and reside in North Carolina.</p>
<p>Amy Carroll is a speaker and writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries and the author of <em>Exhale</em> and <em>Breaking Up with Perfect</em>. She’s a woman who loves great stories and challenging ideas, so co-hosting the Grit ‘n’ Grace podcast has also become one of her favorite things.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/biblical-lessons-from-the-book-of-esther-an-interview-with-lynn-cowell-and-amy-carroll/">Biblical Lessons from the Book of Esther: An Interview with Lynn Cowell and Amy Carroll</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7010554
2022-07-08T01:55:00-12:00
2022-07-08T06:45:01-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of July 3, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/weekly-brief-week-of-july-3-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of July 3, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7008961
2022-07-06T05:30:21-12:00
2022-07-06T09:30:10-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Finding Faith with the Facts
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-sixteenth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>When we read Scripture are we trying to understand facts or seeking to have faith?</p>
<p>One can approach Bible study as a search for facts. Who wrote this passage? Where was the author writing from, and to whom, and for what purpose? When was this written? What is the exact meaning of the language used?</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/27074355/HowToLiveTheBibleManReadingBible.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Mel Lawrenz says we can and must read Scripture on a factual basis of objective reality, but with the aim to know God better, which is the aim of faith." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-69878"></span></p>
<p>We look at history, geography, culture, and language. We need to do this because the only way to thoroughly understand the texts of the Bible is to pay careful attention to the content and circumstances of the texts. Here is where curiosity goes a long way. If we think of history, geography, culture, and language as meaningful and interesting, our curiosity will draw us in to the gold in the goldmine.</p>
<p>This is a matter of respect. When I get a letter in the mail I first of all look at the return address to see who wrote to me. I can look at the date it was posted and, by the postmark, see where it was mailed from. Then I open the letter and read the contents. If it’s a handwritten letter from my mother I’ll read it carefully and respectfully. If it’s a bill, I’ll read it carefully as well (but with less enthusiasm).</p>
<p>I do not go to the mailbox, open a letter, and just start reading the words, wondering how the words will impress me, or if they’ll make me happy. We must not read Scripture that way either. We read it respecting the author and the context. We use the rules that apply to the use of ordinary language because God’s word comes to us in the diverse and amazing forms of poems and songs, oracles and proverbs, simile and metaphor, Gospels and epistles, etc. We read Scripture naturally.</p>
<p>We read a passage <em>in context</em> because that’s the way we see its meaning. In the same way that we hope people will take the words we use in speech or writing in context so they’ll truly understand our meaning, we read the biblical authors in context in order to get the true meaning. This is to respect them.</p>
<p>And it is to respect God.</p>
<p>That’s the other side of the equation. We read Scripture seeking to understand the facts, but we do not need to stop there. We read Scripture with faith. Many people, of course, are not interested in a faith journey. They’re only looking at the facts. Not everyone who studies the Bible believes he or she is listening for the voice of God, and that makes all the difference in the world. It’s possible to study the Bible as a purely academic exercise, and obviously many people do. In their view the texts in the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek portions of the Bible are no different than any other ancient texts. (Although many have started to read the Bible with no faith, and have been startled by the light of truth that awakened them to the reality of God.)</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>In my book, <em>How to Study the Bible: A Practical Guide</em>, we’re assuming that we’re reading the Bible with faith, not just as informational reading. We can and must read Scripture on a factual basis of objective reality, but with the aim to know God better, which is the aim of faith.</p>
<p>Anselm of Canterbury (c. 1033-1109) said: “I believe in order that I may understand” (<em>Credo ut intelligam</em>.). The principle is otherwise known as “faith seeking understanding,” as it was expressed by Augustine of Hippo in the 4th century.</p>
<p>These leading thinkers and many others have said it is when our lives are connected with our Creator, when our minds and hearts are awakened to his power and presence, when we are “believers,” that we will begin to understand the way things really are.</p>
<p>Knowing the Bible is not the ultimate objective. Knowing God is. Really knowing God. And knowing God via the revelation God has given of himself, not our imaginary constructs. Studying Scripture in this way is about both facts and faith.</p>
<p>One last point here. Skeptics will say that taking a faith approach to the Bible contradicts a factual approach. That one either examines the Bible with all the tools of literary analysis and cultural criticism, or takes a religious perspective. That is not true. We can study the Bible in detail with all the reasonable tools of analysis of language and history, come to the conclusion that we believe what it says, and then continue to take both approaches for the rest of our lives. To say that we believe Jesus really did rise from the dead, a supernatural event, does not mean we cease to examine the text of Scripture with the canons of deductive logic. Approaching Scripture as a matter of faith and faith gives us the advantage of discovering true, objective meaning, and deepening our relationship with God.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/how-to-live-the-bible-finding-faith-with-the-facts/">How to Live the Bible — Finding Faith with the Facts</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7008530
2022-07-05T22:29:00-12:00
2022-07-06T00:30:06-12:00
How to Make a 5-Minute Plan for Any Emergency
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/05084558/KathiLipp_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Kathi Lipp tells how predeciding what you’ll do in an emergency will give you the confidence you need to continue getting ready for anything." width="33%" />By Kathi Lipp</strong></p>
<p><em>The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty</em>. —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+22%3A3&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5922-prudence&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 22:3 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Proverbs 22:3</a></p>
<p>When is the worst time to decide what to do in an emergency?</p>
<p>When the emergency hits.</p>
<p>As someone who watches all kinds of “emergency” shows on TV—<em>ER</em>, <em>Chicago Med</em>, <em>Hill Street Blues</em>, <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em>, <em>M*A*S*H</em>—I always thought that when something bad happened, I would get my hero on and do the right thing. I had the secret thought that if my kid were pinned under a car, I’d be able to lift a Toyota Sienna minivan to get her out from underneath.</p>
<p>But as my husband, Roger, and I learned through firsthand experience, most of us temporarily lose our minds in the midst of a crisis. Our emotions make us stupid. And that is why the concept of <em>predeciding</em> is so vital.</p>
<p><span id="more-69809"></span></p>
<p>Predeciding is when you make a decision before you get into the thick of a situation. It can be as simple as making a menu plan for the rest of the week so you don’t get to 5:30 each night and have to figure out what in the world you are going to make for dinner. Or it can be as hard as deciding that the next time I see Aunt June and she mentions how much weight I’ve gained—because she lives for that kind of thing—I’m going to say, “So good to see you,” and then give my husband the preagreed-upon signal to get me out of there.</p>
<p>Predeciding takes most of the emotion out of decisions because we are not in the midst of the situation. We can use logic and wisdom instead of adrenaline and anxiety. And that will make our decisions—for us and our family—so much better, healthier, and wiser.</p>
<p>One of the biggest benefits of predeciding is giving ourselves and our loved ones the confidence that if something scary happens, we have a plan.</p>
<p>Throughout the Bible we see God honoring those who made decisions before they were ever tested who remained faithful to their plans.</p>
<p>Here are some examples:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Ruth on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">RUTH 1</a>: When Ruth decides to stay with Naomi, even though her husband has died and Naomi has nothing to offer Ruth.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+3&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Dan.3&tab=study" title="Read Daniel 3 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DANIEL 3</a>: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to bow down to the king’s image and were thrown into the fiery furnace but were preserved from harm.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+4&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Esth.4&tab=study" title="Read Esther 4 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ESTHER 4</a>: When Queen Esther went before the king and made an appeal for the lives of the Jewish people, she declared, “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+4%3A16&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Esth.4.5-Esth.4.17&tab=study" title="Read Esther 4:16 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">v. 16</a>).</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Looking-Jesus-Mary-Martha&tab=study" title="Read Luke 10 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LUKE 10</a>: Mary choosing to sit at Jesus’s feet even though she was receiving pressure from Martha to get up and help with the preparations.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Phil.4&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PHILIPPIANS 4</a>: Paul’s decision to focus on God, and not his circumstances, while in prison awaiting trial.</li>
</ul>
<p>These are just a few of the circumstances where God empowered people to set a course and follow it, despite hardship and temptations to choose a different route.</p>
<p>Making a decision about how you will act before a crisis comes will save you pain and heartache in everything from parenting to budgeting to handling an emergency. For example, how will you act when your kid comes home with a D? How will you pay for a new transmission when your car dies? How will you get your 90-pound German shepherd to the vet if it gets injured?</p>
<p>Most of prep involves some form of predeciding, but for no other prep is it more important than this one: what you do in the first five minutes of a crisis.</p>
<p>Think through what you would do in the first five minutes after your most likely emergency, and then discuss it with the people you live with. For us, the two most likely emergencies are job loss and earthquake (because we live in California). If Roger came home and told me he had been laid off, my reaction, before coming up with a five-minute plan, would have been to cry and panic. (My dad was unemployed much of my childhood, and my first husband went through extended times of unemployment, so job loss is a tender spot in my life.) Crying and panicking would only have added insult to injury for Roger, I’m sure. In an earthquake, my reaction before coming up with my five-minute plan would have been to call all my kids to see if they were okay. Some of my kids work as teachers and emergency responders, so that would have been a complete waste of time because they have to protect the people they are charged with caring for, not answer panicked calls from their mommy.</p>
<p>Now, because my husband and I have developed our five-minute plans, our responses have a higher likelihood of being planned, not panicked.</p>
<p>Our five-minute plan following a job loss:</p>
<ol>
<li>Sit down and pray together.</li>
<li>ROGER: Start the process of liquidating some of our emergency fund for the next couple of months.</li>
<li>KATHI: Cancel optional services to save money.</li>
</ol>
<p>Are those emergencies in this situation? Not necessarily. What I love is that we have actionable plans. We have some things to do instead of worrying. We can start to take control of the situation immediately and feel empowered to help our situation.</p>
<p>Our five-minute plan following an earthquake (conditions allowing):</p>
<ol>
<li>ROGER: Grab car keys and gas up both cars and buy extra propane from the gas station around the corner.</li>
<li>KATHI: Fill bathtub with water. Check on pets (get cat inside if she’s outside). Check on our older neighbor to see if she’s okay.</li>
</ol>
<p>If you have kids, make sure they have a plan for the first five minutes as well. It’s easy for kids to become overwhelmed and fearful in an emergency situation, feeling helpless and unsure. But if your kids have a job to do, they can be focused and contribute to the rest of the family.</p>
<p>If your kids are at school or with a childcare worker, they are probably safest where they are for the moment. Their job is to listen to their adult in charge and help as much as they can. If your kids are at home, having a list of jobs they can do to help the family will empower them.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/ready-for-anything-preparing-your-heart-and-home-for-any-crisis-big-or-small-audiobook-unabridged?variant=34712340627592&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/05144650/Ready-for-Anything-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Ready for Anything audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>Things kids can do right after an emergency (depending on age and capability):</p>
<ol>
<li>Count all the money in the family coin jar to see how much you have. Those coin jars can add up!</li>
<li>Fill buckets with water.</li>
<li>Take an inventory of food and water.</li>
<li>Make sure all phones, tablets, and computers are charging if you still have electricity.</li>
<li>Check on neighbors.</li>
<li>Make a meal (even if it’s peanut butter and jelly sandwiches) while Mom and Dad take care of business.</li>
<li>Put fresh batteries in flashlights.</li>
<li>Find paper plates, cups, and plasticware.</li>
</ol>
<p>Decide now what you will do in the first five minutes after a crisis hits. It’s one of the most powerful things you can do now to take care of yourself and your family later.</p>
<h2>Your Plan</h2>
<p>Write down your agenda for a family meeting in a notebook and schedule it on the calendar; include everyone who will have a role in the first five minutes after an emergency. Don’t forget to set a deadline to finish writing your five-minute plan.</p>
<p>A big part of reducing anxiety is having a plan. Predeciding what you’ll do in an emergency will give your family the confidence they need to continue getting ready for anything.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/ready-for-anything-preparing-your-heart-and-home-for-any-crisis-big-or-small?variant=31316129579144" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/05084638/ReadyForAnything_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Ready for Anything" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/ready-for-anything-preparing-your-heart-and-home-for-any-crisis-big-or-small?variant=31316129579144" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Ready for Anything: Preparing Your Heart and Home for Any Crisis Big or Small</em></a> by Kathi Lipp. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/ready-for-anything-preparing-your-heart-and-home-for-any-crisis-big-or-small?variant=31316129579144" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>There are those who’ve prepared, and those who wish they had. Let <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/ready-for-anything-preparing-your-heart-and-home-for-any-crisis-big-or-small?variant=31316129579144" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Ready for Anything</em></a> be your go-to guide for facing any unexpected crisis with confidence.</p>
<p>Bad stuff happens all the time—big stuff like hurricanes, wildfires, or national emergencies, and smaller-scale yet no less devastating disasters like a sudden health scare, job loss, or a computer crash. But this doesn’t mean we have to live in constant fear.</p>
<p>Whether you’re in the midst of difficulty right now or being proactive rather than reactiv<em>e, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/ready-for-anything-preparing-your-heart-and-home-for-any-crisis-big-or-small?variant=31316129579144" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ready for Anything</a></em> gives finite simple steps for preparing your mind, your heart, and your home for any unfortunate circumstance. Full of stories and humor along with facts, tips, and lists, Kathi offers a down-to-earth guide that will show you how to face the unexpected with confidence, relying on God’s strength and plan rather than giving in to our fear and anxiety. Her step-by-step plan is easy to implement and will help any Christian be a better steward of their resources, as well as the neighbor who helps in a crisis rather than needing help themselves.</p>
<p>For anyone who falls somewhere between “I’ll just trust God” and stocking a ten-year supply of canned pinto beans in the pantry, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/ready-for-anything-preparing-your-heart-and-home-for-any-crisis-big-or-small?variant=31316129579144" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Ready for Anything</em></a> will show you:</p>
<ul>
<li>How to prep your pantry for two weeks of meals, plus recipes</li>
<li>Essential tips for creating an emergency kit and stocking your supplies</li>
<li>Practical strategies for taking stock of your financials and building an emergency fund</li>
<li>How to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually prepare and parent your kids in any crisis</li>
<li>How to create a five-minute plan and why you need it</li>
<li>Indispensable tips for safeguarding your physical and digital valuables</li>
<li>And so much more!</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Kathi Lipp</strong> is a national speaker, podcast host of the Clutter Free Academy, and the bestselling author of <em>The Husband Project</em>, <em>Clutter Free</em> and <em>Overwhelmed</em>. She and her husband, Roger, live in San Jose, California and are parents of four young adults. Using humor and wisdom, Kathi offers hope paired with practical steps to women looking to live with meaning. You can follow Kathi at <a href="https://www.kathilipp.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.KathiLipp.com</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/how-to-make-a-5-minute-plan-for-any-emergency/">How to Make a 5-Minute Plan for Any Emergency</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7007773
2022-07-05T00:25:37-12:00
2022-07-05T01:45:21-12:00
Why Did Jesus Speak In Parables?
<p><a href="https://albertmohler.com/about" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/05141925/Albert-Mohler.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. explains why Jesus used parables to teach about the kingdom of heaven to his listeners." width="27%" /></a><strong>By Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr.</strong></p>
<p></p><center>With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4%3A33-34&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/4-the-parables-4-33-34&tab=study" title="Read Mark 4:33–34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 4:33–34</a>
</center>
<p></p><center>This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A13&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Parables-Secret-Kingdom&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 13:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 13:13</a>
</center>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-1-jesus-mary-john-the-baptist/#Jesus" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 1 (Jesus, Mary, John the Baptist)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jesus</a> drew large crowds as he taught and preached. Both <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Matthew on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Mark on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark</a> tell us that Jesus spoke <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A34&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Parable&tab=study" title="Read the entry about parables in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a parable</a> nearly every time he taught. This makes perfect sense to us now. We are so familiar with the New Testament parables that we take for granted that at any given moment in Jesus’ teaching ministry, he was likely to offer a parable to make a point or deliver a message.</p>
<p><span id="more-69727"></span></p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/tell-me-the-stories-of-jesus-the-explosive-power-of-jesus-parables?variant=39813658968200&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/30133558/Tell-Me-the-Stories-of-Jesus.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Tell Me the Stories of Jesus: The Explosive Power of Jesus’ Parables in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/08/how-grace-and-truth-are-central-themes-throughout-the-bible-an-interview-with-dr-al-mohler/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How Grace and Truth Are Central Themes Throughout the Bible: An Interview with Dr. Al Mohler" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How Grace and Truth Are Central Themes Throughout the Bible: An Interview with Dr. Al Mohler</em></a>]</p>
<p>But at the time, Jesus’ use of parables confused and surprised his own disciples. One of the great gifts of the New Testament is how we can hear the disciples ask Jesus questions, and we can hear Jesus respond. The disciples, puzzled by Jesus’ parables and wishing he would speak more straightforwardly, came right out and asked Jesus, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A10&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Matt.13.1-Matt.13.23&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 13:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt. 13:10</a>).</p>
<p>The context of the disciples’ question is vital. Jesus had just shared with the crowd the parable of the sower. The preceding chapter (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.12&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt. 12</a>) describes a growing excitement in Galilee. Crowds were building, drawn both to the presence of Jesus and to the prospect of conflict. The Pharisees had recently confronted Jesus and his disciples in a wheat field on a Sabbath day, charging them with violating the Sabbath by picking grain. Jesus declared himself to be <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A1-8&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-11-1-Matt-12-21&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 12:1-8 and watch the accompanying LUMO video on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lord of the Sabbath</a> and pointed out that God had created the Sabbath for man, not man for the Sabbath. This infuriated the Pharisees further, and ever since then they had been doing their best to box Jesus into a corner and show their authority over him.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>The conflict escalated until the Pharisees confronted Jesus in a synagogue on another Sabbath day, where they presented a man with a withered hand to Jesus and asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A10&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Healing-Vindicates-Jesus-on-Sabbath&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 12:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt. 12:10</a>). This question was both a challenge and a trap. Their intention was to put Jesus in a lose-lose situation. Jesus could either refuse to heal the man (striking a blow to Jesus’ popularity and credibility) or he could heal the man (thus breaking the Sabbath according to the Pharisees’ logic). Of course, Jesus turned the tables once again on the Pharisees, pointing out that they would have the common sense to understand that an animal in trouble should be rescued on the Sabbath day—and they could all agree that God considers human beings of infinitely greater value than animals. Then he simply did what only the Son of God could do: he healed the man’s hand.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/tell-me-the-stories-of-jesus-the-explosive-power-of-jesus-parables-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39813661098120&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/30133558/Tell-Me-the-Stories-of-Jesus.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Tell Me the Stories of Jesus audiobook in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="18%" /></a></p>
<p>On that crucial Sabbath day, right in the synagogue in front of the gathered crowd, Jesus’ shrewd response to the Pharisees’ challenge had revealed them to be uncaring legalists who did not understand the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A33&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Kingdom-God-Kingdom-Heaven&tab=study" title="Read about the kingdom of God in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">kingdom of God</a>. Furthermore, by restoring the man’s withered hand, he revealed himself to be the Son of God.</p>
<p>The Pharisees’ response was swift—and would eventually prove deadly. As Matthew tells us, they “went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A14&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/e-dual-responses-to-jesus-proclamation-of-the-kingdom-11-2-12-50&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 12:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 14</a>). But on that day, Jesus continued performing signs and miracles that pointed inescapably to his identity as both the Messiah and the Son of God. No one else could do such things.</p>
<p>Predictably, the crowd kept growing—and growing and growing. By the time <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.13&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">chapter 13</a> opens, Jesus had gone out of the house to the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A12-22&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="See the Bible Mapper map of the Sea of Galilee on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sea of Galilee</a>, where the crowd had grown so large that he had to get into a boat to create enough distance to be able to speak to everyone. The eager listeners pressed to the shoreline to hear Jesus teach from the boat, and this is when he told them the parable of the sower.</p>
<p>That sets the stage for the disciples asking Jesus, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” The context helps us see that the disciples expected Jesus to speak more directly about himself. They hoped he would publicly claim his Messianic identity and speak openly about his divine nature and mission. But, as we read in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospel of John</a>, Jesus knew that his “hour had not yet come” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+7%3A30&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/2-midst-feast-debate-7-11-36&tab=study" title="Read John 7:30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">7:30</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A20&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Conflict-Intensifies-Feast&tab=study" title="Read John 8:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">8:20</a>). The disciples knew who Jesus was, and the confrontations with the Pharisees and the series of healings and miracles made obvious Jesus’ divine nature and power. But when Jesus sat in the boat and spoke to the vast crowd, he told them a story. A parable. No wonder the disciples were puzzled. It hardly seemed like the right time for a parable, and a parable about a farmer at that!</p>
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<p>When the disciples asked Jesus why he spoke in parables, they were asking more than they knew—and Jesus’ answer gave them far more than they expected: “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A11-13&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Parables-Secret-Kingdom&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 13:11–13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt. 13:11–13</a>).</p>
<p>Jesus told them that, in an incredibly important sense, the world is divided into two groups: those who hear and understand the parables, and those who hear but do not understand. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Mark on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospel of Mark</a> underlines this divide when Jesus said to the disciples, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything is in parables” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4%3A11&version=NIV&resource_entry=ransom-for-many/Chapter-5-Wanted-ears-that-can-hear-Mark-4-1-34&tab=study" title="Read Mark 4:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">4:11</a>).</p>
<p>The disciples must have been shocked by Jesus’ answer, and if we are honest, we will sense that same shocking power today. The parables simultaneously reveal and hide. They divide their hearers into two worlds. In one world a parable makes known the secret of the kingdom of God. But in the second world a parable remains only a parable, nothing more.</p>
<p>Now we see more clearly what is at stake in the parables and why Jesus used them virtually every time he taught. It turns out that our <em>response</em> to the parables reveals everything important about us, with eternal consequences. Every one of the parables is an explosive disclosure of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A33&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Kingdom-God-Kingdom-Heaven&tab=study" title="Read about the kingdom of heaven in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">kingdom of heaven</a>, so if we listen to a parable and hear only a story, something is wrong.</p>
<blockquote><p>The above article is excerpted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/tell-me-the-stories-of-jesus-the-explosive-power-of-jesus-parables?variant=39813658968200&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Tell Me the Stories of Jesus: The Explosive Power of Jesus’ Parables in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><em>Tell Me the Stories of Jesus: The Explosive Power of Jesus’ Parables</em></strong></a> by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. Copyright © 2022 R. Albert Mohler, Jr. Published by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. <a title="thomasnelson.com" href="https://www.thomasnelson.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.thomasnelson.com</a>. All rights reserved.</p></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/tell-me-the-stories-of-jesus-the-explosive-power-of-jesus-parables?variant=39813658968200&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Tell Me the Stories of Jesus: The Explosive Power of Jesus’ Parables in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tell Me the Stories of Jesus: The Explosive Power of Jesus’ Parables</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Bio:</strong> R. Albert Mohler Jr. has been called “one of America’s most influential evangelicals” (<em>The Economist</em>) and the “reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement” (TIME.com). The president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he writes a popular blog and a regular commentary, available at <a href="https://albertmohler.com/" title="Visit AlbertMohler.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">AlbertMohler.com</a>, and hosts two podcasts: <em>The Briefing</em> and <em>Thinking in Public</em>. He is the author of many books, including <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/we-cannot-be-silent-speaking-truth-to-a-culture-redefining-sex-marriage-and-the-very-meaning-of-right-and-wrong?variant=13745981456495&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of We Cannot Be Silent in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>We Cannot Be Silent</em></a> and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-prayer-that-turns-the-world-upside-down-the-lords-prayer-as-a-manifesto-for-revolution?variant=13756127838319&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Down in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Down</em></a>, and has appeared in <em>The New York Times</em>, <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>, <em>USA TODAY</em>, and on programs such as NBC’s <em>TODAY</em>, ABC’s <em>Good Morning America</em>, and <em>PBS NewsHour</em>. He and his wife, Mary, live in Louisville, Kentucky.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/why-did-jesus-speak-in-parables/">Why Did Jesus Speak In Parables?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7005850
2022-07-01T01:55:00-12:00
2022-07-01T03:45:12-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of June 26, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/07/weekly-brief-week-of-june-26-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of June 26, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7004918
2022-06-29T22:24:00-12:00
2022-06-30T00:45:08-12:00
July Is “Bible Affirmations Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://staticu.bgcdn.com/homepage-blocks/abideinitiative.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." width="35%" /></a>Here are your July Bible Affirmations! This month, we’ve gathered a collection of Scripture verses for you to repeat to yourself once a day, to remind you that every single day you are loved and treasured by the one true God.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/may-is-bible-declarations-month-on-bible-gateway-download-this-free-31-bible-verses-calendar/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, May Is Bible Declarations Month on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>May Is “Bible Declarations Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar</em></a>]</p>
<p>Download and use this <a href="http://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/July-Bible-Affirmations-Calendar.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=julyaffirmations" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, July Bible Affirmations" target="_blank"><strong>free daily July Bible Affirmations calendar</strong></a> every day:</p>
<p><span id="more-69612"></span></p>
<p><a href="http://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/July-Bible-Affirmations-Calendar.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=julyaffirmations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/28152736/July-Bible-Affirmations-Calendar.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, July Bible Affirmations" width="90%" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li>July 1 — I am remarkably made. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A14&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/god-made-us-wonderfully-we-cannot-ignore-him-vv-13&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 139:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 139:14</a>
</li>
<li>July 2 — God is fighting on my behalf. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+20%3A4&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Deut.20.1-Deut.20.9&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 20:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 20:4</a>
</li>
<li>July 3 — I am worth more than rubies. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+31%3A10&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8203-character&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 31:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 31:10</a>
</li>
<li>July 4 — As I follow Jesus, I have peace. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A36&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6704-peace-divine-NT&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:36 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24:36</a>
</li>
<li>July 5 — I am more than a conqueror. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A31&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-god-is-for-us-v-31&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8:31</a>
</li>
<li>July 6 — I am heard by God. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11%3A24&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-10-32-Mark-11-26&tab=study" title="Read Mark 11:24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 11:24</a>
</li>
<li>July 7 — God is my refuge and strength. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+46%3A1&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/god-is-our-tower-strength-vv-1-3&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 46:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 46:1</a>
</li>
<li>July 8 — I will seek first His kingdom. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A33&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Matt.6.33&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6:33 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6:33</a>
</li>
<li>July 9 — I represent the light of Christ. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71%3A17&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/3-lord-will-help-me-future-vv-14-21&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 71:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 71:17</a>
</li>
<li>July 10 — I find refuge under His wings. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91%3A4&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/faith-god--hidden-life-vv-1-4&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91:4</a>
</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>July 11 — I extend love, joy, and peace. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A22-23&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Gal.5.22-Gal.5.25&tab=study" title="Read Galatians 5:22-23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 5:22-23</a>
</li>
<li>July 12 — I will glorify Christ. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A18&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/3-freedom-from-discouragement-no-frustration-8-18&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8:18</a>
</li>
<li>July 13 — I am a child of the King. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A9&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6746-sanctification-means&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 2:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 2:9</a>
</li>
<li>July 14 — God is intentional with my life. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.8.28&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8:28</a>
</li>
<li>July 15 — I have a future filled with hope. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+29%3A11&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Jer.29.10-Jer.29.14&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 29:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 29:11</a>
</li>
<li>July 16 — I have everything I need to flourish. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+1%3A3&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8265-godliness&tab=study" title="Read 2 Peter 1:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Peter 1:3</a>
</li>
<li>July 17 — Fear does not hold me captive. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1%3A7&resource_entry=nivac-sample/2Tim.1.7&tab=study" title="Read 2 Timothy 1:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 1:7</a>
</li>
<li>July 18 — I have God’s perfect peace. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6-8&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Phil.4.6-Phil.4.8&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4:6-8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 4:6-8</a>
</li>
<li>July 19 — I am forgiven. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A17&resource_entry=nivac-sample/2Cor.5.17&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:17</a>
</li>
<li>July 20 — I will put on the armor of God every day. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-18&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Eph.6.12&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 6:10-18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:10-18</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<ul>
<li>July 21 — I can overcome everything with Christ. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A57&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2372-Jesus-Christ-victory&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 15:57 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:57</a>
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<li>July 22 — God’s will be done. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A10&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Showing-Righteousness-God&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6:10</a>
</li>
<li>July 23 — I am strong and courageous. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+31%3A6&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8220-courage-facing-enemies&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 31:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 31:6</a>
</li>
<li>July 24 — I am guided by God. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71%3A17&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/3-lord-will-help-me-future-vv-14-21&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 71:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 71:17</a>
</li>
<li>July 25 — God’s power works best in my weakness. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A9&resource_entry=nivac-sample/2Cor.12.9&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 12:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:9</a>
</li>
<li>July 26 — I am always on God’s mind. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A13&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/god-made-us-wonderfully-we-cannot-ignore-him-vv-13&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 139:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 139:13</a>
</li>
<li>July 27 — The cross of Christ is my power. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1%3A17&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/1Cor.1.17&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 1:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 1:17</a>
</li>
<li>July 28 — My God meets all my needs. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A19&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Phil.4.18-Phil.4.19&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 4:19</a>
</li>
<li>July 29 — My strength is renewed in Christ. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40%3A31&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Isa.40.27-Isa.40.31&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 40:31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 40:31</a>
</li>
<li>July 30 — I can see the Kingdom of God. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A3&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-birth-vv-1-7&tab=study" title="Read John 3:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:3</a>
</li>
<li>July 31 — My faith makes me whole. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+5%3A34&resource_entry=ransom-for-many/Chapter-6-Power-to-restore-Mark-4-35-5-43&tab=study" title="Read Mark 5:34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 5:34</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Download and start using this <a href="http://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/July-Bible-Affirmations-Calendar.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=julyaffirmations" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, July Bible Affirmations" target="_blank"><strong>free daily July Bible Affirmations calendar</strong></a> right now!</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/dont-merely-read-the-bible-engage-with-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!</em></a>]</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/july-is-bible-affirmations-month-on-bible-gateway-download-this-free-31-bible-verses-calendar/">July Is “Bible Affirmations Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7004621
2022-06-29T07:38:19-12:00
2022-06-29T11:15:07-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Proclaim Liberty!
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-fifteenth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p>No matter who we are or the position in life we occupy, we all value the wonderful privilege of freedom. But freedom is an easy ideal to voice, but a hard-won reality. Multitudes of men and women have gone to war and lost their lives to win the freedom of the masses. It is easy for us to assume freedom, and not recognize that there are people all around us who are limited and bounded even in so-called “free” societies.</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/29151823/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Freedom-Chains-Doves.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Mel Lawrenz says we must remember that it is for freedom that Christ has set us free so we can freely live in obedience to Christ." width="90%" /></p>
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<p>Then there is the mistaken notion that freedom means the ability to do whatever we want. To decide for ourselves what is right and wrong. To think that we can generate our own personal morality which no one else can question.</p>
<p>This is not freedom. It is bondage to the self.</p>
<p>If you go to the city of Philadelphia today, you can visit a historic 18th-century building which contains a room called Independence Hall. This ordinary room was the place where, on July 4, 1776, men signed the Declaration of Independence and where, in 1787, the Constitution of the United States was drafted. A huge bell, which we know as the Liberty Bell, hung in the bell tower there. Inscribed on its side are the words of Moses written 3,000 years earlier declaring a year of Jubilee: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+25%3A10&version=NIV&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Liberty&tab=study" title="Read Leviticus 25:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leviticus 25:10</a>).</p>
<p>They rang the bell in that tower before the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, as they had rung it on important occasions before. But only decades later did the bell become a kind of icon when it was first depicted on the cover of a new magazine called Liberty, a publication devoted to the cause of the abolition of slavery. Freedom in this new nation was not just freedom from the taxes of the king of England. It had to be freedom for every man and woman, boy and girl—the freedom that is the God-endowed dignity of the human race.</p>
<p>[Watch “<a href="https://thebrooknetwork.org/2017/07/15/a-prayer-for-the-nation/" title="Watch the video, A Prayer for the Nation" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">A Prayer for the Nation</a>”]</p>
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<p>We know that liberty is important to God, because the Bible talks over and over again about the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+12&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Exodus&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus from Egypt</a> as God’s great act of salvation and the hint of his ongoing liberating work in the world.</p>
<p>God knows we all have taskmasters. One person is enslaved to alcohol or drugs, another to a domineering person. One person is trapped in guilt and shame imposed by others, another is in the bondage of being the taskmaster—an addiction to control. Whole classes of people are stuck in institutional limitations defined by race or gender, the ongoing injustice of generations of social stratification.</p>
<p>All people need to hear the sound of liberty ring loudly and clearly through their hearts and minds. And only the living God can deliver that kind of liberty.</p>
<p>The sound of freedom rings throughout the New Testament. For instance, the apostle Paul says something in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Set-Free-Freedom&tab=study" title="Read Galatians 5:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 5:1</a> that seems obvious: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery.”</p>
<p>Why did the apostle Paul say, “it is for freedom that Christ has set us free”? When someone is set free, aren’t they free? Not necessarily.</p>
<p>A convict can be set free, but still think like a convict, talk like a convict, and behave like a convict. Constricted, suppressed, and afraid. Like a person who lived for a long time in a controlling, abusive relationship, he or she may go on cowering in life even when the oppression is gone.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gal.5&tab=study" title="Read Galatians 5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 5</a> talks about a bondage to the way of the law. It’s the belief that we achieve a truce with God our creator if we follow all the rules just right, make visible displays of righteousness, and track all our spiritual accomplishments. That was the way of Pharisees—and Paul had had enough of it. He was really good at it, but he saw it as spiritual death.</p>
<p>When Jesus came—Jesus who liberates us from every form of bondage—everything changed. He demonstrated that while the Law came through Moses (and that law was necessary to teach the human race that there is a difference between right and wrong), he brought grace and truth. By God’s mercy, we’re allowed to repent and turn to God for a whole new life. He frees us from the childish way of following “do’s” and “don’ts” so we can freely live in obedience to Christ. We do what is right because we are right with God and our instincts have been trued up to who he is.</p>
<p>But we must remember that we are free. We must rehearse it. Any person can become a Pharisee on any given day. We can turn faith into performance, like a kid trying to gain mom or dad’s favor by being a star player on the soccer field.</p>
<p>No. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Proclaim liberty!<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/how-to-live-the-bible-proclaim-liberty/">How to Live the Bible — Proclaim Liberty!</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7003382
2022-06-27T23:00:19-12:00
2022-06-28T03:15:12-12:00
Fear God and Do Not Fear: An Interview with Michael Horton
<p><a href="https://wscal.edu/academics/faculty/michael-s-horton" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/04095812/Michael-Horton.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Michael Horton explains what it means to fear God and why that's the only way we can live abundantly" width="25%" /></a>How does cultivating a healthy fear of God liberate us from our fear of others, our fear of the future, and even our fear of death itself? What does the Bible mean when it says “fear God and do not be afraid”? How can we live with a fear of God that drives out the fear of everything else?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="https://wscal.edu/academics/faculty/michael-s-horton" title="Michael Horton" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Michael Horton</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelHorton_" title="Michael Horton Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@MichaelHorton_</a>) about his book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/recovering-our-sanity-how-the-fear-of-god-conquers-the-fears-that-divide-us?variant=39516022079624&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Recovering Our Sanity in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Recovering Our Sanity: How the Fear of God Conquers the Fears that Divide Us</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022).</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/recovering-our-sanity-how-the-fear-of-god-conquers-the-fears-that-divide-us?variant=39516022079624&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/04094435/Recovering-Our-Sanity.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Recovering Our Sanity in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What is the message you’re communicating with this book’s title?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Michael Horton:</strong> The church in America today—I mean, the ones that uphold Scripture as the written and inerrant Word of God—are projecting a profile of Christianity that is totally at odds with what we find there. I include myself. We’re afraid of so many things. Many of them are legitimate concerns. But they’re badly ranked. God should be our number one fear. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+4%3A8&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1065-God-holiness&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 4:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">He’s holy</a>, we’re not, and that’s a problem. If that’s solved, we have a secure place from which to address our daily anxieties.</p>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/06/core-christianity-an-interview-with-michael-horton/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Core Christianity: An Interview with Michael Horton" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Core Christianity: An Interview with Michael Horton</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/recovering-our-sanity-how-the-fear-of-god-conquers-the-fears-that-divide-us?variant=39516022079624&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/04094448/Recovering-Our-Sanity-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Recovering Our Sanity audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Why is fear more rampant today than say a generation ago?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Michael Horton:</strong> One survey I’ve found says that kids used to say their top fears were things under their bed at night. Now it’s fear of abuse, divorce, drug abuse, and so on. The climate is changing. That’s a fact. So is inflation. Even if people can find work, basic things—like gas—are ridiculously expensive. How do we talk to our kids when they’re on those stupid iPhones and digital “communities” seem more real for all of us today than actual relationships with people in our neighborhood who may be different from us? We’re scared of everything. Our neighbors—especially the ones who don’t <em>actually</em> live in our neighborhood—are threats to our security, happiness, and prosperity. That’s how we look at things. Then we’re afraid of persecution by an ideologically-driven educational system and media. The LGBTQ+ agenda has become incredibly powerful in a relatively short period. But what if some our own youth in the church are struggling with their sexuality? Do we treat them as “Them” or as “Us” who need our love and compassionate help? So many “threats.” We’re like deer caught in the headlights.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2014/10/ordinary-spiritual-growth-an-interview-with-michael-horton/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Ordinary Spiritual Growth: An Interview with Michael Horton" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Ordinary Spiritual Growth: An Interview with Michael Horton</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>How is it possible that the Bible says to “fear God” and also to “fear not”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Michael Horton:</strong> We fear God first not because of anything he can do to us but just because of who he is. He is not just true, good, and beautiful but the source of all Beauty, Truth, and Goodness. He is the Holy One of Israel. In his presence, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%206%3A5&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Isa.6.5-Isa.6.8&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 6:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah could say</a>, “I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips and dwell among a people of unclean lips, for I have seen the Holy One of Israel.” God is majestic in his holiness, which means he is not like anything or anyone you or I know. But then he’s also our judge. We fear him because he is righteous and we’re not. To know about all of this is called <em>wisdom</em> in the Bible. “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+9%3A10&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Prov.9.1-Prov.9.12&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 9:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 9:10</a>). Starting every day in a posture of prostration before God means that we’re living with the grain of reality. We are in God’s hands, for good or for ill. We need a Mediator, and only with the Good News that Christ has fully satisfied God’s justice on our behalf can our fear of God as judge be turned to a sort of fearful admiration or awe of his goodness, grace, gentleness, and mercy. That’s why the Psalmist can say, “But with you there is forgiveness; therefore, you are feared” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+130%3A4&version=WEB&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/from-guilt-forgiveness-vv-3-4&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 130:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 130:4</a>). We can follow him, worship him, bring our fears and anxieties to him because he has forgiven us our sins and accepts us in Christ as righteous.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/what-does-the-bible-say-about-worry/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Does the Bible Say About Worry?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>What Does the Bible Say About Worry?</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>Why can’t we fight fear by seeking the absence of fear altogether?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Michael Horton:</strong> Fear is a natural reaction God designed in our makeup. “Fight or flight” is a natural instinct. If a semi-truck is hurtling toward us, we don’t deliberate. We just run. That’s a terrific gift. But our problem today is that, especially with 24-hour cable news and social media, we’re constantly being put on high alert—for everything. That means we’re not deliberating about anything. Complicated problems can’t be solved because we’re just reacting 24/7. And we’re basically regurgitating whatever our “Preferences” tell us we want to hear. It’s an echo-chamber, on the left and the right, of hostile, angry, resentful, and fearful people who make a pretty good living off of stoking our fears. This actually drowns out the good and proper fear we should have and makes us crazy. No thought, no deliberation, no conversations—just fight or flight.</p>
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<p><strong>What does it mean to fear God?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Michael Horton:</strong> What’s the #1 moral and spiritual problem in America today? Take a minute and think about it. If you’re like me, the top 10 get filled in pretty quickly—the sins of “the others” (or my own that I keep secret). Now, what’s the #1 sin in the whole of biblical history? “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+20%3A11&version=ESV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Gen.20&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 20:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 20:11</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+25%3A18" title="Read Deuteronomy 25:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 25:18</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+36%3A1&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/revelation-corruption-human-heart-vv-1-4&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 36:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 36:1</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A17&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/3-whole-world-is-guilty-3-9-20&tab=study" title="Read Romans 3:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 3:17</a>, etc.). We try to domesticate it: “Fear doesn’t really mean fear; it means respect.” Well, it includes respect, but it’s being super scared—<em>phobos</em> in Greek, as in “phobia.” Why do we think that people <em>shouldn’t</em> be afraid of God? That’s where our problems begin.</p>
<p>So, inspired by <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+4&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Dan.4&tab=study" title="Read Daniel 4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daniel 4</a>, I began to think of how we’re all little Nebuchadnezzars prancing on the roof of our personal palace boasting in our heart, “Is this not the great Babylon I have built by my power and for my glory?” Humbled—actually, humiliated—by God, the king realized the hard way that God is sovereign not just in general but in particular, over him. “I raised my eyes to heaven,” he said, “and my sanity was restored.”</p>
<p><strong>How should people confront their fears?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Michael Horton:</strong> What we need are thicker, richer communities. Houses of worship, neighborhoods, civic organizations, and clubs: these used to be the glue. At your kids’ football game, it didn’t matter to your neighbor beside you whether you were a Democrat or a Republican. It didn’t at church either. These thick communities are disintegrating especially as we imagine that this alternative reality called euphemistically “social media” can even come close to embodied, engaged, and embedded relationships with actual human beings.</p>
<p>One day in sixth grade a bunch of bullies were using me as a punching bag, taking my lunch. When my older football-player-brother showed up, they scattered. Paul calls Death “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A26&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/9311-resurrection-Jesus-Christ&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 15:26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the last enemy</a>.” How do I know that for sure? Because <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A56-57&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2372-Jesus-Christ-victory&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jesus has been raised</a> as the beginning of the resurrection of the dead. “Look at him—that’s what you’re going to be like!”, Paul explains. Same for my loved one who dies in the Lord.</p>
<p>I just watched two dear friends say goodbye—one, to an 8-month-pregnant daughter killed by a drunk driver and the other to her husband of 45 years. The anguish of the former was exacerbated by the fact that my friend isn’t a believer. He has a pretty impressive resumé, but he talks about suicide. The other friend lost a son to a drug-overdose suicide. He and his wife were beside themselves with grief. Months later, they still expect for a second to find him in his room before they realize he’s gone. But the strength they have is amazing and it’s coming from <em>outside of themselves</em>. It’s the strength of a Father who so loved them and their son that <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&resource_entry=nivac-sample/John.3.16-John.3.21&tab=study" title="Read John 3:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">he gave his only-begotten Son</a> so that all who trust in the Redeemer will never perish but have everlasting life. The pain will never go away, but neither will the promise.</p>
<p>Another dear sister lost her husband of 45 years two weeks ago. She still wakes up thinking he’s lying beside her and goes through highs and lows. But the constant is that she doesn’t have to wonder about his ultimate health or safety or whether her sorrow matters any more than an elephant herd mourning over a calf. “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+56%3A8&version=ESV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5899-lament&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 56:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 56:8</a>).</p>
<p>I’m a 56 year-old guy raising teens. I have fears, believe me. In no other period have social convictions about right and wrong changed dramatically in such a short period of time. But that includes insulting people’s dignity by “cancelling” them. That used to <em>not</em> be ok. But now many Christians think it’s fine because <em>we’re good</em> and <em>they’re bad</em>—really bad.</p>
<p>When we get to the place of cancelling, we’ve closed our hearts and turned off our minds. Now it’s just emotional blackmail, manipulation to get what we want. We sort of started this with boycotting Disney and then others back in the 1980s.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A15&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8334-reverence-Gods-nature&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 3:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Peter tells us</a>, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.” That’s well-placed fear. Next sentence: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give <em>the reason</em> for the hope that you have.” It’s been said that a quarrel kills a good argument. If I can’t listen and formulate a good argument, I’ll just toss verbal grenades and slogans at people. “Well, you’re just a homophobe” or “You’re a Social Justice Warrior.” We throw out epithets like “Critical Race Theory” (or just “CRT”) or “Christian Nationalist” as if the person we’re talking to can be dismissed with a label. And there’s one more sentence in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A15&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8264-gentleness&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 3:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 3:15</a>: “But do this with gentleness and respect.” I can do that when I fear God instead of my neighbor.</p>
<p>The Bible gives us a story in which the stories of the daily news can be interpreted properly. Instead, we often interpret the Bible in light of the daily news. The church reflects the same worldly divisions. There are “FOX” churches and “CNN” churches. We’re certainly not getting the fear of God from those outlets. They’re just stoking our other fears—and making a lot of money in the process.</p>
<p>Jesus <em>is</em> the “right side of history.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A3-8&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2414-cross-centrality&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">He went to the cross but was raised on the third day</a> and is glorified at the right hand of the Father, interceding for sinners, until he returns to establish final justice, righteousness, peace, and life. We’re called to care about the common good of our neighbors in this life—indeed, more than expecting the world to treat us well. But we’re longing ultimately for their salvation and incorporation into Christ’s body. When we see our neighbors through his eyes, through the lens of his love and mercy, we begin to honor them as <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A26-27&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Gen.1.24-Gen.1.31&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 1:26-27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">created in his image</a> and in need of Christ just like us. We don’t cancel fellow image-bearers of God.</p>
<p>What the world needs to see are not fearful, angry, and proud Christians making the same stand that Republicans and Democrats make. The world doesn’t need the church to make a statement by wearing or not wearing masks. The world needs to hear good news, good arguments, and see Christians (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A9-14&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Parable-Pharisee-Tax-Collector&tab=study" title="Read Luke 18:9-14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">on their knees with the tax-collector</a> instead of in the peanut gallery with the Pharisee, confessing their sins and being forgiven. Because, let’s face it, Christians have done some pretty bad stuff in Jesus’ name. “You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law,” Paul indicts. “For, as it is written, ‘The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+2%3A23-24&version=ESV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6021-sin-nature&tab=study" title="Read Romans 2:23-24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 2:23-24</a>).</p>
<p>Precisely because we live in Jesus’ story, we take justice and righteousness seriously but know that it won’t ever be established perfectly and finally until Jesus does it in person. Not just “Others” but “We” will be praying, “Have mercy on me, a sinner,” until Jesus returns.</p>
<p>As I said, actual institutions mediating between the state and the individual are disintegrating. This is where the kingdom of Christ really stands out—or should, at least. When <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A18&version=ESV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Community-Built-on-This-Foundation-Will&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 16:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jesus said</a>, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it,” he wasn’t talking about a Platonic idea. He meant concrete, local, embodied branches of himself as <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A1-12&version=ESV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-branches-we-must-abide-15-1-11&tab=study" title="Read John 15:1-12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Vine</a>.</p>
<p>In a world of soundbites and surrogates, we go to church to actually encounter the God who made and redeemed us. We’re not just hearing the story again but being re-casted by the Holy Spirit from the dead-end stories of this fading age into the greatest story ever told: reality. Here, God makes a real promise with real words from the lips of another sinner, uses <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:38&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/7907-baptism-practice&tab=study" title="Read Acts 2:38 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">real water</a> to seal that promise, and keeps pledging with real <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Cor%2010:16&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/7933-Lords-Supper&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 10:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wine and bread</a>. It’s where we hear, sing, and pray God’s word together, confess our sins together, and confess our common faith in the Triune God, hear God’s absolution. We become what the word says. CNN and FOX won’t be covering that, but it’s the “breaking news.” And we’re no longer afraid.</p>
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<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Michael Horton:</strong> Hard to pin down. But one of my favorites is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A1-11&version=ESV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.5.5-Rom.5.8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 5:1-11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 5:1-11</a>:<br>
<em>Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, wea have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.</em></p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Michael Horton:</strong> Of course, one of the benefits of digital technology is that we have greater access to the things that matter most. We just have to turn to those resources before we give our allegiance to the noise. That’s why I love Bible Gateway. It’s a fantastic way to engage Scripture in our everyday lives. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">notes and commentaries</a> are also a great resource.</p>
<p class="">
</p><p><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to say?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Michael Horton:</strong> As Christians we say we believe in “the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” But often we live as if death and its symptoms—loneliness, job-loss, moral decay and injustice, climate change, health and politics—are in charge. That’s what I mean by “we worship what we fear.” If I’m most afraid of losing my job, then I’m finding my security in someone or something other than Christ. If I’m afraid of not being happy, I’ll make my wife and kids bear the burden of ultimate satisfaction—and maybe ditch them or ignore them when they don’t. If I’m afraid of all the social, political, economic, and moral changes, I’ll blame “Them”—whoever they are—for my unhappiness.</p>
<p>When we imagine we’re in charge, that we can transform ourselves or our world, or that the government or entertainment or a political figure can do this for us, it’s literally insane. It’s living against the grain of reality. But when we raise our eyes to heaven like Nebuchadnezzar, our sanity is restored. That’s just living with the grain of reality.</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/recovering-our-sanity-how-the-fear-of-god-conquers-the-fears-that-divide-us?variant=39516022079624&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Recovering Our Sanity in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Recovering Our Sanity</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Michael Horton (PhD) is Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary in California. Author of many books, including <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-christian-faith-a-systematic-theology-for-pilgrims-on-the-way?variant=13745534959727&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way</em></a>, he also hosts the White Horse Inn radio program. He lives with his wife, Lisa, and four children in Escondido, California.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/fear-god-and-do-not-fear-an-interview-with-michael-horton/">Fear God and Do Not Fear: An Interview with Michael Horton</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7002666
2022-06-27T02:24:33-12:00
2022-06-27T04:30:22-12:00
God Can Use a Person Whose Heart Is Like This
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/27072417/Groeschel3_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="In this article, pastor & author Craig Groeschel explores what it means to be fully surrendered to God & prioritize his will in your life." width="33%" />By Craig Groeschel</strong></p>
<p><em>I heard the voice of the L<small>ORD</small> saying,<br>
“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”<br>
Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6%3A1-8&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/b-the-commission-6-8-13&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 6:1-8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 6:8</a></p>
<p>Years ago, I heard a pastor tell a story that I’ll never forget. This seasoned preacher described how each week, after the Sunday service, he’d stand by the door of the church to greet people as they left for their cars. He described the joy of hugging the grandmas and high-fiving the younger kids week after week. The pastor admitted openly that he loved when his parishioners would praise his message, complimenting him on how God used him to speak to them.</p>
<p>But then the pastor described an encounter he had with a guy, Matt, that he’d seen regularly at church but had never gotten to know well. Matt was probably in his mid-40s, graying slightly around the temples. Lines around his eyes indicated he might have had some challenging years in his life, but his warm smile and confident handshake led the preacher to believe that Matt was probably in a better season in life at the moment.</p>
<p>Then one Sunday after the service, Matt grasped both of the pastor’s hands firmly and said, “Pastor, I want you to know that my answer is yes. Now what’s the question?”</p>
<p><span id="more-69623"></span></p>
<p>The pastor looked at Matt curiously. <em>Poor guy, what’s he talking about? The answer is yes? What does that mean?</em> Not wanting to make it awkward, the pastor grinned at the man, nodded, and said, “Thank you, Matt. God bless you.”</p>
<p>The next Sunday after church, Matt approached the pastor at the door and said the exact same thing. With heartfelt sincerity, he looked the pastor directly in the eyes and said, “Pastor, I want you to know that my answer to you will always be yes. Now what’s the question?”</p>
<p>The pastor assumed he wasn’t hearing Matt correctly. It just didn’t make sense. Once again, he nodded and shook Matt’s hand and kept the line moving.</p>
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<p>The following Sunday, it happened again. This time the pastor knew that he’d heard Matt correctly. But the pastor was still confused. <em>What does he mean by that? The answer is yes—the answer to what?</em></p>
<p>Not wanting to stop the greeting line for a longer conversation, he asked Matt if they could visit later over coffee. Matt smiled broadly and handed the pastor his business card for his contact information. “Of course we can have coffee! I told you my answer is yes.”</p>
<p>On Tuesday that week, the two men met at the coffee shop. After finishing the obligatory small talk, the pastor leaned in slightly and said, “I’ve been wondering about what you said to me. What do you mean the answer is yes?”</p>
<p>Matt leaned back with a look of deep satisfaction, as if he’d been waiting his whole life for the pastor to ask him that question.</p>
<p>He started talking slowly, carefully choosing his words. “I was not always the man that I am today. I did a lot of bad things in my life, hurt a lot of people. I was addicted to alcohol, pornography, and gambling. Those addictions ruled my life. I betrayed my wife, crushed my children, caused so much pain.” Matt choked up, and the pastor could see tears forming in the man’s eyes.</p>
<p>Assuming they were tears of pain and regret, the pastor was startled to hear Matt say, “But I’m thankful now for those low times. Because that’s what helped me to be open to Christ. You see, when I hit bottom, a friend invited me to church. And that’s when I heard you preach about <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A8-9&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Eph.2.8-Eph.2.10&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 2:8-9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the grace of Christ</a>.”</p>
<p>When the man said the word <em>Christ</em>, the tears started to flow. Matt continued telling his story without even trying to hide his obvious emotion. “At first, I just listened, not sure if I could believe it was true for me. But after a few months, I invited Christ into my life, and he changed me.”</p>
<p>At that point, the pastor couldn’t keep his own tears back. The two men sat there silently for a moment. Both changed by the same Savior. Both grateful for the brief, holy moment they shared together over a cup of coffee.</p>
<p>Then the man said, “Pastor, that’s why I want you to know my answer to you is always yes. Because of how Jesus changed my life through our church, I will always be available to him—and to you. If you ask me to mow the church yard, I will be honored to do it. If you need money to help a single mom, I will give without hesitation. If you need someone to drive a widow to church, I’m your driver. Pastor, I want you to know that my answer is yes. So just let me know the question.”</p>
<p>Now that’s the heart of a person that God can use.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/02/dare-to-pray-these-dangerous-prayers-an-interview-with-craig-groeschel/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Dare to Pray These Dangerous Prayers: An Interview with Craig Groeschel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Dare to Pray These Dangerous Prayers: An Interview with Craig Groeschel</em></a>]</p>
<p>Such openness is the essence of this dangerous prayer. When Isaiah experienced the presence of God, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6%3A1-5&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1065-God-holiness&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 6:1-5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">he became aware of his own sinful brokenness</a>. Then the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6%3A6-8&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6028-sin-Gods-deliverance&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 6:6-8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">seraph touched his lips</a> with the flaming coal and God forgave his sin. Because of God’s goodness, God’s grace, and God’s love, Isaiah’s response was bold. Send me. Anywhere. Anytime. I will sign my name to a blank contract of availability. God, you just fill in the details.</p>
<p>Use me. My life is completely yours. May <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-10&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Showing-Righteousness-God&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6:9-10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">your will become my will</a>. Your plan, my plan.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2018/09/what-it-means-to-hope-in-jesus-an-interview-with-craig-groeschel/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What It Means to Hope in Jesus: An Interview with Craig Groeschel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>What It Means to Hope in Jesus: An Interview with Craig Groeschel</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dangerous-prayers-because-following-jesus-was-never-meant-to-be-safe-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39627666784392&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/27100912/Dangerous-Prayers-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>Notice Isaiah didn’t ask for any details. He didn’t ask God where. Or when. Or what would happen. This is why this prayer can feel so dangerous. “God, send me. Use me. I’m not asking for details. I don’t need to know the benefits. Or if it will be easy. Or if I will enjoy it. Because of who you are—my God, my King, my Savior—I trust you. Because you are sovereign over the universe, I surrender my will to you, every part of me. Take my mind, my eyes, my mouth, my ears, my heart, my hands, and my feet and guide me toward your will. I trust you. God, my answer is yes. Now what’s the question?”</p>
<p>Imagine if you prayed this way. Are you sick of safe prayers? Are you tired of living for things that don’t matter? Do you despise halfhearted, lukewarm Christianity? Then pray the dangerous prayer.</p>
<p>Here I am, Lord.<br>
Send me.<br>
Use me.<br>
________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dangerous-prayers-because-following-jesus-was-never-meant-to-be-safe?variant=29480529133679" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/27091154/DangerousPrayers_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Dangerous Prayers" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dangerous-prayers-because-following-jesus-was-never-meant-to-be-safe?variant=29480529133679" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe</em></a> by Craig Groeschel. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dangerous-prayers-because-following-jesus-was-never-meant-to-be-safe?variant=29480529133679" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Do you ever wonder, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?” Do you wish you could see the evidence that prayer changes lives? Are you tired of playing it safe with your faith? In <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dangerous-prayers-because-following-jesus-was-never-meant-to-be-safe?variant=29480529133679" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Dangerous Prayers</em></a>, <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author Craig Groeschel helps you unlock your greatest potential and tackle your greatest fears by praying stronger, more passionate prayers that lead you into a deeper faith.</p>
<p>Prayer moves the heart of God—but some prayers move Him more than others. He wants more for us than a tepid faith and half-hearted routines at the dinner table. He’s called you to a life of courage, not comfort.</p>
<p>This book will show you how to pray the prayers that search your soul, break your habits, and send you to pursue the calling God has for you. But be warned: if you’re fine with settling for what’s easy, or you’re OK with staying on the sidelines, this book isn’t for you. You’ll be challenged. You’ll be tested. You’ll be moved to take a long, hard look at your heart.</p>
<p>But you’ll be inspired, too.</p>
<p>You’ll be inspired to pray boldly. To pray powerfully. To pray with fire. You’ll see how you can trade ineffective prayers and lukewarm faith for raw, daring prayers that will push you to new levels of passion and fulfillment. You’ll discover the secret to overcome fears of loss, rejection, failure, and the unknown and welcome the blessings God has for you on the other side.</p>
<p>You’ll gain the courage it takes to pray dangerous prayers.</p>
<p><strong>Craig Groeschel</strong> is a <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author and the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, an innovative church meeting in multiple locations around the United States and one of the largest churches in the world. He is the author of several books and hosts the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast. He is the Summit Champion for the Global Leadership Network, which reaches hundreds of thousands of leaders around the world annually. Craig and his wife, Amy, live in Oklahoma. Visit <a href="https://www.craiggroeschel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.craiggroeschel.com</a> to connect with Craig.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/god-can-use-a-person-whose-heart-is-like-this/">God Can Use a Person Whose Heart Is Like This</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/7000914
2022-06-24T01:50:00-12:00
2022-06-24T04:15:13-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of June 19, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/weekly-brief-week-of-june-19-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of June 19, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6999465
2022-06-22T05:30:00-12:00
2022-06-22T07:00:54-12:00
Top 5 Bible Passages From Bible Gateway’s Top 10 Cities
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/bible-news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/05112002/BibleNewsLogoBlueRectangle.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="See the Bible News Roundup archive on Bible Gateway" width="29%" /></a>With nearly 3 million searches per day—more than 2,000 per minute around the clock—being generated by tens of millions of people in more than 200 countries and territories, search trends on Bible Gateway offer an impression of how people engage with the Bible on the world’s most visited Christian website.</p>
<p>The following map and chart show the cities that have the most traffic to Bible Gateway and the Bible passages people searched for in those cities over the last past 12 months.</p>
<ol>
<li>New York</li>
<li>Dallas</li>
<li>Atlanta<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/31093311/The-Abide-Bible-Initiative-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." width="75%" /></a>
</li>
<li>Los Angeles</li>
<li>Chicago</li>
<li>Houston</li>
<li>Bogota</li>
<li>Sydney</li>
<li>Lagos</li>
<li>Singapore</li>
</ol>
<p><span id="more-316"></span></p>
<p>The placemarks on this custom Google map show the top 10 cities and each marker includes the top 5 Bible passages—irrespective of translation—listed on it:</p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1Dfmsq8LrEYK1WNmZeOLotIwDKnp3qbQ&ehbc=2E312F" width="640" height="480"></iframe></center><br>
<center><small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1Dfmsq8LrEYK1WNmZeOLotIwDKnp3qbQ&usp=sharing" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Top Cities with their Top 5 Verses</a> in a larger map</small></center>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/taking-comfort-from-psalm-91/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Taking Comfort from Psalm 91" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Taking Comfort from Psalm 91</em></a>]</p>
<p>Some points of interest:</p>
<ul>
<li>Only 6 books of the Bible—<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Genesis on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Psalms on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalms</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Matthew on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Romans on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 1 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Philippians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians</a>—and 12 Bible passages are represented on the 50 position list.</li>
<li>Neither book—<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John</a> and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Jeremiah on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah</a>—containing the #1 and #2 overall most-popular Bible verses—<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&resource_entry=nivac-sample/John.3.16-John.3.21&tab=study" title="Read John 3:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+29%3A11&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Jer.29.10-Jer.29.14&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 29:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 29:11</a>—searched for, read, and shared on Bible Gateway for <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/year-in-review/2021/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, 2021 in Review" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">at least every year of the last decade</a> are on the list.</li>
<li>The themes of the 12 Bible passages encompass</li>
<ul>
<li> God as our creator</li>
<li> God as our caregiver<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/new-creation/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_newcreation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/30160743/You_Are_A_New_Creation_banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the free 5-day Bible study, You Are A New Creation" width="45%" /></a>
</li>
<li> God as our vindicator</li>
<li> God as our forgiver</li>
<li> God as our refuge</li>
<li> God as our shielding sovereign</li>
<li> the elements of righteous living</li>
<li> the assurance of God’s redemption</li>
<li> the admonition not to worry</li>
<li> the endurance of God’s love</li>
<li> the definition of love, and</li>
<li> the instruction to pray and rejoice in the Lord.</li>
</ul>
<li>Psalm 91 is the top Scripture people searched for in 8 out of the top 10 cities.</li>
<li>Psalm 23 is the second most popular passage in 8 out of the top 10 and is third in the remaining two.</li>
<li>The people of Lagos seem to especially like the Psalms as all 5 ranking positions for that city are for that book.</li>
<li>5 continents—North America, South America, Oceania, Africa, Asia—are represented on the top 10 list.</li>
</ul>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/god-is-our-shepherd-meditate-on-the-23rd-psalm/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, God Is Our Shepherd: Meditate on the 23rd Psalm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>God Is Our Shepherd: Meditate on the 23rd Psalm</em></a>]</p>
<p>Each chapter reference is linked to its location on Bible Gateway, along with a summary of that chapter from <em>The Bible Panorama</em> study resource:</p>
<table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" style="background-color:#FFFFFF" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>New York</strong></td>
<td><strong>Dallas</strong></td>
<td><strong>Atlanta</strong></td>
<td><strong>Los Angeles</strong></td>
<td><strong>Chicago</strong></td>
<td><strong>Houston</strong></td>
<td><strong>Bogota</strong></td>
<td><strong>Sydney</strong></td>
<td><strong>Lagos</strong></td>
<td><strong>Singapore</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.91&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.91&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.91&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.91&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.91&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.91&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.91&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.91&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.91&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.91&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.91&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.91&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=SALMOS.91&version=NVI&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.91&tab=study" title="Read Salmos 91 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Salmos 91</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GEN.1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.1&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.91&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.91&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATT.6&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.6&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.23&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ROM.8&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Rom.8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.23&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.23&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.23&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.23&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=SALMOS.23&version=NVI&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.23&tab=study" title="Read Salmos 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Salmos 23</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATT.5&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.5&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 5</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.23&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.23&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GEN.1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.1&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.23&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ROM.8&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Rom.8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GEN.1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.1&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ROM.8&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Rom.8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ROM.8&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Rom.8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corintios.13&version=NVI&resource_entry=bible-panorama/1Cor.13&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corintios 13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corintios 13</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.23&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.121&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.121&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 121 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 121</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATT.5&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.5&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 5</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATT.6&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.6&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATT.6&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.6&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATT.6&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.6&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ROM.8&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Rom.8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GEN.1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.1&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GEN.1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.1&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=SALMOS.27&version=NVI&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.527&tab=study" title="Read Salmos 27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Salmos 27</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GEN.2&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.2&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 2</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.35&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.35&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 35</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GEN.1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.1&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ROM.8&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Rom.8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATT.5&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.5&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 5</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PHIL.4&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Phil.4&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 4</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATT.6&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.6&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATT.6&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.6&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATT.6&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.6&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=G%C3%A9nesis+1&version=NVI&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.1&tab=study" title="Read Génesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Génesis 1</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATT.6&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.6&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PS.51&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.51&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 51 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 51</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ROM.8&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Rom.8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="">
</p><p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/?s=Psalms" title="Read Bible Gateway Blog posts concerning the book of Psalms" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read Bible Gateway Blog posts concerning the book of Psalms</a>]</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
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</blockquote>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/top-five-passages-from-our-top-ten-cities/">Top 5 Bible Passages From Bible Gateway’s Top 10 Cities</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6999466
2022-06-22T04:55:01-12:00
2022-06-22T07:00:54-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Looking for Dignity
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-fourteenth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>A small group of children see me taking photos of their school building and scamper to jump in front of the camera. Seven of them altogether, four boys and three girls. They giggle, hop about, squeeze in, arms around shoulders, to get in the frame. Each flashes a broad smile, one boy with a large gap where two front teeth used to be. Their school uniforms include navy blue shorts, blue gingham shirts, and white and blue striped ties. And how they laugh when I show them the digital images of them on the back of the camera.</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/22124045/How-to-Live-the-Bible-Children-India.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Mel Lawrenz explains the importance of human dignity in this article." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-69552"></span></p>
<p>These are a few fortunate children who are being helped to escape the troublesome ditch of their social class–the Dalits, the outcasts, the untouchables of India. The untouchables drink from clay cups that no one in another class will have to touch. They have no access to medical care. The best job available may be nothing more than pushing a broom. Here in the school in the city of Secunderabad these fortunate children from Dalit homes benefit from a mission school where they learn English and other basic subjects, and they learn something about themselves that they did not get in their upbringing: a view of themselves as valuable, as having worth. Across India the vast majority of the 250 million Dalits lead lives of endless uncertainty.</p>
<p>Dignity is the word we use for this. Summed up in this one word is a truth embedded in the creation account:</p>
<p><em>So God created man in his own image,</em><br>
<em>in the image of God he created him;</em><br>
<em>male and female he created them.</em> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A27&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Gen.1.24-Gen.1.31&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 1:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1:27</a>).</p>
<p>“Inalienable rights” is the way some national constitutions and declarations of human rights define dignity. The Abrahamic faiths see in “the image of God” far more:</p>
<ul>
<li> purpose</li>
<li> design</li>
<li> beauty</li>
<li> intelligence</li>
<li> intentionality</li>
<li> self-awareness</li>
<li> spirituality</li>
<li> morality.</li>
</ul>
<p>This is life with value. Inestimable value. Yet the indignities of life–those imposed on us and those we bring on ourselves–undermine the value of life.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Everything is at stake regarding our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors regarding dignity.</p>
<p>Are we outraged by the bullying many kids are subjected to in their schools every day? Is anyone there for the woman who is raped and who needs to know that the violation of her body and her personhood has not lessened her worth? Will the perpetrators and victims in a tribal conflict come to a place or recognizing the mutual violation of their dignity which perhaps may have been going on for generations? Will they see indignity as the class wound that keeps them wounding each other? Are there ways for criminal justice systems to help convicts rehabilitate their lives instead of just punishing and discarding? What will it take for husbands to stop belittling their wives or wives their husbands? Why do some parents worship their children and others abuse them–in either scenario foiling any proper development of dignity?</p>
<p>[to be continued]<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/how-to-live-the-bible-looking-for-dignity/">How to Live the Bible — Looking for Dignity</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6998735
2022-06-21T05:17:31-12:00
2022-06-21T08:15:22-12:00
Most Popular, Most Read Articles on the Bible Gateway Blog
<p></p><center>
<h1>The following are the top most popular, most read articles on the Bible Gateway Blog since the beginning of the year:</h1>
<p></p>
</center><br>
<img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/21131012/most-popular-square-scaled.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="This is a list of the most popular articles on the Bible Gateway Blog" width="37%" />
<ol>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/what-does-the-bible-say-about-worry/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Does the Bible Say About Worry?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>What Does the Bible Say About Worry?</em></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/07/updated-chart-of-israels-and-judahs-kings-and-prophets/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Chart of Israel’s and Judah’s Kings and Prophets" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Chart of Israel’s and Judah’s Kings and Prophets</em></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/02/when-was-each-book-of-the-bible-written/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?</em></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2009/05/the-100-most-read-bible-verses-at-biblegatewaycom/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The 100 Most Read Bible Verses at Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The 100 Most Read Bible Verses at Bible Gateway</em></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/taking-comfort-from-psalm-91/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Taking Comfort from Psalm 91" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Taking Comfort from Psalm 91</em></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/why-are-protestant-catholic-and-orthodox-bibles-different/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Why Are Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles Different?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Why Are Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles Different?</em></a>
</li>
</ol>
<hr>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/most-popular-most-read-articles-on-the-bible-gateway-blog/">Most Popular, Most Read Articles on the Bible Gateway Blog</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6998424
2022-06-21T00:18:35-12:00
2022-06-21T03:45:19-12:00
Prayers of Faith to Move Your Mountains
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/collaborativepublishing/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/16112825/Michael-J-Klassen.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Michael Klassen offers a prayer that moves mountains" width="27%" /></a><strong>By Michael Klassen and Thomas Freiling</strong></p>
<p>Have you ever faced a mountain that seemed impossible to overcome? Perhaps you encountered a dilemma that required more than you could give. Is there a battle right around the corner that has you feeling ill-equipped?</p>
<p>The various mountains we face—</p>
<ul>
<li> difficult relationships</li>
<li> destructive and sinful habits</li>
<li> work situations</li>
<li> stresses that don’t seem to go away—</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomfreiling/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/16112805/Thomas-Freiling.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Thomas Freiling explains what it means that faith can move mountains" width="27%" /></a>reinforce to us that we’re human. Yet mountain or molehill, these battles cannot be overcome without the intervention of a loving heavenly Father who alone possesses the ability to scale the unscalable.</p>
<p>Mountains are beneficial because they serve as reminders of our <em>inability</em> and God’s <em>ability</em>. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">apostle Paul</a> wrote that our God is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, <em>according to the power that works in us</em>” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3%3A20&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Eph.3.20-Eph.3.21&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 3:20 NKJV</a>, emphasis added). Any power at our disposal comes not from the power resident <em>within</em> us, but the grace of God working <em>through</em> us.</p>
<p><span id="more-69153"></span></p>
<p>Does prayer change people, or does prayer change things? Somewhere in the middle of the crossfire lies the heart of true prayer. God desires first and foremost to change the hearts of men and women. His ultimate goal is to bring glory to Himself as His kingdom spreads throughout the earth. But through the changed hearts of His people, He chooses to do His work here on earth—through prayer. Prayer changes people, and, through changed people, prayer changes things.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/battle-prayers-100-prayers-of-hope-and-encouragement?variant=39516022964360&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10125709/Battle-Prayers.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Battle Prayers: Faith to Move Your Mountains in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="25%" /></a></p>
<p>Jesus chose a mountain to illustrate the awesome power of prayer (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11%3A22-24&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8024-faith-blessings-God&tab=study" title="Read Mark 11:22–24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 11:22–24</a>) to address the countless “whatever things” that fill up our lives, be they great, small, or otherwise. Especially in the days before bulldozers and earthmovers, mountains symbolized the immovable. Mountains exemplified anything so ominous in a person’s life that it couldn’t be removed apart from the power of God. Mountains represented not only the seemingly insurmountable battles that strike fear in a person’s heart, but also the smaller daily struggles that persist in undermining our confidence in our faith walk with the Lord. And that is the power Jesus gave to his church through the Holy Spirit.</p>
<p>Pride, lust, an unsaved spouse, a broken relationship—all function as mountains in the lives of ordinary people. Some mountains are self-inflicted; others are inflicted upon us. Regardless, we all have mountains to climb and battles to fight. Fortunately, God doesn’t leave us alone on the side of those mountains to be buffeted by the gale-force winds they present.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Throughout the Bible, mountains have symbolized not only the battles we face, but also the place where people encounter God’s life-giving presence.</p>
<p>Had an angel of the Lord not stopped him, Abraham would have offered his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice on the side of Mt. Moriah (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+22&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/genesis-22&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 22</a>). Moses encountered the burning bush and received the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+3&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Exod.3.1-Exod.3.22&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 3</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+19&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Exod.19&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 19–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">19–20</a>). The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Jerusalem-Temple" title="Read about the Temple in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Temple</a>, the center of Jewish worship, was built on Mt. Zion. The surrounding nations, understanding the connection, referred to Israel’s God as the <em>God of the hills</em> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+20%3A28&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5029-knowledge-God&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 20:28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 20:28</a>).</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/battle-prayers-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39516024111240&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10125719/Battle-Prayers-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Battle Prayers: Faith to Move Your Mountains audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="25%" /></a></p>
<p>In Jesus’ life, the mountain was both a place of temptation where his humanity was tested (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A8&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5564-suffering-Jesus-Christ&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 4:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 4:8</a>) and the transfiguration where his divinity was revealed (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+17%3A1-2&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Glorious-Lord&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 17:1–2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 17:1–2</a>). Last of all, we look forward to the day when the mountain of the Lord’s temple is raised up for all the earth to see and where all the earth’s inhabitants will gather (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+2%3A2&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2376-kingdom-God-coming&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 2:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 2:2</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+4%3A1&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2565-Jesus-Christ-second&tab=study" title="Read Micah 4:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Micah 4:1</a>).</p>
<p>So, mountains operate as the location where both our battles and God’s presence meet. And oddly enough, the two are related. Our battles can lead us into the presence of God. The temptations we face can lead us into Jesus’ transfiguring presence, that is, when we go to him in prayer.</p>
<p>Most Christians understand that it’s important to pray. We all realize that prayer is essential to growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ and that, in some way, prayer makes a difference. It’s the hows and whats of prayer that seem to keep us from doing what we really know we should do. And what we want to do.</p>
<p>Ask people to describe the biggest hurdles they face in prayer, and you will probably hear one of two answers:</p>
<ol>
<li> “I just don’t have the motivation and commitment to make it a vital part of my life.”</li>
<li> “I’d pray longer, but after five or ten minutes, I don’t know what to say.”</li>
</ol>
<p>But if you knew that your prayers would really make a difference in your life and the lives of others, would you be more inclined to pray?</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center>
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<h3>A Prayer for Today</h3>
<p><em>This day, O God, I choose to bless your name (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A1-4&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-bless-lord-vv-1-3&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 34:1–4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 34:1–4</a>). I bless you because you are great, and your greatness does not depend upon my circumstances. The problems of this world are mere child’s play in comparison to your ability to overcome. So, I choose to focus on the Problem Solver rather than any problem. I will boast in you, O God, because nothing is impossible for you (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+19%3A26&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1105-God-power&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 19:26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 19:26</a>). Only you can make the impossible possible.</em></p>
<p><em>I proclaim your name, O Lord. I ascribe greatness to you, my God, for you are the Rock. Your work is perfect and all your ways are just (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+32%3A3-4&version=NKJV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/v-moses-closing-exhortatory-words-and-acts-31-1-33-29&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 32:3–4 (NKJV) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 32:3–4</a>). For this reason, I place my trust in you with confidence. You are greater than my problems; greater than my sins; greater than my sickness; greater than those who oppose me; greater than the powers of darkness; greater than my own shortcomings; greater than the failings of Your people; greater than the powers of human government; greater than my limited conceptions of how big You really are. My God you are greater!</em></p>
<p><em>My power to overcome any situation comes only from you, because greater is he who is in me than he who is in the world (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A4&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5598-victory-over-spiritual&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 4:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 4:4</a>). My heart’s desire is that Your great name will be made known throughout the earth, beginning in my life.</em></p>
<p><em>I lift my arms in surrender to the One who reigns above the heavens and the Earth. There is no power on Earth greater than yours. No love stronger. No wisdom deeper. You alone stand above the earth, but you have willingly chosen to also stand beside me.</em></p>
<p><em>The fact that you are great, yet you choose to reveal yourself to me through your Son, Jesus, through your Word, and through your Holy Spirit, drives me to my knees in gratitude. You didn’t have to reveal yourself to me, but you did. Now may your greatness be revealed in my life so that others may see your glory as well (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+38%3A23&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Ezek.38.14-Ezek.38.23&tab=study" title="Read Ezekiel 38:23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezekiel 38:23</a>).</em></p>
<blockquote><p>The above article is excerpted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/battle-prayers-100-prayers-of-hope-and-encouragement?variant=39516022964360&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Battle Prayers: Faith to Move Your Mountains in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><em>Battle Prayers: Faith to Move Your Mountains</em></strong></a> by Michael Klassen and Thomas Freiling. Copyright © 2022 Michael Klassen and Thomas Freiling. Published by Harper Renew. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. <a title="thomasnelson.com" href="https://www.thomasnelson.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.thomasnelson.com</a>. All rights reserved.</p></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/battle-prayers-100-prayers-of-hope-and-encouragement?variant=39516022964360&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Battle Prayers: Faith to Move Your Mountains in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Battle Prayers: Faith to Move Your Mountains</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Michael Klassen is a pastor, freelance writer, and associate editor for Christian Bookclub. He lives in Wellmon, Iowa</p>
<p>Thomas Freiling is a former publisher and acquisitions editor at Creation House. His residence is Vienna, Virginia.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/prayers-of-faith-to-move-your-mountains/">Prayers of Faith to Move Your Mountains</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6997606
2022-06-20T00:06:28-12:00
2022-06-20T00:30:20-12:00
Enjoy Any or All of These Free Email Devotionals as You Staycation or Vacation!
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<p>Here are four free email devotionals from Bible Gateway for your summer reading pleasure. At least one of them is sure to capture your particular interest. To subscribe to any or all of them, click one of the titles that links to the signup page. Tell your friends!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/summer/" title="Sign up to receive the Anchor Devotional free email for your summer inspirational reading" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Anchor Devotional</em></strong></a><br>
This devotional guide by HAVEN Today radio broadcast features brief Scripture selections together with current insights and experiences woven into a few short paragraphs each day. For the month of June it is exploring different facets of early Christian history during the first three centuries AD. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/anchor-devotional/today" title="Read the Anchor Devotional online at Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read it online at Bible Gateway</a>.)</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/summer/" title="Sign up to receive the Codes for Christian Living free email devotional for your summer inspirational reading" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Codes for Christian Living</em></strong></a><br>
Delve into the joyful riches of Scripture through the Code series from bestselling author O.S. Hawkins. Start now and last all year: these 52 once-a-week emails feature excerpts from the following devotionals:</p>
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<li> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-jesus-code?variant=13763103031407&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Jesus Code in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Jesus Code</em></a>
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<li> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-daniel-code-living-out-truth-in-a-culture-that-is-losing-its-way?variant=13760442531951&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Daniel Code in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Daniel Code</em></a> and</li>
<li> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-nehemiah-code-study-guide-its-never-too-late-for-a-new-beginning?variant=18123289952367&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Nehemiah Code in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Nehemiah Code</em></a>.</li>
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<p>(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/codes-for-christian-living/today" title="Read the Codes for Christian Living devotional online at Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read it online at Bible Gateway</a>.)</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/summer/" title="Sign up to receive the Encouragement for Today Devotions free email for your summer inspirational reading" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Encouragement for Today Devotions</em></strong></a><br>
Everyday insight for busy women from Proverbs 31 Ministries. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/encouragement-for-today/today" title="Read the Encouragement for Today Devotion online at Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read it online at Bible Gateway</a>.)</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/summer/" title="Sign up to receive the Salt and Light free email cartoon for your summer inspirational reading" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Salt and Light</em></strong></a><br>
Flavorful funnies to put a smile on your faith, drawn weekly by Jonny Hawkins.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/summer/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://staticu.bgcdn.com/jonny-hawkins/501.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to receive the Salt and Light free email cartoon for your summer inspirational reading" width="50%" /></a></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/enjoy-any-or-all-of-these-free-email-devotionals-as-you-staycation-or-vacation/">Enjoy Any or All of These Free Email Devotionals as You Staycation or Vacation!</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6996182
2022-06-17T01:50:00-12:00
2022-06-17T04:45:10-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of June 12, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/weekly-brief-week-of-june-12-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of June 12, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6994667
2022-06-15T04:49:35-12:00
2022-06-15T07:30:12-12:00
How to Live the Bible — What Should We Believe?
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-thirteenth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p><em>“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A18-19&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4018-life-spiritual&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 1:18-19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 1:18-19</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/15105259/how-to-live-the-bible-man-walking-into-light.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Illustration of a man looking through an open doorway." width="90%" /></p>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/how-to-live-the-bible-how-do-we-know-what-to-believe/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — How Do We Know What to Believe?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">See previous…</a>]</p>
<p><strong>Step 2. <em>Gather evidence, and judge its reliability.</em></strong></p>
<p>Let’s say someone tells you that if you put some money in their investment account, you are guaranteed your money will double in five years. You’re attracted to the possibility. But it seems too good to be true. (Most things that seem too good to be true, are not true at all.) You need evidence this claim is reliable. So you research the financial entity. You find reviews from reliable publications. You call your brother who’s a banker and ask his opinion. You ask more questions of the person making the offer, including “What do you mean ‘guarantee’?” knowing there’s no such thing with investments. Before going any further, you turn away for lack of reliable evidence.</p>
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<p><strong>Step 3. <em>Keep an open mind.</em></strong></p>
<p>For some issues in life there’s a range of evidence. Look at any courtroom trial. “Guilty” is one possibility; “not guilty” the opposite. Maybe it only takes a day-long trial to look at the evidence, or maybe a month. Jurors are sworn to keep an open mind. And the jury selection process is supposed to weed out potential jurors who are incapable of keeping an open mind.</p>
<p>A long time ago I was called up for jury duty. It felt weighty and sobering. In the jury selection process before each trial the judge looked at all of us potential jurors and said: “The most important duty of a member of jury is to evaluate the credibility of the witnesses and the evidence.” I’ll never forget that. It makes perfect sense, of course. And, imperfect as a jury trial can be, it still is one of the best alternatives for discovering the truth of a matter. Sometimes a life or death matter. I have never been accused of a crime and have never been on trial, but if I were, and if I were innocent, I’d want to look over at the faces of the jurors and see concentration, focus, and signs of open-mindedness. I would want the jury to do the work to come to the rational, evidence-based belief of my innocence.</p>
<p>This is why bias kills us. It’s prejudice: to pre-judge. I don’t want members of a jury to make assumptions about me because of how I look or because I’m different from them. I need them to be open-minded. Fair-minded. Unbiased. Objective. Impartial.</p>
<p>We owe this to each other. And we owe it to the truth. True impartiality and fair-mindedness is a great gift.</p>
<p>To be open-minded means that once in a while we will change our minds. We break from the pack. We show some independence of thought. To go along with the gang is weakness. To have independent thought is strength.</p>
<p><strong>Step 4. <em>Explore different answers.</em></strong></p>
<p>Let’s say you grew up in a home that was 100% committed to one political party. Let’s say this not only meant your parents always voted along the party line, but they also believed it was necessary to agree with every point and every sub-point in the party’s platform. Even if the platform changed over the years. Even if what you were supposed to believe was one thing ten years ago, and something different today. Party loyalty was an all-or-nothing proposition.</p>
<p>Most people know that, in spite of party loyalty, they may find some points on which they have a very different belief. This should come as no surprise. Policy positions are complicated and diverse and fluid in some ways.</p>
<p>Deciding what you believe means exploring different answers. Many people of faith will say they personally believed one thing about the criminal justice system years ago, but they look at it differently now having gone through the process of asking good questions, gathering evidence, keeping an open mind, and exploring different answers. The same is true for many issues.</p>
<p>When we decide what we believe we’re building a foundation on which we can base our lives, all the while being humble enough to change our minds on some of the details as we mature and grow.</p>
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<p><strong>Step 5. <em>Come to a conclusion.</em></strong></p>
<p>At some point we conclude what we believe. It may be like a light coming on one day, or it may be like gradually waking up in the morning. On the really big issues of life, like whether we believe God exists or whether Jesus Christ is the Savior, we don’t expect to move in and out of that belief. On other detailed matters we take a position in what we believe while being open-minded to new evidence that may come along at any time. There’s no crime in changing one’s mind on climate change or economic theory or the denomination of the church you attend. There are some major issues in life that we will only understand after we mature. Or after we have suffered.</p>
<p><strong>Step 6. <em>Test it in real life.</em></strong></p>
<p>All of our beliefs will be tested by real life. When my 30-year-old daughter, whom we loved and cherished from the day she was born, suddenly died, all of my beliefs were challenged. My faith beliefs were not nullified, but they were re-ordered, and that for the good. From that time three-and-a-half years ago, until today, and until the day I die, I know that the providence of God and the goodness of God are two truths I will always cling to. These beliefs helped my wife and son and me get through the terrible loss.</p>
<p>When I realize I have come to believe something I had never thought of before, I know real life will put it to the test. Sometimes we need to believe something even though it seems to contradict common sense. But that’s only an <em>apparent</em> contradiction.</p>
<p>All true beliefs move toward a harmony that builds and builds.</p>
<p>We should never believe things merely because someone is shouting them loudly and relentlessly. We can do better, we must do better, than just belonging to a herd that moves thoughtlessly along.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
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<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/how-to-live-the-bible-what-should-we-believe/">How to Live the Bible — What Should We Believe?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6994310
2022-06-14T22:06:00-12:00
2022-06-14T22:30:05-12:00
The Practice of Praying to a God Who Listens
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13103722/BunmiLaditan2_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bunmi Laditan" height="280" width="280" />By Bunmi Laditan</strong></p>
<p>If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you’re a parent, a grandparent, an uncle, an aunt, a caregiver in these wild and crazy times. And you need a little (or maybe a lot of) extra help.</p>
<p>Raising and pouring love into a child is an amazing calling. But let’s be honest: it’s also incredibly difficult.</p>
<p>Caring for children stretches our patience, fries our brains, and zaps us of our energy, but we wake up and do it over and over again because, well, they’re ours and we love them.</p>
<p>Before I became a believer in Jesus, I dealt with the stress in every possible way except prayer. I’d binge-watch TV series looking for escape, indulge in glass after glass of wine trying to numb my brain, climb to the pinnacle of my career, thinking money and the approval (envy) of others would give me fulfillment. But I found none of what I sought.</p>
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<p>Who would have thought that a relationship with God would be the key? And there is no relationship without communication.</p>
<p>Prayer became my lifeline.</p>
<p>I thought prayer was no different from positive affirmations, thoughts we throw into the air and hope stick somewhere.</p>
<p>Now I know different.</p>
<p><em>And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age</em>. —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A20&version=ESV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1110-God-present-everywhere&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 28:20 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 28:20</a></p>
<p>When I pray, I know God is by my side. He is there, not passively listening, but hearing me, responding, and sending comfort, help, peace, solutions, and love.</p>
<p><em>Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God</em>. —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=ESV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Phil.4.6-Phil.4.8&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4:6</a></p>
<p>As a child to a parent, I pray to a loving, protective, attentive God who is always near. Sometimes I’m asking for help, other times I’m marveling at the hilarity and beauty of parenting, and other times I’m just thanking Him for the many ways He’s shown me signs of His provision and love.</p>
<p><em>Pray without ceasing</em>. —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5%3A17&version=ESV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/1Thess.5.16-1Thess.5.18&tab=study" title="Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 Thessalonians 5:17</a></p>
<p>I have a new habit. When I wake up, before the chaos begins, I resist grabbing my phone and instead close my eyes and pray. I thank God for waking us up and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121%3A3&version=ESV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/my-father-eyes-are-upon-me-vv-3-4&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 121:3 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">keeping us safe in the night</a>, and ask for help, protection, and direction for this day.</p>
<p>Before bed, we pray as a family, again thanking God for being with us during the day—and whatever else we’d like to tell him.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/help-me-god-im-a-parent-honest-prayers-for-hectic-days-and-endless-nights-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39857953439880&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13125644/Help-Me-God-Im-a-Parent-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Help Me, God, I'm a Parent: Honest Prayers for Hectic Days and Endless Nights audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>But the times I pray the most … well, all day—as I’m driving, making my way through traffic, standing at the kitchen sink with rubber-gloved hands in soapy water, or making dinner. Sometimes my prayers are three-word pleas—“Help me, God”—and other times, I just talk to him.</p>
<p>We don’t have to raise our children alone. In fact, we never will. God has reminded me so many times, especially when I’m afraid or worried, that before they were mine, these children were his. He loves them with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3%3A16-19&version=ESV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2048-Jesus-Christ-love&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 3:16-19 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a love we can’t even imagine</a>.</p>
<p>I hope that in reading the very real prayers that I prayed as a parent, recorded in <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/help-me-god-im-a-parent-honest-prayers-for-hectic-days-and-endless-nights?variant=39857946361992" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Help Me, God, I’m a Parent</em></a>, you are inspired to approach the throne of God with your own prayers for little or big ones.</p>
<p>Praying for our children is a powerful act of love. Prayer changes situations. He’s listening. He loves you and the little hearts in your care.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/help-me-god-im-a-parent-honest-prayers-for-hectic-days-and-endless-nights?variant=39857946361992" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13103851/HelpMeGodParent_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Help Me, God, I'm a Parent" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/help-me-god-im-a-parent-honest-prayers-for-hectic-days-and-endless-nights?variant=39857946361992" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Help Me, God, I’m a Parent: Honest Prayers for Hectic Days and Endless Nights</em></a> by Bunmi Laditan. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/help-me-god-im-a-parent-honest-prayers-for-hectic-days-and-endless-nights?variant=39857946361992" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Trade your fear and anxiety about your children for peace, calm, and confidence in the God who loves and guides you as you parent.</p>
<p>Bestselling author and mom blogger Bunmi Laditan vulnerably shares the prayers she’s prayed for her children as inspiration for your own prayer life. Refreshingly relatable, bravely honest, and deeply heartwarming, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/help-me-god-im-a-parent-honest-prayers-for-hectic-days-and-endless-nights?variant=39857946361992" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Help Me, God, I’m a Parent</em></a> meets you right where you’re at and gives voice to the thoughts everyone—even you—has about parenthood that they are afraid to say out loud.</p>
<p>In the way only she can, Bunmi echoes the same fears, joys, delights, loneliness, regrets, and love you have in your heart through prayers that . . .</p>
<ul>
<li>Bask in the awe and wonder of parenting</li>
<li>Savor joyous moments and big accomplishments</li>
<li>Make you laugh when you need it most</li>
<li>Rejoice in the love you have for your children and the love God has for you</li>
<li>Alleviate worry and anxiety about your children and their futures</li>
<li>Bestow peace and calm in those I’m-at-the-end-of-my-rope moments</li>
<li>Seek wisdom when the advice of the world fails you</li>
<li>Offer humble thanks to a good God for the blessings we see and those we don’t</li>
</ul>
<p>No prayer is more powerful than the one prayed by a parent for their child. Experience today how prayer can change not only your own life but the lives of your children.</p>
<p><strong>Bunmi Laditan</strong> is an award-winning, Webby-nominated writer from California who lives in Quebec, Canada, with her family. She has contributed to the <em>New York Times</em>, <em>Parenting</em>, and the <em>Huffington Post</em> and is best known for the satirical Twitter account Honest Toddler and her books, including <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dear-god-honest-prayers-to-a-god-who-listens?variant=34342293667976" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Dear God</em></a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/the-practice-of-praying-to-a-god-who-listens/">The Practice of Praying to a God Who Listens</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6993640
2022-06-14T00:04:31-12:00
2022-06-14T04:15:13-12:00
Better Living Through Bible Reading
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13081422/Scripture-Engagement-graphic.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." width="90%" /></a></p>
<p>Americans who consistently read and apply the Bible report greater levels of hope and resilience, according to American Bible Society’s 12th annual <a href="https://sotb.research.bible/" title="Visit the State of the Bible website" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>State of the Bible</em></a> report. The study shows that those who interact on a regular basis with the God of the Bible see their lives change for the better. Overall scores of Human Flourishing have risen to or exceeded the pre-pandemic levels.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/scripture-engagement-is-healthy-for-you/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You</em></a>]</p>
<p>The Human Flourishing Index was developed at Harvard University’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health focusing on six areas of human life:</p>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13162241/Scripture-Engagement-human-flourishing-chart.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13162241/Scripture-Engagement-human-flourishing-chart.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." width="45%" /></a></p>
<ol>
<li> Happiness and Life Satisfaction</li>
<li> Mental and Physical Health</li>
<li> Meaning and Purpose</li>
<li> Character and Virtue</li>
<li> Close Social Relationships</li>
<li> Financial and Material Stability</li>
</ol>
<p>The first five categories are combined to attain the Human Flourishing Index score on a scale of 1 to 10. When financial stability is added to the mix, a separate Secure Flourishing score is created.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/dont-merely-read-the-bible-engage-with-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!</em></a>]</p>
<p>Students of the Bible shouldn’t be surprised by these findings. The principle of character growth through hardship resounds through Scripture. “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A3&version=NLT&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Spiritual-Dynamics-Trials&tab=study" title="Read James 1:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James 1:3 NLT</a>). Jesus also promoted a particular sense of material stability when he said, “Do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body. After all, isn’t life worth more than food?” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A25&version=GNT&resource_entry=nivac-matthew/choose-your-provider-god-or-worry-6-25-34&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6:25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6:25 GNT</a>). In fact, biblical principles connect well with a number of the Human Flourishing domains.</p>
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<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>Scripture Engaged people scored 19% higher than the Bible Disengaged on the five-domain Human Flourishing Index. In every one of those five areas, the scores of the Scripture Engaged significantly exceed those of the Bible Disengaged and the Movable Middle. Thus, regularly engaging the Bible helps people develop satisfying relationships, a growing character, general happiness, healthy habits, and above all a sense of meaning and purpose.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/04/the-abide-bible-engaging-scripture-engaging-god/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Abide Bible: Engaging Scripture, Engaging God" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Abide Bible: Engaging Scripture, Engaging God</em></a>]</p>
<p>“To put it simply: the Bible’s message is not only spiritually transformative; it also transforms how we experience life on earth,” says John Farquhar Plake, PhD, director of ministry intelligence for American Bible Society. “There is restoration and healing in the Word of God, and we urgently need to point our hurting neighbors toward that life-changing truth.”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/31093311/The-Abide-Bible-Initiative-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." width="70%" /></a></p>
<p>In partnership with the <a href="https://www.taylor.edu/center-for-scripture-engagement/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="Visit the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement website" target="_blank">Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement</a>, <a href="https://americanbible.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="Visit the American Bible Society website" target="_blank">American Bible Society</a>, and <a href="https://churchsource.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Visit the ChurchSource website" target="_blank">ChurchSource</a>, Bible Gateway invites you to <strong>sign up to receive the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." target="_blank"><em>The Abide Bible Initiative</em></a> free email devotional</strong> to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style. You’ll be introduced to five Bible reading plans based on the five Scripture engagement practices used in <a href="https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/abidebible/" title="Learn more about The Abide Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Abide Bible</em></a>:</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Contemplate.</strong> Follow the simple four-step practice of feasting on God’s Word by reading a passage, meditating on its meaning and application, praying, and finally sitting silently, abiding in God’s presence through the words of Scripture.</li>
<li> <strong>Picture It.</strong> Place yourself in a biblical narrative as a bystander or participant in important events.</li>
<li> <strong>Praying Scripture.</strong> Pattern your prayers after biblical texts, personalizing the prayer and gaining language for the thoughts and emotions you want to express.</li>
<li> <strong>Engage Through Art.</strong> Consider a classic artwork—photograph, sculpture, painting—and let it deepen your meditations on scriptural truths.</li>
<li> <strong>Journal.</strong> Focus and reflect on Scripture and its meaning for your life, opening yourself to God’s voice through the Holy Spirit.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center>
<em>Sign up to <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">get the</a></strong></em><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Know the Bible <em>free email lesson series</em></a></strong><em> from Bible Gateway.</em>
</center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>Study Scripture with your favorite Bible teachers by becoming a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it free right now during a FREE trial period!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/better-living-through-bible-reading/">Better Living Through Bible Reading </a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6992677
2022-06-12T23:23:43-12:00
2022-06-13T01:15:10-12:00
Finding Hope During Hard Times
<p><a href="https://henrinouwen.org/about/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/09125334/Henri-Nouwen.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Henri Nouwen" width="27%" /></a><strong>By Henri Nouwen</strong></p>
<p>Healing begins with our taking our pain out of its diabolic isolation and seeing that whatever we suffer, we suffer it in communion with all of humanity, and yes, all of creation. In so doing, we become participants in the great battle against the powers of darkness. Our little lives participate in something larger.</p>
<p>We are called to grieve our losses. It seems paradoxical, but healing and dancing begin with looking squarely at what causes us pain. We face the secret losses that have paralyzed us and kept us imprisoned in denial or shame or guilt. We do not nurse the illusion that we can hopscotch our way through difficulties. For by trying to hide parts of our story from God’s eye and our own consciousness, we become judges of our own past. We limit divine mercy to our human fears. Our efforts to disconnect ourselves from our own suffering end up disconnecting our suffering from God’s suffering for us. The way out of our loss and hurt is in and through. When Jesus said, “For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9%3A13&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Mission-Is-Those-Who-Acknowledge&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 9:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 9:13</a>), he affirmed that only those who can face their wounded condition can be available for healing and enter a new way of living.</p>
<p><span id="more-69102"></span></p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/turn-my-mourning-into-dancing-finding-hope-in-hard-times?variant=39537060053128&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/09125805/Turn-My-Mourning-into-Dancing.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Turn My Mourning into Dancing: Finding Hope During Hard Times in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="25%" /></a></p>
<p>Sometimes we need to ask ourselves just what our losses are. Doing so reminds us how real the experience of loss is. Perhaps you know what it is to have a parent die. We may experience the death of a child or of friends. And we lose people, sometimes just as painfully, through misunderstanding, conflict, or anger. I may expect a friend to visit, but he does not come. I speak to a group and expect a warm reception, but no one really seems to respond. Someone may take from us a job, a career, a good name.</p>
<p>Typically we see such hardship as an obstacle to what we think we should be—healthy, good-looking, free of discomfort. We consider suffering as annoying at best, meaningless at worst. We strive to get rid of our pains in whatever way we can. A part of us prefers the illusion that our losses are not real, that they come only as temporary interruptions. We thereby expend much energy in denial. “They should not prevent us from holding on to the real thing,” we say to ourselves.</p>
<p>Several temptations feed this denial. Our incessant busyness, for example, becomes a way to escape what must some days be confronted. The world in which we live lies in the power of the Evil One, and the Evil One would prefer to distract us and fill every little space with things to do, people to meet, business to accomplish, products to be made. He does not allow any space for genuine grief and mourning. Our busyness becomes a curse, even while we think it provides us with relief from the pain inside. Our over-packed lives serve only to keep us from facing the inevitable difficulty that we all, at some time or another, must face.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/turn-my-mourning-into-dancing-finding-hope-during-hard-times-audiobook-unabridged?variant=40226725953672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/09125817/Turn-My-Mourning-into-Dancing-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Turn My Mourning into Dancing: Finding Hope During Hard Times audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="25%" /></a></p>
<p>The voice of evil also tries to tempt us to put on an invincible front. Words such as vulnerability, letting go, surrendering, crying, mourning, and grief are not to be found in the devil’s dictionary. Someone once said to me, “Never show your weakness, for you will be used; never be vulnerable, for you will get hurt; never depend on others, for you will lose your freedom.” This might sound very wise, but it does not echo the voice of wisdom. It mimics a world that wants us to respect without question the social boundaries and compulsions that our society has defined for us.</p>
<p>Facing our losses also means avoiding a temptation to see life as an exercise in having needs met. We are needy people, of course: We want attention, affection, influence, power. And our needs seem never to be satisfied. Even altruistic actions can get tangled with these needs. Then, when people or circumstances do not fulfill all of our needs, we withdraw or lash out. We nurse our wounded spirits. And we become even needier. We crave easy assurances, ignoring anything that would suggest another way.</p>
<p>We also like easy victories: growth without crisis, healing without pains, the resurrection without the cross. No wonder our communities seem organized to keep suffering at a distance: People are buried in ways that shroud death with euphemism and ornate furnishings. Institutions hide away the mentally ill and criminal offenders in a continuing denial that they belong to the human family. Even our daily customs lead us to cloak our feelings and speak politely through clenched teeth and prevent honest, healing confrontation. Friendships become superficial and temporary.</p>
<p>The way of Jesus looks very different. While Jesus brought great comfort and came with kind words and a healing touch, he did not come to take all our pains away. Jesus entered into Jerusalem in his last days on a donkey, like a clown at a parade. This was his way of reminding us that we fool ourselves when we insist on easy victories. When we think we can succeed in cloaking what ails us and our times in pleasantness. Much that is worthwhile comes only through confrontation.</p>
<p>The way from Palm Sunday to Easter is the patient way, the suffering way. Indeed, our word patience comes from the ancient root <em>patior</em>, “to suffer.” To learn patience is not to rebel against every hardship. For if we insist on continuing to cover our pains with easy “Hosannas,” we run the risk of losing our patience. We are likely to become bitter and cynical or violent and aggressive when the shallowness of the easy way wears through.</p>
<p>Instead, Christ invites us to remain in touch with the many sufferings of every day and to taste the beginning of hope and new life right there, where we live amid our hurts and pains and brokenness. By observing his life, his followers discover that when all of the crowd’s “Hosannas” had fallen silent, when disciples and friends had left him, and after Jesus cried out, “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A46&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Dies-Wounded-but-Trusting-His&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 27:46 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?</a>” then it was that the Son of Man rose from death. Then he broke through the chains of death and became Savior. That is the patient way, slowly leading me from the easy triumph to the hard victory.</p>
<p>I am less likely to deny my suffering when I learn how God uses it to mold me and draw me closer to him. I will be less likely to see my pains as interruptions to my plans and more able to see them as the means for God to make me ready to receive him. I let Christ live near my hurts and distractions. I remember an old priest who one day said to me, “I have always been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted; then I realized that the interruptions were my work.”</p>
<blockquote><p>The above article is excerpted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/turn-my-mourning-into-dancing-finding-hope-in-hard-times?variant=39537060053128&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Turn My Mourning into Dancing: Finding Hope During Hard Times in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><em>Turn My Mourning into Dancing: Finding Hope During Hard Times</em></strong></a> by Henri Nouwen; compiled and edited by Timothy Jones. Copyright © 2001 Estate of Henri Nouwen. Published by W Publishing Group. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. <a title="thomasnelson.com" href="https://www.thomasnelson.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.thomasnelson.com</a>. All rights reserved.</p></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/turn-my-mourning-into-dancing-finding-hope-in-hard-times?variant=39537060053128&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Turn My Mourning into Dancing: Finding Hope During Hard Times in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Turn My Mourning into Dancing: Finding Hope During Hard Times</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932-1996) (<a href="https://twitter.com/nouwensociety" title="Henri Nouwen Society Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@nouwensociety</a>) was the author of <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=710640&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of With Open Hands in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>With Open Hands</em></a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=03212&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Reaching Out in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Reaching Out</em></a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=14803&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Wounded Healer in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Wounded Healer</em></a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=6326X&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Making All Things New in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Making All Things New</em></a>, and many other bestsellers. He was the senior pastor of L’Arche Daybreak in Toronto, Canada, a community where men and women with mental disabilities and their assistants create a home for one another.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/finding-hope-during-hard-times/">Finding Hope During Hard Times</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6991188
2022-06-10T01:55:00-12:00
2022-06-10T05:30:25-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of June 5, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/weekly-brief-week-of-june-5-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of June 5, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6990189
2022-06-09T02:08:35-12:00
2022-06-09T02:30:14-12:00
How to Live the Bible — How Do We Know What to Believe?
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-twelfth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p><em>“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A18-19&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4018-life-spiritual&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 1:18-19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 1:18-19</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/09095304/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Doorway.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Illustration of a man looking through an open doorway." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-69104"></span></p>
<p>How do we know what to believe?</p>
<p>Now <em>that</em> is an important question. Everything we do in life, every choice we make, every reaction we have to the people in our lives, every opinion we have about how things are going in our communities and our nation, flow out of that structure hidden deep in our minds and hearts: what we believe.</p>
<p>Some of our beliefs are good perceptions of reality, but some are mistakes. Someone once said (and it has been repeated many times): “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.” What utter nonsense. Of course it matters what we believe. Unfounded beliefs can kill us, literally. Belief is about reality, not about feeling or preference. Sincerity of belief is only as good as the soundness of the belief.</p>
<p>My wife and I used to live in a house right where a state highway made a perfect 90 degree turn. Once in a while, in the middle of the night, we heard the screech of tires and a decisive thump. Then silence. One more driver who believed the road ahead was straight, but discovered the hard truth that there was a 90 degree turn. It didn’t matter that they believed the road was straight. It didn’t matter that their belief was sincere. Ditches have a way of asserting themselves.</p>
<p>Reality rules every time.</p>
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<p>Once I was in a conversation with a friend about alien life forms and whether it is possible they have visited Earth. Her comment struck me: “I could believe that.” That was an honest statement. But, of course, the issue is not what we <em>could</em> believe, but what we <em>should</em> believe. The issue is whether there is <em>evidence</em> to believe something is true. Now that takes some work. We have to think. We have to listen to sources of evidence, and before that, judge the <em>reliability</em> of the sources of evidence. Some people don’t want to do that work. They just want to know who to follow, nodding in agreement on every issue.</p>
<p>So let’s break this down. What are the steps each of us should take in deciding what we should believe? There are specific methods for this. Historically proven steps. This applies to whether you are deciding to accept your doctor’s analysis that you have cancer, or what source to turn to for weather forecasts, or whether someone is guilty of a crime. There is a wonderful consistency in the proper steps of seeking truth.</p>
<p>Here is one way of describing that progression.</p>
<p>Step 1. <em>Ask good questions.</em></p>
<p>Oftentimes in life finding answers is not that difficult. The issue is whether we are asking the right questions.</p>
<p>Here are some <u>good</u> questions:</p>
<ul>
<li> How can I be a better person?</li>
<li> Whom do I know who knows what is right and wrong?</li>
<li> What does it mean to live a good life?</li>
<li> What are my core responsibilities as a parent?</li>
<li> What is the law of the land, and how can I be committed to it?</li>
</ul>
<p>Here are some <u>inferior</u> questions:</p>
<ul>
<li> How can I feel good?</li>
<li> What’s in it for me?</li>
<li> How can I avoid people who make me uncomfortable?</li>
<li> Why are those other people so despicable?</li>
<li> How can I hoard what I have?</li>
<li> How can I cheat in order to win?</li>
<li> Who has raw power and how can I attach myself to them?</li>
</ul>
<p>Our instincts about what questions to ask in life reveal the disposition of our minds and hearts. Before we go looking for answers, we need to ask ourselves whether we are asking good, life-giving questions.</p>
<p>[to be continued]<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/how-to-live-the-bible-how-do-we-know-what-to-believe/">How to Live the Bible — How Do We Know What to Believe?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6989250
2022-06-07T22:46:00-12:00
2022-06-07T23:30:01-12:00
Your Pain Has a Purpose
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/06113705/ScottSauls_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pastor Scott Sauls" width="33%" />By Scott Sauls</strong></p>
<p>Regret from the past dies hard for us. The one whom the Bible calls “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2012:9-11&version=NET&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Voice-Heaven-695&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 12:9-11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the accuser</a>” throws it in our faces, keeping memories about the worst things we’ve done so alive that in our minds, they start to define us.</p>
<p>“I said something mean” becomes “I am mean.”</p>
<p>“I did something ugly” becomes “I am ugly.”</p>
<p>“I made a big mistake” becomes “I am a big mistake.”</p>
<p>Guilt (the regrettable things we have done) can so easily turn into toxic shame (the regrettable worms that we are) as we appraise our own worth. The interplay between guilt and toxic shame becomes, for some of us, a distinction without a difference.</p>
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<p>Whenever toxic shame gains a foothold, things like grace, forgiveness, and new mercies leak out of us like water passing through a drain hole. It’s almost as if we’re hardwired for self-loathing, trapped in its grip like a tired, demoralized, wing-clipped eagle stuck in a birdcage.</p>
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<p>One of the main reasons why I wrote <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/beautiful-people-dont-just-happen-how-god-redeems-regret-hurt-and-fear-in-the-making-of-better-humans?variant=39813658509448" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen</em></a> is to help people stuck in the birdcage get their wings and freedom back. There is a bright blue sky of forgiveness and grace for demoralized, defeated souls. The air space is unlimited and free. Freedom is what God wants for us. Even as I write this, I pray that the ugly things from your past would lose their grip on you. I pray that you will come to understand that even though the ugly things are part of your story, they don’t define you. I pray also that the eyes of your heart will be opened to receive the grace that is greater than the very worst thing about you. You couldn’t escape it if you tried because as sure as his tomb is empty, the goodness and mercy of Christ will follow you all the days of your life. (See <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A6&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Psalm 23:6</a>.)</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/07/the-biblical-method-for-soothing-rage-an-interview-with-scott-sauls/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Biblical Method for Soothing Rage: An Interview with Scott Sauls" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Biblical Method for Soothing Rage: An Interview with Scott Sauls</em></a>]</p>
<p>Regret is not the only thing that has had me trapped in the birdcage. If you have read my other writings or listened to my sermons, you may recall that I have experienced depression from time to time. I have had other hurts also. I have buried a few family members and lost some friends to suicide. I have been immobilized by hypochondria and chronic sickness, diminished by insomnia and fatigue, discouraged and made lonely by rejection, aggrieved by loss and death, humiliated by gossip and slander, demoralized by fear and failure, and traumatized by abuse from my childhood. Being a deeply flawed and sinful man, I have also brought some hurt on myself and others. I know the wearying effects of holding a grudge, living in denial, nursing toxic shame, and injuring people that I love.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/01/how-to-be-the-kind-of-christian-people-cant-resist-an-interview-with-scott-sauls/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Be the Kind of Christian People Can’t Resist: An Interview with Scott Sauls" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Be the Kind of Christian People Can’t Resist: An Interview with Scott Sauls</em></a>]</p>
<p>Although I am familiar with pain, I have never contemplated self-harm. But there have been times when I told God that I had nothing left to give and would be fine if he took me Home. In hindsight, I’m very glad that he chose not to do this, because the darker and sadder seasons of life have served, ever so reliably and consistently, to expand my belief in and experience of the goodness of God. Through pain and sorrow, I have been tutored in the counterintuitive nature of his ways. I have learned that the greatest strength comes through the avenue of weakness, the greatest wisdom through the avenue of disorientation, the greatest joy through the avenue of sorrow, and the greatest worship through the avenue of doubt.</p>
<p>As Melville said bluntly, “Heaven have mercy on us all—Presbyterians and Pagans alike—for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending.”</p>
<p>And mend the cracks in us, Jesus does.</p>
<p>If these ideas feel foreign or bothersome to you, I hope they will start to feel more familiar and welcomed as you work your way through these pages. I believe that God wants to do this work in you as you seek from him a wisdom that is higher than your own, and a peace that transcends human understanding. Growing in the ways of God to become a more complete version of yourself is a lot like making a long-term commitment to physical fitness. The path toward becoming spiritually strong works a lot like good nutrition and exercise do.</p>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>When you first start working with a trainer at the gym, her command that you do 25 pushups before quitting can feel like too much. With each subsequent pushup on that first day, you feel like you are getting weaker. But the truth is—and the trainer knows this—you are getting stronger. If you keep coming back and submitting to the discomfort, you will soon be able to do 25 pushups with ease, then later 50, 75, 100.</p>
<p>The human soul under the disciplined regimen of God works like muscles do under the disciplined regimen of a trainer. The more the soul is worked and stretched to its limits, the more able it becomes to endure suffering and enjoy God all at once. When this happens in us, we become the best kind of dangerous. The more we get pushed, the more pushing we can do, and the more able we become to show up for others in <em>their</em> toil and tribulation. When God’s children start showing up for each other, the accuser starts to tremble.</p>
<p>God assigns purpose and meaning to the hurt we feel, even when we can’t see his hand clearly. His approach is never punitive and always instructive, even surgical. As a self-proclaimed physician for the mending of body and soul, our Lord never stabs his children as with a sword. Instead, he only cuts us, ever so carefully, as with a scalpel. He wounds us sometimes, but always and only to heal us. “In your struggle . . . endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children . . . God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A4-11&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8231-discipline-divine&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 12:4–11 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hebrews 12:4–11</a>)</p>
<p>The first time I heard these verses from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Hebrews on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hebrews</a> was when an older Christian man introduced me to them after someone broke my heart. I was upset with him for choosing these verses. I didn’t want to hear that my pain had a mysterious purpose, much less that God was somehow behind it. Looking back, I realize now how shortsighted I was for being upset. I would later discover that these were the perfect and truest words for the season, and they have been for many seasons since. Sometimes we can’t see the truth about God and ourselves until we see it in a rearview mirror.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/beautiful-people-dont-just-happen-how-god-redeems-regret-hurt-and-fear-in-the-making-of-better-humans-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39813658181768&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/06123805/Beautiful-People-Dont-Just-Happen-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Beautiful People Don't Just Happen: How God Redeems Regret, Hurt, and Fear in the Making of Better Humans audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>Whatever hurt you may have faced or are facing now, I hope that <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/beautiful-people-dont-just-happen-how-god-redeems-regret-hurt-and-fear-in-the-making-of-better-humans?variant=39813658509448" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen</em></a> will help you avoid wormholes like cynicism and despair, and instead discover—as the apostle Paul did even from a hot, filthy prison cell—what he famously called “the secret of contentment.” This secret, he tells us, is something that he had to learn, in the same way that Jesus learned obedience through the things that he suffered. Paul’s secret did not come home to him naturally, but supernaturally. When it did, he found contentment and even joy in times of plenty <em>and</em> in times of want, in times of gain <em>and</em> in times of loss, in times of happiness <em>and</em> in times of hurt. “I can do all things,” Paul wrote, “through [Christ] who strengthens me.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A10-13&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/a-pauls-contentment-and-sufficiency-in-christ-4-10-13&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4:10–13 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 4:10–13</a>)</p>
<p>I want you to know Christ as Paul did, and as I am learning to know him also. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/beautiful-people-dont-just-happen-how-god-redeems-regret-hurt-and-fear-in-the-making-of-better-humans?variant=39813658509448" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen</em></a> is written, in part, to assist you in this. As you read it, I pray that the secret of contentment in times of want, loss, and other things that hurt will become less of a secret and more of a familiar friend for you, just as it has become for me through the years.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/beautiful-people-dont-just-happen-how-god-redeems-regret-hurt-and-fear-in-the-making-of-better-humans?variant=39813658509448" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/06113112/BeautifulPeople_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Beautiful People Don't Just Happen" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/beautiful-people-dont-just-happen-how-god-redeems-regret-hurt-and-fear-in-the-making-of-better-humans?variant=39813658509448" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen: How God Redeems Regret, Hurt, and Fear in the Making of Better Humans</em></a> by Scott Sauls. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/beautiful-people-dont-just-happen-how-god-redeems-regret-hurt-and-fear-in-the-making-of-better-humans?variant=39813658509448" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Find the freedom from regret, hurt, and fear that God wants for you while discovering joy, relief, and hope as you become the beautiful human he created you to be.</p>
<p>We all carry regret, hurt, and fear. These are burdens that weigh us down and make us feel trapped.</p>
<p>In 25 years of pastoral ministry, Scott Sauls has come alongside countless individuals and communities through weary seasons and circumstances. From his own seasons of regret, hurt, and fear—including battles with anxiety and depression—he knows what it’s like to be unfinished and on the mend under Jesus’ merciful, mighty healing hand.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/beautiful-people-dont-just-happen-how-god-redeems-regret-hurt-and-fear-in-the-making-of-better-humans?variant=39813658509448" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen</em></a> reads like a field guide that can help you:</p>
<ul>
<li>Find hope in how God is drawn toward you, not appalled by you, in your sin and sorrow.</li>
<li>Practice emotional health with joy, gratitude, and lament.</li>
<li>Quiet shaming, wearying thoughts with God’s divine counter-voice.</li>
<li>Discover how the defining feeling of faith is not strength but dependent weakness.</li>
<li>Learn what the Bible calls “the secret of being content” in every circumstance.</li>
</ul>
<p>Dare to embrace the contentment, hope, and fullness God wants for you—offered to all who will receive it.</p>
<p><strong>Scott Sauls</strong> is senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and author of <em>Jesus Outside the Lines</em>, <em>Befriend</em>, <em>From Weakness to Strength</em>, <em>Irresistible Faith</em>, and <em>A Gentle Answer</em>. Scott also served at New York City’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church as a lead and preaching pastor and planted two churches in the Midwest. His work has been featured in publications including <em>Christianity Today</em>, <em>Relevant</em>, <em>Qideas</em>, <em>Propel Women</em>, <em>He Reads Truth</em>, <em>Leadership Magazine</em>, <em>The Gospel Coalition</em>, <em>Table Talk</em>, and <em>Made to Flourish</em>. Scott writes weekly at <a href="https://scottsauls.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scottsauls.com</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/your-pain-has-a-purpose/">Your Pain Has a Purpose</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6988439
2022-06-06T22:52:00-12:00
2022-06-07T00:45:15-12:00
How to Use the Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/thompson-chain-reference-bible?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/19144859/Thompson-Chain-Reference-Bible-shelf.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="65%" /></a>The <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/thompson-chain-reference-bible?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em></strong></a> (Zondervan) (<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/thompsonchainreferenceblog-home/" title="Thompson Chain-Reference Bible website" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>), first published in 1908, is one of the oldest and most widely used study Bibles available today. Since its first publication, it has been refined and expanded upon several times to create a robust, single-volume library of Bible study tools.</p>
<p>The TCR stands apart from other study Bibles in that it doesn’t include verse-by-verse commentary. Instead, it combines a 100,000-entry topical chain-reference system with an extensive topical index that connects over 8,000 topics. This system allows Scripture to interpret Scripture, making it an excellent, unbiased study Bible for anyone in any denomination.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/thompson-chain-reference-bible-updated-and-on-bible-gateway-plus/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Thompson Chain-Reference Bible Updated and On Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible Updated and On Bible Gateway Plus</em></a>]</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>
<strong>The <em>Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible</em> is one of the more than 50 Bible study references conveniently available to members of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a>.</strong> Learn how you can <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">try it right now!</a>
</center>
</blockquote>
<p>In this article we’ll discuss the Thompson chain-reference system, indexes, and some of its main study tools, and explore how they work together to create a one-of-a-kind study system that’s as easy to use as it is in-depth.</p>
<p><span id="more-68581"></span></p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DlaeB5e9Y58" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<h3>Thompson’s Topical Chain-Reference System</h3>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/19145840/Thompson-Topical-Chain-Reference-System.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/19145840/Thompson-Topical-Chain-Reference-System.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge this image" width="95%" /></a></p>
<p>As you can see in the illustration above, the TCR chain-reference system lists topics that pertain to each verse in the Bible. Each one of these topics includes a topic number that corresponds to a number in the Numerical Index of Topics. They also point forward through the Bible to other references to the same topic. Each of these topics is placed neatly in the margins next to the verses to which they correspond.</p>
<p>As an example, let’s look at the topic <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A2&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-thompson-chain/witnesses-3855a&tab=study" title="See the Thompson Chain-Reference note for Luke 1:2 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Witnesses (2)”</a> that is in the margin next to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A2&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-thompson-chain/witnesses-3855a&tab=study" title="See the Thompson Chain-Reference note for Luke 1:2 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 1:2</a>, above. Next to the topic name you’ll see its topic number (3855a), which corresponds to a listing to the Numerical Index of Topics in the back of the Bible. Finally, this entry points you to the next verse in the topic chain, which in this case is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A48&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-thompson-chain/witnesses-3855a&tab=study" title="See the Thompson Chain-Reference note for Luke 24:48 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24:48</a>. There you’ll find the same topic with the same topic number, and you’ll be able to follow that topic to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201%3A7&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-thompson-chain/witnesses-3855a&tab=study" title="See the Thompson Chain-Reference note for John 1:7 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the next applicable verse in that chain</a>.</p>
<p>Using this system, you can easily trace a topic through the Bible one verse at a time based on what you’re reading in the Bible. Or, if you want a broader overview of any particular topic, you can search the references in two major indexes to find what you’re looking for (see the following).</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/the-thompson-chain-reference-bible-where-it-came-from-how-to-use-it-and-where-its-going/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible: Where It Came From, How to Use It, and Where It’s Going" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible: Where It Came From, How to Use It, and Where It’s Going</em></a>]</p>
<h3>Alphabetical Index of Topics</h3>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01162935/Alphabetical-Index-of-Topics.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01162935/Alphabetical-Index-of-Topics.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge this image" width="95%" /></a><br>
The Alphabetical Index of Topics is the first major index in the back of every TCR Bible. This lists all the topics found in the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible and provides their topic numbers so they can be found in the other study tools. This is a great place for you to start when you’re interested in studying a topic, since each topic is listed here alphabetically.</p>
<p>To find any topic in the Bible, you only need to search the Alphabetical Index of Topics for the topic name, which leads you toward your next step: studying the topic in a more in-depth way via the next major index.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<h3>Numerical Index of Topics</h3>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01163101/Numerical-Index-of-Topics.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01163101/Numerical-Index-of-Topics.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge this image" width="95%" /></a><br>
The Numerical Index of Topics is the second major index in the back of each TCR Bible. This is a large, multifaceted index that lists over 4,200 topics and their related subtopics. The index first provides a short description of each topic and then provides a list of Scripture references that are helpful in studying this particular topic. See, for example, APPAREL, which is topic number 53 above. The recommended verses to study this topic are listed first, with the most applicable references for this topic printed in red. To speed along the overview, the first few of those most important verses are printed in full within the topic category (for example, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+5%3A12&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-thompson-chain/apparel-53&tab=study" title="See the Thompson Chain-Reference note for 2 Chronicles 5:12 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 5:12</a>).</p>
<p>Many topics also include the names and numbers of related topics for further study. Each of the topic numbers match those in the topical chain-reference system found in the margins next to the Bible text.</p>
<p>Once you identify a topic you want to research, either from looking at the marginal references or through searching the Alphabetical Index of Topics, you’ll then turn to the Numerical Index of Topics to see the helpful list of Scriptures, references, and related topics that will deepen your study.</p>
<p>This Numerical Index of Topics is a powerful study tool and the central resource of this topical cross-reference Bible. As it features Bible verses printed out in full, you can get a quick, entry-level overview of how Scripture interprets Scripture for that particular topic, broadening your perspective on the topic studied. Then, using the other robust offerings under that topic, you can explore related topics, each of which likely leads to more related topics. Using this unique, multifaceted tool will yield great opportunities for exploration and discovery as studying the interconnected passages of the Bible opens up new levels of understanding.</p>
<h3>Other Tools: Condensed Outline of the Bible</h3>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01163222/Condensed-Outline-of-the-Bible.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01163222/Condensed-Outline-of-the-Bible.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge this image" width="95%" /></a><br>
The Condensed Outline of the Bible gives a brief overview of each Bible book. Biblical books are separated into the Old Testament and New Testament, and then further divided into sections that form the traditional literary divisions within the Bible. The Old Testament divisions include</p>
<ul>
<li> the Pentateuch</li>
<li> Historical Books</li>
<li> Prophetical Books and</li>
<li> Minor Prophets.</li>
</ul>
<p>The New Testament divisions include</p>
<ul>
<li> the Gospels</li>
<li> the NT’s one Historical Book (The Acts of the Apostles)</li>
<li> the Epistles of Paul</li>
<li> the General Epistles and</li>
<li> the NT’s one Prophetical Book (Revelation).</li>
</ul>
<p>This brief overview includes a table that outlines periods of biblical history. This chart covers Old Testament history, the interval between the testaments, and New Testament history. The table also shows how the biblical events overlap in time with secular historical events.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center>
<em>Sign up to <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">get the</a></strong></em><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Know the Bible <em>free email lesson series</em></a></strong><em> from Bible Gateway.</em>
</center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<h3>Book Introductions</h3>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01163323/Book-Introductions.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01163323/Book-Introductions.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge this image" width="95%" /></a><br>
Book introductions for each book of the Bible list key information related to each book. This includes information on prominent characters of the Bible, key ideas and concepts to look for, a sampling of major chains to follow within each book, and short synopsis of key topics (for example, the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-thompson-chain/intro-to-luke-4261&tab=study" title="See the Thompson Chain-Reference book introduction for the Gospel of Luke with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospel of Luke</a>).</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>
<strong>The <em>Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible</em> is one of the more than 50 Bible study references conveniently available to members of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a>.</strong> Learn how you can <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">try it right now!</a>
</center>
</blockquote>
<h3>Bible Character Studies</h3>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01163412/Bible-Character-Studies.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01163412/Bible-Character-Studies.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge this image" width="95%" /></a><br>
Bible Character Studies provide biographical sketches and outline studies of some of the Bible’s most prominent characters that includes detailed information about each characters, their families, and descriptions of key events in their lives (for example, the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+6%3A12&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-thompson-chain/gideon-the-mighty-man-of-valor-4291&tab=study" title="See the Thompson Chain-Reference character study on the life of Gideon with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">life of Gideon</a>).</p>
<h3>Bible Harmonies and Illustrated Studies</h3>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01163514/Bible-Harmonies-and-Illustrated-Studies.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01163514/Bible-Harmonies-and-Illustrated-Studies.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge this image" width="95%" /></a><br>
Bible Harmonies and Illustrated Studies include life overviews of Moses, Jesus, and Paul. These overviews include maps and detailed descriptions of the lives of these three major biblical characters. Also included in the larger section are maps and other features that detail important events in biblical history. It also includes many helps for Christian workers.</p>
<p>Tools in this study resource section include</p>
<ul>
<li> an Outline History of the Early Church</li>
<li> a chart detailing the Distance in Miles Between Old Testament Cities</li>
<li> a Topical Treasury of concepts and their related verses</li>
<li> a helpful listing of Christian Worker’s Texts</li>
<li> some notable Memory Verses and Aids to Memorization</li>
<li> a listing of Places of Religious Worship and Religious Leaders and finally</li>
<li> a helpful description and table that outlines Hebrew Times, Seasons, and Festivals.</li>
</ul>
<p>But there’s also much more to explore in this resource section.</p>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/thompson-chain-reference-bible?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em></strong></a> is one of the most helpful and in-depth study Bibles available today. Since its first publication in 1908 it has become a beloved study resource for generations of readers. Its topical tools are designed specifically to help you study any biblical topic, biblical character, event, concept, or idea. The study tools direct you toward deeper study that comes straight from Scripture itself.</p>
<p>Each of the available tools in this Bible allow Scripture to interpret Scripture, which opens up new levels of understanding for you while also ensuring that the tools are unbiased. New updated and revised editions of the TCR are now available in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New International Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New International Version (NIV)</a>, with the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/King-James-Version-KJV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the King James Version (KJV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">King James Version (KJV)</a> to be released in November 2022.</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/how-to-use-the-thompson-chain-reference-bible/">How to Use the Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6987686
2022-06-05T21:13:00-12:00
2022-06-06T02:15:11-12:00
Evangelism: The Romans Road to Salvation (Bible Verses)
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/becoming-a-contagious-christian-leaders-guide-communicating-your-faith-in-a-style-that-fits-you?variant=13760264437871&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/02095209/Becoming-a-Contagious-Christian.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Becoming a Contagious Christian in the Bible Gateway Store" width="22%" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&resource_entry=nivac-sample/John.3.16-John.3.21&tab=study" title="Read John 3:16 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 3:16</a> is known as “the gospel in a nutshell.” Another quick reference is the Romans Road to Salvation: a selection of Bible verses from the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Romans on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">book of Romans</a> that present the plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.</p>
<p>[<a href="http://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bg-academic/bg-apologetics/bg-evangelism?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=cbdproduct" title="See Evangelism resources in the Bible Gateway Store" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">See Evangelism resources in the Bible Gateway Store</a>]</p>
<blockquote>
<h3>The Problem</h3>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A22-24&version=CEB&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.3.22-Rom.3.23&tab=study" title="Read Romans 3:22-24 (CEB) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Romans 3:23 (CEB)</strong></a><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/how-to-talk-about-jesus-without-being-that-guy-personal-evangelism-in-a-skeptical-world?variant=33697282293896&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/18165203/How-to-Talk-About-Jesus.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of How to Talk about Jesus (Without Being That Guy): Personal Evangelism in a Skeptical World in the FaithGateway Store" width="21%" /></a>All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A10-18&version=CEV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/3-whole-world-is-guilty-3-9-20&tab=study" title="Read Romans 3:10-18 (CEV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Romans 3:10 (CEV)</strong></a><br>
The Scriptures tell us, “No one is acceptable to God!”</p>
<p><span id="more-23606"></span></p>
<blockquote>
<h3>The Consequences</h3>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A12&version=NIRV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/2-basis-our-justification-5-12-21&tab=study" title="Read Romans 5:12 (NIrV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Romans 5:12 (NIrV)</strong></a><br>
Sin entered the world because one man sinned. And death came because of sin.<br>
Everyone sinned, so death came to all people.<a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/contagious-faith-study?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/01154648/Contagious-Faith.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Contagious Faith: Discover Your Natural Style for Sharing Jesus with Others in the FaithGateway Store" width="21%" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6%3A23&version=ERV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.6.23&tab=study" title="Read Romans 6:23 (ERV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Romans 6:23 (ERV)</strong></a><br>
When people sin, they earn what sin pays—death. But God gives his people a free gift—eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/the-case-for-christ?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/07113936/CaseForChrist.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Case for Christ in the FaithGateway Store" width="21%" /></a></p>
<blockquote>
<h3>The Scope</h3>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1%3A19-20&version=ICB&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/romans-1-18-3-20&tab=study" title="Read Romans 1:19-20 (ICB) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Romans 1:20 (ICB)</strong></a><br>
There are things about God that people cannot see—his eternal power and all the things that make him God. But since the beginning of the world those things have been easy to understand. They are made clear by what God has made. So people have no excuse for the bad things they do.</p>
<blockquote>
<h3>The Solution<a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/how-to-follow-jesus-a-practical-guide-for-growing-your-faith?variant=29517836320879&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/17144843/How-to-Follow-Jesus.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of How to Follow Jesus: A Practical Guide to Growing Your Faith in the FaithGateway Store" width="21%" /></a>
</h3>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A7-9&version=GNT&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.5.5-Rom.5.8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 5:7-9 (GNT) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Romans 5:8 (GNT)</strong></a><br>
God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!</p>
<blockquote>
<h3>The Response</h3>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10%3A8-10&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.10.9&tab=study" title="Read Romans 10:8-10 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)</strong></a><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/man-myth-messiah-answering-historys-greatest-question?variant=13761139802223&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/15122522/ManMythMessiah.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Man, Myth, Messiah: Answering History's Greatest Question in the FaithGateway Store" width="21%" /></a><br>
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.</p>
<blockquote>
<h3>The Assurance</h3>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10%3A13&version=NLT&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2428-gospel-descriptions&tab=study" title="Read Romans 10:13 (NLT) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Romans 10:13 (NLT)</strong></a><br>
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.<br>
<a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/inside-the-atheist-mind-unmasking-the-religion-of-those-who-say-there-is-no-god-1?variant=14182870974575&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/23090759/InsideTheAtheistMind1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Inside the Atheist Mind: Unmasking the Religion of Those Who Say There Is No God in the FaithGateway Store" width="21%" /></a></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<h3>The Result</h3>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A1-2&version=VOICE&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-peace-god-v-1&tab=study" title="Read Romans 5:1-2 (VOICE) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Romans 5:1 (VOICE)</strong></a><br>
<a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/person-of-interest-why-jesus-still-matters-in-a-world-that-rejects-the-bible?variant=39281747722376&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/22104952/Person-of-Interest.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible in the FaithGateway Store" width="22%" /></a>Since we have been acquitted and made right through faith, we are able to experience true and lasting peace with God through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A1-2&version=NIRV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-freedom-from-judgment-no-condemnation-8-1-4&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:1-2 (NIrV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Romans 8:1 (NIrV)</strong></a><br>
Those who belong to Christ Jesus are no longer under God’s judgment.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A37-39&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.8.38-Rom.8.39&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:37-39 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)</strong></a><br>
I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
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</blockquote>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/evangelism-the-romans-road-to-salvation/">Evangelism: The Romans Road to Salvation (Bible Verses)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6986190
2022-06-03T01:55:00-12:00
2022-06-03T06:30:20-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of May 29, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/weekly-brief-week-of-may-29-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of May 29, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6985057
2022-06-02T00:36:35-12:00
2022-06-02T03:30:14-12:00
Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/new-creation/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_newcreation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/30160743/You_Are_A_New_Creation_banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the free 5-day Bible study, You Are A New Creation" width="45%" /></a></p>
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<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the Bible in multiple languages and translations on Bible Gateway" target="_blank"><strong>Dozens of Bible Translations in Dozens of Languages</strong></a> in Bible Gateway’s Online Library, All Free to Read and Search.</li>
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<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/04/how-to-live-the-bible-studying-a-bible-passage/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="How to Live the Bible — Studying a Bible Passage" target="_blank">How to Live the Bible — Studying a Bible Passage</a>
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<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2015/01/the-100-crucial-bible-passages-to-know/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="The 100 Crucial Bible Passages to Know" target="_blank">The 100 Crucial Bible Passages to Know</a>
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<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/08/50-major-events-in-the-bible-storyline/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="The 100 Crucial Bible Passages to Know" target="_blank">50 Major Events in the Bible Storyline</a>
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<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-1-adam-and-eve-abraham-jacob-joseph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 1 (Adam and Eve, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph)" target="_blank">Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 1 (Adam and Eve, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph)</a>
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<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2014/11/a-collection-of-bible-museums-exhibits/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="A Collection of Bible Museums & Exhibits" target="_blank">A Collection of Bible Museums & Exhibits</a>
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<h3>For Families</h3>
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<p></p><center><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style" target="_blank">Sign up to get the <em>The Abide Bible Initiative</em> free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style.</a></strong></center>
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<h3>Scripture Engagement</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Scripture Engagement Homepage" target="_blank">Scripture Engagement Homepage</a></li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/scripture-engagement-is-healthy-for-you/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You" target="_blank">Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Maps</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/bible-mapper-maps-on-bible-gateway-an-interview-with-david-barrett/#BibleMapperMapList" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="View Bible Mapper Maps and Their Scripture References on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Bible Mapper Maps and Their Scripture References on Bible Gateway</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Video</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/lumo-project-videos-dramatize-the-gospels-on-bible-gateway/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Watch the LUMO Project Videos Dramatize the Gospels on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">LUMO Project Videos Dramatize the Gospels on Bible Gateway</a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/our-daily-bread-university-videos-teach-you-the-bible-on-bible-gateway/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Watch the Our Daily Bread University Bible Teaching Videos" target="_blank">Our Daily Bread University Bible Teaching Videos</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/08/bible-word-study-made-easy-a-conversation-with-dr-bill-mounce-video-1-getting-started/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Bible Word Study Made Easy: A Conversation with Dr. Bill Mounce—Video #1 Getting Started" target="_blank">Bible Word Study Made Easy: A Conversation with Dr. Bill Mounce—Video #1 Getting Started</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Reverse Interlinear New Testament</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Mounce-Reverse-Interlinear-New-Testament/#booklist" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Original Biblical Language Texts</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Habrit-Hakhadasha-Haderekh/#booklist" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the Habrit Hakhadasha/Haderekh (Hebrew Old Testament) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Habrit Hakhadasha/Haderekh (Hebrew Old Testament)</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Tyndale-House-Greek-New-Testament/#booklist" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the Tyndale House Greek New Testament on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Tyndale House Greek New Testament</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/SBL-Greek-New-Testament-SBLGNT/#booklist" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the SBL Greek New Testament on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">SBL Greek New Testament</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<h3>Bible Gateway Plus</h3>
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</li>
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<h3>Maps</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/olive-tree-bible-maps-on-bible-gateway-plus/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Olive Tree Bible Maps on Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Olive Tree Bible Maps</a>
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<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/08/bible-gateway-plus-members-gain-biblical-insight-with-zondervan-academic-maps/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Bible Gateway Plus Members Gain Biblical Insight with Zondervan Academic Maps" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zondervan Academic Maps</a>
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<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/10/how-to-use-the-bible-gateway-plus-atlas/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Use the Bible Gateway Plus Atlas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus Atlas</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Verse Mapping</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/05/use-verse-mapping-to-enhance-your-bible-study-an-interview-with-kristy-cambron/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Use Verse Mapping to Enhance Your Bible Study: An Interview with Kristy Cambron" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Use Verse Mapping to Enhance Your Bible Study</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/01/new-verse-mapping-bible-offers-customized-convenience-for-scriptural-word-studies/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, New Verse Mapping Bibles Offer Customized Convenience for Scriptural Word Studies" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Verse Mapping Bibles Offer Customized Convenience for Scriptural Word Studies</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reverse Interlinear Bible Function</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/03/new-feature-for-bible-gateway-plus-members-reverse-interlinear/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="New Feature for Bible Gateway Plus Members: Reverse Interlinear Reading" target="_blank">New Feature for Bible Gateway Plus Members: Reverse Interlinear Reading</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Word Studies</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/04/easily-study-scripture-on-your-own-with-bible-gateway-plus/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Easily Study Scripture on Your Own With Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Easily Study Scripture on Your Own With Bible Gateway Plus</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2018/02/how-to-conduct-a-word-study-with-bible-gateway-plus/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Conduct a Word Study with Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How to Conduct a Word Study with Bible Gateway Plus</a>
</li>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/explore-the-many-ways-bible-gateway-helps-you-study-the-bible/">Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6984600
2022-06-01T07:33:18-12:00
2022-06-01T09:30:12-12:00
How to Live the Bible — The Innocents
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-eleventh lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>“A voice is heard in Ramah,<br>
weeping and great mourning,<br>
Rachel weeping for her children<br>
and refusing to be comforted,<br>
because they are no more.”<br>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+31%3A15&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5899-lament&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 31:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 31:15</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A18&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Persecuted-Child&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 2:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 2:18</a></p>
<p>On a dark day <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/12/who-was-herod/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Who Was Herod?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">King Herod the Great</a> ordered the killing of all <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A1-18&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Matt.2&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 2:1-18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">male children two years and younger in Bethlehem</a> in what has been called “The Massacre of the Innocents.”</p>
<p>In recent days we have mourned the violent death of 19 young children at an elementary school in Texas, and two teachers. It is a new massacre of innocents in a long string of school shootings.</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01142340/Candle-line.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photo of candles in a line." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-68947"></span></p>
<p>Jesus told us we are <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A4&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5419-mourning&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 5:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“blessed” when we mourn</a>, and that means we must mourn rather than becoming indifferent to acts of evil. Evil insinuates itself when it succeeds in making us feel there is nothing we can do. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A1-12&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1620-beatitudes&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 5:1-12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Beatitudes</a> also tell us that we are “blessed” when we “hunger and thirst for righteousness” and when we take the role of “peacemakers.”</p>
<p>There are many professionals whose work is peacemaking, and we need to pray for them and support them. Law enforcement, criminal justice workers, educators, mental health professionals, and many others. Safety and security in a community comes from a network of collaborators. We will never eliminate violence, but we can lessen it.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>We don’t need vigilantes, we need vigilance. Followers of Jesus are called to do more than passively wait for the next person to draw his gun. Our Lord and Savior commands us to close the gap with people rejected by others. To connect with the wounded before they lash out and wound others. To bring down the level of tension and stress around us by <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/how-to-live-the-bible-finding-shalom/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — Finding Shalom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">living in shalom</a>.</p>
<p>It was said of Jesus: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A20&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2015-Jesus-Christ-compassion&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 12:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt. 12:20</a>). The next person in our community who may act out in violence is right now, today, somewhere, a bruised reed. A smoldering wick. Will we notice that person? Will we help that person back away from the edge of the cliff? Law enforcement officers cannot and should not supervise everybody’s lives. Our laws define civil behavior, but they cannot tame human personalities. Will we watch out for potential victims? And will we have the courage to watch out for potential aggressors?<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/how-to-live-the-bible-the-innocents/">How to Live the Bible — The Innocents</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6984382
2022-06-01T02:51:06-12:00
2022-06-01T05:00:34-12:00
Set Your Sight on God, Not Your Storms
<p><a href="https://maxlucado.com/about-max/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/08135349/Max-Lucado-2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Max Lucado" width="25%" /></a><br>
<strong>By Max Lucado</strong></p>
<p>Somewhere in your mind is a novel—your novel. Your novel about your future.</p>
<p>You envision a spouse or dear friend, kids, maybe grandkids. Your story includes good health, ample income, honest love, early retirement. We’ve all got a story we’re working on.</p>
<p>But just when we’re ready for the manuscript to be bound and published, God exercises editorial authority. He adds a character with a surprise pregnancy. He removes a character through a sudden tragedy.</p>
<p>How do you react when God edits your story? Fear or faith? Anger or trust? Do you turn away from God or turn toward him?</p>
<p>To help us choose the latter, God tells us stories. He packed the Bible full of personalities and profiles, all written so that you and I would know how to respond when our own stories take unexpected turns.</p>
<p>Are you struggling with guilt? Then <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Peter" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">meet Peter</a>, the apostle who bailed on Jesus.</p>
<p>Facing an impossible challenge? So was a boy named <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-2-moses-joshua-david/#David" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 2 (Moses, Joshua, David)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David</a>.</p>
<p>Have you exhausted your box of second chances? Then consider the plight of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A1-11&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/john-8&tab=study" title="Read John 8:1-11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the woman found in the act of adultery</a>.</p>
<p>For every person, Scripture has a story.</p>
<p><span id="more-68887"></span></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/they-walked-with-god-40-bible-characters-who-inspire-us?variant=39785652519048&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/31170130/They-Walked-with-God.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of They Walked with God: 40 Bible Characters Who Inspire Us in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="25%" /></a></p>
<h3>JOB</h3>
<p>(Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1%3A1-3&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read Job 1:1–3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job 1:1–3</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+2%3A6-8&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/d-the-second-divine-council-meeting-2-1-6&tab=study" title="Read Job 2:6–8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2:6–8</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+40%3A1-4&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/a-first-speech-and-jobs-response-38-1-40-5&tab=study" title="Read Job 40:1–4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">40:1–4</a>)<br>
There are times when to speak is to violate the moment . . . when silence represents the highest respect. The word for such times is <em>reverence</em>. The prayer for such times is “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13&version=KJV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Showing-Righteousness-God&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6:9–13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hallowed be thy name</a>.” Only you and God are here, and you can surmise who occupies the throne.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about having the right words; worry more about having the right heart. It’s not eloquence he seeks, just honesty.</p>
<p>This was a lesson <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&resource_entry=niebc/job&tab=study" title="Read about Job in the New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job</a> learned. If he had a fault, it was his tongue. He talked too much.</p>
<p>Not that anyone could blame him. Calamity had pounced on the man like a lioness on a herd of gazelles.</p>
<p>We are 37 chapters into the book before God clears his throat to speak. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+38&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Job.38&tab=study" title="Read Job 38 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chapter 38</a> begins with these words: “Then the L<small>ORD</small> answered Job.”</p>
<p>God floods the sky with queries, and Job cannot help but get the point: Only God defines God. For the first time, Job is quiet. Silenced by a torrent of questions, Job barely has time to shake his head at one question before he is asked another. The Father’s implication is clear: “As soon as you are able to handle these simple matters of storing stars and stretching the neck of the ostrich, then we’ll have a talk about pain and suffering. But until then, we can do without your commentary.”</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/they-walked-with-god-40-bible-characters-who-inspire-us-audiobook-unabridged?variant=40018624086152&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/31170140/They-Walked-With-God-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of They Walked with God: 40 Bible Characters Who Inspire Us audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>Job understands the message and replies, “I am not worthy; I cannot answer you anything, so I will put my hand over my mouth” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+40%3A4&version=NCV&resource_entry=case-for-christ-study-bible/the-case-for-faith-job-42-1-6-the-ultimate-answer-for-evil&tab=study" title="Read Job 40:4 (NCV) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">40:4 NCV</a>).</p>
<p>Before he heard God, Job couldn’t speak enough. After he heard God, he couldn’t speak at all. Silence was the only proper response.</p>
<p>“Hallowed be thy name.” This phrase is a petition, not a proclamation. A request, not an announcement. Do whatever it takes to be holy in my life. Take your rightful place on the throne. Exalt yourself. You be Lord, and I’ll be quiet.</p>
<p>The Holy One dwells on a different level from the rest of us. What frightens us does not frighten him. What troubles us does not trouble him.</p>
<p>“Be still and know that I am God” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+46%3A10&version=NCV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Ps.46.8-Ps.46.11&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 46:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 46:10 NCV</a>). This verse contains a command with a promise.</p>
<p>The command? Be still. Cover your mouth. Bend your knees. The promise? You will know that I am God. The vessel of faith journeys on soft waters. Belief rides on the wings of waiting.</p>
<p>In the midst of your daily storms, make it a point to be still and set your sights on him.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<h3>REFLECTION</h3>
<p>How does one “hallow” God’s name? From the opposite viewpoint, how does one profane it? In the last week, did you do more of one than the other?</p>
<p>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+38%3A3-18&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-job-38-1-41-34&tab=study" title="Read Max Lucado's reference note for Job 38:3–18 in the NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job 38:3–18</a>. What is the point of all God’s questions? What lesson does he want Job to learn? What do you learn about God in this passage?</p>
<p>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+40%3A4%E2%80%935%3B42%3A1%E2%80%936&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/b-second-speech-and-jobs-response-40-6-42-6&tab=study" title="Read Job 40:4–5 and 42:1–6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job 40:4–5; 42:1–6</a>. What did Job finally learn about God? How did it change his attitude toward his circumstances?</p>
<p>If you had been in Job’s shoes, do you think you would have reacted much as he did?</p>
<p>In times of trouble, do you ever demand answers of God? If he were to respond to your questions, what do you think he’d say?</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/tag/max-lucado/" title="Read other Bible Gateway Blog posts by and about Max Lucado" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read other Bible Gateway Blog posts by and about Max Lucado</a>]</p>
<blockquote><p>The above article is excerpted from <a title="Buy your copy of They Walked with God: 40 Bible Characters Who Inspire Us in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/they-walked-with-god-40-bible-characters-who-inspire-us?variant=39785652519048&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><em>They Walked with God: 40 Bible Characters Who Inspire Us</em></strong></a> by Max Lucado. Copyright © 2022 Max Lucado. Published by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. <a title="thomasnelson.com" href="https://www.thomasnelson.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.thomasnelson.com</a>. All rights reserved.</p></blockquote>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/they-walked-with-god-40-bible-characters-who-inspire-us?variant=39785652519048&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of They Walked with God: 40 Bible Characters Who Inspire Us in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">They Walked with God: 40 Bible Characters Who Inspire Us</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Bio:</strong> More than 145 million readers have found inspiration and encouragement in the prolific writings of Max Lucado. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/max-lucado?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Browse books by Max Lucado in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank">Browse his books in the FaithGateway Store</a>. Max lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy, in San Antonio, Texas, where he serves the people of Oak Hills Church.</p>
<blockquote>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/06/set-your-sight-on-god-not-your-storms/">Set Your Sight on God, Not Your Storms</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6983603
2022-05-31T06:15:05-12:00
2022-05-31T06:30:11-12:00
Thompson Chain-Reference Bible Updated and On Bible Gateway Plus
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/search?q=NIV%20Thompson%20Chain-Reference%20Bible&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/31090245/Thompson-Chain-Reference-Bible-Large-Print-NIV.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the NIV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="55%" /></a>The beloved, century-old Bible study system <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/search?q=NIV%20Thompson%20Chain-Reference%20Bible&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NIV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022) is now freshly updated and available—in print and digitally on <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Gain immediate online access to the NIV Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible when you become a member of Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>—in the <a href="https://review.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New International Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New International Version (NIV)</a> modern English Bible translation. This is the first revised edition of the <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> since Zondervan <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/thompson-chain-reference-bible-to-be-published-by-zondervan/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible to Be Published by Zondervan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">acquired the line</a> from Kirkbride Bible Company in 2020.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://review.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New International Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the New International Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway</a>]</p>
<p><span id="more-68815"></span></p>
<p>“We’re honored to continue the legacy of the <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> through the publication of this edition—the first Thompson available in Comfort Print®,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “We’re beyond excited to introduce this timeless resource to a brand-new audience of Bible readers through its publication in the bestselling NIV. It’s our hope that it will become a beloved resource to all who engage with it.”</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Gain immediate online access to the NIV Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible when you become a member of Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gain immediate online access to the <em>Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible</em> when you become a member of Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong></center>
</blockquote>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RUb7paIwT8s?controls=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<p>With an acclaimed patented reference system, the <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> is a well-recognized topical study Bible that has been in publication for more than 100 years. First published in 1908, it now contains more than 100,000 references, covering over 8,000 topics, making the chain-reference system an ideal tool for comprehensive topical study. The <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> also offers a library of additional study resources that allows readers to interpret the Bible using related Scripture passages rather than consulting a commentary.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/the-thompson-chain-reference-bible-where-it-came-from-how-to-use-it-and-where-its-going/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible: Where It Came From, How to Use It, and Where It’s Going" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible: Where It Came From, How to Use It, and Where It’s Going</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/thompson-chain-reference-bible?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/31135223/Thompson-Chain-Reference-Bible-stack.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the NIV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="35%" /></a></p>
<p>The <em>NIV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> is printed in Zondervan’s exclusive NIV <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-designing-the-word-with-klaus-krogh/" title="Watch the Bible Connection podcast, Designing the Word with Klaus Krogh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Comfort Print</strong> typeface</a> for easy reading. Expertly designed specifically to be used for the NIV text, Comfort Print offers an easier reading experience that complements the most widely read modern English Bible translation.</p>
<p>This edition has also been updated with a two-color page design. The Bible’s features include:</p>
<ul>
<li> Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear NIV</li>
<li> Easy-to-understand Chain-Reference System with over 100,000 references</li>
<li> Alphabetical and numerical indexes highlight study materials for over 8,000 topics, each with its own topic number, for exhaustive topical study</li>
<li> An extensive study resource section includes biographical sketches, illustrated studies of the Bible, a concordance, Bible harmonies, and many other helpful study tools</li>
<li> Fresh, two-color page design</li>
<li> 66 book introductions</li>
<li> 16-page full-color map section with map index</li>
<li> Words of Jesus in red</li>
<li> Two double-sided 3/8-inch-wide satin ribbon markers</li>
<li> Exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print typeface</li>
<li> 9.5-point print size</li>
</ul>
<p>HarperCollins Christian Publishing announced the acquisition of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/thompson-chain-reference-bible?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="See the various editions of the KJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible</em></a> from Kirkbride Bible Company in December 2020. Since then it has released the Zondervan Thompson® Chain-Reference Bible in various Bible translations:</p>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/kjv-thompson-chain-reference-bible-large-print-bonded-leather-black-red-letter?variant=34727240761480&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the KJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible</em> in the King James Version (KJV)</strong></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nkjv-thompson-chain-reference-bible-hardcover-red-letter?variant=34727239647368&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NKJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible</em> in the New King James Version (NKJV)</strong></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nasb-thompson-chain-reference-bible-hardcover-red-letter-1977-text?variant=34727240466568&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NASB Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible</em> in the New American Study Bible (NASB), 1977 text</strong></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/esv-thompson-chain-reference-bible-hardcover-red-letter?variant=34727240958088&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the ESV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible</em> in the English Standard Version (ESV)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Learn more by visiting Zondervan’s <em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles</em> <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/thompsonchainreference/" title="Visit the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible website" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>.</p>
<p><strong>About Zondervan</strong><br>
Zondervan, a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is located in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/" title="Visit the Zondervan website" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.zondervan.com</a>.</p>
<p><strong>About Comfort Print</strong><br>
Zondervan Bibles teamed up with 2K/Denmark, the world’s foremost Bible typeface foundry, to create exclusive Comfort Print Bible fonts. Comfort Print Bibles are easy to read at any size because the typeface was designed to be both efficient and readable. Zondervan Bibles believes that the beauty of the message should be reflected in the physical form of the book. Choosing the right typeface is one significant element in creating beautiful Bibles.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/thompson-chain-reference-bible-updated-and-on-bible-gateway-plus/"><em>Thompson Chain-Reference Bible</em> Updated and On Bible Gateway Plus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6981197
2022-05-27T01:55:00-12:00
2022-05-27T04:00:01-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of May 22, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/weekly-brief-week-of-may-22-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of May 22, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6980387
2022-05-26T02:05:45-12:00
2022-05-26T05:30:10-12:00
Olive Tree Bible Maps on Bible Gateway Plus
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/04155412/Olive-Tree-Bible-Map-The-Land-of-the-Canaanites-Part-1.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/04155412/Olive-Tree-Bible-Map-The-Land-of-the-Canaanites-Part-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge this Olive Tree Bible Map, The Land of the Canaanites (Part 1), and then join Bible Gateway Plus to get immediate access to other Olive Tree Bible maps" width="50%" /></a></p>
<p>Bible maps provide dimensions to your Bible study that deepen your contextual understanding of how the geography in Scripture impact the people and their stories.</p>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/11/latest-biblical-archaeology-research/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Latest Biblical Archaeology Research" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Latest Biblical Archaeology Research</em></a>]</p>
<h3>List of Olive Tree Bible Maps Viewable With Your <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a> Membership</h3>
<ul>
<li> The 12 Tribes of Israel (Part 1) —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/the-twelve-tribes-of-israel-part-1&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, The 12 Tribes of Israel (Part 1), for Joshua 1–24 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 1–24</a>
</li>
<li> The 12 Tribes of Israel (Part 2) —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1&version=NIV&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/the-twelve-tribes-of-israel-part-2&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, The 12 Tribes of Israel (Part 2), for Joshua 1–24 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 1–24</a>
</li>
<li> Ancient Middle East —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Songs+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/ancient-middle-east&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, Ancient Middle East, for Song of Songs 1–8 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Song of Songs 1–8</a>
</li>
<li> Ancient Northeast Africa —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/ancient-northeast-africa&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, Ancient Northeast Africa, for Genesis 1–50 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1–50</a>
</li>
<li> Asia Minor —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/asia-minor&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, Asia Minor, for Acts 1–28 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 1–28</a>
</li>
<li> Assyria and Babylon —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/assyria-and-babylon&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, Assyria and Babylon, for Ezra 1–10 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezra 1–10</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><span id="more-66893"></span></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/new-creation/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_newcreation" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/30160743/You_Are_A_New_Creation_banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the free 5-day Bible study, You Are A New Creation" width="40%" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li> Cities from Early Israel Settlement —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/more-cities-from-early-israel-settlement&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, Cities from Early Israel Settlement, for Numbers 1–36 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Numbers 1–36</a>
</li>
<li> Cities of Joshua —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+13&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/cities-of-joshua-13-19&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, Cities of Joshua, for Joshua 13–20 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 13–20</a>
</li>
<li> Greece, Macedonia, and the Aegean Sea —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/greece-macedonia-and-the-aegean-sea&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, Greece, Macedonia, and the Aegean Sea, for Acts 1–28 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 1–28</a>
</li>
<li> The Heart of the Roman Empire —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+27&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/the-heart-of-the-roman-empire&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, The Heart of the Roman Empire, for Acts 27–28 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 27–28</a>
</li>
<li> Important Locations During the Reign of David —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+22&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/important-locations-during-the-reign-of-david&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, Important Locations During the Reign of David, for 1 Samuel 22 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 22</a>
</li>
<li> Israel and Samaria from the Babylonian Exile to Jesus’ Day —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/israel-and-samaria-from-the-babylonian-exile-to-jesus-day&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, Israel and Samaria from the Babylonian Exile to Jesus' Day, for Ezra 1–10 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezra 1–10</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center>
<em>Sign up to <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">get the</a></strong></em><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Know the Bible <em>free email lesson series</em></a></strong><em> from Bible Gateway.</em>
</center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<ul>
<li> The Land of the Canaanites (Part 1) —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/the-land-of-the-canaanites-part-1&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, The Land of the Canaanites (Part 1), for Genesis 1–50 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1–50</a>
</li>
<li> The Land of the Canaanites (Part 2) —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/the-land-of-the-canaanites-part-2&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, The Land of the Canaanites (Part 2), for Genesis 1–50 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1–50</a>
</li>
<li> Mesopotamia and the Middle East —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/mesopotamia-and-the-middle-east&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, Mesopotamia and the Middle East, for Ezra 1–10 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezra 1–10</a>
</li>
<li> North of the Sea of Galilee —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Songs+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/north-of-the-sea-of-galilee&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, North of the Sea of Galilee, for Song of Songs 1–8 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Song of Songs 1–8</a>
</li>
<li> The Sinai Exodus —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1&resource_entry=olive-tree-bible-maps/the-sinai-exodus&tab=study" title="See the Olive Tree Bible Map, The Sinai Exodus, for Exodus 1–34 with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 1–34</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Bible Maps on Bible Gateway</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/bible-mapper-maps-on-bible-gateway-an-interview-with-david-barrett/#BibleMapperMapList" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Bible Mapper Maps on Bible Gateway: An Interview with David Barrett" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Mapper Maps</a> (free)</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/08/bible-gateway-plus-members-gain-biblical-insight-with-zondervan-academic-maps/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Bible Gateway Plus Members Gain Biblical Insight with Zondervan Academic Maps" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zondervan Academic Maps</a> (Bible Gateway Plus membership)</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/10/how-to-use-the-bible-gateway-plus-atlas/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Use the Bible Gateway Plus Atlas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus Atlas</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>Get biblically wise and spiritually fit by becoming a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it right now during a FREE trial period!</em></a>
</center>
</blockquote>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/olive-tree-bible-maps-on-bible-gateway-plus/">Olive Tree Bible Maps on Bible Gateway Plus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6979879
2022-05-25T07:07:27-12:00
2022-05-25T11:30:24-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Rest From the Battle
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-tenth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><em>“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following in their example of disobedience.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A9-11&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/7430-Sabbath-NT&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 4:9-11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 4:9-11</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/25145858/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Battle-Bulge.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photo of WWII soldiers at the Battle of the Bulge." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-68789"></span></p>
<p>It was one of the harshest winters in memory in the Ardennes, also one of the most intense battles of World War II. Later they called it the Battle of the Bulge, because the German offensive took Allied forces completely by surprise. In the end, however, the line held—only bulged in the middle.</p>
<p>On Christmas Day, General McAuliffe’s men were hunkered down in the town of Bastogne, Belgium, completely encircled by German troops. They had been besieged by 17 different assaults on the town and relentlessly bombed. But when presented with the option of surrendering by German envoys, General McAuliffe’s response was a single word: “Nuts.”</p>
<p>Bombs fell all Christmas day and night, but the following day the 4th Armored Division of General George Patton arrived—the reinforcements the Allied troops had been hoping for all along. Within a month this battle was over, and the march to Berlin began. It was the beginning of the end.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>The Bible describes life as full of battles, and that is one reason we need Sabbath. We need the bombing to stop. We need reinforcements to arrive.</p>
<p>When <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Heb.4&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 4</a> says that God has fulfilled “Sabbath-rest,” it’s referring to Christ, who is called the great high priest later in that chapter. Because he came, everything is different.</p>
<p>It’s not by accident that <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28-30&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Matt.11.28-Matt.11.30&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 11:28-30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">one of the most-quoted sayings of Jesus</a> is: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”</p>
<p>Who has not read those words and felt the tension inside loosen a bit? You read it, and then you read it again because you know this is what you need. You know it is right.</p>
<p>On the first Christmas the real reinforcements arrived.</p>
<p><strong>MAKE IT REAL</strong></p>
<p>Take a piece of paper and write down Jesus’ words: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” List five times in your life when you were weary and burdened. Then complete this sentence: “Lord Jesus, the next time a burdensome time of my life comes, please be my reinforcement by…”<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/how-to-live-the-bible-rest-from-the-battle/">How to Live the Bible — Rest From the Battle</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6979440
2022-05-24T23:56:12-12:00
2022-05-25T02:45:01-12:00
You Aren’t Your Mistakes
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23115519/StephenMiller_Portrait.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Stephen Miller" width="31%" />By Stephen Miller</strong></p>
<p>You aren’t your bankruptcy or your divorce. You aren’t your broken friendships, your addictions, or your good ideas that didn’t quite pan out. You aren’t the five pounds you gained over the weekend or the gym membership you bought in January as a New Year’s resolution but still haven’t used. In fact, maybe it’s time to look yourself in the mirror right now, and say:</p>
<p>I’m not _____________________ [fill in the blank with your mistake].</p>
<p>I’m ________________ <em>[insert your name here]!</em></p>
<p>Because that’s what’s true. To truly master the art of the epic fail, you have to practice reminding yourself that you aren’t your mistakes. You have to remind yourself who you truly are. Someone who is created <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A13-14&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4016-life-human&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 139:13–14 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fearfully and wonderfully</a> in the image of a ridiculously awesome God who loves you. Completely unique. Completely wonderful.</p>
<p>And that’s great news. Because you’re going to fail! You’re going to mess up! And while that doesn’t mean you won’t have to deal with some consequences from those failures (sometimes even devastating ones), it does mean you can learn from them, grow, and come out on the other end better than where you were when you started. You can let them refine you!</p>
<p><span id="more-68734"></span></p>
<h2>Our Failures Can <em>Refine</em> Us</h2>
<p>Since failures are a given if you’re going to live a life worth living at all, you should get used to learning from them! Failure is the best coach, mentor, and personal trainer your time can buy! Conversely, to put it in the words of the current fifth-richest man in the world as I write this, Bill Gates, “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”</p>
<p>In his book <em>Creativity, Inc.</em>, Ed Catmull emphasizes at length that the heart of Pixar’s culture and success is their insistence on failing big, beautifully, fast, and often. In almost every meeting, they’re asking how they failed that week and what they learned from their failure. Rather than shying away from failure, they embrace it and grow from it because, in Ed’s words, “If you aren’t experiencing failure, then you are making a far worse mistake: You are being driven by the desire to avoid it.”</p>
<p>I definitely have the failing big, fast, and often thing down like a pro, though I’m not quite sure I’ve hit the beautiful part yet. That is, unless you consider the beautiful things that can come out of getting it wrong.</p>
<p>For every epic fail, you have at least one way you can be refined in it. Probably a lot more. In each of my failures, my goal is still to get way more out of it than I lost from it. Whether it’s learning to be a little kinder with your words or growing in your gratitude. Or maybe it’s learning that, yes, the speed limits do apply to you. Maybe it’s learning to slow down or be more patient with yourself and with others. Or perhaps it’s just learning that you actually matter. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A8&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/3-benefits-of-justification-by-faith-5-1-11&tab=study" title="Read Romans 5:8 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">You have value and worth that is greater than you could have ever imagined</a>. I’ve had to learn all of these, and much more, the hard way by employing the art of the epic fail.</p>
<p>I wish I could say I’m good to go now! But the truth is, I probably still have an actual <em>billion</em> epic fails left in my lifetime. And while that may seem a bit disheartening at first consideration, it’s actually encouraging. Because if I can truly master this art of failing epically, it means growing even more. More refinement. And the Stephen you’ll meet a year from today will be much better than the Stephen who is sitting here writing these words.</p>
<p>We are all on our own journey, and despite the cancel culture in which we live, people are people everywhere you go. Fallible. Hypocritical. Hypercritical. Holier-than-thou about our morality (religious, political, or otherwise), and utterly in need of grace.</p>
<p>Maybe, just maybe, our failures will make us humble enough to have authentic—not contrived or calculated—<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A12-13&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/b-social-duties-within-christian-community-3-12-4-1&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 3:12-13 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mercy, empathy, and compassion for one another</a> and for ourselves. Maybe when we fall down and get back up enough times, we will start to see a pattern that no matter how bad it gets, it really is gonna be okay.</p>
<p>I recently became obsessed with the TV show <em>Ted Lasso</em>. Not because I’m obsessed with soccer—or as the rest of the world calls it, football. We just <em>have</em> to be different, so we call it soccer and have a completely different sport called football. Much like using pounds or Fahrenheit or miles. Why do we have to make everything so dang confusing? But, alas, Americans are rebels who love to reinvent the wheel, I suppose.</p>
<p>I think the runaway success of <em>Ted Lasso</em> may be attributed to his seemingly boundless capacity for hope during a season when I think we’d all agree we need more hope. It can come across as naive or even foolish at times, but his contagious brand of optimism just has a way of turning the tide even on the darkest of days and worst of mess-ups. It softens the hardest, most cynical heart. It encourages the most downtrodden, who are thinking to themselves, <em>Dear God, what have I done? Am I done?</em></p>
<p>You failed? No problem. Try again. You got it all wrong <em>again?</em> Cool deal. Just another step to getting it right. “You know what the happiest animal is? The goldfish. You know why? It’s got a ten-second memory.”</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-art-of-getting-it-wrong-finding-good-in-the-misadventures-of-life-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39785648423048&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23163848/The-Art-of-Getting-It-Wrong-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Art of Getting It Wrong audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>Feels a bit oversimplistic when we try to overthink it. But compared to the alternative of endlessly wallowing in our failures and letting them paralyze us from being able to move forward, I’m gonna choose to be a goldfish, get the heck back up, and keep kicking.</p>
<p>Our failures teach us resilience. They help us reframe our perspective without rewriting the truth. Not just moving on from how we got it wrong, but moving forward with the hard-won wisdom we earned from our mess-up.</p>
<p>No matter how badly we may have missed the mark, the sun is still gonna rise and paint the sky with a million glorious hues of grace—as though God were screaming out, <em>It’s gonna be okay. I’ve got this. I haven’t forgotten you. I’m still faithful. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A5-6&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Prov.3.5-Prov.3.6&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 3:5-6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Just trust me</a>!</em></p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-art-of-getting-it-wrong-finding-good-in-the-misadventures-of-life?variant=39785653600392" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23120232/ArtGettingItWrong_Cover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Art of Getting It Wrong" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-art-of-getting-it-wrong-finding-good-in-the-misadventures-of-life?variant=39785653600392" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Art of Getting It Wrong: Finding Good in the Misadventures of Life</em></a> by Stephen Miller. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-art-of-getting-it-wrong-finding-good-in-the-misadventures-of-life?variant=39785653600392" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Failures don’t need to be final, and disappointment doesn’t need to be defining. Come along on a wild, hilarious, faith-building ride, and let <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-art-of-getting-it-wrong-finding-good-in-the-misadventures-of-life?variant=39785653600392" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Art of Getting It Wrong</em></a> guide you toward hope for the future and the freedom to love your life exactly where you are.</p>
<p>Long before his YouTube channel, The Miller Fam, became a viral sensation, Stephen Miller got a ton of things wrong. He knows what it’s like to endure countless failed endeavors, make too many rash decisions, and feel deep discouragement when life doesn’t go as planned—sometimes all before breakfast. But those experiences taught him a powerful lesson: it’s going to be okay.</p>
<p>With the characteristic authenticity, love, and humor Stephen shows in his YouTube videos, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-art-of-getting-it-wrong-finding-good-in-the-misadventures-of-life?variant=39785653600392" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Art of Getting It Wrong</em></a> offers timeless truths and never-before-told stories of misadventures and out-of-control disappointments that will encourage you to:</p>
<ul>
<li>See the good at work in your life, even when you make mistakes</li>
<li>Look for the laugh in every situationEmbrace the truth—whether it’s a warm hug or a kick in the teeth</li>
<li>Believe in yourself and grow in your sense of self-worth</li>
<li>Discover the power of grace, both for others and for yourself</li>
</ul>
<p>Join Stephen as he shares what it means to turn failures, mishaps, and disappointments into a life of fun and fulfillment—even when it’s not what you expected.</p>
<p><strong>Stephen Miller</strong> is a creator and entrepreneur who has grown his platform to nearly one million followers in just two years through his show <em>The Miller Fam</em>, a channel that displays the beauty of diversity and adoption featuring his large, diverse, adoptive family of nine. No clickbait. No fake drama. Just a story that says, “Where grace guides, we’ll go.” With over fifteen years of ministry in some of the nation’s largest churches, Stephen has recorded six studio albums and is the author of <em>Liberating King</em> and <em>Worship Leaders, We Are Not Rock Stars</em>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/you-arent-your-mistakes/">You Aren’t Your Mistakes</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6978592
2022-05-24T02:00:00-12:00
2022-05-24T04:15:08-12:00
Introducing Spurgeon and the Psalms
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nkjv-spurgeon-and-the-psalms-maclaren-series-leathersoft-black-comfort-print-the-book-of-psalms-with-devotions-from-charles-spurgeon?variant=39556421320840&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23165420/NKJV-Spurgeon-and-the-Psalms.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Spurgeon and the Psalms in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong><h3>Experience the royal banquet of the Psalms alongside the wisdom of the “Prince of Preachers.”</h3></strong></p>
<p><em><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nkjv-spurgeon-and-the-psalms-maclaren-series-leathersoft-black-comfort-print-the-book-of-psalms-with-devotions-from-charles-spurgeon?variant=39556421320840" title="Buy your copy of Spurgeon and the Psalms in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Spurgeon and the Psalms</strong></a></em> will guide you into reading and meditating on God’s Word with the penetrating insight of renowned 19th century English pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “the prince of preachers.”</p>
<p>This Leathersoft<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/72x72/2122.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="™" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />–bound devotional features a brief extract from Charles Spurgeon’s beloved <em>The Treasury of David</em> leading into each of the 150 chapters of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&version=NKJV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-1&tab=study" title="Read the book of Psalms on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Psalms</a> in the trusted <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-King-James-Version-NKJV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New King James Version (NKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New King James Version (NKJV)</a> Bible translation.</p>
<p><span id="more-68661"></span></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/" title="Sign up to receive Bible Gateway's free daily email classic devotional, Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sign up to receive Bible Gateway’s free daily email classic devotional, <em>Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening</em></a>.]</p>
<center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jQ3hbROkq_c" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<p style="font-size:25px"><em>“No one needs better company than the Psalms; therein he may read and commune with friends human and divine; friends who know the heart of man towards God and the heart of God towards man; friends who perfectly sympathize with us and our sorrows, friends who never betray or forsake.”</em></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:15px">C.H. Spurgeon</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<p></p><blockquote><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">right now!</a></em></center></blockquote>
<p><strong>Features include:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Devotional thoughts from Charles Spurgeon drawn from <em>The Treasury of David</em>
</li>
<li>An exquisite edition of Psalms in the trusted NKJV translation</li>
<li>Each psalm is set in a poetic-style single column on a right-hand page with room to journal your own meditations</li>
<li>Clear and readable NKJV Comfort Print® typeface</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nkjv-spurgeon-and-the-psalms-maclaren-series-leathersoft-black-comfort-print-the-book-of-psalms-with-devotions-from-charles-spurgeon?variant=39556421320840" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spurgeon and the Psalms</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<p></p><blockquote><center>Get access to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/resource-library-profile" title="Read the descriptions of all Bible reference resources available to you with a Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more than 50 top resources</a> by becoming a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it free right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/introducing-spurgeon-and-the-psalms/">Introducing <em>Spurgeon and the Psalms</em></a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6978593
2022-05-24T00:19:34-12:00
2022-05-24T04:15:08-12:00
James and Galatians: An Interview with Scot McKnight
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/10103908/NTE-Twitter-Banner-1024x341.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the The New Testament Everyday Series in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" height="341" width="1024" /></a></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31142906/ScotMcKnight.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Scot McKnight" width="35%" /></a></p>
<p>In the <strong>New Testament Everyday Bible Study Series</strong>, widely respected Bible scholar <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/" title="Scot McKnight" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Scot McKnight</a> combines interpretive insights with pastoral wisdom for all the books of the New Testament. Each volume provides brief, precise expositions of the text and offers a clear focus for the central message of each passage. McKnight supplies historical context, biblical connections, and questions for reflection and application perfect for group use or personal study.</p>
<p>In this Q&A, Scot McKnight (<a href="https://twitter.com/scotmcknight">@scotmcknight</a>) talks about his new Bible study series, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/search?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.Series%5D%5B0%5D=New%20Testament%20Everyday%20Bible%20Study%20Series" title="Buy your copy of the The New Testament Everyday Series in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The New Testament Everyday</a> and the first book in the series, <em><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/james-and-galatians?variant=39499059003528" title="Buy your copy of James and Galatians in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James and Galatians</a></em> (HarperChristian Resources, 2022).</p>
<p><strong>Why did you pair the letters of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of James on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Galatians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians</a> together? Is there a common theme between them?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scot McKnight</strong> Combining <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of James on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Galatians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians</a> together is not as radical as it might sound. Yes, justification by faith and works pits the two against one another and that makes for a fun title—like some score will be settled. The simpler truth of the matter is length of the books. Each volume is about 40,000 words without the Bible’s texts and this made for a comfortable size for each letter. The study guides to each are separate books.</p>
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<p><strong>In what ways are these books relevant for today?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scot McKnight</strong> Let me count the ways! Wisdom, liberation/freedom, to begin with. Use of the tongue and speech—think of social media and our lack of political civility. The Holy Spirit. Grace. On and on it goes. There’s so much in each book that touches on so much of our daily lives. It was more than enjoyable to reflect on how such themes are relevant.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/10110703/JAG-Social-Graphic-8-500-%C3%97-500-px.png"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/10110703/JAG-Social-Graphic-8-500-%C3%97-500-px.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></a></figure></div>
<p><strong>What is the benefit of reading the Bible, and the New Testament in particular, everyday?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scot McKnight</strong> The Bible, if I take just one of the eight words for the God’s communication with us from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.119&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 119</a>, is God’s (spoke/written) word to us. We learn to indwell the kingdom of God and the world of Jesus and the apostles by soaking ourselves in Scripture, in the Bible’s story, and in the Bible’s narrative arc from creation to kingdom, from the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2011&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/genesis-11&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">city of Babel</a> to the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jerusalem-Her-Destiny&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Jerusalem</a>, and with God in the center of it all. Perhaps we need that message more today than ever.</p>
<p><strong>How should we approach the letter of James?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scot McKnight</strong> Let James be James. Read it on its own terms and let it be what it is. So often we want to bend James, shape James and to mold James to our world when James, on his own, is a radical prophet who speaks the words of Jesus in a new way for a new day. No one sounds like Jesus more than James—and yet James doesn’t quote Jesus but once. That’s one of the most helpful perspectives for me in reading James.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/03/the-hum-of-angels-an-interview-with-scot-mcknight/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Hum of Angels: An Interview with Scot McKnight" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Hum of Angels: An Interview with Scot McKnight</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>You say, “The blessing of eternal life has waned among the current generation.” What do you mean by that and how can we rectify that?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scot McKnight</strong> Many today have lost that sense of an eternity after we die. In fact, I’ve watched eyes roll in saying that or mentioning Heaven. When many today are thinking Hell can be now and Heaven can be now, and in so saying they’re diminishing the hope of the church, we’ve lost something. I’m of the age where I think more about death and Heaven than I did when I was young, but “eternity” is not some fairy tale to the Bible. It’s the place where God metes out justice and puts the world in the right condition as it was designed. Without a hope that God will at least in the end create justice we’re doomed to think injustice has the last word too often.</p>
<p><strong>Why is loving your neighbor as yourself so foundational to the Christian faith?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scot McKnight</strong> Because Jesus said so. It’s the core ethical vision of Jesus: when asked what was the greatest of all the commandments, which was a concern for many Jewish teachers at the time of Jesus, Jesus replied that there were actually two: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A37-40&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Love-God-Neighbor&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 22:37-40 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">loving God and loving others</a>. They were, for him, interdependent ethical visions. To love God is to love others and to love others reaches for loving God. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of 1 John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John’s first letter</a> is loaded with this vision and the apostle Paul touches the very heart of this in Galatians when he says <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A14&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Freedom-Love&tab=study" title="Read Galatians 5:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">loving others fulfills the law</a>. James says the same. Love God, love others was the heartbeat of Jesus and his earliest followers. We need it more today than we did a generation ago.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2018/08/discernment-rethink-how-you-read-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Discernment: Rethink How You Read the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Discernment: Rethink How You Read the Bible</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>Explain what you mean by a “lived theology of the gospel.”</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scot McKnight</strong> Charles Marsh, a professor at the University of Virginia, put me on to this idea. Lived theology is that life as people live it is a theology in and of itself. Not a display of theology but theology itself. How we live is a gospel message, a reconciliation message, a prophetic message, and justice message. What people see when they watch us live reveals a theology. It’s a dynamic idea about which I’m learning more and more. The reason there’s so much ethical vision in Jesus and why the apostles press for deeper Christian living is because lived theology was the aim of conversion and discipleship.</p>
<p><strong>What is the one takeaway you want readers to grasp after completing this Bible study?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scot McKnight</strong> I don’t think there would be one. If I reduced it to one I’d say it’s that God still speaks through these beautiful little books, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of James on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Galatians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians</a>, and through that speaking God can transform us.</p>
<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Scot McKnight</strong> I write “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12%3A29-31&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/4-the-greatest-commandment-12-28-34&tab=study" title="Read Mark 12:29-31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 12:29-31</a>” in every book I autograph. I call it the Jesus Creed. It’s my motto and one that I try to live each day, and one that I fail at many days! But I keep coming back to it and reciting it in my mind throughout each day.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/10110248/Mark-12.png"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/10110248/Mark-12-683x1024.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="1024" width="683" /></a></figure>
<p><strong>BIO:</strong> Scot McKnight is professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois. He is the author of more than 80 books, including the award-winning <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=615783&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Jesus Creed in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Jesus Creed</em></a>, as well as <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-king-jesus-gospel-the-original-good-news-revisited?variant=13756069445743&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The King Jesus Gospel in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The King Jesus Gospel</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/following-king-jesus-workbook-how-to-know-read-live-and-show-the-gospel?variant=17654590275695&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Following King Jesus in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Following King Jesus</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/a-fellowship-of-differents-showing-the-world-gods-design-for-life-together-1?variant=13754672676975&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of A Fellowship of Differents in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>A Fellowship of Differents</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/one-life-jesus-calls-we-follow?variant=13749353906287&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of One.Life in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>One.Life</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-blue-parakeet-2nd-edition-rethinking-how-you-read-the-bible-1?variant=29560904220783&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Blue Parakeet in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Blue Parakeet</em></a>, and <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=097850&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Kingdom Conspiracy in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Kingdom Conspiracy</em></a>. He maintains an active blog at <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/" title="Visit christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight</a>. He and his wife, Kristen, live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, where they enjoy long walks, gardening, and cooking.</p>
<p></p><blockquote><center>No software to install. Gain immediate access to more than 50 top Bible reference resources by becoming a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/james-and-galatians-an-interview-with-scot-mcknight/">James and Galatians: An Interview with Scot McKnight</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6977574
2022-05-22T22:00:00-12:00
2022-05-23T01:15:29-12:00
Introducing the Young Women Love God Greatly Bible
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/net-young-women-love-god-greatly-cloth-over-board-blue-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39556420042888" title="Buy your copy of the Young Women Love God Greatly Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20133821/YWLGG-on-table-square.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Young Women Love God Greatly Hardcover with dustjacket" height="300" width="300" /></a></figure></div>
<p>The best way to love God greatly is to study his Word and know his character. And that’s why Thomas Nelson Bibles and Love God Greatly are excited to introduce the <em><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/net-young-women-love-god-greatly-cloth-over-board-blue-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39556420042888" title="Buy your copy of the Young Women Love God Greatly Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Young Women Love God Greatly Bible</strong></a></em> in the New English Translation (NET) version!</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-English-Translation-NET-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New English Translation (NET) Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the New English Translation (NET) Bible on Bible Gateway</a>]</p>
<h2>Designed to help young women grow</h2>
<p>The <em><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/net-young-women-love-god-greatly-cloth-over-board-blue-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39556420042888" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Young Women Love God Greatly Bible</a></em> is designed to help young women grow in their faith and navigate life through the truth of God’s Word. To help them…</p>
<ul>
<li>know the love Jesus Christ displays in the cross and grow in a deeper relationship with him.</li>
<li>find wisdom on every page of Scripture as they read, pray, and study.</li>
<li>be encouraged as they learn from heroes of the faith.</li>
</ul>
<p><span id="more-68622"></span></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-the-greatest-commandment-love-god-greatly/" title="Watch the Bible Connection Podcast: The Greatest Commandment—Love God Greatly" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watch the Bible Connection Podcast: <em>The Greatest Commandment—Love God Greatly</em></a>]</p>
<p></p><blockquote><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">right now!</a></em></center></blockquote>
<center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hG2WLajcNis" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<h2>Features to help young women find encouragement</h2>
<ul>
<li>Personal testimonies from women around the world</li>
<li>Mentor letters to guide them through life’s challenges and questions</li>
<li>Profiles of biblical and historical women</li>
<li>Topical reading plans exploring important aspects of the Christian life, including:<ul>
<li>Fear and Anxiety: Learning to Overcome with God’s Truth</li>
<li>Truth over Lies</li>
<li>Friendship</li>
<li>Growing through Prayer</li>
<li>Promises of God</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>and more!</li>
</ul>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/motivated-by-love-to-love/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog article, Motivated by Love to Love by Angela Perritt, founder and director of Love God Greatly" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read the Bible Gateway Blog article, <em>Motivated by Love to Love</em> by Angela Perritt, founder and director of Love God Greatly</a>]</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20132339/Topical-Reading-Plans.jpg" title="Click to enlarge these images" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20132339/Topical-Reading-Plans.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Features from the Young Women Love God Greatly Bible" height="600" width="970" /></a></figure>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/08/the-new-english-translation-net-bible-available-in-print-with-60000-translators-notes/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog article, The New English Translation (NET) Bible Available in Print with 60,000 Translators’ Notes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read the Bible Gateway Blog article, <em>The New English Translation (NET) Bible Available in Print with 60,000 Translators’ Notes</em></a>]</p>
<h2>Study with the SOAP method</h2>
<p>The SOAP method is a proven and effective way to engage with the Bible through:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Scripture:</strong> Read a passage and write out 1-2 key verses</li>
<li>
<strong>Observation:</strong> Write down what stands out to you in your passage</li>
<li>
<strong>Application:</strong> Write out how you should respond to your passage</li>
<li>
<strong>Prayer:</strong> Pray in response to what you’ve explored during your time in God’s Word</li>
</ul>
<p>With 50 reading plans covering every book of the Bible, the <em><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/net-young-women-love-god-greatly-cloth-over-board-blue-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39556420042888" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Young Women Love God Greatly Bible</a></em> helps young women put the SOAP method into practice every day.</p>
<p><strong>Help young women engage with God’s Word, find encouragement, and discover what it means to love God greatly with their lives. Order the <em><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/net-young-women-love-god-greatly-cloth-over-board-blue-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39556420042888" title="Buy your copy of the Young Women Love God Greatly Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Young Women Love God Greatly Bible</a></em> today!</strong></p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<p><em>The</em> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/net-young-women-love-god-greatly-cloth-over-board-blue-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39556420042888" title="Buy your copy of the Young Women Love God Greatly Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NET Young Women Love God Greatly Bible</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/introducing-the-young-women-love-god-greatly-bible/">Introducing the <em>Young Women Love God Greatly Bible</em></a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6976009
2022-05-20T01:55:00-12:00
2022-05-20T06:00:09-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of May 15, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/weekly-brief-week-of-may-15-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of May 15, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6974901
2022-05-19T02:53:27-12:00
2022-05-19T03:00:20-12:00
Bible Connection Podcast: Designing the Word with Klaus Krogh
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/27140238/BibleConnectionPodcastbannerblackonwhite2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Go to the Bible Connection Podcast index page" width="95%" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-designing-the-word-with-klaus-krogh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/18164255/Klaus-Krogh.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Watch and hear the Bible Connection Podcast: Designing the Word with Klaus Kroghs" width="23%" /></a></p>
<p>Bible Gateway presents the <a title="Go to the Bible Connection Podcast index page" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bible Connection Podcast</a>, where we talk about the Bible and how it connects to every facet of life.</p>
<p>For 32 years, Klaus Krogh has created and operated a graphic design company dedicated to doing the best possible quality of work on every single project. Designing Bibles and typesetting the Word of God quickly became the core of the business. In this <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-designing-the-word-with-klaus-krogh/" title="Go to the Bible Connection podcast episode page for Designing the Word with Klaus Krogh" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">second episode of season two</a> of the Bible Connection Podcast, Klaus tells the story of 2K/Denmark, the philosophy behind everything he does, and how his faith and his love have driven him to create beautiful Bibles because he knows it can change lives.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-designing-the-word-with-klaus-krogh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/18160857/Bible-Connection-S2-E2-Klaus-Krogh.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Go to the page to view this podcast episode" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-designing-the-word-with-klaus-krogh/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Go to the Bible Connection podcast episode page for Designing the Word with Klaus Krogh" target="_blank">Go to the Bible Connection podcast episode page for Designing the Word with Klaus Krogh</a></strong></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/bible-connection-podcast-designing-the-word-with-klaus-krogh/">Bible Connection Podcast: Designing the Word with Klaus Krogh</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6974902
2022-05-18T23:49:40-12:00
2022-05-19T03:00:20-12:00
At the Table Communing with Jesus: An Interview with Louie Giglio
<p><a href="https://www.louiegiglio.com/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/02121613/Louie-Giglio.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Louie Giglio" width="25%" /></a> What do you imagine when, in the middle of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a>, you read the author telling God, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”? A table? In a field? With adversaries lurking around? Wouldn’t a fortress be better? What does it mean to sit at the table with the King of the Universe?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="https://www.louiegiglio.com/about/" title="Louie Giglio" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Louie Giglio</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/louiegiglio" title="Louie Giglio Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@louiegiglio</a>) about his book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/at-the-table-with-jesus-66-days-to-draw-closer-to-christ-and-fortify-your-faith?variant=39543195861128&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of At the Table with Jesus in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>At the Table with Jesus: 66 Days to Draw Closer to Christ and Fortify Your Faith</em></strong></a> (Thomas Nelson, 2022).</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/at-the-table-with-jesus-66-days-to-draw-closer-to-christ-and-fortify-your-faith?variant=39543195861128&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/02135717/At-The-Table-With-Jesus.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of At the Table with Jesus in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What prompted you to write <em>At the Table with Jesus</em> and what’s the significance of 66 days?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Louie Giglio:</strong> I wanted to equip and encourage people to take the next step toward a rich and fulfilling walk with Jesus. I talked a lot in <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/dont-give-the-enemy-a-seat-at-your-table?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of At the Table with Jesus in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table</em></a> about how to protect and guard against the Enemy’s attempts to sit down. But I also wanted to write about what sitting down for you looks like. What it means to linger in the presence of the King and to highlight the beauty, the mightiness, and the worthiness of the one who sits at the table with us: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-1-jesus-mary-john-the-baptist/#Jesus" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 1 (Jesus, Mary, John the Baptist)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jesus</a>.</p>
<p><span id="more-68297"></span></p>
<p>And the idea of 66 days is tied to a few things. First, science is continually reminding us that it takes about 60 days to properly make a new habit. I wanted people not just to sit down but to stay seated with the King, so I wanted this devotion to become engrained in our hearts and minds. And second, I think things that are worth the fight take some time to get into, and 66 days seemed like a good length of time to really move our hearts and minds towards Jesus.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/05/how-to-protect-yourself-from-satans-whispering-lies-an-interview-with-louie-giglio/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Protect Yourself from Satan’s Whispering Lies: An Interview with Louie Giglio" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Protect Yourself from Satan’s Whispering Lies: An Interview with Louie Giglio</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>The “table” was a prominent metaphor in <em>Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table</em>, as it is in this devotional. Please unpack the meaning behind the table.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Louie Giglio:</strong> The great thing about the table is that it comes straight from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a>, but it’s also something the vast majority of us are very familiar with. Most of us have a kitchen or dining room table, and over the years, the table has likely played a variety of roles in our lives. For some, it’s a place of nourishment. For others, it’s a place of family. A place of hope. But it’s also seen some hard conversations. Some late nights. Some tough moments. So we all have experience with a table, so I liked the metaphor because its a way of taking what is somewhat common and helping people see what is totally uncommon about Jesus’ table.</p>
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<p><strong>It appears <em>At the Table with Jesus</em> is a devotional approach to Christology. Is that your intent?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Louie Giglio:</strong> My intent was to help people discover that Jesus is both inexhaustible and intimate. That there could be 600 or 6,000 devotionals about his power and love and worthiness. But he’s also intimate enough that he sits down to a meal with you. He prepares the table in the presence of your enemies because he cares for you. He knows you.</p>
<p>So is it a Christology? In the technical sense, sure. But in a lot of ways, it’s a collection of devotions meant to inspire awe and nearness to the One who has the name above all names.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/at-the-table-with-jesus-66-days-to-draw-closer-to-christ-and-fortify-your-faith-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39543194189960&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/02171849/At-The-Table-With-Jesus-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of At the Table with Jesus audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>In Day One you write, “The very first thing you need to process and understand is that Jesus is God?” Why is that?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Louie Giglio:</strong> It’s very easy to treat Jesus and his teachings like he’s just another self-help, leadership guru who wants to improve your life and make you the best version of who you can be. If we’re not careful, that theology creeps into churches and into our hearts. So if we’re going to explore a devotional that’s primarily focused on Jesus, I wanted to be clear right off the bat on who Jesus is. He doesn’t just want an hour of “quiet time” on your schedule. He demands your heart. He doesn’t just offer pleasant suggestions, he says, “Take up your cross and follow me.” And why can he say and demand this extent of who we are? Because he’s God.</p>
<p><strong>Why is it important to try to grasp the concept that Jesus was fully God and fully human?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Louie Giglio:</strong> Just as we can sometimes overlook that Jesus is fully God, we can in other ways forget that he was also fully human. That’s important because it authenticates the truth that Jesus understands you. Yes, as God, he knows everything. But because he was fully human, he felt what you feel. He was tempted like you’ve been tempted. He slept because he was tired, ate because he was hungry, had to navigate the social constructs of his day and work through interpersonal dynamics with his friends and family. He understands you and therefore can be empathetic and loving towards you. He’s both, and that’s the only way the righteous requirement could be fulfilled. Someone who was God and therefore knew no sin, fully embracing the humanity of mankind to put to death once and for all the sins of the world.</p>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><strong>How should the fact that Jesus is Lord affect a person’s day to day life?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Louie Giglio:</strong> In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A14-41&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Apologia-Pentecost-Ultimate-Cause-Saving&tab=study" title="Read Acts 2:14-41 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 2</a>, Peter stands up after Pentecost and says, “This Jesus, who you crucified is both Christ and Lord.” What he was saying then is still true for us today. Jesus is both our messiah, or Christ, and our sovereign ruler, our Lord. It means in our day-to-day that he deserves our total obedience. As Lord, he’s called us to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12%3A30&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/4-the-greatest-commandment-12-28-34&tab=study" title="Read Mark 12:30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">love him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength</a>, and we should joyfully seek to fulfill that commandment and live transformed lives.</p>
<p><strong>As readers navigate through <em>At the Table with Jesus</em>, what is your hope for them?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Louie Giglio:</strong> My biggest hope for readers is that their view of Jesus is enlarged and expanded, that maybe they read something they’ve never read before or perceive a characteristic or truth they’ve never thought of before. I truly believe when we see more of who God is, our affections begin to shift, and our actions follow suit. I hope that readers navigate this resource and come away being more in awe of Jesus and more inspired to continue walking closely with Him.</p>
<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Louie Giglio:</strong> It’s difficult to narrow it down to just one, but I’ll go with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Phil.2&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 2</a>, in light of this resource. It’s full of unbelievable truth. Jesus, though God, didn’t consider equality with God something to be grasped. He lived an open-handed life. He humbled himself and took on the form of a servant, the form of humanity, and then humbled himself even further—to the point of death, and death on a cross. But the best part comes next. Therefore, God saw fit to exalt Jesus to the highest place, with a name above all names. And the final hook—why did all of this happen? <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A11&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Phil.2.1-Phil.2.11&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 2:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Verse 11</a> has a key comma and what follows is our answer: to the glory of God the Father.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Louie Giglio:</strong> I think the work that Bible Gateway is doing is remarkable. Increased accessibility to the Word of God is one of the greatest gifts we have in this generation. But Bible Gateway isn’t just making the Word more accessible, you’re helping make it more applicable. That’s a worthy pursuit, and I’m grateful for the work and wisdom applied toward that end.</p>
<p><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to say?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Louie Giglio:</strong> As the devotion points out, Jesus is worth everything. He’s the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013%3A44-46&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Those-Who-Know-Kingdoms-Value&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 13:44-46 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">treasure buried in the field</a> that when we find it, we go and sell everything we have and buy that field. He’s worthy of every moment, every heartbeat, and every ounce of who we are, and if we’re willing to commit that to him, I’m confident we’ll never be disappointed with that decision.</p>
<p></p><center><strong>[Access the video study <em>Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table</em> online at <a href="https://www.studygateway.com/watch/dont-give-the-enemy-a-seat?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Access the video study Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table online at Study Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Study Gateway</a>]</strong></center>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/at-the-table-with-jesus-66-days-to-draw-closer-to-christ-and-fortify-your-faith?variant=39543195861128&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of At the Table with Jesus in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">At the Table with Jesus</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Louie Giglio is pastor of Passion City Church and original visionary of the Passion movement, which exists to call a generation to leverage their lives for the fame of Jesus.</p>
<p>Since 1997, Passion Conferences has gathered collegiate-aged young people in events across the US and around the world. Most recently, Passion hosted over 700,000 people from over 150 countries online at Passion 2021.</p>
<p>Louie is the national-bestselling author of over a dozen books including his newest release, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/dont-give-the-enemy-a-seat-at-your-table?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table</em></a>, as well as <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/goliath-must-fall?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Goliath Must Fall in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Goliath Must Fall</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/indescribable-100-devotions-for-kids-about-god-and-science?variant=13763653140591&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Indescribable in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Indescribable: 100 Devotions about God & Science</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/the-comeback?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Comeback in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Comeback</em></a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=290711&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Air I Breathe in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Air I Breathe</em></a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=424282&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of I Am Not But I Know I Am in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>I Am Not But I Know I Am</em></a>, and others. As a communicator, Louie is widely known for messages like Indescribable and How Great is Our God.</p>
<p>An Atlanta native and graduate of Georgia State University, Louie has done post-graduate work at Baylor University and holds a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Louie and Shelley make their home in Atlanta.</p>
<blockquote>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/at-the-table-communing-with-jesus-an-interview-with-louie-giglio/">At the Table Communing with Jesus: An Interview with Louie Giglio</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6974301
2022-05-18T06:00:38-12:00
2022-05-18T09:00:27-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Time Alone With God
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-ninth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><em>“The L<small>ORD</small> said [to Elijah], ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the L<small>ORD</small>, for the L<small>ORD</small> is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the L<small>ORD</small>, but the L<small>ORD</small> was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the L<small>ORD</small> was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the L<small>ORD</small> was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19%3A11-12&version=NIV&resource_entry=halleys-bible-handbook/1-kings-19-still-small-voice&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 19:11-12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 19:11-12</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/18135409/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Solitude.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photo of a woman sitting in solitude." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-68540"></span></p>
<p>A research psychologist named Dr. John Calhoun did an experiment with mice in the 1970s in order to find out what would happen in overcrowded conditions. Eight mice were introduced into a comfortable, two-level, nine-foot square cage. Before long the population grew to 160, and the behavior of the mice stayed consistent. But over the next two years, as the population eventually grew to a staggering 2,200, behaviors began to change.</p>
<p>Dr. Calhoun kept the living conditions the same: there was always plenty of water and food. The temperature was ideal. There were no diseases. The only thing the mice lost was their privacy. There was no space and no opportunity to be alone.</p>
<p>The female mice began to wander around aimlessly. The males gathered in large clusters. Younger mice didn’t fit in anywhere and occupied themselves with eating and sleeping. The mice grew increasingly apathetic. Their energy declined. And then aggression set in. They attacked each other. They lost interest in reproduction. Then, something happened—the population began to crash. Eventually, every mouse had died and produced no new generation to continue.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>Now of course mice are mice and people are people. But even if you take this experiment as a parable or metaphor, the result is chilling. God made us to live together with others so our lives will become fuller as we vitally connect. But we are also designed for solitary time, as some things happen between us and God only when we are alone.</p>
<p>Henri Nouwen wrote: “To bring some solitude into our lives is one of the most necessary but also most difficult disciplines. Even though we may have a deep desire for solitude, we also experience a certain apprehension as we approach that solitary place and time. As soon as we are alone, without people to talk with, books to read, TV to watch, or phone calls to make, an inner chaos opens up to us.”</p>
<p><strong>APPLICATION</strong></p>
<p>Take a half-hour sometime today when you happen to be alone and leave the TV, the radio, or any other sound-maker off. Ask God for the gift of his “whisper” today.</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/how-to-live-the-bible-time-alone-with-god/">How to Live the Bible — Time Alone With God</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6974302
2022-05-18T05:43:30-12:00
2022-05-18T09:00:27-12:00
A Hopeful Walk Through the Darkest Valley
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/16081206/SmittyHarris_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Col. Carlyle Smitty Harris" height="280" width="280" />By Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris</strong></p>
<p><em>Even though I walk</em><br>
<em>through the darkest valley,</em><br>
<em>I will fear no evil,</em><br>
<em>for you are with me;</em><br>
<em>your rod and your staff,</em><br>
<em>they comfort me.</em><br>
—<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A4&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5942-security&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23:4</a></p>
<p>I celebrated my 90th birthday in 2019. What a gift life is! What an honor to live such a long and wonderful life. My health is excellent, and my soul is even better. I have been participating in an annual study of the effects of my years as a POW for the past 30 years. Each summer, Louise and I travel to Pensacola, Florida, to participate in the voluntary study with 180 other POWs. It is a very extensive physical exam, with thorough blood work and testing of every kind. The information gathered is compared to that gained from other groups of pilots and peers who have not been in the prison camps of North Vietnam.</p>
<p><span id="more-68524"></span></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/11/an-interview-with-col-carlyle-smitty-harris/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Prevailing as a Prisoner of War: An Interview with Col. Carlyle Smitty Harris" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Prevailing as a Prisoner of War: An Interview with Col. Carlyle Smitty Harris</em></a>]</p>
<p>By God’s grace, even at age 89, I passed the tests with flying colors. Last summer, June 2018, the chief flight surgeon, Army Col. Albano—who is the head of the Naval Air Study and who evaluates all the reports—called us in for a debriefing of the findings. My particular results included a blood pressure of 120/68, a little bit of high cholesterol, and 20/20 eyesight. Thanks to cataract surgery in both eyes, my eyesight has been restored to pilot vision.</p>
<p>“Col. Harris, I am pleased to announce that you have passed the Naval Aviators physical exam. Now, you <em>are</em> going to need a waiver for your slight hearing loss, but that shouldn’t be a problem,” Col. Albano quipped.</p>
<p>After hearing me brag about my good reports all the way home, Louise—in her perfect, sassy way—commented, “Oh, my stars. I’m not going to be able to put up with you now.”</p>
<p>While we were in Pensacola for my checkup in 2013, we received the word that Bud Day, my fellow POW and dear friend, had just been admitted to hospice care. We knew he had been fighting cancer, but a fighter was indeed what he was, and we were saddened to know that the end of his stellar life was fast approaching. We quickly changed our plans and drove to his home in Shalimar, Florida, to visit with him and his wife, Dori.</p>
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<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>Bud was a great man. He was a fierce resister during our years of captivity and was the one to stand up and lead the men of Cell 7 in Camp Unity in the highest level of resistance by singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” as Robbie Risner and the others were led away to isolation after the church service. He continued to be a leader among veterans as a lawyer when he fought and won the case that made it possible for veterans to receive their promised health care insurance. He won this historic case, but when the Department of Defense realized the expense this would entail, they overturned it and pushed it to a nine-judge panel in appeal. This time Day lost the case, though even in this, he acted with honor and valor.</p>
<p>Day had been awarded the Medal of Honor, which meant a great deal to him and all of us who understood its significance. Though a very humble man, he routinely kept the medal in his pocket when he tried cases on behalf of veterans. However, when he approached the panel of military judges, he took the medal out of the pocket of his simple gray suit and put it on. At first, there was silence, but soon the sliding of chairs was heard throughout the room as all nine of the judges rose to their feet to salute this giant of a man.</p>
<p>It was a foregone conclusion that the cost was too great, and therefore Bud lost the case on appeal. However, due to the public pressure on Congress through the publicity this created, the appropriations were passed anyway, and veterans got the medical coverage we so deserved.</p>
<p>Always a fighter, just one week prior to being placed on hospice, Bud, from the confines of his wheelchair, had tried the case of a military soldier who had been denied benefits—and he won.</p>
<p>We thought of this and many other Bud Day stories as we made our way to his home on the water in Shalimar. When we entered, we were greeted by Dori, who led us to their bedroom, where a hospital bed had been set up. Bud was lying weakly in the bed, with oxygen mask intact, but sat up to greet us—as a perfect gentleman. The four of us talked briefly, and then the women seemed to quietly disappear from the room, giving Bud and me time together.</p>
<p>We both knew this was the last time we would see each other on this earth. We chatted lightly for a moment, and then Bud grew serious. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Smitty, I want to thank you for introducing the Tap Code. It made all the difference in our communications network and was a lifeline for all of us.” It was a powerful moment I will always cherish, quickly topped by an even greater act that will stand out as one of the most significant events of my life.</p>
<p>Bud grabbed my hand, turned it over, and on the back of it began to tap.</p>
<p>Tap tap, tap tap—the letter G.</p>
<p>Tap, tap tap—the letter B.</p>
<p>Tap tap tap tap, tap tap tap tap tap—the letter U.</p>
<p>GBU. God bless you—those words tapped countless times by POWs to offer strength and understanding to each other. It was a symbol of our shared experience and a mark of our brotherhood.</p>
<p>Stunned, I could barely speak, but I managed to thank him for those blessed words and to tell him that I loved him. I know I will see him again, when I will one day follow his lead through the gates of heaven and experience a reunion even grander than those I have written about in my book <em>Tap Code</em>.</p>
<p>Yes, God has blessed me indeed. And to you, my friends, who have taken or will take the time to read <em>Tap Code</em> and walk this journey with me and Louise, I say: GBU.</p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FhMcr--6gvw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/tap-code-the-epic-survival-tale-of-a-vietnam-pow-and-the-secret-code-that-changed-everything?variant=29202841141359" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/16081258/TapCode_Cover2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Tap Code" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/tap-code-the-epic-survival-tale-of-a-vietnam-pow-and-the-secret-code-that-changed-everything?variant=29202841141359" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Tap Code: The Epic Survival Tale of a Vietnam POW and the Secret Code That Changed Everything</em></a> by Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/tap-code-the-epic-survival-tale-of-a-vietnam-pow-and-the-secret-code-that-changed-everything?variant=29202841141359" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click Here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Never-before-told details of underground operations during the Vietnam War told through one airman’s inspiring story of true love, honor, and courage.</p>
<p>Air Force pilot Captain Carlyle “Smitty” Harris was shot down over Vietnam on April 4, 1965, and taken to the infamous Hoa Lo prison—nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton.” For the next eight years, Smitty and hundreds of other American POWs—including John McCain and George “Bud” Day—suffered torture, solitary confinement, and abuse.</p>
<p>It was there Smitty covertly taught the Tap Code—an old, long-unused World War II method of communication—to many POWs. In turn, they taught others, and it quickly became a way for POWs to communicate without their captors’ knowledge. It was a lifeline during their internment—a way to boost morale, stay unified, and communicate the chain of command—as well as an asset in helping them prevail over a brutal enemy.</p>
<p>Back home, meanwhile, Harris’s wife, Louise, raised their three children alone, unsure of her husband’s fate. One of the first POW wives of the Vietnam War, she became a role model for many wives, advocating for herself and her children in her husband’s absence.</p>
<p>Told through both Smitty’s and Louise’s voices, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/tap-code-the-epic-survival-tale-of-a-vietnam-pow-and-the-secret-code-that-changed-everything?variant=29202841141359" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Tap Code</em></a> shares a riveting true story of ingenuity under pressure, strength and dignity in the face of the enemy, the love of family, and the hope, faith, and resolve necessary to endure even the darkest circumstances.</p>
<p><strong>Carlyle Smith “Smitty” Harris</strong> is an ex-Vietnam POW, who rose to the rank of Air Force Colonel. He received many decorations during his Air Force career, including two Silver Stars, three Legion of Merits, the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts, and the Eagle Award through the Gathering of Eagles Foundation. His tin cup from his days as a POW is now in the Smithsonian. He lives with his wife, Louise, and is surrounded by his large family in Tupelo, Mississippi.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/a-hopeful-walk-through-the-darkest-valley/">A Hopeful Walk Through the Darkest Valley</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6969393
2022-05-11T23:28:00-12:00
2022-05-12T01:00:12-12:00
Zondervan Expands Premier Collection Bibles to Include NASB 2020 Text
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nasb-thinline-bible-premium-goatskin-leather-brown-premier-collection-black-letter-gauffered-edges-2020-text-comfort-print?variant=39556421681288&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/28125628/PremierCollectionBiblesNASB.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the NASB 2020 Thinline Premier Collection Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="60%" /></a>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-American-Standard-Bible-NASB/#booklist" title="Read the New American Standard Bible (NASB2020) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New American Standard Bible</a> in the NASB 2020 text translation is now included in HarperCollins Christian Publishing’s top-quality leather bound Premier Collection of print Bibles (<a href="http://www.PremierCollectionBibles.com" title="See the Premier Collection Bibles website" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>).</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-American-Standard-Bible-NASB/#booklist" title="Read the New American Standard Bible (NASB) in the 2020 text translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the New American Standard Bible (NASB) in the 2020 text translation on Bible Gateway</a>]</p>
<p>The <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nasb-thinline-bible-premium-goatskin-leather-brown-premier-collection-black-letter-gauffered-edges-2020-text-comfort-print?variant=39556421681288&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NASB 2020 Thinline Premier Collection Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>New American Standard Bible (NASB) 2020 Thinline Premier Collection Bible</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022) is the first Premier Collection Bible available in the NASB 2020 Text.</p>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/the-nasb-2020-bible-translation-an-interview-with-pike-lambeth/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The NASB 2020 Bible Translation: An Interview with Pike Lambeth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The NASB 2020 Bible Translation: An Interview with Pike Lambeth</em></a>]</p>
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<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>The New American Standard Bible (<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/newamericanstandardbible/" title="See the NASB website" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>) stands on a rich tradition of faithfulness to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. It has been updated through the years to enhance accuracy, modernize language, and improve readability. The <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nasb-thinline-bible-premium-goatskin-leather-brown-premier-collection-black-letter-gauffered-edges-2020-text-comfort-print?variant=39556421681288&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NASB 2020 Thinline Premier Collection Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>New American Standard Bible, 2020 Edition</em></a> continues this tradition of maintaining fidelity to the original biblical languages while also ensuring that God’s Word speaks clearly to readers today.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2018/09/resplendent-premier-collection-bibles-kjv-nkjv-and-niv-released-from-thomas-nelson-and-zondervan/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Resplendent Premier Collection Bibles—KJV, NKJV, and NIV—Released from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Resplendent Premier Collection Bibles—KJV, NKJV, and NIV—Released from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan</em></a>]</p>
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<a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/28162508/PremierCollectionBiblesNASBpages.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/28162508/PremierCollectionBiblesNASBpages.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the NASB 2020 Thinline Premier Collection Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="47%" /></a> <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/28162520/PremierCollectionBiblesNASBgild.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/28162520/PremierCollectionBiblesNASBgild.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the NASB 2020 Thinline Premier Collection Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="47%" /></a>
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<p>The <em>NASB 2020 Thinline Premier Collection Bible</em> features Zondervan’s exclusive NASB Comfort Print® typeface, a brown goatskin cover, and elegant gauffered edges, all while delivering a traditional translation with improved readability.</p>
<p></p><center><strong>[See the New American Standard Bible (NASB) 2020 and 1995 print editions in the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/nasb?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="See the New American Standard Bible (NASB) 2020 and 1995 print editions in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FaithGateway Store</a> and the <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bg-bibles/bg-nasb-bibles?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="See the New American Standard Bible (NASB) 2020 and 1995 print editions in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Store</a>]</strong></center>
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<p>Features of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nasb-thinline-bible-premium-goatskin-leather-brown-premier-collection-black-letter-gauffered-edges-2020-text-comfort-print?variant=39556421681288&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NASB 2020 Thinline Premier Collection Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>New American Standard Bible, 2020 Edition</em></a> include:</p>
<ul>
<li> The full text of the New American Standard Bible, 2020 Text</li>
<li> Hand-bound in a supple goatskin leather cover</li>
<li> Smyth-sewn and edge-lined construction for flexibility and durability</li>
<li> Gauffered page edges (printed gilded edges), with gilt line and perimeter stitching</li>
<li> Three double-sided satin ribbon markers, each 3/8-inch wide</li>
<li> Premium European Bible paper, 36 gsm</li>
<li> Generous yapp</li>
<li> Raised hubs on spine</li>
<li> Two-color page design throughout</li>
<li> Line-matched Bible text minimizes see-through</li>
<li> Black-letter edition</li>
<li> Less than one inch thick</li>
<li> Double-column, verse-by-verse format</li>
<li> Full-color presentation page</li>
<li> Exclusive Zondervan NASB Comfort Print typeface</li>
<li> 9-point print size.</li>
</ul>
<p></p><center><strong>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/nasb-visual-verse-of-the-day/" title="Sign up to receive the free email NASB Visual Verse of the Day from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sign up to receive the free email NASB Visual Verse of the Day from Bible Gateway</a>]</strong></center>
<p>Premier Collection Bibles are also available in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-American-Standard-Bible-NASB1995/#booklist" title="Read the New American Standard Bible (NASB1995) translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New American Standard Bible, 1995 Text</a>.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/05/exegetical-preaching-blog-launched-uses-the-nasb-bible-translation/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Exegetical Preaching Blog Launched; Uses the NASB Bible Translation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Exegetical Preaching Blog Launched; Uses the NASB Bible Translation</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>About Comfort Print®</strong><br>
Zondervan Bibles teamed up with 2K/Denmark, the world’s foremost Bible typeface foundry, to create exclusive Comfort Print® Bible fonts. NRSV Comfort Print Bibles are easy to read at any size because the typeface was designed to be both efficient and readable. Zondervan Bibles believes that the beauty of the message should be reflected in the physical form of the book. Choosing the right typeface is one significant element in creating beautiful Bibles. To learn more about Comfort Print® fonts, visit <a href="http://www.ComfortPrintBibles.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.ComfortPrintBibles.com</a>.</p>
<p><strong>About Zondervan</strong><br>
Zondervan (<a href="https://twitter.com/Zondervan" title="Zondervan Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@Zondervan</a>), a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is located in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.zondervan.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Visit the Zondervan website" target="_blank">www.zondervan.com</a>.</p>
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<p><em>The</em> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nasb-thinline-bible-premium-goatskin-leather-brown-premier-collection-black-letter-gauffered-edges-2020-text-comfort-print?variant=39556421681288&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NASB 2020 Thinline Premier Collection Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NASB 2020 Thinline Premier Collection Bible</a> <em>is published by Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/zondervan-expands-premier-collection-bibles-to-include-nasb-2020-text/">Zondervan Expands Premier Collection Bibles to Include NASB 2020 Text</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6968601
2022-05-10T23:00:00-12:00
2022-05-11T02:30:25-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Proclaiming Something New
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-eighth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p><em>[Jesus] said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A59-60&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/b-following-jesus-9-57-62&tab=study" title="Read Luke 9:59-60 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 9:59-60</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/09141348/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Prayer-Man-Sun.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Silhouette of a man with outstretched arms facing the sun." width="90%" /></p>
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<p>They entered the white-stucco building in the middle of Tel Aviv quietly. This small museum was not known to a lot of people, and they certainly didn’t know that on this date, May 14, 1948, history would be made there. David Ben-Gurion entered off the quiet tree-lined street and before the small gathering, banged his walnut gavel to call the meeting to order. The agenda was simple. Ben-Gurion read a document that had been carefully prepared and conceived for more than a generation: The Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel. And with that proclamation, the first Jewish state in 19 centuries was born.</p>
<p>There was no fanfare. No public display of celebration. Egyptian fighter jets were patrolling the skies above. Other countries were in a war stance, ready to pounce if such a political move was attempted. Ever since the British had left months earlier, everybody knew that those seeking a Jewish homeland might attempt to assert nationhood. But even the British didn’t think a new Israel would stand a chance against the surrounding armies. The following day, May 15, the armies of Egypt, Transjordan, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon invaded the territory, and no one knew what would happen.</p>
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<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>It is not hard to proclaim a radical new thing. It is quite another to make it a reality. So when Jesus came declaring “the kingdom of God,” he was using words familiar to everybody, but in a whole new way. When Jesus said that the “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A16-22&version=NKJV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Preaches-Nazareth-Time-Fulfillment&tab=study" title="Read Luke 4:16-22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">acceptable year of the L<small>ORD</small></a>,” the year of Jubilee, had been fulfilled, he was saying that God was moving in to take over. God, whose rule could never be challenged, was now making his benevolent rule available in a whole new way. With the coming of Christ, God’s rule had come. He would unveil his fatherly care and lordly judgment. Jesus said to many people, “Follow me.” And then he challenged them to proclaim the same thing he was proclaiming: a new kingdom had come.</p>
<p>What do you stand for in life? There could be nothing clearer than to stand for this: God rules over all, so we will live like he does.</p>
<p><strong>MAKE IT REAL</strong></p>
<p>Think about ways that you know God is all-powerful. Then prayerfully consider someone who you know feels powerless. How can you let them know that Christ is King? Find a way to proclaim to them today that they have access to his endless power.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/how-to-live-the-bible-proclaiming-something-new/">How to Live the Bible — Proclaiming Something New</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6966725
2022-05-08T23:14:00-12:00
2022-05-09T01:15:06-12:00
How to Discover and Use Your Spiritual Gifts
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/new-creation/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_newcreation" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/30160743/You_Are_A_New_Creation_banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the free 5-day Bible study, You Are A New Creation" width="45%" /></a><strong>By Christopher Reese</strong></p>
<p>One of the most exciting things about being born again as a follower of Christ is learning what your spiritual gift(s) is, and then putting it or them to use.</p>
<p>In this article, we’ll explore what spiritual gifts are, the various kinds of gifts, and how you can discover yours. Next, we’ll look at a key biblical passage on the topic of spiritual gifts, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+4%3A10-11&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/1pe-4-7-11&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 4:10-11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 4:10-11</a>, and uncover two important principles for how we can use them. Finally, we’ll conclude with a contemplation exercise that will help us think deeply about this passage.</p>
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<h3>What Are Spiritual Gifts?</h3>
<p>Bible scholars <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+4%3A7-11&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/1pe-4-10-received-a-gift&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 4:7-11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">define a spiritual gift</a> as “a graciously given supernaturally designed ability granted to every believer by which the Holy Spirit ministers to the body of Christ. A spiritual gift cannot be earned, pursued, or worked up. It’s merely ‘received’ through the grace of God.”</p>
<p>To highlight a couple of important points from this definition, Scripture tells us that every Christian believer has at least one spiritual gift, which is given according to God’s will. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">apostle Paul</a> declared, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. . . . [The Spirit] distributes them to each one, just as he determines” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A7&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/1co-12-7&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 12:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 12:7</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A11&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/1co-12-11&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 12:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">11</a>).</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/understanding-spiritual-gifts-a-comprehensive-guide?variant=32705136459912&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/25091129/Understanding-Spiritual-Gifts.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Understanding Spiritual Gifts: A Comprehensive Guide in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="24%" /></a></p>
<h3>What Is the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts?</h3>
<p>As Paul also writes here, these gifts are given “for the common good” of God’s people. Elsewhere, he elaborates that the purpose of the gifts is “to equip [God’s] people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A12-13&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-wiersbe-study-bible/eph-4-12-16&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 4:12-13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:12-13</a>).</p>
<p>Thus, the purpose of spiritual gifts is to help God’s people become more like Christ in all that they think, say, and do.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/scripture-engagement-is-healthy-for-you/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You</em></a>]</p>
<h3>What Kinds of Spiritual Gifts Are There?</h3>
<p>Several passages in the New Testament list various spiritual gifts, and none of the lists are identical (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A6%E2%80%938&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-nt/ro-12-6-8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 12:6–8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 12:6–8</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A8%E2%80%9310&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/1Cor.12.8-1Cor.12.10&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 12:8–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 12:8–10</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A27%E2%80%9331&resource_entry=nkjv-wiersbe-study-bible/1co-12-27-31&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 12:27–31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">12:27–31</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A11&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/eph-4-11&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 4:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:11</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+4%3A10-11&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/1pe-4-7-11&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 4:9–11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 4:9–11</a>). This suggests that none of the lists is comprehensive, and that there are likely many other spiritual gifts not explicitly named. Some that are specifically mentioned include service, teaching, encouragement, mercy, helping, guidance, evangelism, and generosity.</p>
<hr>
<p></p><center><strong><em>The Abide Bible</em>, that specializes in suggesting Scripture engagement practices throughout Scripture, is one of the many resources you have immediate access to as a member of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong></center>
<hr>
<h3>How Can I Discover My Spiritual Gifts?</h3>
<p>It’s not always immediately obvious which spiritual gift(s) we’ve been given. In addition, God may use a talent that you possessed before being born again, or may give you a brand-new gift that you never had before. Pastor and author Max Lucado offers <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+peter+4%3A7-11&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-1pe-4-1-19&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Peter 4:7-11 in the Lucado Encouraging Word Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the following helpful advice</a> for discovering your gift:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>
What ignites your heart? Forgotten orphans? Untouched nations? The inner city? The outer limits?</p>
<p>Heed the fire within!</p>
<p>Do you have a passion to sing? Then sing!</p>
<p>Are you stirred to manage? Then manage!</p>
<p>Do you ache for the ill? Then treat them!</p>
<p>Do you hurt for the lost? Then teach them!</p>
<p>The fire of your heart is the light of your path. Disregard it at your own expense. Fan it at your own delight. Blow it. Stir it. Nourish it. . .</p>
<p>You have been given spiritual gifts. Have you identified them? If not, consider taking a spiritual inventory test (your local church can help you). Or ask friends and family to help you discover and use your gifts. Then pray about ways you can use your gifts to build up the body of believers and share the good news of salvation.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/" title="See the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">See the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway</a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/31093311/The-Abide-Bible-Initiative-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." width="90%" /></a></p>
<h3>Three Principles for Using Your Spiritual Gifts</h3>
<p>Besides knowing what our spiritual gift(s) is, it’s also important to know how to use it. Below, we’ll look at <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+4%3A10-11&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/1pe-4-7-11&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 4:10-11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 4:10-11</a>, where Peter suggests two practical principles for using our spiritual gifts:</p>
<blockquote><p>
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”</p></blockquote>
<p>The first principle, which we’ve already alluded to, is that we should use our gifts “to serve others” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+4%3A10&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-1-pet-4-10&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 4:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 10</a>). In his discussion of spiritual gifts in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of 1 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians</a>, Paul compares individual Christians to the parts of a human body (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A12-27&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/1co-12-12-26&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 12:12-27</a>). Each part of our physical body plays its own significant role, which contributes to the flourishing of our whole being. In the same way, each of our spiritual gifts contributes to the flourishing of the body of Christ. When we use our gifts to minister to one another, we will be “faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+4%3A10&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-1-pet-4-10&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 4:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 4:10</a>).</p>
<p>The second principle is that we should exercise our gifts so that “in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+peter+4%3A11&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/1pe-4-11&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 4:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 11</a>). Said differently, we should use our gifts in ways that glorify God. As the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+4%3A7-11&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-nt/1pe-4-10-11&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Peter 4:7-11 in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Expositor’s Bible Commentary</em></a> helpfully observes, “Serving fellow Christians does glorify God because people will praise him for his grace that comes to them through Jesus and through his followers.” It can be tempting to become prideful about our gifts and use them to elevate our own status. But as <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+4%3A10-11&resource_entry=believers-bible-commentary/4-11-13&tab=study" title="Read the reference note for 1 Peter 4:10-11 in the Believer's Bible Commentary with your Bible Gateway Plus membership on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">one scholar warns</a>,</p>
<blockquote><p>
Anyone who performs any kind of service should do it with the humble recognition that it is God who empowers him. Then the glory will go to God—to whom it belongs. A man should not become proud no matter how highly gifted he is in Christian service. The gift did not originate by his own effort, but was given to him from above. In fact, he has nothing which he did not receive. All service should be performed so that God gets the credit.</p></blockquote>
<h3>Engaging with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+4%3A10-11&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/a-the-communitys-internal-relations-3-8-4-7-11&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 4:10-11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 4:10-11</a>
</h3>
<p>A fitting way to conclude our brief study of spiritual gifts is to end with the <strong>Contemplation</strong> exercise of these verses found in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+4%3A10-11&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-abide/contemplate-1-peter-4-7-11&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 4:10-11 in The Abide Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Abide Bible</em></a>.* This is one of several methods of engaging more deeply with Scripture presented in this volume. Contemplation consists of four parts</p>
<ul>
<li> read</li>
<li> meditate</li>
<li> pray</li>
<li> contemplate.</li>
</ul>
<p>By working through each part, you’ll immerse yourself in this passage and find that you have a deeper understanding of it and how you can apply it to your own life and circumstances.</p>
<p><strong>Read.</strong> Ask God to speak to you through his Word. Then read the passage a few times.</p>
<p><strong>Meditate.</strong> How can you connect your life and gifts to the work of the kingdom of God? Do you seek opportunities to show love through using your gifts for the glory of God? What needs in your church or community are currently unfulfilled?</p>
<p><strong>Pray.</strong> Ask God to reveal ways you may follow the exhortations in these verses more closely. Turn anything the Spirit revealed to you into a prayer and request God to guide your growth.</p>
<p><strong>Contemplate.</strong> Rest in the assurance that God himself works to fulfill his purposes through your gifts as you minister to others through them.</p>
<p></p><center><strong><em>The Abide Bible</em>, that specializes in suggesting Scripture engagement practices throughout Scripture, is one of the many resources you have immediate access to as a member of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong></center>
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<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/28170009/Christopher_Reese.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Christopher Reese" width="20%" /></a><strong>BIO:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" title="Visit the LinkedIn page of Christopher Reese" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Reese</a> (MDiv, ThM) (<a href="https://twitter.com/clreese" title="Christopher Reese Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@clreese</a>) is a freelance writer and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://worldviewbulletin.substack.com/archive?utm_source=menu-dropdown" title="Visit The Worldview Bulletin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Worldview Bulletin</em></a>. He is a general editor of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dictionary-of-christianity-and-science-the-definitive-reference-for-the-intersection-of-christian-faith-and-contemporary-science?variant=13746105909359&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dictionary of Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2017) and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/three-views-on-christianity-and-science?variant=34292904001672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Three Views on Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Three Views on Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2021). His articles have appeared in <em>Christianity Today</em> and he writes and edits for Christian ministries and publishers.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/how-to-discover-and-use-your-spiritual-gifts/">How to Discover and Use Your Spiritual Gifts</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6965335
2022-05-06T01:50:00-12:00
2022-05-06T06:15:06-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of May 1, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/weekly-brief-week-of-may-1-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of May 1, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6964268
2022-05-04T22:30:00-12:00
2022-05-05T03:15:17-12:00
Join the Prayer That Changed a Nation with “The Daniel Prayer” Free Email Devotional by Anne...
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/the-daniel-prayer/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=thedanielprayer" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/02094026/thedanielprayer.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="150" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>Despite what the world believes, prayer does cause radical change. Prayer can transform a person, a community, even a nation.</p>
<p>Even though most Christians believe this wholeheartedly, it’s still sometimes difficult to put the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A1%3B+Romans+12%3A12%3B+Ephesians+6%3A18%3B+Colossians+4%3A2%3B+1+Thessalonians+5%3A17&version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bible’s constant reminders to pray without ceasing</a> into practice. And when we do, do we sometimes wonder if our prayers are effective? When you pray, do you pray with the expectation that God will hear your requests and concerns, or has prayer become a rote practice; a routine you go through with no real hope that anything will come of it?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/the-daniel-prayer/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=thedanielprayer" title="Sign up to receive The Daniel Prayer free email devotional from Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/14154631/TheDanielPrayer.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="303" width="200" /></a>If you worry that your prayer life has fallen into a slump—if you need to be reminded (as we all do) of prayer’s power, Bible Gateway is bringing back <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/the-daniel-prayer/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=thedanielprayer" title="Sign up to receive The Daniel Prayer free email devotional from Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daniel Prayer</a></strong> free email devotional! This five-day inspirational journey looks to the biblical example set by Daniel, a man whose prayer radically transformed an entire nation. You’ll learn how to pray like Daniel did: with confidence and hope. <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/the-daniel-prayer/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=thedanielprayer" title="Sign up to receive The Daniel Prayer free email devotional from Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up today!</a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/the-daniel-prayer/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=thedanielprayer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daniel Prayer</a></strong> email devotional is drawn from Anne Graham Lotz’ book <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-daniel-prayer-prayer-that-moves-heaven-and-changes-nations-1?variant=13766273466479&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Daniel Prayer in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em>The Daniel Prayer: Prayer That Moves Heaven and Changes Nations</em></a>.</p>
<p>There’s no better way to prepare your heart for Easter than to commit to take prayer more seriously. <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/the-daniel-prayer/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=thedanielprayer" title="Sign up to receive The Daniel Prayer free email devotional from Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daniel Prayer</a></strong> will help you do that in just five short devotional reflections over five days. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/the-daniel-prayer/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=thedanielprayer" title="Sign up to receive The Daniel Prayer free email devotional from Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up today and tell your friends and followers!</a></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/join-the-prayer-that-changed-a-nation-with-the-daniel-prayer-free-email-devotional-by-anne-graham-lotz/">Join the Prayer That Changed a Nation with “The Daniel Prayer” Free Email Devotional by Anne Graham Lotz</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6963755
2022-05-04T08:37:24-12:00
2022-05-04T09:30:02-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Nothing Could Be Clearer
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-seventh lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><em>“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A18&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Preaches-Nazareth-Time-Fulfillment&tab=study" title="Read Luke 4:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 4:18</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/04162121/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Food-Line.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photograph of a food line." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-68435"></span></p>
<p>Some issues are complicated or even ambiguous in Christian belief and ethics. The issue of Christian response to the poor, however, is absolutely unambiguous. Every segment of the Old Testament, the New, and, in particular, the teaching of Jesus, sounds a clarion call: God has compassion for the poor. God will judge those who oppress or take advantage of the poor. God calls us to reduce the suffering of the poor. Let the words of Scripture itself ring out:</p>
<p>“Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt. Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+22%3A21-27&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1030-God-compassion&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 22:21-27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 22:21-27</a>).</p>
<p>“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+14%3A31&version=NIV&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Poor&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 14:31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 14:31</a>).</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<p>“Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+10%3A1-3&version=NIV&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Poverty&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 10:1-3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 10:1-3</a>).</p>
<p>“He who is kind to the poor lends to the L<small>ORD</small>, and he will reward him for what he has done” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+19%3A17&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5448-poverty-attitudes-towards&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 19:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 19:17</a>).</p>
<p>“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+16%3A49&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5793-arrogance&tab=study" title="Read Ezekiel 16:49 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezekiel 16:49</a>).</p>
<p>“For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+5%3A12&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5350-injustice-hated-God&tab=study" title="Read Amos 5:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amos 5:12</a>).</p>
<p>“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+3%3A17&version=NIV&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Kindness&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 3:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 3:17</a>).</p>
<p>The “good news” that Jesus proclaimed to the poor is not just that he loves them, but that he has called vast armies of his people to come to their aid. Will we obey God, or not?</p>
<p><strong>MAKE IT REAL</strong></p>
<p>Find out today what avenues your church or other organization is committed to in the cause of compassion for the poor.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
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<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/how-to-live-the-bible-nothing-could-be-clearer/">How to Live the Bible — Nothing Could Be Clearer</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6963756
2022-05-04T06:02:03-12:00
2022-05-04T09:30:02-12:00
Bible Connection Podcast: Believing for It with CeCe Winans
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/27140238/BibleConnectionPodcastbannerblackonwhite2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Go to the Bible Connection Podcast index page" width="95%" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-believing-for-it-with-cece-winans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03113630/CeCe-Winans.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Watch and hear the Bible Connection Podcast: Believing for It with CeCe Winans" width="23%" /></a></p>
<p>Bible Gateway presents the <a title="Go to the Bible Connection Podcast index page" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bible Connection Podcast</a>, where we talk about the Bible and how it connects to every facet of life.</p>
<p>Through an incredible life and ministry of trusting in God and relying on his guidance, CeCe Winans, the bestselling female gospel artist of all time, has pointed millions of people to the love of Jesus. In this <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-believing-for-it-with-cece-winans/" title="Go to the Bible Connection podcast episode page for Believing for It with CeCe Winans" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">first episode of season two</a> of the Bible Connection Podcast, she sat down to talk about her career and how important it has been for her to stay connected to the truth found in Scripture.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-believing-for-it-with-cece-winans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03104735/Bible-Connection-S2-E1-CeCe-Winans.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Go to the page to view this podcast episode" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-believing-for-it-with-cece-winans/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Go to the Bible Connection podcast episode page for Believing for It with CeCe Winans" target="_blank">Go to the Bible Connection podcast episode page for Believing for It with CeCe Winans</a></strong></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/bible-connection-podcast-believing-for-it-with-cece-winans/">Bible Connection Podcast: Believing for It with CeCe Winans</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6963316
2022-05-03T23:00:00-12:00
2022-05-04T00:30:08-12:00
Your Life Is Not Your Own
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/02111854/MyronRolle_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Myron L. Rolle, MD" height="280" width="280" />By Myron L. Rolle, MD, MSc</strong></p>
<p>A few days before the end of 2019, my wife Latoya came to Boston to celebrate New Year’s. She still had to finish her dental residency in Birmingham, forcing us, for the moment, to live apart. The moment she walked through the door, her presence made the utilitarian apartment feel like a home. One night, as she got ready for a hospital holiday party, I listened from another room as her voice bounced along with Stevie Wonder’s silky falsetto.</p>
<p>“Isn’t she lovely,” I crooned when she emerged, looking radiant in a black dress.</p>
<p>“Not so bad yourself. Grab your sports coat,” she said. “I hung it for you.”</p>
<p>In our bedroom, something on the bed caught my eye. A blue onesie had been placed on top of the pillows. Below it sat two tiny booties, one pink, one blue. I picked up the onesie and read the lettering on the front: <em>Daddy of two</em>.</p>
<p><span id="more-68282"></span></p>
<p>I felt someone behind me and turned around. Latoya stood in the doorway, clutching a baggie full of pregnancy tests.</p>
<p>I took a baby sock in each hand and moved toward my wife. “Twins?”</p>
<p>“Twins,” she said, running a finger down the fabric of the baby socks.</p>
<p>I took Latoya into my arms and kissed her forehead.</p>
<p>“How many tests did you take?” I asked.</p>
<p>“Five,” she said. “I had to make sure.”</p>
<p>“It must have happened on our honeymoon.”</p>
<p>“In the Bahamas,” she said. “The dates line up.”</p>
<p>“You know, I’ll be the seventh neurosurgeon in our department to have twins,” I said. “There must be something in the water at Mass General.”</p>
<p>Latoya and I floated through the last week of the year, exultant and expectant. Boston finally had a bout of good weather, and our hopes for 2020 seemed as bright as the booming, dark blue sky. We attended service at Morning Star Baptist Church. Bishop Borders stood at the pulpit in a gray suit, arms stretched out, and read a prayer Jeremiah offered to God: “Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+10%3A23&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/d-the-wisdom-and-judgment-of-yahweh-10-1-25&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeremiah 10:23</a>).</p>
<p>The verse jogged a memory from childhood—Daddy’s deep voice, speaking across the kitchen table: “Myron, your life is not your own.” As a boy, I had taken the words to mean that my parents had sacrificed to make sure my brothers and I had every opportunity. My repayment for this sacrifice was to honor my parents by excelling in all I did. By following this principle for decades, I built a strong version of myself that couldn’t be torn apart by adversity or exterior influence.</p>
<p>Now, as I worshiped beside my pregnant wife, my father’s words acquired another layer of meaning. My life belonged to my unborn children. When I pictured serving them each coming day, I didn’t feel the weight of sacrifice. I felt the joy of offering an oblation to God. When their time came, my children would continue our family’s legacy, passing their own gifts through the generations.</p>
<h2>The 2% Way</h2>
<p>From the moment Mickey Andrews first told me about the 2% Way in a sweaty football locker room, this philosophy has steered my life. It got me through Florida State, Oxford, the NFL, Harvard, through the front lines of a global pandemic, and now back to the Bahamas where it all began, solving health issues in the country of my origin. The philosophy of growth through small incremental steps has carried me through each challenge I faced as an immigrant, academic, doctor, athlete, husband, father, and nephew. Through the 2% Way, I moved beyond the quick anger of my boyhood. I fulfilled the promise of my parents’ sacrifice. I earned the respect and friendship of my teammates on and off the field. I found the love of a woman who will be by my side until one of us takes our last breath. I stepped fully into an identity that many refused to admit existed.</p>
<p>The 2% Way helped me build a life full of purpose and meaning. It can do the same for you. It takes away the pressure you feel when your problems seem insurmountable. If you see your life from a thirty-thousand-foot view, your challenges will seem as large as the earth. But if you take tangible, incremental steps of edification every day, that which was once overwhelming will shrink to a manageable size. Progress becomes reality.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-2-way-how-a-philosophy-of-small-improvements-took-me-to-oxford-the-nfl-and-neurosurgery-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39701031125128&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03171850/The-2-Percent-Way-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The 2% Way: How a Philosophy of Small Improvements Took Me to Oxford, the NFL, and Neurosurgery Audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>Whether you are trying to grow closer to God, trying to yoke yourself to the right partner, trying to create a family or provide for one, trying to become a leader for people on the margins, or trying to find your identity, the 2% Way will give you the tools to tackle life with the assuredness that you are taking steps in the right direction. When you look back on all those steps, you will realize that each one was valuable, that each one changed you.</p>
<p>And in the process of changing yourself, you will find that you have changed the world.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-2-way-how-a-philosophy-of-small-improvements-took-me-to-oxford-the-nfl-and-neurosurgery?variant=39701033320584" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03171840/The-2-Percent-Way.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The 2% Way" width="25%" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-2-way-how-a-philosophy-of-small-improvements-took-me-to-oxford-the-nfl-and-neurosurgery?variant=39701033320584" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The 2% Way: How a Philosophy of Small Improvements Took Me to Oxford, the NFL, and Neurosurgery</em></a> by Myron L. Rolle. <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/the-two-percent-way/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>You don’t have to change your life overnight—instead, you can make small changes that leave a lasting impact. In <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-2-way-how-a-philosophy-of-small-improvements-took-me-to-oxford-the-nfl-and-neurosurgery?variant=39701033320584" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The 2% Way</em></a>, discover the simple, revolutionary practice behind the against-the-odds success story of Dr. Myron L. Rolle.</p>
<p>Dr. Rolle has led a remarkable life: from earning a scholarship to a prestigious private high school to becoming a top-rated recruit at Florida State University; from winning the Rhodes Scholarship for study at Oxford to playing football in the NFL and then becoming a neurosurgery resident at Harvard.</p>
<p>In this inspiring book, Dr. Rolle tells the story of his incredible journey, revealing how a strong work ethic, deep faith, and the family values instilled by his Bahamian immigrant parents set the stage for the transformative life philosophy that enabled him to overcome adversity, defy expectations, and create a life of meaning and purpose.</p>
<p>Whether you’re struggling with your own obstacles, looking to improve yourself, searching for your purpose and identity, or seeking inspiration, Dr. Rolle’s story will give you the encouragement and tools you need to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Make incremental improvements that lead to long-lasting results</li>
<li>Build a life full of purpose and meaning</li>
<li>Tackle life with the assurance that you’re moving in the right direction</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-2-way-how-a-philosophy-of-small-improvements-took-me-to-oxford-the-nfl-and-neurosurgery?variant=39701033320584" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The 2% Way</em></a> will change the way you think about self-improvement, proving that you have the power to make strides toward the life you’ve always dreamed of.</p>
<p><strong>Dr. Myron L. Rolle</strong> is a former NFL safety, a Rhodes Scholar, and a neurosurgery resident and Global Neurosurgery Fellow at Harvard-Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the founder and chairman of the Myron L. Rolle Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of global health, wellness, education, and other charitable initiatives benefitting children and families in need. Dr. Rolle also serves on the Knight Commission on Athletics and the Clinton Global Initiative, and he is co-creator of the Emerging Scholars Project for underrepresented college students applying for a Rhodes Scholarship. His philanthropic work, academic excellence, and athletic endeavors have been featured in top global and national outlets such as <em>CNN</em>, <em>ABC News</em>, <em>ESPN</em>, and <em>CNBC</em>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/your-life-is-not-your-own/">Your Life Is Not Your Own</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6962951
2022-05-03T06:51:00-12:00
2022-05-03T11:00:11-12:00
Four Biblical Mothers to Remember (and Lots of Devotions for Moms)
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<img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/hannah.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="hannah" height="298" width="300" />We hope you’ll take some time this weekend to pay respects to your mother—or if that isn’t possible, to somebody in your life who embodies the grace and wisdom we associate with godly mothers. We’ve put together a list of four famous moms from the Bible, along with a list of some of our best devotions for moms.</p>
<p>The Bible speaks highly of mothers who raise children and guide their families in a righteous manner; in the oft-quoted <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+31%3A10-31&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/ix-a-wife-of-industrious-character-31-10-31&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 31:10-31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 31</a>, the “wife of noble character” is honored by her husband and children for her virtues.</p>
<p>Motherhood wasn’t a requirement for godly women in Bible times—and just as today, not every woman who wanted children was granted her wish. But the mothers and matriarchs of the Bible exhibit qualities that all of us, male or female, parent or not, should strive to emulate. Here are a few of the famous mothers of the Bible, with links to their stories:</p>
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<h3>1. Mary, the Mother of Jesus</h3>
<p>Perhaps no more famous mother exists than Mary, who at a young age learned from an angel that she would give birth to the long-awaited Messiah. Her <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A46-55&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Marys-Hymn-Praise-Magnificat&tab=study" title="Read Luke 1:46-55 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">song of praise</a> in response, and the well-known events of Christ’s birth, are what usually spring to mind when we think of Mary. But her role as mother brought her grief as well as joy; we can only imagine what it must have been like for her to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A25-27&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Cares-His-Mother-Beloved-Disciple&tab=study" title="Read John 19:25-27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">witness Jesus’ crucifixion</a>. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19:25-27" title="Read John 19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read her story in John 19.</a></p>
<h3>2. Elizabeth</h3>
<p>Mary’s was not the only miraculous birth recorded in the New Testament. Elizabeth was a godly woman who was “righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly”—and yet she and her husband were unable to conceive a child. God <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1">answered her prayers late in her life</a> and she gave birth to John the Baptist, but is perhaps best known for her prophetic encouragement of the young (and perhaps frightened) Mary: <em>“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”</em> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1" title="Read Luke 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read her story in Luke 1.</a></p>
<h3>3. Hannah</h3>
<p>Hannah is one of the most inspiring mothers in the Bible, although her story is less well-known. Despite years of patience and prayer, she remained unable to have a child. One day <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Samuel+1">“in her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly”</a>—and God answered her prayer at last. But Hannah’s character truly shone when, in gratitude to God, she dedicated her newborn son to His service. Her son would one day become one of Israel’s greatest prophets. Read her story in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+1&resource_entry=matthew-henry/1Sam.1.1-1Sam.1.8&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 1.</a></p>
<h3>4. Sarah, the Wife of Abraham</h3>
<p>Sarah is one of the great matriarchs of the Bible—yet she didn’t become a mother until very late in life. In fact, her reaction to God’s promise that she would have a son was to laugh, as memorably recorded in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+18:1-15">Genesis 18</a>. Nevertheless she did give birth to a son, and her lineage would include Jesus Christ himself. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+18&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.18&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read her story in Genesis 18.</a></p>
<p>There are many more famous mothers described in the Bible; many of them righteous, some not so much, but all used by God to bring about His design. This weekend, as we give thanks for the mothers in our lives, consider how you can embody the traits that define a godly mother—patience, kindheartedness, faithfulness—and consider how you can encourage the mothers in your community, young and old, as they work to meet that same standard.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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</center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>While Mother’s Day is on your mind, here are a few Mother’s Day devotionals worth checking out (or passing along to mom):</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2013/05/mothers-day-reflection-raising-up-a-hero-of-faith/">Raising Up a Hero of Faith</a> — Sheri Rose Shepherd recalls an unexpected moment of spiritual growth in the life of her son.</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/encouragement-for-today/2014/05/08">Am I a Bad Mom?</a> — Lysa TerKeurst recalls a parenting experience that made her feel like a total failure as a mother—but finds in it a message of hope and encouragement.</li>
<li>The Girlfriends in God devotional has many devotionals about motherhood. See <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/girlfriends-in-god/2014/05/05">How a Mom is Like a Lighthouse</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/girlfriends-in-god/2014/05/06">Being a Mom That Matters</a>, and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/girlfriends-in-god/2014/05/07">Hats Off to Moms!</a> (and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/">subscribe</a> to the devotional for more!).</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/moms-devotional-bible/">NIV Devotions for Moms</a> is a weekly devotional written specifically for—you guessed it—moms. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/womens-devotional-bible/">NIV Devotions for Women</a> isn’t <em>just</em> for moms, but there’s plenty of relevant material there. You might also take a look at <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/night-light-parents/">Night Light for Parents</a>, written by Dr. James Dobson and his wife Shirley.</li>
<li>Not everyone highlighted in our weekly <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/women-of-the-bible/today">Women of the Bible</a> devotional was a mother, but many of them were—and there’s plenty for moms to learn from these stories of the Bible’s most famous (and occasionally infamous) women.</li>
</ul>
<h2>More Devotions for Moms</h2>
<p>If you’re a mom yourself and are looking for regular inspiration and help in managing and improving your relationships with your spouse, kids, friends, or coworkers, consider subscribing to one or more of these devotionals:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/9-key-women-in-the-bible/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=mothersday"><strong>9 Key Women in the Bible</strong></a>: meet nine of the most important and influential women in the Bible, and discover what you can learn from their successes and failures!</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=mothersday"><strong>Boundaries</strong></a>: Healthy boundaries are the key to healthy relationships! This weekly devotional will help you transform frustrating and draining relationships so that you can be the person God wants you to be.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=mothersday"><strong>Encouragement for Today</strong></a>: Daily encouragement and inspiration from Proverbs 31 Ministries—practical, biblical insight for busy women.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=mothersday"><strong>Girlfriends in God</strong></a>: A daily devotion that will refresh, restore, and renew you in the midst of your hectic everyday routine.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=mothersday"><strong>Sisters in Faith</strong></a>: A weekly message of challenge and inspiration for women from a diverse group of writers.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=mothersday"><strong>THRIVE with Sheri Rose Shepherd</strong></a>: If God were to write you a personal letter, what would it say? Find inspiration in these weekly scriptural love letters and devotions by Sheri Rose Shepherd.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=mothersday"><strong>NIV Devotions for Women</strong></a>: Stay spiritually strong no matter what life throws at you with this weekly insight from God’s Word.</li>
</ul>
<p>Happy Mother’s Day to you and to the mother figure in your life!</p>
<blockquote>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/four-biblical-moth-ers-to-remember-mothers-day/">Four Biblical Mothers to Remember (and Lots of Devotions for Moms)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6961085
2022-04-30T22:00:00-12:00
2022-05-01T00:45:28-12:00
May Is “Bible Declarations Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar
<p>One of the joys in reading the Bible is being inspired and motivated by the determined resolve of its people when they declare and decree their firmest belief in the sovereignty, majesty, and goodness of God, such as</p>
<ul>
<li> “Great is the L<small>ORD</small> and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+145%3A3&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/c-songs-of-praise-to-king-yahweh&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 145:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 145:3</a>)</li>
<li> “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the L<small>ORD</small> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+24%3A15&version=NKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8462-priority-God&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 24:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 24:15</a>)</li>
<li> “The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2019:1&version=NET&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1045-God-glory&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 19:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 19:1</a>) and</li>
<li> Worship the L<small>ORD</small> with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy….For the L<small>ORD</small> is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+100%3A1-5&version=NLT&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-joyful-vv-1-2&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 100:2, 5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 100:2, 5</a>).</li>
</ul>
<p>One way of acknowledging our devotion to God during the month of May is to download and use this <a href="http://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/May_Declarations_PDF_2.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=maydeclarations" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, May Bible Declarations" target="_blank"><strong>free daily Bible Declaration calendar</strong></a> to proclaim, decree, and declare your allegiance to the Lord. One Bible verse for each day:</p>
<p><span id="more-68088"></span></p>
<p><a href="http://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/May_Declarations_PDF_2.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=maydeclarations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/29102748/May-Declarations-2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, May Bible Declarations" width="90%" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li>May 1 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37%3A39&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1240-God-Rock&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 37:39 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 37:39</a>
</li>
<li>May 2 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A7&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6653-forgiveness-divine&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 1:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 1:7</a>
</li>
<li>May 3 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+62%3A5-7&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/2-god-alone-encourages-us-vv-5-8&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 62:5-7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 62:5-7</a>
</li>
<li>May 4 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A4&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6609-adoption-nature&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 1:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 1:4</a>
</li>
<li>May 5 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+116%3A1-2&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/god-answers-his-children-prayers-vv-1-4&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 116:1-2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 116:1-2</a>
</li>
<li>May 6 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A4&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Ps.23.4&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23:4</a>
</li>
<li>May 7 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2%3A10&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4915-completion&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 2:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 2:10</a>
</li>
<li>May 8 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1%3A9&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8220-courage-facing-enemies&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 1:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 1:9</a>
</li>
<li>May 9 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+147%3A3&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5333-healing&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 147:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 147:3</a>
</li>
<li>May 10 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121%3A1-2&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/my-father-creation-is-before-me-vv-1-2&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 121:1-2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 121:1-2</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<ul>
<li>May 11 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+3%3A5&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8224-dependence&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 3:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 3:5</a>
</li>
<li>May 12 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+35%3A9&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5918-pleasure&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 35:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 35:9</a>
</li>
<li>May 13 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A7&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4020-life-faith&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 5:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:7</a>
</li>
<li>May 14 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A9&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5058-rest-spiritual&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 4:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 4:9</a>
</li>
<li>May 15 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+138%3A7&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Ps.138.6-Ps.138.8&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 138:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 138:7</a>
</li>
<li>May 16 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+48%3A14&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8125-guidance-Gods-promises&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 48:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 48:14</a>
</li>
<li>May 17 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1%3A3-4&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Encouragement-Midst-Suffering&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 1:3-4</a>
</li>
<li>May 18 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+46%3A1-2&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8107-assurance-life-faith&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 46:1-2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 46:1-2</a>
</li>
<li>May 19 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+138%3A3&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8136-knowing-God-effects&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 138:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 138:3</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<ul>
<li>May 20 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+84%3A4&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-my-delight-is-lord-vv-1-4&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 84:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 84:4</a>
</li>
<li>May 21 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3%3A1&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/iii-a-catalog-of-times-3-1-15&tab=study" title="Read Ecclesiastes 3:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 3:1</a>
</li>
<li>May 22 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3%3A11&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4040-beauty&tab=study" title="Read Ecclesiastes 3:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 3:11</a>
</li>
<li>May 23 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+54%3A10&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8214-confidence-basis&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 54:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 54:10</a>
</li>
<li>May 24 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40%3A2&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-praise-god-for-all-he-has-done-vv-1-5&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 40:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 40:2</a>
</li>
<li>May 25 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+43%3A1&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5805-comfort&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 43:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 43:1</a>
</li>
<li>May 26 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+125%3A1&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8031-trust-importance&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 125:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 125:1</a>
</li>
<li>May 27 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+8%3A35&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/4-you-must-make-decision-vv-32-36&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 8:35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 8:35</a>
</li>
<li>May 28 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+29%3A11&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Jer.29.10-Jer.29.14&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 29:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 29:11</a>
</li>
<li>May 29 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+17%3A14&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5333-healing&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 17:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 17:14</a>
</li>
<li>May 30 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+60%3A19-20&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/1-arise-shine-60-1-22&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 60:19-20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 60:19-20</a>
</li>
<li>May 31 — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+43%3A4&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1085-God-love&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 43:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 43:4</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Download and start using this <a href="http://staticu.bgcdn.com/downloads/May_Declarations_PDF_2.pdf?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=maydeclarations" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Click to immediately download the free PDF calendar, May Bible Declarations" target="_blank"><strong>free daily Bible Declaration calendar</strong></a> right now!</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/dont-merely-read-the-bible-engage-with-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!</em></a>]</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/05/may-is-bible-declarations-month-on-bible-gateway-download-this-free-31-bible-verses-calendar/">May Is “Bible Declarations Month” on Bible Gateway: Download this Free 31 Bible Verses Calendar</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6959924
2022-04-29T01:45:00-12:00
2022-04-29T04:00:06-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of April 24, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/weekly-brief-week-of-april-24-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of April 24, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6958347
2022-04-27T05:57:02-12:00
2022-04-27T07:00:17-12:00
NIrV Journal the Word Bible for Girls
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nirv-journal-the-word-bible-for-girls-double-column-hardcover-comfort-print-my-first-bible-for-tracing-verses-journaling-and-creating-art?variant=39556420337800&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/27122441/NIrV-Journal-the-Word-Bible-for-Girls.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the NIrV Journal the Word Bible for Girls in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="28%" /></a>Here’s a Bible to help 6- to 10-year-old girls get started on the life-long practice of journaling their thoughts and prayers while reading Scripture. The <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nirv-journal-the-word-bible-for-girls-double-column-hardcover-comfort-print-my-first-bible-for-tracing-verses-journaling-and-creating-art?variant=39556420337800&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NIrV Journal the Word Bible for Girls in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>NIrV Journal the Word<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/72x72/2122.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="™" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Bible for Girls: My First Bible for Tracing Verses, Journaling, and Creating Art</em></strong></a> (Zonderkidz, 2022) (<a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/nivjournalthewordbible/" title="Visit the Journal the Word website on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>) offers plenty of space for capturing personal notes, art, doodles, and more.</p>
<p>Throughout the pages of this beautiful Bible, readers are able to journal their feelings and prayers as they write, color, and trace verses. However a girl wishes to creatively express herself in the way God designed her, she will engage with the Lord’s heart and get to know the One who knows and loves her best.</p>
<p><span id="more-68150"></span></p>
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<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/nirv-parent-pack/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://staticu.bgcdn.com/landing/NIrV%20Parent%20Pack%20Email%20Header.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to receive at the beginning of each month the free NIrV Parent Packet printable PDF of colorful Bible activities for children" width="95%" /></a></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/10/new-international-readers-version-nirv-meet-the-translators-an-interview-with-michael-j-williams-phd/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)—Meet the Translators: An Interview with Michael J. Williams, PhD" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)—Meet the Translators: An Interview with Michael J. Williams, PhD</em></a>]</p>
<p>This Bible uses the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Readers-Version-NIRV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New International Reader's Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)</a>, the easy-to-read translation of the entire Bible that’s adapted with care from the accurate, readable, and clear <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New International Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New International Version (NIV)</a> and written at a third-grade level, making it ideal for early readers.</p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OhM7FoSIq4o" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<p>Features of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nirv-journal-the-word-bible-for-girls-double-column-hardcover-comfort-print-my-first-bible-for-tracing-verses-journaling-and-creating-art?variant=39556420337800&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NIrV Journal the Word Bible for Girls in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>NIrV Journal the Word<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/72x72/2122.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="™" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Bible for Girls: My First Bible for Tracing Verses, Journaling, and Creating Art</em></strong></a> are:</p>
<ul>
<li> Complete text of the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), written at a third-grade reading level for developing readers</li>
<li> Double-column format</li>
<li> Wide margins girls can use in three ways:</li>
<li> Lined side margins for taking notes</li>
<li> Blank side margins for drawing, coloring, and doodling</li>
<li> 100 verses for tracing to help with print and cursive penmanship and Scripture memorization</li>
<li> Thick white paper for writing and doodling</li>
<li> Satin ribbon marker</li>
<li> Exclusive Zondervan NIrV Comfort Print® typeface</li>
<li> 8.5-point print size.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nirv-journal-the-word-bible-for-girls-double-column-hardcover-comfort-print-my-first-bible-for-tracing-verses-journaling-and-creating-art?variant=39556420337800&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/27125355/NIRV-Journal-the-Word-Bible-for-Girls-page.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the NIrV Journal the Word Bible for Girls in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="80%" /></a></p>
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<p><em>The</em> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nirv-journal-the-word-bible-for-girls-double-column-hardcover-comfort-print-my-first-bible-for-tracing-verses-journaling-and-creating-art?variant=39556420337800&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the NIrV Journal the Word Bible for Girls in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NIrV Journal the Word Bible for Girls</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/nirv-journal-the-word-bible-for-girls/">NIrV Journal the Word Bible for Girls</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6958348
2022-04-27T02:13:40-12:00
2022-04-27T07:00:17-12:00
How to Live the Bible — The Least of These
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-sixth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><em>“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me… Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A35-36%2C+40&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5809-compassion-human&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 25:35-36, 40 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 25:35-36, 40</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/27100513/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Food-Delivery.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photograph of food being delivered in a box." width="90%" /></p>
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<p>Gary Waddingham, rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Billings, Montana, tells this story:</p>
<p>Several years ago, when I was ministering in a small rural community, we had extra food left over from our Christmas basket. I happened to think of a poor family who lived at the edge of town. I packed up the food and drove to their house. I am never sure how one goes about “doing charity” while preserving the dignity of those who receive the charity. When the woman, surrounded by her several children, answered the door, I thought of a subtle way to offer the food to her. I asked, “Do you know anyone who could use some extra food?” “You bet,” she said and got her coat, headed toward her car saying, “Follow me.” She took me to people who were poorer than she, people who desperately needed food. Even though she herself needed food, I remember clearly that there was absolutely no hesitation on her part.</p>
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<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>Biblical justice is not an abstract principle: it’s about people. Real people. Jesus couldn’t have made it clearer. “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Notice he calls the stranger, the naked, the ill, the prisoner, the poor “my brothers and sisters.” And, more remarkable yet, to show grace to one of them is as if we blessed Jesus himself. What could be a clearer sense of direction for any of us, a stronger sense of calling?</p>
<p>The possibilities are endless. We don’t need to wait until we find just the right charitable organization whose operations are impeccable and cause is worthy. We can do something today. Any society has multitudes of disadvantaged people. Jesus said, “whatever you did…</p>
<p><strong>APPLICATION…</strong></p>
<p>Do one thing today for someone who is among “the least of these.”</p>
<ul>
<li> Bring some clothing to a resale shop.</li>
<li> Drop a check in the mail to an organization that assists the poor.</li>
<li> Offer to help a single mom in your neighborhood or in your family.</li>
<li> Write a letter to someone in prison.</li>
</ul>
<p>And if you conclude that there is a big gap between yourself and needy people—ask yourself why, and think of a way to begin to close that gap.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/how-to-live-the-bible-the-least-of-these/">How to Live the Bible — The Least of These</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6958089
2022-04-26T23:08:00-12:00
2022-04-27T02:30:31-12:00
Are You Experiencing Empty-Nest Syndrome?
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/14133805/JimBurns_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Jim Burns" width="33%" />By Jim Burns</strong></p>
<p>On the drive home from dropping our youngest daughter off at college, my wife and I both went silent for about two hours. Periodically, I looked over at Cathy, and more than a few times, I watched a tear take a stroll down her cheek. If someone had been watching us, they would have thought that instead of experiencing a beautiful transitional moment in our family’s life, we were mourning the death of a loved one. When we arrived home, the house that had been headquarters to constant action, no little amount of tension through the teen years, noise, movement, chaos, laughter, memories, traditions, and more noise was tomblike quiet. We had just entered the empty nest, and not only were we unprepared, but we had been so busy with life that we hadn’t even seen it coming.</p>
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<p>The following night, I sat down to dinner. Cathy had prepared a massive amount of food. She said, “I guess I need to adjust my cooking portions.” As I performed my nightly kitchen-cleanup duty, I put more food back into the refrigerator than we had eaten. Yes, we were going to have to make some adjustments, and we later realized it wasn’t just in meal planning but in practically every aspect of our lives. After all, we had just devoted 23 years to the daily parenting of our children, who had now morphed into adults (sort of), and we were no longer needed on a day-to-day basis. In addition, we had buried a few of our marriage issues under the “taking care of the kids mat,” and we had some work to do.</p>
<p>Just about the time we were getting used to the empty nest, our adult children started moving back home, and we had to learn how to do life with boomerang children. All three of our girls came back through our revolving door several times. Authorities tell us that the average age to begin empty nesting is 48.7 years. We think our last boomerang happened a few months ago, when we were 67. But hey, isn’t 60 the new 40?</p>
<p>No doubt the transition to the empty nest was harder on Cathy. I had my work and was overly focused on it. Cathy was still working as a teacher, but in our home, she had been the sun and we were all her planets. She was a bit lost without her leadership role. (I think she was depressed for a while, but a husband’s diagnosis should sometimes go unmentioned.) We later learned she was experiencing what is called the empty-nest syndrome.</p>
<p>As a bit of foreshadowing, I’ll share an observation from Heidi, our youngest, when she was about five years old. Trying to figure out the pecking order of our family, she asked, “Dad, if Rebecca [middle child] bosses me and Christy [our oldest] is the boss of Rebecca, and Mom is the boss of everybody, then are you the boss of anyone?”</p>
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<p>But Cathy wasn’t the only one who discovered she needed to reinvent herself. I had some work to do in that department myself.</p>
<p>For many people, the empty nest brings other issues to the forefront, such as being caught in the middle of caring for aging parents, caring for needy adult children, health issues, menopause, and changing roles in marriage. Sometimes in-law issues get complicated, as do the problems of finances and future retirement. The list can quickly become a long one. Our road undoubtedly will be full of twists and turns and some unexpected thorns, but even with all that life naturally throws at us, I’m convinced that if you take just a little time to prepare, the empty-nest years can be your best years.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/07/how-to-have-fun-and-make-each-day-count-an-interview-with-jim-burns/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Have Fun and Make Each Day Count: An Interview with Jim Burns" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Have Fun and Make Each Day Count: An Interview with Jim Burns</em></a>]</p>
<p>Many individuals spend more time in the empty nest than with their children in the home. Whether you are single, married, or in a blended family, the empty nest brings both the joy of victory and the agony of some defeat. You have to cope with loss and find your new identity. You make midlife course corrections. If you are married, you once again gaze into each other’s eyes as you did before you had kids, though those eyes may have more wrinkles and your faces may be fuller than they were two decades ago. Unless you did an amazing job preparing for the empty nest, and most of us didn’t, you may be looking at a stranger who is going through their own identity crisis.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/07/how-to-cultivate-joy/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Cultivate Joy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Cultivate Joy</em></a>]</p>
<p>I’ve spent my entire adult life researching, speaking on, and writing about the values of strong marriages, confident parents, and empowered kids. Yet the empty nest took me by surprise. It was much more difficult than I’d thought it would be—and if this makes any sense, much better too. I’ve told friends that I wrote <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/finding-joy-in-the-empty-nest-discover-purpose-and-passion-in-the-next-phase-of-life?variant=39682248081544" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Finding Joy in the Empty Nest</em></a> out of my need (desperation?) to reinvent and recalibrate parts of my life, my marriage, and even my relationships with my adult children. Very quickly, the research for this book became personal because I found myself reading for my own benefit before I could write or speak one sentence to others. To be candid, some of the writing on this subject seemed a bit trite, even shallow. “Plant a garden, join a bridge club, and volunteer at the hospital.” These are great ideas, but as I listened to the people around me, I learned that empty nesting is more about a sense of loss and the need to find new purpose and passion, while changing the relationships we once had with our children.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/07/four-guidelines-to-help-you-keep-a-strong-relationship-with-your-adult-children/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Four Guidelines to Help You Keep a Strong Relationship with Your Adult Children" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Four Guidelines to Help You Keep a Strong Relationship with Your Adult Children</em></a>]</p>
<p>It’s possible that your best years are ahead of you, and how you choose to live will determine the outcome. I believe that most games are won in the second half and that you, no doubt, have a beautiful though possibly not easy road ahead of you. It’s odd for me to give a brief illustration about good wine since I don’t drink, but it’s a fact that the aging of wine improves its quality. Sometimes an aged wine is dramatically better and more distinguished because it is stored with care. As we age, we can learn from our experiences and improve our lives to finish well. It’s my prayer that <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/finding-joy-in-the-empty-nest-discover-purpose-and-passion-in-the-next-phase-of-life?variant=39682248081544" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Finding Joy in the Empty Nest</em></a> will help you do that.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/finding-joy-in-the-empty-nest-discover-purpose-and-passion-in-the-next-phase-of-life-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39682247884936&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/25105622/Finding-Joy-in-the-Empty-Nest-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Finding Joy in the Empty Nest audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>I’ve kept this quote from the Old Testament close to my heart: “Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+43%3A19&version=MSG&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8146-renewal-natural-order&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 43:19 (MSG) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Isaiah 43:19</a> MSG).</p>
<p>As you launch your kids into the world, be alert, present, and prepared: you’re launching yourself as well. I hope you will make empty nesting a meaningful, rich, and even fun time amid struggle, perhaps a few tears, and grief. Your children are not who they once were. And neither are you.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/finding-joy-in-the-empty-nest-discover-purpose-and-passion-in-the-next-phase-of-life?variant=39682248081544" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/25105606/Finding-Joy-in-the-Empty-Nest.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Finding Joy in the Empty Nest" width="23%" /></a>Adapted from <em><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/finding-joy-in-the-empty-nest-discover-purpose-and-passion-in-the-next-phase-of-life?variant=39682248081544" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Finding Joy in the Empty Nest: Discover Purpose and Passion in the Next Phase of Life</a></em> by Jim Burns. <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/finding-joy-in-the-empty-nest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>When the kids are gone, you can discover a richer, deeper, and more fulfilling life than you ever imagined!</p>
<p>Whether you’ve been looking forward to it or dreading it, the experience of coming home to an empty nest brings with it a well of emotions, realizations, and one gigantic, all-consuming thought: Now what? As an empty nester, the options before you are practically limitless—a fact that can be as exciting as it is terrifying.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/finding-joy-in-the-empty-nest-discover-purpose-and-passion-in-the-next-phase-of-life?variant=39682248081544" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this book</a>, Jim Burns combines his personal experiences with extensive research, interviews with other empty nesters, and his professional work as a family educator to help you navigate your new life as an empty nester and find joy in the opportunities for life-change before you.</p>
<p>Rather than offering shallow suggestions of hobbies you should take up, Burns encourages you to actively pursue a fresh start, reinvent yourself, and thrive beyond this new stage. To help you do this, he equips you with practical advice and timeless principles, including how to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Change the relationship you once had with your children—for the better</li>
<li>Face big issues (like aging parents, finances, and kids returning home) with confidence</li>
<li>And rekindle your fire and purpose to live with passion day by day</li>
</ul>
<p>Amid his wealth of know-how, you’ll uncover what may be the most important takeaway of all: hope that the best is yet to come.</p>
<p><strong>Jim Burns</strong>, Ph.D., is the president of HomeWord, speaks to thousands of people around the world each year, and has more than two million resources in print in twenty languages. He is the author of Doing Life with Your Adult Children, Confident Parenting, Creating an Intimate Marriage, and Have Serious Fun. Jim and his wife, Cathy, live in Southern California and have three grown daughters, Christy, Rebecca, and Heidi; three sons-in-law, Steve, Andy, and Matt; and three grandchildren, James, Charlotte, and Huxley.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/are-you-experiencing-empty-nest-syndrome/">Are You Experiencing Empty-Nest Syndrome?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6957508
2022-04-26T06:00:10-12:00
2022-04-26T08:45:14-12:00
Bible Mapper Maps on Bible Gateway: An Interview with David Barrett
<p></p><center>
<h3>• <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#BibleMapperMapList">List of Bible Mapper Maps on BibleGateway.com</a> •</h3>
<p></p>
</center>
<p><a href="https://biblemapper.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/21131733/David-Barrett.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="David Barrett—Visit Bible Mapper website" width="25%" /></a>The Bible is ancient literature written in a variety of genres over a span of 1,500 years by multiple authors living in diverse cultures covering vast geography that, through military conquest and political control, included numerous historical empires encompassing up to 2 million square miles of territory. It becomes evident, then, that maps depicting Near East locations mentioned in the Bible can provide a wealth of contextual understanding and interpretation for us as we read Scripture.</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="https://biblemapper.com/" title="David Barrett—Visit Bible Mapper website" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">David Barrett</a>, cartographer for the <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=502415&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of the ESV Study Bible in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>ESV Study Bible</em></a>, the <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=501922&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of the Crossway ESV Bible Atlas in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Crossway ESV Bible Atlas</em></a>, and the <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=513749&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of the ESV Concise Bible Atlas in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>ESV Concise Bible Atlas</em></a>, and the proprietor of the map development and research tool <a href="https://biblemapper.com/" title="Visit Bible Mapper website" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">BibleMapper.com</a>, the maps of which are available for free studying on Bible Gateway.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-conquest-of-canaan-the-northern-campaign&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28091728/Map-Conquest-of-Canaan-North.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="See the Bible Mapper Map of the Conquest of Canaan: The Northern Campaign on Bible Gateway" width="50%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Why are Bible maps an important way to study the Bible?</strong></p>
<p><strong>David Barrett:</strong> The Bible is divinely inspired and inerrant, but that does not mean it was written in a vacuum. Its stories are set in specific geographic locations in the Near East during specific times in history, and these factors greatly affect how the stories should be understood and interpreted.</p>
<p>Typically, however, the writers of Scripture did not bother to describe the context of their writings in much detail, because it was the same context their readers lived in, so they already understood it very well.</p>
<p><span id="more-66882"></span></p>
<p>But today we live in very different times and places than the original writers and recipients of Scripture, and this makes it more challenging for us to understand exactly what the writers of Scripture meant. Resources like Bible maps, however, can help recreate much of the ancient context in our minds so that we’re better able to grasp the original message of Scripture and thereby form a clearer picture of what Scripture is saying to us today.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/10/how-to-use-the-bible-gateway-plus-atlas/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Use the Bible Gateway Plus Atlas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Use the Bible Gateway Plus Atlas</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+27&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/paul-s-voyage-to-rome&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/23155256/Map-Pauls-Voyage-to-Rome.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="See the Bible Mapper Map of Paul's voyage to Rome on Bible Gateway" width="50%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What Bible reference would be an example of getting a clearer understanding of the passage by using a map?</strong></p>
<p><strong>David Barrett:</strong> Virtually all passages of Scripture can be better understood by getting a clearer picture of the setting in which it was written, but a simple example can be found in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+28%3A11-15&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/believers-escort-paul-to-rome&tab=study" title="Read Acts 28:11-15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 28:11-15</a>, which describes the final leg of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+28%3A11-15&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/paul-s-voyage-to-rome&tab=study" title="Read Acts 28:11-15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paul’s journey to Rome</a> to stand trial before Caesar. Prior to this, Paul had <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+27%3A13-44&version=NIV&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/crete-cyrene-and-syrtis&tab=study" title="Read Acts 27:13ff on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">suffered shipwreck</a> off the island of Malta and spent three months waiting out the winter on the island before finally setting sail for Italy. Upon reaching the city of Puteoli, news spread to Rome that Paul was on his way, and fellow believers from Rome traveled as far as the Forum of Appius to meet Paul and escort him back to Rome, and this was a source of encouragement to Paul.</p>
<p>My guess is that most readers, without consulting a good map of central Italy, might quickly pass over these verses and not realize the significance of what these believers had done for Paul. But an accurate map showing the Appian Way from Puteoli to Rome shows that some of these believers had traveled 40 miles to meet him and escort him back to Rome!</p>
<p>This immensely generous act of kindness toward Paul helps readers understand two things: 1) the reason why Luke notes that Paul was so encouraged by the arrival of these believers and thanked God, and 2) the world-wide reputation Paul must have already developed among believers by this time throughout the entire Roman Empire, for he had never even been to Rome before this, yet believers there were eager for his arrival and traveled a considerable distance to welcome him.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/08/bible-gateway-plus-members-gain-biblical-insight-with-zondervan-academic-maps/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Bible Gateway Plus Members Gain Biblical Insight with Zondervan Academic Maps" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Bible Gateway Plus Members Gain Biblical Insight with Zondervan Academic Maps</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+8&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28092413/Map-The-Kingdoms-of-Saul-David-and-Solomon.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="See the Bible Mapper Map of the Kingdoms of Saul, David, and Solomon on Bible Gateway" width="50%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Bible Mapper maps on Bible Gateway include text that explain the context of each map. What is your objective in writing that content?</strong></p>
<p><strong>David Barrett:</strong> No matter how clearly a map is arranged and presented, I’m convinced that often the readers who could benefit most from the map are the very ones who miss much of the valuable geographic information displayed on the map, because they simply aren’t familiar with the meaning and significance of all the data they’re looking at and how it can help them understand Scripture better.</p>
<p>The captions for the maps try to bridge that gap in a succinct yet helpful way by explaining the important things to note on the map and the key ways in which this information connects to Scripture. Then, hopefully, the reader is better equipped to make their own discoveries about Scripture as they continue to study the map and glean information about its connection to Scripture.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/11/latest-biblical-archaeology-research/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Latest Biblical Archaeology Research" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Latest Biblical Archaeology Research</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>Please explain the function and usability of BibleMapper.com.</strong></p>
<p><strong>David Barrett:</strong> <a href="https://biblemapper.com" title="Visit Biblemapper.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Biblemapper.com</a> hosts a variety of Bible mapping resources and tools to help readers better understand the world of the Bible so that they can better understand the message of the Bible. The three primary tools available on the site are:</p>
<ol>
<li> the <a href="https://biblemapper.com/blog" title="Visit the Bible Mapper Blog" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Bible Mapper Blog</a>, which offers over 100 free Bible maps and captions, many of which are also included in the Bible Mapper Maps hosted on BibleGateway.com;</li>
<li> <a href="https://biblemapper.com/web" title="Visit the Bible Mapper WebViewer" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Bible Mapper WebViewer</a>, a free, online mapping tool that makes it easy to look up virtually any known location mentioned in the Bible along with helpful photos for most locations; and</li>
<li> <a href="https://biblemapper.com/software" title="Learn more about Bible Mapper Software" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Bible Mapper software</a> (for Windows only—my apologies, Mac users!), which enables users to create highly customized, professional-looking maps of anywhere in the biblical world. In fact, all the Bible Mapper Maps hosted by Bible Gateway and the Bible Mapper Blog were created with Bible Mapper software.</li>
</ol>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1%3A11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/churches-of-revelation&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28092913/Map-Churches-of-Revelation.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="See the Bible Mapper Map of the Churches of Revelation on Bible Gateway" width="50%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>David Barrett:</strong> I imagine it would be most fitting for the favorite Bible passage of a Bible map maker to be related to Bible geography, but honestly one of my favorite passages, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A4-5&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Eph.2.4-Eph.2.10&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 2:4-5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 2:4-5</a>, has little to do with Bible geography: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Even while I was dead in my sins and cared nothing for God, he loved me and showed me—and all believers—great mercy by reaching out to me and rescuing me from my sins. I’m so thankful for this immense grace that forms the bedrock of all that we are and do as believers.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>David Barrett:</strong> I’m extremely grateful for the wealth of helpful resources that are available with Bible Gateway. I had already adopted the Bible Gateway App as “my Bible” long before the Bible Mapper Maps were made available on Bible Gateway, and I’ve often listened to passages in the Bible Audio App while driving to work. I also really enjoy being able to look up a passage in multiple translations or original texts right on my laptop or phone. And I have to admit that I also appreciate being able to increase the font size as needed the older I get!</p>
<p><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to say?</strong></p>
<p><strong>David Barrett:</strong> I can think of nothing more important than learning what God has said—and is saying—to us in his Word, and I’m so thankful for how readily available it is to so many of us today, along with resources to help us better understand it. I pray that the Bible Mapper Maps included on Bible Gateway empower many readers to better understand and obey God’s Word.</p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Bio:</strong> David P. Barrett graduated from Wheaton College in 1993 with a double major in Ancient Languages and Biblical/Theological Studies. After working for seven years as a Bible reference editor at Tyndale House Publishers, he and his wife moved to Kenya to teach at Scott Theological College for two years. Upon returning from Kenya he worked full time as a freelance Bible reference editor and developed in-text maps for Bible reference products such as the <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=416651&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of the NLT Study Bible in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>NLT Study Bible</em></a> and the <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=502415&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of the ESV Study Bible in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>ESV Study Bible</em></a>. Later, he created all the map resources for the <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=501922&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of the Crossway ESV Bible Atlas in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Crossway ESV Bible Atlas</em></a> as well as Barbour’s <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=221433&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of the Bible Atlas & Companion in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Bible Atlas & Companion</em></a>. Along the way he developed Bible Mapper software and launched biblemapper.com, which hosts a variety of Bible mapping resources and tools, including the Bible Mapper Blog. David and his wife Anisea live in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, with their five children.</p>
<p></p><center>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sign up to get the <strong><em>Know the Bible</em> free email lesson series</strong> from Bible Gateway</a>]</center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><a id="BibleMapperMapList"></a></p>
<p></p><center>
<h3>List of Bible Mapper Maps on BibleGateway.com</h3>
<p></p>
</center>
<ul>
<li> Absalom Rebels Against David —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+13-18&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/absalom-rebels-against-david&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 13–18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 13–18</a>
</li>
<li> The Ark of the Covenant Is Captured and Returned —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+6%3A1-7%3A2&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-ark-of-the-covenant-is-captured-and-returned&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 6:1–7:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 6:1–7:2</a>
</li>
<li> The Battle at Elah —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-battle-at-elah&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 17</a>
</li>
<li> The Battle at Michmash —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+13%3A23-14%3A23&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-battle-at-michmash&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 13:23–14:23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 13:23–14:23</a>
</li>
<li> The Battle at Mount Gilboa —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+28&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-battle-at-mount-gilboa&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 28–31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 28–31</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-battle-at-mount-gilboa&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 10</a>
</li>
<li> Believers Escort Paul to Rome —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+27&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/believers-escort-paul-to-rome&tab=study" title="Read Acts 27–28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 27–28</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+28%3A13-15&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/believers-escort-paul-to-rome&tab=study" title="Read Acts 28:13–15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 28:13–15</a>
</li>
<li> Bethany and Bethphage —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A1-17&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/bethany-and-bethphage&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 21:1–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 21:1–17</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A6-13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/bethany-and-bethphage&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 26:6–13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 26:6–13</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11%3A1-11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/bethany-and-bethphage&tab=study" title="Read Mark 11:1–11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 11:1–11</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14%3A3-9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/bethany-and-bethphage&tab=study" title="Read Mark 14:3–9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 14:3–9</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+19%3A28-48&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/bethany-and-bethphage&tab=study" title="Read Luke 19:28–48 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 19:28–48</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12%3A1-19&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/bethany-and-bethphage&tab=study" title="Read John 12:1–19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 12:1–19</a>
</li>
<li> Carthage, Italy, and Nearby Islands —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+27&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/carthage-italy-and-nearby-islands&tab=study" title="Read Acts 27–28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 27–28</a>
</li>
<li> Churches of Revelation —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1%3A11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/churches-of-revelation&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 1:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 1:11</a>
</li>
<li> The Conquest of Canaan: The Northern Campaign —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-conquest-of-canaan-the-northern-campaign&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 11</a>
</li>
<li> The Conquest of Canaan: The Southern Campaign —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-conquest-of-canaan-the-southern-campaign&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 9–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 9–10</a>
</li>
<li> Crete, Cyrene, and Syrtis —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+27&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/crete-cyrene-and-syrtis&tab=study" title="Read Acts 27–28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 27–28</a>
</li>
<li> David Flees from Saul (Part 1) —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+16&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/david-flees-from-saul-part-1&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 16–22:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 16–22:5</a>
</li>
<li> David Flees from Saul (Part 2) —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+22%3A5&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/david-flees-from-saul-part-2&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 22:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 22:5</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+23&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/david-flees-from-saul-part-2&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 23–27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 23–27</a>
</li>
<li> Ephesus, Miletus, and Patmos —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+19&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/ephesus-miletus-and-patmos&tab=study" title="Read Acts 19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 19</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1%3A9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/ephesus-miletus-and-patmos&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 1:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 1:9</a>
</li>
<li> The Exodus from Egypt —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+13%3A17-14%3A20&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-exodus-from-egypt&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 13:17–14:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 13:17–14:20</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+14%3A21-31&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-exodus-from-egypt&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 14:21–31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 14:21–31</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+15&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-exodus-from-egypt&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 15–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 15–17</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A1-17&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-exodus-from-egypt&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 20:1–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 20:1–17</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+24&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-exodus-from-egypt&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 24</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+10%3A11-12%3A16&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-exodus-from-egypt&tab=study" title="Read Numbers 10:11–12:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Numbers 10:11–12:16</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+5%3A1-22&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-exodus-from-egypt&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 5:1–22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 5:1–22</a>
</li>
<li> The Hill Country of Samaria —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12%3A6-7&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-hill-country-of-samaria&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 12:6–7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 12:6–7</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+11%3A26-32&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-hill-country-of-samaria&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 11:26–32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 11:26–32</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+27%3A11-13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-hill-country-of-samaria&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 27:11–13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 27:11–13</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+8%3A33&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-hill-country-of-samaria&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 8:33 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 8:33</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+24%3A32&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-hill-country-of-samaria&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 24:32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 24:32</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+12&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-hill-country-of-samaria&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 12</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+16%3A23-24&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-hill-country-of-samaria&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 16:23–24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 16:23–24</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A1-42&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-hill-country-of-samaria&tab=study" title="Read John 4:1–42 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 4:1–42</a>
</li>
<li> Israelites are Exiled to Assyria —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+15%3A29&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/israelites-are-exiled-to-assyria&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 15:29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 15:29</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+17%3A1-6&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/israelites-are-exiled-to-assyria&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 17:1–6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 17:1–6</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+17%3A24&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/israelites-are-exiled-to-assyria&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 17:24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 17:24</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+5%3A26&version=NIV&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/israelites-are-exiled-to-assyria&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 5:26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 5:26</a>
</li>
<li> Herod’s Building Projects —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/herod-s-building-projects&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 2</a>
</li>
<li> Israel under the Maccabees —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Maccabees+1&version=CEB&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/israel-under-the-maccabees&tab=study" title="Read 1 Maccabees 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Maccabees 1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Maccabees+2&version=CEB&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/israel-under-the-maccabees&tab=study" title="Read 1 Maccabees 2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Maccabees 2</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Maccabees+3-16&version=CEB&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/israel-under-the-maccabees&tab=study" title="Read 1 Maccabees 3–16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Maccabees 3–16</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Maccabees+6-7&version=CEB&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/israel-under-the-maccabees&tab=study" title="Read 2 Maccabees 6–7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Maccabees 6–7</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Maccabees+8&version=CEB&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/israel-under-the-maccabees&tab=study" title="Read 2 Maccabees 8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Maccabees 8</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Maccabees+9-15&version=CEB&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/israel-under-the-maccabees&tab=study" title="Read 2 Maccabees 9–15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Maccabees 9–15</a>
</li>
<li> Jacob Returns to Canaan —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+31&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jacob-returns-to-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 31</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+32%3A1-21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jacob-returns-to-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 32:1–21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 32:1–21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+32%3A22-32&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jacob-returns-to-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 32:22–32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 32:22–32</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+33&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jacob-returns-to-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 33 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 33</a>
</li>
<li> Jericho, Wilderness of Judea, and Qumran —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+34%3A3&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 34:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 34:3</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+6&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 6</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+3%3A13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 3:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 3:13</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A1-11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 4:1–11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 4:1–11</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1%3A9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read Mark 1:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 1:9</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1%3A12&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read Mark 1:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 1:12</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A46-52&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read Mark 10:46–52 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 10:46–52</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+3%3A1-22&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read Luke 3:1–22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 3:1–22</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A1-13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read Luke 4:1–13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 4:1–13</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A25-37&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read Luke 10:25–37 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 10:25–37</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+19%3A1-10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read Luke 19:1–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 19:1–10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A26-34&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jericho-wilderness-of-judea-and-qumran&tab=study" title="Read John 1:26–34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1:26–34</a>
</li>
<li> Jerusalem During the Early Old Testament —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+5%3A6-10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-early-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 5:6–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 5:6–10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+24&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-early-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 24</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+18%3A13-19%3A37&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-early-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 18:13–19:37 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 18:13–19:37</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+25%3A1-21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-early-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 25:1–21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 25:1–21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+11%3A4-9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-early-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 11:4–9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 11:4–9</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-early-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+32&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-early-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 32</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+36%3A17-21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-early-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 36:17–21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 36:17–21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+36&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-early-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 36–37 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 36–37</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+39%3A1-10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-early-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 39:1–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 39:1–10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+52%3A1-30&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-early-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 52:1-30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 52:1–30</a>
</li>
<li> Jerusalem During the Later Old Testament —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+25%3A1-21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-later-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 25:1–21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 25:1–21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+36%3A17-23&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-later-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 36:17–23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 36:17–23</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+1&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-later-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read Ezra 1:1–6:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezra 1:1–6:15</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+7%3A5-65&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-later-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read Nehemiah 7:5–65 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nehemiah 7:5–65</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+39%3A1-10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-later-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 39:1–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 39:1–10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+52%3A1-30&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-later-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 52:1–30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 52:1–30</a>
</li>
<li> Jerusalem During the New Testament —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+5%3A6-10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 5:6–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 5:6–10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+11%3A4-9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 11:4–9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 11:4–9</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A1-11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 21:1–11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 21:1–11</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 24–25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 24–25</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A36-46&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 26:36–46 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 26:36–46</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11%3A1-11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read Mark 11:1–11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 11:1–11</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read Mark 13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 13</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14%3A32-53&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read Mark 14:32–53 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 14:32–53</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+19%3A28-40&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read Luke 19:28–40 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 19:28–40</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A50-53&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:50–53 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24:50–53</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12%3A12-19&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read John 12:12–19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 12:12–19</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18%3A1-14&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read John 18:1–14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 18:1–14</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A1-11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jerusalem-during-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read Acts 1:1–11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 1:1–11</a>
</li>
<li> Jesus’ Birth and Escape to Egypt —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A1-23&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-birth-and-escape-to-egypt&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 2:1–23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 2:1–23</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A1-7&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-birth-and-escape-to-egypt&tab=study" title="Read Luke 2:1–7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 2:1–7</a>
</li>
<li> Jesus’ Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion, and Burial —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-arrest-trial-crucifixion-and-burial&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 26–27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 26–27</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-arrest-trial-crucifixion-and-burial&tab=study" title="Read Mark 14–15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 14–15</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-arrest-trial-crucifixion-and-burial&tab=study" title="Read Luke 22–23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 22–23</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-arrest-trial-crucifixion-and-burial&tab=study" title="Read John 13–19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 13–19</a>
</li>
<li> Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A12-22&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 4:12–22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 4:12–22</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 5–7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 5–7</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+8%3A23-27&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 8:23–27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 8:23–27</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A13-21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 14:13–21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 14:13–21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A22-36&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 14:22–36 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 14:22–36</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+15%3A29-39&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 15:29–39 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 15:29–39</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1%3A16-20&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Mark 1:16–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 1:16–20</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4%3A1&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Mark 4:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 4:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4%3A35-41&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Mark 4:35–41 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 4:35–41</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A30-44&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Mark 6:30–44 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 6:30–44</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A45-53&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Mark 6:45–53 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 6:45–53</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+8%3A1-10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Mark 8:1–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 8:1–10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+5%3A1-11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Luke 5:1–11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 5:1–11</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A16-21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Luke 6:16–21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 6:16–21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A10-17&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read Luke 9:10–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 9:10–17</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A1-15&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-ministry-in-galilee&tab=study" title="Read John 6:1–15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 6:1–15</a>
</li>
<li> Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Appearances —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A1-10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 28:1–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 28:1–10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A16&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 28:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 28:16</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+16%3A1-20&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="Read Mark 16:1–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 16:1–20</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A1-12&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:1–12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24:1–12</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:13–35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24:13–35</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A36-49&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:36–49 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24:36–49</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A50-53&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:50–53 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24:50–53</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20%3A1-18&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="Read John 20:1–18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 20:1–18</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20%3A24-29&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="Read John 20:24–29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 20:24–29</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A1-14&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="Read John 21:1–14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 21:1–14</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A1-4&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="Read Acts 1:1–4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 1:1–4</a>
</li>
<li> Jezreel Valley and Megiddo —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+4&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jezreel-valley-and-megiddo&tab=study" title="Read Judges 4–5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 4–5</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+7&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jezreel-valley-and-megiddo&tab=study" title="Read Judges 7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 7</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+28-31&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jezreel-valley-and-megiddo&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 28–31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 28–31</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+23%3A29-30&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jezreel-valley-and-megiddo&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 23:29–30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 23:29–30</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+35%3A20-27&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jezreel-valley-and-megiddo&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 35:20–27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 35:20–27</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+16%3A12-16&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jezreel-valley-and-megiddo&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 16:12–16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 16:12–16</a>
</li>
<li> Josiah Battles Neco —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+22-23&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/josiah-battles-neco&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 22–23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 22–23</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+34-35&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/josiah-battles-neco&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 34–35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 34–35</a>
</li>
<li> Judah and Its Towns — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+13%3A18&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 13:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 13:18</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+23%3A19&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 23:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 23:19</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+25%3A9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 25:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 25:9</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+35%3A27&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 35:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 35:27</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+37%3A12-14&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 37:12–14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 37:12–14</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+50%3A12-13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 50:12–13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 50:12–13</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+16&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 16–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 16–17</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+19&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 19–26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 19–26</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+23%3A29&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 23:29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 23:29</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+5%3A1-5&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 5:1–5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 5:1–5</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+15%3A1-12&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 15:1–12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 15:1–12</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A1-12&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 2:1–12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 2:1–12</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A1-20&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="Read Luke 2:1–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 2:1–20</a>
</li>
<li> Judea under Persian Rule —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Chr%2036:22-2Chr%2036:23&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judea-under-persian-rule&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 36:22–23</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+1%3A1-2&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judea-under-persian-rule&tab=study" title="Read Ezra 1:1–2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezra 1:1–2</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%201:3-Ezra%202:70&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judea-under-persian-rule&tab=study" title="Read Ezra 1:3–2:70 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezra 1:3–2:70</a>
</li>
<li> Judges of Israel —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+2&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judges-of-israel&tab=study" title="Read Judges 2–16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 2–16</a>
</li>
<li> The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+12&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-israel-and-judah&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 12</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-israel-and-judah&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 10</a>
</li>
<li> The Kingdoms of Saul, David, and Solomon —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+2&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" title="Read Judges 2–16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 2–16</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+8&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 8</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 11</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 13–16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 13–16</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+2&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 2–4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 2–4</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+8&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 8–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 8–10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+15&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 15–19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 15–19</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+1&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+18&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 18–19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 18–19</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+8&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 8–9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 8–9</a>
</li>
<li> Macedonia —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+16&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/macedonia&tab=study" title="Read Acts 16–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 16–17</a>
</li>
<li> Mahanaim and Peniel —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+32&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mahanaim-and-peniel&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 32</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+8&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mahanaim-and-peniel&tab=study" title="Read Judges 8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 8</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+2&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mahanaim-and-peniel&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 2</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+5%3A1-5&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mahanaim-and-peniel&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 5:1–5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 5:1–5</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mahanaim-and-peniel&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 13–18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 13–18</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+12%3A1-25&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mahanaim-and-peniel&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 12:1–25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 12:1–25</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+16%3A24&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mahanaim-and-peniel&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 16:24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 16:24</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+11%3A1-3&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mahanaim-and-peniel&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 11:1–3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 11:1–3</a>
</li>
<li> Mesopotamia —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+2%3A8-14&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mesopotamia&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 2:8–14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 2:8–14</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+15%3A29&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mesopotamia&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 15:29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 15:29</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+17%3A1-6&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mesopotamia&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 17:1–6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 17:1–6</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+24%3A15-17&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mesopotamia&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 24:15–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 24:15–17</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+25%3A8-12&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mesopotamia&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 25:8–12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 25:8–12</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+5%3A26&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mesopotamia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 5:26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 5:26</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+36%3A20&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mesopotamia&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 36:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 36:20</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/mesopotamia&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 2</a>
</li>
<li> The Ministries of Philip and Peter —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+6%3A1-7&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-ministries-of-philip-and-peter&tab=study" title="Read Acts 6:1–7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 6:1–7</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8%3A1-9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-ministries-of-philip-and-peter&tab=study" title="Read Acts 8:1–9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 8:1–9</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8%3A26-40&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-ministries-of-philip-and-peter&tab=study" title="Read Acts 8:26–40 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 8:26–40</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A32-43&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-ministries-of-philip-and-peter&tab=study" title="Read Acts 9:32–43 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 9:32–43</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-ministries-of-philip-and-peter&tab=study" title="Read Acts 10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 10</a>
</li>
<li> The Moabite Alliance Attacks Judah —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+20&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-moabite-alliance-attacks-judah&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 20</a>
</li>
<li> Nations Across the Jordan River —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+19&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 19</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+36&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read Genesis36 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 36</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+21%3A10-20&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read Numbers 21:10–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Numbers 21:10–20</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+2%3A1-23&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 2:1–23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 2:1–23</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+3%3A12-30&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read Judges 3:12–30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 3:12–30</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+10%3A6ff&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read Judges 10:6–12:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 10:6–12:7</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth+1%3A1&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read Ruth 1:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ruth 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+11%3A1-11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 11:1–11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 11:1–11</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+22%3A3-4&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 22:3–4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 22:3–4</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+8%3A1-14&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 8:1–14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 8:1–14</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+3&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 3</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+8%3A20-22&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 8:20–22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 8:20–22</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+14%3A7&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 14:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 14:7</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+19&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 19</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+20&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 20</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+21%3A8-10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-across-the-jordan-river&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 21:8–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 21:8–10</a>
</li>
<li> Nations at Pentecost —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A1-41&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/nations-at-pentecost&tab=study" title="Read Acts 2:1–41 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 2:1–41</a>
</li>
<li> Palestine under Roman Rule —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A12-22&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/palestine-under-roman-rule&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 4:12–22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 4:12–22</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1%3A16-20&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/palestine-under-roman-rule&tab=study" title="Read Mark 1:16–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 1:16–20</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+5%3A1-11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/palestine-under-roman-rule&tab=study" title="Read Luke 5:1–11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 5:1–11</a>
</li>
<li> Patriarchs In Canaan —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12%3A1-9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 12:1–9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 12:1–9</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+13%3A18&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 13:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 13:18</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+15%3A1-21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 15:1–21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 15:1–21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+23%3A19&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 23:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 23:19</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+25%3A9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 25:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 25:9</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+26%3A23-25&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 26:23–25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 26:23–25</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+33%3A18-20&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 33:18–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 33:18–20</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+35%3A6-7&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 35:6–7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 35:6–7</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+37&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 37–41 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 37–41</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+50%3A1-14&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 50:1–14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 50:1–14</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+50%3A25&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 50:25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 50:25</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+24%3A32&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/patriarchs-in-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 24:32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 24:32</a>
</li>
<li> Paul’s Conversion and Early Travels —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/paul-s-conversion-and-early-travels&tab=study" title="Read Acts 9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 9</a>
</li>
<li> Paul’s First Missionary Journey —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/paul-s-first-missionary-journey&tab=study" title="Read Acts 13–14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 13–14</a>
</li>
<li> Paul’s Second Missionary Journey —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+15%3A36-18%3A22&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/paul-s-second-missionary-journey&tab=study" title="Read Acts 15:36–18:22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 15:36–18:22</a>
</li>
<li> Paul’s Third Missionary Journey —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18%3A23-21%3A19&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/paul-s-third-missionary-journey&tab=study" title="Read Acts 18:23–21:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 18:23–21:19</a>
</li>
<li> Paul’s Voyage to Rome —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+27&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/paul-s-voyage-to-rome&tab=study" title="Read Acts 27–28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 27–28</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+28%3A13-15&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/paul-s-voyage-to-rome&tab=study" title="Read Acts 28:13–15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 28:13–15</a>
</li>
<li> The Persian Empire —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+36%3A22-23&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-persian-empire&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 36:22–23</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+1%3A1-2&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-persian-empire&tab=study" title="Read Ezra 1:1–2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezra 1:1–2</a>
</li>
<li> Philistia —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 13</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+3%3A31&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read Judges 3:31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 3:31</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+10%3A7&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read Judges 10:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 10:7</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+13%3A1&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read Judges 13:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 13:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+4&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 4:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 4:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+6%3A17&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 6:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 6:17</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+7%3A10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 7:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 7:10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+9%3A16&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 9:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 9:16</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+12%3A9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 12:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 12:9</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+13%3A3&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 13:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 13:3</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+14%3A52&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 14:52 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 14:52</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 17</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+19%3A8&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 19:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 19:8</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+23%3A5&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 23:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 23:5</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+24&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 24:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 24:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+31&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 31:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 31:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+5%3A18-19&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 5:18–19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 5:18–19</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+8&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 8:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 8:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+18&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 18:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 18:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2047%3A4&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 47:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 47:4</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+9%3A7&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read Amos 9:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amos 9:7</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A32-43&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/philistia&tab=study" title="Read Acts 9:32–43 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 9:32–43</a>
</li>
<li> Phoenicia and Tyre —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/phoenicia-and-tyre&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+19%3A23&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/phoenicia-and-tyre&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 19:23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 19:23</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+2&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/phoenicia-and-tyre&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 2</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+29%3A5&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/phoenicia-and-tyre&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 29:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 29:5</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+29%3A5&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/phoenicia-and-tyre&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 92:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 92:12</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+23%3A1-3&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/phoenicia-and-tyre&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 23:1–3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 23:1–3</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+27%3A1-9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/phoenicia-and-tyre&tab=study" title="Read Ezekiel 27:1–9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezekiel 27:1–9</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+15%3A21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/phoenicia-and-tyre&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 15:21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 15:21</a>
</li>
<li> Samson’s Exploits —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/samson-s-exploits&tab=study" title="Read Judges 13–16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 13–16</a>
</li>
<li> Sheba —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/sheba&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+9&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/sheba&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 9</a>
</li>
<li> Southern Greece —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A16-18%3A28&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/southern-greece&tab=study" title="Read Acts 17:16–18:28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 17:16–18:28</a>
</li>
<li> Table of Nations —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/table-of-nations&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 10</a>
</li>
<li> The Temple of the Lord —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+23%3A14-19&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 23:14–19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 23:14–19</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+16%3A16-17&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 16:16–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 16:16–17</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+24&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 24</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+25%3A1-21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read 2 Kings 25:1–21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 25:1–21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+36%3A17-21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read 2 Chronicles 36:17–21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 36:17–21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+39%3A1-10&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 39:1–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 39:1–10</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+52%3A1-30&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 52:1–30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 52:1–30</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+1%3A5-6%3A15&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read Ezra 1:5–6:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezra 1:5–6:15</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+7%3A5-65&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read Nehemiah 7:5–65 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nehemiah 7:5–65</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A23&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read John 10:23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 10:23</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+3%3A11&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read Acts 3:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 3:11</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+5%3A12&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-temple-of-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read Acts 5:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 5:12</a>
</li>
<li> Tribal Allotments of Canaan —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+13&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/tribal-allotments-of-canaan&tab=study" title="Read Joshua 13–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 13–20</a>
</li>
<li> The World of the Patriarchs —<br>
• <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+11%3A27-31&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-world-of-the-patriarchs&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 11:27–31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 11:27–31</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12%3A1-5&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-world-of-the-patriarchs&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 12:1–5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 12:1–5</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12%3A10-20&version=NIV&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-world-of-the-patriarchs&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 12:10–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 12:10–20</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-world-of-the-patriarchs&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 12–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 12–20</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+21&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-world-of-the-patriarchs&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 21–22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 21–22</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+24&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-world-of-the-patriarchs&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 24</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+27&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-world-of-the-patriarchs&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 27–29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 27–29</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+31&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-world-of-the-patriarchs&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 31</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+46&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/the-world-of-the-patriarchs&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 46 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 46</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>Get biblically wise and spiritually fit by becoming a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it right now during a FREE trial period!</em></a>
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</blockquote>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/bible-mapper-maps-on-bible-gateway-an-interview-with-david-barrett/">Bible Mapper Maps on Bible Gateway: An Interview with David Barrett</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6956246
2022-04-25T01:17:51-12:00
2022-04-25T01:30:13-12:00
Enjoy Reading The Gospel Awakening Sermons by D.L. Moody on Bible Gateway Plus
<p><a href="https://moodycenter.org/d-l-moody-digital-archives/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/18161744/DL-Moody.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="D.L. Moody digital archives at Moody Bible Institute" width="30%" /></a><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong> offers <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/resource-library-profile" title="See the descriptions of all Bible reference resources available to you with your Bible Gateway Plus membership." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more than 50 great resources</a> such as study Bibles, commentaries, and dictionaries. But you may not have known your <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus membership</a> also includes a sermon series by the great evangelist D.L. Moody in the STUDY tab. Moody (1837–1899) preached the gospel to more than 100 million people in his lifetime. His sermons are linked to specific Scripture verses in the same way are all Bible Gateway Plus reference notes in the STUDY tab.</p>
<p>For your benefit, here’s the list of each Bible verse on which a <em>Gospel Awakening</em> sermon is based, along with its sermon title:</p>
<p><span id="more-67027"></span></p>
<ul>
<li> “Where art thou?” — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A9&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/where-art-thou&tab=study&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/where-art-thou" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Genesis 3:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 3:9</a>
</li>
<li> The Blood—the Old Testament — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A21&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/the-blood-the-old-testament&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Genesis 3:21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 3:21</a>
</li>
<li> Come Into the Ark — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+7%3A1&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/come-into-the-ark&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Genesis 7:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 7:1</a>
</li>
<li> Address To Parents — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+5%3A29&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/address-to-parents&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Deuteronomy 5:29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 5:29</a><a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=454515&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/18163043/The-Overcoming-Life.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Overcoming Life by D.L. Moody in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a>
</li>
<li> King Saul — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+8%3A19&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/king-saul&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on 1 Samuel 8:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 8:19</a>
</li>
<li> Address To Young Men — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+13%3A21&version=NIV&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/address-to-young-men&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on 1 Kings 13:21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 13:21</a>
</li>
<li> Naaman the Leper — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+5%3A10&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/naaman-the-leper&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody's sermon on 2 Kings 5:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 5:10</a>
</li>
<li> Behold — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51%3A5&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/behold&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Psalm 51:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 51:5</a>
</li>
<li> Heart-Searching — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+109%3A23-24&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/heart-searching&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Psalm 109:23-24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 109:23-24</a>
</li>
<li> Trust — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+118%3A8&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/trust&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Psalm 118:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 118:8</a>
</li>
<li> Trust in the Lord — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+26%3A3-4&version=NIV&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/trust-in-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Isaiah 26:3-4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 26:3-4</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<ul>
<li> Instant Salvation — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+32%3A2&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/instant-salvation&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Isaiah 32:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 32:2</a>
</li>
<li> Christ the Deliverer — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+49%3A24-25&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/christ-the-deliverer&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Isaiah 49:24-25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 49:24-25</a><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/d-l-moody-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39669823832200&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/18162528/DL-Moody-audiobook.webp" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Christian Encounters: D.L. Moody audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a>
</li>
<li> Death of Christ — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53%3A5&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/death-of-christ&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Isaiah 53:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 53:5</a>
</li>
<li> Seek the Lord — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+55%3A6&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/seek-the-lord&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Isaiah 55:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 55:6</a>
</li>
<li> Weighed In the Balances — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+5%3A27&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/weighed-in-the-balances&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Daniel 5:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daniel 5:27</a>
</li>
<li> Heavenly Treasures — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A19-20&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/heavenly-treasures&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Matthew 6:19-20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6:19-20</a>
</li>
<li> Compassion of Christ — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A14&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/compassion-of-christ&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Matthew 14:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 14:14</a>
</li>
<li> What Think Ye of Christ? — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A42&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/what-think-ye-of-christ&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Matthew 22:42 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 22:42</a>
</li>
<li> What Christ Is to Us — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+2%3A11&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/what-christ-is-to-us&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Mark 2:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 2:11</a>
</li>
<li> One Thing Thou Lackest — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A21&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/one-thing-thou-lackest&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Mark 10:21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 10:21</a>
</li>
<li> To Every Man His Work — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+13%3A34&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/to-every-man-his-work&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Mark 13:34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 13:34</a>
</li>
<li> No Room for Jesus — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A7&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/no-room-for-jesus&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Luke 2:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 2:7</a>
</li>
<li> The Gospel Preacher — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A17&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/the-gospel-preacher&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Luke 4:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 4:17</a>
</li>
<li> The Gospel (Part 1) — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A18&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/the-gospel&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Luke 4:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 4:18</a>
</li>
<li> The Gospel (Part 2) — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A18&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/the-gospel-1&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Luke 4:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 4:18</a>
</li>
<li> To the Broken-Hearted — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A19&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/to-the-broken-hearted&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Luke 4:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 4:19</a>
</li>
<li> Their Faith — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+5%3A20&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/their-faith&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Luke 5:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 5:20</a>
</li>
<li> The Good Samaritan — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A29&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/the-good-samaritan&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Luke 10:29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 10:29</a>
</li>
<li> Heaven — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+11%3A2&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/heaven&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Luke 11:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 11:2</a>
</li>
<li> The Gospel Gift — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A15-16&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/the-gospel-gift&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Luke 16:15-16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 16:15-16</a>
</li>
<li> Future Punishment — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A25&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/future-punishment&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Luke 16:25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 16:25</a>
</li>
<li> The Thief on the Cross — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23%3A42&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/the-thief-on-the-cross&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Luke 23:42 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 23:42</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center>
<em>Sign up to <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">get the</a></strong></em><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Know the Bible <em>free email lesson series</em></a></strong><em> from Bible Gateway.</em>
</center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<ul>
<li> Grace — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A14-17&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/grace&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on John 1:14-17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1:14-17</a>
</li>
<li> What Seek Ye? — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A40&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/what-seek-ye&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on John 1:40 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1:40</a>
</li>
<li> New — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A3&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/new&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on John 3:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:3</a>
</li>
<li> The Second Birth — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A3&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/the-second-birth&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on John 3:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:3</a>
</li>
<li> How to Be Born Again — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A14-15&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/how-to-be-born-again&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on John 3:14-15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:14-15</a>
</li>
<li> The Lord’s Service Pays — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A36&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/the-lords-service-pays&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on John 4:36 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 4:36</a>
</li>
<li> Sowing and Reaping — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A37&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/sowing-and-reaping&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on John 4:37 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 4:37</a>
</li>
<li> Obstacles — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A39&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/obstacles&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on John 11:39 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 11:39</a>
</li>
<li> Conversion of Saul — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A4&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/conversion-of-saul&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Acts 9:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 9:4</a>
</li>
<li> Repentance — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A30&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/repentence&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Acts 17:30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 17:30</a>
</li>
<li> True Repentance — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A30&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/true-repentance&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Acts 17:30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 17:30</a>
</li>
<li> No Difference — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A22&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/no-difference&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Romans 3:22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 3:22</a>
</li>
<li> Confessing Christ — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10%3A10&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/confessing-chirst&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Romans 10:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 10:10</a>
</li>
<li> Strength in Weakness — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1%3A27-29&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/strength-in-weakness&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 1:27-29</a>
</li>
<li> Love — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+8%3A8&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/love&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on 1 Corinthians 8:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 8:8</a>
</li>
<li> Love and Sympathy — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A1&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/love-and-sympathy&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on 1 Corinthians 13:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13:1</a>
</li>
<li> Charity — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A1&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/charity&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on 1 Corinthians 13:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13:1</a>
</li>
<li> Christ and Adam — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A45&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/christ-and-adam&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:45 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:45</a>
</li>
<li> Spiritual Blindness — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+4%3A3-4&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/spiritual-blindness&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 4:3-4</a>
</li>
<li> Reaping What We Sow — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+6%3A7-8&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/reaping-what-we-sow&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Galatians 6:7-8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 6:7-8</a>
</li>
<li> Faith — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A1&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/faith&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on Hebrews 11:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 11:1</a>
</li>
<li> The Blood—the New Testament — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1%3A18&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/the-blood-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on 1 Peter 1:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 1:18</a>
</li>
<li> Walking With God — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A21-23&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/walking-with-god&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on 1 Peter 2:21-23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 2:21-23</a>
</li>
<li> God Is Love — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A16&resource_entry=gospel-awakening-moody/god-is-love&tab=study" title="Read the D.L. Moody sermon on 1 John 4:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 4:16</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/enjoy-reading-the-gospel-awakening-sermons-by-d-l-moody-on-bible-gateway-plus/">Enjoy Reading <em>The Gospel Awakening</em> Sermons by D.L. Moody on Bible Gateway Plus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6954784
2022-04-22T01:45:00-12:00
2022-04-22T06:15:09-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of April 17, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/weekly-brief-week-of-april-17-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of April 17, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6954148
2022-04-21T07:49:34-12:00
2022-04-21T12:15:06-12:00
God Is Our Shepherd: Meditate on the 23rd Psalm
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/18142356/Abide_300x250.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up for the free email devotional, The Abide Bible Initiative, on Bible Gateway" width="47%" /></a><strong>By Christopher Reese</strong></p>
<p>No <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Psalms on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm</a> is more beloved by believers than the 23rd, and none has exercised greater influence in popular culture. Christians frequently look to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps.+23&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/ps-23&tab=study" title="Read the reference note about Psalm 23 in the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a> for encouragement in the face of trials, and for comfort when encountering death. The Psalm is also frequently quoted or alluded to in modern movies and music. In the movie <em>Titanic</em>, for example, a priest reads it aloud as the ship sinks. Musical groups and artists including U2 (“Love Rescue Me”), Pink Floyd (“Sheep”), and Kanye West (“Jesus Walks”) have all referenced Psalm 23 in their music. These are some of the reasons Psalm 23 is so popular. In this article we’ll take a brief tour through this notable Psalm so that we can engage with it in a deeper way.</p>
<p><span id="more-67979"></span></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/dont-merely-read-the-bible-engage-with-the-bible/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!</em></a>]</p>
<h3>What Is a Psalm?</h3>
<p>The original Hebrew title of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+1&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/introduction-to-psalms&tab=study" title="Read the introduction to the book of Psalms in the Grace and Truth Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Psalms</a> means “Songs of Praise.” Our English title “Psalms” comes from the Greek translation of the Old Testament, which titled the book <em>Psalmoi</em> (“Songs”). The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&resource_entry=niv-first-century-study-bible/the-design-and-message-of-the-psalter&tab=study" title="Read the reference article in the NIV First-Century Study Bible, The Design and Message of the Psalter, with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalms</a> are songs (poems) that were set to music and sung in various contexts in the life of Israel. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&resource_entry=niv-storyline/introduction-to-psalm&tab=study" title="Read the introduction to the book of Psalms in the NIV Storyline Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalms</a> can be grouped into various categories according to their content, including praise, lament, thanksgiving, and Messianic Psalms, among others. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&resource_entry=nkjv-wiersbe-study-bible/introduction-to-psalms&tab=study" title="Read the introduction to the book of Psalms in the NKJV Wiersbe Study Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalms</a> are also quoted extensively in the New Testament, especially the Messianic Psalms, which foretell numerous details about the person and work of Jesus the Messiah.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/scripture-engagement-is-healthy-for-you/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You</em></a>]</p>
<h3>Who Wrote Psalm 23 and When Was Psalm 23 Written?</h3>
<p>The title, or superscription, of Psalm 23 indicates it is “A psalm of David”—that is, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-2-moses-joshua-david/#David" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 2 (Moses, Joshua, David)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">King David</a>, Israel’s second and most famous king, who wrote nearly half the Psalms. David drew from personal experience in this song, since he had been a shepherd himself before becoming king (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+16%3A11&resource_entry=niv-first-century-study-bible/desert-shepherds&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 16:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 16:11</a>). David reigned from approximately 1010-970 BC, so he likely composed this Psalm sometime during that 40-year period.</p>
<h3>What Is the Meaning of the 23rd Psalm?</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&version=NIV,KJV" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/19153944/Psalm-23-NIV-and-KJV.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" width="90%" /></a></p>
<p>We can summarize the message of Psalm 23 as David’s thankful recognition of God’s loving supervision and provision for him, and by extension all of God’s people. In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A1-4&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Ps.23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:1–4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">verses 1–4</a>, David compares God to a shepherd, and in verses <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A5-6&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/fold-certainty-v-5&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:5–6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">5–6</a> he likens God to a gracious host.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/why-is-the-book-of-psalms-in-the-bible-an-interview-with-sandra-l-richter/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Why is the Book of Psalms in the Bible?: An Interview with Sandra L. Richter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Why is the Book of Psalms in the Bible?: An Interview with Sandra L. Richter</em></a>]</p>
<p>In the first four verses, David illustrates several ways God is like a shepherd. This also implies that God’s people are like sheep. Isaiah draws on this same image when he writes, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53%3A6&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/isa-53-5-6&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 53:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 53:6</a>). The author W. Phillip Keller, who worked as a shepherd for several years, observes, “It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in many ways. . . . Our mass mind (or mob instincts), our fears and timidity, our stubbornness and stupidity, our perverse habits are all parallels.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#1"><sup><strong>1</strong></sup></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/31093311/The-Abide-Bible-Initiative-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." width="90%" /></a></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/03/want-a-transparent-resilient-and-fearless-life-of-faith-read-the-psalms-an-interview-with-w-david-o-taylor/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Want a Transparent, Resilient, and Fearless Life of Faith? Read the Psalms: An Interview with W. David O. Taylor" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Want a Transparent, Resilient, and Fearless Life of Faith? Read the Psalms: An Interview with W. David O. Taylor</em></a>]</p>
<p>The green pastures and quiet waters (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A2&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/pasture-adequacy-vv-1-3&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 2</a>) point to nourishment, rest, and peace, resulting in refreshment for one’s soul. Since the desert hillsides in Israel could be treacherous for sheep, the shepherd had to “guide them along the right paths” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A3&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Ps.23.2-Ps.23.3&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 3</a>). In the same way, God guides his people “for his name’s sake,” so that the way they live their lives brings glory to him (similarly, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=prov.+3%3A5-6&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-study-bible/pr-3-5&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 3:5–6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 3:5–6</a>).</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/taking-comfort-from-psalm-91/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Taking Comfort from Psalm 91" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Taking Comfort from Psalm 91</em></a>]</p>
<p>“The darkest valley” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A4&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Ps.23.4&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 4</a>) represents the most difficult challenges a believer may face. As pastor and author James Montgomery Boice notes, “the Christian life is not always tranquil nor, as we say, a mountain-top experience. God gives us valleys also. It is in the valleys with their trials and dangers that we develop character.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#2"><sup><strong>2</strong></sup></a> Though these valleys are dark and we’re tempted to fear, we need not, because the Shepherd is with us. God’s “rod” and “staff” are symbolic of his strong protection and benevolent guidance.</p>
<p>Beginning with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A5&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Ps.23.5&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">verse 5</a>, the metaphor for God shifts from a shepherd to an hospitable host. God arranges a meal for David in the presence of David’s enemies. This may indicate a meal of victory in which David’s enemies are present and held captive, or that his enemies are nearby but dare not attack because of God’s attendance.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/05/how-to-protect-yourself-from-satans-whispering-lies-an-interview-with-louie-giglio/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Protect Yourself from Satan’s Whispering Lies: An Interview with Louie Giglio" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Protect Yourself from Satan’s Whispering Lies: An Interview with Louie Giglio</em></a>]</p>
<p>In David’s day, a guest of honor at a banquet was anointed with oil. This and David’s overflowing cup (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A5&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/fold-certainty-v-5&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 5</a>) suggests lavish hospitality. As the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">apostle Paul</a> would later write, God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3%3A20&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-eph-3-20&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 3:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 3:20</a>) and to “bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+9%3A8&resource_entry=nkjv-wiersbe-study-bible/2co-9-6-11&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 9:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 9:8</a>).</p>
<p>In light of all the demonstrations of God’s love described to this point, David is confident that God’s “goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A6&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Ps.23.6&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 6</a>). The word “follow” in Hebrew suggests the idea of pursuit—God will pursue his people with goodness and love. The “house of the L<small>ORD</small>” probably refers to God’s eternal, heavenly home in which David looked forward to living “forever.”</p>
<p>For followers of Christ, Psalm 23 takes on even deeper significance because Jesus declared he was “the good shepherd” who “lays down his life for the sheep” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A11&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/jn-10-11-13&tab=study" title="Read John 10:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 10:11</a>). He’s willing to leave the 99 sheep who are safe in order to rescue the one that is lost (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+15%3A1-7&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-nt/lk-15-3-7&tab=study" title="Read Luke 15:1-7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 15:1-7</a>). Even in eternity Jesus will continue in this role, as described in the book of Revelation: “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+7%3A17&resource_entry=niv-jesus-bible/revelation-7-17&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 7:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 7:17</a>).</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/04/the-abide-bible-engaging-scripture-engaging-god/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Abide Bible: Engaging Scripture, Engaging God" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Abide Bible: Engaging Scripture, Engaging God</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bg-bibles/bg-abide-bible?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/15142127/The-Abide-Bible-glamor.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Abide Bible in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="60%" /></a></p>
<h3>Engaging with Psalm 23</h3>
<p>Engage with Psalm 23 more deeply using the <a href="https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/abide-Bible/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" title="Learn more about The Abide Bible by Thomas Nelson Bibles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Abide Bible</em></a> with your <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong> membership (see the notes <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&resource_entry=nkjv-abide/contemplate-psalm-23-1-6&tab=study" title="Read Contemplate: Psalm 23:1–6 in The Abide Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Contemplate: Psalm 23:1–6</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&resource_entry=nkjv-abide/engage-through-art-green-wheat-field-with-cypress-by-vincent-van-gogh&tab=study" title="Read Engage Through Art: Green Wheat Field with Cypress by Vincent van Gogh in The Abide Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Engage Through Art: Green Wheat Field with Cypress by Vincent van Gogh</a>).</p>
<p>Also use other <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/main/practices" title="See the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scripture engagement practices</a>, such as <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/praying-scripture/home" title="See the Scripture Engagement practice of praying Scripture on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">praying Scripture</a>. Simply follow these steps:</p>
<ul>
<li> Take a moment to ask God to bless your time in Scripture, to keep you focused, and to help you pray his Word.</li>
<li> Start reading through Psalm 23 slowly, meditating on each word and verse.</li>
<li> As you finish a sentence or a verse, stop and turn your thoughts into a prayer. Bring the ideas or truths of the passage into a conversation with God.</li>
<li> Use the words of the Bible to guide prayers of worship, confession, thanksgiving, and petition for yourself and others.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative/" title="Sign up for the free email devotional, The Abide Bible Initiative, on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Sign up today</strong></a> for the free email devotional series, <em>The Abide Bible Initiative</em>!</p>
<p><a id="1"></a></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Notes<br>
1. W. Phillip Keller, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/a-shepherd-looks-at-psalm-27?variant=40222608261256" title="Buy your copy of A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23</em></a> (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015), 7, Kindle edition.</p>
<p><a id="2"></a><br>
2. James Montgomery Boice, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=6595X&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary</em></a> (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 211.</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/28170009/Christopher_Reese.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Christopher Reese" width="20%" /></a><strong>BIO:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" title="Visit the LinkedIn page of Christopher Reese" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Reese</a> (MDiv, ThM) (<a href="https://twitter.com/clreese" title="Christopher Reese Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@clreese</a>) is a freelance writer and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://worldviewbulletin.substack.com/archive?utm_source=menu-dropdown" title="Visit The Worldview Bulletin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Worldview Bulletin</em></a>. He is a general editor of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dictionary-of-christianity-and-science-the-definitive-reference-for-the-intersection-of-christian-faith-and-contemporary-science?variant=13746105909359&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dictionary of Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2017) and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/three-views-on-christianity-and-science?variant=34292904001672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Three Views on Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Three Views on Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2021). His articles have appeared in <em>Christianity Today</em> and he writes and edits for Christian ministries and publishers.</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>Deepen your study of the Bible when you become a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it right now during a FREE trial period!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/god-is-our-shepherd-meditate-on-the-23rd-psalm/">God Is Our Shepherd: Meditate on the 23rd Psalm</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6953037
2022-04-20T07:52:07-12:00
2022-04-20T09:15:06-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Let Justice Roll
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-fifth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><em>“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+5%3A24&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5361-justice-human&tab=study" title="Read Amos 5:24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amos 5:24</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20142519/Justice.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photograph of the apex of a courthouse." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-68030"></span></p>
<p>It was a time of tremendous optimism. Eight centuries before Christ, people were flourishing in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen%2015:18-Gen%2015:21&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/7258-promised-land-early&tab=study" title="Read about the Promised Land in the Dictionary of Bible Themes on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Promised Land</a>. The prophets <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%206&resource_entry=smiths-bible-names-dictionary/Elisha&tab=study" title="Read about Elisha in Smith's Bible Names Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Elisha</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Kgs.14.25&resource_entry=smiths-bible-names-dictionary/Jonah&tab=study" title="Read about Jonah in Smith's Bible Names Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jonah</a> had prophesied a time of resurgence and strength.</p>
<p>But there was a quiet infection going on within God’s people. While they had wealth, peace with their neighbors, and places of worship marked with spiritual vitality (or so they thought), there was something wrong in the heart of the people. Things looked good on the outside, but they were rotting on the inside.</p>
<p>People had gotten indulgent in luxury. They blinked at immorality. They let the institutions of justice slide. The world had seen this before, but no one thought it would happen in the middle of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Yahweh" title="Read about Yahweh in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Yahweh</a>’s territory.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>God gave a man named <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+1&resource_entry=smiths-bible-names-dictionary/Amos&tab=study" title="Read about Amos in Smith's Bible Names Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amos</a>, a shepherd from the small town of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202&version=NIV&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/judah-and-its-towns&tab=study" title="See the location of Tekoa and Bethlehem on the Bible Mapper Map on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tekoa near Bethlehem</a>, an abrupt and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+5%3A21-23&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8784-nominal-religion&tab=study" title="Read Amos 5:21-23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">stunning message</a>: “God hates your religious activities, your feasts and assemblies. He has no regard for your offerings. The music of your worship is like noise to him.” Why? The functions of worship aren’t wrong, but no one can worship rightly and claim fidelity to God as long as everything in his or her life contradicts it. You can’t be righteous without loving the right. You can’t expect justice if you don’t stand for it.</p>
<p>Since Amos’ time, everyone has found this statement the pivot of his whole message: “Let justice roll on like a river…” It doesn’t matter how much sacrificial service we pour out of our lives, how many songs we sing in worship, how many checks we put in the offering plate. If we use people to our advantage, if we are indifferent toward the malaise of the masses, if we manipulate the courts, then we are living out a lie.</p>
<p>Justice is not confined to law books and the courts. It’s a living thing, and it gives life as surely as the steady stream of fresh water makes the trees and the fields flourish. When we see true justice, we feel more confident about life, and we have more certainty that there’s a moral structure to the universe.</p>
<p>And justice does this, too—it solidifies our faith in the one <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+5%3A24&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5360-justice-God&tab=study" title="Read about the justice of God in the Dictionary of Bible Themes on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Just God</a>.</p>
<p><strong>MAKE IT REAL</strong></p>
<p>On a world map randomly select a country. Spend time in prayer today for this country. Pray for its people to see political justice and for it to be a place of peace.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/how-to-live-the-bible-let-justice-roll/">How to Live the Bible — Let Justice Roll</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6952498
2022-04-19T22:53:00-12:00
2022-04-20T00:15:06-12:00
The Gift of Rest
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/18121219/ToureRoberts_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Touré Roberts" width="33%" />By Touré Roberts</strong></p>
<p><em>Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest</em>. — <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Matt.11.28-Matt.11.30&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 11:28 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 11:28</a></p>
<p>Everything great that has ever happened to me in life occurred when I somehow found myself in the place of rest. I mean <em>everything</em>, from book deals to viral teaching messages, entertainment and business opportunities, even meeting and marrying the love of my life. It all happened when I entered the space of rest.</p>
<p>Now I think it’s important for me to define what I mean by rest, because it may not be what you’re thinking. The rest that I am referring to isn’t how we feel after we take a nap or get a good night’s sleep. It’s not even how we feel after we return from a much-needed vacation or getaway. This rest is something entirely different; it’s a consciousness. This rest is about a marvelous, unique state of being created by an awareness that too few people get to experience. This rest may be one of the greatest gifts that Balance affords us.</p>
<p><span id="more-67962"></span></p>
<p>What makes this state so amazing is not simply what is there. The most incredible part about this rest is what is <em>not</em>. This state of rest is devoid of all conflict, preoccupation, fear, angst, longing, need, or lack. There’s nothing missing, nothing to be desired; it’s completeness. This awareness accepts that everything needed is present, and therefore whoever enters into this state goes from confusion to clarity, from emptiness to fullness, from not enough to more than enough, and from desiring to having. When this rest state is realized, since everything is already present in it, all we need to do is posture ourselves for receiving.</p>
<h2>Fishing Lessons</h2>
<p>This state of rest reminds me of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+5%3A2-11&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5628-work&tab=study" title="Read Luke 5:2-11 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a story in the New Testament about a fisherman</a> who had been at sea all night and into the next morning trying to catch fish. His efforts failed miserably, and the story emphasizes how the fisherman had been going at it—laboriously all night, albeit unsuccessfully. He literally caught <em>nothing</em>. The man then has an encounter with Jesus, who distracts him from his fishing failure by enlisting his nautical services to help him do a good deed. Once that mission is complete, Jesus tells the fisherman to let down his net. When he does, to his surprise it begins to fill with fish, and a lot of them. As he brings his net up, he sees more fish than he can count. His net begins to break because of the weight of the catch, requiring more nets because of this unimaginable haul.</p>
<p>With one shift the fisherman went from being exhausted, defeated, and unproductive to being inspired, amazed, reinvigorated, and successful. What he’d been looking for and more had been there all along. His successful catch took place in the same sea in which he had toiled all night, in the same boat, and with his same tools. So why was there such a different outcome? I believe the answer was rest. The state of rest, induced by his encounter with Jesus, was confirmation that the man had found Balance.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/balance-tipping-the-scales-leveraging-change-and-having-it-all-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39623069728904&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/18124726/Balance.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Balance: Positioning Yourself to Do All Things Well audiobook in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>Jesus inviting the fisherman into service for a greater and divine good moved the frustrated man from a scarcity, or lack, mentality into what I like to call an abundance mentality. Once he was relieved of his preoccupation with toiling and trying to make something happen, he was inadvertently positioned for the abundance that had been there the entire time. Surely, the same number of fish were in the sea all along. But once the toiling mentality disappeared, giving way to the <em>have-already</em> consciousness, the fisherman could relax in the security of rest. He likely didn’t recognize the shift when it happened, but he certainly experienced the joy of virtually effortless receiving.</p>
<p>So often we are just like this fisherman. If we aren’t successful at achieving our goals, we assume that the way forward is to work harder. Balance, however, affords us a divine rest that stills the demanding waves of toil, conflict, and the lack mentality, placing us in the position to receive everything that already exists for us. In Balance, the place of rest, all of the resources associated with the fullness of our lives are abundant. We simply have to cast our nets.<br>
________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/balance-tipping-the-scales-leveraging-change-and-having-it-all?variant=39623069368456" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/18125059/Balance-book.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Balance" width="23%" /></a>Taken from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/balance-tipping-the-scales-leveraging-change-and-having-it-all?variant=39623069368456" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Balance: Positioning Yourself to Do All Things Well</em></a> by Touré Roberts. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/balance-tipping-the-scales-leveraging-change-and-having-it-all?variant=39623069368456" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Imagine learning to tap into the awareness, sensitivity, and highest thought patterns that enable the most successful outcomes in life, love, and business. What would your life look like if you were able to break the patterns of inconsistency that keep you from your absolute best? Could it be possible to identify and regularly access the highest version of yourself, leaving behind past hit-or-miss cycles and instead starting to win in every key area of your life?</p>
<p>These goals are not only possible—they are what you were made for!</p>
<p>In <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/balance-tipping-the-scales-leveraging-change-and-having-it-all?variant=39623069368456" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Balance</em></a>, bestselling author Touré Roberts guides us on the eye-opening journey that unpacks the divine formula that makes this a reality.</p>
<p>This illuminating guide brings a unique and eye-opening perspective to the evasive concept of balance. Transcending familiar theories of work-life balance, Roberts teaches that balance is a state of existence, a becoming that, when realized, not only brings forth the highest version of an individual but optimizes their life’s output, productivity, relational value, and overall achievement.</p>
<p>As he unpacks balance with stunning relatability, Roberts connects with readers on every level. His easy-to-grasp style of teaching and unabashed vulnerability illuminate and clarify how living in balance is the longing in each human heart. Roberts shares life-changing personal stories and the principles they inspired while discovering balance in his own life. As an author, speaker, entrepreneur, CEO, and lead pastor of two large congregations in the United States—not to mention a devoted husband and dedicated father of six—Roberts knows that merely juggling responsibilities is not the answer.</p>
<p>A personal navigation guide like no other, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/balance-tipping-the-scales-leveraging-change-and-having-it-all?variant=39623069368456" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Balance</em></a> charts your path to productivity, peace, positivity, purpose, and unlimited possibilities.</p>
<p>“<strong>My friend Touré Roberts has written a very helpful, soul-settling, priority-clarifying, life-altering book called <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/balance-tipping-the-scales-leveraging-change-and-having-it-all?variant=39623069368456" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Balance</em></a>. But before you read it, let me caution you. A truly balanced life may not be what you think it is</strong>.”</p>
<p>—Craig Groeschel, pastor, Life.Church; <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author</p>
<p><strong>Touré Roberts</strong> is the author of <em>Purpose Awakening</em> and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/wholeness-winning-in-life-from-the-inside-out-1?variant=31266628501640" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Wholeness</em></a>—a National Bestseller in 2018.</p>
<p>Touré is the founder of one of the most influential congregations in the nation, The Potter’s House at One LA, and he, along with his wife, Sarah Jakes Roberts, recently took the helm of a second location, The Potter’s House of Denver.</p>
<p>Touré’s unique approach to faith attracts thousands to his physical campuses each week as well as his online campus of more than 350,000 subscribers. Touré’s audience tunes in to experience his transformational teachings on faith, potential, purpose, relationships, and entrepreneurship. Touré and Sarah split their time between Los Angeles and Denver along with their six children.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/the-gift-of-rest/">The Gift of Rest</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6951816
2022-04-19T01:52:04-12:00
2022-04-19T06:15:07-12:00
Art to Inspire Your Love for the Bible: An Interview with Artist Leslie Kehl Vann
<p><a href="https://www.fineartmarketplace.com/leslie-vann" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/03151229/Leslie-Kehl-Vann.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Leslie Kehl Vann" width="35%" /></a>Exquisite from the inside out, the <em>NIV Artisan Collection</em> Bibles invite you to journal or draw alongside Scripture while delighting in the beauty of the cover, featuring a unique expressionist art piece by painter Leslie Vann. The carefully composed interior features the exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print® typeface in a double-column typesetting, allowing you to carry this Bible wherever you go.</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="https://www.fineartmarketplace.com/leslie-vann" title="Leslie Kehl Vann" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Leslie Kehl Vann</a> (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/leslie_kehl_vann/" title="Leslie Kehl Vann Instagram stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@leslie_kehl_vann</a>), abstract expressionist artist for the cover of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/niv-artisan-collection-bible-leathersoft-multi-color-cream-red-letter-comfort-print?variant=39516023750792&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of the NIV Artisan Collection Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>NIV Artisan Collection Bible</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022).</p>
<p><strong>Please describe your artistic method.</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/niv-artisan-collection-bible-leathersoft-multi-color-cream-red-letter-comfort-print?variant=39516023750792&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/03143145/Artisan-Collection-Bible-Both.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the NIV Artisan Collection Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="55%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Leslie Kehl Vann:</strong> My painting technique can most closely be described by the style of Abstract Expressionism—although I intend to go beyond it and call my personal technique, “Painting by the Spirit.” Where Abstract Expressionism and I are similar is that we value the inherent significance of the creative process as a means of revealing or expressing what’s inside the artist. Where we differ is that where the abstract expressionists were influenced by Jungian psychology, I’m motivated to express specifically how the Spirit sanctifies and changes me through encountering his Word and thus leads me increasingly toward my real “true self” as I seek to become more like Christ.</p>
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<p>Therefore, my painting technique is truly a blend of various physical paint applications and real time practice of the spiritual disciplines or graces–some spontaneous and some structured. These apparent tensions are an expression of the reality in my own life where I seek to live with purpose while remaining open-handed with my well-intentioned, but often short-sighted plans in favor of God’s most beautiful and sovereign ones (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28-29&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.8.28&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:28-29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8:28-29</a>).</p>
<p>For visual spontaneity I regularly combine a variety of mediums and additives applied directly to the canvas. My favorite additive to use is denatured alcohol combined with latex paint or acrylic paint. It causes crackling and a variety of textures and varying levels of viscosity. Some of my favorite painting techniques are double loading, palette knife, scraping, pouring, dripping, and splattering, etc. I love being surprised by these combinations and then having to react to the effects in real time. This approach lends itself to a moment of “creative surrender.” Often, the artwork starts going in a direction different than I had imagined. This is probably the most crucial part of my process and where I practice spontaneous spiritual disciplines such as surrender and breath prayers. In these moments I stop to reaffirm my dependence on Christ to achieve anything of true excellence and remember that I’m already loved and accepted by God because of Christ and that it’s not dependent on my performance. As I’ve practiced this discipline in my artwork, it’s become more second nature in the rest of my life.</p>
<p></p><center>
<a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/03143201/Artisan-Collection-Bible-Blue-spine.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/03143201/Artisan-Collection-Bible-Blue-spine.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to see a close up view of the NIV Artisan Collection Bible" width="46%" /></a> <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/03143212/Artisan-Collection-Bible-Cream-edges.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/03143212/Artisan-Collection-Bible-Cream-edges.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to see a close up view of the NIV Artisan Collection Bible" width="48%" /></a>
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<p>To create visual structure, I rely heavily on color symbolism, color theory as well as the other formal elements and principles of art such as texture, line, movement, balance, and contrast. In order to create spiritual structure, I regularly listen to worship music while I paint and intentionally take time at the beginning of each piece to consider the verse I’m using as my subject and pray for guidance on how my composition can effectively communicate its truth.</p>
<p>I believe this intentional process of prayer/dedication before I begin to paint is integral to creating a work of art that will truly be used by the Spirit to touch the spirit of another person. Just as Scripture says, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of,” I believe the same principle applies to any expression of our body—so therefore my hands are communicating what’s in my heart as well (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A45&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Luke.6.37-Luke.6.49&tab=study" title="Read Luke 6:45 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 6:45</a>).</p>
<p>I’m also structured in how I use a variety of paint applications in hopes of honoring the triune Godhead. For example, almost all my pieces have some metallic paint. This represents the majesty of the Father and his sovereignty over all things. I like to incorporate drips and splatters to represent the Spirit—often organically letting them be influenced by the wind if I’m painting outside or a fan if I’m painting in the studio. It reminds me of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A8&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/2-wind-vv-8-13&tab=study" title="Read John 3:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:8</a> “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” To represent the Son, I often lay the “foundation” or background of my piece with paint applied in alternating horizontal and vertical strokes with a palette knife. This creates a cross-like pattern which is reminiscent of the Cornerstone I’ve built my life upon.</p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RbVw2L8_VO4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<p><strong>How do you get your inspiration for your artwork?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Leslie Kehl Vann:</strong> Subject wise, I draw inspiration from the study of the Bible and the peace of soul it provides as I chose to trust him. If the piece is a commission, I ask the client to share with me any passage of Scripture or biblical principle that’s been particularly meaningful to them. I want my artwork to function as an “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+7%3A12&resource_entry=eastons-bible-dictionary/Eben-ezer&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 7:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ebenezer stone</a>” in their home reminding them of God’s past faithfulness and encouragement to trust him in the present and future.</p>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/03145831/Artisan-Collection-Bible-Interior.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/03145831/Artisan-Collection-Bible-Interior.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to see a close up view of the NIV Artisan Collection Bible interior" width="45%" /></a>With regards to inspiration for my painting technique, I’ve always loved the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh, the former minister turned post-Impressionist painter. His use of color, the impasto painting technique, and his love for people and desire to know and be known deeply makes him a true hero in my book. He is also thought by some in the art history world to be a forefather of the Abstract Expressionist Movement. Of this group of artists, I especially enjoy the work of Jackson Pollock and Helen Frankenthaler for their Avant Garde use of paint, texture, and color. Whereas these artists were often expressing theirs and the world’s collective angst following World War Two, I’m attempting to use a similar painting technique to express the timeless truth of “the peace that passes all understanding” that’s available to all who trust in Jesus Christ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6-7&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Phil.4.6-Phil.4.8&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4:6-7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 4:6-7</a>).</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/03/zondervan-publishes-2021-artisan-collection-bibles/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Zondervan Publishes 2021 Artisan Collection Bibles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Zondervan Publishes 2021 Artisan Collection Bibles</em></a>]</p>
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<p><strong>What do the paintings used on these covers mean to you?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Leslie Kehl Vann:</strong> I’d like to answer that in a couple of ways. First, the fact that my artwork is on the cover of God’s Word is truly the best commission and highest honor I could ever be given. God’s Word endures forever. My work will fade away, but his will remain (this is one reason I intentionally do not varnish my pieces and sign most on the back of the canvas). It’s also indescribably special that right before my father went to be with the Lord, I was able to tell him that although I may not be able to pass down our family surname, his name and legacy will be represented through me and these covers.</p>
<p>With regard to the meaning of each of these paintings—at the time I was commissioned these represented the “bookends” of my collective work professionally. The team at Zondervan did not know that when they selected them, but it was a very special nod from the Lord that he saw me and the work I was seeking to do for his glory.</p>
<p>“Your Word V” was literally created during my first painting session after the Lord called me to pick up my brushes again. I had been in a difficult season for some time and had been unable/unwilling to paint. That morning in between waking and the lingering stillness of the morning hours the Father gently whispered to my spirit, “My Word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path” followed with “Get up and paint” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A105&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1690-word-God&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119:105 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 119:105</a>). What resulted from that experience was the beginning of a new approach to God, myself, and my art philosophy. One where I dared to believe I was unconditionally and lavishly loved by God and therefore free to try, fail, and try again. This was where my artwork and design aesthetics became an extension of my journey of faith and freedom through Jesus Christ.</p>
<p>The other painting, “The Magnificat,” was created during Advent and coincided with another failed fertility attempt. In truth, I had originally set out to create this piece to accompany a new rug I had recently acquired for my dining room, but since it was Advent, I also had been marinating on the Scriptures in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Birth-Jesus&tab=study" title="Read Luke 2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke surrounding the birth of Jesus</a>. I had been particularly moved by Mary’s willingness to submit to God’s plan for her life, realizing that it was also not how she had expected her story to unfold. Also, God gently began opening my eyes to see that he had already given me a child—a Son—and he was the only Child I could place all my hope in and where I could find true joy and purpose. He reawakened me to the multifaceted hope of the gospel not only for my eternal life but also for this present one.</p>
<p>My mother and sister always like to “find” the unintended, subconscious, somewhat realistic imagery my painting style lends itself to. My mom told me it looked like Mary was in the top right part of the canvas. When I looked at it more intently, I did indeed see that some of the paint was grouped in such a way as to express this young girl tenderly bending over to embrace her swollen abdomen. It was a word for me: “treasure the Treasure I have already been given” and “nourish the life that is true Life.” I did not set out to create this image, but God knew my heart needed more than the thrill of a newly designed room with a coordinating rug and painting, a pregnancy, or anything less than the reminder that God still comes to us in the midst of our ordinary lives to tell us he is Immanuel, God with us!</p>
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<p></p><center>
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</center>
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<p><strong>How do you hope your artwork inspires others?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Leslie Kehl Vann:</strong> Simply put, I pray my artwork inspires others to know Christ personally, love his Word, and join him in living out his purpose for their lives. It’s the best adventure, most beautiful treasure, and solid hope available on this earth and beyond.</p>
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</p><p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Leslie Kehl Vann:</strong> One of my most favorite Bible passages is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+16%3A11&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4018-life-spiritual&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 16:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 16:11</a> “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” I love this verse because it reminds me where true life, direction, joy, pleasure, and power is to be found—God himself. My greatest desire is to be faithful to God by knowing, enjoying, and glorifying him with and in my everyday life. This verse is a powerful tool to expel and expose false loves and loyalties that arise along the way on this side of Heaven. It functions as the contact lens or glasses that realign my vision to what truly matters.</p>
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<p>The <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/niv-artisan-collection-bible-leathersoft-multi-color-cream-red-letter-comfort-print?variant=39516023750792&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of the NIV Artisan Collection Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NIV Artisan Collection Bible</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Leslie Kehl Vann is an abstract expressionist painter whose compositions explore the mysterious relationship between spontaneity and structure as well as the inherent significance of the creative process itself. She draws inspiration from the study of God’s Word and the peace of soul it provides. Her paintings seek to visually interpret this journey through a method she likes to call “painting by the Spirit,” where the overflow of her dependent, Spirit-filled heart comes through the expression of her surrendered hands with the intention of truly blessing those who view her work. She and her husband, Adrian, live in Georgia with their three fur babies.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/art-to-inspire-your-love-for-the-bible-an-interview-with-artist-leslie-kehl-vann/">Art to Inspire Your Love for the Bible: An Interview with Artist Leslie Kehl Vann</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6950813
2022-04-18T01:27:57-12:00
2022-04-18T03:15:17-12:00
Why Are Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles Different?
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/pages/bibles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21110326/Bible-open.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photo of man holding an open Bible" width="45%" /></a>The Bible has three major compositions. The word <em>canon</em> is used to identify <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/11/the-bible-table-of-contents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the collection of sacred books</a> that comprise the Bible. The canon of the Protestant Bible totals 66 books—39 Old Testament (OT) and 27 New Testament (NT); the Catholic Bible numbers 73 books (46 OT, 27 NT), and Greek and Russian Orthodox, 79 (52 OT, 27 NT) (Ethiopian Orthodox, 81—54 OT, 27 NT).</p>
<p>As you can see, the Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox <strong><u>New</u> Testament</strong> canons are identical. So how and why are the <strong><u>Old</u> Testament</strong> canons different? Not much of the original writing process of each book of the OT is known since the writings took place in the distant past for which historical provenance is scanty. Nonetheless, let’s begin at the beginning.</p>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/11/the-bible-table-of-contents/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Bible Table of Contents" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Bible Table of Contents</em></a>]</p>
<h3>The Old Testament (also known as the Hebrew Bible or the Tanakh)</h3>
<p>The OT starts by assuming <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A1&resource_entry=nivac-genesis/literary-introduction-1-1&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">God exists</a> as the written record recounts his creation of time and everything else. The Jewish leader <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-2-moses-joshua-david/#Moses" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Moses</a> is generally accepted as the author of the first five books of the OT, called the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+1&resource_entry=zondervan-illustrated-bible-dictionary/pentateuch&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pentateuch</a>. Since Moses lived around the 15th century BC, he describes historical events (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=niv-storyline/creation-of-everything-out-of-nothing&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">creation</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+6&resource_entry=niv-student-bible/100-people-you-should-know-noah&tab=study&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=know_the_bible_series3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Noah</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-1-adam-and-eve-abraham-jacob-joseph/#Abraham" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Abraham</a>, etc.) that greatly precede his life, and he records events contemporary to his life (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1&resource_entry=how-to-read-bible-book-by-book/Exod.1.1-Exod.2.25&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Egyptian bondage</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+12&resource_entry=niv-storyline/the-exodus&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Exodus</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=numbers+13&resource_entry=niv-student-bible/introduction-forty-years-misery&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">wilderness wandering</a>, etc.).</p>
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<p>Israel had many <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Prophets-Prophecy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">prophets</a> through its long history who were recognized as speakers for God, and their word was regarded as true by the faithful in the nation. The sacred writing of the OT books written on scrolls by a succession of prophets extend from around 1500 BC to 400 BC, as acknowledged by Jewish scholars in the centuries prior to the birth of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-1-jesus-mary-john-the-baptist/#Jesus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jesus</a> (and then Protestant scholars in the centuries after his birth). Over time, as books were added to the canon and the scrolls became larger, books were grouped together.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/introduction-to-the-bible/" title="Read Bible Gateway Blog posts that introduce you to the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read Bible Gateway Blog posts that introduce you to the Bible</a>]</p>
<p>While it’s impossible to be certain, tradition has it that <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+7:6&resource_entry=zondervan-illustrated-bible-dictionary/ezra&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ezra</a> was mainly responsible for the collecting of the sacred writings into a recognized canon. Suffice it to say, as people were moved by the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A25-26&resource_entry=niv-first-century-study-bible/word-study-advocate-parakl-tos&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Holy Spirit</a> to write the books, so people were led by the Spirit to preserve and treasure the books. There is no scholarly consensus as to when the Hebrew Bible canon was finalized, but it may have been around 100 BC.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/24130905/Bible-OT-and-NT-infographic.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Infographic chart depicting the books of the Bible" width="90%" /></a></p>
<h3>The Apocrypha (also known as the Deuterocanonical Books)</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Apocrypha" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Apocrypha</em></a> is the word applied technically to certain books—written by Jewish authors during the last two centuries BC and the first century AD—that were considered to be officially outside the Hebrew canon because of their esoteric content. In the third century BC, the Jewish Scripture, along with the Apocrypha (also known as deuterocanonical or “secondary canon”), was translated into Greek for the convenience of the many Jews who were not fluent in Hebrew. This translation is known as the <em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Septuagint" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Septuagint</a></em>, Greek for <em>seventy</em> referring to the tradition that 72 rabbis worked on the translation. It’s often abbreviated as “LXX” (70 in Roman numerals).</p>
<p>When the NT was being formed during the Early Church years, the LXX was in common use by Jews and Jewish Christians, and Christians adopted it as the OT of the Christian Bible. However, around AD 100, Jewish rabbis revised their Scripture and established an official canon of Judaism which excluded some portions of the Greek Septuagint. The material excluded was a group of 15 late Jewish books, written during the period 170 BC to AD 70, that were not found in Hebrew versions of the Jewish Scripture. The Early Church did not follow the revisions of Judaism and continued to use the text of the LXX as the OT.</p>
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<p>In the 1500s, when the church divided to become Catholic and Protestant, Protestant leaders decided to organize the OT books according to the official canon of Judaism rather than the LXX, moving that content into a separate section of the Bible called the Apocrypha; it stayed that way until the mid-1800s. Over time, believing the Apocrypha to be less important, Bible publishers eventually dropped it from most Protestant editions.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/who-wrote-the-book-of-hebrews/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Who Wrote the Book of Hebrews" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Who Wrote the Book of Hebrews</em></a>]</p>
<p>The Roman Catholic Church continued to base its OT on the LXX, as did the Orthodox Church, which accepted even more writings as being sacred. The result is that these versions of the Bible have more OT books than most Protestant versions. The Catholic Old Testament includes <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Maccabees+1&version=NABRE&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/israel-under-the-maccabees&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1st Maccabees</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Maccabees+1&version=NABRE&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Books-Maccabees&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2nd Maccabees</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Baruch+1&version=NABRE&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Book-Baruch&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Baruch</a>, the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Letter+of+Jeremiah+1&version=CEB&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Letter of Jeremiah</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Tobit+1&version=NABRE&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Book-Tobit&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tobit</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judith+1&version=NABRE&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Judith</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Wisdom+1&version=NABRE&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Wisdom of Solomon</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Sirach+1&version=NABRE&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sirach</a> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Sirach+1&version=NABRE&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Ecclesiasticus&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ecclesiasticus</a>), <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1&version=NABRE&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Additions-Esther&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">additions to Esther</a>, and the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prayer+of+Azariah+1&version=CEB&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Prayer of Azariah</a> along with the stories of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Susanna+1&version=CEB&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Susanna</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Bel+and+the+Dragon+1&version=CEB&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bel and the Dragon</a> which are included in the book of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Daniel</a>. The Orthodox Old Testament includes these plus <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Esdras+1&version=CEB&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/First-Esdras&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1st Esdras</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Esdras+1&version=CEB&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Second-Esdras&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2nd Esdras</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prayer+of+Manasseh+1&version=CEB&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Prayer of Manasseh</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+151+1&version=CEB&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Psalm 151</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=3%20Maccabees+1&version=CEB&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3rd Maccabees</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=4+Maccabees+1&version=CEB&tab=intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4th Maccabees</a>, some being in an appendix.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/our-daily-bread-university-videos-teach-you-the-bible-on-bible-gateway/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Our Daily Bread University Videos Teach You the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Our Daily Bread University Videos Teach You the Bible on Bible Gateway</em></a>]</p>
<p>While there are differences between the Bibles, the majority of their OT books are the same, as are all of their NT books. In the end, it’s important to remember the words of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A12&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Heb.4.12-Heb.4.13&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hebrews 4:12</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A16-17&version=NIV&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Scripture&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2 Timothy 3:16-17</a>.</p>
<p>Click the links below to read entries from the <em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/toc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Encyclopedia of the Bible</a></em> on Bible Gateway:</p>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Canon-Old-Testament" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canon of the Old Testament</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Apocrypha" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apocrypha / Deuterocanonical</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Bible" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bible</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/why-are-protestant-catholic-and-orthodox-bibles-different/">Why Are Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles Different?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6949049
2022-04-15T01:45:00-12:00
2022-04-15T03:30:17-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of April 10, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/weekly-brief-week-of-april-10-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of April 10, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6948083
2022-04-13T20:24:00-12:00
2022-04-14T00:45:07-12:00
Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/walking-with-christ/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28140045/Walking-With-Christ-to-the-Cross-2022-large-square.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get the free Bible study, Walking With Christ to the Cross" width="57%" /></a><strong>By Christopher Reese</strong></p>
<p>A puzzling paradox about the Bible in America is that it’s consistently the bestselling book and 77 percent of Americans own a Bible, but more than half of adults in the USA (56%) have no meaningful relationship with the Bible. In fact, Bible usage among 67 percent of American adults ranges from reading it 3–4 times per year (7%) to never reading it at all (40%). <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#1"><sup><strong>1</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>As important as merely reading the Bible is, even more important is to <em>engage</em> with the Bible; a form of richly meditating on God’s Word; complete Scripture immersion. Below we’ll consider why this is important and share some helpful ways you can begin, or go deeper, engaging with Scripture.</p>
<h3>What Is Bible Engagement?</h3>
<p>Scripture engagement is the process of reading, meditating, and listening to the Bible in a way that leads us to meet God in his Word so that we’re spiritually transformed. It’s the method of going beyond intellectual awareness of the Bible’s content to employing our senses to absorb the contextual message into our heart and give it priority influence in our everyday thinking and behavior.</p>
<p><span id="more-67812"></span></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/scripture-engagement-is-healthy-for-you/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You</em></a>]</p>
<h3>Why Is Bible Engagement Important?</h3>
<p>This deep interaction with Scripture is important because the Bible is the primary means by which God reveals himself to humanity. In Scripture, God divulges “his nature, works, will, [and] purposes.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#2"><sup><strong>2</strong></sup></a> Consequently, God desires his people to become intimately familiar with his Word and thoroughly contemplate Scripture. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">apostle Paul</a> declared, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A16-17&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/2Tim.3.16-2Tim.3.17&tab=study" title="Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 3:16-17</a>).</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/" title="See the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">See the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway</a>]</p>
<p>For Christians, Scripture provides the clarifying lens through which we view all of reality. It tells the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to receive Bible Gateway's free email series, Know the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Grand Story</a> of which our individual stories are a part. As one Christian scholar notes, “I can only answer the question, ‘What am I to do?’ if I can answer the prior question, ‘Of what story do I find myself a part?’”</p>
<h3>How Does Bible Engagement Affect a Person’s Spiritual Formation?</h3>
<p>The primary purpose of Bible engagement in the Christian’s life is spiritual growth. Paul wrote to Timothy, Scripture is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A15&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1613-Scripture-purpose&tab=study" title="Read 2 Timothy 3:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 3:15</a>). Peter encouraged his readers to “crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A2&version=NIV&resource_entry=christian-university/why-we-study-the-bible&tab=study" title="Watch the Christian University video, Why We Study the Bible, and read 1 Peter 2:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 2:2</a>). Paul prayed that the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Colossians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossian Christians</a> would be filled “with the knowledge of [God’s] will” so that they would “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A9-10&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1175-God-will&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 1:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 1:10</a>).</p>
<hr>
<p></p><center><strong><em>The Abide Bible</em>, that specializes in Scripture engagement, is one of the many resources you have immediate access to as a member of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong></center>
<hr>
<p>This is also borne out by research. The results of a study on spiritual growth involving 1,000 churches concludes: “If churches could do only one thing to help people at all levels of spiritual maturity grow in their relationship with Christ, their choice is clear. They would inspire, encourage, and equip their people to read [and engage with] the Bible.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#4"><sup><strong>4</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>Not surprisingly, studies find that those who consistently engage the Bible tend to “have a sense of purpose, are satisfied with their life, have close relationships, solid mental and physical health, and have a sense of character and virtue.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#5"><sup><strong>5</strong></sup></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/31093311/The-Abide-Bible-Initiative-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." width="90%" /></a></p>
<h3>How Do I Engage with the Bible?</h3>
<p>Perhaps another way to ask this question is, “How do I immerse myself in the Bible?” A second, and related question, is “How is Scripture engagement different from Bible study?” Let’s look at the second question first.</p>
<p>Although Bible study is absolutely indispensable, it’s possible to gather facts about biblical books or passages without growing spiritually. A person can learn about the historical and cultural backgrounds of the Bible, for example, but stop short of applying Scripture to their lives. As <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/04/the-abide-bible-engaging-scripture-engaging-god/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Abide Bible: Engaging Scripture, Engaging God" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dr. Phil Collins</a> of the Center for Scripture Engagement <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/sidebar/comparison" title="Read the article about Scripture comparison in the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">observes</a>,</p>
<p>“Scripture engagement calls us to both analyze and apply the Bible—having knowledge of a text along with a personal insight about that text. . . . Understanding doesn’t equal spiritual growth. In some ways, understanding the Bible intellectually is the easier of the two processes. It is the reflection process, the place where we are mostly likely to meet God and be changed by him, that we especially need to learn.”</p>
<p>To help Christians with this process of reflection or engagement, four Bible-focused organizations—American Bible Society, the Center for Scripture Engagement, Bible Gateway, and ChurchSource—have joined together to create <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative/" title="Learn more about the Abide Bible Initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Abide Bible Initiative</a>. Using principles and practices of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/" title="Visit the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scripture engagement</a>, The Abide Bible Initiative will aid you in engaging with the Bible in a way that fits your God-designed learning style.</p>
<p>The Abide Bible Initiative will take you beyond merely reading the Bible to a life-transforming encounter with God using the following interactive practices:</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Contemplate.</strong> Follow the simple four-step practice of feasting on God’s Word by reading a passage, meditating on the Scripture’s meaning and application, praying, and finally sitting silently, abiding in God’s presence through the words of Scripture.</li>
<li> <strong>Picture It.</strong> Place yourself in a biblical narrative as a bystander or participant in important events.</li>
<li> <strong>Praying Scripture.</strong> Pattern your prayers after biblical texts, personalizing the prayer and gaining language for the thoughts and emotions you want to express.</li>
<li> <strong>Engage Through Art.</strong> Consider a classic artwork—photograph, sculpture, painting—and let it deepen your meditations on scriptural truths.</li>
<li> <strong>Journal.</strong> Focus and reflect on Scripture and its meaning for your life, opening yourself to God’s voice through the Holy Spirit.</li>
</ul>
<p>When you <strong>sign up</strong> for the free <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative/" title="Sign up for the free email devotional, The Abide Bible Initiative, on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Abide Bible Initiative</a>, you’ll receive a 5-Day Reading Plan that will walk you through using the five practices listed above while delving deep into five popular biblical passages (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+41&resource_entry=nkjv-abide/journal-isaiah-41-9-13-17-20&tab=study" title="Read The Abide Bible engagement note for Isaiah 41 with your membership in Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 41</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&resource_entry=nkjv-abide/engage-through-art-green-wheat-field-with-cypress-by-vincent-van-gogh&tab=study" title="Read The Abide Bible engagement note for Psalm 23 with your membership in Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14&resource_entry=nkjv-abide/contemplate-john-14-1-11&tab=study" title="Read The Abide Bible engagement note for John 14 with your membership in Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 14</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6&resource_entry=nkjv-abide/praying-scripture-matthew-6-1-13&tab=study" title="Read The Abide Bible engagement note for Matthew 6 with your membership in Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12&resource_entry=nkjv-abide/journal-romans-12-1-8&tab=study" title="Read The Abide Bible engagement note for Romans 12 with your membership in Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 12</a>). After this, you’ll have the option to continue to engage Scripture using any of five 25-Day Reading Plans that each focus on just one of the Scripture engagement practices—whichever best fits your personal learning style.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative/" title="Sign up for the free email devotional, The Abide Bible Initiative, on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Sign up today</strong></a> and embark on a life-changing journey with God’s Word!</p>
<p><a id="1"></a></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Notes<br>
1. See <a href="https://sotb.research.bible/" title="See the research report, State of the Bible: USA 2022" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>State of the Bible: USA 2022</em></a> published by The American Bible Society.</p>
<p><a id="2"></a><br>
2. As the noted biblical scholar B. B. Warfield explained. Quoted in Guy Prentiss Waters, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=7106079&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of For the Mouth of the Lord Has Spoken: The Doctrine of Scripture in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>For the Mouth of the Lord Has Spoken: The Doctrine of Scripture</em></a> (Ross-Shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, 2020), Kindle edition, 16.</p>
<p><a id="3"></a><br>
3. Alasdair MacIntyre, quoted in Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=66242EB&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story</em></a> (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), 18–19.</p>
<p><a id="4"></a><br>
4. See Greg L. Hawkins and Cally Parkinson, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/move-what-1-000-churches-reveal-about-spiritual-growth?variant=13751108370543&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth</em></a> (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011).</p>
<p><a id="5"></a><br>
5. <a href="https://sotb.research.bible/" title="See the research report, State of the Bible: USA 2022" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>State of the Bible: USA 2022</em></a>, The American Bible Society, https://sotb.research.bible/.</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/28170009/Christopher_Reese.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Christopher Reese" width="20%" /></a><strong>BIO:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" title="Visit the LinkedIn page of Christopher Reese" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Reese</a> (MDiv, ThM) (<a href="https://twitter.com/clreese" title="Christopher Reese Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@clreese</a>) is a freelance writer and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://worldviewbulletin.substack.com/archive?utm_source=menu-dropdown" title="Visit The Worldview Bulletin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Worldview Bulletin</em></a>. He is a general editor of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dictionary-of-christianity-and-science-the-definitive-reference-for-the-intersection-of-christian-faith-and-contemporary-science?variant=13746105909359&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dictionary of Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2017) and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/three-views-on-christianity-and-science?variant=34292904001672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Three Views on Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Three Views on Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2021). His articles have appeared in <em>Christianity Today</em> and he writes and edits for Christian ministries and publishers.</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>Deepen your study of the Bible when you become a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it right now during a FREE trial period!</em></a>
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</blockquote>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/dont-merely-read-the-bible-engage-with-the-bible/">Don’t Merely Read the Bible—Engage With the Bible!</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6947510
2022-04-13T06:34:59-12:00
2022-04-13T06:45:10-12:00
How to Live the Bible — A Prayer for Easter, Resurrection Day
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-fourth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><em>“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”</em></p>
<p><em><br>
</em><em>So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) .”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20%3A1-9&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/john-20-1-18&tab=study" title="Read John 20:1-9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 20:1-9</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/31151932/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Resurrection.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photo illustration of Jesus' empty tomb." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-67908"></span></p>
<h3>Almighty God,</h3>
<p>On this day we rejoice in the glory of resurrection.<br>
The tomb is empty.<br>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A24&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2372-Jesus-Christ-victory&tab=study" title="Read Acts 2:24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Death could not hold the Lord Jesus</a>. His body saw no decay. His enemies did not win. The earth could not contain him.<br>
We are emboldened by the power of resurrection.<br>
We are encouraged by the hope of resurrection.<br>
We are enlightened by the truth of resurrection.<br>
So help us, dear God, to have a daily expectation that we will encounter the living Lord Jesus wherever we live.<br>
Help us to live in submission.<br>
And empower us to bring this message of resurrection into every dark and desperate corner of this world.<br>
In the name of the resurrected Lord Jesus.<br>
Amen.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/how-to-live-the-bible-a-prayer-for-easter-resurrection-day/">How to Live the Bible — A Prayer for Easter, Resurrection Day</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6946432
2022-04-11T22:00:00-12:00
2022-04-11T23:30:02-12:00
Encountering Jesus Through the Works of English Poets: An Interview with Andrew Klavan
<p><a href="https://www.andrewklavan.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28100340/AndrewKlavan_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Andrew Klavan" width="25%" /></a>When you read the Gospels, do you struggle to understand what Jesus really meant when he taught counter-cultural life lessons and penetrating parables? So did <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/search?q=Klavan&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Browse books by Andrew Klavan in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bestselling</a> author Andrew Klavan until he had a profound encounter with Jesus and discovered a fresh understanding of the Gospels by reading the words of Jesus through the life and work of writers such as William Wordsworth, John Keats, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Mary Shelley.</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="https://www.andrewklavan.com/" title="Andrew Klavan" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Andrew Klavan</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/andrewklavan" title="Andrew Klavan Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@andrewklavan</a>) about his book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-truth-and-beauty-how-the-lives-and-works-of-englands-greatest-poets-point-the-way-to-a-deeper-understanding-of-the-words-of-jesus?variant=39715156197512&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Truth and Beauty in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>The Truth and Beauty: How the Lives and Works of England’s Greatest Poets Point the Way to a Deeper Understanding of the Words of Jesus</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022).</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-truth-and-beauty-how-the-lives-and-works-of-englands-greatest-poets-point-the-way-to-a-deeper-understanding-of-the-words-of-jesus?variant=39715156197512&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/31080754/The-Truth-and-Beauty.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Truth and Beauty in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>You write that you became a Christian as an adult. What drew you to Jesus and how is becoming a Christian as an adult different than as a child?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Andrew Klavan:</strong> As I detail in my memoir <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-great-good-thing-a-secular-jew-comes-to-faith-in-christ?variant=13748338622575&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Great Good Thing in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Great Good Thing</em></a> (Thomas Nelson, 2016), I grew up Jewish and the idea of taking Jesus seriously as the Word made flesh as in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A14&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/jesus-christ-is-incarnate-word-v-14&tab=study" title="Read John 1:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1:14</a> never occurred to me. But as an aspiring writer who wanted to educate himself in Western literature, I began to realize that the poet William Blake was right when he said the Bible is the “Great Code of Art,” the center of all Western thought and creation. So at 15, I read the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of Luke on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospel According to St. Luke</a>, simply as literary research. It took 35 years of thought and reflection before I understood I couldn’t make sense of the world as I understood it without taking <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/what-are-the-gospels-2/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Are the Gospels? on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Gospels</a> as truth rather than fiction. It was a long journey but it has at least one advantage over being a “cradle Christian.” I’ve explored all the really good arguments for non-belief and know why I rejected them.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/jesus-the-word-made-flesh/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Jesus: The Word Made Flesh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Jesus: The Word Made Flesh</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-truth-and-beauty-how-the-lives-and-works-of-englands-greatest-poets-point-the-way-to-a-deeper-understanding-of-the-words-of-jesus-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39715155738760&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28114953/The-Truth-and-Beauty-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Truth and Beauty audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>You recount how, when telling your son of your failing attempt to grasp Jesus’ <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Ethics-Gods-Kingdom&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 5-7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sermon on the Mount</a>, your son suggested that “maybe…you’re trying to understand a philosophy instead of trying to get to know a man.” Why do you write that this was “the single smartest thing anyone had ever said” to you?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Andrew Klavan:</strong> Because on the instant, I saw it was exactly how Jesus wanted to be approached—not as a system of ideas, but as a human being. When you get to know someone, you start to see through his eyes somewhat, you start to understand why he says the things he says, even when those things are off-beat and mysterious. Love your enemies (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A44&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Demands-Love-Even-Enemies&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 5:44 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 5:44</a>)? Look at a woman lustfully and you’ve committed adultery (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A28&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Do-Not-Covet-Others-Sexually&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 5:28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">5:28</a>)? Do not resist an evil person (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A39&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Turning-Other-Cheek-Letting-God&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 5:39 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">5:39</a>)? We’re so used to quoting these things with solemn piety that we don’t stop and think: <em>Wait, what? Do I believe that? Do I even understand it?</em> Every time I’ve come closer to what Jesus meant, I’ve grown more joyful in my life. I realized my son’s words gave me a way to get even closer.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><strong>What do you mean by your statement in the book, “Art is the way we speak the meaning of our lives”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Andrew Klavan:</strong> There is simply no way directly to communicate the inner experience of being human. I can describe a tree. But I can’t describe joy, sorrow, faith, love—my inner world—without using metaphors and stories, pictures and music. Ask an athlete: “How’d you feel about winning the big game?” He’ll respond, “Man, it was like waking up on Christmas morning when I was a kid.” Essentially, he’ll tell a story to communicate his emotion to you. Hamlet, the Sistine Chapel, Beethoven’s 9th—these are all just more complex versions of that process, meant to take us even deeper into the human experience. Even God, when he wanted to communicate his glory, created the heavens (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+19%3A1&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-19&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 19:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 19:1</a>).</p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j_6AurjMa5Y" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<p><strong>Who are the poets you include in the book and why did you choose them?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Andrew Klavan:</strong> I picked the ones who helped me reread the Gospels in a new and more personal way. The book centers on William Wordsworth, Samuel Coleridge, and John Keats, though there’s also a chapter on Mary Shelley, who wrote <em>Frankenstein</em>. Mostly I focus on their raucous, brilliant, sometimes tragic and sometimes hilarious lives so you can see the way their thought and poetry developed. These are great stories from the most amazing moment in English literature when six of the greatest poets who ever lived were all on the same island at the same time.</p>
<p><strong>Briefly, how do their lives and writings point the way to a deeper understanding of Jesus’ message?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Andrew Klavan:</strong> The Romantic era was astoundingly similar to ours. Many of the old ways of thinking were under assault. New science was challenging old religious beliefs. Radicals and conservatives were fighting to dominate politics. Marriage and gender roles were being questioned intensely. These poets were tasked with creating a new world on the ruins of the old. It was as if they were starting from scratch. In their wild lives and their spectacularly beautiful poetry, you can see them facing all the questions we face; questions that had once been answered by Jesus before Western faith began to weaken. And slowly—sometimes accidentally—they found their way back to Jesus’s answer, but in a new era with new words. So, to use a metaphor, it’s as if they disassembled a piece of machinery then put it back together so you can see how it works. They re-built the bridge between the inner man and the spirit, so you can read their poetry and think, “Ah, that’s what Jesus was talking about! That’s what he meant! Now I get it.”</p>
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<p><strong>What is the meaning of your book’s title?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Andrew Klavan:</strong> It’s from Keats’ “Ode on A Grecian Urn.” In the poem, a work of art (the urn, in this case), speaks to us and says, “Beauty is truth and truth beauty—that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know.” Today, people tell us there’s no such thing as moral truth; the inner world is purely subjective and has no reality; if you feel like you’re a woman, magically you become a woman; if I can convince you wrong is right, lo, and behold, wrong becomes right. But no. Human beings are actually God-made devices designed to connect with their creator and with spiritual and moral truth. That’s why he came to us as a human being, as one of us, to demonstrate to us how it’s done—in love, sometimes in suffering and sacrifice, in living by the spirit instead of the flesh. The word “beauty” in the poem doesn’t mean prettiness—as in, “oh, I like pink flowers, and you like yellow ones.” Beauty is the deep sensation you have when you’ve connected with the hidden, spiritual reality of the world, when you become a branch of the great vine (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A4&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-branches-we-must-abide-15-1-11&tab=study" title="Read John 15:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 15:4</a>).</p>
<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Andrew Klavan:</strong> It changes from time to time. I love <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A27&resource_entry=nivac-sample/John.14.27-John.14.30&tab=study" title="Read John 14:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 14:27</a>, <em>I give you peace—but not as the world gives it.</em> That reminds me to recenter myself on Christ in times of turmoil. I love <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+46%3A10&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Ps.46.8-Ps.46.11&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 46:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 46:10</a>, <em>Be still—and know that I am God</em>. Possibly the best piece of advice ever given! Great to remember when you’re trying to control everything yourself. And the branch and vine verse cited above. The lives we create, the art we create, the love we create—it’s nothing if it doesn’t flow from the source.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Andrew Klavan:</strong> Is this a trick question? I use it every day. I used it while answering these questions. I have no memory for quotes or verse numbers, so it’s my constant companion. I used it constantly while researching <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-truth-and-beauty-how-the-lives-and-works-of-englands-greatest-poets-point-the-way-to-a-deeper-understanding-of-the-words-of-jesus?variant=39715156197512&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Truth and Beauty in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Truth and Beauty</em></a>. Part of that process was teaching myself Greek and then translating the Gospels myself so I could feel really close to them. I checked my translations by going through the different renderings on Bible Gateway. It was a huge help.</p>
<p><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to say?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Andrew Klavan:</strong> Well, this. A Bible quote that doesn’t come up half enough is (checking my Bible Gateway) <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A11&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2039-Jesus-Christ-joy&tab=study" title="Read John 15:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 15:11</a>, “I have told you this so that my joy will be in you and your joy may be complete.” I don’t think “joy” there means happiness. In life sometimes you’re happy, sometimes you’re blue and so on. I think “joy” is what John Keats called “gusto,” a complete immersion in life—life in abundance (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A10&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4018-life-spiritual&tab=study" title="Read John 10:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 10:10</a>). This is what Jesus is trying to demonstrate to us, and this is what the Romantic poets were trying to retrieve from a civilization that had taken itself apart. Now our civilization is taking itself apart again and people—especially young people—are becoming more and more miserable. <em>The Truth and Beauty</em> is my attempt to shine a light on the road back to joy.</p>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-truth-and-beauty-how-the-lives-and-works-of-englands-greatest-poets-point-the-way-to-a-deeper-understanding-of-the-words-of-jesus?variant=39715156197512&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Truth and Beauty in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Truth and Beauty</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Andrew Klavan is an award-winning writer, screenwriter, and media commentator. An internationally <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/search?q=Klavan&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Browse books by Andrew Klavan in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bestselling novelist</a> and two-time Edgar Award-winner, Klavan is also a contributing editor to <em>City Journal</em>, the magazine of the Manhattan Institute, and the host of a popular podcast on DailyWire.com, <em>The Andrew Klavan Show</em>. His essays and op-eds on politics, religion, movies, and literature have appeared in <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>, <em>The New York Times</em>, <em>The Washington Post</em>, the <em>Los Angeles Times</em>, and elsewhere.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/encountering-jesus-through-the-works-of-english-poets-an-interview-with-andrew-klavan/">Encountering Jesus Through the Works of English Poets: An Interview with Andrew Klavan</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6945610
2022-04-10T21:00:00-12:00
2022-04-11T01:00:11-12:00
Jesus’ Special Clothing
<p></p><blockquote><center>
<em>Editor’s Note: The following content is adapted from the </em> <a href="https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/lucado/" title="Learn more about the Lucado Encouraging Word Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lucado Encouraging Word Bible</a> <em> (Thomas Nelson, 2020), available to you immediately online when you <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus during a FREE trial period starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">join Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>.</em>
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<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/17131919/MaxLucado1-e1579285178471.jpg"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/17131919/MaxLucado1-e1579285178471.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="280" width="280" /></a></figure></div>
<p><strong>by Max Lucado</strong></p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>We all, like sheep, have gone astray,<br> each of us has turned to our own way;<br>and the Lord has laid on him<br> the iniquity of us all.</p>
<cite><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah+53%3A6&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-isa-52-13-53-12&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Isaiah 53:6, NIV</a></cite>
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<p>Scripture says little about the clothes Jesus wore. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+3%3A4&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Johns-Lifestyle-Summons-Us-Heed-Gods&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 3:4 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">We know what his cousin, John the Baptist, wore</a>. We know what the religious leaders wore. But the clothing of Christ is nondescript: neither so humble as to touch hearts nor so glamorous as to turn heads.</p>
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<p>One reference to Jesus’ garments is noteworthy. “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said therefore among themselves, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be’” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A23-24&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-crucified-19-17-27&tab=study" title="Read John 19:23-24 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John 19:23–24</a>).</p>
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<h2>Jesus’ Finest Possession</h2>
<p>It must have been Jesus’ finest possession. Jewish tradition called for a mother to make such a robe and present it to her son as a departure gift when he left home. Had Mary done this for Jesus? We don’t know. But we do know the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom. Why is this significant?</p>
<p>Scripture often describes <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A12-14&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5145-clothing&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 3:12-14 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our behavior as the clothes we wear</a>. Garments can symbolize character. And like his garment, Jesus’ character was seamless. Coordinated. Unified. He was like his robe: uninterrupted perfection.</p>
<p>“Woven from the top.” Jesus wasn’t led by his own mind; he was led by the mind of his Father. Listen to his words: “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do; for whatever he does, the Son also does in like manner . . . I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge” (<a title="Read John 5:19, 30 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5%3A19%2C+30&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-jn-5-1-47&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John 5:19, 30</a>).</p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><a title="Watch the Bible Connection Podcast: Good News of Great Joy with Max Lucado" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-good-news-of-great-joy-with-max-lucado/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Watch the Bible Connection Podcast: <em>Good News of Great Joy with Max Lucado</em></strong></a></p>
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<h2>The Clothing of Christ on the Cross</h2>
<p>The character of Jesus was a seamless fabric woven from Heaven to Earth, from God’s thoughts to Jesus’ actions. From God’s tears to Jesus’ compassion. From God’s Word to Jesus’ response. All one piece. All a picture of the character of Jesus.</p>
<p>But when Christ was nailed to the cross, he took off his robe of seamless perfection and assumed a different wardrobe, the wardrobe of indignity.</p>
<p><em>The indignity of nakedness</em>. Stripped before his own mother and loved ones. Shamed before his family. <em>The indignity of failure</em>. For a few pain-filled hours, the religious leaders were the victors, and Christ appeared the loser. Shamed before his accusers. Worst of all, he wore the <em>indignity of sin</em>. Christ “bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A24&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-1pe-2-1-25&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 2:24 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1 Peter 2:24</a>).</p>
<p>The clothing of Christ on the cross? Sin—yours and mine. The sins of all humanity.</p>
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<p>More than 145 million readers have found inspiration and encouragement in the prolific writings of Max Lucado. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/max-lucado?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Browse his books in the FaithGateway Store</a>. Max lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy, in San Antonio, Texas, where he serves the people of Oak Hills Church.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/jesuss-special-clothing/">Jesus’ Special Clothing</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6944018
2022-04-08T01:45:00-12:00
2022-04-08T05:45:14-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of April 3, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/weekly-brief-week-of-april-3-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of April 3, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6943628
2022-04-07T18:49:00-12:00
2022-04-07T20:45:15-12:00
Gustave Doré Engravings of Jesus: Last Supper, Crucifixion, and Resurrection
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28172253/Gustave-Dore.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Gustave Doré" width="25%" />French artist Gustave Doré (1832–1883) created 241 wood-engravings for a deluxe edition (<em>Grande</em>) of the 1843 French translation of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Biblia-Sacra-Vulgata-VULGATE/#booklist" title="Read the Vulgate Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vulgate Bible</a>, popularly known as the <em>Bible de Tours</em>. <em>La Grande Bible de Tours</em> was simultaneously published in two volumes in 1866 by Mame in Tours, France and by Cassell & Company in the United Kingdom.</p>
<p>Below are the engravings—and the Bible passages they illustrate—depicting the final hours of Jesus before his burial and resurrection. Click each image to enlarge it and each Bible reference to read the Scripture text and its corresponding reference note in the STUDY tab on Bible Gateway.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/walking-with-christ/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/29101746/wwcc_728x90_Old.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get the free Bible study, Walking With Christ to the Cross" width="90%" /></a></p>
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<p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#1"><sup><strong>1</strong></sup></a> The Last Supper (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14%3A22-24&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/b-the-last-supper-14-12-31&tab=study" title="Read Mark 14:22–24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 14:22–24</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#2"><sup><strong>2</strong></sup></a> Jesus Praying in the Garden (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A40-41&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Turmoil-Disciples&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 26:40–41 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 26:40–41</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#3"><sup><strong>3</strong></sup></a> The Agony in the Garden (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A43-44&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/e-the-agony-22-39-46&tab=study" title="Read Luke 22:43–44 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 22:43–44</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#4"><sup><strong>4</strong></sup></a> The Judas Kiss (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14%3A45-46&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/d-betrayal-and-arrest-14-43-52&tab=study" title="Read Mark 14:45–46 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 14:45–46</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#5"><sup><strong>5</strong></sup></a> St. Peter Denying Christ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18%3A26-27&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/2-rejection-and-denial-18-12-27&tab=study" title="Read John 18:26–27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 18:26–27</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#6"><sup><strong>6</strong></sup></a> The Crown of Thorns (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A2-3&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4520-thorns&tab=study" title="Read John 19:2–3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 19:2–3</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#7"><sup><strong>7</strong></sup></a> Christ Mocked (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A29-30&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Is-Ridiculed-Those-Who-Should&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 27:29–30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 27:29–30</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#8"><sup><strong>8</strong></sup></a> Jesus Scourged (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A26&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5313-flogging&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 27:26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 27:26</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#9"><sup><strong>9</strong></sup></a> Christ Presented to the People (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A15&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Pilate-Jewish-Opponents-Reject-Jesus-as&tab=study" title="Read John 19:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 19:15</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#10"><sup><strong>10</strong></sup></a> Jesus Falling Beneath the Cross (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+15%3A21&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-14-53-Mark-15-32&tab=study" title="Read Mark 15:21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 15:21</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#11"><sup><strong>11</strong></sup></a> The Arrival at Calvary (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A33-34&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Endured-Slow-Agonizing-Death-Us&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 27:33–34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 27:33–34</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#12"><sup><strong>12</strong></sup></a> Nailing Christ to the Cross (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A18-19&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-crucified-19-17-27&tab=study" title="Read John 19:18–19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 19:18–19</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#13"><sup><strong>13</strong></sup></a> The Erection of the Cross (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A35&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/1-crucifixion-of-jesus-26-1-27-66&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 27:35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 27:35</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#14"><sup><strong>14</strong></sup></a> The Crucifixion (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23%3A34-35&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Crucifixion&tab=study" title="Read Luke 23:34–35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 23:34–35</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#15"><sup><strong>15</strong></sup></a> The Darkness at the Crucifixion (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23%3A44-45&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-23-26-Luke-23-56&tab=study" title="Read Luke 23:44–45 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 23:44–45</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#16"><sup><strong>16</strong></sup></a> The Descent From the Cross (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A57-58&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Joseph-Arimathea-Rare-Wealthy-Ally&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 27:57–58 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 27:57–58</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#17"><sup><strong>17</strong></sup></a> The Dead Christ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A59&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5288-dead&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 27:59 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 27:59</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#18"><sup><strong>18</strong></sup></a> The Burial of Christ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A60-61&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Burial&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 27:60–61 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 27:60–61</a>) • <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#19"><sup><strong>19</strong></sup></a> The Resurrection (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A5-6&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/2-resurrection-of-jesus-28-1-20&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 28:5–6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 28:5–6</a>)</p>
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<a id="1"></a> [1] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28141446/Gustave-Dore-Last-Supper.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" The Last Supper (Mark 14:22-24) by Gustave Doré" width="22%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28141446/Gustave-Dore-Last-Supper.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[1 /></a> <a id="2"></a> [2] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28142034/Gustave-Dore-Jesus-Praying-in-the-Garden.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" Jesus Praying in the Garden (Matthew 26:40-41) by Gustave Doré" width="20%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28142034/Gustave-Dore-Jesus-Praying-in-the-Garden.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[2 /></a> <a id="3"></a> [3] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160517/Gustave-Dore-The-Agony-in-the-Garden.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" The Agony in the Garden (Luke 22:43-44) by Gustave Doré" width="20%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160517/Gustave-Dore-The-Agony-in-the-Garden.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[3 /></a> <a id="4"></a> [4] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28144702/Gustave-Dore-The-Judas-Kiss.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" The Judas Kiss (Mark 14:45-46) by Gustave Doré" width="20%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28144702/Gustave-Dore-The-Judas-Kiss.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[4 /></a>
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<a id="5"></a> [5] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160539/Gustave-Dore-St-Peter-Denying-Christ.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" St. Peter Denying Christ (John 18:26-27) by Gustave Doré" width="20%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160539/Gustave-Dore-St-Peter-Denying-Christ.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[5 /></a> <a id="6"></a> [6] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160744/Gustave-Dore-The-Crown-of-Thorns.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" The Crown of Thorns (John 19:2-3) by Gustave Doré" width="20%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160744/Gustave-Dore-The-Crown-of-Thorns.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[6 /></a> <a id="7"></a> [7] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160758/Gustave-Dore-Christ-Mocked.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" Christ Mocked (Matthew 27:29-30) by Gustave Doré" width="20%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160758/Gustave-Dore-Christ-Mocked.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[7 /></a> <a id="8"></a> [8] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28145918/Gustave-Dore-Jesus-Scourged.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" Jesus Scourged (Matthew 27:26) by Gustave Doré" width="20%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28145918/Gustave-Dore-Jesus-Scourged.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[8 /></a>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/take-the-10-minutes-with-jesus-challenge/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Take the 10 Minutes with Jesus Challenge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Take the 10 Minutes with Jesus Challenge</em></a>]</p>
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<a id="9"></a> [9] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160808/Gustave-Dore-Christ-Presented-to-the-People.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" Christ Presented to the People (John 19:15) by Gustave Doré" width="18%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160808/Gustave-Dore-Christ-Presented-to-the-People.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[9 /></a> <a id="10"></a> [10] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160820/Gustave-Dore-Christ-Falling-Beneath-the-Cross.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" Jesus Falling Beneath the Cross (Mark 15:21) by Gustave Doré" width="18%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160820/Gustave-Dore-Christ-Falling-Beneath-the-Cross.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[10 /></a> <a id="11"></a> [11] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160837/Gustave-Dore-Arrival-at-Calvary.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" Arrival at Calvary (Matthew 27:33-34) by Gustave Doré" width="22%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160837/Gustave-Dore-Arrival-at-Calvary.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[11 /></a> <a id="12"></a> [12] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160901/Gustave-Dore-Nailing-Christ-to-the-Cross.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" Nailing Christ to the Cross (John 19:18-19) by Gustave Doré" width="18%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160901/Gustave-Dore-Nailing-Christ-to-the-Cross.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[12 /></a>
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<a id="13"></a> [13] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160920/Gustave-Dore-The-Erection-of-the-Cross.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" The Erection of the Cross (Matthew 27:35) by Gustave Doré" width="19%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160920/Gustave-Dore-The-Erection-of-the-Cross.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[13 /></a> <a id="14"></a> [14] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160932/Gustave-Dore-The-Crucifixion.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" The Crucifixion (Luke 23:34-35) by Gustave Doré" width="19%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160932/Gustave-Dore-The-Crucifixion.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[14 /></a> <a id="15"></a> [15] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160944/Gustave-Dore-The-Darkness-at-the-Crucifixion.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" The Darkness at the Crucifixion (Luke 23:44-45) by Gustave Doré" width="19%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160944/Gustave-Dore-The-Darkness-at-the-Crucifixion.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[15 /></a> <a id="16"></a> [16] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160955/Gustave-Dore-The-Descent-from-the-Cross.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" The Descent from the Cross (Matthew 27:57-58) by Gustave Doré" width="19%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28160955/Gustave-Dore-The-Descent-from-the-Cross.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[16 /></a>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/holy-week-and-easter-the-people-places-and-events/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Holy Week and Easter: The People, Places, and Events" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Holy Week and Easter: The People, Places, and Events</em></a>]</p>
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<a id="17"></a> [17] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28161005/Gustave-Dore-The-Dead-Christ.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" The Dead Christ (Matthew 27:59) by Gustave Doré" width="20%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28161005/Gustave-Dore-The-Dead-Christ.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[17 /></a> <a id="18"></a> [18] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28161013/Gustave-Dore-The-Burial-of-Christ.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" The Burial of Christ (Matthew 27:60-61) by Gustave Doré" width="20%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28161013/Gustave-Dore-The-Burial-of-Christ.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[18 /></a>
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<a id="19"></a> [19] <a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28161530/Gustave-Dore-The-Resurrection.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src=" The Resurrection (Matthew 28:5–6) by Gustave Doré" width="30%"]https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28161530/Gustave-Dore-The-Resurrection.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="[19 /></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/gustave-dore-engravings-of-jesus-last-supper-crucifixion-and-resurrection/">Gustave Doré Engravings of Jesus: Last Supper, Crucifixion, and Resurrection</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6942474
2022-04-06T21:53:00-12:00
2022-04-06T22:30:06-12:00
Who Wrote the Book of Hebrews
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/walking-with-christ/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28140045/Walking-With-Christ-to-the-Cross-2022-large-square.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get the free Bible study, Walking With Christ to the Cross" width="57%" /></a><strong>By Christopher Reese</strong></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=heb.+1&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/introduction-to-hebrews&tab=study" title="Read the introduction to the book of Hebrews with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Hebrews</a> is one of the more difficult books of the New Testament to understand. This is mainly because it contains numerous quotations of and allusions to the Old Testament, which many Christians do not have a strong background in.</p>
<p>At the same time, Hebrews contains some of the richest theology in the New Testament and sheds important light on the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. It’s also an encouraging book for believers encountering persecution and those who feel like giving up in the face of difficulties.</p>
<p>To help you gain a better understanding of this important epistle (letter), we’ll answer several frequently asked questions about it.</p>
<p><span id="more-67617"></span></p>
<h3>What Is the Book of Hebrews?</h3>
<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Hebrews on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Hebrews</a> Hebrews is a New Testament epistle written to Jewish Christians who were enduring persecution and were tempted to revert back to their former Jewish faith.</p>
<h3>When Was Hebrews Written?</h3>
<p>Hebrews was almost certainly written before <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+21%3A5-24&resource_entry=quest-study-bible/what-events-did-jesus-predict-here-21-20-24&tab=study" title="Read Luke 21:5-24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AD 70 when the Romans sacked Jerusalem</a> and destroyed the Jewish temple. The author of Hebrews describes activities at the temple as taking place as usual (e.g., <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10%3A11&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/7770-priests-tasks-NT-times&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 10:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 10:11</a>), which indicates a date before AD 70. In addition, because the author suggests that none of the recipients of the letter had been martyred (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A4&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Heb.12.4-Heb.12.17&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 12:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 12:4</a>), it was probably written before AD 64 when the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Nero" title="Read about Nero in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Emperor Nero</a> began putting Christians to death (we’ll say more about the original recipients below).</p>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<h3>In What Style Was Hebrews Written?</h3>
<p>Hebrews is an unusual letter in that it doesn’t reflect the customary format of the time of identifying the author and recipients, and doesn’t begin with a greeting (the elements we see in Paul’s letters, for example). Instead, it reads like an extended sermon—the author both teaches doctrine and challenges his listeners to take action. Although he doesn’t specify who they are, the author knows the people he is addressing and hopes that he will be in their presence again soon (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A19&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/heb-13-19&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 13:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 13:19</a>).</p>
<h3>Why Is It Called Hebrews?</h3>
<p>The earliest Greek manuscripts of Hebrews begin with the title “To the Hebrews.” The title was added by the early church, most likely for ease of reference, and seems to reflect their belief that it was addressed to Jewish Christians.</p>
<h3>Who Wrote the Book of Hebrews?</h3>
<p>The book of Hebrews doesn’t specify its author, but whoever penned it had a thorough knowledge of the Old Testament and was eloquent in his use of Greek. Some in the early church ascribed the book to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paul</a>, but most scholars today believe the writing style of Hebrews is so different from Paul’s other letters that this is unlikely. The early church father Tertullian attributed the book to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:36&resource_entry=eastons-bible-dictionary/Barnabas&tab=study" title="Read about Barnabas in Easton's Bible Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Barnabas</a>, Paul’s companion in missionary work, but further historical evidence is lacking. Martin Luther suggested that <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018:24&resource_entry=eastons-bible-dictionary/Apollos&tab=study" title="Read about Apollos in Easton's Bible Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apollos</a> may have been the author, probably because in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Acts on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Acts</a> he is described as “a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures” who was eloquent in public debate (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18%3A24-28&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/ac-18-23-28&tab=study" title="Read Acts 18:24, 28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 18:24, 28</a>). Other proposed candidates have included <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/eastons-bible-dictionary/Luke" title="Read about Luke in Easton's Bible Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/eastons-bible-dictionary/Silas" title="Read about Silas in Easton's Bible Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Silas</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/eastons-bible-dictionary/Priscilla" title="Read about Priscilla in Easton's Bible Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Priscilla</a>. Given the lack of compelling historical evidence for any of these individuals, we can agree with the church father Origen who wrote, “Who it was that really wrote the Epistle, God only knows.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#1"><sup><strong>1</strong></sup></a></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<h3>What Is the Main Message of the Book of Hebrews?</h3>
<p>As noted above, the original recipients of Hebrews were Jewish Christians. The author writes that in the past God had spoken to “our ancestors” through the prophets (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Heb.1&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 1:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 1:1</a>). They likely resided in Rome because the author mentions that other Italians who were with him sent their greetings (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A24&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/heb-13-24&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 13:24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 13:24</a>)—that is, to paraphrase, “The other Italians who are with me say hello to you.”</p>
<p>The author assumes his readers are intimately familiar with the Old Testament and Jewish religious practices and argues that Jesus Christ is superior to all the individuals and institutions of the Old Testament. For example, Jesus is superior to:</p>
<ul>
<li> The Old Testament Prophets (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1%3A1-3&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-nt/introduction-1-1-4-1&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 1:1-3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 1:1-3</a>)</li>
<li> The angels (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1%3A4-2%3A18&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/heb-2-5-9&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 1:4-2:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 1:4-2:18</a>)</li>
<li> Moses, Joshua, and Aaron (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+3%3A1-19&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/heb-3-2-6&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 3:1-19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 3:1-19</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb+4%3A1-13&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/heb-4-8-10&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 4:1-13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">4:1-13</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A14-5%3A10%3B+7%3A11&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/heb-7-11&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 4:14-10:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">4:14-10:18</a>)</li>
<li> Old Testament sacrifices (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10%3A11-14&version=NIV&resource_entry=zibbc-nt/the-provisional-nature-of-the-old-covenant-worship-laws-heb-10-1-18&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 10:11-14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 10:11-14</a>).</li>
</ul>
<p>These Jewish believers were encountering persecution for their Christian faith and were tempted to abandon it and return to Judaism (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A1-13&resource_entry=nivac-hebrews/the-discipline-of-children-12-3-13&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 12:1-13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 12:1-13</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=heb+10%3A26-31&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/heb-10-26-27&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 10:26-31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">10:26-31</a>). The writer urgently warns them not to turn away from Christ but instead to look to him as the ultimate example of one who persevered in the face of trials and eventually emerged victorious. As we face trials today, we can also find encouragement and comfort in the writer’s exhortation:</p>
<p>“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A1-3&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/heb-12-1-2&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 12:1-3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 12:1-3</a>).</p>
<p><a id="1"></a></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Notes<br>
1. The church historian Eusebius quotes this from Origen in his <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=214467&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Ecclesiastical History, Books 6–10 in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Ecclesiastical History, Books 6–10</em></a>, trans. Roy J. Deferrari, vol. 29, The Fathers of the Church (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1955), 50.</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/28170009/Christopher_Reese.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Christopher Reese" width="20%" /></a><strong>BIO:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" title="Visit the LinkedIn page of Christopher Reese" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Reese</a> (MDiv, ThM) (<a href="https://twitter.com/clreese" title="Christopher Reese Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@clreese</a>) is a freelance writer and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://worldviewbulletin.substack.com/archive?utm_source=menu-dropdown" title="Visit The Worldview Bulletin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Worldview Bulletin</em></a>. He is a general editor of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dictionary-of-christianity-and-science-the-definitive-reference-for-the-intersection-of-christian-faith-and-contemporary-science?variant=13746105909359&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dictionary of Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2017) and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/three-views-on-christianity-and-science?variant=34292904001672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Three Views on Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Three Views on Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2021). His articles have appeared in <em>Christianity Today</em> and he writes and edits for Christian ministries and publishers.</p>
<blockquote>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/who-wrote-the-book-of-hebrews/">Who Wrote the Book of Hebrews</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6942086
2022-04-06T04:41:34-12:00
2022-04-06T09:00:10-12:00
How to Live the Bible — What It Means to Be a Disciple
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-third lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><em>“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A1-5&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/a-foot-washing-13-1-17&tab=study" title="Read John 13:1-5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 13:1-5</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/06123325/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Footwashing-full.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Silhouette illustration of Jesus washing the disciples' feet." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-67715"></span></p>
<p>The final drama was drawing near. The disciples went to the upper room where they would have the Passover meal and Jesus would teach them about things to come. Jesus “knew that the hour had come.” He knew “the Father had put all things under his power” and he was returning to God. And Satan had already entered the heart of the betrayer, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/smiths-bible-names-dictionary/Judas-Iscariot" title="Read about Judas Iscariot in Smith's Bible Names Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judas Iscariot</a>.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>With the stage thus set, Jesus chose to do a most peculiar thing. He removed his outer garment, wrapped a towel around his waist, poured water into a basin, and began washing his disciples’ feet. Foot washing was not unusual in that world of dusty paths and dry air. What was unusual was for the master to do this for all of his followers and at this moment when everything held in the balance.</p>
<p>“Do you understand what I have done for you?” Jesus asked (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A12&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Washes-Disciples-Feet&tab=study" title="Read John 13:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v.12</a>). “I am Lord. I am Master. Yet if I serve you in this way, surely you can serve each other. And if you do, you will be blessed.”</p>
<p>Love each other. Care for each other. Serve each other. Do the dirty work for each other. Humble yourselves before each other. Expend yourselves for each other.</p>
<p>One more time Jesus showed the disciples what it means to be a disciple. And he also knew that only on the other side of the cross, when they would see just how far Jesus’ service would go, would they understand it all.</p>
<p><strong>PONDER THIS</strong></p>
<p>What would your reaction be if Jesus approached you to wash your feet?<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/how-to-live-the-bible-what-it-means-to-be-a-disciple/">How to Live the Bible — What It Means to Be a Disciple</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6941836
2022-04-06T00:45:31-12:00
2022-04-06T04:30:26-12:00
My Lifeline of Prayer
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/13213959/Shauna_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Shauna Niequist" width="33%" />By Shauna Niequist</strong></p>
<p>“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—“<br>
—<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+2%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8611-prayer-others&tab=study" title="Read 1 Timothy 2:1 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 Timothy 2:1</a></p>
<p>Thomas Keller, one of my favorite chefs, has a way of thinking about recipes that I just love. He says the first time you use a recipe, do it exactly as written. Follow every direction, every measurement. That way, you taste what the recipe writer or the chef had in mind exactly. Then the next time, you rewrite the recipe in your own words as simply as possible—you’re moving from their language to your language. Once you’ve rewritten the recipe your way, make the dish according to your new recipe. The third time, make it only from memory, and make at least one change—switch out a vegetable, change a spice—something to make it different from the original. Keller says that after you’ve made it for the third time, the recipe is yours. You’ve internalized it. It’s not a recipe in a cookbook; it’s in you, it’s part of you.</p>
<p><span id="more-67648"></span></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/choosing-presence-over-perfection/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Choosing Presence Over Perfection" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Choosing Presence Over Perfection</em></a>]</p>
<p>Several weeks ago, I started thinking about prayer in this way. While I’ve learned and unlearned many aspects of my faith perspective and practice over the years, prayer has remained central. It’s always been a through line of my life as a Christian, but lately prayer has become a lifeline.</p>
<p>Prayer is a way to entrust the people we love to God, especially when things feel out of our control. I’ve felt that out-of-control feeling so acutely this last year—I think all of us have. Prayer is acknowledging that we are not in control—but that someone is. There is a God who holds us, who holds it all, who is trustworthy and powerful, and who is more than strong enough to hold the enormity of our fear and worry.</p>
<p>In the New Testament, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/7-jesus-prayer-17-1-26&tab=study" title="Read John 17 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jesus prays for his disciples</a>, the group of people he loves, about four specific things: union, protection, joy, and sanctification. I wanted to pray for the people I love in the same way, so I tried doing it like one of Keller’s recipes.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/04/walking-the-path-of-shalom/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Walking the Path of Shalom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Walking the Path of Shalom</em></a>]</p>
<p>The first couple times I did it, I used the specific form Jesus did—union, protection, joy, and sanctification—and wrote out my prayers so I could be specific and detailed. It was very moving to pray for each of our kids, to entrust them to God’s care. I mean, I pray for my kids in general, but the pattern and the specificity were especially meaningful. I wrote about things that would bring joy to Mac, specific situations in which I want Henry to be protected from any harm. I prayed for Aaron, that he would have a strong sense of connection and support from me and from our community.</p>
<p>The next couple times, I prayed while I was walking in the city—union, protection, joy, sanctification. After that, I started using my own words that get at the same things—instead of union, support; instead of protection, blessing; instead of joy, delight; instead of sanctification, Christlikeness.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/04/a-blessing-for-a-bride/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, A Blessing For a Bride" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>A Blessing For a Bride</em></a>]</p>
<p>I noticed that I felt more connected throughout the day to those I was praying for. I felt more aware of my kids’ safety instead of taking it for granted. I noticed when Aaron said something about a friendship he appreciated or something that brought him joy in the course of a day. I became more attuned to them, to their lives and spirits and desires and frustrations, and I prayed for those things too. Praying for the people I love was helping me love them in deeper ways—it was cyclical in a way. More prayer yielded more attentiveness to their lives, which inspired me toward more prayer, and so on.</p>
<p>I was making the prayer my own, in my own words and rhythms and practices. I prayed it in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep. I prayed it while I was making dinner—as I chopped vegetables, I prayed those four words for the people I love.</p>
<p>After that, instead of praying in words and sentences, I closed my eyes and imagined a snapshot of each thing. For protection, I pictured Mac safe in our home. For joy, I imagined Aaron laughing at something one of our kids says—true delight on his face. For sanctification, I pictured Henry praying at bedtime.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/04/a-blessing-for-a-bride/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, A Blessing For a Bride" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>A Blessing For a Bride</em></a>]</p>
<p>I found that this way of praying, this pattern, these four words, were starting to feel natural, like something that was a part of me, something I embodied, not something I memorized or performed.</p>
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<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>In addition to praying for my family, I also chose to pray for a particular friend—our friendship has been badly broken, and that brokenness has caused me so much pain. This friend has been a part of my life for a long time, someone I respect, someone I’ve learned so much from. A difficult situation came between us, and it brought out the worst in both of us.</p>
<p>I’ve tried to fix it but can’t. And living with a broken relationship to someone I care about so much bothers me every day. It’s like having a splinter in your heel that you feel with every step. You never forget. You’re always carrying the weight of this broken relationship. And so I began to pray for them. What I love about this pattern of prayer is that it isn’t a free-for-all, and it can’t be turned into a laundry list of what I think is right. <em>Dear God, please help this person to see the error of their ways. Dear God, please open their eyes. Dear God, please give me patience to deal with the mess they’ve made . . .</em></p>
<p>I didn’t do that. I prayed for union, that my friend will be connected and supported and that at some point I’ll be a part of that with them again. I prayed for protection—that they will be kept safe, body, spirit, heart. That nothing will cause them pain—not even me. I prayed for joy. I asked God to bring joy into their life every day—I thought about some things that they love, experiences or moments that I know would be joyful for them, and even though I won’t be a part of them, I asked God to bring those moments and experiences into their life. And then I prayed for their sanctification—that they will be brave and kind and generous, growing in tenderness and love for others and being willing to stand up for what’s right.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/i-guess-i-havent-learned-that-yet-discovering-new-ways-of-living-when-the-old-ways-stop-working-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39581334700168&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/04130649/I-Guess-I-Havent-Learned-That-Yet.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>I prayed every day for this person. I wish I could tell you that while I was praying for them, the phone rang and the silence between us was broken. Or that I opened my eyes, pushed away from my desk, and ran to catch a flight to show up on their doorstep. Maybe one of those things is coming. Maybe not. I don’t know.</p>
<p>The more life I live, the more certain I am that movie moments only happen in the movies, but I also know that if things are going to be repaired between my friend and me, it’s only going to happen because we’re both humble and tender enough to drop our defenses, lay down our anger, and connect across the distance we’ve created.</p>
<p>After a couple of weeks of praying for my friend like this every day—with words, with imagination, with love—God has not yet healed the relationship, but he has shifted my heart in a way that makes me believe nearly anything can happen.<br>
________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/i-guess-i-havent-learned-that-yet-discovering-new-ways-of-living-when-the-old-ways-stop-working?variant=39581336273032" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/04121258/IGuessIHaventLearned_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist" height="280" width="280" /></a>Taken from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/i-guess-i-havent-learned-that-yet-discovering-new-ways-of-living-when-the-old-ways-stop-working?variant=39581336273032" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working</em></a> by Shauna Niequist. <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/i-guess-i-havent-learned-that-yet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>When everything we’ve been clinging to falls apart, how do we know what to keep and what to let go of?<a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/i-guess-i-havent-learned-that-yet-discovering-new-ways-of-living-when-the-old-ways-stop-working?variant=39581336273032" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em> I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet</em></a> is a clear-eyed look at where we go from here—and how we can transform our lives along the way.</p>
<p>Just after her fortieth birthday, <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author Shauna Niequist found herself in a season of chaos, change, and loss unlike anything she’d ever faced. She discovered that many of the beliefs and practices that she usually turned to were no longer serving her.</p>
<p>After trying—and failing—to pull herself back up using the same old strategies and systems, she realized she required new ones: courage, curiosity, and compassion. She discovered the way through was more about questions than answers, more about forgiveness than force, more about tenderness than trying hard.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/i-guess-i-havent-learned-that-yet-discovering-new-ways-of-living-when-the-old-ways-stop-working?variant=39581336273032" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet</em></a>, Niequist chronicles her journey—from her life-changing move from the Midwest to Manhattan to the power of unlearning what is no longer helpful and accepting the unknowns that come with midlife, heartbreak, and chronic pain.</p>
<p>With her characteristic candor and grace, Niequist writes about her experience learning how to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Discover new ways of living when the old ways stop working</li>
<li>Embrace the challenges and delights of releasing our expectations for how we thought our lives would look</li>
<li>Trust God’s goodness in a deeper, more profound way</li>
</ul>
<p>Follow Niequist as she endeavors to understand grief, to reshape her faith, and to practice courage when it feels impossible.</p>
<p><strong>Shauna Niequist</strong> is the <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author of <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/cold-tangerines-celebrating-the-extraordinary-nature-of-everyday-life?variant=34379081351304" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Cold Tangerines</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/bittersweet-thoughts-on-change-grace-and-learning-the-hard-way-2?variant=31854620278920" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Bittersweet</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/bread-wine-a-love-letter-to-life-around-the-table-with-recipes-1?variant=32306786730120" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Bread & Wine</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/savor-living-abundantly-where-you-are-as-you-are?variant=13751492345967" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Savor</em></a>, and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/present-over-perfect-leaving-behind-frantic-for-a-simpler-more-soulful-way-of-living?variant=13747089768559" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Present Over Perfect</em></a>. She is married to Aaron, and they live in New York City with their sons, Henry and Mac.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/my-lifeline-of-prayer/">My Lifeline of Prayer</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6940696
2022-04-05T00:20:33-12:00
2022-04-05T01:30:44-12:00
Learn to Love Art through the Eyes of Faith: An Interview with Russ Ramsey
<p><a href="http://russ-ramsey.com/bio/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/16145737/Russ-Ramsey.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Russ Ramsey" width="25%" /></a>How should we appreciate art through the lens of the gospel? Why are we drawn to beauty? Why do we seek perfection in artistic expression?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="http://russ-ramsey.com/bio/" title="Russ Ramsey" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Russ Ramsey</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/russramsey" title="Russ Ramsey Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@russramsey</a>) about his book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/rembrandt-is-in-the-wind-learning-to-love-art-through-the-eyes-of-faith?variant=39550850171016&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Rembrandt Is in the Wind in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Rembrandt Is in the Wind: Learning to Love Art through the Eyes of Faith</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022).</p>
<p><strong>What is the message behind the title of this book?</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/rembrandt-is-in-the-wind-learning-to-love-art-through-the-eyes-of-faith?variant=39550850171016&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/16114636/Rembrandt-is-in-the-Wind.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Rembrandt Is in the Wind in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Russ Ramsey:</strong> The title <em>Rembrandt is in the Wind</em> is a play on words. It refers to Rembrandt’s painting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Storm_on_the_Sea_of_Galilee" title="Read about Storm on the Sea of Galilee" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>Storm on the Sea of Galilee</em></a>, in which he paints himself as one of the disciples in the boat—the one in the center of the vessel looking out at the viewer. So in the painting of the storm, Rembrandt is, quite literally, in the wind. But this painting was also stolen in 1990 and has not been seen since, so in the criminal sense of the term, the canvas itself is “in the wind.”</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2018/08/encounter-scripture-with-fresh-eyes-and-your-imagination-an-interview-with-russ-ramsey/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Encounter Scripture with Fresh Eyes and Your Imagination: An Interview with Russ Ramsey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Encounter Scripture with Fresh Eyes and Your Imagination: An Interview with Russ Ramsey</em></a>]</p>
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<p><strong>Why is this book necessary?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Russ Ramsey:</strong> I wanted to write a book about art that overcame a perceived inaccessibility to the subject. <em>Rembrandt is in the Wind</em> is part art history, part biblical study, part philosophy, and part analysis of the human experience; but it’s all story. It’s an invitation to discover some of the world’s most celebrated artists and works, while presenting the beauty of the gospel in a way that speaks to the struggles and longings common to people everywhere. For anyone who has stood in front of a work of art and liked it, but felt a barrier to truly understanding it, this book will set them free to simply love and appreciate art, while modeling the slow approach to learning to love art more deeply over time.</p>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/rembrandt-is-in-the-wind-video-study-learning-to-love-art-through-the-eyes-of-faith?variant=39550850728072&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/16114649/Rembrandt-is-in-the-Wind-DVD.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Rembrandt Is in the Wind DVD Video Study in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="28%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>How is the book organized?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Russ Ramsey:</strong> The opening chapter frames everything to follow, highlighting the biblical significance of goodness, truth, beauty, work, and community, focusing especially on why beauty matters and what it does.<br>
The rest of the book features studies of nine different artists and the stories behind their work, incorporating analysis of related Scripture, all told in a storyteller’s voice.</p>
<p><strong>Why does beauty matter?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Russ Ramsey:</strong> We’re drawn to beauty, and we instinctively know that somewhere, somehow, such a thing as perfection exists. We seek both beauty and perfection, at great expense of money and time. Beauty we can find. It’s all around us, in a million different forms. Perfection, on the other hand, eludes us. It’s as though, to borrow a phrase from Meister Eckart, perfection inhabits our true home, but we’re walking in a distant country. We’re like revenants. On the other side of the veil is the tangible glory of unfailing perfection, but it’s just out of our reach. So we’ve given ourselves to the pursuit of making copies from the dust of the earth, compressed by time, crafted by pressure, but conceived by something more than mere imagination. Our best attempts at achieving perfection this side of glory come from an innate awareness that it not only exists, but that we were made for it.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/rembrandt-is-in-the-wind-learning-to-love-art-through-the-eyes-of-faith-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39550850531464&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/16114656/Rembrandt-is-in-the-Wind-Audio.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Rembrandt Is in the Wind audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What lessons do you draw from Michelangelo’s <em>David</em> sculpture?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Russ Ramsey:</strong> I am not typically one to rank things in order of best to worst, but I believe Michelangelo’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Michelangelo)" title="Read about Michelangelo's David" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>David</em></a> is the single greatest artistic achievement by an individual in the history of humanity, and I defy anyone to point me to a superior substitute. This is not to say it’s my favorite work of art, because it isn’t. It may be in my top ten, if I was the sort of person who made such lists. But it’s a near-perfect sculpture of an almost impossible subject matter—the naked human form. And it’s carved from unforgiving marble, where all an artist can do is subtract. If it were bronze, the artist could build up deficient areas, or fix mistakes. But to carve an object from stone, you must get everything right the first time.</p>
<p>And yet, it’s made of a material that is wasting away. The stone the quarrymen hewed from the mountain was filled with all kinds of imperfections before the first tap of the first sculptor’s hammer and chisel. Though the marble was capable of accommodating the physical toll of the thousands of taps from the sculptor’s tools, and even though it has managed to stand for over 500 years supporting its own weight in all kinds of conditions, <em>David</em> is made of a material that’s perishing. This reality was present from the beginning. The same time and pressure that gave us the stone from which <em>David</em> was cut could reclaim him in at any moment. Still, we flock to see him, standing there in all his glory.</p>
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<p><strong>What do you mean, “the world is short on masters, and consequently, it’s a world short on joy, too”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Russ Ramsey:</strong> For Rembrandt to become who he was, he had to train his hands to paint as he alone was made to paint. But in doing that, he had to learn the fundamentals. He had to practice. This means he must have started somewhere. It’s hard to imagine, but there had to have existed some pretty terrible Rembrandts at some point—early charcoal works hung on the wall and loved only by his mother.</p>
<p>What’s not hard to imagine is a solitary figure in a lamp-lit room mixing his oils, preening his brushes, thinking and painting and thinking and painting. Practicing.</p>
<p>Later he would say to young artists, “Try to put well in practice what you already know; and in so doing, you will in good time, discover the hidden things which you now inquire about. Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know.”</p>
<p>The mastery of something leads to a greater enjoyment of it. Singers, musicians, painters, writers, athletes, and artists of all stripes know this. The harder we work at something, the more we’re able and free to enjoy it. Rembrandt knew this too.</p>
<p><strong>Why and how should a person “spend their life looking at art”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Russ Ramsey:</strong> Developing a love for art is a lifelong venture, and one of life’s great and simple joys. The key is not to master all there is to know overnight, but to grow over time. This starts by looking. How do you look at a work of art? Gravitate toward what you like. Go to museums. Take time to look at a work and read the plaque on the wall beside it. Think about what you’re looking at. Grow your vocabulary; as you read the plaques or read articles and books, make note of words or references that are new to you.</p>
<p>You don’t have to become an art expert overnight. Just keep your eyes open. Pay attention. Follow social media accounts based on artists you like—there are hundreds of them. Over time you’ll expand your base of knowledge, and you’ll develop a deeper familiarity with art, which will lead to a deeper enjoyment.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Russ Ramsey:</strong> Bible Gateway has been at the top of my bookmarks bar and one of my most used apps since I became a pastor years ago. I love being able to find my sermon text easily, read it in my preferred version, but also <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/" title="Read the Bible in multiple versions on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">read it in any other version</a> I like. I use Bible Gateway whenever I link to a text in a blog post or email to our congregation because not only is the platform easy to use in that way, it’s also a resource I want my congregation to become familiar with over time. I cannot think of a better search tool for biblical literacy than Bible Gateway.</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/rembrandt-is-in-the-wind-learning-to-love-art-through-the-eyes-of-faith?variant=39550850171016&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Rembrandt Is in the Wind in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rembrandt Is in the Wind</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Russ Ramsey is a pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, where he lives with his wife and four children. He grew up in the fields of Indiana and studied at Taylor University and Covenant Theological Seminary (MDiv, ThM).</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/learn-to-love-art-through-the-eyes-of-faith-an-interview-with-russ-ramsey/">Learn to Love Art through the Eyes of Faith: An Interview with Russ Ramsey</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6939908
2022-04-03T21:29:00-12:00
2022-04-04T03:15:10-12:00
Holy Week and Easter: The People, Places, and Events
<p>Easter is the most significant event in the Christian church calendar. Without the events of Holy Week, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A14&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/2-the-fact-of-the-resurrection-15-12-34&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 15:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">there wouldn’t <em>be</em> a Christian faith</a>. Easter is the reason the Christian church exists!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/walking-with-christ/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28140045/Walking-With-Christ-to-the-Cross-2022-large-square.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get the free Bible study, Walking With Christ to the Cross" width="57%" /></a>Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his execution on a Roman cross. That moment of resurrection is the core of Easter—but the days leading up to Easter are key parts of the story, too. The interplay of prophecy, friendship, betrayal, and grace during the final days before Jesus’ crucifixion is full of insight into human nature—and God’s love.</p>
<p>Have you read the Easter story recently? You’ve probably heard or read many of the most famous episodes in the Easter account, but it’s truly a story meant to be read as a coherent whole. In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to explore the Easter story.</p>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2014/04/bible-verses-for-holy-week/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Bible Verses for Holy Week" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Bible Verses for Holy Week</em></a>]</p>
<h2>Where Can I Read the Easter Story?</h2>
<p>The Easter story is told in four different places in the Bible. Each of the accounts (there’s one in each of the [<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/what-are-the-gospels-2/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Are the Gospels?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">four Gospels</a>) tells the same story but from a slightly different perspective. That means that you can get the Easter story from any one of these sources, but reading more than one (or all four) brings a lot of extra detail and nuance to light.</p>
<p>Here’s where you can find the Easter story in the Bible. Click any of the links below to read one of the Easter accounts and watch it dramatized by a LUMO Project video:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26-28&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-26-1-Matt-26-35&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 26-28 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 26-28</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14-16&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-12-41-Mark-14-11&tab=study" title="Read Mark 14-16 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mark 14-16</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22-24&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-21-37-Luke-22-38&tab=study" title="Read Luke 22-24 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luke 22-24</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18-20&resource_entry=lumo/John-18-1-John-19-3&tab=study" title="Read John 18-20 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 18-20</a></li>
</ul>
<p>There’s no single “best” Easter account in the Bible; each of the above accounts tells the complete story. (If you’re not sure where to start, begin with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14-16&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-arrest-trial-crucifixion-and-burial&tab=study" title="Read Mark 14-16 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mark’s account</a>.) All are short and easily readable—you can read any of them in a single setting.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_easterpost" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/07130818/600x150-BG-easter.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Learn more about Easter with the resources of Bible Gateway Plus" width="600" /></a></p>
<h2>How Can I Listen to the Easter Story?</h2>
<p>Do you prefer to listen to the Easter story? Bible Gateway has a large library of audio Bibles and other resources—including several narrations and dramatizations of the Easter story. Here they are:</p>
<h3>1. Easter in the <em>Breathe Bible</em>
</h3>
<p>The <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=398617&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_easterpost" title="Buy your copy of Breathe Bible Audio New Testament in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Breathe Bible Audio New Testament</em></a> (Tyndale House, 2017) features an extremely high-quality dramatization of the Easter account as found in the book of Mark. With an all-star cast starring <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/03/breathe-bible-audio-new-testament-an-interview-with-kevin-sorbo/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Breathe Bible Audio New Testament: An Interview with Kevin Sorbo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kevin Sorbo</a>, John Rhys-Davies, Josh Lucas, and others, the <em>Breathe Bible</em> audio experience is a great way to listen to this most famous of stories. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/breathe/nlt/Mark.14" title="Listen to the Easter story from Breathe Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click to listen to the Easter story from <em>Breathe Bible</em></strong></a>.</p>
<h3>2. Witness the Bible: The Easter Story Dramatized</h3>
<p>A radio theatre-style audio dramatization, with background music and different voices used for the various characters. It’s based on the 1599 Geneva Bible, with a rich vocabulary and a slightly nostalgic feel. <a target="_blank" title="Listen to the Easter story from Witness the Bible" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/devotional/witness-the-bible-mark/13-Mark14" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click to listen to the Easter story from Witness the Bible.</strong></a></p>
<h3>3. The Story of Jesus</h3>
<p>The key moments of Jesus’ life and ministry into one audio presentation, with background music and sound effects which add to the cinematic effect. <a target="_blank" title="Listen to the Easter story from The Story of Jesus" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/devotional/story-of-jesus/05" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click to listen to the Easter story from The Story of Jesus.</strong></a></p>
<h3>4. The Easter Story from The Message</h3>
<p>This well-loved paraphrase of the Bible is one of the most <em>listenable</em> Bibles in our library. It’s a great choice for the Easter story. <a target="_blank" title="Listen to the Easter story from The Message paraphrase of the Bible" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dolan/msg/Mark.13" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click to listen to the Easter story from The Message.</strong></a></p>
<p>These aren’t the only ways you can listen to the Easter story here at Bible Gateway. There are <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/" title="Listen to audio Bibles on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many audio Bibles in our library</a>; browse through the available audio titles to see if your favorite Bible translation is available in audio. You can also access Bible audio while reading the Bible text itself—after looking up a Bible passage (for example, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14-16" title="Read Mark 14-16 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mark 14-16</a>), look for the <img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/21154759/audiobutton.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="audiobutton" height="19" width="21" /> button above and to the right of the Bible text. If that button is present, then audio is available for the Bible you’re reading; simply click it to start the audio.</p>
<p>Lastly, you can also listen to these and other audio resources using the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/app/" title="Get the free Bible Gateway App for your mobile device" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Bible Gateway App</strong></a>, and the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/bible-audio-app/" title="Get the free Bible Gateway Bible Audio App for your mobile device" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Bible Gateway Bible Audio App</strong></a>available free for iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire. Click to get the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/app/" title="Get the free Bible Gateway App for your mobile device" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bible Gateway App</a> and the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/bible-audio-app/" title="Get the free Bible Gateway Bible Audio App for your mobile device" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bible Audio App</a>.</p>
<p>These are just some of the ways you can walk through the Easter story here at Bible Gateway. There’s no better way to prepare your heart and mind for the holiday than to simply read or listen through the Easter account using one of the links above.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/niv-quickview-bible-ebook?variant=33619518259336&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_easterpost" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/QuickViewBiblepassion.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Holy Week infographic from the NIV QuickView Bible, available in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="600" /></a></p>
<h2>What Are the Major Events of Easter?</h2>
<p>While hints, predictions, and echoes of Easter permeate all of the Bible, when most people talk about Easter, they are referring to the week—usually called Holy Week or Passion Week—that culminated with Jesus’ resurrection from the grave. Here are the key events of the Easter story, and where you can read them in the Bible.</p>
<p>You might find it helpful to refer to our <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2011/04/holy-week-timeline-visualization/" title="See the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus in the Bible Gateway Holy Week timeline" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">timeline of Holy Week</a>, which organizes the people and events of Easter into one chart. Click the image to enlarge it:</p>
<p></p><center><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/holy-week-timeline2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/holy-week-timeline2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge this Holy Week timeline visualization" width="700" /></a></center>
<h3>Palm Sunday</h3>
<p><strong>Read it in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:1-11" title="Read Matthew 21:1-11 on Bible Gateway" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 21:1-11</a>.</strong></p>
<p>On Palm Sunday, Jesus arrived at Jerusalem riding on a donkey, where he was welcomed by cheering crowds. (The “Palm” in “Palm Sunday” refers to the tree branches that the crowds used to make a path for Jesus.) His arrival—often called the Triumphal Entry—fulfilled a prophecy by the Old Testament prophet Zechariah about the Messiah’s appearance in Jerusalem. To anyone with a knowledge of Jewish scripture, this identification of Jesus as the Messiah would have been clear.</p>
<h3>Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday</h3>
<p><strong>Read it in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:12-25:13" title="Read Matthew 21:12-25:13 on Bible Gateway" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 21:12-25:13</a>.</strong></p>
<p>On these two days, Jesus made a number of appearances and addresses, most famously to “cleanse” the temple of money changers and merchants who had set up business in God’s house. Jesus also appeared at the temple courts to debate the priests and community leaders.</p>
<h3>Holy Wednesday</h3>
<p><strong>Read it in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A14-16" title="Read Matthew 26:14-16 on Bible Gateway" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 26:14-16</a></strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A14-16" title="Read Matthew 26:14-16 on Bible Gateway" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">.</a></p>
<p>Also called Spy Wednesday, Great Wednesday, or Good Wednesday, this day is marked by the decision of Judas Iscariot—one of Jesus’ disciples—to betray Jesus to the authorities in exchange for thirty silver coins.</p>
<h3>Maundy Thursday</h3>
<p><strong>Read it in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:17-46" title="Read Matthew 26:17-46 on Bible Gateway" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 26:17-46</a></strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:17-46" title="Read Matthew 26:17-46 on Bible Gateway" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">.</a></p>
<p>This day saw the beginning of a sequence of rapidly-unfolding events that would lead to Jesus’ crucfixion. On this day, Jesus gathered with his disciples to celebrate the Jewish festival of Passover. During this celebration, commonly called the Last Supper because it was Jesus’ final meal before his arrest and death, Jesus established the practice of <em>communion</em> which churches around the world continue to celebrate today.</p>
<p>After this communal meal, Jesus and his disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. When his disciples were unable to stay awake, Jesus famously noted that “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Jesus himself prayed so intensely that he “sweat drops of blood.” This day closed with Jesus’ announcement to his disciples that his betrayal was at hand.</p>
<h3>Good Friday</h3>
<p><strong>Read it in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:14-Matthew%2027" title="Read Matthew 26:14-27:66 on Bible Gateway" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 26:14-27:66</a></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:14-Matthew%2027" title="Read Matthew 26:14-27:66 on Bible Gateway" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">.</a></p>
<p>On the very eventful Good Friday, Jesus was betrayed by his disciple Judas and arrested, then hauled before several different authorities—first the Jewish religious leaders, then the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Sentenced to death, Jesus was crucified alongside two criminals. Upon his death, he was buried in a nearby tomb.</p>
<h3>Easter Sunday</h3>
<p><strong>Read it in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028:1-10" title="Read Matthew 28:1-10 on Bible Gateway" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 28:1-10</a></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028:1-10" title="Read Matthew 28:1-10 on Bible Gateway" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">.</a></p>
<p>This is it—the culmination of all the drama of Holy Week. On Easter Sunday (appropriately known as Resurrection Sunday), Jesus rose from the dead and, in the days to come, appeared to his astonished followers to tell them the good news: the power of sin and death was broken, and all who believed could find forgiveness and be made right with God.</p>
<h2>Questions About Easter</h2>
<p>No doubt about it, the Bible’s Easter accounts make some bold assertions, and believers and skeptics alike have pored over its details for centuries. Here are some of the most commonly-asked questions about Easter; click on the questions to read an in-depth answer to each.</p>
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/03/is-easter-based-on-a-pagan-holiday-3/" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">Is Easter based on a pagan holiday?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/03/evidence-for-the-resurrection-5-reasons-the-early-church-couldnt-have-made-it-up/" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">Did the early Christian church make up the events of Easter?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2013/04/bible-qa-was-jesus-resurrection-stolen-from-mythology/" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">Was the story of Jesus’ resurrection stolen from mythology?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2012/03/questions-about-easter-do-the-resurrection-accounts-in-the-four-gospels-contradict-each-other/" target='_blank"' rel="noopener noreferrer">Do the four gospel accounts of Easter in the Bible contradict each other?</a></li>
</ol>
<h2>Exploring Easter Further with Bible Gateway Plus</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_easterpost" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/07130703/300x250-BG-easter.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Learn more about Easter with the resources of Bible Gateway Plus" width="250" /></a></p>
<p>If you’ve upgraded to <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_easterpost" title="Learn more about Easter with the resources of Bible Gateway Plus" alt="Learn more about Easter with the resources of Bible Gateway Plus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>, you have access to many additional ways to study and explore the story of Easter! Here are four specific resources, available to Plus members, that will help you dig deeper into this remarkable account:</p>
<ol>
<li>Troubled by questions about the reliability of the Gospel accounts? The <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27&version=NIV&resource=case-for-christ-study-bible&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bgplus_easterpost" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Case for Christ Study Bible</a></strong> asks and answers over a dozen tough apologetics questions about Matthew’s account of the crucifixion.</li>
<li>Why was Jesus offered “wine and gall” while he was on the cross? Why was “blood money” not allowed in the temple treasury? The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27&version=NIV&resource=quest-study-bible&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bgplus_easterpost" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>NIV Quest Study Bible</strong></a> delves into all the little details of the Easter story.</li>
<li>Do you know the entire cast of the Easter story? The <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27&version=NIV&resource=niebc&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bgplus_easterpost" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters</a></strong> has useful profiles of everyone involved, from Barabbas to Zebedee.</li>
<li>Looking for the ultimate guide to the Easter account? The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27&version=NIV&resource=zibbc-nt&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bgplus_easterpost" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary</strong></a> walks through every verse, with over 30 detailed entries on Matthew 27 alone.</li>
</ol>
<p>Upgrading to Bible Gateway Plus unlocks these and dozens of other digital study Bibles, commentaries, and reference books, all of them seamlessly integrated into your online Bible reading! <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus_easterpost" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus free" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Try it free</a></strong> and see what a difference it makes in your reading and study of God’s Word.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/holy-week-and-easter-the-people-places-and-events/">Holy Week and Easter: The People, Places, and Events</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6937941
2022-04-01T01:45:00-12:00
2022-04-01T03:15:21-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of March 27, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/04/weekly-brief-week-of-march-27-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of March 27, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6936984
2022-03-30T23:29:00-12:00
2022-03-31T04:45:10-12:00
Bible Verses for Holy Week and Easter
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<img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/01112723/250px-Resurrection_24.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Jesus during Holy Week" height="344" width="250" />Looking for Bible verses for Holy Week and Easter? Here are portions of Scripture to help focus your attention during each day of Holy Week.</p>
<h2>PALM SUNDAY</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A5-11&version=CSB&resource_entry=christian-university/who-is-jesus-christ&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB) on Bible Gateway" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB)</a>: Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.</p>
<p>For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.</p>
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<h2>MONDAY</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+42%3A1-4&version=CEV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2327-Jesus-Christ-as-servant&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 42:1-4 (CEV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Isaiah 42:1-4 (CEV)</a>: Here is my servant! I have made him strong. He is my chosen one; I am pleased with him. I have given him my Spirit, and he will bring justice to the nations. He won’t shout or yell or call out in the streets. He won’t break off a bent reed or put out a dying flame, but he will make sure that justice is done. He won’t quit or give up until he brings justice everywhere on earth, and people in foreign nations long for his teaching.</p>
<h2>TUESDAY</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+11&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Isa.11.1-Isa.11.16&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 11:1-5 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Isaiah 11:1-5 (NIV)</a>: A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the L<small>ORD</small> will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the L<small>ORD</small> — and he will delight in the fear of the L<small>ORD</small>.</p>
<p>He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.</p>
<h2>SPY WEDENSDAY</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A14-16&version=CEB&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-26-1-Matt-26-35&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 26:14-16 (CEB) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 26:14-16 (CEB)</a>: Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I turn Jesus over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on he was looking for an opportunity to turn him in.</p>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<h2>MAUNDY THURSDAY</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A12-16&version=ESV&resource_entry=lumo/John-13-1-John-13-38&tab=study" title="Read John 13:12-16 (ESV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 13:12-16 (ESV)</a>: When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.</p>
<h2>GOOD FRIDAY</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53%3A1-5&version=AKJV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Isa.53.4-Isa.53.6&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 53:1-5 (KJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Isaiah 53:1-5 (KJV)</a>: Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>
<p>Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>
<h2>HOLY SATURDAY</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6%3A3-11&version=NLT&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-know-6-1-10&tab=study" title="Read Romans 6:3-11 (NLT) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Romans 6:3-11 (NLT)</a>: Have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.</p>
<p>Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.</p>
<p>And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.</p>
<h2>EASTER SUNDAY</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20%3A1-9&version=VOICE&resource_entry=lumo/John-19-38-John-20-31&tab=study" title="Read John 20:1-9 (VOICE) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 20:1-9 (VOICE)</a>: Before the sun had risen on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene made a trip to the tomb where His body was laid to rest. In the darkness, she discovered the covering had been rolled away. She darted out of the garden to find Simon Peter and the dearly loved disciple to deliver this startling news.</p>
<p>Mary Magdalene: They have taken the body of our Lord, and we cannot find Him!</p>
<p>Together, they all departed for the tomb to see for themselves. They began to run, and Peter could not keep up. The beloved disciple arrived first but did not go in. There was no corpse in the tomb, only the linens and cloths He was wrapped in. When Simon Peter finally arrived, he went into the tomb and observed the same: the cloth that covered His face appeared to have been folded carefully and placed, not with the linen cloths, but to the side. After Peter pointed this out, the other disciple (who had arrived long before Peter) also entered the tomb; and based on what he saw, faith began to well up inside him! Before this moment, none of them understood the Scriptures and why He must be raised from the dead.</p>
<p>Also read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/04/holy-week-and-easter-the-people-places-and-events/" title="Holy Week and Easter: The People, Places, and Events" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Holy Week and Easter: The People, Places, and Events</em></a>.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/bible-verses-for-holy-week/">Bible Verses for Holy Week and Easter</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6936284
2022-03-30T06:18:24-12:00
2022-03-30T10:45:07-12:00
How to Live the Bible — How to Be Really Great
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-second lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><em>He took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”</em></p>
<p><em>Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”</em></p>
<p><em>“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.</em></p>
<p><em>They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”</em></p>
<p><em>When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A32-37%2C+41-44&version=NIV&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-10-32-Mark-11-26&tab=study" title="Read Mark 10:32-37, 41-44 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 10:32-37, 41-44</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/30140137/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Footwashing.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Silhouette illustration of Jesus washing the disciples' feet." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-67526"></span></p>
<p>In what was the worst moment for brothers James and John, they chose the occasion of Jesus’ ominous prediction of his suffering to see if there was something in it for them. “Do for us whatever we ask,” they said. (A remarkable request!) Can we have the elite spots beside you?</p>
<p>Some questions are innocent and open-minded; others reveal that we are completely confused. “You don’t know that you are asking,” Jesus said (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A38&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/3-jesus-passion-and-the-way-of-service-10-32-45&tab=study" title="Read Mark 10:38 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 38</a>). By this he meant: “Are you really that anxious to be by my side when I am slaughtered? Would you like your own crosses? Do you really want to focus on your own status and power? Have you missed everything I’ve been trying to teach you?”</p>
<p>“No,” Jesus told them, “if you want to be great—really great—then you must become slaves and servants of all.”</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<p>And then Jesus made this most amazing statement: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A45&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Mark.10.32-Mark.10.45&tab=study" title="Read Mark 10:45 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 45</a>). He was the fulfillment of the “suffering servant” whom the prophet Isaiah had spoken of seven centuries earlier. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+52%3A13-53%3A12&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/5-the-suffering-and-glory-of-the-servant-52-13-53-12&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 52:13–53:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 52:13–53:12</a>) And he was the “ransom” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53%3A10-11&version=NIV&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Atonement&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 53:10-11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 53:10-11</a>), the one who would liberate us from the taskmasters of sin, death, and the Evil One.</p>
<p><strong>PONDER THIS</strong></p>
<p>What are the biggest barriers we face in giving up our status and security, and instead living lives of servanthood?<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/how-to-live-the-bible-how-to-be-really-great/">How to Live the Bible — How to Be Really Great</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6935772
2022-03-29T22:00:00-12:00
2022-03-30T01:30:21-12:00
Jesus: The Word Made Flesh
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28100340/AndrewKlavan_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Andrew Klavan" width="33%" />By Andrew Klavan</strong></p>
<p><em>In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory</em>. —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-4%2C+14&version=NKJV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-word-1-1-3-14&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read John 1:1-4, 14 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">John 1:1-4, 14</a></p>
<p>A work of art speaks a truth we can’t speak outright: the truth of the human experience. Love, joy, grief, guilt, beauty—no words can communicate these. We can only represent them in stories and pictures and songs. Art is the way we speak the meaning of our lives.</p>
<p>Throughout the play <em>Hamlet</em>, the prince seeks the answer to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18%3A37-38&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1462-truth-NT&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read John 18:37-38 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Pontius Pilate’s question: What is truth?</a> How can we tell the difference between our prejudices, our assumptions, our feelings, and the reality around us?</p>
<p><span id="more-67341"></span></p>
<p>In the beginning of the play, Hamlet proclaims that his inner world is authentic. His grief for his dead father is beyond mere show. But as the play goes on, he comes to doubt that inner world as a guide to reality. His moods distort his experience of the world. He does not know whether he can act on his own assumptions. He envies those people—an actor, soldiers—who can simply perform their roles in life with complete conviction. At the end of the play, having confronted death, having come to see that “there’s a divinity that shapes our ends,” he experiences a reversal. He begins to perform life with conviction. He leaps into his dead lover’s grave and declares that he can make a show of his grief as well as any man. In the final scene, his entire life becomes a performance. His body is carried to a stage and he becomes the play that has just been put on. Hamlet becomes <em>Hamlet</em>. His life becomes a work of art. It becomes the answer to Pilate. It tells the truth he could not find.</p>
<p>Two years before he died, John Keats put it like this: “A Man’s life of any worth is a continual allegory, and very few eyes can see the Mystery of his life—a life like the scriptures, figurative.”</p>
<p>Our lives are works of art. They speak their meaning.</p>
<p>Jesus’ life expresses the Logos, the Word that speaks the world into being, the Word that is with God and that is God. Jesus is that Word made flesh.</p>
<p>The meaning of Jesus’ life is the meaning of everything. His truth is truth. His right is right. His beauty is beauty. These are human ideas—truth, right, beauty. These are ways we humans experience the indescribable Logos. But how do we know our truths are true, our right is right, our beauty is beautiful? We know by knowing Jesus. He is what Coleridge said he was: “the World as revealed to human knowledge . . . the total Idea that modifies all thoughts.”</p>
<p>When we come to know a person, any person, we come to see at least a little bit of what he sees, to feel and know and experience life along with him. To know Jesus is to experience the Word. “He who puts on the likeness of Christ becomes Christ,” Coleridge said.</p>
<p>“<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12%3A45&version=ESV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2218-Jesus-Christ-Son-God&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read John 12:45 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Whoever sees me sees him who sent me</a>,” said Jesus.</p>
<p>Here’s a mental picture of it. Nature is the world in which we live. Meaning is an immaterial realm above nature: the supernatural. As a word—<em>love</em>—is language expressing living meaning (the experience of love), so nature—matter, flesh, life—is a language expressing meaning (love, hate, masculine, feminine, good, evil). Language connects nature to meaning. Our flesh is language. Our lives are language. They have a meaning.</p>
<p>We know such connections between nature and meaning exist, and we know that we can get that meaning right or wrong. We know this because of numbers. The next time a scientist tells you all of life is matter, ask him to show you a two. Where is it? What does it look like? How does it taste? He can make a symbol for two: 2. He can show you a two incarnate: two pennies, two bricks. But two is a human construct of an immaterial truth, a connection in our minds between nature and the truth about nature. We know we can hit or miss that truth because if we use numbers properly, we can predict when light will reach the earth from millions of miles away, and if we use numbers wrongly, we will blow ourselves through the lab window to kingdom come. Numbers connect nature to a truth about nature—or a falsehood—through the mind of man.</p>
<p>Likewise, your life connects nature to the truth of nature, its moral meaning. It is like a number, like a word. To smile at a child or to play the piano speaks something different than to cheat on your spouse or to break a storefront window with a brick. Ultimately, the totality of our lives—our perceptions, words, actions—express the whole idea that is our self, our soul. Your soul is not a ghost in a machine; it is a story your life tells. We are just flesh, but flesh is a language, a word; it speaks of a meaning, right or wrong, good or evil, our selves, our souls.</p>
<p>The prophets knew this. They used their lives as language. They performed their holy visions through actions. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+1&tab=intro" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the book of Hosea on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Hosea married a prostitute</a> to demonstrate how Israel had gone astray. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2019&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Jer.19&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Jeremiah 19 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Jeremiah smashed a jar</a> to show what God would do in his wrath. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+4%3A1-8&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/b-length-of-the-exile-demonstrated-4-4-8&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Ezekiel 4:1-8 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Ezekiel lay on his side</a>, one side and then the other, for more than a year, eating bread cooked on dung to prophesy about the coming siege of Jerusalem.</p>
<p>John the Baptist did this too. He made himself a literal <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A19-23&resource_entry=ivp-nt/John-Baptist-Witnesses-About-Himself&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read John 1:19-23 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">voice crying in the wilderness</a> to show figuratively that the messianic prophecies of Isaiah were coming to pass. He baptized with water as a metaphor for how the Messiah would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit.</p>
<p>Jesus goes beyond the prophets. His flesh—his life—his word is the Word. It speaks the structure of meaning, the Logos. He doesn’t just perform meaning like Hamlet does or like the prophets do. His life <em>is</em> the meaning. When you lie on your side for a year, that’s all meaning, but it’s not much of a life. Jesus lives life and everything he does has meaning.</p>
<p>“John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds,” Jesus said (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A18-19&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Worlds-Dogmatic-Disbelief-Is&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Matthew 11:18-19 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Matt. 11:18–19</a>).</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-truth-and-beauty-how-the-lives-and-works-of-englands-greatest-poets-point-the-way-to-a-deeper-understanding-of-the-words-of-jesus-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39715155738760&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28114953/The-Truth-and-Beauty-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Truth and Beauty audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>Jesus lives life, and his life means the Logos. His miracles aren’t just metaphors, they’re also miracles. When he heals the blind, he tells us he will make us see—but he also heals the blind. When he makes the lame beggar walk, he tells us he will lift our souls out of their crippling deformity—but he also makes the beggar walk. “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A25&version=NKJV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Claims-Messiah-One-God&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read John 10:25 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf</a>,” he said.</p>
<p>He really drinks wine. He really eats with sinners. He loves his friends. He appreciates the beauty of nature, the lilies of the field. He loses his nerve and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A43-44&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/e-the-agony-22-39-46&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Luke 22:43-44 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">sweats blood</a> in terror when he faces torture and death. Jesus is meaning, but Jesus is Jesus too, a man in full.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-truth-and-beauty-how-the-lives-and-works-of-englands-greatest-poets-point-the-way-to-a-deeper-understanding-of-the-words-of-jesus?variant=39715156197512" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28095139/TruthBeauty_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Truth and Beauty" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-truth-and-beauty-how-the-lives-and-works-of-englands-greatest-poets-point-the-way-to-a-deeper-understanding-of-the-words-of-jesus?variant=39715156197512" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Truth and Beauty: How the Lives and Works of England’s Greatest Poets Point the Way to a Deeper Understanding of the Words of Jesus</em></a> by Andrew Klavan. <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/the-truth-and-beauty/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>Follow Andrew Klavan to a deeper, richer understanding of the words of Jesus.</p>
<p>Andrew Klavan believed what he read in the Gospels, but he often struggled to understand what Jesus really meant. So he began a journey of wrestling with the beautiful and often strange words of Jesus.</p>
<p>He learned Greek in order to read the Gospels in their original languages, and he vowed to set aside any preconceptions about what the Scriptures say. But it wasn’t until he began exploring how some of history’s greatest writers wrestled with the same issues we confront today—political upheaval, rejection of social norms, growing disbelief in God—that he found a new way of understanding what Jesus meant.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-truth-and-beauty-how-the-lives-and-works-of-englands-greatest-poets-point-the-way-to-a-deeper-understanding-of-the-words-of-jesus?variant=39715156197512" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Truth and Beauty</em></a>, Klavan combines a decades-long writing career with a lifetime of reading to discover a fresh understanding of the Gospels. By reading the words of Jesus through the life and work of writers such as William Wordsworth and John Keats, Mary Shelley and Samuel Taylor Coleridge—the English romantics—Klavan discovered a way to encounter Jesus in a deeper and more profound way than ever before.</p>
<p>For readers seeking to find renewed meaning in the words of Jesus—and for those who are striving for belief in a materialistic world—<a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-truth-and-beauty-how-the-lives-and-works-of-englands-greatest-poets-point-the-way-to-a-deeper-understanding-of-the-words-of-jesus?variant=39715156197512" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Truth and Beauty</em></a> offers an intimate account of one man’s struggle to understand the Gospels in all their strangeness, and so find his way to a life that is, as he says, “the most creative, the most joyful, and surely the most true.”</p>
<p><strong>Andrew Klavan</strong> is an award-winning writer, screenwriter, and media commentator. An internationally bestselling novelist and two-time Edgar Award-winner, Klavan is also a contributing editor to <em>City Journal</em>, the magazine of the Manhattan Institute, and the host of a popular podcast on DailyWire.com, <em>The Andrew Klavan Show</em>. His essays and op-eds on politics, religion, movies, and literature have appeared in the <em>Wall Street Journal</em>, the <em>New York Times</em>, the <em>Washington Post</em>, the <em>LA Times</em>, and elsewhere.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/jesus-the-word-made-flesh/">Jesus: The Word Made Flesh</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6935472
2022-03-29T08:16:52-12:00
2022-03-29T12:00:39-12:00
Get Free Email Devotionals About Jesus During Lent
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<p>Draw closer to Jesus during this Easter season. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/easter/" title="Sign up to receive free email Lent Devotionals in your email inbox" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Sign up to receive one or more of these free email devotionals.</strong></a> Walk through the season of Lent learning about Jesus Christ and the remarkable experience of living life today in his presence.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/get-free-email-devotionals-about-jesus-during-lent/">Get Free Email Devotionals About Jesus During Lent</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6935216
2022-03-29T05:48:37-12:00
2022-03-29T07:30:21-12:00
Take the 10 Minutes with Jesus Challenge
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/walking-with-christ/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28140045/Walking-With-Christ-to-the-Cross-2022-large-square.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get the free Bible study, Walking With Christ to the Cross" width="57%" /></a>We challenge you to <a title="Sign up to spend 10 minutes with Jesus for 16 straight days" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/10minutes/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=10minutes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spend <strong>10 minutes with Jesus</strong> each day for 16 straight days</a>. You’ll be amazed what a difference it’ll make in your spiritual life!</p>
<p>Decide now to sign up and listen to the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/10minutes/" title="Sign up to receive in your email inbox the free audio devotional 10 Minutes with Jesus, consisting of the 16 chapters that comprise the Gospel of Mark, delivered to you one chapter a day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>10 Minutes with Jesus</strong></a> audio devotional available here on Bible Gateway. Each day, for 16 days, you’ll receive one audio chapter from the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=NLT&tab=intro" title="Read the Gospel of Mark (NLT) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gospel of Mark</a> out of the <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=398617&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Breathe Bible Audio New Testament in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><em>Breathe Bible Audio New Testament</em></strong></a>. Begin now and you’ll complete the Gospel of Mark with the story of Jesus’ resurrection in time for Easter Sunday, April 17.</p>
<p>Each day’s reading is 10 minutes or less. By the time you finish all 16 days, you’ll have journeyed through the entire story of Jesus. And you’ll have rediscovered the simple joy of spending time in God’s Word. Then you’ll be inspired to <a title="Select your Bible Gateway Bible reading plan" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">continue</a> throughout the rest of the year and beyond!</p>
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<p>The <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=398617&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Breathe Bible Audio New Testament in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><em>Breathe Bible Audio New Testament</em></strong></a> is a vivid listening experience that transports you into the world of the Bible. Performed using the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-Living-Translation-NLT-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New Living Translation (NLT) of the Bible on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Living Translation (NLT)</a> by a cast of internationally acclaimed film, television, and recording artists, this captivating multi-million-dollar audio production features cinema-quality sound with an original music score.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/10minutes/" title="Sign up to receive in your email inbox the free audio devotional 10 Minutes with Jesus, consisting of the 16 chapters that comprise the Gospel of Mark, delivered to you one chapter a day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>[Sign up to receive in your email inbox the free audio devotional <em>10 Minutes with Jesus</em>, consisting of the 16 chapters that comprise the Gospel of Mark, delivered to you one chapter a day]</strong></a></p>
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<p>When you sign up for the <strong><a title="Sign up to spend 10 minutes with Jesus for 16 straight days" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/10minutes/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=10minutes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 Minutes with Jesus</a></strong> challenge, we’ll send you a link each day to <strong>listen</strong> to a section of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=NLT" rel="noopener" title="Read the Gospel of Mark on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Gospel of Mark</a> that will walk you through the story of Jesus’ life at a manageable pace.</p>
<p>So stop by the <strong><a title="Sign up to spend 10 minutes with Jesus for 16 straight days" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/10minutes/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=10minutes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 Minutes with Jesus</a></strong> page to sign up right now. We hope you’ll take the challenge and tell others about it!</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/take-the-10-minutes-with-jesus-challenge/">Take the 10 Minutes with Jesus Challenge</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6934940
2022-03-28T22:24:00-12:00
2022-03-29T03:00:26-12:00
Discern—Notice God in Everything: An Interview with Stephen Macchia
<p><a href="https://www.leadershiptransformations.org/team/macchiabio/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/15133134/Stephen-Macchia.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Stephen Macchia" width="25%" /></a>Have we forgotten the basic premise of practicing a preference for God in our daily lives? Have we implanted strategic planning, head-to-head battling, and will-of-God knowing in its place? How should we prioritize the care of our souls, the grace of our communities, and the mission of our lives, churches, and organizations?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="https://www.leadershiptransformations.org/team/macchiabio/" title="Stephen Macchia" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Stephen Macchia</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/stevemacchia" title="Stephen Macchia Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@stevemacchia</a>) about his book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-discerning-life-an-invitation-to-notice-god-in-everything?variant=39543193665672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Discerning Life in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022).</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-discerning-life-an-invitation-to-notice-god-in-everything?variant=39543193665672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/04150347/The-Discerning-Life.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Discerning Life in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What is spiritual discernment and why is it important?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Macchia:</strong> Spiritual discernment is noticing God first and foremost, in all his majesty and splendor, as well as in the ordinary and daily, from which we embrace God’s abiding presence, power, and peace in every aspect of our lives. Discernment is the choice and posture of the believer who seeks to practice a preference for God in all aspects of their personal lives and service to others.</p>
<p><strong>Why have you concluded proper discernment is not being widely practiced today?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Macchia:</strong> My concern is that spiritual discernment has been pigeon-holed in the exclusive realm of decision-making and in our will-of-God pursuit. Spiritual discernment includes the decisions we make, but is preceded by an overall lifestyle of noticing God, celebrating the goodness of God, and then pointing God out to one another in the body of Christ.</p>
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<p><strong>What does the Bible say about discernment?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Macchia:</strong> The Scriptures are filled with stories of discernment, from the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Eden-Garden&tab=study" title="Read about the Garden of Eden in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Garden of Eden</a> to the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026%3A36-46&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Gethsemane&tab=study" title="Read about the Garden of Gethsemane in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Garden of Gethsemane</a> to the Garden where John the apostle wrote the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Revelation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Revelation</a> to a distracted people anticipating eternity. God wants to be noticed and his presence discerned, so that his beloved children can listen to his voice and walk in his ways to the glory of his name. Consider all of your favorite Bible characters and embedded within each of those stories is a picture of discernment, either intimate or absent, receptive or resistant.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-discerning-life-an-invitation-to-notice-god-in-everything-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39543198548104&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/04150355/The-Discerning-Life-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Discerning Life audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>How is spiritual discernment cultivated?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Macchia:</strong> A lifestyle of spiritual discernment is best cultivated in our prayer closets, where we shut ourselves out from the world’s distractions and compulsions, and listen attentively and intentionally for the voice of God. This way of being present to God is nourished within our faith communities when we help each other notice God, which leads to our faithful service to others in Jesus’ name. We call this “practicing a preference for God” in all aspects of our lives. Leaning God’s direction—alone and in community—fosters a discerning life and a transformed world.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/04/how-does-fruit-show-gods-kindness-an-interview-with-andrew-wilson/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How Does Fruit Show God’s Kindness?: An Interview with Andrew Wilson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How Does Fruit Show God’s Kindness?: An Interview with Andrew Wilson</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>What do you mean, “In the world of spiritual discernment, fast and first and most are not the way we are invited to live and learn as followers of Jesus”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Macchia:</strong> Jesus often withdrew to an alone space to commune with the Father. He was never in a hurry, never acted with impulsivity, never was he thoughtless in his demeanor. Instead, he carefully, lovingly, and prayerfully moved about, noticing those around him and serving them with compassion, mercy, and grace. If we’re to follow Jesus and do likewise today, it requires that we slow down and be more prayerful in our intentionality. We need to avoid the need to be fastest, first, and most, which evoke a competitive rather than a cooperative spirit.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2018/02/how-to-live-the-bible-developing-discernment/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live The Bible — Developing Discernment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Live The Bible — Developing Discernment</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>What is prayerful listening?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Macchia:</strong> God gave us two ears and one mouth. In our prayers, I’m espousing for <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A19&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Jas.1.19&tab=study" title="Read James 1:!9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">double the listening and half the talking</a>. Of course we’re invited to express our hearts in prayer—in our words of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. But, in our prayer closets, and even in our lives within our faith communities, practicing silence and stillness will indeed lead us into deeper affection and heightened attention. God has much more important things to say to us than we to him…learning to listen will vastly improve our obedience and our willingness to offer one another the grace they deserve.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/03/sacred-pace-4-steps-to-discerning-gods-will-in-your-decisions-step-1-consult-your-friend-jesus/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Sacred Pace: 4 Steps to Discerning God’s Will in Your Decisions / Step 1 – Consult Your Friend Jesus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Sacred Pace: 4 Steps to Discerning God’s Will in Your Decisions / Step 1 – Consult Your Friend Jesus</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>Briefly explain contextual empathy.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Macchia:</strong> Everyone has a story to tell, a context from which they were raised, and a culture they represent. In pursuing a life of spiritual discernment, we need to understand the significance of our cultures—not just the secular ones we represent, but the personal ones we embody—and how they impact our discernment. Our co-cultures of ethnicity, heritage, language, geography, etc., matter greatly to our ability to effectively discern. Therefore, we have a choice…will we be empathetic to one another or judgmental toward another? The state of our souls, and our growing love for God (the One who best personifies empathy), will be directly proportional to our ability to empathize compassionately and gracefully toward those who cross our paths. Our world desperately needs contextual empathy today.</p>
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<p><strong>How is practicing spiritual discernment a radical lifestyle?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Macchia:</strong> The radical nature of spiritual discernment is that it’s focus is on the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A33&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Kingdom-God-Kingdom-Heaven&tab=study" title="Read about the Kingdom of God in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kingdom of God</a>. We’re called <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A9&version=NKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4835-light-spiritual&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 2:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">out of darkness into his marvelous light</a>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A20&resource_entry=eastons-bible-dictionary/Ambassador&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 5:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">We’re representatives</a> of Christ’s Kingdom here on earth; in our generation and among those we’ve been called to serve. When we consider the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus’ number one priority, and determine to follow Christ in his self-effacing, self-sacrificing ways, it will require radical choices. Are we truly willing to give of ourselves so that God’s priorities become ours, and then choose to live out those priorities? The radical nature of the discerning life is saying <em>yes</em> to Jesus’ way and be willing to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A10&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1175-God-will&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sacrifice our own agenda for his</a>. May it be so in our generation!</p>
<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Macchia:</strong> I have many favorite Bible passages, but the one I love most for the topic of spiritual discernment is the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Emmaus-Dialogue&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:13-35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Emmaus Road story in Luke 24</a>. I love how Jesus accompanies his two disciples as they head home <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="See the map on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">to Emmaus from Jerusalem</a>. Their hearts are discouraged and downtrodden, so Jesus makes himself known to them in the retelling of the prophets foretelling of his arrival as the long-awaited Messiah, and at their table in the breaking of bread in their home. And then the eyes of their hearts are opened wide to the reality of Jesus’ presence in their midst. My most favorite question in all of the Bible is “were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” The burning heart for Jesus transforms their awareness of his presence, his power, and his peace. They run back to their friends in Jerusalem with the good news on their lips that he is alive!</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Macchia:</strong> Thanks for your faithfulness to the call of God on your lives to make the Bible accessible to all, worldwide and among every people group on earth. I marvel at your reach and celebrate your many faithful accomplishments in behalf of God’s Kingdom.</p>
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</p><p><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to say?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Macchia:</strong> My prayer is that this generation will have many who pursue the discerning life, say <em>yes</em> to God’s invitation to notice him in everything, and by practicing a preference for God in all things will walk faithfully, lovingly, and joyfully together in Christ. My heart’s desire is to equip and encourage leaders—especially young leaders—toward this end, and I’m eager and willing to help all who are desirous of the discerning life. Stay in touch via <a href="https://www.stevemacchia.com/" title="Visit stevemacchia.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">stevemacchia.com</a> and let me know how I can be of service!</p>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-discerning-life-an-invitation-to-notice-god-in-everything?variant=39543193665672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Discerning Life in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Discerning Life</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Stephen A. Macchia (DMin, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is founder and president of Leadership Transformations, Inc., a ministry which focuses on the spiritual formation needs of leaders and the spiritual discernment processes of leadership teams in local church and parachurch ministry settings nationwide. He is also the director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and previously served for 14 years as president of Vision New England. Macchia is the author of 10 books, including <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=84606X&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Broken and Whole in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Broken and Whole</em></a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=65030&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Becoming a Healthy Church in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Becoming a Healthy Church</em></a>, and <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=835645&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Crafting a Rule of Life in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Crafting a Rule of Life</em></a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p></p>
<center>Learn more about spiritual discernment when you become a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it free right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/discern-notice-god-in-everything-an-interview-with-stephen-macchia/">Discern—Notice God in Everything: An Interview with Stephen Macchia</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6934054
2022-03-27T22:23:00-12:00
2022-03-28T04:30:10-12:00
LUMO Project Videos Dramatize the Gospels on Bible Gateway
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/14125136/LUMO-Project-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="LUMO Project videos are available for free viewing on Bible Gateway" width="90%" /></p>
<p>One way to enhance your experience when you read any of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/what-are-the-gospels-2/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Are the Gospels?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">four Gospels</a> on Bible Gateway is to scroll all the way down in the STUDY tab to look for the free <a href="https://lumoproject.com/" title="LUMO Project" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">LUMO Project</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/TheLumoProject" title="LUMO Project Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@TheLumoProject</a>) video that corresponds to the passage you’re reading.</p>
<p>LUMO is a visual translation of the Gospels designed to deeply engage viewers with Scripture. Breathtaking live-action footage, coupled with word-for-word Scripture from the Gospels of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-1-1-Matt-2-23&tab=study" title="Read the Gospel of Matthew on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-1-1-Mark-1-45&tab=study" title="Read the Gospel of Mark on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-1-1-Luke-1-56&tab=study" title="Read the Gospel of Luke on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&resource_entry=lumo/John-1-1-John-1-34&tab=study" title="Read the Gospel of John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John</a>, LUMO paints an authentic portrait of the life of Christ.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/our-daily-bread-university-videos-teach-you-the-bible-on-bible-gateway/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Our Daily Bread University Videos Teach You the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Our Daily Bread University Videos Teach You the Bible on Bible Gateway</em></a>]</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Here’s the list of Bible references where you’ll find LUMO videos and the corresponding Scripture passages they dramatize on Bible Gateway:</p>
<p><span id="more-66293"></span></p>
<h2>Matthew</h2>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A1-2%3A23&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-1-1-Matt-2-23&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 1:1-2:23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 1:1–2:23</a><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A1-2%3A23&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-1-1-Matt-2-23&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28103816/LUMO-Matthew.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Watch the LUMO video for Matthew 1:1-2:23 on Bible Gateway" width="60%" /></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+3%3A1-4%3A25&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-3-1-Matt-4-25&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 3:1-4:25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 3:1–4:25</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A1-48&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-5-1-Matt-5-48&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 5:1-48 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 5:1–48</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A1-7%3A23&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-6-1-Matt-7-23&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 6:1-7:23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6:1–7:23</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A24-8%3A34&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-7-24-Matt-8-34&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 7:24-8:34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 7:24–8:34</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9%3A1-38&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-9-1-Matt-9-38&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 9:1-38 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 9:1–38</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10%3A1-42&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-10-1-Matt-10-42&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 10:1-42 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 10:1–42</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A1-12%3A21&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-11-1-Matt-12-21&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 11:1-12:21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 11:1–12:21</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A22-13%3A23&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-12-22-Matt-13-23&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 12:22-13:23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 12:22–13:23</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A24-14%3A12&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-13-24-Matt-14-12&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 13:24-14:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 13:24–14:12</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A13-15%3A20&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-14-13-Matt-15-20&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 14:13-15:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 14:13–15:20</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+15%3A21-16%3A20&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-15-21-Matt-16-20&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 15:21-16:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 15:21–16:20</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A21-18%3A9&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-16-21-Matt-18-9&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 16:21-18:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 16:21–18:9</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A10-19%3A30&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-18-10-Matt-19-30&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 18:10-19:30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 18:10–19:30</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+20%3A1-21%3A11&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-20-1-Matt-21-11&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 20:1-21:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 20:1–21:11</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A12-46&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-21-12-Matt-21-46&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 21:12-46 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 21:12–46</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A1-23%3A12&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-22-1-Matt-23-12&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 22:1-23:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 22:1–23:12</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+23%3A13-39&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-23-13-Matt-23-39&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 23:13-39 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 23:13–39</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24%3A1-51&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-24-1-Matt-24-51&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 24:1-51 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 24:1–51</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A1-46&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-25-1-Matt-25-46&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 25:1-46 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 25:1–46</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A1-35&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-26-1-Matt-26-35&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 26:1-35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 26:1–35</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A36-75&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-26-36-Matt-26-75&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 26:36-75 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 26:36–75</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A1-31&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-27-1-Matt-27-31&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 27:1-31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 27:1–31</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A32-28%3A20&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-27-32-Matt-28-20&tab=study" title="Read & watch Matthew 27:32-28:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 27:32–28:20</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Mark</h2>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1%3A1-45&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-1-1-Mark-1-45&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 1:1-45 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 1:1–45</a><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+5%3A1-43&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-5-1-Mark-5-43&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28103833/LUMO-Mark.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Watch the LUMO video for Mark 5:1-43 on Bible Gateway" width="60%" /></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+2%3A1-3%3A19&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-2-1-Mark-3-19&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 2:1-3:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 2:1–3:19</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+3%3A20-4%3A41&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-3-20-Mark-4-41&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 3:20-4:41 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 3:20–4:41</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+5%3A1-43&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-5-1-Mark-5-43&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 5:1-43 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 5:1–43</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A1-56&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-6-1-Mark-6-56&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 6:1-56 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 6:1–56</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+7%3A1-8%3A21&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-7-1-Mark-8-21&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 7:1-8:21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 7:1–8:21</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+8%3A22-9%3A29&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-8-22-Mark-9-29&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 8:22-9:29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 8:22–9:29</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9%3A30-10%3A31&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-9-30-Mark-10-31&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 9:30-10:31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 9:30–10:31</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A32-11%3A26&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-10-32-Mark-11-26&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 10:32-11:26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 10:32–11:26</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11%3A27-12%3A40&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-11-27-Mark-12-40&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 11:27-12:40 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 11:27–12:40</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12%3A41-14%3A11&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-12-41-Mark-14-11&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 12:41-14:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 12:41–14:11</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14%3A12-52&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-14-12-Mark-14-52&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 14:12-52 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 14:12–52</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14%3A53-15%3A32&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-14-53-Mark-15-32&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 14:53-15:32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 14:53–15:32</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+15%3A33-16%3A20&resource_entry=lumo/Mark-15-33-Mark-16-20&tab=study" title="Read & watch Mark 15:33-16:20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 15:33–16:20</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center>
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</center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<h2>Luke</h2>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A1-56&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-1-1-Luke-1-56&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 1:1-56 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 1:1–56</a><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A1-56&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-1-1-Luke-1-56&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28103848/LUMO-Luke.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Watch the LUMO video for Luke 1:1-56 on Bible Gateway" width="60%" /></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A57-2%3A40&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-1-57-Luke-2-40&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 1:57-2:40 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 1:57–2:40</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A41-3%3A88&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-2-41-Luke-3-88&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 2:41-3:88 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 2:41–3:88</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A1-44&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-4-1-Luke-4-44&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 4:1-44 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 4:1–44</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+5%3A1-39&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-5-1-Luke-5-39&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 5:1-39 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 5:1–39</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A1-49&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-6-1-Luke-6-49&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 6:1-49 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 6:1–49</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+7%3A1-50&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-7-1-Luke-7-50&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 7:1-50 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 7:1–50</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+8%3A1-39&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-8-1-Luke-8-39&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 8:1-39 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 8:1–39</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+8%3A40-9%3A17&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-8-40-Luke-9-17&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 8:40-9:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 8:40–9:17</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A18-9%3A62&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-9-18-Luke-9-62&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 9:18-9:62 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 9:18–9:62</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A1-42&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-10-1-Luke-10-42&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 10:1-42 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 10:1–42</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+11%3A1-54&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-11-1-Luke-11-54&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 11:1-54 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 11:1–54</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12%3A1-59&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-12-1-Luke-12-59&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 12:1-59 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 12:1–59</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+13%3A1-35&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-13-1-Luke-13-35&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 13:1-35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 13:1–35</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+14%3A1-15%3A10&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-14-1-Luke-15-10&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 14:1-15:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 14:1–15:10</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+15%3A11-16%3A31&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-15-11-Luke-16-31&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 15:11-16:31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 15:11–16:31</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+17%3A1-18%3A8&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-17-1-Luke-18-8&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 17:1-18:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 17:1–18:8</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A9-43&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-18-9-Luke-18-43&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 18:9-43 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 18:9–43</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+19%3A1-44&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-19-1-Luke-19-44&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 19:1-44 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 19:1–44</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+19%3A45-20%3A47&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-19-45-Luke-20-47&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 19:45-20:47 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 19:45–20:47</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+21%3A1-36&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-21-1-Luke-21-36&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 21:1-36 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 21:1–36</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+21%3A37-22%3A38&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-21-37-Luke-22-38&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 21:37-22:38 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 21:37–22:38</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A39-23%3A25&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-22-39-Luke-23-25&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 22:39-23:25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 22:39–23:25</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23%3A26-56&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-23-26-Luke-23-56&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 23:26-56 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 23:26–56</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A1-56&resource_entry=lumo/Luke-24-1-Luke-24-56&tab=study" title="Read & watch Luke 24:1-56 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24:1–56</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>John</h2>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-34&resource_entry=lumo/John-1-1-John-1-34&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 1:1-34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1:1-34</a><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-34&resource_entry=lumo/John-1-1-John-1-34&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28103856/LUMO-John.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Watch the LUMO video for John 1:1-34 on Bible Gateway" width="60%" /></a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A34-2%3A22&resource_entry=lumo/John-1-34-John-2-22&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 1:34-2:22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1:34-2:22</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+2%3A23-3%3A36&resource_entry=lumo/John-2-23-John-3-36&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 2:23-3:36 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 2:23-3:36</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A1-54&resource_entry=lumo/John-4-1-John-4-54&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 4:1-54 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 4:1-54</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5%3A1-47&resource_entry=lumo/John-5-1-John-5-47&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 5:1-47 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 5:1-47</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A1-47&resource_entry=lumo/John-6-1-John-6-47&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 6:1-47 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 6:1-47</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A61-7%3A44&resource_entry=lumo/John-6-61-John-7-44&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 6:61-7:44 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 6:61-7:44</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+7%3A45-8%3A30&resource_entry=lumo/John-7-45-John-8-30&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 7:45-8:30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 7:45-8:30</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A31-59&resource_entry=lumo/John-8-31-John-8-59&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 8:31-59 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 8:31-59</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+9%3A1-41&resource_entry=lumo/John-9-1-John-9-41&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 9:1-41 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 9:1-41</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A1-42&resource_entry=lumo/John-10-1-John-10-42&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 10:1-42 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 10:1-42</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A1-57&resource_entry=lumo/John-11-1-John-11-57&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 11:1-57 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 11:1-57</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12%3A1-50&resource_entry=lumo/John-12-1-John-12-50&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 12:1-50 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 12:1-50</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A1-38&resource_entry=lumo/John-13-1-John-13-38&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 13:1-38 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 13:1-38</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A1-31&resource_entry=lumo/John-14-1-John-14-31&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 14:1-31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 14:1-31</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A1-16%3A15&resource_entry=lumo/John-15-1-John-16-15&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 15:1-16:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 15:1-16:15</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A16-17%3A26&resource_entry=lumo/John-16-16-John-17-26&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 16:16-17:26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 16:16-17:26</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18%3A1-19%3A3&resource_entry=lumo/John-18-1-John-19-3&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 18:1-19:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 18:1-19:3</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A4-37&resource_entry=lumo/John-19-4-John-19-37&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 19:4-37 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 19:4-37</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A38-20%3A31&resource_entry=lumo/John-19-38-John-20-31&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 19:38-20:31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 19:38-20:31</a>
</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A1-25&resource_entry=lumo/John-21-1-John-21-25&tab=study" title="Read & watch John 21:1-25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 21:1-25</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/10/how-to-use-the-bible-gateway-plus-atlas/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Use the Bible Gateway Plus Atlas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Use the Bible Gateway Plus Atlas</em></a>]</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/08/bible-gateway-plus-members-gain-biblical-insight-with-zondervan-academic-maps/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Bible Gateway Plus Members Gain Biblical Insight with Zondervan Academic Maps" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Bible Gateway Plus Members Gain Biblical Insight with Zondervan Academic Maps</em></a>]</p>
<blockquote>
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<center>Study the Bible with confidence and convenience by becoming a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/lumo-project-videos-dramatize-the-gospels-on-bible-gateway/">LUMO Project Videos Dramatize the Gospels on Bible Gateway</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6931982
2022-03-25T02:18:00-12:00
2022-03-25T04:15:03-12:00
Do the Biblical Accounts of Easter Contradict Each Other?
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/walking-with-christ/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28140045/Walking-With-Christ-to-the-Cross-2022-large-square.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get the free Bible study, Walking With Christ to the Cross" width="57%" /></a>Is the Bible full of contradictions? At some point every Bible reader, whether they’re a skeptic or a believer, must come to terms with perceived differences and contradictions in the Bible text. And these questions naturally assume a particular urgency around Easter.</p>
<p>Why is that? Because the events of Easter—Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection, as well as the events leading up to them—are among the most precisely detailed stories in the Bible. But more than that, the events of Easter are described by <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/what-are-the-gospels-2/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Are the Gospels?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>four</em> different biblical authors</a>. And four different perspectives make for <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/10/how-the-bibles-obscure-coincidences-demonstrate-its-reliability-an-interview-with-lydia-mcgrew/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How the Bible’s Obscure “Coincidences” Demonstrate Its Reliability: An Interview with Lydia McGrew" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">four slightly different accounts</a>. What should we make of these differences? Are these accounts truly contradictory? Do they weaken the trustworthiness of the Bible?</p>
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<p>Those are all very good questions. If you’re troubled by, or simply curious about, alleged Bible contradictions in the Easter accounts or other Bibles stories, here are some reflections to help you think through the issue:</p>
<ul>
<li>In his “Tough Questions” weekly devotional, author and theologian R.C. Sproul takes a look at <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/tough-questions-with-rc-sproul/2014/08/26" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">discrepancies between the four Gospel accounts</a>.</li>
<li>Did you see that monster list of alleged Bible contradictions that made the rounds online a few years ago, and which periodically resurfaces? Darrell Bock, a professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, challenges us to remember that <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2013/08/differences-or-contradictions-responding-to-apparent-contradictions-in-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>differences</em> and <em>contradictions</em> are two very distinct things</a>.</li>
<li>Apologist Lee Strobel answers the question <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2012/04/what-should-we-make-of-the-discrepancies-found-in-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“What should we make of discrepancies in the Bible?”</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/case-for-christ-bible/2014/05/29" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Who really discovered Jesus’ empty tomb?</a> In his “Investigating the Bible” devotional, Strobel looks more closely at a specific case of alleged contradiction in the Easter story.</li>
</ul>
<p></p><center>[<a href="https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/bible-contradictions-explained" title="See the Zondervan Academic blog post, Bible Contradictions Explained: 4 Reasons the Gospels 'Disagree'" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">See the Zondervan Academic blog post, <em>Bible Contradictions Explained: 4 Reasons the Gospels “Disagree”</em></a>]</center>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mA-j6hKunyU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<blockquote>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/do-the-biblical-accounts-of-easter-contradict-each-other-2/">Do the Biblical Accounts of Easter Contradict Each Other?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6931983
2022-03-25T01:45:00-12:00
2022-03-25T04:15:03-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of March 20, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/weekly-brief-week-of-march-20-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of March 20, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6930736
2022-03-24T00:44:28-12:00
2022-03-24T01:00:18-12:00
Jesus is More Beautiful Than You Know: An Interview with Pastor Derwin Gray
<p><a href="https://www.derwinlgray.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/14142941/Derwin-Gray.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Derwin Gray" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>The message of the gospel that Paul brought to the culturally diverse <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+19&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Ephesus&tab=study" title="Read Acts 19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">city of Ephesus</a> forever transformed its citizen’s lives. But the church in Ephesus had the same problems we face today: it was a multiethnic group of believers who found it difficult to come together as one and put aside their differences…</strong></p>
<p>In this Q&A, <a href="https://www.derwinlgray.com/" title="Derwin Gray" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Derwin Gray</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/DerwinLGray" title="Derwin Gray Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@DerwinLGray</a>) talks about his 6-session streaming video Bible study in the <a href="https://churchsource.com/pages/40-days-through-the-book" title="Buy your copy of Ephesians: Life in God's Diverse Family in the ChurchSource Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">40 Days Through the Book</a> series, <a href="https://churchsource.com/pages/40-days-through-the-book" title="Buy your copy of Ephesians: Life in God's Diverse Family in the ChurchSource Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Ephesians: Life in God’s Diverse Family</em></strong></a> (HarperChristian Resources, 2022).</p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://churchsource.com/pages/40-days-through-the-book" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/14125901/Copy-of-Ephesians-Social-Graphic-12-500-%C3%97-500-px.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></a></figure></div>
<p><strong>What would you say is the core message of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Ephesians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">letter to the Ephesians</a>?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Derwin Gray</strong> With every stroke of his pen, under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul passionately writes to the multiethnic churches in Ephesus. He declares to the Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, women and men, how the gospel of king Jesus not only forgives their sins but creates a beautiful family with different colored skins. The gospel grace empowers this new family of differents to love each other and glorify Jesus (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3%3A14-21&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/e-a-prayer-for-the-ephesians-3-14-21&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 3:14-21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eph 3:14-21</a>).</p>
<p><span id="more-66845"></span></p>
<p><strong>How do individuals build unity in divided churches?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Derwin Gray</strong> Individuals do not build unity. Jesus has already created unity and reconciliation virtually and horizontally through his death on the cross (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A15-16&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/c-the-unique-nature-of-gods-new-community-2-1-22&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 2:15-16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eph 2:15-16</a>). By faith, people must learn how to walk in this gospel promise which is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A11-13&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Eph.2.11-Eph.2.13&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 2:11-13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eph 2:11-13</a>). But that’s the hard part. We’ve allowed centuries of demonic influence to create hate, division, and bias. This sin blinds us to the reconciling work of Jesus. It’s time to wake up and live in the unity and oneness of the gospel (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3%3A5-11&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/d-how-paul-came-to-the-knowledge-of-the-mystery-3-1-13&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 3:5-11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eph 3:5-11</a>).</p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://churchsource.com/pages/40-days-through-the-book" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/14125938/Ephesians-Social-Graphic-3-500-%C3%97-500-px.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></a></figure></div>
<p><strong>If my church is homogeneous, should I look for a more diverse community?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Derwin Gray</strong> If God is calling you to join a multiethnic church, you should. However, I recommend helping your pastors and ministry leaders in creating a gospel-culture that can become a multiethnic church. This will be difficult. Dark, demonic powers hate to see God’s people unified across ethnic boundaries.</p>
<p><strong>In what ways was the racism in Paul’s day similar to and different from racism in 21<sup>st</sup> century America?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Derwin Gray</strong> The first-century Greco-Roman world was fraught with ethnic tension, prejudice (favoritism), and injustice. Jewish history is littered with persecution at the hands of the Gentiles. They spent 400 years as slaves in Egypt, they battled the Canaanites and Hittites. The Jews were in captivity in Babylon, and in the first century the Roman occupation and domination oppressed them in the Promised Land. And the Gentiles did not think too highly of the Jews either. Some of the Greek philosophers said Jews and other non-Greeks were barbarians. Ethnocentrism and prejudice were a big problem then, just as it is now.</p>
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<p><strong>You say, “If you and I don’t understand God’s story, we’re going to try to get God to fit into our story.” How do we know when we’re trying to fit God into our own story?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Derwin Gray</strong> We live in a hyper-individualistic culture with ourselves at the center of the story. Even when we say, “I have a personal relationship with Jesus,” this can move us to think Jesus responds to our will instead of his will. By faith, we enter a new covenant with Jesus and with our brother and sisters. We move from, “What’s best for me?” to “What’s best for we?” We’re saved as individuals so we can enter a family of self-giving love and sacrifice. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A3-4&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/1-living-and-loving-for-others-2-1-4&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 2:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paul instructed</a> the multiethnic churches in Philippi to, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.” This is the kind of love we were created to live.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/14125749/Ephesians-Social-Graphic-8-500-%C3%97-500-px.png"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/14125749/Ephesians-Social-Graphic-8-500-%C3%97-500-px.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></a></figure></div>
<p><strong>How does “the gospel break down the demonic powers that separate us and build up the community of God”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Derwin Gray</strong> The gospel is the royal announcement that king Jesus—through his sinless life, atoning death on the cross, and resurrection—has defeated the sin, death, and the dark powers. And all those who trust in him now live in his victory. The blood of Jesus brings every person—regardless of ethnicity—near; he brings peace where there is strife. All this is a finished work of his death on the cross that reconciles us unto him and to each other. All of God’s ethnically diverse children becomes a new humanity in him. One of the aims of discipleship is to get us to see ourselves and each other as we are in Christ.</p>
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<p><strong>What’s the benefit of spending 40 days in a book or theme?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Derwin Gray</strong> You see Jesus like never before. You’ll love him more and you’ll love your brothers and sisters more. Your capacity to love people will expand because your understanding of the gospel will expand.</p>
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<p><strong>What is the one takeaway you want participants to understand after completing this study?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Derwin Gray</strong> Jesus is more beautiful than you know. And his beauty will make you beautiful.</p>
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<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Derwin Gray</strong> I have different favorite Bible verses in different seasons. But somehow, I always come back to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3%3A14-21&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Eph.3.20-Eph.3.21&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 3:14-21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 3:14-21</a>. I love this passage because it’s God’s love rooting itself in me and transforming me to love all people, even my enemies. Plus, this text is how Paul explains to the ethnically diverse churches in Ephesus how they’re going to live as one. It’s all about knowing and living in God’s love that surpasses all understanding.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Derwin Gray</strong> Bible Gateway has blessed me for two decades. I’m honored to partner with Bible Gateway in the gospel. I want to see Jesus glorified in my generation. I believe this study can spark a revival.</p>
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<p><strong>BIO:</strong> Dr. Derwin L. Gray is the cofounder, along with his wife Vicki, and leader pastor of Transformation Church, a multiethnic, multigenerational, mission-shaped church in the Charlotte, NC, area. Dr. Gray has been married since 1992 and has two adult children. He played six seasons in the NFL. In 2015, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Southern Evangelical Seminary. In 2018, he received his Doctor of Ministry in the New Testament in Context at Northern Seminary under Dr. Scot McKnight. He is the author of several books, including the national bestseller, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=994890&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of The Good Life in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Good Life</em></a>.</p>
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<p></p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/ephesians-study-guide-plus-streaming-video-life-in-god-s-diverse-family?variant=39408355115144" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">In this 6-session study</a> (streaming video included), pastor Derwin Gray, of Transformation Church, takes you and your group through Paul’s <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Eph.1&tab=study" title="Read the book of Ephesians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">letter to the Ephesians</a> to reveal how the apostle presented the revolutionary idea that Jesus came not only to forgive sins but also to create a unified family out of a diverse people.</p>
<p><strong>This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience</strong>, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>The study guide itself—a 40 Day reading plan through Ephesians with discussion and personal reflection questions, video notes, and a leader’s guide.</li>
<li>An individual access code to stream all 6 video sessions online (you don’t need to buy a DVD!).</li>
</ul>
<p>The letter to the church in Ephesus contains a message that’s revolutionary to us even today—it’s a message that’s especially urgent now: that God desires to bring unity to all things and all peoples under Christ. This is the vision that bears the seeds of a heavenly revolution!</p>
<p></p><blockquote><center>Expand your Bible reading experience using our valuable library of more than 50 top resources by becoming a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/jesus-is-more-beautiful-than-you-know-an-interview-with-pastor-derwin-gray/">Jesus is More Beautiful Than You Know: An Interview with Pastor Derwin Gray</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6930072
2022-03-23T03:51:04-12:00
2022-03-23T07:00:08-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Christ Takes Away Our Sin
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundred-first lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p><em>“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”</em></p>
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</em><em>“Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A29-34&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/4-lamb-god-1-29-34&tab=study" title="Read John 1:29-34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1:29-34</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/23114320/How-To-Live-The-Bible-John-Baptist-with-Jesus.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Silhouette illustration of John baptizing Jesus." width="90%" /></p>
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<p>Back at the beginning, before Jesus had even called his first disciples, there was a moment of revelation. A wild-looking prophet named John, who was baptizing people in the Jordan River and preaching about God reigning as King, encountered Jesus of Nazareth. He looked at Jesus (who was <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/a-the-annunciation-of-the-births-of-john-the-baptist-and-jesus-1-5-56&tab=study" title="Read Luke 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John’s own cousin</a>), and God opened John’s eyes to see that this was the one he had been prophesying about.</p>
<p>“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” is what John said. What he meant was: “Look! There is our salvation! There is the one whom all of the sacrifices in the Old Testament are pointing to. God has promised to take away our sin—and now that is becoming a reality!”</p>
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<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>The dilemma all of us face is this: What can we do with all of the mistakes, the transgressions, the shortcomings, and the sins we commit? What does God make of us? Is it really possible that God is willing to forgive?</p>
<p>God doesn’t merely forgive sinners. He “takes away” our sin. His forgiveness is so powerful, so complete, that it is appropriate to believe our sin has been “taken away.” And the sign that God has really done that is that Jesus, like a sacrificial lamb, took our sin upon himself and carried it away.</p>
<p><strong>PONDER THIS</strong></p>
<p>What makes it hard for us to believe Jesus has “taken away” our sin? Is it because sometimes we hold on to it? And if so, for what reason do we do this?<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/how-to-live-the-bible-christ-takes-away-our-sin/">How to Live the Bible — Christ Takes Away Our Sin</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6929808
2022-03-22T21:59:00-12:00
2022-03-23T02:30:06-12:00
Choosing Presence Over Perfection
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/13213959/Shauna_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Shauna Niequist" width="31%" />By Shauna Niequist</strong></p>
<p><em>“Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”</em> —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28-30&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Jesus-Offers-Rest-Broken&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Matthew 11:28–30 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Matthew 11:28–30</a></p>
<p>The phrase <em>present over perfect</em> was one I first held tightly to a few Christmases ago. I remember the moment: the table was a train wreck of wrapping paper and unfolded laundry, half-eaten cookies. My mind was running with all the remaining tasks that needed to be done—gifts bought, cards addressed, bags packed, deadlines reached.</p>
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<p>To put it plainly: my desire for beautiful, sparkly Christmas moments was edging out my ability to live well in my own actual life, and I recognized this feeling as one I’d grappled with all my life. I want things to be spectacular, epic, over the top, exciting and dramatic. But in order to force that beauty and drama into otherwise ordinary moments, you have to push and tap dance and hustle, hustle, hustle.</p>
<p>I was faced with a dilemma—one so many of us face quite often: I could either wrestle my life and my kids and my house and our Christmas into something fantastic, something perfect . . . or I could plunk myself down right in the middle of the mess and realize that the mess is actually my life, the only one I’ll ever get, the one I’m in danger of missing completely, waiting around for fantastic.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/04/walking-the-path-of-shalom/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Walking the Path of Shalom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Walking the Path of Shalom</em></a>]</p>
<p>That Christmas I chose to be <em>present over perfect</em>, and that’s still what I choose today. Some days I do it better than others—it’s still a tremendous temptation for me to spin out into achievement or efficiency or performance instead of dwelling deeply in life as it presents itself each moment. Indeed, sometimes I can get a little obsessive about pursuing non-perfection just perfectly. But the endeavor itself is transformative: my marriage, my parenting, my friendships, and my connection to God have all been enriched in countless ways along this journey.</p>
<p>This isn’t about working less or more, necessarily. This isn’t about homemade or takeout, or full time or part time, or the specific ways we choose to live out our days. It’s about rejecting the myth that every day is a new opportunity to prove our worth, and about the truth that our worth is inherent, given by God, not earned by our hustling.</p>
<p>It’s about learning to show up and let ourselves be seen just as we are, massively imperfect and weak and wild and flawed in a thousand ways, but still worth loving. It’s about realizing that what makes our lives meaningful is not what we accomplish, but how deeply and honestly we connect with the people in our lives, how wholly we give ourselves to the making of a better world, through kindness and courage.</p>
<p>Let’s talk for a minute about perfect: <em>perfect</em> has become as near a dirty word to me as <em>hustle, prove, earn, compete,</em> and <em>push</em>. Perfect is brittle and unyielding, plastic, distant, more image than flesh. Perfect calls to mind stiffness, silicone, an aggressive and unimaginative relentlessness. Perfect and the hunt for it will ruin our lives—that’s for certain.</p>
<p>The ache for perfection keeps us isolated and exhausted—we keep people at arm’s length, if that, and we keep hustling, trying trying trying to reach some sort of ideal that never comes.</p>
<p>I’ve missed so much of my actual, human, beautiful, not-beautiful life trying to force things into perfect. But these days I’m coming to see that perfect is safe, controlled, managed. I’m finding myself drawn to mess, to darkness, to things that are loved to the point of shabbiness, or just wildly imperfect in their own gorgeous way.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/04/a-blessing-for-a-bride/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, A Blessing For a Bride" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>A Blessing For a Bride</em></a>]</p>
<p>I’m drawn to music that’s more earnest than tidy, art that’s more ragged than orderly, people who are just a touch more honest than is strictly appropriate for the situation. I’m finished hustling for perfect. It didn’t deliver what they told me it would.</p>
<p>And so, instead: present. If perfect is plastic, present is rich, loamy soil. It’s fresh bread, lumpy and warm. It’s real and tactile and something you can hold with both hands, something rich and warm. Present is a face bare of makeup, a sweater you’ve loved for a decade, a mug that reminds you of who you used to be. It’s the Bible with the battered cover, the journal filled with scribbled, secret dreams. It isn’t pretty, necessarily—it isn’t supposed to be.</p>
<p>Present is living with your feet firmly grounded in reality, pale and uncertain as it may seem. Present is choosing to believe that your own life is worth investing deeply in, instead of waiting for some rare miracle or fairy tale. Present means we understand that the here and now is sacred, sacramental, threaded through with divinity even in its plainness. Especially in its plainness.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/present-over-perfect-leaving-behind-frantic-for-a-simpler-more-soulful-way-of-living-audiobook-unabridged?variant=34712427692168&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/22134942/Present-Over-Perfect-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Present Over Perfect audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><em>Present over perfect</em> living is real over image, connecting over comparing, meaning over mania, depth over artifice. <em>Present over perfect</em> living is the risky and revolutionary belief that the world God has created is beautiful and valuable on its own terms, and that it doesn’t need to be zhuzzed up and fancy in order to be wonderful.</p>
<p>Sink deeply into the world as it stands. Breathe in the smell of rain and the scuff of leaves as they scrape across driveways on windy nights. This is where life is, not in some imaginary, photo-shopped dreamland. Here. Now. You, just as you are. Me, just as I am. This world, just as it is. This is the good stuff. This is the best stuff there is. Perfect has nothing on truly, completely, wide-eyed, open-souled present.<br>
________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/present-over-perfect-leaving-behind-frantic-for-a-simpler-more-soulful-way-of-living?variant=13747089768559" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/22085846/PresentOverPerfect_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Present Over Perfect" height="280" width="280" /></a>Taken from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/present-over-perfect-leaving-behind-frantic-for-a-simpler-more-soulful-way-of-living?variant=13747089768559" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living</em></a> by Shauna Niequist. Check out Shauna’s newest book, <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/i-guess-i-havent-learned-that-yet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working</em></a>.</p>
<p><em>New York Times</em> bestselling author Shauna Niequist invites you to look at the landscape of your own life, consider what it might look like to leave behind the pressure to be perfect, and begin the life-changing practice of simply being present in the middle of the mess and the ordinariness of life.</p>
<p>A few years ago, Shauna found herself exhausted and isolated, her soul and body sick. She was tired of being tired and burned out on busy. It seemed like almost everyone she talked to was in the same boat: longing for connection, meaning, and depth, but settling for busy.</p>
<p>But then something changed: she learned a new way to live. She decided to trade the hustle and bustle for grace, love, stillness, and play, and it changed everything. Shauna offers an honest account of what led her to begin this journey and a compelling vision for an entirely new way to live: soaked in rest, silence, simplicity, prayer, and connection with the people who matter most to us.</p>
<p>As you witness Shauna’s journey, you’ll be inspired to embark on one of your own. She gives you the encouragement you need to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Put an end to people-pleasing tendencies</li>
<li>Embrace moments of simplicity, quiet, and stillness</li>
<li>Accept that you are worthy of love, belonging, and joy</li>
</ul>
<p>Written in Shauna’s warm and vulnerable style, this collection of essays focuses on the most important transformation in her life, and maybe yours too: leaving behind busyness and frantic living and rediscovering the person you were made to be. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/present-over-perfect-leaving-behind-frantic-for-a-simpler-more-soulful-way-of-living?variant=13747089768559" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Present Over Perfect</em></a> is a hand reaching out, pulling you free from the constant pressure to perform faster, push harder, and produce more while maintaining an exhausting image of perfection.</p>
<p>Join the over 500,000 others who have already started walking this new path away from frantic pushing and proving and toward their true selves.</p>
<p><strong>Shauna Niequist</strong> is the <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author of <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/cold-tangerines-celebrating-the-extraordinary-nature-of-everyday-life?variant=34379081351304" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Cold Tangerines</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/bittersweet-thoughts-on-change-grace-and-learning-the-hard-way-2?variant=31854620278920" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Bittersweet</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/bread-wine-a-love-letter-to-life-around-the-table-with-recipes-1?variant=32306786730120" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Bread & Wine</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/savor-living-abundantly-where-you-are-as-you-are?variant=13751492345967" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Savor</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/present-over-perfect-leaving-behind-frantic-for-a-simpler-more-soulful-way-of-living?variant=13747089768559" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Present Over Perfect</em></a>, and <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/i-guess-i-havent-learned-that-yet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet</em></a>. She is married to Aaron, and they live in New York City with their sons, Henry and Mac.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/choosing-presence-over-perfection/">Choosing Presence Over Perfection</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6928719
2022-03-21T21:01:00-12:00
2022-03-21T23:15:22-12:00
Taking Comfort from Psalm 91
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/walking-with-christ/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28140045/Walking-With-Christ-to-the-Cross-2022-large-square.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get the free Bible study, Walking With Christ to the Cross" width="57%" /></a><strong>By Christopher Reese</strong></p>
<p>For thousands of years believers have turned to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/introduction-to-psalms&tab=study" title="Read the introduction to the book of Psalms from the NIV Grace & Truth Bible with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Psalms</a> for encouragement and comfort. In light of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-2-moses-joshua-david/#David" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 2 (Moses, Joshua, David)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">King David’s</a> authorship of many of the Psalms, the great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote, “Whenever we look into David’s psalms, we may somewhere or other see ourselves. I never get into a corner but I find David in that corner. I think I was never so low that I could not find that David was lower, and I never climbed so high that I could not find that David was up above me, ready to sing his song upon his stringed instrument.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#1"><sup><strong>1</strong></sup></a></p>
<h3>What is Psalm 91?</h3>
<p>People tend to search for particular Psalms on Bible Gateway based on current events or personal circumstances, including <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+31&version=NLT&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-31&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 31</a>. But the Psalm most searched for lately on Bible Gateway, and the chef Psalm that Christians have meditated on in times of trouble, is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/ps-91&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91</a>. To cite Spurgeon once more, he said of Psalm 91, “In the whole collection there is not a more cheering psalm . . . faith is at its best and speaks nobly.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#2"><sup><strong>2</strong></sup></a></p>
<p><span id="more-67115"></span></p>
<h3>What Does Psalm 91 Mean?</h3>
<p>The main theme of Psalm 91 is God’s protection of his people in the midst of distressing circumstances—among them pestilence, terror, darkness, enemies, and war. Below we’ll explore the message of this Psalm in detail so we can gain greater insight into God’s character, love, and preservation of his people.</p>
<h3>Who Wrote Psalm 91?</h3>
<p>Before we proceed, though, we should briefly consider the question of authorship. Psalm 91 is anonymous (it has no title indicating who composed it, like we have in other Psalms that say, for example, “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%203&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-3&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A Psalm of David</a>”). The <em>NIV Study Bible</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/ps-91-1&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">proposes</a> that it may have been written by one of the temple workers—a priest or a Levite—but we can’t be sure. In any case, God sovereignly arranged for it to be included in the canon, so we need not be overly concerned with its original author.</p>
<h3>What Is the Message of Psalm 91?</h3>
<p>In what follows we’ll divide the Psalm into four sections and consider the meaning and message of each one.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91%3A1-2&version=NIV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Ps.91.1&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91:1–2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91:1–2</a></h3>
<p>Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High<br>
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.<br>
I will say of the L<small>ORD</small>, “He is my refuge and my fortress,<br>
my God, in whom I trust.”</p>
<p>These two verses communicate the believer’s supreme safety under God’s protection. He is their shelter and they rest in his shadow. Other Psalms refer to God hiding his people “in the shadow of [his] wings” (e.g., <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+17%3A8&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-study-bible/ps-17-6-9&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 17:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 17:8</a>), and this may be what is referred to here—especially in light of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps.+91%3A4&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/ps-91-4-under-his-wings&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">verse 4</a>, which refers to “his feathers . . . his wings.” God shields his people like a mother bird tenderly shielding her young in the nest.</p>
<p>Two Hebrew names for God reinforce his superior might: <em>Elyon</em> (“the Most High”) communicates God’s supreme authority, while <em>Shaddai</em> (“the Almighty”) indicates God’s absolute power.</p>
<p>In light of God’s authoritative power and loving protection of his people, the psalmist places all of his trust in him, looking to God to be his refuge from trouble, as we should today.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91%3A3-8&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/ps-91-3-8&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91:3–8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91:3–8</a></h3>
<p>Surely he will save you<br>
from the fowler’s snare<br>
and from the deadly pestilence.<br>
He will cover you with his feathers,<br>
and under his wings you will find refuge;<br>
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.<br>
You will not fear the terror of night,<br>
nor the arrow that flies by day,<br>
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,<br>
nor the plague that destroys at midday.<br>
A thousand may fall at your side,<br>
ten thousand at your right hand,<br>
but it will not come near you.<br>
You will only observe with your eyes<br>
and see the punishment of the wicked.</p>
<p>Verses 3-8 list a number of specific dangers from which God protects his people. Rather than understand these as promises that apply in any situation, we should view them in the context of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91%3A8&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Ps.91.1-Ps.91.8&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">verse 8</a>, which suggests that God will preserve his people in the midst of his “punishment of the wicked.”</p>
<p>There are numerous instances in Scripture where God protects and delivers his people from harm (e.g., delivering the nation of Israel from Egypt and bringing them to the Promised Land, or protecting David from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/smiths-bible-names-dictionary/Saul" title="Read about King Saul in Smith's Bible Names Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">King Saul</a>), but there are other instances in which God’s people suffer and sometimes die (e.g., <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&resource_entry=niebc/job&tab=study" title="Read about Job in the
New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job’s</a> tribulations and those endured by <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/smiths-bible-names-dictionary/Elijah" title="Read about Elijah in Smith's Bible Names Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Elijah</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/eastons-bible-dictionary/Jeremiah" title="Read about Jeremiah in Easton's Bible Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah</a>, and the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">apostle Paul</a>). In our own life circumstances we can’t presume God will deliver us from all harm, but we know he’s always with us, providing grace and strength (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A7-10&version=NIV&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-nt/2co-12-9-10&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:7–10</a>), and whatever he allows us to encounter, he’ll bring good out of it (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom.+8%3A28&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-rom-8-28&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8:28</a>). Like the psalmist in these verses, we can also experience God’s peace even when calamity strikes (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6-7&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/php-4-6-9&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4:6–7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 4:6–7</a>). Regardless of what happens, we’ll find refuge under his wings, and he’ll be our shield (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps.+91%3A4&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/ps-91-4-under-his-wings&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91:4</a>).</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91%3A9-13&version=NIV&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-ot/forms-of-protection-91-11-13&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91:9–13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91:9–13</a></h3>
<p>If you say, “The L<small>ORD</small> is my refuge,”<br>
and you make the Most High your dwelling,<br>
no harm will overtake you,<br>
no disaster will come near your tent.<br>
For he will command his angels concerning you<br>
to guard you in all your ways;<br>
they will lift you up in their hands,<br>
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.<br>
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;<br>
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.</p>
<p>The beginning verses of this section are a reminder that the protection described in this Psalm applies to those who “make the Most High your dwelling” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91%3A9&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/peace-from-god--protected-life-vv-5-13&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 9</a>). God sent his Son, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-1-jesus-mary-john-the-baptist/#Jesus" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 1 (Jesus, Mary, John the Baptist)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jesus Christ</a>, so that anyone who desires to today can dwell with God, and God will dwell with them (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A3-5&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/jn-15-5-8&tab=study" title="Read John 15:3–5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 15:3–5</a>).</p>
<p>The author of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Hebrews on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews</a> tells us angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1%3A14&version=NIV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Heb.1.13-Heb.1.14&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 1:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 1:14</a>). Part of this ministry, as described here, involves physically protecting God’s people. The verses referring to angels are notable because Satan quoted them to Jesus when he tempted Jesus to throw himself down from the top of the temple in Jerusalem (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A9-12&version=NIV&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-nt/lk-4-9-12&tab=study" title="Read Luke 4:9–12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 4:9–12</a>). Jesus replied by quoting <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deut.+6%3A16&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-wiersbe-study-bible/dt-6-16&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 6:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 6:16</a>: “‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” This exchange is instructive because although angels sometimes protect us from harm, we should never test God by deliberately putting ourselves in danger.</p>
<p>Lions and serpents are symbolic for either people or demonic spirits who oppose God’s servants. Even when facing opposition we’re “more than conquerors through him who loved us” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A37&version=NIV&resource_entry=thru-the-bible/Rom-8-37&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:37 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8:37</a>).</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91%3A14-16&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/ps-91-14-16&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91:14–16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 91:14–16</a></h3>
<p>“Because he loves me,” says the L<small>ORD</small>, “I will rescue him;<br>
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.<br>
He will call on me, and I will answer him;<br>
I will be with him in trouble,<br>
I will deliver him and honor him.<br>
With long life I will satisfy him<br>
and show him my salvation.”</p>
<p>For the first time in the Psalm the Lord speaks directly and addresses the man or woman who “loves me” and “acknowledges my name” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91%3A14&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1320-God-as-Saviour&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 91:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 14</a>). This is the person described throughout the Psalm who trusts God and seeks refuge in him. For this person, the Lord promises four blessings:</p>
<ul>
<li> His presence (“I will be with him”)</li>
<li> His power (“I will answer him”)</li>
<li> His protection (“I will deliver him”)</li>
<li> His provision (“I will satisfy him and show him my salvation”). <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#3"><sup><strong>3</strong></sup></a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Echoing a point made earlier, pastor and author James Montgomery Boice observes, “God does not always lift a Christian out of troubles. Sometimes it is his will that we endure them and profit from them. We are told in Romans that we acquire hope, develop character, and learn perseverance from what we suffer (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom.+5%3A3-4&version=NASB&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-rom-5-3-4&tab=study" title="Read Romans 5:3–4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 5:3–4</a>). When we go through such circumstances, God goes through them with us. He sustains us in our sufferings.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#4"><sup><strong>4</strong></sup></a></p>
<p><a id="1"></a></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Notes<br>
1. Quoted in <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=409712&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Spurgeon Study Bible in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Spurgeon Study Bible</em></a>: Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 689.</p>
<p><a id="2"></a><br>
2. C. H. Spurgeon, <em>The Treasury of David</em>, vol. 2b, <em>Psalms 88–110</em> (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1966), 88, cited in James Montgomery Boice, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=6595X&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Psalms 42–106: An Expositional Commentary in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Psalms 42–106: An Expositional Commentary</em></a> (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 747.</p>
<p><a id="3"></a><br>
3. These four points are adapted from Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-preachers-commentary-vol-14-psalms-73-150?variant=19647986073711&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Psalms 73–150, vol. 14, The Preacher’s Commentary Series in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Psalms 73–150, vol. 14, The Preacher’s Commentary Series</em></a> (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1989), 162.</p>
<p><a id="4"></a><br>
4. James Montgomery Boice, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=6595X&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Psalms 42–106: An Expositional Commentary in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Psalms 42–106: An Expositional Commentary</em></a> (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 752.</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/28170009/Christopher_Reese.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Christopher Reese" width="20%" /></a><strong>BIO:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" title="Visit the LinkedIn page of Christopher Reese" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Reese</a> (MDiv, ThM) (<a href="https://twitter.com/clreese" title="Christopher Reese Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@clreese</a>) is a freelance writer and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://worldviewbulletin.substack.com/archive?utm_source=menu-dropdown" title="Visit The Worldview Bulletin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Worldview Bulletin</em></a>. He is a general editor of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dictionary-of-christianity-and-science-the-definitive-reference-for-the-intersection-of-christian-faith-and-contemporary-science?variant=13746105909359&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dictionary of Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2017) and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/three-views-on-christianity-and-science?variant=34292904001672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Three Views on Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Three Views on Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2021). His articles have appeared in <em>Christianity Today</em> and he writes and edits for Christian ministries and publishers.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/taking-comfort-from-psalm-91/">Taking Comfort from Psalm 91</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6928066
2022-03-20T17:36:00-12:00
2022-03-21T05:15:17-12:00
God’s Whoever Policy
<p><a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/max-lucado-3-16-obs-registration/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/09133416/John-3-16-cross-lucado-title.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to join the free 3:16—The Numbers of Hope Online Bible Study
with Max Lucado" width="45%" /></a><strong>By Max Lucado</strong></p>
<p>Sometimes I detect my favorite fragrance wafting from the kitchen: strawberry cake. I follow the smell like a bird dog follows a trail until I’m standing over the just-baked, just-iced pan of pure pleasure.</p>
<p>Yet I’ve learned to still my fork until Denalyn gives clearance. “Who is it for?” I ask. She might break my heart. “It’s for a birthday party, Max. Don’t touch it!” Or, “For a friend. Stay away.” Or she might throw open the door of delight. “Whoever.” And since I qualify as a “whoever,” I dig in.</p>
<p>Thankfully for us, God’s gospel includes a “whoever” policy that’s always open for business. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that <em>whoever</em> believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NKJV;NIV" title="Read John 3:16 (NKJV and NIV in parallel) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a> NIV, emphasis mine).</p>
<p><span id="more-66671"></span></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/the-magnificence-of-john-316-an-interview-with-max-lucado/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Magnificence of John 3:16—An Interview with Max Lucado" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Magnificence of John 3:16—An Interview with Max Lucado</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/max-lucado-3-16-obs-registration/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/02111215/Max-Lucado-3-16-vertical-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to join the free 3:16—The Numbers of Hope Online Bible Study
with Max Lucado" width="25%" /></a><em>Whoever</em> unfurls 3:16 as a banner for the ages. <em>Whoever</em> unrolls the welcome mat of heaven to humanity. <em>Whoever</em> invites the world to God.</p>
<p>Jesus could have so easily narrowed the scope, changing whoever into whatever. “Whatever Jew believes” or “Whatever woman follows me.” But he used no qualifier. The pronoun is wonderfully indefinite. After all, who isn’t a <em>whoever</em>?</p>
<p>The word sledgehammers racial fences and dynamites social classes. It bypasses gender borders and surpasses ancient traditions. <em>Whoever</em> makes it clear: God exports his grace worldwide. For those who attempt to restrict it, Jesus has a word: <em>Whoever</em>.</p>
<p><em>Whoever</em> acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10%3A32&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-mt-10-1-11-19&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 10:32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 10:32</a>).</p>
<p><em>Whoever</em> finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10%3A39&version=NKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8120-following-Jesus-Christ&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 10:39 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 10:39</a>).</p>
<p><em>Whoever</em> does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+3%3A35&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-mk-3-1-35&tab=study" title="Read Mark 3:35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 3:35</a>).</p>
<p><em>Whoever</em> believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+16%3A16&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-mk-16-1-20&tab=study" title="Read Mark 16:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 16:16</a>).</p>
<p><em>Whoever</em> believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A36&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-jn-3-1-36&tab=study" title="Read John 3:36 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:36</a>).</p>
<p><em>Whoever</em> drinks the water I give him will never thirst (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A14&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-jn-4-1-54&tab=study" title="Read John 4:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 4:14</a>).</p>
<p><em>Whoever</em> comes to me I will never drive away (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A37&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-jn-6-1-71&tab=study" title="Read John 6:37 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 6:37</a>).</p>
<p><em>Whoever</em> lives and believes in me will never die (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A26&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-jn-11-1-57&tab=study" title="Read John 11:26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 11:26</a>).</p>
<p><em>Whoever</em> is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+22%3A17&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-rev-21-1-22-21&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 22:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 22:17</a>).</p>
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<p>The downturns of life can create such a sad state of affairs that we wonder if God still wants us. But God’s “whoever” policy has a “however” benefit. Just ask <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A19-31&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Parable-Rich-Man-Lazarus&tab=study" title="Read Luke 16:19-31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lazarus, the street sleeper</a> with dogs licking his sores. There’s no need to clean up or climb up. Just look up. God takes you however he finds you.</p>
<p>This policy also features a “whenever” clause. <em>Whenever</em> you hear God’s voice, he welcomes your response. Sometimes we think the invitation has expired. We’ve waited too long. But just ask the last-minute vineyard workers in Jesus’ parable who were paid the same wages as the all-day workers: God offers 11th-hour grace.</p>
<p></p><center><strong>[<a title="Sign up to receive the once-a-week free email devotional, An Encouraging Word from Max Lucado" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/encouragingword/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up to receive the once-a-week free email devotional, <em>An Encouraging Word from Max Lucado</em></a>]</strong></center>
<p>We may struggle with such a thought. A last-minute confessor receives the same grace as a lifetime servant? Doesn’t seem fair. But request grace with your dying breath, and God hears your prayer. <em>Whoever</em> means “whenever.”</p>
<p>And there’s one more clause: <em>whoever</em> means “wherever.” <em>Wherever</em> you are, you’re not too far to come home. Just ask <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015%3A11-32&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Parable-Forgiving-Father&tab=study" title="Read Luke 15:11-32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the prodigal son</a>. We may lose sobriety, solvency, and sanity. We may lose jobs and chances, youth and vigor, idealism and dreams. But we never lose our place on God’s “whoever” list.</p>
<p><em>Whoever</em>—God’s wonderful word of welcome.</p>
<p>No status too low. No hour too late. No place too far. However. Whenever. Wherever.</p>
<p><em>Whoever</em> includes you . . . forever.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/max-lucado-3-16-obs-registration/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/02111202/Max-Lucado-3-16-thin-banner.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to join the free 3:16—The Numbers of Hope Online Bible Study
with Max Lucado" width="90%" /></a></p>
<p>Taken from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/3-16?sortBy=PROD_FGproducts_recently_ordered_count_desc&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>3:16—The Numbers of Hope</em></a> by Max Lucado Copyright © February 2022 by Max Lucado. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. <a href="https://www.MaxLucado.com" title="Visit www.MaxLucado.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.MaxLucado.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Bio:</strong> <a title="Max Lucado" href="https://maxlucado.com/about-max/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Max Lucado</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/MaxLucado" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" title="Max Lucado Twitter stream" target="_blank">@MaxLucado</a>) is a San Antonio pastor and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/max-lucado?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Browse books by Max Lucado in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank">bestselling author</a>. His most recent book is <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/3-16?sortBy=PROD_FGproducts_recently_ordered_count_desc&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>3:16—The Numbers of Hope</em></a> (February 2022, Thomas Nelson) and has a <a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/max-lucado-3-16-obs-registration/" title="Sign up to join the free 3:16—The Numbers of Hope Online Bible Study with Max Lucado" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">free Online Bible Study</a> on it. He is also the host of the Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast. Visit his website at <a href="https://www.MaxLucado.com" title="Visit www.MaxLucado.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.MaxLucado.com</a>.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/gods-whoever-policy/">God’s Whoever Policy</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6925833
2022-03-18T01:45:00-12:00
2022-03-18T05:15:07-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of March 13, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/weekly-brief-week-of-march-13-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of March 13, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6924693
2022-03-16T22:00:00-12:00
2022-03-17T02:00:50-12:00
Our Daily Bread University Videos Teach You the Bible on Bible Gateway
<p><a href="https://odbu.org/" title="Visit Our Daily Bread University" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Our Daily Bread University</a> instructional videos are available for your free viewing as you read Scripture on Bible Gateway. Here is a list of passages where you can find them:</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=christian-university/introduction-to-the-old-testament&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/15162906/Christian-University-Videos-Intro-to-the-OT.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Our Daily Bread University video, Introduction to the Old Testament" width="53%" /></a></p>
<h3>Introduction to the Old Testament</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=christian-university/introduction-to-the-old-testament&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Introduction to the Old Testament, on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Introduction to the New Testament</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&resource_entry=christian-university/introduction-to-the-new-testament&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Introduction to the New Testament, at Matthew 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
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<h3>Old Testament Introduction</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-introduction&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament Introduction, at Genesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Old Testament: Beginnings to Settlement</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-beginnings-to-settlement&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament: Beginnings to Settlement, at Genesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-beginnings-to-settlement&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament: Beginnings to Settlement, at Exodus 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-beginnings-to-settlement&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament: Beginnings to Settlement, at Numbers 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Numbers 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-beginnings-to-settlement&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament: Beginnings to Settlement, at Joshua 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Old Testament: Kings Through Exile</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-kings-through-exile&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament: Kings Through Exile, at 1 Samuel 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-kings-through-exile&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament: Kings Through Exile, at 2 Samuel 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-kings-through-exile&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament: Kings Through Exile, at 1 Kings 1—1 Kings 11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 1:1–1 Kings 11:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+12&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-kings-through-exile&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament: Kings Through Exile, at 1 Kings 12—2 Kings 25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 12:1–2 Kings 25:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-kings-through-exile&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament: Kings Through Exile, at Ezra 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezra 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-kings-through-exile&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament: Kings Through Exile, at Nehemiah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nehemiah 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3>The Old Testament Story</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-old-testament-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Old Testament Story, at Genesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-old-testament-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Old Testament Story, at Exodus 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-old-testament-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Old Testament Story, at Numbers 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Numbers 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-old-testament-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Old Testament Story, at Joshua 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-old-testament-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Old Testament Story, at Judges 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-old-testament-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Old Testament Story, at 1 Samuel 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-old-testament-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Old Testament Story, at 2 Samuel 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-old-testament-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Old Testament Story, at 1 Kings 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-old-testament-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Old Testament Story, at 2 Kings 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Kings 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-old-testament-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Old Testament Story, at Ezra 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezra 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-old-testament-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Old Testament Story, at Nehemiah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nehemiah 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Leviticus 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leviticus 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Deuteronomy 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Ruth 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ruth 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Esther 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Esther 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at 1 Chronicles on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at 2 Chronicles on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Job 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Psalm 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Proverbs 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Ecclesiastes 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Songs+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Song of Songs 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Song of Songs 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Isaiah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Jeremiah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Lamentations 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lamentations 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Ezekiel 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezekiel 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Daniel 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daniel 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Hosea 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hosea 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Joel 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joel 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Amos 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amos 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Obadiah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Obadiah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Obadiah 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Jonah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jonah 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Micah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Micah 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nahum+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Nahum 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nahum 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Habakkuk 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Habakkuk 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Zephaniah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zephaniah 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Haggai+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Haggai 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Haggai 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Zechariah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zechariah 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Malachi 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Malachi 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<h3>The Beginnings Era</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-beginnings-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Beginnings Era, at Genesis 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-beginnings-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Beginnings Era, at Exodus 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-beginnings-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Beginnings Era, at Numbers 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Numbers 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Settlement Era</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-settlement-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Settlement Era, at Deuteronomy 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-settlement-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Settlement Era, at Joshua 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-settlement-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Settlement Era, at Judges 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judges 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-settlement-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Settlement Era, at Ruth 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ruth 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Kingdom Era</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-kingdom-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Kingdom Era, at 1 Samuel on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-kingdom-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Kingdom Era, at 2 Samuel 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-kingdom-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Kingdom Era, at 1 Kings 1–11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 1–11</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+12&resource_entry=christian-university/the-kingdom-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Kingdom Era, at 1 Kings 12–2 Kings 25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 12–2 Kings 25</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Exile and Reconstruction Era</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-exile-and-reconstruction-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Exile and Reconstruction Era, at Ezra 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezra 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-exile-and-reconstruction-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Exile and Reconstruction Era, at Nehemiah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nehemiah 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-exile-and-reconstruction-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Exile and Reconstruction Era, at Esther 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Esther 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Haggai+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-exile-and-reconstruction-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Exile and Reconstruction Era, at Haggai 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Haggai 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-exile-and-reconstruction-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Exile and Reconstruction Era, at Zechariah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zechariah 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-exile-and-reconstruction-era&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Exile and Reconstruction Era, at Malachi 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Malachi 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3>Old Testament Poetry</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-poetry&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament Poetry, at Psalm 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Songs+1&resource_entry=christian-university/old-testament-poetry&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Old Testament Poetry, at Song of Songs 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Song of Songs 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+1&resource_entry=christian-university/color-books-wisdom-poetry-books-and-prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Color Books, Wisdom/Poetry Books, and Prophetic Books, at Lamentations 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lamentations 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Wisdom Literature</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&resource_entry=christian-university/wisdom-literature&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Wisdom Literature, at Job 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1&resource_entry=christian-university/wisdom-literature&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Wisdom Literature, at Proverbs 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proverbs 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+1&resource_entry=christian-university/wisdom-literature&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Wisdom Literature, at Ecclesiastes 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Prophetic Books</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Prophetic Books, at Isaiah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+1&resource_entry=christian-university/prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Prophetic Books, at Jeremiah 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+1&resource_entry=christian-university/prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Prophetic Books, at Ezekiel 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezekiel 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+1&resource_entry=christian-university/prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Prophetic Books, at Daniel 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daniel 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+1&resource_entry=christian-university/prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Prophetic Books, at Hosea 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hosea 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+1&resource_entry=christian-university/prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Prophetic Books, at Amos 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amos 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk+1&resource_entry=christian-university/prophetic-books&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Prophetic Books, at Habakkuk 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Habakkuk 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<p></p><center>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/11/the-bible-table-of-contents/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Bible Table of Contents" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Bible Table of Contents</em></a>]</center>
<hr>
<h3>New Testament Introduction</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&resource_entry=christian-university/new-testament-introduction&tab=study" title="Watch the video, New Testament Introduction, at Matthew 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16-17&resource_entry=christian-university/new-testament-introduction&tab=study" title="Watch the video, New Testament Introduction, at John 3:16–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16–17</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A17&resource_entry=christian-university/new-testament-introduction&tab=study" title="Watch the video, New Testament Introduction, at 2 Corinthians 5:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:17</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>New Testament: The Gospels and Acts</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&resource_entry=christian-university/new-testament-the-gospels-and-acts&tab=study" title="Watch the video, New Testament: The Gospels and Acts, at Matthew 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&resource_entry=christian-university/new-testament-the-gospels-and-acts&tab=study" title="Watch the video, New Testament: The Gospels and Acts, at Mark 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&resource_entry=christian-university/new-testament-the-gospels-and-acts&tab=study" title="Watch the video, New Testament: The Gospels and Acts, at Luke 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&resource_entry=christian-university/new-testament-the-gospels-and-acts&tab=study" title="Watch the video, New Testament: The Gospels and Acts, at John 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&resource_entry=christian-university/new-testament-the-gospels-and-acts&tab=study" title="Watch the video, New Testament: The Gospels and Acts, at Acts 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>New Testament: Letters and Revelation</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&resource_entry=christian-university/new-testament-letters-and-revelation&tab=study" title="Watch the video, New Testament: Letters and Revelation, at Revelation 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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</center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<h3>The Gospels</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-gospels&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Gospels, at Matthew 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-gospels&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Gospels, at Mark 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-gospels&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Gospels, at Luke 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-gospels&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Gospels, at John 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Acts’ Story</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&resource_entry=christian-university/acts-story&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Acts' Story, at Acts 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3>Who is Jesus Christ?</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A63-65&resource_entry=christian-university/who-is-jesus-christ&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Who is Jesus Christ?, at Matthew 26:63-65 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 26:63–65</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+2%3A1&resource_entry=christian-university/who-is-jesus-christ&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Who is Jesus Christ?, at Mark 2:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 2:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A1&resource_entry=christian-university/who-is-jesus-christ&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Who is Jesus Christ?, at Philippians 2:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 2:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A6&resource_entry=christian-university/who-is-jesus-christ&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Who is Jesus Christ?, at Philippians 2:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 2:6</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A15-20&resource_entry=christian-university/who-is-jesus-christ&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Who is Jesus Christ?, at Colossians 1:15–20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 1:15–20</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1%3A1-4&resource_entry=christian-university/who-is-jesus-christ&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Who is Jesus Christ?, at Hebrews 1:1–4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 1:1–4</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+5%3A7&resource_entry=christian-university/who-is-jesus-christ&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Who is Jesus Christ?, at Hebrews 5:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 5:7</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Jesus’ Ministry</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A1&resource_entry=christian-university/jesus-ministry&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Jesus' Ministry, at Matthew 13:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 13:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4%3A1&resource_entry=christian-university/jesus-ministry&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Jesus' Ministry, at Mark 4:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 4:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+8%3A1&resource_entry=christian-university/jesus-ministry&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Jesus' Ministry, at Luke 8:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 8:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A36-38&resource_entry=christian-university/jesus-ministry&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Jesus' Ministry, at John 10:24-26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 10:24–26</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A32&resource_entry=christian-university/jesus-ministry&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Jesus' Ministry, at John 10:32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 10:32</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A36-38&resource_entry=christian-university/jesus-ministry&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Jesus' Ministry, at John 10:36-38 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 10:36–38</a>
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3>Paul’s Life and Ministry</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+13&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-life-and-ministry&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Life and Ministry, at Acts 13–28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 13–28</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Paul’s Epistles (Part 1)</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-i&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 1), at Romans 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-i&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 1), at 1 Corinthians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-i&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 1), at 2 Corinthians 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-i&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 1), at Galatians 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-i&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 1), at Ephesians 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-i&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 1), at Philippians 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Paul’s Epistles (Part 2)</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-ii&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 2), at Colossians 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-ii&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 2), at 1 Thessalonians 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Thessalonians 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Thessalonians+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-ii&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 2), at 2 Thessalonians 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Thessalonians 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-ii&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 2), at 1 Timothy 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Timothy 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-ii&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 2), at 2 Timothy 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-ii&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 2), at Titus 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Titus 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philemon+1&resource_entry=christian-university/pauls-epistles-part-ii&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Paul's Epistles (Part 2), at Philemon 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philemon 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3>Hebrews and the General Epistles</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1&resource_entry=christian-university/hebrews-and-the-general-epistles&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Hebrews and the General Epistles, at Hebrews 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&resource_entry=christian-university/hebrews-and-the-general-epistles&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Hebrews and the General Epistles, James 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1&resource_entry=christian-university/hebrews-and-the-general-epistles&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Hebrews and the General Epistles, at 1 Peter 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+1&resource_entry=christian-university/hebrews-and-the-general-epistles&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Hebrews and the General Epistles, at 2 Peter 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Peter 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1&resource_entry=christian-university/hebrews-and-the-general-epistles&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Hebrews and the General Epistles, at Jude 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jude 1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Johannine Letters</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-johannine-letters&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Johannine Letters, at 1 John 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+John+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-johannine-letters&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Johannine Letters, at 2 John 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 John 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=3+John+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-johannine-letters&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Johannine Letters, at 3 John 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">3 John 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&resource_entry=christian-university/the-johannine-letters&tab=study" title="Watch the video, The Johannine Letters, at Revelation 1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 1:1</a>
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3>Can We Really Trust the Bible?</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A16&resource_entry=christian-university/can-we-really-trust-the-bible&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Can We Really Trust the Bible, at 2 Timothy 3:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 3:16</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+1%3A20-21&resource_entry=christian-university/can-we-really-trust-the-bible&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Can We Really Trust the Bible, at 2 Peter 1:20-21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Peter 1:20–21</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+2%3A1&resource_entry=christian-university/can-we-really-trust-the-bible&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Can We Really Trust the Bible, at 1 Corinthians 2:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 2:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A17&resource_entry=christian-university/can-we-really-trust-the-bible&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Can We Really Trust the Bible, at 2 Corinthians 5:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:17</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why We Study the Bible</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A4-7&resource_entry=christian-university/why-we-study-the-bible&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Why We Study the Bible, at Deuteronomy 6:4–7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 6:4–7</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A16-17&resource_entry=christian-university/why-we-study-the-bible&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Why We Study the Bible, at 2 Timothy 3:16–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 3:16–17</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A2&resource_entry=christian-university/why-we-study-the-bible&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Why We Study the Bible, on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 2:2</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Getting Started</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A22&resource_entry=christian-university/getting-started&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Getting Started, at James 1:22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James 1:22</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Macro-Observation</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&resource_entry=christian-university/macro-observation&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Macro-Observation, on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 1:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40&resource_entry=christian-university/macro-observation&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Macro-Observation, at Isaiah 40 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 40</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A1-2&resource_entry=christian-university/macro-observation&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Macro-Observation, at Romans 12:1–2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 12:1–2</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Micro-Observation</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12&resource_entry=christian-university/micro-observation&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Micro-Observation, at Genesis 12:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 12:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+2%3A12&resource_entry=christian-university/micro-observation&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Micro-Observation, at 1 Corinthians 2:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 2:12</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Interpreting a Bible Passage</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A34&resource_entry=christian-university/interpreting-a-bible-passage&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Interpreting a Bible Passage, at Psalm 119:34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 119:34</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+4%3A1&resource_entry=christian-university/interpreting-a-bible-passage&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Interpreting a Bible Passage, at Jonah 4:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jonah 4:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A25-26&resource_entry=christian-university/interpreting-a-bible-passage&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Interpreting a Bible Passage, at John 14:25–26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 14:25–26</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+16%3A1&resource_entry=christian-university/interpreting-a-bible-passage&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Interpreting a Bible Passage, at Acts 16:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 16:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A15&resource_entry=christian-university/interpreting-a-bible-passage&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Interpreting a Bible Passage, at 2 Timothy 2:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 2:15</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A6&resource_entry=christian-university/interpreting-a-bible-passage&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Interpreting a Bible Passage, at Hebrews 11:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 11:6</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Hermeneutics and Application</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1%3A2&resource_entry=christian-university/hermeneutics-and-application&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Hermeneutics and Application, at Joshua 1:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joshua 1:2</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A34&resource_entry=christian-university/hermeneutics-and-application&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Hermeneutics and Application, on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 119:34</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A1&resource_entry=christian-university/hermeneutics-and-application&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Hermeneutics and Application, at Matthew 22:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 22:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+8%3A1&resource_entry=christian-university/hermeneutics-and-application&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Hermeneutics and Application, at 1 Corinthians 8:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 8:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+4%3A1&resource_entry=christian-university/hermeneutics-and-application&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Hermeneutics and Application, at 2 Timothy 4:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 4:1</a> • <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A22&resource_entry=christian-university/hermeneutics-and-application&tab=study" title="Watch the video, Hermeneutics and Application, at James 1:22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James 1:22</a>
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<p></p><center>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/introduction-to-the-bible/" title="Read Bible Gateway Blog posts introducing you to the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read Bible Gateway Blog posts introducing you to the Bible</a>]</center>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/our-daily-bread-university-videos-teach-you-the-bible-on-bible-gateway/">Our Daily Bread University Videos Teach You the Bible on Bible Gateway</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6924116
2022-03-16T05:14:33-12:00
2022-03-16T08:00:26-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Assurance From Jesus
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two-hundredth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><em>“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.… All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A15-17%2C+25-27&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/John.14.27-John.14.30&tab=study" title="Read John 14:15-17, 25-27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 14:15-17, 25-27</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/30145049/HowToLiveTheBibleLastSupperVector.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Silhouette illustration of the Last Supper." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-66998"></span></p>
<p>There must have been sorrow, anxiety, and hope in the air as Jesus talked with his disciples about his upcoming departure. This Upper Room Discourse in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the Gospel of John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospel of John</a> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13&resource_entry=bible-panorama/John.13&tab=study" title="Read John 13-17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">chapters 13–17</a>) was Jesus’ final word to his disciples on the night he was betrayed.</p>
<p>In it, he spoke about “another advocate” who would come to them. This is a word that means counselor, comforter, one who comes alongside. Thinking of God the Holy Spirit as our advocate is indeed one of the most comforting thoughts a human being could have. Who else would you want with you when you go through life’s victories and struggles? Who else could work in the innermost recesses of our thoughts and feelings, helping us make good choices and have a proper disposition, and giving us confidence when we need it?</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>When Jesus said “another advocate,” he was also teaching his disciples that what he was doing among them and for them was to be that kind of advocate. He had filled them with truth and hope, with a vision of who God is and a humbling concept of who they were. Now he would leave them—a sorrowful prospect. But in all of these ways, God would still be with them.</p>
<p>None of us were in that upper room; yet if Jesus stood among us today, he would give us the same assurance.</p>
<p><strong>PONDER THIS</strong></p>
<p>What kind of counsel or comfort or advocacy do you need from God at this time in your life?<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/how-to-live-the-bible-assurance-from-jesus/">How to Live the Bible — Assurance From Jesus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6922860
2022-03-15T00:49:55-12:00
2022-03-15T05:15:09-12:00
Why Should I Trust the Bible?: An Interview with William D. Mounce
<p><a href="https://www.billmounce.com/about" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/04150115/Bill-Mounce.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="William D. Mounce" width="25%" /></a>Why should anyone believe what the Bible says? Is it historically reliable? Does the Bible conflict with science? Did Jesus actually live?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="https://www.billmounce.com/about" title="William D. Mounce" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">William D. Mounce</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/billmounce" title="William D. Mounce Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@billmounce</a>) about his book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/why-i-trust-the-bible-answers-to-real-questions-and-doubts-people-have-about-the-bible?variant=39294344102024&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Why I Trust the Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Why I Trust the Bible: Answers to Real Questions and Doubts People Have about the Bible</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2021).</p>
<p><strong>Why is this book needed now?</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/why-i-trust-the-bible-answers-to-real-questions-and-doubts-people-have-about-the-bible?variant=39294344102024&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/16205414/Why_I_Trust_the_Bible.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Why I Trust the Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Dr. William D. Mounce:</strong> When culture decides to attack Christianity, historically it has started with the authority and uniqueness of the Bible. The same is true now. From <em>The New York Times</em> bestsellers to fictional novels that many treat as historically accurate, YouTube debates, late night talk show hosts, and liberal teachers and atheists teaching freshman Bible classes in the universities, a war is raging on the Bible, perhaps in ways never before experienced. Thousands of people are losing their trust in the Bible and hence in Jesus.</p>
<p><span id="more-65182"></span></p>
<p><strong>Why do you start the book by examining whether Jesus was an historical figure?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Dr. William D. Mounce:</strong> I arranged the passages chronologically, so the historical existence of Jesus is ground zero. It was a bit frustrating to start with this topic since it’s the weakest of the arguments against the Bible, but I did write each section as independent of the other sections, so the first chapter can be skipped.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/why-i-trust-the-bible-answers-to-real-questions-and-doubts-people-have-about-the-bible-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39416322523272&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/16205427/Why_I_Trust_the_Bible_audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Why I Trust the Bible audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>How do you answer the skeptic who says <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/what-are-the-gospels-2/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Are the Gospels?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Gospels</a> were written much later than Jesus and therefore cannot be reliable?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Dr. William D. Mounce:</strong> I’d start by asking them why they think they’re later? Has the person actually studied the issue, or are they just repeating something they heard? How they respond tells you how serious the question really is. By almost any account, the Gospels are all first century documents, which places them much closer to the events they describe compared to other historical documents. And there would have been no reason for the Gospels to be written earlier since the apostles lived for several decades.</p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/73Rk2HdvEts" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center><br>
<center><a href="https://www.billmounce.com/trust" title="Watch videos by Bill Mounce discussing his book, Why I Trust the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Watch videos by Bill Mounce discussing his book, <em>Why I Trust the Bible</em></a></center>
<p><strong>Is the teaching of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">apostle Paul</a> that he communicates in his New Testament books compatible with the Jesus of the Gospels?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Dr. William D. Mounce:</strong> Absolutely. Jesus and Paul address significantly different situations with significantly different goals, but they’re fully compatible. Jesus was ushering in the kingdom of God and teaching how to live within that kingdom. Paul was addressing specific questions that were different from Jesus’ situation.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><strong>People say the Bible is filled with contradictions. How do you respond to that?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Dr. William D. Mounce:</strong> Ask them for one. As before, if they don’t know of a problem passage, then this is not their real issue with the Bible. There are many differences among the Gospels, just as there are differences when two people tell the same story about the same event. The core is usually the same and some of the details vary, but the details are compatible, not contradictory. The Gospel writers tell us they can’t tell us everything (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A1-4&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5624-witnesses-Jesus-Christ&tab=study" title="Read Luke 1:1–4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 1:1–4</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20%3A30-31&resource_entry=ivp-nt/John-Declares-Purpose-Writing&tab=study" title="Read John 20:30-31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 20:30-31</a>), but they have themes that control what stories they tell, what details they include, and how they arrange their material. Harmonization asks the question: “Can you conceive of an historical situation in which both accounts are accurate?” The answer is always, yes.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/08/bible-word-study-made-easy-a-conversation-with-dr-bill-mounce-video-1-getting-started/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Bible Word Study Made Easy: A Conversation with Dr. Bill Mounce—Video #1 Getting Started" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Bible Word Study Made Easy: A Conversation with Dr. Bill Mounce—Video #1 Getting Started</em></a>]</p>
<p><strong>Why are there 27 books in the New Testament; no more and no less?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Dr. William D. Mounce:</strong> The early church looked at issues of authorship, agreement in theology, and if other churches agreed as to which books should be included. But the fundamental question was, do we hear God’s authoritative voice? Twenty-one of the 27 books were recognized as being from God as soon as they were written, mostly based on apostolic authorship (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the Gospel of Matthew on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the Gospel of John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John</a>, Paul’s 13, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of 1 Peter on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of 1 John on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Revelation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation</a>), or the author’s relationship to an apostle (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the Gospel of Mark on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the Gospel of Luke on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Acts on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts</a>). These books became the core against which the other books were measured, and within a few decades were all either accepted or rejected.</p>
<p><strong>Since only copied manuscripts of the original texts have survived, how can we trust that they haven’t been corrupted?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Dr. William D. Mounce:</strong> We’re blessed to have about 5,600 Greek manuscripts (starting from the second century), 10,000 Latin manuscripts, many other ancient translations, lectionaries, and about a million biblical citations from the early church leaders. As we compare all these texts, we’ve come to the conclusion that we have at least 99% of the original text. The remaining 1% contain no significant biblical doctrine.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><strong>The Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek over centuries. Today we have <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/" title="Read the Bible in multiple translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">multiple English translations</a> of the Bible. What are the different methods of translation used in producing English Bibles and can they be trusted?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Dr. William D. Mounce:</strong> Translations fall on a spectrum from those trying to reproduce the Greek and Hebrew words into English, to those trying to reproduce the author’s meaning. All translations are interpretive, and the only literal Bibles are in Hebrew and Greek. But all translations have a philosophy they try to follow and which gives them a consistent interpretation. Some translations are more comfortable approximating the words and leaving more of the interpretation up to the reader. Others place more emphasis on conveying the original author’s meaning. So when John says, “Everyone who has been born of God does not sin” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+3%3A9&version=CSB&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6030-sin-avoidance&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 3:9 (CSB) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 3:9 CSB</a>), do we simply repeat the words and give the mistaken impression that Christians don’t and can’t sin? Or do we understand that John is talking about living in constant, unrepentant sin, and translate “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+3%3A9&version=ESV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6030-sin-avoidance&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 3:9 (ESV) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ESV</a>)? What you’ll find is that the translations rarely disagree with each other; rather, one is more general and the other is more specific, but they are compatible. All major translations will lead you to the cross; none will lead you to heresy. They can be trusted.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Mounce-Reverse-Interlinear-New-Testament/#vinfo" title="Read the Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the <em>Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament</em> on Bible Gateway</a>]</p>
<p><strong>Why do you love the Bible?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Dr. William D. Mounce:</strong> I love the Bible because I love its author.</p>
<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Dr. William D. Mounce:</strong> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A33&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Matt.6.33&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6:33 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6:33</a>—“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This verse gives me direction in all things.</p>
<p>My second favorite is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A27&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8296-love-nature&tab=study" title="Read Luke 10:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 10:27</a>—“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your life, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/why-i-trust-the-bible-answers-to-real-questions-and-doubts-people-have-about-the-bible?variant=39294344102024&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Why I Trust the Bible in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Why I Trust the Bible</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Bill (<a href="https://linktr.ee/billmounce" title="See Bill Mounce's webpages" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">linktree</a>) is the founder and president of <a href="https://www.biblicaltraining.org/" title="Visit BiblicalTraining.org" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">BiblicalTraining.org</a>, serves on the <a href="https://www.thenivbible.com/about-the-niv/meet-the-translators/" title="Learn about the Committee for Bible Translation" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Committee for Bible Translation</a> (which is responsible for the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New International Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NIV translation</a> of the Bible), and has written the bestselling biblical Greek textbook, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/basics-of-biblical-greek-grammar-fourth-edition?variant=13765182062703&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Basics of Biblical Greek in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Basics of Biblical Greek</em></a>, and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/search?q=mounce&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="See books by Bill Mounce in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">many other Greek resources</a>. He was the New Testament chair for the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">English Standard Version</a>. He speaks and blogs regularly on issues relating to trusting the Bible, the Pastoral Epistles (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of 1 Timothy on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Timothy</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of 2 Timothy on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Titus on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Titus</a>), <a href="https://billmounce.com/blogs/monday-with-mounce" title="Read Bill Mounce's blog post, Monday with Mounce" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Greek</a>, and issues of <a href="https://www.biblicaltraining.org/blog" title="Read Bill Mounce's blog" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">spiritual growth</a>. Bill was also a preaching pastor, a professor of New Testament, and director of the Greek Language Program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a professor at Azusa Pacific University. See <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BillMounce/featured" title="See Bill Mounce's YouTube channel" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Bill’s YouTube channel</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
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<p class="">
</p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/why-should-i-trust-the-bible-an-interview-with-william-d-mounce/">Why Should I Trust the Bible?: An Interview with William D. Mounce</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6921717
2022-03-14T02:00:00-12:00
2022-03-14T02:15:21-12:00
#John316Day is a Day to Share the Most Famous Verse in the Bible
<p><a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/max-lucado-3-16-obs-registration/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/14095634/John316_1080x1080_v1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to join the free 3:16—The Numbers of Hope Online Bible Study
with Max Lucado" width="35%" /></a></p>
<p></p><center><strong>March 16 will be celebrated by sharing the love of God through the most famous verse in the Bible</strong></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em>Text it. Post it. Tweet it. Say it to someone today. It’s <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=#John316Day&src=typed_query&f=live" title="Read the Tweets in the #John316Day thread" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">#John316Day</a>! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”</em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>For more than a decade, March 16th (3/16) has been a day for many Christians to share with people around the world the good news declared in the Bible in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&resource_entry=nivac-sample/John.3.16-John.3.21&tab=study" title="Read John 3:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/max-lucado-3-16-obs-registration/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/02111215/Max-Lucado-3-16-vertical-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to join the free 3:16—The Numbers of Hope Online Bible Study
with Max Lucado" width="25%" /></a></p>
<p>The well-known verse reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/jesus-through-the-bible-the-one-who-gave-himself-for-us&tab=study" title="Read John 3:16 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NIV</a>).</p>
<p>The origin of the unofficial celebration is unknown, but some media outlets trace it as far back to 2011 when a K-LOVE radio station listener suggested that the day, March 16, should be “John 3:16 Day,” in honor of the biblical verse that affirms the hope we have because of Jesus.</p>
<p></p><center><strong>[<a title="Sign up to receive the once-a-week free email devotional, An Encouraging Word from Max Lucado" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/encouragingword/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up to receive the once-a-week free email devotional, <em>An Encouraging Word from Max Lucado</em></a>]</strong></center>
<p>This year, popular Christian websites <a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/" title="Visit FaithGateway.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FaithGateway.com</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/" title="Visit BibleGateway.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BibleGateway.com</a> are partnering with the nation’s pastor and <em>The New York Times</em> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/max-lucado?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Browse books by Max Lucado in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank">bestselling author</a> <a title="Max Lucado" href="https://maxlucado.com/about-max/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Max Lucado</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/MaxLucado" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" title="Max Lucado Twitter stream" target="_blank">@MaxLucado</a>), along with <a href="https://www.klove.com/" title="Visit KLOVE.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">K-LOVE Radio</a>, to encourage Christians to spread the John 3:16 message by simply posting the verse to social media, texting contacts, or sharing the verse in some creative way!</p>
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<center>When you become a member of <strong><a title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>, you’ll have instant access to more than 50 Bible reference resources, including the <strong><em>NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible</em></strong>. <a title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Try it free right now!</a>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/the-magnificence-of-john-316-an-interview-with-max-lucado/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Magnificence of John 3:16—An Interview with Max Lucado" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Magnificence of John 3:16—An Interview with Max Lucado</em></a>]</p>
<p>Max Lucado is also inviting people around the world to <strong>join the Online Bible Study</strong> of the verse <strong>starting March 21, 2022</strong>. Registration is free and information can be found at <a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/max-lucado-3-16-obs-registration/" title="Sign up to join the free 3:16—The Numbers of Hope Online Bible Study
with Max Lucado" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">faithgateway.com/316</a>.</p>
<p>Lucado’s 3:16 Online Bible Study is based on his book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/3-16?sortBy=PROD_FGproducts_recently_ordered_count_desc&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>3:16: The Numbers of Hope</em></strong></a> (Thomas Nelson, 2022), which has sold more than one million copies worldwide and is translated into 25 languages. The study is now entirely rewritten and re-filmed for 2022 with a more focused and deeply personal study of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/year-in-review/2021/" title="See the top Bible verse searches for 2021 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">most-loved verse in the Bible</a>—John 3:16.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/max-lucado-3-16-obs-registration/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/02111202/Max-Lucado-3-16-thin-banner.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to join the free 3:16—The Numbers of Hope Online Bible Study
with Max Lucado" width="90%" /></a></p>
<p>“When <em>3:16</em> released in 2007, we had no idea it would be so well received… Numerous bookstores, church denominations, and congregations spent focused time examining this life-giving promise. Prisons. Small groups. Personal studies. Stories came from readers around the world who found faith in this “26-word parade of hope,” whose words have been framed, T-shirted, tattooed, monogrammed, and bannered,” writes Max Lucado in the book’s introduction.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/3-16?sortBy=PROD_FGproducts_recently_ordered_count_desc&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/18162717/3-16-Lucado.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>“Every time I recall these words, they are as fresh and as stunning as my first encounter with them. The mind-bending awareness of God’s limitless love, his incalculable sacrifice, and the priceless teaching at the core. How can we not review it again and again? I want this generation, and all who come after, to look closely at the key promise of God and choose the gift beyond all gifts,” says Lucado.</p>
<p>The Bible verse <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/12/sorcery-is-one-of-the-most-search-bible-terms-on-bible-gateway-in-2021/" title="Read this Bible Gateway Blog post" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16 is the most searched for Scripture in the Bible</a> of the last decade, according to BibleGateway.com, the most visited Christian website in the world.</p>
<p>The verse is printed at the bottom of burger chain In-N-Out’s beverage cups and has been printed on the shopping bags at retailer Forever 21. Country Music Star Keith Urban wrote a song about 3:16, so did Rapper Wyclef Jean. The verse has been featured in movies, sporting events, and on racing cars.</p>
<p>In an <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/the-magnificence-of-john-316-an-interview-with-max-lucado/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Magnificence of John 3:16—An Interview with Max Lucado" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">interview with BibleGateway.com</a>, Max Lucado reflected on the importance of the verse in his life: “John 3:16 has meant a lot to me in my life because it’s so concise. It’s one of those Scriptures that summarizes all the core doctrines of the Christian faith…. Taking a deeper look at John 3:16 allows us to fall in love with it and appreciate how brilliantly these 26-words articulate the big ideas of the Bible. I think that’s why it has meant so much to me all these years.”</p>
<p>“We’re grateful for this opportunity to come alongside Max and help share the truth of John 3:16 with millions throughout the US and around the globe,” said K-LOVE CEO, Bill Reeves. “Partnering with Max on this study enables us to give our audiences yet another way to go deeper into God’s Word and promises.”</p>
<p></p><center><strong>Max Lucado’s 3:16 Online Bible Study, sponsored by K-LOVE, FaithGateway.com, and BibleGateway.com, is <a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/max-lucado-3-16-obs-registration/" title="Sign up to join the free 3:16—The Numbers of Hope Online Bible Study with Max Lucado" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">open for free registration</a> and begins March 21, 2022.</strong></center>
<p><strong>About Max Lucado</strong><br>
Max Lucado is a pastor, speaker, and bestselling author with more than 145 million products in print that have been translated in 45 languages and distributed in 80 countries worldwide. Max entered the ministry in 1978. As a writer, Max is known for combining poetic storytelling and homespun humor with the heart of a pastor. He’s been dubbed “America’s Pastor” by <em>Christianity Today</em>, and “The Best Preacher in America” by <em>Reader’s Digest</em> and is the recipient of the Evangelical Publishers Association Pinnacle Award for outstanding contribution of his writing, both to the publishing industry and to society at large.</p>
<p><strong>About FaithGateway</strong><br>
FaithGateway<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/72x72/2122.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="™" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> is an online Christian community dedicated to helping people grow and share their faith and is owned and operated by HarperCollins Christian Publishing.</p>
<p><strong>About Bible Gateway</strong><br>
As the internet’s largest Christian website, BibleGateway.com seeks to encourage Bible reading and scriptural understanding among Bible readers everywhere. Celebrating more than 25 years online, Bible Gateway offers free access to the Bible in more than 80 languages and 200 different translations.</p>
<p><strong>About K-LOVE </strong><br>
K-LOVE creates compelling media designed to inspire and encourage audiences to have a meaningful relationship with Christ. K-LOVE is listener supported and delivers positive and encouraging music and messages through nearly 600 signals across all 50 states, the K-LOVE App, smart devices, klove.com, and K-LOVE On Demand. For more information on K-LOVE, please visit klove.com.</p>
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<center>Expand your Bible reading experience using Bible Gateway’s valuable library of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/resource-library-profile" title="See the list of resources available to you when you become a member of Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more than 50 top reference resources</a> by becoming a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>.</center>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/john316day-is-a-day-to-share-the-most-famous-verse-in-the-bible/">#John316Day is a Day to Share the Most Famous Verse in the Bible</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6919916
2022-03-11T02:45:00-12:00
2022-03-11T07:15:03-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of March 6, 2022
<p><strong><em>Read this week’s</em> Bible Gateway Weekly Brief <em>newsletter</em></strong><br>
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<center>Get biblically wise and spiritually fit. Become a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Try it right now!</a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/weekly-brief-week-of-march-6-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of March 6, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6918808
2022-03-09T09:41:19-12:00
2022-03-10T04:15:09-12:00
Zondervan Releases The Jesus Bible Artist Editions
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-jesus-bible-niv-edition-comfort-print?variant=39537063886984&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/09144852/Jesus-Bible-Artist-Edition-NIV-gray.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Jesus Bible Artist Edition NIV in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="40%" /></a>Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, announces the release of <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-jesus-bible-niv-edition-comfort-print?variant=39537063886984&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Jesus Bible Artist Edition NIV in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>The Jesus Bible Artist Edition</em>, New International Version (NIV)</strong></a> and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-jesus-bible-esv-edition?variant=39537064116360&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Jesus Bible Artist Edition ESV in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>The Jesus Bible Artist Edition</em>, English Standard Version (ESV)</strong></a> (available April 12, 2022) (Zondervan, 2022), featuring cover designs by award-winning designer and illustrator, <a href="http://www.joshuanoom.com/info" title="Joshua Noom" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Joshua Noom</a>.</p>
<p>“We’re thrilled to have Joshua contribute his design talent to the bestselling <em>The Jesus Bible</em>,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “His unique, on-trend design style compliments the timeless message of the Bible. Our readers will enjoy discovering the overarching story of God’s Word interwoven into the intricate details of this specially created design.”</p>
<p><span id="more-66753"></span></p>
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<center>When you become a member of <strong><a title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>, you’ll have instant access to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/resource-library-profile" title="See the list of Bible reference resources available to you with your Bible Gateway Plus membership" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">more than 50 Bible reference resources</a>, including <strong><em>The Jesus Bible</em></strong>. <a title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Try it free right now!</a>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-jesus-bible-esv-edition?variant=39537064116360&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/09144844/Jesus-Bible-Artist-Edition-ESV-peach.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of The Jesus Bible Artist Edition ESV in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="40%" /></a></p>
<p>Each Bible features one-of-a-kind cover designs by Florida-based artist, Joshua Noom. Noom, a 2021 Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Top Shelf Book Cover Award Winner, specializes in bold illustrations with organic-feeling typography. Readers may be familiar with his work from past brand collaborations with: Old Spice, Burton Snowboarding, Sony Music, and Warner Music Groups.</p>
<p>These special edition Bibles feature:</p>
<ul>
<li> Special edition featuring cover art designed by Joshua Noom</li>
<li> The complete text of the New International Version or the English Standard Version</li>
<li> Introduction by Louie Giglio</li>
<li> 66 book introductions highlight the story of Jesus in every book<a href="http://www.joshuanoom.com/info" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/09144835/Joshua-Noom.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Joshua Noom" width="28%" /></a>
</li>
<li> Six compelling essays on the grand narrative of Scripture guide you to treasure Jesus and encourage you to faithfully follow him as you participate in his story</li>
<li> Over 300 full-page articles and nearly 700 sidebar articles reveal Jesus throughout all of Scripture</li>
<li> Room for notes and journaling throughout</li>
<li> Concordance</li>
<li> Two satin ribbon markers</li>
<li> Exclusive Zondervan Comfort Print typeface (NIV-only)</li>
</ul>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pXd8-uM3ERI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
<p><strong>About Zondervan</strong><br>
Zondervan (<a href="https://twitter.com/Zondervan" title="Zondervan Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@Zondervan</a>), a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is located in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.zondervan.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Visit the Zondervan website" target="_blank">www.zondervan.com</a>.</p>
<p><strong>About Comfort Print®</strong><br>
Zondervan Bibles teamed up with 2K/Denmark, the world’s foremost Bible typeface foundry, to create exclusive Comfort Print® Bible fonts. Comfort Print Bibles are easy to read at any size because the typeface was designed to be both efficient and readable. Zondervan Bibles believes that the beauty of the message should be reflected in the physical form of the book. Choosing the right typeface is one significant element in creating beautiful Bibles. To learn more about Comfort Print® fonts, visit <a href="http://www.ComfortPrintBibles.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.ComfortPrintBibles.com</a>.</p>
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<center>Get biblically wise and spiritually fit. Become a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/zondervan-releases-the-jesus-bible-artist-editions/">Zondervan Releases <em>The Jesus Bible Artist Editions</em></a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6917999
2022-03-09T04:09:57-12:00
2022-03-09T05:45:25-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Why the Cross Matters
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one-hundred-ninety-ninth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><em>“Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised…. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+6%3A12-15&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Position-Paul-Way-Cross&tab=study" title="Read Galatians 6:12-15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 6:12-15</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/08164241/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Crucifixion.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Illustration of Christ's crucifixion in silhouette." width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-66729"></span></p>
<p>Paul wrote this letter, which we call the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introduction to the book of Galatians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Galatians</a>, to certain Christians who had begun their new spiritual life with faith in Jesus, but then were told by others that Paul’s message of grace was horribly incomplete and probably dangerous. They taught that it’s not enough to believe in Jesus and follow him; you must also continue to observe those hundreds of regulations in the Old Testament. Even if you’re a Gentile, you should still observe the dietary laws, the sacrifices, and circumcision, they said.</p>
<p>Paul saw this as a spiritual emergency, and he wrote this letter to warn these believers not to be bewitched by those legalists.</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>There’s one way to God. Let the things in your life that should die, die. Let strivings die, let legalism die, let love for the world die, let personal spiritual pride die. Resign it all, give it all over, let it be crucified as Jesus let himself be crucified, and you will be free.</p>
<p>Then we’ll have something to boast about. We’ll brag about Jesus Christ. We’ll shout his name to the world. We’ll fill up with a pride not in ourselves, but in him. And we’ll look at his cross and see it as a moment of glory, not shame.</p>
<p><strong>PONDER THIS</strong></p>
<p>Are there things you have been boasting about in your life? What needs to happen for you to boast only about Christ?<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
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<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/how-to-live-the-bible-why-the-cross-matters/">How to Live the Bible — Why the Cross Matters</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6916898
2022-03-07T23:19:00-12:00
2022-03-08T02:45:13-12:00
The Magnificence of John 3:16—An Interview with Max Lucado
<p><a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/max-lucado-3-16-obs-registration/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/02111215/Max-Lucado-3-16-vertical-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to join the free 3:16—The Numbers of Hope Online Bible Study
with Max Lucado" width="25%" /></a>When we read the familiar verse <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NKJV;NIV" title="Read John 3:16 (NKJV and NIV in parallel) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a>, do we ponder in awe of how deep, wide, long, and high God’s love is for us? Do we consider the magnificent living hope we have through Jesus’ death and resurrection? Do we rest in the assurance that salvation is a wonderous gift from God, not something we can earn?</p>
<p></p><center><strong>[<a title="Sign up to receive the once-a-week free email devotional, An Encouraging Word from Max Lucado" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/encouragingword/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up to receive the once-a-week free email devotional, <em>An Encouraging Word from Max Lucado</em></a>]</strong></center>
<p>In this Q&A, <a title="Max Lucado" href="https://maxlucado.com/about-max/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Max Lucado</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/MaxLucado" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" title="Max Lucado Twitter stream" target="_blank">@MaxLucado</a>) talks about his book and 5-session streaming video Bible study, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/3-16?sortBy=PROD_FGproducts_recently_ordered_count_desc&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>3:16: The Numbers of Hope</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022).</p>
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<p><strong>In this study of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/jesus-through-the-bible-the-one-who-gave-himself-for-us&tab=study" title="Read John 3:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a>, you share parts of your life story. Tell us why this verse is so personal; why it engages in your life so much?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Max Lucado:</strong> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/jesus-through-the-bible-the-one-who-gave-himself-for-us&tab=study" title="Read John 3:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a> has meant a lot to me in my life because it’s so concise. It’s one of those Scriptures that summarizes all the core doctrines of the Christian faith. It provides a toolkit, a “Table of Contents,” that we can use once we understand it. Taking a deeper look at <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NKJV;NIV;NET" title="Read John 3:16 (NKJV, NIV, and NET in parallel) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a> allows us to fall in love with it and appreciate how brilliantly these 26-words articulate the big ideas of the Bible. I think that’s why it has meant so much to me all these years.</p>
<p><span id="more-66451"></span></p>
<p><strong>Why do you think so many people deeply cherish this verse?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Max Lucado:</strong> I think millions and millions of people have cherished this verse down through the years because they find their story in this Scripture. We all honestly wonder if God could love someone like us. We all wonder if there’s some work we need to do or deed we need to do to earn God’s love. We all wonder what truly is the outcome of history, and these core questions are answered in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/for-your-journey-jn-3-1-36&tab=study" title="Read John 3:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a>. Yes, he does love us. What do we need to do? We need to trust. Yes, there is a Heaven that awaits us and yes, there is a separation that awaits those who reject God. And so, this Scripture gives us just a tidy clarification of these important questions.</p>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/3-16?sortBy=PROD_FGproducts_recently_ordered_count_desc&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/18162717/3-16-Lucado.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a><br>
<strong>What one thing would you want someone to have as the takeaway after reading <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/3-16?sortBy=PROD_FGproducts_recently_ordered_count_desc&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>3:16: The Numbers of Hope</em></a>?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Max Lucado:</strong> The big takeaway I would want every person to have from <em>John 3:16</em> is the idea that God loves us. I think that’s the big idea of Scripture, the big promise, the big discovery, the big aha, and also the big stumbling block for many people. You know, it’s one thing to say, God made the world. It’s something else to say, God loves the world, but that’s the promise of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nkjv-lucado-encouraging-word/jesus-through-the-bible-whoever-believes&tab=study" title="Read John 3:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a>.</p>
<p><strong>In the opening of <em>John 3:16</em>, it says “God so loved the world,” but how can God love a world that has so much conflict and seems so anti-God?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Max Lucado:</strong> Indeed, the question surfaces how could God love a world, when the world is such a mess? Or so antagonistic toward him? As parents though, we catch a flavor of that. We love our children when our children are rebellious. When they’re stubborn. When they’re hardhearted. We may not appreciate what they do, and we certainly want to help them grow out of it, but we still love them. Now, the love that God is not to be equated with the ooey-gooey affection feeling that we often think about. God’s love is simply a decision, a commitment, to stick with his children and to do what is always in our best interest.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/3-16?sortBy=PROD_FGproducts_recently_ordered_count_desc&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/18162730/3-16-audiobook-Lucado.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>God promises us, in this passage, eternal life. What are your thoughts about the afterlife? And how does that offer you hope?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Max Lucado:</strong> John 3:16 promises eternal life to all who believe in this offer that God gives us. As I get older, I think about that more and more. I realize that my days are passing quickly. There’s truly more sand in the bottom half of the hourglass than the top. And so I am genuinely excited about what will happen after I die. I can’t say I’m excited about dying. Maybe I should have more faith. That process, that transition, that’s kind of unnerving. But once that passage through the valley of the shadow of death happens, it’ll take all of eternity to satisfy my curiosity.</p>
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<p><strong>What does Heaven’s “whoever” policy really mean?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Max Lucado:</strong> Heaven’s “whoever” policy is really special to me because I have gone through phases in my life in which my faith was very small, and my disobedience was very large. And the “whoever” policy tells me that even during those seasons, or maybe especially during those seasons, God still had His hand on me. The decision I made as a 10-year-old, I did not always honor, especially in my teen years and my young adult years. But during those years as I look back, even though I wasn’t following close after God, according to this promise, God was following close after me.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/max-lucado-3-16-obs-registration/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/02111202/Max-Lucado-3-16-thin-banner.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to join the free 3:16—The Numbers of Hope Online Bible Study
with Max Lucado" width="90%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What was it like growing up in Andrews, the West Texas oil field. It seems like a really different lifestyle than many of us would know.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Max Lucado:</strong> Most people who have spent time living in West Texas make the same comment. The people are great. And those of us who have lived in West Texas know the people are great because the countryside is desolate. If there’s any beauty to be found, it’s certainly not in looking outside at the prairie. But the real beauty is found because the people are so kind, loyal, friendly. Have a flat tire out in West Texas and you won’t be on the side of the road very long before somebody will pull over and help you. So, the countryside is not the greatest, but the people are.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/tag/max-lucado/" title="Read other Bible Gateway Blog posts by and about Max Lucado" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read other Bible Gateway Blog posts by and about Max Lucado</a>]</p>
<p><strong>So, Max, why did you pick Brazil as your mission field, and just give us a few things that really stood out that were life changing or very interesting to you while you were there.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Max Lucado:</strong> There was a group of us in college who decided to become missionaries, and we decided to go as a team. The decision to go to Brazil was a group decision. And actually, we knew some missionaries in Brazil who paved the way for us to go. And so, the decision was somewhat easy.</p>
<p>When I think about Brazil, I think about living on Avenida Maracana. Maracana is a famous word in Brazil, in the Portuguese language, because of the large Maracana Stadium. I lived within a short jog of that huge stadium. It was, at the time, the largest stadium in the world. And whenever there was soccer, which seemed to be every night, the sound of the soccer games came all the way to our apartment. And so, we got introduced to the great passion of Brazil, and that is soccer.</p>
<p>And we also got introduced to the great food of Brazil. And boy, I still get hungry just thinking about it. But most of all, the people. The Brazilian people are just the kindest, most hospitable, warmest people you’d ever want to meet. They made us feel like our citizenship was Brazilian. They welcomed us with open arms. And we will always be grateful for those years that we lived in Rio de Janeiro.</p>
<p><strong>[<a title="Sign up to receive the once-a-week free email devotional, An Encouraging Word from Max Lucado" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/encouragingword/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up to receive the once-a-week free email devotional, <em>An Encouraging Word from Max Lucado</em></a>]</strong></p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/3-16?sortBy=PROD_FGproducts_recently_ordered_count_desc&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">3:16: The Numbers of Hope</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Bio:</strong> More than 130 million readers have found inspiration and encouragement in the prolific writings of Max Lucado. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/collections/max-lucado?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Browse books by Max Lucado in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank">Browse his books in the FaithGateway Store</a>. Max lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy, in San Antonio, Texas, where he serves the people of Oak Hills Church.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/the-magnificence-of-john-316-an-interview-with-max-lucado/">The Magnificence of John 3:16—An Interview with Max Lucado</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6915665
2022-03-06T23:00:00-12:00
2022-03-06T23:45:12-12:00
What It Means to Love and Cherish
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02102005/GaryThomas_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Gary Thomas" height="280" width="280" />By Gary Thomas</strong></p>
<p><em>So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body</em>.<br>
—<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A28-30&version=NASB1995" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ephesians 5:28-30</a>, NASB</p>
<p>Khanittha “Mint” Phasaeng’s life changed dramatically in 2015 when she was crowned a Thai beauty queen. Her pageant win, according to the <em>Daily Mail</em>, led to lucrative film, advertising, and television contracts. Shortly after returning to her hometown, Mint became an Internet sensation when she was photographed showing honor to her trash-collecting mother by kneeling at her feet.</p>
<p>Mint’s mother literally collects and sells trash for a living, so that’s why Mint found her in front of trash bins when she returned from her triumphant win—still dressed in the tiara and colorful sash that marked her as one of Thailand’s new celebrities.</p>
<p>The photo of a glamorous young woman kneeling on the dirty pavement in front of a trash collector wearing plastic shoes evokes a wondrous gasp. Without shame, Mint called her mother’s trade an “honorable profession” that kept their family from starvation, and she praised her mother’s commitment and care.</p>
<p>One week before Mint’s win, her mother was all but invisible to 99.999 percent of Thailand. But when she was cherished by a suddenly famous daughter, millions got to hear her story and learn of her character and her worth.</p>
<p>This is a picture of what happens when we cherish a loved one. Mint didn’t just send her mother a thank-you card. She didn’t just give her mother a halfhearted hug. She got her dress dirty as she dropped to her knees in a place where people throw their garbage and bowed down to a woman in common dress.</p>
<p>This sign of respect, adoration, gratitude, and honor—going out of your way to notice someone, appreciate someone, honor someone, hold someone dear—in such a visible way, even kneeling at their feet, is a picture of what we could call “cherish.” Mint felt something in her heart, believed something in her mind, and expressed something physically by dropping to her knees.</p>
<p>She cherished her mother.</p>
<p>Ever notice how our attention is drawn to something whenever we see that it is given special care? When you’re walking around Washington, D.C., and a police motorcade of black SUVs escorts a car with tiny United States flags on it, you know the person inside must be important.</p>
<p>They’re being protected, after all.</p>
<p>You don’t put a Tiffany engagement ring in a shoebox. You don’t frame a Rembrandt in a Popsicle stick frame. You wouldn’t use a genuine George Washington autograph as a coaster.</p>
<p>The way we treat something acknowledges whether we cherish it or hold it with indifference or contempt. To truly cherish something is to go out of our way to show it off, protect it, and honor it. We want others to see and recognize and affirm the value that we see.</p>
<p>Just as an art collector will survey many frames and attempt many different lighting angles and then consider many different walls on which to showcase a particularly valuable piece of art, so when we cherish a person, we will put time, thought, and effort into honoring, showcasing, and protecting them.</p>
<p>Cultivating a cherishing attitude toward your spouse will elevate your marriage relationally, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. You will set different goals for your relationship. You will look at your marriage from entirely different angles. While cherish may seem to start out as an internal reality, it will always be reflected by <em>what you do</em>, and it can revolutionize your marriage.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/cherish-the-one-word-that-changes-everything-for-your-marriage?variant=13751203954799" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/02151928/Cherish_Cover2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Cherish" height="280" width="280" /></a>Taken from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/cherish-the-one-word-that-changes-everything-for-your-marriage?variant=13751203954799" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Cherish: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage</em></a> by Gary Thomas. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/DE903359-271C-4D5F-8B28-DC818738C2CB?channel=BibleGatewayPost" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to lear more about this book and other books by Gary Thomas.</p>
<p>Gary Thomas, pastor and bestselling author of <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/sacred-marriage-what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us-holy-more-than-to-make-us-happy?variant=13755151482991" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sacred Marriage</em></a>, believes that one simple word can bring hope, light, and life into any marriage: <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/cherish-the-one-word-that-changes-everything-for-your-marriage?variant=13751203954799" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Cherish</em></a>.</p>
<p>Most marriages survive by gritting teeth and holding on. But what if surviving marriage wasn’t the goal? What if we aimed to thrive instead? In <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/cherish-the-one-word-that-changes-everything-for-your-marriage?variant=13751203954799" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Cherish</em></a>, Thomas teaches us that although there are a countless number of marriages consisting of two people just going through the motions, there are real ways this pattern can be reversed: when husbands and wives learn to cherish one another in their everyday actions and words.</p>
<p>The way we treat something acknowledges whether we cherish it or hold it with indifference or contempt. To truly cherish something is to go out of our way to show it off, protect it, and honor it. We want others to see and recognize and affirm the value that we see. Thomas reminds us that in a world desperate for marriage redemption, the act of cherishing is needed now more than ever.</p>
<p>Cherishing your spouse will elevate your marriage relationally, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. You will set different goals for your relationship, and you’ll see your marriage with fresh eyes. Through personal stories, real-world examples, and timeless biblical truths, Thomas shares the tools you need to turn your marriage around, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Using your mind to change your heart</li>
<li>Sacrificing for your spouse</li>
<li>Praying with intentionality</li>
<li>Prioritizing your life partner</li>
</ul>
<p>Through the biblical act of cherishing, we can empower our spouses to become who they are called by God to be, and in the process to become more of who we are called to be, creating a marriage that feels more precious, more connected, and more satisfying. If you’re ready to revolutionize your relationship, it’s time to learn how to truly cherish it.</p>
<p><strong>Gary Thomas</strong> is a writer in residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and an adjunct faculty member teaching on spiritual formation at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas. He is the author of 19 books, including <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/when-to-walk-away-finding-freedom-from-toxic-people?variant=20571618803823" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>When to Walk Away</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/sacred-pathways-nine-ways-to-connect-with-god?variant=32820825849992" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sacred Pathways</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/cherish-the-one-word-that-changes-everything-for-your-marriage?variant=13751203954799" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Cherish</em></a>, and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/sacred-marriage-what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us-holy-more-than-to-make-us-happy?variant=13755151482991" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sacred Marriage</em></a>—over one million copies sold. He has a master’s degree from Regent College and was awarded an honorary doctorate in divinity from Western Seminary. Gary has spoken in forty-nine states and ten different countries. Learn more at <a href="https://garythomas.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GaryThomas.com</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/what-it-means-to-love-and-cherish/">What It Means to Love and Cherish</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6913684
2022-03-04T02:35:00-12:00
2022-03-04T04:00:18-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of February 27, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/weekly-brief-week-of-february-27-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of February 27, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6913488
2022-03-03T23:00:00-12:00
2022-03-03T23:30:11-12:00
Get This Free Bible Study to Gain a Clear Understanding of Holy Week
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/walking-with-christ/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28140045/Walking-With-Christ-to-the-Cross-2022-large-square.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get the free Bible study, Walking With Christ to the Cross" width="80%" /></a></p>
<p></p><center><strong>Get the free PDF Bible study <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/walking-with-christ/" title="Get the free Bible study, Walking With Christ to the Cross" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Walking With Christ to the Cross</em></a>, which encompasses lessons connecting both the Old and New Testaments to help you achieve a greater understanding of God’s plan of salvation during this season leading to Resurrection Sunday.</strong></center>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/get-this-free-bible-study-to-gain-a-clear-understanding-of-holy-week/">Get This Free Bible Study to Gain a Clear Understanding of Holy Week</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6912636
2022-03-02T22:00:00-12:00
2022-03-03T05:30:01-12:00
What Is the Meaning of Lent? (Frequently Asked Questions)
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/walking-with-christ/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28140045/Walking-With-Christ-to-the-Cross-2022-large-square.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get the free Bible study, Walking With Christ to the Cross" width="57%" /></a><strong>By Christopher Reese</strong></p>
<p>Whether you’re new to <strong>Lent</strong>, have observed it for years, or are just curious about it, you probably have some unanswered questions about its meaning and the different ways Christians observe it. Below we’ll answer several frequently asked questions about Lent that will help illuminate this important season of reflection on the life of Jesus and our devotion to him.</p>
<h3>What Is the Meaning of Lent?</h3>
<p>Lent is a 40-day period of devotion and preparation for Easter. It technically covers 46 days, but Sundays are considered feast days not included in the count. The number 40 reflects the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness prior to his public ministry (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+1%3A12-13&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/mk-1-12-13&tab=study" title="Read Mark 1:12-13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 1:12-13</a>). All three major branches of Christianity—Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox—observe Lent, though many Protestant denominations do not.</p>
<p><span id="more-66475"></span></p>
<p>Lent is a time for repentance, reflection, and spiritual rededication in light of Jesus’ sacrificial death for our salvation, and for many Christians this involves fasting, refraining from things or activities that one enjoys, and/or devoting time to spiritual activities like studying Scripture, praying, giving to charity, or reading devotional works. We’ll say more about this below.</p>
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<h3>When Does Lent Begin and End?</h3>
<p>For both Catholics and Protestants, Lent begins on <strong>Ash Wednesday</strong>. Church services held on this day typically involve placing ashes on the foreheads of participants, often in the shape of a cross, or sprinkling ashes on their heads. In Scripture, ashes are associated with repentance (e.g., <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jer.+6%3A26&resource_entry=niv-cultural-backgrounds/jer-6-26&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 6:26 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 6:26</a>), and clergy will sometimes quote <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+1%3A15&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/mk-1-15-the-time-is-fulfilled&tab=study" title="Read Mark 1:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 1:15</a> while applying the ashes: “Repent and believe the good news.” This also marks the first day of fasting or giving something up (this varies by person and tradition). Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate <strong>Great Lent</strong>, which begins on <strong>Clean Monday</strong>—a day similar to Ash Wednesday in that it focuses on turning away from sin.</p>
<p>For Catholics, Lent formally ends on <strong>Maundy Thursday</strong> evening, the Thursday that immediately precedes <strong>Good Friday</strong>, although fasting lasts until the Saturday before Easter (<strong>Holy Saturday</strong>). Maundy Thursday commemorates the original Lord’s Supper, the Passover Meal that Jesus shared with his disciples (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A17-30&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/mt-26-17-35&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 26:17-30 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 26:17-30</a>). The word <em>maundy</em> comes from the Latin word meaning <em>command</em>, which refers to the command Jesus gave his disciples while they were gathered for the meal: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A34&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/jn-13-34&tab=study" title="Read John 13:34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 13:34</a>). Protestants also observe Lent until the evening of Holy Saturday. For Eastern Orthodox, observance doesn’t conclude until Easter Sunday morning.</p>
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<h3>What Do People Give up for Lent?</h3>
<p>The tradition of fasting during Lent comes from the practice of the early church in which only one meal a day was eaten, and meat (including fish and eggs, along with dairy) was forbidden. In the centuries that followed, the number of fasting days was shortened and restrictions on what foods could be eaten were relaxed (though abstinence from meat and dairy is still widely practiced in Eastern Orthodox churches).</p>
<p>Fasting is not a widespread practice in our culture but has deep roots in Judaism and early Christianity. It’s natural for people today to wonder why Christians fast at all. As the notable pastor and author Andrew Murray explained, “Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, to sacrifice ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#1"><sup><strong>1</strong></sup></a> Similarly, pastor and author Jeffrey E. Miller writes, “Fasting reveals our physical needs and reminds us of our spiritual needs. When we give up something we depend on, we remember our dependence on God.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#2"><sup><strong>2</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>Today, one finds a multitude of different approaches toward Lenten fasting, often reflecting the practices of particular church traditions. Many Christians only fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, which often involves eating a single meal without meat. Catholics in the US frequently abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent but have the option of eating fish.</p>
<p>Other Christians choose a favored food or drink item to abstain from during the full 40 days of Lent, such as sweets, wine, or coffee. In other instances, Christians strive to break bad habits during this period (gossiping, complaining, watching too much television, etc.). In addition to giving something up for the purpose of self-denial, many believers also seek to cultivate new spiritual attitudes and practices. This approach is reflected in the following advice from an Episcopal bishop, and we commend it to you as you observe the season:<br>
Fast from criticism, and feast on praise.<br>
Fast from self-pity, and feast on joy.<br>
Fast from ill-temper, and feast on peace.<br>
Fast from resentment, and feast on contentment.<br>
Fast from jealousy, and feast on love.<br>
Fast from pride, and feast on humility.<br>
Fast from selfishness, and feast on service.<br>
Fast from fear, and feast on faith. <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#3"><sup><strong>3</strong></sup></a></p>
<p><a id="1"></a></p>
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<p>Notes<br>
1. Quoted in Adrian Rogers, “Prayer and Fasting,” in <em>Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive</em> (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel+2%3A12-15" title="Read Joel 2:12–15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joel 2:12–15</a>.</p>
<p><a id="2"></a><br>
2. Jeffrey E. Miller, <em>Study, Apply, Share: Luke</em>, ed. Elliot Ritzema (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+5%3A33-35" title="Read Luke 5:33-35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lk 5:33–35</a>.</p>
<p><a id="3"></a><br>
3. Arthur Lichtenberger, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA, <em>The Day Is at Hand</em>, “Lenten Rule,” (New York: The Seabury Press, 1964), 27, quoted in G. Curtis Jones, <em>1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching</em> (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 107.</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/28170009/Christopher_Reese.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Christopher Reese" width="20%" /></a><strong>BIO:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" title="Visit the LinkedIn page of Christopher Reese" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Reese</a> (MDiv, ThM) (<a href="https://twitter.com/clreese" title="Christopher Reese Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@clreese</a>) is a freelance writer and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://worldviewbulletin.substack.com/archive?utm_source=menu-dropdown" title="Visit The Worldview Bulletin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Worldview Bulletin</em></a>. He is a general editor of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dictionary-of-christianity-and-science-the-definitive-reference-for-the-intersection-of-christian-faith-and-contemporary-science?variant=13746105909359&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dictionary of Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2017) and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/three-views-on-christianity-and-science?variant=34292904001672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Three Views on Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Three Views on Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2021). His articles have appeared in <em>Christianity Today</em> and he writes and edits for Christian ministries and publishers.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/what-is-the-meaning-of-lent-frequently-asked-questions/">What Is the Meaning of Lent? (Frequently Asked Questions)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6912637
2022-03-02T07:00:00-12:00
2022-03-03T05:30:01-12:00
10 Bible Verses to Contemplate on Ash Wednesday
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/14101051/AshWednesdayCross.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Ash Wednesday cross" width="175" /></p>
<p>Today is Ash Wednesday—the first day of the season of Lent in the Western church—and millions of Christians around the world are observing the beginning of the 40-day <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/easter/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=easter" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Prepare for Easter by receiving free email Lent Devotionals in your email inbox" target="_blank">journey to Easter</a> Sunday. During the Lenten season, followers of Christ focus on the repentance of our sins in anticipation of the astounding forgiveness that Easter represents.</p>
<p><strong>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/easter/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=easter" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Prepare for Easter by receiving free email Lent Devotionals in your email inbox" target="_blank">Prepare for Easter by receiving free email Lent Devotionals in your email inbox</a>]</strong></p>
<p>In the spirit of repentance and meditation, here are 10 <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read the Bible on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Bible</a> verses that will help you remember God’s everlasting covenant with his people. Take a few minutes to still your heart in the midst of the world’s noise and demands, and focus on God’s Word. If you’d like to take more than a few minutes and go deeper into the Word, each verse reference is linked to the full chapter from which that verse was taken.</p>
<p><strong>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/visual-verse-of-the-day/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=newvotd" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Sign up for Bible Gateway's Visual Verse of the Day free daily email" target="_blank">Sign up for Bible Gateway’s Visual Verse of the Day free daily email</a>]</strong></p>
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<p>If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A9&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/1John.1.9&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 1:9 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 John 1:9 (NIV)</a></p>
<p>The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3%3A9&version=ESV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/2Pet.3.9&tab=study" title="Read 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)</a></p>
<p>Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+3%3A19&version=NLT&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Call-Repentance&tab=study" title="Read Acts 3:19 (NLT) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts 3:19 (NLT)</a></p>
<p>And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A2&version=KJV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/1John.2.1-1John.2.2&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 2:2 (KJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 John 2:2 (KJV)</a></p>
<p><span id="en-ESV-20882" class="text Ezek-18-32"><span id="en-NKJV-20880" class="text Ezek-18-30">“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the L<small>ORD</small> <span class="small-caps">God</span>. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. </span><span id="en-NKJV-20881" class="text Ezek-18-31">Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? </span><span id="en-NKJV-20882" class="text Ezek-18-32">For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the L<small>ORD</small> <span class="small-caps">God</span>. “Therefore turn and live!”</span> —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+18%3A30-32&version=NKJV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/e-alibis-do-not-work-18-1-32&tab=study" title="Read Ezekiel 18:30-32 (NKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ezekiel 18:30-32 (NKJV)</a></span></p>
<p>Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation.<span id="en-ESV-20882" class="text Ezek-18-32"> —</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10%3A10&version=CEB&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/1-reasons-for-their-rejection-10-1-13&tab=study" title="Read Romans 10:10 (CEB) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Romans 10:10 (CEB)</a></p>
<p>And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. <span id="en-ESV-20882" class="text Ezek-18-32">—</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A21&version=ESV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8640-calling-upon-God&tab=study" title="Read Acts 2:21 (ESV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acts 2:21 (ESV)</a></p>
<p><span class="text Rom-12-1">Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.</span> <span id="en-NIV-28248" class="text Rom-12-2">Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. <span id="en-ESV-20882" class="text Ezek-18-32">—</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A1-2&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.12.1-Rom.12.2&tab=study" title="Read Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)</a></span></p>
<p>He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. <span id="en-NIV-28248" class="text Rom-12-2"><span id="en-ESV-20882" class="text Ezek-18-32">—</span></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+28%3A13&version=KJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6624-confession-sin&tab=study" title="Read on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Proverbs 28:13 (KJV)</a></p>
<p><span id="en-ESV-30566" class="text 1John-3-3"><span id="en-NKJV-30582" class="text 1John-3-2">Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. </span><span id="en-NKJV-30583" class="text 1John-3-3">And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.</span> <span id="en-NIV-28248" class="text Rom-12-2"><span id="en-ESV-20882" class="text Ezek-18-32">—</span></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+3%3A2-3&version=NKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6746-sanctification-means&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 3:2-3 (NKJV) on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 John 3:2-3 (NKJV)</a></span></p>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2018/03/infographic-what-happened-during-holy-week-day-by-day/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Infographic: What Happened During Holy Week Day-By-Day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Infographic: What Happened During Holy Week Day-By-Day</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/easter/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=easter" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/02102107/bg_easter_728x90.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Prepare for Easter by receiving free email Lent Devotionals in your email inbox" width="90%" /></a></p>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/10-bible-verses-to-contemplate-on-ash-wednesday/">10 Bible Verses to Contemplate on Ash Wednesday</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6912638
2022-03-02T05:11:49-12:00
2022-03-03T05:30:02-12:00
How to Live the Bible — When Healing Doesn’t Happen
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one-hundred-ninety-eighth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><em>“Therefore, to keep me from becoming conceited, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A7-9&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/2Cor.12.9&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:7-9</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/02114635/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Feeble-Hand.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photo of a person's weak hand in pain." width="90%" /></p>
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<p>In a film about a man coming to terms with his wife’s progressive Alzheimer’s disease, the husband one day loses his cool. He shakes her and screams: “I hate you, Iris, you stupid cow! I loathe you, every inch of you! All your friends are finished with you now…I’ve got you now, and I don’t want you!”</p>
<p>Contrast that with Roberston McQuilken, who for 20 years was president of Columbia Bible College and a world-recognized Christian leader. He resigned his position in order to care for his wife, who also had advanced Alzheimer’s (the full story is told in the book <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=50994&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of A Promise Kept in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>A Promise Kept</em></a>). In his letter of resignation, McQuilken explained: “[Muriel] has cared for me fully and sacrificially all these years; if I cared for her for the next 40 years I would not be out of her debt. Duty, however, can be grim and stoic. But there is more: I love Muriel…I don’t <em>have</em> to care for her. I <em>get</em> to! It is a high honor to care for so wonderful a person.”</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p></p><center><em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Messiah has come. He announced at J-Day (Jesus-day) that he would bring signs of healing to the world—and he did it. But miraculous healings are just a hint of the total, complete healing yet to come when Christ returns to remake heaven and earth. In the meantime, we deal with injuries that may leave a soldier without a leg, with chronic illnesses that have no cure, and with common feebleness that accompanies the aging body.</p>
<p>But grace is stronger than it all.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12&resource_entry=bible-panorama/2Cor.12&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12</a>, the apostle Paul reveals something very personal. Besides continual threat to his personal safety, he suffered some kind of physical malady which he called his “thorn in the flesh.” He doesn’t say exactly what it was, but it was most likely a physical problem. Because it was chronic, it was frustrating. He called it a “messenger of Satan” (because God is not the source of pain). He prayed earnestly to be healed. Then he submitted to this higher reality: God’s grace was sufficient for the day. God’s power is often seen more fully in weakness than in strength.</p>
<p><strong>MAKE IT REAL</strong></p>
<p>Pray today for someone you know who has to deal with chronic illness. Pray for that person to find God’s grace for today. And if there is a loving act you can offer, do it.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/how-to-live-the-bible-when-healing-doesnt-happen/">How to Live the Bible — When Healing Doesn’t Happen</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6912639
2022-03-01T23:11:00-12:00
2022-03-03T05:30:02-12:00
What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy?
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02102005/GaryThomas_Portrait2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Gary Thomas" height="280" width="280" />By Gary Thomas</strong></p>
<p>I became a Christian at a very young age. In truth, I can scarcely remember a moment when God was not an active and conscious presence in my life. Because of this, I felt drawn to Jesus early on.</p>
<p>I was drawn to more than Jesus, however; I also remember being drawn to girls. I had a pretty big crush on a dark-haired girl <em>in kindergarten!</em> The first time I actually held hands with a girl was in fifth grade. Tina and I rolled around the skating rink, both of us blushing as the Carpenters’ melodious harmonies described us well: “I’m On Top of the World.” It sure felt like it!</p>
<p><span id="more-66469"></span></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/06/sacred-marriage-an-interview-with-gary-thomas/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Sacred Marriage: An Interview with Gary Thomas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Sacred Marriage: An Interview with Gary Thomas</em></a>]</p>
<p>As I grew older, both of these movements—toward Jesus and toward females—sometimes created an uneasy tension. The man I most admired, the one person on whom I wanted to model my life was a <em>single man</em>. As a big fan of the Christian classics—ancient books focused on building intimacy with God—I was fully aware of the long-standing tradition of celibacy—monks and nuns who lived out their dedication to God by pledging to abstain from marriage and sex. Because I knew their love for God was so intense, part of me wished I could embrace this; I wanted to be sold-out for Christ, and in college I struggled with the apostle Paul’s words, “It is good for a man not to marry” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+7%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/e-sex-marriage-and-celibacy-7-1-40&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 7:1 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 Corinthians 7:1</a>, as found in the 1984 edition of the NIV).</p>
<p>In fact, there is much in Christian history that has unofficially (and at times blatantly) considered married believers to be second-class Christians who compromised their integrity or were too weak to contain their sexual urges. Augustine thought he was being charitable when he wrote, referring to the intent to procreate, “Marital intercourse makes something good out of the evil of lust.” Scripture may be infallible, but Christian history isn’t, and unfounded prejudices do exist.</p>
<p>There’s no question that the “first pope,” Peter, was married. (Jesus couldn’t very well have <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A38-39&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Luke.4.38-Luke.4.39&tab=study" title="Read Luke 4:38-39 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">healed Peter’s mother-in-law</a> if Peter didn’t have a wife!) But there is also evidence in Scripture (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+5%3A9-12&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/3-care-for-widows-5-3-16&tab=study" title="Read 1 Timothy 5:9-12 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 Timothy 5:9–12</a>) that during the first century young widows were already taking vows of celibacy. By AD 110, celibates could take vows that mirrored marital vows. This became a little more institutionalized so that by the third century, lifelong vows of celibacy were not uncommon. By the fourth century, such vows were commemorated by a full liturgical celebration.</p>
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<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Although Christianity was born out of Judaism, a religion in which marriage was considered a religious duty (one rabbi suggested that a man who does not marry is not fully a man), it wasn’t long until married believers were scarcely an afterthought during centuries of writing on spiritual theology (studying how Christian believers grow in their faith, learn to pray, and draw closer to God). Most of the Christian classics were written <em>by</em> monks and nuns <em>for</em> monks and nuns. The married could at best feebly try to simulate a single pursuit of God; the thought of pursuing God <em>through</em> marriage wasn’t really given serious consideration; instead, the emphasis was largely on pursuing God <em>in spite of</em> marriage.</p>
<p>I carried some of this baggage into my own relationship, but early on, my eyes were opened to a different reality. I remember my brother asking me a few questions about what marriage was like. I thought for a moment and said, “If you want to be free to serve Jesus, there’s no question—stay single. Marriage takes a lot of time. But if you want to become more like Jesus, I can’t imagine any better thing to do than to get married. Being married forces you to face some character issues you’d never have to face otherwise.” I had begun to realize I could further pursue God through marriage and not just in spite of it. Marriage didn’t need to hold me back from my spiritual goals; it could actually help me reach them.</p>
<p>Jesus, of course, was celibate his entire life, so it’s somewhat ironic to suggest that marriage is the preferred route to becoming more like him. But Jesus did live in a family, and, as Betsy Ricucci points out, that’s all he had done at the time the Father proclaimed, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+3%3A17&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/God-Declares-His-Approval-Jesus&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 3:17 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew 3:17</a>). “What had Jesus done to receive such praise? Nothing but live in his own home, honoring his parents and serving his father’s carpentry business. Apparently that was enough to please God.”</p>
<p>Family life is clearly not a compromise, and after you’ve been married for a while, you realize that the emphasis on celibacy is slightly overblown. All things considered, the sexual aspect takes up just a fraction of a married couple’s time. I was the first of my group of friends to get married, and I remember one of them asking me if it was still okay to just “drop in” unannounced.</p>
<p>“Oh, you better call first,” I said gravely, capturing his attention. “Married couples walk around naked all day long, you know.”</p>
<p>For a second, I almost had him!</p>
<p>The real transforming work of marriage is the 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week commitment. This is the crucible that grinds and shapes us into the character of Jesus Christ. Instead of getting up at 3:00 a.m. to begin prayer in a monastery, the question becomes, “Who will wake up when the baby’s diaper needs changing?”</p>
<p>Marriage calls us to an entirely new and selfless life. This insight occurred to me some years ago when Lisa and the kids were traveling while I stayed home and worked. For the first time ever, it seemed, I had a free Saturday. For as long as I could remember, I had awakened each weekend and talked over with Lisa what the family would do; I almost didn’t know how to ask the question—what do <em>I</em> want to do? Yet that was the question I had asked myself as a single man virtually every Saturday before I was married.</p>
<p>Any situation that calls me to confront my selfishness has enormous spiritual value, and I slowly began to understand that the real purpose of marriage may not be happiness as much as it is holiness. Not that God has anything against happiness or that happiness and holiness are mutually exclusive, but looking at marriage through the lens of holiness began to put it into an entirely new perspective for me.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/sacred-marriage-what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us-holy-more-than-to-make-us-happy?variant=13755151482991" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28101341/SacredMarriage_Cover2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sacred Marriage" height="280" width="280" /></a>Taken from <em><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/sacred-marriage-what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us-holy-more-than-to-make-us-happy?variant=13755151482991" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?</a></em> by Gary Thomas. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/DE903359-271C-4D5F-8B28-DC818738C2CB?channel=BGSacredMarriagePost" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book and other resources by Gary Thomas.</p>
<p>What if God designed marriage to make you holy instead of happy? What if your relationship isn’t as much about you and your spouse as it is about you and God?</p>
<p>In <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/sacred-marriage-what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us-holy-more-than-to-make-us-happy?variant=13755151482991" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sacred Marriage</em></a>, bestselling author Gary Thomas uncovers the ways that your marriage can become a doorway to a closer walk with God and with each other. Join over one million others who have already uncovered Thomas’s tips for fostering a sacred marriage.</p>
<p>Within the pages of <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/sacred-marriage-what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us-holy-more-than-to-make-us-happy?variant=13755151482991" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sacred Marriage</em></a>, Thomas invites you to see how God can use your relationship with your spouse as a discipline and a motivation to love God more and reflect more of the character of his Son.</p>
<p>In addition to life-changing insights from Scripture, church history, and time-tested wisdom from Christian classics, you’ll find practical advice and techniques to make your marriage happier by becoming holier husbands and wives.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/sacred-marriage-what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us-holy-more-than-to-make-us-happy?variant=13755151482991" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sacred Marriage</em></a>, Thomas will give you all of the tools you need to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Turn marital struggles into spiritual and personal appreciation</li>
<li>Love your spouse with a stronger sense of purpose</li>
<li>Confront your weaknesses and sin in order to grow your relationship with God and with your spouse</li>
<li>Partner in the spiritual growth and character formation of your spouse</li>
<li>Transform a tired marriage into a relationship filled with awe and respect</li>
</ul>
<p>Thomas reveals that sacred marriages teach us to love God and others well by fostering a healthy sex life, a strong prayer life, and a rich spiritual life. God uses our marriages to help us grow in character, in prayer, in worship, and in service—we just have to recognize that the purpose of marriage is holiness, not happiness.</p>
<p>Each copy also includes thought-provoking discussion questions designed to spark conversation between couples and small groups, allowing you to dive deeper into the lessons that Thomas shares in Sacred Marriage.</p>
<p>Join the one million others who have already started on their journey to transforming their relationship with their spouses and with their Creator.</p>
<p><strong>Gary Thomas</strong> is a writer in residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and an adjunct faculty member teaching on spiritual formation at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas. He is the author of 19 books, including <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/when-to-walk-away-finding-freedom-from-toxic-people?variant=20571618803823" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>When to Walk Away</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/sacred-pathways-nine-ways-to-connect-with-god?variant=32820825849992" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sacred Pathways</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/cherish-the-one-word-that-changes-everything-for-your-marriage?variant=13751203954799" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Cherish</em></a>, and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/sacred-marriage-what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us-holy-more-than-to-make-us-happy?variant=13755151482991" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sacred Marriage</em></a>—over one million copies sold. He has a master’s degree from Regent College and was awarded an honorary doctorate in divinity from Western Seminary. Gary has spoken in forty-nine states and ten different countries. Learn more at <a href="https://garythomas.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GaryThomas.com</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us-holy/">What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6912640
2022-03-01T03:00:00-12:00
2022-03-03T05:30:02-12:00
How to Hear God’s Voice: An Interview with Pete Greig
<p><a href="http://www.dirtyglory.org/new-page-2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/18161200/Pete-Greig.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pete Greig" width="23%" /></a>One of the most astounding yet possibly confusing acts we can do is enjoy a real, conversational relationship with God, the very creator and sustainer of life itself. How should we be hearing his voice? How can we listen to God more clearly amid the clatter and clamor of daily living? What does the Bible mean when it describes God as having a “still, small voice”?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="http://www.dirtyglory.org/new-page-2" title="Pete Greig" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Pete Greig</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/PeteGreig" title="Pete Greig Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@PeteGreig</a>) about his book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/how-to-hear-god-a-simple-guide-for-normal-people?variant=39530449666184&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of How to Hear God in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>How to Hear God: A Simple Guide for Normal People</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2022).</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/how-to-hear-god-a-simple-guide-for-normal-people?variant=39530449666184&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/26144840/How-to-Hear-God.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of How to Hear God in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Why do you say Christ’s encounter with the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-53&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Emmaus-Dialogue&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:13-53 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">people on the road to Emmaus</a> is a master class in learning to hear God’s voice?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Pete Greig:</strong> Almost every kind of way in which God speaks is modelled in this exquisite story. Jesus didn’t just turn up with the couple on the Emmaus road and say “Hi, it’s me!” Firstly, he took them through an extensive Bible study “beginning with Moses and all the prophets” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A27&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2333-Jesus-Christ-attitude-OT&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24:27</a>). Isn’t that amazing? The resurrected Jesus takes considerable time to deliver a lengthy biblical exposition in which he reinterprets God’s Word radically in the light of his own life, death, and resurrection. In many ways everything has changed because Jesus has risen from the grave, but the Bible is still the foundation for faith and divine revelation.</p>
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<p>But the Emmaus road story is more than just a Bible study. There is something powerfully prophetic at work here. The couple later say “were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road?” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A32&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Luke.24.13-Luke.24.35&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24:32</a>). And then, as well as God speaking through the Bible and through prophetic encounter, we find in this story something fascinating of God’s shyness and hiddenness. We’re told that “Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A15-16&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2555-Jesus-Christ-resurrection&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:15-16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 24:15-16</a>) and then later when “they recognized him …. he disappeared from their sight” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A31&resource_entry=nivac-luke/luke-24-13-35&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">v. 31</a>). We expect God to speak through a megaphone but mostly he whispers in “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19%3A1-12&version=NKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5196-voice&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 19:1-12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a still small voice</a>.” We expect him to turn up in hobnailed boots but instead he tiptoes. He “tells it slant” as Emily Dickinson put it. No wonder the theologian N.T. Wright says of the Emmaus road story, “Learn to live inside this story and you will find it inexhaustible.”</p>
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<p><strong>Explain how the Bible is the language of God’s heart.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Pete Greig:</strong> Nothing God says in any other way, in any other context, will ever override, undermine, or contradict what he has said in the Scriptures. Ultimately, the Bible is the language of God’s heart because it communicates with us its very nature. In reading the Bible we receive truth and sound doctrine, but we also encounter the love and life of God himself. It is a “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204%3A12&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Heb.4.12-Heb.4.13&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 4:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">living book</a>.”</p>
<p><strong>What is the christological hermeneutic in hearing God’s voice through the Bible?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Pete Greig:</strong> The christological hermeneutic is a wonderful and radical way of interpreting the whole Bible in the light of Christ himself. We make sense of the Old Testament, and the Pauline epistles, etc., through <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/what-are-the-gospels-2/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Are the Gospels?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Gospels</a>. I believe this is what Jesus models for us on the Emmaus road when he explains to his fellow travelers how the whole of the Hebrew Scriptures points to him and is fulfilled in him. This can have a radical impact on the way we understand the Bible. If we just pull isolated verses out of the Bible, regardless of context, we can make it say almost anything, and tragically this has often been demonstrated by people wishing to manipulate truth according to some other agenda. But when we read the Bible in the light of Jesus, it effects the way we understand everything from violence to sex. Jesus is the key that unlocks the meaning of the Bible. Or to change the metaphor, he’s the pair of glasses we wear in order to focus and read the text.</p>
<p><strong>Why and how should a person “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/praying-scripture/home" title="Read about Praying Scripture in the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pray the Bible</a>”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Pete Greig:</strong> The Bible is not meant to be just “read;” it’s meant to be prayed. In many ways it’s a conversation starter for our prayer lives. One of the great ancient tools that can help us to pray the Bible is the Lectio Divina. In this approach we read small sections of the Bible slowly and we may even repeat them several times. We become attentive to any particular word or phrase that the Holy Spirit seems to be illuminating. And then we turn those words and phrases into prayerful interaction with the Lord. We harness our imaginations to bring the Word to life in our own experience. This is not coming to the Bible as a textbook for sound doctrine (important as that is), but rather coming to it as an invitation for meditation and revelation through conversation with God.</p>
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<p><strong>What is the spiritual gift of prophecy and how should it be handled to appropriately hear God?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Pete Greig:</strong> The apostle Paul says that “the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+14%3A3&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1432-prophecy-NT&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 14:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Cor. 14:3</a>). The prophetic gift enables us to strengthen, encourage, and comfort other people with God’s Word which is “living and active“ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204%3A12&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1613-Scripture-purpose&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 4:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 4:12</a>).</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12&resource_entry=bible-panorama/1Cor.12&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 12</a> the apostle Paul lists various expressions of prophecy including words of knowledge (in which God shows us things about other people that we had no other way of knowing), words of wisdom (in which God gives us great insight), etc. Elsewhere in Scripture we see God speaking very regularly through dreams and visions.</p>
<p>These are not gifts that have died out in the church. They have not been “replaced” by the Bible. We weigh prophecy against Scripture, but the Bible itself teaches us that prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit for all Christians essential for the building up of the church. In <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/how-to-hear-god-a-simple-guide-for-normal-people?variant=39530449666184&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of How to Hear God in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>How to Hear God</em></a> I give some important guidelines as to how we can hear God in this way and how we can handle this gift appropriately (because tragically it has often been abused).</p>
<p><strong>What do you mean by God’s gentle whisper and how should people listen for it?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Pete Greig:</strong> There’s that wonderful story of Elijah on Mount Horeb. God tells him to “stand on the mountain ….. for the L<small>ORD</small> is about to pass by” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19%3A11&version=NIV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/1Kgs.19.11-1Kgs.19.12&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 19:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 19:11</a>). Elijah must have climbed Mount Horeb with great expectations knowing very well that this was where Moses had received the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Ten-Commandments&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ten Commandments</a>. Stone tablets had been inscribed by the very finger of God amid howling winds, burning trees, and boulders split by lightening. And sure enough, these same signs did manifest before Elijah. We’re told that “a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks,” and after that there was an earthquake, and finally there was a fire. These were exactly the kinds of phenomena Elijah had anticipated as hallmarks of God’s presence, and yet after each one a very surprising thing is said: “The L<small>ORD</small> was not in the wind …. The L<small>ORD</small> was not in the earthquake …. The L<small>ORD</small> was not in the fire ….” Where then is God? And the answer, of course, is that his presence is manifest in the dullness after the drama. He speaks in “a still small voice” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19%3A12&version=NKJV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/1Kgs.19.9-1Kgs.19.18&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 19:12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 19:12</a>), or, as the original Hebrew says, “in the sound of gentle silence.” This is exactly our experience as followers of Jesus. Yes, he speaks in dramatic ways on occasion, but mostly he speaks to us quietly, intuitively, through whispered words.</p>
<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Pete Greig:</strong> As you’ve probably picked up, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-53&resource_entry=biblemapper-maps/jesus-post-resurrection-appearances&tab=study" title="See the map and read Luke 24:13-53 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Emmaus road story</a> is certainly one of my favorites in the Bible. Not just because it’s profound, but because it’s playful. I love the way that the couple get it so wrong. That reassures me! And the way that Jesus pretends he’s got somewhere else to go when they arrive at Emmaus until they invite him in for the meal. There’s something so wonderfully and reassuringly human about this most supernatural of encounters.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Pete Greig:</strong> I use Bible Gateway every single day of my life. Often repeatedly. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for this extraordinary resource. I recently undertook a 330-mile solitary pilgrimage from the Scottish island of Iona to the Northumbrian island of Lindisfarne. Both these islands were centers of Christian faith and evangelization in the 7th and 8th centuries AD. Lindisfarne is particularly famous for the <a href="https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/lindisfarne-gospels" title="See the Lindisfarne Gospels in the British Library" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Lindisfarne Gospels</a>. These are breathtakingly beautiful hand-written transcriptions of the Gospels illustrated in bright colors with wonderful designs. They’re one of the most treasured ancient manuscripts in all antiquity. It’s worth remembering how precious and rare the Bible was for many centuries so that we can be truly grateful for Bible Gateway that makes it so easily accessible in so many different versions and languages. What a wonderful gift God has given us in his Word, and in this technology that enables us to read it (and pray it) so easily.</p>
<p><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to say?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Pete Greig:</strong> Nothing could possibly matter more than learning to discern the voice of God, but few things in life are more susceptible to delusion and deception. That’s why we need to be rooted in God’s Word, living each day in conversation with the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Living Word of God.</p>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/how-to-hear-god-a-simple-guide-for-normal-people?variant=39530449666184&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of How to Hear God in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How to Hear God</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Pete Greig cofounded and champions the 24-7 Prayer movement, which has reached more than half the nations on earth. He is a pastor at Emmaus Rd. in Guildford, England, and has written a number of bestselling books, including <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/god-on-mute-engaging-the-silence-of-unanswered-prayer?variant=34000045834376&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of God on Mute in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>God on Mute</em></a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=75610EB&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Red Moon Rising in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Red Moon Rising</em></a>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=466151&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Dirty Glory in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dirty Glory</em></a>, and <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=581882&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of How to Pray in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>How to Pray</em></a>.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/how-to-hear-gods-voice-an-interview-with-pete-greig/">How to Hear God’s Voice: An Interview with Pete Greig</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6912641
2022-02-28T23:00:00-12:00
2022-03-03T05:30:02-12:00
Shrove Tuesday: Prepare Your Heart for Lent
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder-_The_Fight_between_Carnival_and_Lent_detail_3-300x143.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder-_The_Fight_between_Carnival_and_Lent_detail_3" height="143" width="300" />Today is <strong>Shrove Tuesday</strong>, the day before the beginning of <strong>Lent</strong>. It’s rather colorfully known as <strong>Fat Tuesday</strong>, <strong>Mardi Gras</strong>, and even <strong>Pancake Tuesday</strong> in different places around the world. (The references to food derive from the practice of feasting on the day before Lent’s fasting period begins.) Shrove Tuesday isn’t observed in most churches to the extent that <strong>Ash Wednesday</strong>, <strong>Good Friday</strong>, <strong>Palm Sunday</strong>, and other Lent-related holidays are—but it’s a good reminder to set aside a few moments today to reflect on the coming Easter season.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2018/03/infographic-what-happened-during-holy-week-day-by-day/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Infographic: What Happened During Holy Week Day-By-Day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Infographic: What Happened During Holy Week Day-By-Day</em></a>]</p>
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<p>Tomorrow is, of course, Ash Wednesday—the first day of Lent! If you’re still casting about for an activity or spiritual practice to observe during the Easter season, there’s still time to decide on one. For starters, there’s our free Easter email devotions, which begin tomorrow, so you’ve still got time to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/easter/" title="Sign up receive free email devotionals to help you prepare for Resurrection Sunday" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sign up at our Easter page</a>. (You’ll still be able to sign up for them <em>after</em> Ash Wednesday, but then you’d miss out on the beginnings!)</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/31093311/The-Abide-Bible-Initiative-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style" width="90%" /></a></p>
<p>You might also find some of the Bible reading and engagement practices in our <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/" title="Visit the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scripture Engagement section</a> to be very appropriate for Lent. In particular, if you’re looking to try something a little different with your Bible reading in anticipation of Easter, take a look at the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/contemplate/home" title="Consider using the Lectio Divina Bible reading method on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Lectio Divina</em></a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/picture-it/home" title="Consider using the Ignatian Bible reading method on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ignatian Method</a> articles—both describe ways of reading and studying Scripture that may be new to you. Bible Gateway invites you to <strong>sign up to receive the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." target="_blank"><em>The Abide Bible Initiative</em></a> free email devotional</strong> to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style.</p>
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<p>And if you’re looking for other ways to observe Lent this year, see our <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/02/how-can-you-observe-lent-this-year/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How Can You Observe Lent This Year?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">earlier blog post on the subject</a>, in which we brainstormed a number of different ways you can observe Lent—everything from abstaining from a particular food or activity, to volunteering at a local charity organization, to praying in a purposeful way during the lead-up to Easter.</p>
<p>However you choose (or don’t choose) to observe Lent, we hope the weeks leading to Easter are reflective and inspiring, and filled with opportunities to spend more time reading God’s Word.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/03/lent-begins-tomorrow-theres-still-time-to-sign-up-for-an-easter-devotional/">Shrove Tuesday: Prepare Your Heart for Lent</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6912642
2022-02-28T09:48:12-12:00
2022-03-03T05:30:02-12:00
NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible on Bible Gateway Plus
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/niv-grace-truth/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=plus_graceandtruth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/05141525/NIV-Grace-and-Truth-Study-Bible.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Learn more about becoming a member of Bible Gateway Plus" width="30%" /></a></p>
<p>The <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/niv-the-grace-and-truth-study-bible-hardcover-red-letter-comfort-print?variant=39249194582152&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Order your copy of the NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible</em></strong></a> emphasizes in its reference commentary notes the central themes of grace (God’s forgiving love) and truth (God’s absolute rectitude) found in every book of the Bible. These notes are yours to explore immediately when you <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/niv-grace-truth/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=plus_graceandtruth" title="Learn more about becoming a member of Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>become a member of Bible Gateway Plus</strong></a>.</p>
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<center><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/niv-grace-truth/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=plus_graceandtruth" title="Gain immediate online access to the Grace and Truth Study Bible notes when you become a member of Bible Gateway Plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gain immediate online access to the <em>Grace and Truth Study Bible</em> notes when you become a member of Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong></center>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/08/how-grace-and-truth-are-central-themes-throughout-the-bible-an-interview-with-dr-al-mohler/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How Grace and Truth Are Central Themes Throughout the Bible: An Interview with Dr. Al Mohler" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How Grace and Truth Are Central Themes Throughout the Bible: An Interview with Dr. Al Mohler</em></a>]</p>
<p>The supreme virtues of grace and truth reveal God’s perfect character and are ultimately displayed in Jesus Christ who, Scripture tells us, is “full of grace and truth” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A14&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/jn-1-14&tab=study" title="Read John 1:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 1:14</a>).</p>
<p>The <em>NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible</em> is one of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/resource-library-profile" title="See the chart describing all Bible reference resources available to you with a Bible Gateway Plus membership." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more than 50 Bible study resources</a> immediately available to you when you become a member of Bible Gateway Plus.</p>
<p><span id="more-65423"></span></p>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05143515/NIV-Grace-and-Truth-Study-Bible-Romans-3.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05143515/NIV-Grace-and-Truth-Study-Bible-Romans-3.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A screenshot of the NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible for Romans 3 on Bible Gateway Plus" width="90%" /></a></p>
<p>The above screenshot is an example of the <em>NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible</em> insightful observations for <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A24&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/ro-3-24-26&tab=study" title="Read Romans 3:24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 3:24</a>—”God has justified freely, purely on his own will, unprompted by any human behavior. Justification is rooted in his grace, displayed best in the gift of his Son and his Son’s death on the cross.”</p>
<p>If you love the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New International Version (NIV) Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New International Version (NIV)</a> Bible translation, you’ll especially appreciate the <em>NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible</em>‘s scriptural commentary, but it applies equally to any Bible version you prefer.</p>
<p>Bible Gateway Plus is easy and fun to use, and it will change the way you read and study Scripture for the better! <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/join/niv-grace-truth/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=plus_graceandtruth" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Try it out today.</a></strong></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/niv-grace-truth-study-bible-on-bible-gateway-plus/"><em>NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible</em> on Bible Gateway Plus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6912643
2022-02-25T02:33:00-12:00
2022-03-03T05:30:03-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of February 20, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/weekly-brief-week-of-february-20-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of February 20, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6912644
2022-02-22T23:06:00-12:00
2022-03-03T05:30:03-12:00
How to Live the Bible — God Brings Restoration
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one-hundred-ninety-seventh lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p><em>“For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a Sabbath of rest, a Sabbath to the L<small>ORD</small>. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+25%3A3-5&version=NIV&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Sabbatical-Year&tab=study" title="Read Leviticus 25:3-5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leviticus 25:3-5</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/16135947/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Fallow-Field.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photo of a plowed fallow field." width="90%" /></p>
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<p>George Washington Carver (1864-1943) is often remembered as the peanut farmer who invented peanut butter. And where would the world be without peanut butter? But Carver was much more. He became an expert agriculturalist and led a revolution of farming methods in the South that took the vast field—exhausted and lifeless by cotton farming—and introduced methods to give the land rest and replenishment through the farming of protein-rich products like soy.</p>
<p>Even the land needs healing. That’s why the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+25&resource_entry=smiths-bible-names-dictionary/Jubilee-Year&tab=study" title="Read about the Year of Jubilee in Smith's Bible Names Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Year of Jubilee</a> described in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+25&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Lev.25&tab=study" title="Read Leviticus 25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leviticus 25</a> was a time for the Israelites to let the land lie fallow (i.e., not plant their crops) so that the fields would regain their nutrients and moisture. Pressed to exhaustion, the land would be of no use to anybody, becoming dustbowls and wasteland. Jubilee was rest for the land, restoration for the people, forgiveness of debt, recommitment to justice, and freedom for the slave.</p>
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<p>George Washington Carver, this remarkable inventor and entrepreneur, was born a slave. When only an infant, he and his mother were abducted by slave raiders. His mother was sold and shipped away, but George’s master bought him back from the slave raiders in exchange for a horse. Slavery, redemption, healing. Carver eventually went to high school, then became the first black student at Simpson College, gained a masters’ degree in agriculture, and became a professor. He even invented 300 uses for peanuts, though he passed by many opportunities to own patents saying, “God gave them to me, so how can I sell them to someone else?”</p>
<p>We all need restoration: healing, redemption, and freedom. When we rest and remind ourselves that only God is God, then God brings healing, restoration, and life.</p>
<p><strong>MAKE IT REAL</strong></p>
<p>Today eliminate one thing you would normally try to squeeze into your schedule. Take that time to rest or relax with a walk. Be still and focus on the fact that only God is God.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/how-to-live-the-bible-god-brings-restoration/">How to Live the Bible — God Brings Restoration</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6912645
2022-02-22T00:50:00-12:00
2022-03-03T05:30:03-12:00
You Are Worthy of Compassion
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/08100404/MorganHarperNichols_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Morgan Harper Nichols" width="33%" />By Morgan Harper Nichols</strong></p>
<p><em>Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you</em>. —<a title="Read 1 Peter 5:7 on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A7&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/1Pet.5.6-1Pet.5.8&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 Peter 5:7</a></p>
<p>I have become curious about some of the feelings that rise up within me when visiting the doctor’s office. Recently, when the receptionist handed me the 12-page packet of new-patient forms, the first thing I wanted to do was rush through, checking off all the preexisting conditions I don’t have.</p>
<p>I wish this weren’t true, but I felt ashamed for not being able to check “no” for every box. I feel the heavy shadow of having seen both my mother and my sister misdiagnosed and struggle to receive proper treatment for their conditions. As a child, I witnessed my sister’s misdiagnosis land her in the hospital. As a result, I fear getting sick. I fear needing help.</p>
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<p>What if I’m misunderstood or there’s a miscommunication?</p>
<p>What if something is truly wrong and it gets missed?</p>
<p>What if they see trying to figure out my issues as an inconvenience?</p>
<p>What if they walk away feeling like they’ve wasted their time?</p>
<p>My heart beats faster even as I consider these questions.</p>
<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">right now!</a></em></center>
<p>Not only do I fear something being wrong, I fear how I might be perceived. When I am not 100 percent okay, it’s a fight within me to speak out about how I feel. I want to seem strong and healthy even when I’m not. Even when the doctor is patient and understanding, my fear of being incapable hangs out in the room with me. Shame beams down through the fluorescent lights. I struggle to speak up. I have a hard time feeling that the reality of my pain is valid.</p>
<p>And I know I’m not the only one.</p>
<p>There are many books and articles about the rise of victimhood, and their message is so strong that many actual victims feel like they are to blame for their own trauma. People who are in pain don’t feel safe to speak about what they’re going through. I didn’t realize how often this occurs until I started to write poetry inspired by people’s stories.</p>
<p>[<a title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Peace Like a River" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/peace-like-a-river/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Peace Like a River</em></a>]</p>
<p>Since 2017 I have invited people to share their own personal stories with me, and I write poetry and make art as a response. There are no “rules” for story submissions, and they vary widely in length and subject matter. I never reveal any details about the stories, but I will tell you a few phrases that my responses often include:</p>
<ul>
<li>There’s no need to apologize for that.</li>
<li>There is absolutely no excuse for what happened.</li>
<li>No, you’re not bothering me at all by sharing this.</li>
</ul>
<p>Often when I am reading stories sent to me, I shake my head in anger for the people who were made to question the validity of their experiences. People who are strong in ways they do not know. People who define what it means to survive. I write poetry with the hope of creating space for the words they didn’t feel they had permission to say. I write not because I have answers but because I want to be one person along the journey who reminds them that the shadows they have found on the path are real. And so is the morning sun. And they are not alone in facing any of this.</p>
<p>But realizing that <em>I</em> am not alone has been hard work. When I sit waiting for the doctor to knock on the door to enter the room for my appointment, I take a deep breath and remind myself that the compassionate words I speak to others are true for me too. I am reminded of these words by therapist Aundi Kolber in her book <em>Try Softer:</em> “Suffering is not isolated. It’s common to all humanity. . . . When we recognize that we are not unique in our experiencing of suffering, we are more likely to see ourselves as worthy of compassion. We are also less likely to feel as if we are alone; instead, we feel more connected with the human experience.”</p>
<p>As I work to change my way of thinking, at the core, I am grateful that I have noticed the need to change. For even though my voice shakes when I tell the doctor something doesn’t feel right, I am still breathing through it. I feel anxious, and at the same time, I am breathing through it. I am embracing the reality of something I need to unlearn. It’s messy. I’m not fearless right now. But I am breathing through these shadows that tell me to hide what I’m feeling because I don’t know what the response will be. And I am learning what practicing peace is for me and what it is not.</p>
<p>Practicing peace is the willingness to go beyond initial reactions and get down to the ones that remind us that, amid our fears, the river still flows. Practicing peace is realizing that even when we struggle to open up, bringing those honest feelings and thoughts into the light matters.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/video/morgan-harper-nichols-discusses-book-peace-practice-83058621" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/23132957/GMA.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Watch Morgan Harper Nichols on GMA" height="293" width="520" /></a></p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/peace-is-a-practice-an-invitation-to-breathe-deep-and-find-a-new-rhythm-for-life?variant=39516021686408" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/08095749/PeacePractice_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Peace Is a Practice by Morgan Harper Nichols" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/peace-is-a-practice-an-invitation-to-breathe-deep-and-find-a-new-rhythm-for-life?variant=39516021686408" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Peace Is a Practice: An Invitation to Breathe Deep and Find a New Rhythm for Life</em></a> by Morgan Harper Nichols. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/peace-is-a-practice-an-invitation-to-breathe-deep-and-find-a-new-rhythm-for-life?variant=39516021686408" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about his book.</p>
<p>When you breathe in all the grace available to you and release everything that is outside of your control, you’ll discover peace that surpasses your circumstances. All it takes is practice.</p>
<p>If you feel overwhelmed with anxiety about the future, you’re far from alone. For many of us, when we’re not worrying about what is to come, we find ourselves wrestling with things from the past. Where does that leave us today?</p>
<p>Morgan Harper Nichols has learned the answer to this question. She has examined stories from her own life and the lives of people around the world and noticed a common thread: we all long for peace. We’re all seeking light and life. But these things don’t happen passively. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/peace-is-a-practice-an-invitation-to-breathe-deep-and-find-a-new-rhythm-for-life?variant=39516021686408" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Peace Is a Practice</em></a> invites you to become a peacemaker in your own life, starting right where you are, and in some of the most unexpected places. As these words and images inspire you to take daily steps toward peace, you’ll uncover the key to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Embracing the beauty of the present</li>
<li>Letting go of regret of the past and fear of the future</li>
<li>Developing a path toward meaning and authenticity</li>
<li>Approaching life’s challenges with faith and a calm confidence</li>
<li>Feeling peace even in the midst of uncertainty or difficult times</li>
</ul>
<p>In every moment, there is something as deep and boundless as a winding river waiting to be found—a true peace that flows, beckoning you to rest . . . and be still.</p>
<p><strong>Morgan Harper Nichols</strong>, popular Instagram poet and artist (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/morganharpernichols/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@morganharpernichols</a>), has garnered a loyal online following of nearly two million, and each poem she shares is created in response to the personal stories submitted by her friends and followers. In addition to her burgeoning career as a poet and illustrator, Morgan has also successfully established her reputation as a musician, with her song “Storyteller” amassing more than one million Spotify plays thus far. She and her family live in Phoenix, Arizona.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/you-are-worthy-of-compassion/">You Are Worthy of Compassion</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6895086
2022-02-11T02:45:00-12:00
2022-02-11T05:15:07-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of February 6, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/weekly-brief-week-of-february-6-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of February 6, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6894131
2022-02-10T01:05:00-12:00
2022-02-10T06:30:04-12:00
66 Ways God Loves You: An Interview with Jennifer Rothschild
<p><a href="http://www.jenniferrothschild.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/13143522/JenniferRothschild.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Jennifer Rothschild" width="175" /></a>You know the Bible to be instructive, historical, poetic. Have you also considered it to be an incredible love letter? That every book of the Bible reflects God’s love for its readers?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="http://www.jenniferrothschild.com/about/" alt="Jennifer Rothschild" title="Jennifer Rothschild" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Jennifer Rothschild</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/jennrothschild" title="Jennifer Rothschild Twitter stream" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">@jennrothschild</a>) about her book, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=087708&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of 66 Ways God Loves You in the Bible Gateway Store" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><em>66 Ways God Loves You: Experiencing God’s Love for You in Every Book of the Bible</em></strong></a> (Thomas Nelson, 2016).</p>
<p>[See the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/09/66-ways-god-loves-you/" title="See the Table of Contents of 66 Ways God Loves You" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Table of Contents</strong></a> for <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=087708&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of 66 Ways God Loves You in the Bible Gateway Store" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>66 Ways God Loves You</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=087708&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/13143533/66WaysGodLovesYou.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of 66 Ways God Loves You in the Bible Gateway Store" width="200" /></a></p>
<p><strong>In the book’s introduction you share how you lost your sight at the age of 15 to a retinal disease and were no longer able to read from your own Bible. How did you feel God’s love during such a difficult time?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jennifer Rothschild:</strong> I think I felt God’s love the deepest when I experienced my deepest loss. Amazing how God does that! Blindness brought with it a million adjustments and losses and emotions. But, there really was this unshakeable sense, deep within me, that God had already prepared me for the darkness. And he did it through his Word. I had memorized Scripture as a child and teen. I knew <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A5" title="Read 1 John 1:5 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 John 1:5</a> that told me “…God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” And, I had memorized <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A130" title="Read Psalm 119:130 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Psalm 119:130</a>, “The entrance of your words gives light.”</p>
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<p>But, wow—those truths jumped from my head straight to my heart once my eyes could no longer see light. Honestly, it was his Word that kept me from losing it completely. It was Scripture that I had hidden in my heart that quickly came to mind when my frustration felt stronger than my faith. The peace, comfort, and hope God gave me made me feel like I really was walking in his light; those spiritual blessings were constant reminders that God really did love me. He loved me enough to tuck his Word in my heart so I’d have it when my eyes could no longer read it.</p>
<p>Fast forward to today. I’m 52 years old and blindness has been the single hardest thing I deal with every minute of every day. And, I still feel the same way about God’s Word as I did when I was 15 and lost my sight. Really, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A92" title="Read Psalm 119:92 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Psalm 119:92</a> says it best; “If your law had not been my delight I would have perished in my affliction.” It’s true. God’s Word really carries me every day.</p>
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<p><strong>Why do you consider the Bible to be God’s love letter?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jennifer Rothschild:</strong> Lots of the time, we just think of the Bible as history or life lessons or poetry or—unfortunately—a collection of ‘thou shall’ and ‘thou shalt nots!’ All those elements are part of Scripture. God does give us the history of his people. God’s Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human experience. And, yes, it does give us clear boundaries of what we should and shouldn’t do so we can live our best lives.</p>
<p>I think God gives us all that in his Word because he’s a loving Father. Loving fathers give their children a sense of their history. Loving fathers give their children guidance on how to deal with all the hard things in life. Loving fathers give their children boundaries so they won’t get hurt and can live with peace and purpose. God is our loving Father who loves his children perfectly. So, every part of his Word is an expression of his love to us.</p>
<p>Because he loves us, he tells us where we came from and who we are. Because he loves us, he gives us lyrics to sing when our hearts can’t form words. Because he loves us, he gives us practical teaching and boundaries to protect our hearts. The whole thing is one big expression of a father’s love for his children. Even the parts that some think are rough and hard to swallow, are still expressions of a loving God Who has plans “…to prosper you and not to harm you” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+29%3A11" title="Read Jeremiah 29:11 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jeremiah 29:11</a>). Because, ultimately, God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3%3A9" title="Read 2 Peter 3:9 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2 Peter 3:9</a>). It’s all about love!</p>
<p><strong>How do you highlight God’s love in each book of the Bible? Especially in those books often viewed as historical, hostile, or even “boring”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jennifer Rothschild:</strong> Okay, when I read the word boring, I must admit, I think of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+1" title="Read the book of Leviticus on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leviticus</a>! Yeah, how can you find the love of God in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+1" title="Read the book of Leviticus on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leviticus</a> or <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+1" title="Read the book of Judges on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Judges</a> or <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1" title="Read the book of Revelation on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Revelation</a>? The really beautiful thing about every book is that you can find God’s love through each chapter because God is the author and God is love.</p>
<p>So, for example, in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+1" title="Read the book of Leviticus on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leviticus</a>, God shows us he loves us by giving us access to himself. If you just read Leviticus on the surface, you may think it’s just a bunch of grumpy irrelevant rules; but, it’s actually the way God gave his people access to himself. Because he loves us, he lets us know exactly how to have access to him. And ultimately, God gave us Jesus who is “The Way” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A6" title="Read John 14:6 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 14:6</a>).</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+1" title="Read the book of Judges on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Judges</a>, God stays faithful to us in spite of our repeated failures. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+1" title="Read the book of Judges on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Judges</a> isn’t just about people who blow it over and over. It’s a picture of God’s love that never fails even when we do. And, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1" title="Read the book of Revelation on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Revelation</a> isn’t just end time’s prophecy, it’s God showing off his Son and his glory and honoring us, his treasured bride, with a seat at his table forever!</p>
<p>Don’t get me started! I get so excited I could practically relay the whole table of contents! [Editor’s note: See the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/09/66-ways-god-loves-you/" title="See the Table of Contents of 66 Ways God Loves You" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Table of Contents</a> for <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=087708&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of 66 Ways God Loves You in the Bible Gateway Store" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>66 Ways God Loves You</em></a>] I love his Word and I hope when readers discover how God communicates his love for them through each book of the Bible, they’ll fall deeper in love with his Word too.</p>
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<p><strong>How has writing this book changed your life?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jennifer Rothschild:</strong> I thought I loved Scripture before I wrote this book! But, as I reread each book of the Bible, I fell in love all over again—not just with God’s Word, but with God himself. Sometimes when I read Scripture, I’m trying to learn something or teach something or change something in my life. But, as I wrote this book, I looked at Scripture only through the lens of love.</p>
<p>It was totally humbling to be confronted over and over with the different ways God loves us—me—with an “everlasting love.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+31%3A3" title="Read Jeremiah 31:3 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jeremiah 31:3</a>) I grappled with my unworthiness; I found myself just stopping—taking my fingers off my computer and bowing my head in gratefulness and praise.</p>
<p>Not only is it mind-blowing that God would consider me—us—worthy of his love, but it’s flat-out incomprehensible that God would give us his wisdom, compassion, guidance, and comfort by giving us his Word. It’s totally humbling and such an honor. Thank you Lord!</p>
<p><strong>What’s your favorite book of the Bible and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jennifer Rothschild:</strong> Well, is that kind of like choosing your favorite child? Ha! I guess if I have to choose, I choose <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+1" title="Read the book of Hosea on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hosea</a>. Oh, there’s no book of the Bible which more beautifully and more painfully demonstrates how very much God loves us.</p>
<p>I fell in love with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+1" title="Read the book of Hosea on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hosea</a> as a little girl when my dad used to tell me the story of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/smiths-bible-names-dictionary/Hosea" title="Read about Hosea in Smith's Bible Names Dictionary on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hosea</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/smiths-bible-names-dictionary/Gomer" title="Read about Gomer in Smith's Bible Names Dictionary on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gomer</a>. I always wanted a man to love me like he loved her. To think she didn’t deserve his love and he pursued her and sacrificed and called her his beloved bride? Well, that’s the kind of love any woman longs for.</p>
<p>And, the book of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Hosea on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hosea</a> tells me that’s one of the ways God loves me. He pursues me, he sacrificed for me, and he calls me his beloved! And, not just me… all of us. God’s love is bigger than our failures and stronger than any chains that bind us. His love never quits or fails or walks away.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jennifer Rothschild:</strong> Let me just say writing <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=087708&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of 66 Ways God Loves You in the Bible Gateway Store" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>66 Ways God Loves You</em></a> would have been a whole lot harder without Bible Gateway! It’s my first go-to when it comes to finding a verse or looking at a commentary or doing a word search. Being blind, I rely on software that talks to me. Not every website is easy for screen-readers to read. But Bible Gateway is. So, not only am I super grateful for your commitment to God’s Word and the content you provide, I’m really thankful that even these blind eyes can access it so easily with my screen reader. Thanks guys!</p>
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<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Jennifer Rothschild has written 13 books and Bible studies, including the bestsellers, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=0475X&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Lessons I Learned in the Dark in the Bible Gateway Store" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Lessons I Learned in the Dark</em></a>, <em>Self Talk, Soul Talk</em>, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=04020X&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Hosea: Unfailing Love Changes Everything in the Bible Gateway Store" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Hosea: Unfailing Love Changes Everything</em></a>, and <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=965753&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Invisible for Young Women in the Bible Gateway Store" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Invisible for Young Women</em></a>. She’s appeared on Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, Life Today, and a Billy Graham television special, and spoken for Women of Faith and Extraordinary Women. She’s the founder of the Fresh Grounded Faith conferences and <a href="https://womensministry.net/" title="womensministry.net" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">womensministry.net</a>. Jennifer lost her sight at age 15 and regularly travels and speaks around the country, sharing her story and all God has done in her life. Jennifer lives with her family in Missouri.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/66-ways-god-loves-you-an-interview-with-jennifer-rothschild/">66 Ways God Loves You: An Interview with Jennifer Rothschild</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6893145
2022-02-09T07:01:32-12:00
2022-02-09T07:30:17-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Finding Shalom
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one-hundred-ninety-fifth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p><em>“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A27&version=NIV&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Peace&tab=study" title="Read John 14:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 14:27</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/09133317/How-To-LIve-The-Bible-Jesus-Peace.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Silhouette of a man with his arms outstretched against a sunrise" width="90%" /></p>
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<p>You’re walking down the sidewalk, and you see a longtime acquaintance. If there is no time to stop and talk, you nod and simply say, “Hi” or “How ya doin’?” Maybe you mean it, or maybe the words are just words.</p>
<p>The Hebrews had a much better way of greeting each other: “Shalom.” The usual translation into English is “Peace,” and though this translation is accurate, it’s incomplete. Shalom is a tremendous word and an expression of full blessing. This peace is not just the absence of conflict, but a complete wholeness of being. So when someone greets another in Hebrew with “Shalom,” it doesn’t just mean, “Hi, hope you stay well today.” But “May you enjoy security and safety, may you experience harmony and accord in all parts of your life, and may you have soundness, completeness, and health in every respect.”</p>
<p>Shalom means health. It points to how we are healed.</p>
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<p>Jesus greeted his disciples many times with “Shalom.” And they most certainly never forgot that day after Jesus’ death when <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024%3A36-49&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/j-the-resurrection-24-1-53&tab=study" title="Read Luke 24:36-49 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">he suddenly appeared in the room</a> with them, saying, “Shalom.” Shalom, indeed!</p>
<p>The resurrected Messiah is our true hope for healing. On the night Jesus was betrayed, before the arrest, trial, and execution, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A27&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/John.14.27-John.14.30&tab=study" title="Read John 14:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">he said to his disciples</a>: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” They didn’t know what he meant then. They didn’t know how much healing they would need.</p>
<p>How do we heal? We are, in fact, being healed all the time. Our bodies are continually attacked by microbes and germs that are unseen, but by God’s design the body is defended. And when we’re cut and bruised, we heal.</p>
<p>But the most important healing happens to the wholeness of our being when Christ brings peace to the troubled soul and the fearful heart, when he rejoins us in fellowship with the heavenly Father, and when he breaks apart flaws of our character like pride and resentment. This is true healing.</p>
<p><strong>MAKE IT REAL</strong></p>
<p>Find a peaceful place today. Maybe a park, a quiet room, a nature trail or a library, and pray for God’s contentment and peace for a troubling situation in your life.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/how-to-live-the-bible-finding-shalom/">How to Live the Bible — Finding Shalom</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6892872
2022-02-08T23:00:00-12:00
2022-02-09T03:00:09-12:00
Motivated by Love to Love
<p></p><blockquote><center>
<em>Editor’s Note: The following content is adapted from the </em> <a href="https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/product/young-women-love-god-greatly-net/" title="Learn more about the Young Women Love God Greatly Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Young Women Love God Greatly Bible</a> <em> (Thomas Nelson, 2022)</em>
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<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/07152050/AngelaPerritt.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Angela Perritt" width="30%" /><strong>By Angela Perritt</strong></p>
<p><em>“Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is: “Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12%3A28-31&version=NET&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/4-the-greatest-commandment-12-28-34&tab=study" title="Read Mark 12:28-31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 12:28-31</a> (NET)</p>
<p>Can I be honest with you? There are days when I don’t feel very loving. Days when I feel I don’t have an ounce of love to give. But I’ve learned that love isn’t a feeling; it’s an action. You can love someone without feeling love for them. It sounds crazy, I know; but it’s true! How? Because whether you feel it or not, you have the capacity to love well, deeply, and sacrificially because that is how <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A8&version=NET&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.5.5-Rom.5.8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 5:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">God loves you</a>—completely.</p>
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<center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<h2>The Impossible Made Possible</h2>
<p>I know it sounds impossible, but you can choose to love regardless of how you feel because God’s love is in you. Love is not something you have to muster up. God has lovingly given his love to you so you can lovingly give it away. God’s love is a gift meant to be regifted. When you choose to love others, you choose to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A5&version=NET&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/2-the-humility-and-exaltation-of-the-servant-christ-our-example-and-pattern-2-5-11&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 2:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">be more like Christ</a>.</p>
<p>Be the brave one who reaches out because God has reached out to you. Be the bridge of love that corrects people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, and languages. You can do this because God has already done it for you.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bible-connection-podcast-the-greatest-commandment-love-god-greatly/" title="Watch the Bible Connection Podcast: The Greatest Commandment—Love God Greatly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch the Bible Connection Podcast: <em>The Greatest Commandment—Love God Greatly</em></a>]</p>
<h2>Love the Way You Were Created To</h2>
<p>Don’t feel like you can love others the way God is calling you to? You’re right; you can’t. You have to reside in him; to draw your love and strength from God. He is the only one who can give you the love that levels boundaries, destroys hatred, and crosses lines. You can do this, but you can’t do it without Jesus.</p>
<p>Now is the perfect time to show a watching world what it means to rise up and love the way we were created to love. Now is the time to love with God’s love. This is only an impossible task if you don’t reside in God’s love. Love extravagantly and fully. </p>
<p>Love because <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204%3A19&version=NET&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/iv-god-is-love-fellowship-as-acting-in-love-4-7-21&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 4:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">God first loved you</a>.</p>
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<p><em>This article was written by Angela Perritt, founder and director of <a href="https://lovegodgreatly.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Love God Greatly</a>. It is adapted from the</em> Young Women Love God Greatly Bible. <a href="https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/product/young-women-love-god-greatly-net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more and order your copy today</a>.</p>
<p></p><blockquote><center>Study the topic of love and hundreds more when you become a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it free right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/motivated-by-love-to-love/">Motivated by Love to Love</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6892178
2022-02-08T04:06:34-12:00
2022-02-08T08:45:04-12:00
Peace Like a River
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/08100404/MorganHarperNichols_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Morgan Harper Nichols" width="33%" />By Morgan Harper Nichols</strong></p>
<p><em>You will keep him in perfect peace,</em><br>
<em>Whose mind is stayed on You,</em><br>
<em>Because he trusts in You.</em><br>
—<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+26%3A3&version=NKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6705-peace-believersexperience&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Isaiah 26:3 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Isaiah 26:3</a>, NKJV</p>
<p>The word <em>peace</em> first caught my attention as a child when I heard the song “It Is Well with My Soul.”</p>
<p><em>When peace like a river, attendeth my way,</em><br>
<em>When sorrows like sea billows roll;</em><br>
<em>Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,</em><br>
<em>It is well, it is well, with my soul.</em></p>
<p>From that moment forward, I associated the word <em>peace</em> with a river, a beautiful yet powerful watercourse I had never seen with my own eyes, but it was a place I longed for. Because I struggled to fit in and feel at home in the world around me, the idea of peace drew me in. I was hungry for the green leaves that sheltered the river and thirsty for the water that flowed throughout. When I learned the story behind the song, my association deepened even more.</p>
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<p>Horatio Spafford’s four daughters died in a shipwreck while crossing the Atlantic. When he crossed the same ocean to join his grieving wife, who had survived the wreck, he penned the words to this song.</p>
<p>He had known peace to be like a river in his life, and sorrows to be like the sea. He had known more than one body of water. And for him, they meant different things.</p>
<p>As a young girl, I too associated the sea with sorrow. I learned of the slave trade that brought my ancestors over the Atlantic. The architectural plans in history books of their bodies lined up below the deck created a lump in my throat. If slaves grew ill or did not comply with the enslaver in some way, they were thrown overboard to their death. My stomach tightened at this knowledge. I still can’t look to the Atlantic Ocean without thinking of them.</p>
<p>In contrast, the river was a symbol of freedom and peace for my soul. I could feel this meaning in the Negro spirituals I sang as a child. All by grace, these songs have survived and traveled down through the generations. Through years of enslavement and relentless oppression, songs like “Deep River” became a part of the tradition:</p>
<p><em>Deep river, my home is over Jordan . . .</em><br>
<em>Oh, don’t you want to go to that gospel feast,</em><br>
<em>That promised land where all is peace?</em></p>
<p>The author of this song, and many others like it, remains unknown. I don’t have the privilege of knowing the authors’ individual stories. But I can feel the collective longing for peace beneath my skin, generations later.</p>
<p>As the song suggests, “peace” still exists within the question mark, not on the other side. Questions about justice, safety, healing, hope. Questions that make us wonder, “Will we ever be truly free?”</p>
<p>We’re still desperate to reach that deep river. We’re still desperate for peace.</p>
<p>Peace is a state of mind, heart, body, and soul. It is the freedom to breathe, even in the face of great challenges and chaos. Peace is the river in the desert, not on the other side of it.</p>
<p>Today I am still seeking that river. And not just a river far off somewhere that I must arrive at, but the river that runs wild and free in my inner life. The river that carves its way through my need for understanding and reminds me to slow down and breathe.</p>
<p>My senses strive for the smallest taste of peace in the morning’s dewy air. The steam lifting above poured tea. The way the house settles back into place after a freight train rolls by. Why? Because it is precisely that moment in the day when I return to the present moment. It is there I realize that when the walls shake, the ground is still steady beneath. My body finds the resolve it naturally seeks.</p>
<p>These are small things, yes, but in times lined with uncertainty, they remind me of the bigger things. They remind me that I can be aware of this very moment, no matter my fears of the future and no matter what I am wrestling from the past.</p>
<p>I am free to slow down long enough to reflect on what is true. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me. The strength of my great-great-grandfather who was born a slave and died free. My parents, who taught me to sing songs of peace. The painters and poets who created openly and widely, never knowing of me. The teenage girl transformed by what they made—quietly taking in their work as I stood in the narrow gaps between the shelves at the local library. It was in that small space that I found freedom to breathe.</p>
<p>This is what peace means to me.</p>
<p>I have played around with the phrases <em>finding peace</em> and <em>seeking peace</em> and <em>peace beyond understanding</em> in my art and poetry. And not just because they fit nicely. I hope that for whoever is on the other side of that phrase, it reminds them to exhale, right in the middle of the uncertainty. For even when we haven’t yet seen the other side of the issues we’re facing, we are still worthy of breathing deep and knowing peace right here amid them.</p>
<p>I write this way because I am desperate for peace. And I have a feeling you might be too.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/peace-is-a-practice-an-invitation-to-breathe-deep-and-find-a-new-rhythm-for-life?variant=39516021686408" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Peace Is a Practice</em></a> is about learning to seek peace in daily life. It’s about realizing we are worthy of peace. And it starts right here: with a deep inhale and a hold-nothing-back exhale as you ground yourself in the grace of the present. You don’t have to arrive at your picture-perfect life before you can know peace. The river is here for you now, wherever you are.</p>
<p>________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/peace-is-a-practice-an-invitation-to-breathe-deep-and-find-a-new-rhythm-for-life?variant=39516021686408" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/08095749/PeacePractice_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Peace Is a Practice by Morgan Harper Nichols" height="280" width="280" /></a>Taken from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/peace-is-a-practice-an-invitation-to-breathe-deep-and-find-a-new-rhythm-for-life?variant=39516021686408" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Peace Is a Practice: An Invitation to Breathe Deep and Find a New Rhythm for Life</em></a> by Morgan Harper Nichols. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/peace-is-a-practice-an-invitation-to-breathe-deep-and-find-a-new-rhythm-for-life?variant=39516021686408" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about his book.</p>
<p>When you breathe in all the grace available to you and release everything that is outside of your control, you’ll discover peace that surpasses your circumstances. All it takes is practice.</p>
<p>If you feel overwhelmed with anxiety about the future, you’re far from alone. For many of us, when we’re not worrying about what is to come, we find ourselves wrestling with things from the past. Where does that leave us today?</p>
<p>Morgan Harper Nichols has learned the answer to this question. She has examined stories from her own life and the lives of people around the world and noticed a common thread: we all long for peace. We’re all seeking light and life. But these things don’t happen passively. <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/peace-is-a-practice-an-invitation-to-breathe-deep-and-find-a-new-rhythm-for-life?variant=39516021686408" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Peace Is a Practice</em></a> invites you to become a peacemaker in your own life, starting right where you are, and in some of the most unexpected places. As these words and images inspire you to take daily steps toward peace, you’ll uncover the key to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Embracing the beauty of the present</li>
<li>Letting go of regret of the past and fear of the future</li>
<li>Developing a path toward meaning and authenticity</li>
<li>Approaching life’s challenges with faith and a calm confidence</li>
<li>Feeling peace even in the midst of uncertainty or difficult times</li>
</ul>
<p>In every moment, there is something as deep and boundless as a winding river waiting to be found—a true peace that flows, beckoning you to rest . . . and be still.</p>
<p><strong>Morgan Harper Nichols</strong>, popular Instagram poet and artist (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/morganharpernichols/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@morganharpernichols</a>), has garnered a loyal online following of nearly two million, and each poem she shares is created in response to the personal stories submitted by her friends and followers. In addition to her burgeoning career as a poet and illustrator, Morgan has also successfully established her reputation as a musician, with her song “Storyteller” amassing more than one million Spotify plays thus far. She and her family live in Phoenix, Arizona.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/peace-like-a-river/">Peace Like a River</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6890953
2022-02-07T01:13:55-12:00
2022-02-07T05:15:04-12:00
What Does the Bible Say About Love?
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/28170009/Christopher_Reese.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Christopher Reese" width="20%" /></a><strong>By Christopher Reese</strong></p>
<p>On Valentine’s Day and throughout the year, our thoughts turn to romantic love, chocolates, and special meal celebrations. Romantic love is a wonderful gift from God. God created us male and female, gave us feelings of attraction for the opposite sex, and instituted marriage for the benefit of both men and women (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen+2%3A21-24&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/ge-2-18-25&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 2:21-24 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 2:21-24</a>). In fact, an entire book of the Bible, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Songs+1+&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Song of Songs on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Song of Songs</a>, celebrates romantic love, marriage, and marital intimacy.</p>
<p>Beyond Valentine’s Day, “love” is a word that’s nearly ubiquitous in our culture. Pop artists sing about it, celebrities post about it on social media, and Hollywood tells stories around it. Yet, in most cases, the kind of “love” in view boils down to feelings of warmth or excitement or satisfaction. Once the sentiments are gone, so is the love. In fact, this version of love is mostly self-serving, looking to others to meet one’s needs or desires, and often moving on when this ceases to be the case. The Christian leader Bernard of Clairvaux observed centuries ago, “Human nature is weak and therefore compelled to love itself and serve itself first.”<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#1"><sup><strong>1</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>In contrast to this faulty conception of love, the Bible has much to say about the higher form of love which is God’s love for us and the love we should have for one another as people created <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A26-31&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Gen.1.24-Gen.1.31&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 1:26-31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in God’s image</a>. Let’s consider the important question of what love actually is, and then move on to see what Scripture says about God’s love for us, our love for God, and our love for one another.</p>
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<h3>What Love Is</h3>
<p>To answer the question of what love is, we have to begin with love’s source—God himself. We’ll say more about this below, but God is the very source and foundation of love. “God is love,” Scripture tells us, meaning that love originates and flows from God’s nature (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+4%3A8&resource_entry=nkjv-wiersbe-study-bible/1jn-4-7-16&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 4:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 4:8</a>).</p>
<p>There were a number of Greek words for love when the New Testament was written centuries ago, but the word the New Testament authors primarily used to describe the love of God was <em>agapē</em>. To understand the true meaning of love, then, we must first understand the love of God and what the Bible says about <em>agapē</em>. The following description of <em>agapē</em> is especially helpful:</p>
<p>“<em>Agapē</em>, as Godlike love, stands in total contrast to all pagan ideas of love in a fallen world. While they are manipulative, because largely self-centered and working for self-interest, self-gratification and self-protection, agapē is completely unselfish. It is based neither on a felt need in the loving person nor on a desire called forth by some attractive feature(s) in the one loved. . . . It rather proceeds from a heart of love and is directed to the other person to bless him or her and to seek that person’s highest good.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#2"><sup><strong>2</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>True love, then—the love God desires us to give and receive—is a love that seeks another person’s highest good and does not depend on our feelings about that person. Instead, love is an act of the will undertaken in obedience to Jesus’ command to love as he loves (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+13%3A34&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/jn-13-34&tab=study" title="Read John 13:34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 13:34</a>).</p>
<h3>God’s Love for Us</h3>
<p>We’ve just seen God is love; this has been true of God for all eternity. In fact, God is a community of love because the three persons of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/eastons-bible-dictionary/Trinity" title="Read about the Trinity in Easton's Bible Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Trinity</a>—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—have eternally had loving fellowship with one another. While Scripture doesn’t address this question directly, we can reasonably conclude that God created human beings (and the angels) so he could enter into mutually loving relationships with us.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-1-adam-and-eve-abraham-jacob-joseph/#AdamandEve" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 1 (Adam and Eve, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Adam and Eve</a> had this abundant relationship with God in the Garden of Eden before they sinned, and the entire Bible tells the story of God’s rescue plan, motivated by love, to save humanity from sin. Thus the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#John" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">apostle John</a> famously tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+3%3A16&version=NIV&resource_entry=believers-bible-commentary/3-16-2&tab=study" title="Read John 3:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 3:16</a>). God’s <em>agapē</em> moved the Son to leave heaven to save mankind, and the Father to sacrifice his Son’s earthly life to bring us back into relationship with him. Although it was costly, Father, Son, and Spirit sought our highest good by this sacrificial act of love. Paul writes, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A8&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-rom-5-8&tab=study" title="Read Romans 5:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 5:8</a>).</p>
<h3>Our Love for God</h3>
<p>When asked what the greatest commandment in the Law of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-old-testament-part-2-moses-joshua-david/#Moses" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 2 (Moses, Joshua, David)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Moses</a> was, Jesus responded by quoting <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A5&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/dt-6-5&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 6:5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 6:5</a>: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A37-38&version=NIV&resource_entry=new-bible-commentary/22-34-40-the-greatest-commandment-see&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 22:37-38 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 22:37-38</a>). These terms (heart, soul, mind) taken together refer to one’s entire being. Thus, we should love God with all of the faculties he has given us—with our thinking, willing, desiring, behavior, and everything else.</p>
<p>It’s also important to note that our love for God is a response to his love for us. The apostle John explains, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. . . . We love because he first loved us” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A10-19&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/1jn-4-7-21&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 4:10, 19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 4:10, 19</a>). Our love for God should flow as readily as our love for our parents or for anyone who, out of love, has made a great sacrifice on our behalf. We are, of course, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/eastons-bible-dictionary/Fall-man" title="Read about the fall of humans in Easton's Bible Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fallen</a> human beings, so we fail to love God (and others) as we should. Consequently, we depend on the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit of love in our lives and to form us into people who love as we should (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A22-23&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Gal.5.22&tab=study" title="Read Galatians 5:22-23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galatians 5:22-23</a>).</p>
<h3>Our Love for Each Other</h3>
<p>One of the last instructions Jesus gave the disciples before his death focused on love: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A34-35&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/jn-13-34-38&tab=study" title="Read John 13:34-35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 13:34-35</a>).</p>
<p>In one sense, this was not a new commandment for God’s people. In the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Levitcus+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of Leviticus on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of Leviticus</a>, God had instructed, “love your neighbor as yourself” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=lev.+19%3A18&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-study-bible/lev-19-18&tab=study" title="Read Leviticus 19:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leviticus 19:18</a>). What was new, however, was the way in which Jesus’ followers were to love: they should no longer love others only as they loved themselves, but as Jesus had loved them—that is, with the <em>agapē</em> love of God. One way Jesus demonstrated this love was by washing the disciples’ feet on this same occasion (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A1-17&resource_entry=niv-jesus-bible/john-13-1-17-34-35&tab=study" title="Read John 13:1-17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 13:1-17</a>). This was a task normally done by the lowest level of servant in a household, but by doing so himself, Jesus demonstrated love through humble service. Jesus’ death on the cross, of course, would be the ultimate example of sacrificial love (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A13&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/jn-15-13&tab=study" title="Read John 15:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 15:13</a>).</p>
<p>Bible scholar Christopher Wright helpfully elaborates: the love that Jesus desires us to show to one another is “not just sentimental feelings of being nice, but real practical proof that we love and accept one another, in down-to-earth caring, providing, helping, encouraging, and supporting one another, even when it costs a lot or hurts a lot to do so. Love in action, in other words.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#3"><sup><strong>3</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/12/getting-to-know-the-major-characters-of-the-new-testament-part-2-peter-stephen-paul-john/#Paul" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament: Part 2 (Peter, Stephen, Paul, John)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">apostle Paul</a> provides one of the best summaries of <em>agapē</em> love in the entire Bible in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor.+13&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/what-bible-says-about-god-forever-love&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13</a>, which we would do well to meditate on daily: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor.+13%3A4-7&version=NIV&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-nt/1co-13-4-7&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vv. 4-7</a>).</p>
<p><a id="1"></a></p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>Notes<br>
1. Cited by Sarah Sumner in “Love,” <em>Dictionary of Everyday Theology and Culture</em>, ed. Bruce Demarest and Keith J. Matthews, The Navigators Reference Library (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2010), 253–254.<br>
<a id="2"></a><br>
2. J. P. Baker, “Love,” in <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=824557&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the New Dictionary of Theology in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>New Dictionary of Theology</em></a>, ed. Sinclair B. Ferguson and J. I. Packer (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 399.<br>
<a id="3"></a><br>
3. Christopher J. H. Wright, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=844982&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Growing in Christlikeness in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Growing in Christlikeness</em></a> (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2017), 18-19.</p>
<hr>
<p><strong>BIO:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" title="Visit the LinkedIn page of Christopher Reese" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Reese</a> (MDiv, ThM) (<a href="https://twitter.com/clreese" title="Christopher Reese Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@clreese</a>) is a freelance writer and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://worldviewbulletin.substack.com/archive?utm_source=menu-dropdown" title="Visit The Worldview Bulletin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Worldview Bulletin</em></a>. He is a general editor of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dictionary-of-christianity-and-science-the-definitive-reference-for-the-intersection-of-christian-faith-and-contemporary-science?variant=13746105909359&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dictionary of Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2017) and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/three-views-on-christianity-and-science?variant=34292904001672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Three Views on Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Three Views on Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2021). His articles have appeared in <em>Christianity Today</em> and he writes and edits for Christian ministries and publishers.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/what-does-the-bible-say-about-love/">What Does the Bible Say About Love?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6888592
2022-02-04T02:34:00-12:00
2022-02-04T04:00:16-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of January 30, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/weekly-brief-week-of-january-30-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of January 30, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6887865
2022-02-03T06:27:12-12:00
2022-02-03T09:45:08-12:00
How Should You Measure the Progress of Your Spiritual Maturity?: An Interview with Kevin and...
<p><a href="https://kevingharney.com/about/kevin-harney-bio/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/01105813/Kevin-Harney.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Kevin Harney" width="25%" /></a>Do specific key indicators exist that we should intentionally seek to nurture and grow as we navigate our Christian faith journey over the course of our lives? How can we better stay in step with God’s purposes and his mission? What should we learn from the example of Jesus, walking naturally in his footsteps as he leads us closer to the heart of God and the deepest needs of the world?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="https://kevingharney.com/about/kevin-harney-bio/" title="Kevin Harney" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Kevin Harney</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/KevinGHarney" title="Kevin Harney Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@KevinGHarney</a>) and <a href="https://sherryharney.com/#author-section" title="Sherry Harney" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Sherry Harney</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/OrganicOutreach" title="Organic Outreach Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@OrganicOutreach</a>) about their book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/organic-disciples-seven-ways-to-grow-spiritually-and-naturally-share-jesus?variant=39444303511688&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Organic Disciples in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Organic Disciples: Seven Ways to Grow Spiritually and Naturally Share Jesus</em></strong></a> (Zondervan, 2021).<br>
<a href="https://sherryharney.com/#author-section" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/01105825/Sherry-Harney.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sherry Harney" width="25%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What is an “Organic” Disciple?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Kevin and Sherry Harney:</strong> An “Organic” Disciple is a follower of Jesus who is growing in faith in natural ways, every single day. Spiritual maturity should be a habitual part of our daily life. Yes, there’s a need for discipline and effort, but God delights when our journey with Jesus becomes natural, like breathing. In our book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/organic-disciples-seven-ways-to-grow-spiritually-and-naturally-share-jesus?variant=39444303511688&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Organic Disciples in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Organic Disciples</em></a>, we explore how to learn from Jesus, become like our Savior, and then go with the Lord on his mission to bring grace and truth to the people in our broken and hurting world.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/organic-disciples-seven-ways-to-grow-spiritually-and-naturally-share-jesus?variant=39444303511688&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/01095139/Organic-Disciples.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Organic Disciples in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>We believe discipleship is not just about our relationship with Jesus. It’s bigger, more glorious, and should be world-changing. God’s desire is to, <em>“equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”</em> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A12-13&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Eph.4.2-Eph.4.16&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 4:12-13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:12-13</a>).</p>
<p><span id="more-66052"></span></p>
<p><strong>What are some fresh and unique insights about spiritual growth in this book?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Kevin and Sherry Harney:</strong> First, true and biblical discipleship that follows the heart of Jesus always leads to evangelism. Think of it this way: if a parent holds the hand of a child and they take a walk, the little one will always go where the parent leads. With hands locked together, it’s inevitable. As followers of Jesus, we lock hands with our Savior and follow his ways, his will, his teaching, and his heart. As children of our heavenly Father, we go where he leads.</p>
<p>So here’s the question: where is our Father going? The answer: God (the Good Shepherd) is always moving toward the lost, forgotten, and wandering sheep. So, the closer we walk with Jesus, the more we move toward lost sheep. If we walk hand-in-hand with our God (discipleship) we’ll always move toward the world he loves (evangelism). Biblical discipleship grows our passion and practice of outreach.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/organic-disciples-seven-ways-to-grow-spiritually-and-naturally-share-jesus-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39444303446152&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/01095151/Organic-Disciples-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Organic Disciples audiobook in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>Second, discipleship is never just about me. In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A2&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/7793-teachers&tab=study" title="Read 2 Timothy 2:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 2:2</a> we see a beautiful picture of four generations for discipleship potential in the life of every believer. The example the apostle Paul gives is that he’s discipling Timothy, a young pastor in the city of Ephesus. In this passage, Paul is Generation 1. Then Timothy is responsible for his own spiritual growth; he’s Generation 2. But, it doesn’t end there. Paul gives Timothy a charge to invest in the spiritual growth of a next generation of responsible people… this is Generation 3. Then, these people are to be equipped to help others grow in faith…Generation 4. This is how the Christian faith has been passed on from Jesus, to his disciples, and from person to person until it came to you and me. This vision of the Christian journey is found in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A2&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/2Tim.2.1-2Tim.2.7&tab=study" title="Read 2 Timothy 2:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 2:2</a>, <em>“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others also.”</em></p>
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<p><strong>In <em>Organic Disciples</em> you talk about the seven markers of spiritual maturity. What are these?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Kevin and Sherry Harney:</strong> As we’ve led the movement of discipleship at Shoreline Church, we felt the need to identify specific practices of Jesus that every Christian (young and old) should be emulating. So, we spent about a year gathering with leaders from our children’s, youth, and adult ministries. As we studied the life of Jesus, we identified seven distinct practices of our Savior that every believer can and should see growing in their life. They are:<br>
<a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/search?q=organic%20outreach&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/01113716/Organic-Outreach-for-Churches.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Organic Outreach for Churches in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<ol>
<li> Bible Engagement</li>
<li> Passionate Prayer</li>
<li> Wholehearted Worship</li>
<li> Humble Service</li>
<li> Joyful Generosity</li>
<li> Consistent Community</li>
<li> Organic Outreach.</li>
</ol>
<p>Discipleship is about becoming more and more like Jesus. So, we can know we’re developing as his followers when we see these seven markers growing in our life. We think these are so important that we developed a simple and free <a href="https://www.organicoutreach.org/ag/individual-0-12007" title="Take the Organic Outreach self-assessment of spiritual growth" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">35 question self-assessment</a> that any student or adult can do and get immediate feedback on their own growth and also practical ideas for next steps of growth in each of the seven areas. God’s desire is that each of us would, <em>“…become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”</em> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A13&version=NIV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Eph.4.12-Eph.4.13&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 4:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:13</a>).</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/07/how-to-say-no-and-not-feel-guilty-an-interview-with-kevin-g-harney/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Say No and Not Feel Guilty: An Interview with Kevin G. Harney" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Say No and Not Feel Guilty: An Interview with Kevin G. Harney</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/search?q=organic%20outreach&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/01113725/Organic-Outreach-for-Families.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Organic Outreach for Families in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Talk about <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/" title="See the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Engagement</a>. Is there a reason you always address this first when you teach about the seven markers of spiritual maturity?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Kevin and Sherry Harney:</strong> Absolutely! This is first because everything else is built and based on this part of our spiritual growth. We would not have any idea what a mature and growing life of faith would look like if we didn’t have the Scriptures. We would not know what it looks like to grow as a disciple of Jesus if we didn’t have the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/06/what-are-the-gospels-2/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Are the Gospels?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gospels</a>, the four distinct and beautiful accounts of the life of our Savior.</p>
<p>When the apostle Paul was inspired to write these words, the church received a powerful picture of what the Scriptures can do in our lives and the world: <em>“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”</em> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A16-17&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/2Tim.3.16-2Tim.3.17&tab=study" title="Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 3:16-17</a>).</p>
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<p></p><center>
<em>Sign up to <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">get the</a></strong></em><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Know the Bible <em>free email lesson series</em></a></strong><em> from Bible Gateway.</em>
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<p><strong>You say Christians should “love, know, and follow” the Bible. Explain a little about each of these ideas.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Kevin and Sherry Harney:</strong> In the longest book of the Bible, in the longest chapter, we read these words: <em>“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long”</em> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A97&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-119&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 119:97 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 119:97</a>). The psalmist is declaring a passionate love for the Holy Spirit inspired message of heaven, the Scriptures. We don’t worship the Bible…we worship only God. But we should love the book that points us to Jesus, teaches us how to live, shows the pathway to holiness, and reveals the very heart of the Father!</p>
<p>Loving the Bible is not enough. If we’re ignorant about what we love, do we really love it? Notice that right after declaring love for the Scriptures, the psalmist proclaims that he ponders, thinks about, meditates on the text and teaching of God’s Word <em>“all day long.”</em> We need to know the teaching of the Bible, study the whole book, get to know the content of the Scriptures, and lock it in our heart and mind!</p>
<p>But this is still not a fulfillment of what God desires for his children. Once we love the Word and grow in knowledge of biblical truth, we’re to follow what it says. In the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Watch the video introducing the book of James on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book of James</a>, we read this piercing exhortation, <em>“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says”</em> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A22&version=NIV&resource_entry=ivp-nt/Do-What-Word-Says&tab=study" title="Read James 1:22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James 1:22</a>). Our heavenly Father delights when his children love, know, and follow his teachings found in the Bible.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/search?q=organic%20outreach&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/01113736/Organic-Outreach-for-Ordinary-People.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Organic Outreach for Ordinary People in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What is a Bible passage that has marked and transformed your life?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Kevin Harney:</strong> In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9%3A37-38&version=NIV&resource_entry=lumo/Matt-9-1-Matt-9-38&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 9:37-38 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 9:37-38</a> we read, <em>“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”</em> I had read this passage for years before the Holy Spirit really ignited my heart and life with the truth revealed in these words of Jesus. The problem with reaching the world with the gospel is not primarily with the world, it’s with us! It’s not with the found, but the lost! People are far more open to Jesus than we dream, if we’ll just love, serve, pray, and share the truth like Jesus did.</p>
<p><strong>Sherry Harney:</strong> My life has been shaped by <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A10&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1085-God-love&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 4:10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 4:10</a>, <em>“This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”</em> When God overwhelmed me with the reality that first and foremost my walk with Jesus is not about what I give to him, but it starts with what he’s given to me. Everything good that comes from me is just an overflowing of what he has first given. This was very freeing! This one amazing verse fills me with a desire to let the whole world know God loves them too, and this is the beginning of an abundant life. If anyone will receive his grace, he’s ready to embrace them and call them his child and give them life to the full.</p>
<p><strong>Kevin and Sherry Harney:</strong> You might notice both of us have key verses that focus on God’s infinite and amazing love for the lost in this world. That’s one of the primary reasons we started the ministry of <a href="https://www.organicoutreach.org/" title="Visit organicoutreach.org" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Organic Outreach International</a>. We’ve spent more than 30 years training leaders and developing resources to help Christians, churches, and movements become more effective in fulfilling the Great Commission found in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A19-20&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Matt.28.20&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 28:19-20 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 28:19-20</a>, <em>“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”</em></p>
<p>More than 90% of these resources are free and most are in English, Spanish, and a growing number of other languages and can be found at <a href="https://www.organicoutreach.org/" title="Visit organicoutreach.org" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">organicoutreach.org</a>.</p>
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</p><p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Kevin and Sherry Harney:</strong> We take Bible reading so seriously that Kevin creates a weekly reading guide 52 weeks a year that goes directly with our Sunday sermon. What we do is provide a daily reading that’s linked to Bible Gateway. People can simply click the link we provide and it opens to the passage in Bible Gateway. We encourage our church members to read or listen to the daily passage(s) (normally a chapter of the Bible or more). When they do, by Sunday, they’ve been immersed in Scriptures that prepare them for Sunday. This is the most used resource on our church website and app. No need to reinvent the wheel. We simply connect them to Bible Gateway and use this amazing tool. We see it as a gift from the Lord!</p>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/organic-disciples-seven-ways-to-grow-spiritually-and-naturally-share-jesus?variant=39444303511688&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Organic Disciples in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Organic Disciples</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Kevin G. Harney is lead pastor of Shoreline Church in Monterey, California. He is the author of many books, including <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=586067&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of No Is a Beautiful Word in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>No Is a Beautiful Word</em></a>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/seismic-shifts-the-little-changes-that-make-a-big-difference-in-your-life?variant=13756585017455&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Seismic Shifts in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Seismic Shifts</em></a>, and the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/search?q=organic%20outreach&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of the Organic Outreach Trilogy in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Organic Outreach Trilogy</a>, as well as more than a hundred small group guides, curriculum, and numerous articles written in partnership with Sherry. Kevin and his wife Sherry are co-founders of Organic Outreach International, a ministry that trains and resources global leaders to do evangelism in natural and effective ways. He also does extensive teaching and speaking both nationally and internationally.</p>
<p>Sherry Harney is an author and a speaker who serves as the Spiritual Formation and Discipleship Director at Shoreline Church in Monterey, California. She is also the cofounder of Organic Outreach International. For over three decades Sherry has spoken for local, national, and international groups and events. She focuses on prayer, spiritual formation, leadership, and organic outreach.</p>
<p>Over the past three decades Sherry and Kevin have coauthored and partnered with writers such as Ann Voskamp, Max Lucado, Nabeel Qureshi, Jim Cymbala, Miles McPherson, Mark Batterson, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Christine Caine, Gary Thomas, N.T. Wright, Laura Story, Craig Groeschel, Dallas Willard and many others. Kevin and Sherry have three married sons and three grandchildren.</p>
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<center>Take steps to nurture your faith by becoming a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it free right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/how-should-you-measure-the-progress-of-your-spiritual-maturity-an-interview-with-kevin-and-sherry-harney/">How Should You Measure the Progress of Your Spiritual Maturity?: An Interview with Kevin and Sherry Harney</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6886647
2022-02-02T05:36:11-12:00
2022-02-02T06:15:08-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Recovering Sight
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one-hundred-ninety-fourth lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p><em>“He has sent me to proclaim…recovery of sight for the blind.”</em> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A18&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/5135-blindness-spiritual&tab=study" title="Read Luke 4:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 4:18</a></p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/02114813/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Jesus-Healing-Man.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Illustration of Jesus healing a man" width="90%" /></p>
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<p>He was the last person in the world to think he would ever get better. The man, blind from birth, had lived a life of total darkness. He had never known anything different.</p>
<p>He sat hour after hour on the hard pavement of Jerusalem streets, beggar’s hand extended, hoping he’d get a few coins to make it through the day. And then one day he heard a group talking about him—someone <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+9%3A1-2&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/John.9.2&tab=study" title="Read John 9:1-2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">rudely asking</a> another: “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” The answer was stunning: “Neither. This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Then the blind man heard Jesus spit, felt mud spread on his eyes, and heard Jesus tell him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. He groped his way through the narrow streets, across town to Siloam, and with the application of water something happened for the first time in is life. He could see.</p>
<p>The drama in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+9&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/3-spiritual-sight-9-35-41&tab=study" title="Read John 9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 9</a> goes on to tell the story of the Pharisees interrogating the man and objecting that the healing had taken place on the Sabbath—and being told by Jesus that they were the ones who were truly blind.</p>
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<p></p><center>
<em>Sign up to <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">get the</a></strong></em><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/know-the-bible/" title="Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Know the Bible <em>free email lesson series</em></a></strong><em> from Bible Gateway.</em>
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<p>Jesus had already sent the signal back on J-Day, the time he read from the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+61&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Isa.61.1-Isa.61.11&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 61 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">scroll of Isaiah</a> in the synagogue of Nazareth, that he would proclaim recovery of sight for the blind. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+25%3A1-13&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/2-commandments-for-the-observance-of-the-year-of-jubilee-25-8-12&tab=study" title="Read Leviticus 25:1-13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">year of Jubilee</a>, fulfilled in “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A19&version=NKJV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/7482-Year-Jubilee&tab=study" title="Read Luke 4:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the acceptable year of the Lord</a>” when Messiah came, would include miraculous healings. Disabled people walking, deaf people hearing, blind people seeing. Though Jesus’ lifetime was one of those rare ages of miracles, Jesus didn’t heal everybody. But he healed enough people that the sign was bold and clear: the power of God has come into the world and now everything will be different.</p>
<p>Now we know that we do not get healed of all of our illnesses and injuries in this life. Once in a while we witness miracles—and there is the promise that one day, when God remakes heaven and earth, we will all see with better eyes than we have now.</p>
<p>The Messiah was sent to proclaim “recovery of sight for the blind.” Sometimes this means that God opens our spiritual eyes so that we go from dangerous ignorance to awareness. This is a true spiritual healing. God wants us to get out of the darkness of sin.</p>
<p><em>Lord, let us see what we need to see today.</em></p>
<p><strong>MAKE IT REAL</strong></p>
<p>Make a commitment within the next month to contact a church or a community agency to help those who may be struggling with physical health or emotional health. Volunteer to serve a meal, visit a senior center, or simply take a friend or family member to a doctor appointment.<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
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<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/how-to-live-the-bible-recovering-sight/">How to Live the Bible — Recovering Sight</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6886648
2022-02-02T01:39:58-12:00
2022-02-02T06:15:08-12:00
Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/31093311/The-Abide-Bible-Initiative-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." width="90%" /></a></p>
<p>Deep <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style" target="_blank">engagement with the Bible</a> can dramatically improve your general health, according to the <a href="https://sotb.research.bible/" title="Visit the State of the Bible website" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">State of the Bible (SOTB)</a> research by the American Bible Society (ABS). People with higher levels of Scripture engagement have better well-being scores compared to those who are less engaged with the Bible.</p>
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<p></p><center><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style" target="_blank">Sign up to get the <em>The Abide Bible Initiative</em> free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style.</a></strong></center>
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<p><span id="more-65533"></span>Holistic well-being is a measurement of people viewing their personal future with hope. An assessment of well-being is found in the Harvard Human Flourishing index, that includes the categories of Happiness and Life Satisfaction, Meaning and Purpose, Character and Virtue, and Close Social Relationships.</p>
<p>The SOTB research shows that <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style" target="_blank">Scripture engagement</a> is a driving factor in higher hope scores. When people are engaged with Scripture on a regular basis, they have more hope and are more ready and willing to forgive others. Connection to the Bible and Christian community provides hurting people with a bridge to hope and healing.</p>
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<p></p><center><strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="See the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">See the Scripture Engagement section on Bible Gateway</a></strong></center>
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<p>“When deeply engaged with Scripture and allowing it to touch their hearts, we see significantly decreased levels of stress,” <a href="https://news.americanbible.org/blog/entry/corporate-blog/upgrade-your-ministry-in-2022-with-the-latest-webinar" title="Watch the ABS SOTB video webinar" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">says</a> Rev. Dr. John Farquhar Plake, ABS’ director of ministry intelligence. “Some of the highest levels of hope for the future are among people who are closest to the Bible,” he <a href="https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/health/2022/january/study-deeper-engagement-with-scripture-can-lead-to-improved-health-and-increased-levels-of-hope" title="Study: Deeper Engagement With Scripture Can Lead to Improved Health and Increased Levels of Hope" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">says</a>. Consistent Bible engagement anchors a virtuous life, gives ethical stability and feelings of purpose, and provides the basis for an overall better outlook on life, according to the SOTB.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/04/the-abide-bible-engaging-scripture-engaging-god/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Abide Bible: Engaging Scripture, Engaging God" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Abide Bible: Engaging Scripture, Engaging God</em></a>]</p>
<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://staticu.bgcdn.com/homepage-blocks/abideinitiative.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." width="30%" /></a></p>
<p>In partnership with the <a href="https://www.taylor.edu/center-for-scripture-engagement/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="Visit the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement website" target="_blank">Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement</a> and <a href="https://americanbible.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="Visit the American Bible Society website" target="_blank">American Bible Society</a>, Bible Gateway invites you to <strong>sign up to receive the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style." target="_blank"><em>The Abide Bible Initiative</em></a> free email devotional</strong> to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style. You’ll be introduced to five Bible reading plans based on the five Scripture engagement practices used in <a href="https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/abidebible/" title="Learn more about The Abide Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Abide Bible</em></a>:</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Contemplate.</strong> Follow the simple four-step practice of feasting on God’s Word by reading a passage, meditating on its meaning and application, praying, and finally sitting silently, abiding in God’s presence through the words of Scripture.</li>
<li> <strong>Picture It.</strong> Place yourself in a biblical narrative as a bystander or participant in important events.</li>
<li> <strong>Praying Scripture.</strong> Pattern your prayers after biblical texts, personalizing the prayer and gaining language for the thoughts and emotions you want to express.</li>
<li> <strong>Engage Through Art.</strong> Consider a classic artwork—photograph, sculpture, painting—and let it deepen your meditations on scriptural truths.</li>
<li> <strong>Journal.</strong> Focus and reflect on Scripture and its meaning for your life, opening yourself to God’s voice through the Holy Spirit.</li>
</ul>
<p>The goal of these practices is to help you engage Scripture—and its Author.</p>
<p>Scripture passages for the introductory 5-Day Reading Plan are selected to include the top 20 verses searched for on Bible Gateway. Each Bible reference is linked to its location on Bible Gateway and includes, as applicable, the engagement reference note from <a href="https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/abidebible/" title="Learn more about The Abide Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Abide Bible</em></a> which is viewable with a membership in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a> (but not required to use this Reading Plan). Once you’ve explored this introductory Reading Plan, we invite you to continue to engage Scripture using the five 25-Day Reading Plans that each focus on just one of the Scripture engagement practices. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/abide-initiative?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=abide_initiative" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="Sign up to get the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style" target="_blank"><strong>Sign up</strong></a>.</p>
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<center>Study Scripture with your favorite Bible teachers by becoming a member of <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Plus</a></strong>. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/plus/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bgplus" title="Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 30 days starting right now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Try it free right now!</em></a>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/scripture-engagement-is-healthy-for-you/">Scripture Engagement is Healthy for You</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6885375
2022-02-01T01:09:51-12:00
2022-02-01T03:00:01-12:00
A Place of Hope
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/31131700/EricMotley_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Eric L. Motley" width="35%" />By Eric L. Motley</strong></p>
<p><em>Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us</em>. —<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A5&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Rom.5.5-Rom.5.8&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Romans 5:5 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">Romans 5:5</a>, NKJV</p>
<p>Dating back to its earliest days, Madison Park’s most prominent feature was the absence of white faces. It was built by the hands of people seeking not just a sense of community but a safe haven—free from the perils of their recent enslavement.</p>
<p>When President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, approximately three million men and women were set free, at least in theory—the Proclamation immediately affected only 20,000 to 50,000 slaves where the Union Army had taken control. It wasn’t until two years later, when the Civil War ended, that the Proclamation systematically freed thousands of men and women, with nearly all liberated by July 1865. With almost nothing more than the clothes on their backs, a little farming knowledge, and an extraordinary capacity for resilience, they moved their families to find land they could work—land that for the first time would yield profit and prosperity for them and not a master.</p>
<p><span id="more-66014"></span></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/11/how-a-small-town-can-teach-love-and-faith-an-interview-with-eric-l-motley/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How a Small Town Can Teach Love and Faith: An Interview with Eric L. Motley" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How a Small Town Can Teach Love and Faith: An Interview with Eric L. Motley</em></a>]</p>
<p>But freedom didn’t come without fear. Former slaves were ignorant of legal constraints and general business practices—ironic given that they had been legally constrained all their lives. Most couldn’t write their names—and some had only one name until they chose a second. Their perspective and understanding of how the world worked was based on what they’d overheard and seen from their masters’ conversations and transactions. Could they succeed on their own? Would they become victims of carpetbaggers and scalawags who migrated south to take advantage of the social turmoil caused by the onset of Reconstruction? Would their freedom be short-lived? What if resentful plantation owners, angry over the loss of their “property,” chose to retaliate?</p>
<p>As unequal as their lot in life had been to that point, they cherished a conviction that they were the equals of any other person, blessed by their Creator with inalienable rights. To paraphrase Civil Rights leader Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, who spoke about our enslaved ancestors’ appetite to be free, a “fire got started deep in their souls, and it could not be put out.”</p>
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<p>What little is known about Madison Park’s origins is due to the efforts of African American historian Dr. Gwen Patton and her research among the “Madison Family Papers,” housed at Trenholm State Technical College, in Montgomery, Alabama. Eli Madison, the patriarch of the community bearing his name, was born in Alabama in 1839. According to the stories passed down, he was both physically and intellectually a strong man, with an indestructible sense of self-respect. Dr. Patton notes that his “slave-master trusted him, yet feared him.”</p>
<p>In 1865, after the conclusion of the Civil War, Madison set out with his half-brother Killis Marshall and close friend Gadson Draw, along with their wives, to establish what would become one of the state’s first free African American communities. Soon other families from Autauga County, about 20 miles north of Montgomery, joined the pioneers in Hunter Station, five miles down the road. Next Madison moved the families to King Hill, thirteen miles away. They were closer to the city but still deep enough in the country to secure the amount of arable land they needed for the settlement they envisioned.</p>
<p>Within a few years the families had accumulated enough capital to buy a substantial plot. Only modest-sized properties were available in King Hill, but Flatbush, which is near Wetumpka to the northeast, had a number of plantations for sale, land that belonged to financially ruined white Southerners. So, the families pooled their resources in 1880 and made a down payment on the May Plantation. Within two years, Madison paid James and Molly May $2,380 in exchange for the deed to 560 acres, becoming the only recorded group of freed slaves in Alabama to purchase an entire estate.</p>
<p>Madison and his group trusted <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A19&version=NKJV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Phil.4.18-Phil.4.19&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read Philippians 4:19 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">the Lord’s promise to supply their needs</a>. Settling their families on the plantation, they cleared brush, tilled the sandy fields, and planted trees, including oaks, whose height and grandeur now reign as testaments to their industriousness, even while shading what would become their graves. Later they established a sawmill and gristmill and bought a cotton gin.</p>
<p>Unincorporated, without a mayor or town council, the community was organized around the common good. Within the framework of national and state laws, residents made the rules, governed and cared for one another, and meted out whatever discipline and correction a situation required. It was a community where, when a black person spoke, black people listened. The one thing the town fathers hadn’t done was to give their community a name.</p>
<p>One night the train that regularly passed along the edge of the hamlet derailed. The booming noise as the railroad cars exploded could be heard for miles, rousing the men from their beds. Madison and the others struggled to put out the spreading fire, or at least to contain it, tend to the injured train crew, and keep watch over the debris scattered in the surrounding field along the tracks. They didn’t care that it was white people’s property. They prized their community’s integrity too much to tarnish it by looting.</p>
<p>At daybreak, when officials arrived from Montgomery to investigate and secure the cargo, the all-white posse was surprised to find order, an outcome they’d deemed impossible among African Americans. When the story reached the rest of Montgomery’s citizenry, Madison’s community was held up as a model for black people. From that day on it was called Madison’s Park, and, gradually, Madison Park. The name was not merely an honor bestowed on the founder, it spoke to the unifying sentiment that we were Madison’s children.</p>
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<p>Despite their lack of formal education, these pioneers took concrete steps to care for their souls, minds, and bodies. They desired freedom not only from slavery but from poverty. Realizing their need to remain <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A36&version=NKJV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/freedom-bondage-8-31-47&tab=study" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Read John 8:36 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank">spiritually liberated</a>, sometime in 1881 they established a church in the Methodist tradition, an unsurprising choice given Methodist founder John Wesley’s outspoken opposition to slavery. The church met first under bush trees before moving into a log cabin that protected them from the wintry winds. Two years later Kate and Killis Marshall donated the land on Old Wetumpka Highway on which today’s church, which Eli Madison named the Union Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church, still sits.</p>
<p>A few years later the founding families cleared twenty-five more acres to create a park. Shaded by oak trees that lined its perimeter, the land was a vast green lawn broken up with gravel sidewalks, play areas for children, and a central pavilion. The park doubled as a meeting place and vacation spot, since most residents couldn’t afford to travel.</p>
<p>I don’t know the story of my great-great grandfather John Motley Sr.’s enslavement—whether he worked in the plantation house or the cotton fields and how his owners treated him. But I do know that he was one of the freedmen who left Autauga County to join Eli Madison just before sunrise one summer morning in 1880. Upon arriving, he and his group of former slaves gathered in an open-air temple of arched trees to make a promise under God’s heaven and on the altar of God’s green earth to start their own community, take responsibility for one another, and make a success of their lives. Later, he was among the pioneers who moved the stones to build the foundation of Union Chapel Church.</p>
<h2>This Is My Community</h2>
<p>Madison Park does not exist on the radar of many navigational systems or printed maps. Except for those who work in the municipal government and public schools of Montgomery, or who know of people or know the story of our community, Madison Park no doubt is invisible. An invisible Madison Park is an incredible idea for me, because to those who hail from the place, Madison Park is as much an idea as it is a living, breathing organism. To those who have never heard of our little community, it may not exist, but to the founders who bought the land, cleared the brush, and laid the cornerstones, and to their descendants who still care for it—whether they live there or not—it is as large as <em>America</em>.</p>
<p>The seeds of America were planted and nurtured in the hearts and minds of Madison Park’s citizens over 135 years ago, and the people there have been trying ever since to make America work for them, the same as people do in the less obscure places where lights shine bright and all the roads are paved. Eli Madison’s vision of a self-reliant and sustaining community where people could come and work to improve their state of life remains the vision of its inhabitants today. Over the last decade, as I have publicly shared the story of Madison Park at Washington dinner parties, Rotary meetings, church, work, and with friends, others have affirmed that they too once lived in a similar place, so in many ways Madison Park has become a metaphor of places that can seem invisible or nonexistent. These places still exist, but are their days numbered? Are they at risk of becoming extinct in the face of increasing atomization? I can only hope not.</p>
<p>Despite the changing landscape and encroaching city, the same strong pride and commitment to community remains among the people of Madison Park. It is planted deep in the earth, carefully and powerfully cultivated by my great-great-grandfather and the freed slaves who began the community and gave it its name. The history of Madison Park is tied inextricably to my sense of who I am. It is a spiritual locus that continues to offer inner refuge, solace, instruction, and most importantly, meaning in the ever changing flux of daily existence. Wherever I go, Madison Park goes with me.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/madison-park-a-place-of-hope-audiobook-unabridged?variant=34712675352712&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/31145936/Madison-Park-audiobook.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Madison Park audiobook in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p>When I reflect on the roadblocks that I faced, I’m so grateful for the Madison Park community. They set me on a different path than the external features in my life—my race, relative poverty, rural Southern roots, and the absence of biological parents—would seem to predict. The people of Madison Park bestowed their gift of grace, which I can never repay. Life is like that. Blessings come at us so relentlessly; we are forever in a deficit position. We never get all of the thank-yous or goodbyes properly said, which leaves us, each one, living with a burden of gratitude.<br>
________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/madison-park-a-place-of-hope?variant=39682255093896" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/31131303/MadisonPark_Cover2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Madison Park" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/madison-park-a-place-of-hope?variant=39682255093896" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Madison Park: A Place of Hope</em></a> by Eric L. Motley. <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/madison-park-a-place-of-hope/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this important book.</p>
<p>Welcome to Madison Park, a small community in Alabama founded by freed slaves in 1880. And meet Eric Motley, a native son who came of age in this remarkable place where constant lessons in self-determination, hope, and unceasing belief in the American dream taught him everything he needed for his journey to the Oval Office as a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush.</p>
<p>Eric grew up among people whose belief was to “give” and never turn away from your neighbor’s need. There was Aunt Shine, the goodly matriarch who cared so much about young Motley’s schooling that she would stand up in a crowded church and announce Eric’s progress or his shortcomings. There was Old Man Salery, who secretly siphoned gasoline from his beat-up car into the Motleys’ tank at night. There were Motley’s grandparents, who bought books for Eric they couldn’t afford, spending the last of their seed money. And there was Reverend Brinkley, a man of enormous faith and simple living. It was said that whenever the Reverend came your way, light abounded.</p>
<p>Life in Madison Park wasn’t always easy or fair, and Motley reveals personal and heartbreaking stories of racial injustice and segregation. But Eric shows how the community taught him everything he needed to know about love and faith.</p>
<p>This charming, engaging, and deeply inspiring memoir will help you remember that we can create a world of shared values based on love and hope. It is a story that reveals the amazing power of faith in God and each other. If you’re in search of hope during troubled times, look no further than Madison Park.</p>
<p><strong>Eric L. Motley</strong> grew up in the freed slaves’ town of Madison Park, Alabama. From this beginning in the black community, he rose to become a special assistant to President George W. Bush at the White House. Eric is the deputy director of the National Gallery of Art based in Washington, D.C., and a former executive vice president of the Aspen Institute. He is a graduate of Samford University, and he earned a master of letters as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and a PhD as the John Steven Watson Scholar.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/a-place-of-hope/">A Place of Hope</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6884456
2022-01-31T01:47:03-12:00
2022-01-31T04:00:09-12:00
What Does the Bible Say About Worry?
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/28170009/Christopher_Reese.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Christopher Reese" width="20%" /></a><strong>By Christopher Reese</strong></p>
<p>We live in a world in which there is no lack of things to worry about. We encounter financial and health challenges, relational difficulties, pandemics, and political polarization, to name a few. We also internally wrestle with questions, such as “Who am I?” “What am I to do?” “How am I to be loved?” and “How can I become all that God intended me to be?” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#1"><sup><strong>1</strong></sup></a> Each of these circumstances creates uncertainty, and often our instinctive response is to worry. Scripture, however, exhorts us not to worry, and so we even worry sometimes about our worrying! The Bible has a great deal to say about worry! I’ll explore what Scripture says about this issue and how we can prevent it from robbing us of joy and peace.</p>
<p><span id="more-65806"></span></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2020/01/how-to-live-the-bible-life-and-worry/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — Life and Worry" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Live the Bible — Life and Worry</em></a>]</p>
<p>First, however, I need to offer a few brief caveats. The type of worry I’m addressing here is not the kind that pertains to conditions such as clinical anxiety or panic disorders, which are serious issues that require professional treatment. Worry that involves disruptive physical symptoms or that interferes with one’s daily life and relationships should be explored with a medical or mental health professional.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/05/how-to-overcome-anxiety-and-depression-an-interview-with-j-p-moreland/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Overcome Anxiety and Depression: An Interview with J.P. Moreland" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Overcome Anxiety and Depression: An Interview with J.P. Moreland</em></a>]</p>
<p>Second, we must distinguish between normal and healthy fear and anxiety, and worry. Normal fear or anxiety is part of God’s design for us because it warns us of danger and possible harm. We should all experience fear, for example, if we’re about to run into another car while driving, or if we see floodwaters approaching our home. This kind of healthy fear preserves our lives and well-being.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2018/01/how-to-fight-fear-wrestle-worry-and-allay-anxiety-an-interview-with-alli-worthington/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Fight Fear, Wrestle Worry, and Allay Anxiety: An Interview with Alli Worthington" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How to Fight Fear, Wrestle Worry, and Allay Anxiety: An Interview with Alli Worthington</em></a>]</p>
<p>Finally, there is an important difference between worry and constructive concern. We should be constructively concerned to maintain our physical health, for example, but not worry about it. The following contrasting attitudes help illustrate the difference between these:</p>
<ul>
<li> worry paralyzes, while concern motivates</li>
<li> worry prevents initiative, while concern promotes initiative</li>
<li> worry results in anxious fretting, while concern results in calm focusing</li>
<li> worry fears the worst, while concern hopes for the best. <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#2"><sup><strong>2</strong></sup></a>
</li>
</ul>
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<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>Given that the kind of everyday worry I’m addressing here is not a medical condition, a healthy response to danger, or constructive concern, how should we understand it? One author helpfully defines worry as “the practice of indulging fear, clinging to it, feeding and serving it.” It involves “choosing to stay in a place of fear . . . when we could make another choice.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#3"><sup><strong>3</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>This is the kind of worry that runs contrary to God’s will for us, and that we can overcome as we better understand who God is and commit ourselves to him.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/09/anxious-for-nothing-an-interview-with-max-lucado/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Anxious for Nothing: An Interview with Max Lucado" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Anxious for Nothing: An Interview with Max Lucado</em></a>]</p>
<h3>Do Not Be Afraid</h3>
<p>More than 300 biblical passages instruct God’s people not to fear (that is, worry). When the Egyptian army arrived to attack the Israelites who had just been released from slavery, the people panicked. But Moses responded, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the L<small>ORD</small> will bring you today” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+14%3A13&version=NIV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Exod.14.13&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 14:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 14:13</a>). David declared in the Psalms, “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+27%3A3&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/ps-27-1-3&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 27:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 27:3</a>). Three times in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&version=NIV&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Sermon-on-Mount&tab=study" title="Read about the Sermon on the Mount in the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sermon on the Mount</a> Jesus commands, “do not worry” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt.+6%3A25-34&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-stanley-life-principles-bible/answers-life-questions-how-can-i-overcome-anxiety&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6:25, 31, 34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6:25, 31, 34</a>). There, he addressed anxiety about physical needs as well as about the future: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt.+6%3A34&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-wiersbe-study-bible/mt-6-34&tab=study" title="Read Matthew 6:25, 31, 34 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew 6:34</a>).</p>
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<p>But why is it that worry is problematic from God’s perspective? It’s because worry undermines our trust in God, and calls into question his power or love. Trust (or faith) is the foundation of our relationship with God, and serves as the basis for our salvation (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph.+2%3A8-9&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/eph-2-8&tab=study" title="Read Ephesians 2:8-9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ephesians 2:8-9</a>), as well as our daily Christian life. Paul wrote, “we live by faith, not by sight” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A7&version=NIV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/2Cor.5.7&tab=study" title="Read 2 Corinthians 5:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:7</a>). Similarly, the author of Hebrews states, “without faith it is impossible to please God” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=heb.+11%3A6&version=NIV&resource_entry=new-spirit-filled-life-bible/heb-11-6-1&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 11:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 11:6</a>).</p>
<p>Rather than fear what might happen, God calls us to trust that he is the sovereign ruler of the universe and will bring good out of all of our circumstances (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+103%3A19&version=NIV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Ps.103.19&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 103:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 103:19</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom.+8%3A28&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-rom-8-28&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:28 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8:28</a>). Not all that happens to us is good, of course, but God can bring good out of difficulties, trials, and challenges.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/12/what-does-the-bible-say-about-trusting-god/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, What Does the Bible Say About Trusting God?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>What Does the Bible Say About Trusting God?</em></a>]</p>
<p>Learning to trust God is a process, and we grow in our ability to do so as we mature spiritually. We’ll never trust God perfectly in this life (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3%3A2&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/jas-3-2&tab=study" title="Read James 3:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James 3:2</a>), but growth in this area is part of our <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/eastons-bible-dictionary/Sanctification" title="Read the definition of sanctification in Easton's Bible Dictionary on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sanctification</a>. Here are three practical ways we can overcome worry by focusing on three important truths.</p>
<h3>Remember God’s Love and Protection</h3>
<p>The Lord is our Shepherd and he watches over us like shepherds guards their flock (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps.+23&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/ps-23&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 23 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a>). He is our rock, fortress, and shield (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps.+18%3A2&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/ps-18-2&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 18:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 18:2</a>). He keeps watch over us because of his great love for us, and nothing “in all creation . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A39&version=NIV&resource_entry=ebc-abridged-nt/ro-8-37-39&tab=study" title="Read Romans 8:39 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Romans 8:39</a>). When you’re tempted to worry, remember that God always seeks your good in all the circumstances he allows in your life.</p>
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<h3>Embrace God’s Peace</h3>
<p>Probably the most famous passage in the Bible that addresses worry is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6-7&version=NLT&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/php-4-6-9&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4:6-7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 4:6-7</a>:<br>
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”</p>
<p>Rather than worry, writes Paul, we should give our concerns to God with an attitude of thanksgiving for all that he’s done for us. Peter describes this activity as casting “all your anxiety on [God] because he cares for you” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A7&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-1-pet-5-7&tab=study" title="Read 1 Peter 5:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Peter 5:7</a>).</p>
<p>As one <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A7&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-stanley-life-principles-bible/answers-life-questions-how-can-i-overcome-anxiety&tab=study" title="Read what Charles Stanley says about 1 Peter 5:7 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pastor and author</a> observes, the word “casting” here refers to “a deliberate action of setting something down and leaving it there.” This indicates that “Jesus wants you to throw your cares on Him and leave them there. You depend on Him for life itself, and you acknowledge this reliant relationship by saying, ‘Here, Jesus. Take my problems. You have the answers! I trust You to show me what to do and to take care of the consequences.’” Entrusting our concerns to God results in a supernatural peace that frees us from anxiety.</p>
<h3>Dwell On the Good, True, and Beautiful</h3>
<p>We should not only resist worry, fear, and anxiety, but also, positively, dwell on the goodness, truth, and beauty of God and his creation. This is why Paul urges us to think about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A8&version=NIV&resource_entry=quest-study-bible/can-we-choose-think-lovely-thoughts-4-8&tab=study" title="Read Philippians 4:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippians 4:8</a>).</p>
<p>A key way to put this into practice is to memorize Scripture—especially passages that relate to the points above about God’s sovereignty, protection, love, and peace. When worry threatens to destabilize us, passages that remind us of the truths we’ve been discussing can guard our hearts and minds and replace anxiety with God’s tranquility.</p>
<p>Much that happens in this life is beyond our control and there are many uncertainties. But we can entrust to God all that happens because of who he is and what he has promised us.</p>
<p><a id="1"></a></p>
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<p>Notes<br>
1. Rhett Smith formulates these four questions in <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=26634EB&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Anxious Christian in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Anxious Christian</em></a> (Moody Publishers, 2015), Kindle edition, 32.<br>
<a id="2"></a><br>
2. These contrasts and the term “constructive concern” are found in June Hunt, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=923309&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Biblical Counseling Keys on Worry: The Joy Stealer in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Biblical Counseling Keys on Worry: The Joy Stealer</em></a> (Hope For The Heart, 2008), 3.<br>
<a id="3"></a><br>
3. Amy Simpson, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=85689EB&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Anxious: Choosing Faith in a World of Worry in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Anxious: Choosing Faith in a World of Worry</em></a> (InterVarsity Press, 2014), Kindle edition, location 65, 1163.</p>
<hr>
<p><strong>BIO:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" title="Visit the LinkedIn page of Christopher Reese" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Reese</a> (MDiv, ThM) (<a href="https://twitter.com/clreese" title="Christopher Reese Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@clreese</a>) is a freelance writer and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://worldviewbulletin.substack.com/archive?utm_source=menu-dropdown" title="Visit The Worldview Bulletin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Worldview Bulletin</em></a>. He is a general editor of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dictionary-of-christianity-and-science-the-definitive-reference-for-the-intersection-of-christian-faith-and-contemporary-science?variant=13746105909359&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dictionary of Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2017) and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/three-views-on-christianity-and-science?variant=34292904001672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Three Views on Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Three Views on Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2021). His articles have appeared in <em>Christianity Today</em> and he writes and edits for Christian ministries and publishers.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/what-does-the-bible-say-about-worry/">What Does the Bible Say About Worry?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6881939
2022-01-28T02:32:00-12:00
2022-01-28T03:00:09-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of January 23, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/weekly-brief-week-of-january-23-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of January 23, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6880038
2022-01-26T03:32:07-12:00
2022-01-26T05:30:09-12:00
How to Live the Bible — Dealing With Severe Loss
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one-hundred-ninety-third lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p>We need to understand the people in our lives who have gone through significant loss. One of the most purposeful things any of us can do is to show compassion and to be present with those who have suffered loss. We all have different preferred ways of doing that. Whether we prefer sending a card or an email, responding on social media, having a face-to-face conversation, picking up the phone, or sending flowers, that’s fine. We just need to do something. Don’t believe that the best thing is always to give your friend or loved one space.</p>
<p>We cannot ignore loss, and we must not multiply it.</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/26101109/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Melancholy-Sculpture.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photo of artwork titled Melancholy Sculpture" width="90%" /></p>
<p><span id="more-65951"></span></p>
<p>There is nothing generic about grief. Somehow, we have to have empathy. To try to understand. To put ourselves in the shoes of the mourner. At the same time, we have to realize that we’ll never comprehend what this particular loss means to this particular person. It’s a kind of “empathy gap.” It’s no one’s fault. It’s just inevitable. But, knowing we have an empathy gap, we can choose to have compassion that goes beyond our comprehension.</p>
<p>Along the way, if it is indeed true that “faith, hope, and love” are “the things that remain” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A13&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/1Cor.13.1-1Cor.13.13&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 13:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13:13</a>), then we rehearse what we really believe (faith), trust that things will be okay (hope), and cherish, cherish, cherish (love) both those within arm’s reach and those who have slipped beyond. Love has no end.</p>
<p>We have to look straight at our losses, or else comfort will be truncated. This is not to say we should obsess about our losses. Focusing only on our losses hour after hour, day after day, is a skewing of reality. The real world includes that loss, which is that ugly gaping hole, but it also includes all the things that remain and the people that remain and the qualities that remain like faith, hope, and love. Even in our losses, we have to lean into the good, otherwise we contradict the good blessings we enjoyed.</p>
<p>A few weeks after my wife and I lost our 30-year-old daughter, I found myself getting caught up in all life’s normal responsibilities and concerns and forgetting in the middle of the day what had happened to us. Usually, this happened in the early afternoon. When reality hit, when I remembered, the pain was like a knife thrust into my gut. This happened every day. I decided that I needed to keep the loss in a part of my mind in my peripheral vision. This is hard to describe. It was like holding something in your hand, your arm stretched out and to the side. I wanted to remember the loss, because then it wouldn’t slip into a hidden place and come jumping out at me. I couldn’t keep hearing the news in my head as if it were happening again and again.</p>
<p>No wonder grief is draining.</p>
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<p>I have known many people over the years who’ve lost one of their kids. But only after our loss did I know that I had no idea what their pain was like. I was trying to be empathetic. When I did funerals for young people, I tried so hard to comprehend their devastation. But I could not fully understand until it happened to us.</p>
<p>That leaves us with a dilemma. When a friend goes through the worst, whatever that is for them, we’re never going to be able to fully understand if it’s not something we’ve been through. When a friend is plunged into the worst, we can—and should—try to imagine what it would be like if the same happened to us. But we’re just not able to fully comprehend it if we ourselves have not experienced that particular kind of loss.</p>
<p>So, what do we do? Obviously, it would be wrong to not even try to empathize. But we know we can’t honestly say, “I understand,” if we have not walked that same path.</p>
<p>What we can and must do is spend a little mental and emotional energy to try to comprehend the friend’s loss, remembering that we cannot fully understand, that there is an empathy gap. It’s no one’s fault. There’s no way to close the gap. We have to acknowledge the gap and try to extend our love out over it.</p>
<p>So, we shouldn’t say, “I understand,” if we haven’t been through the same thing. We might say “I have no words,” or “I can’t imagine,” or “I’m so, so sorry,” or “I am here. I am thinking of you today.” That’s honest, and it’s helpful.</p>
<p>If we can do that for others, we’re not filling the hole but standing around it with them, showing that while something or someone good is gone, not everything is gone.</p>
<p>And remember, Scripture says that living in “the house of mourning” is where any of us may live for a while. “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+7%3A2&version=NIV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Eccl.7.2,Eccl.7.4&tab=study" title="Read Ecclesiastes 7:2 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 7:2</a>).</p>
<p>(Adapted from <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=837601&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of A Chronicle of Grief: Finding Life After Traumatic Loss in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>A Chronicle of Grief: Finding Life After Traumatic Loss</em></a> by Mel Lawrenz, IVP 2020, used by permission.)<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
<hr>
<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/how-to-live-the-bible-dealing-with-severe-loss/">How to Live the Bible — Dealing With Severe Loss</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6880039
2022-01-26T01:27:39-12:00
2022-01-26T05:30:09-12:00
You Are Never Alone
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/11085256/AbideLogo280.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Abide Christian Meditation" height="280" width="280" />By Abide Christian Meditation</strong></p>
<p>When you’re lost in the dark caverns of loneliness, it’s easy to believe that you are alone and will always be alone, that you will always strain your eyes looking for a glimmer of light. You can easily believe that your suffering is meaningless and that your pain will keep you isolated forever.</p>
<p>But that’s not the truth! God is always with you, and he is ready to comfort you.</p>
<p>When you are afflicted by loneliness, ponder these truths from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A1-12&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/god-is-us-constantly-we-cannot-escape-him-vv-7-12&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 139:1–12 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 139:1–12</a>:</p>
<p><span id="more-65934"></span></p>
<p><em>You have searched me, L<small>ORD</small>,</em><br>
<em>and you know me.</em><br>
<em>You know when I sit and when I rise;</em><br>
<em>you perceive my thoughts from afar.</em><br>
<em>You discern my going out and my lying down;</em><br>
<em>you are familiar with all my ways.</em><br>
<em>Before a word is on my tongue</em><br>
<em>you, L<small>ORD</small>, know it completely.</em><br>
<em>You hem me in behind and before,</em><br>
<em>and you lay your hand upon me.</em><br>
<em>Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,</em><br>
<em>too lofty for me to attain.</em></p>
<p><em>Where can I go from your Spirit?</em><br>
<em>Where can I flee from your presence?</em><br>
<em>If I go up to the heavens, you are there;</em><br>
<em>if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.</em><br>
<em>If I rise on the wings of the dawn,</em><br>
<em>if I settle on the far side of the sea,</em><br>
<em>even there your hand will guide me,</em><br>
<em>your right hand will hold me fast.</em><br>
<em>If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me</em><br>
<em>and the light become night around me,”</em><br>
<em>even the darkness will not be dark to you;</em><br>
<em>the night will shine like the day,</em><br>
<em>for darkness is as light to you.</em></p>
<p>There’s a big word that’s used to describe this: omnipresent. Everywhere at one time. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+57%3A15&version=ESV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1110-God-present-everywhere&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 57:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 57:15</a> (ESV) says, “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’”</p>
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<p></p><center><em>It only takes a minute to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>create your own Bible Gateway free personal account</strong></a> and you’ll immediately upgrade your Bible Gateway experience. Do it <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/login/" title="Create your own Bible Gateway free personal account to upgrade your Bible Gateway experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right now!</a></em></center>
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<p>See yourself in your darkest moments and see God there with you. He himself says that he dwells with those who are humble and brought low. He revives their spirits and their hearts.</p>
<p>Think about your life and imagine God with you in every moment and every place. See yourself far away from everything you know and everyone you love. See God holding you even there. See yourself in the darkest place, and see God there, too, unafraid of the dark, shining his light on you.</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/10/embracing-the-gift-of-sleep/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Embracing the Gift of Sleep" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Embracing the Gift of Sleep</em></a>]</p>
<p>Sometimes children who have no siblings will invent an imaginary friend. They play with that friend, have conversations with that friend, go everywhere with that friend right by their side. Sometimes we can feel like God is an imaginary friend because we can’t see him. We can’t feel his touch or hear his voice with our ears. It can begin to feel like he’s not really there.</p>
<p>But faith is the assurance of things not seen (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Heb.11.1-Heb.11.3&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 11:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 11:1</a>). Even when we don’t see God, he’s there. Picture the trees blowing in the wind, their leaves fluttering and flying. You don’t see the wind, but you see the effects of the wind, so you know it’s there. We can’t physically see gravity, but we feel its effects every day, especially when you drop something breakable on a tile floor. You don’t think, “Oh, why did that happen?” You know it was because of gravitational pull.</p>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p>The effects of God’s presence with you are seen in the peace he gives you when you turn to him in prayer. They’re seen in the provision of nature that speaks his name. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+19%3A1&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-19&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 19:1 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 19:1</a> tells us, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Beauty, laughter, nature—all these things can remind you of the nearness of God.</p>
<p>When loneliness hits and you want to believe that you’re all alone, turn to the God who is near. His Spirit is living within you. Jesus himself told his disciples, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A16%E2%80%9317&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/we-have-holy-spirit-14-16-18&tab=study" title="Read John 14:16–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John 14:16–17</a>).</p>
<p>You truly are never alone.</p>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/cast-your-cares-a-40-day-journey-to-find-rest-for-your-soul?variant=39509097349256" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/24163821/CastYourCares_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Cast Your Cares" height="280" width="280" /></a>Taken from <em>Cast Your Cares: <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/cast-your-cares-a-40-day-journey-to-find-rest-for-your-soul?variant=39509097349256" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 40-Day Journey to Find Rest for Your Soul</a></em> by Abide Christian Meditation. <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/cast-your-cares/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this comforting book.</p>
<p>Improve your mental health by discovering God’s promise of comfort for the most common sources of daily anxiety, including loneliness, anger, fear, relationships, and finances.</p>
<p>God never meant for us to feel so alone in facing our emotions. Though they often steal our peace and cause us restless nights, too often we just try to press through. In forty days of readings from the world’s most popular Christian meditation app, Abide, you can journey through their most popular content on attaining the timeless peace found throughout Scripture, and renew your heart with God’s abiding love.</p>
<p>Through simply practicing slowing down to reflect on God’s Word and release one care each day, you’ll find rest for your soul and a deeper appreciation of Jesus’s parting gift to his followers: peace of mind and heart (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A27&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/John.14.27-John.14.30&tab=study" title="Read John 14:27 on Bible Gateway" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John 14:27</a>) in even the most trying circumstances of life.</p>
<p>Begin a new daily habit of self-care and experience a renewed outlook through:</p>
<ul>
<li>Reflections on biblical passages</li>
<li>Engaging journal prompts</li>
<li>Explorations of common sources of anxiety</li>
<li>And suggested prayers</li>
</ul>
<p>You don’t have to shoulder the burden of life’s worries alone. Cast your cares on God one day at a time and discover the reassurance available to all believers at any time.</p>
<p><strong>Abide Christian Meditation‘s</strong> mission is for the world to experience God’s peace through biblical meditation. Their mobile app, Abide, is the world’s most popular Christian meditation app, guiding millions of people around the world in biblical truth and personal reflection.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/you-are-never-alone/">You Are Never Alone</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6878944
2022-01-24T23:07:00-12:00
2022-01-25T02:45:01-12:00
What Is the Meaning of Life?: An Interview with Ben Stuart
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/benstuartbooks/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/24145807/Ben-Stuart.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Ben Stuart" width="25%" /></a>What would you say to the statement that God’s purpose for your life is for you to struggle well? That it’s about driving the evil dictator out of your heart and establishing the true King so you can overcome the deceptive strategies of sin aimed specifically at your weaknesses that bend your behaviors to broken ends? That in our living we must both flee some things and pursue others?</p>
<p>Bible Gateway interviewed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/benstuartbooks/" title="Ben Stuart" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Ben Stuart</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_Stuart_" title="Ben Stuart Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@Ben_Stuart_</a>) about his book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/rest-and-war-rhythms-of-a-well-fought-life?variant=39485797236872&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Rest & War in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Rest & War: Rhythms of a Well-Fought Life</em></strong></a> (W Publishing Group, 2022).</p>
<p><strong>What is the message you’re conveying at the start of your book by saying the atmosphere has changed and we need to adapt to survive?</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/rest-and-war-rhythms-of-a-well-fought-life?variant=39485797236872&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/26131402/Rest-and-War.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Rest & War in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Ben Stuart:</strong> Shifts in the atmosphere of society have had a profound impact on our vibrancy and on the way we interact with God, one another, and ourselves. But because these changes are in the atmosphere, we can’t see them. But we feel them. Recent data backs this up: there’s something about modern life that doesn’t promote human flourishing.</p>
<p>Anxiety and depression are on the rise, particularly among young people. Increased political and philosophical polarization incites fear, uncertainty, and anger. The constant comparison of our lives with others’ pristine presentations online fill us with discouragement.</p>
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<p>And the irresistible lure of our screens means we’re constantly soaking our minds in this polarization and comparison, which feeds our stress and despair.</p>
<p>In the midst of this ever-present anxiety, many traditional buffers to stress have been removed. So, in this atmosphere of relentless restlessness and shallow social connections, addictions have arisen to new heights.</p>
<p>Life can feel like a struggle because it is! This is why we need to learn how to struggle well.</p>
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<blockquote></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/rest-and-war-study-guide-with-dvd-a-field-guide-for-the-spiritual-life?variant=39744282067080&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/24155755/Rest-and-War-DVD.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Rest & War Study Guide with DVD in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="24%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>How does <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+6%3A16&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8126-guidance-need-Gods&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 6:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 6:16</a> speak to your point?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ben Stuart:</strong> Centuries ago, Jeremiah looked upon a generation that felt unsure of where to turn in the midst of crises and uncertainty. He declared: “Thus says the L<small>ORD</small>: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+6%3A16&version=ESV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Jer.6.9-Jer.6.17&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 6:16 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ESV</a>).” I believe many today are standing at a crossroads asking if there’s a good way forward. And I want to show them the ancient path that leads to rest for our souls.</p>
<p><strong>What do you mean by your book’s subtitle, <em>Rhythms of a Well-Fought Life</em>?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ben Stuart:</strong> That’s a good question, because we were very intentional in choosing this subtitle.</p>
<p>The Scriptures shout to us that spirituality occurs in the context of adversity.</p>
<p>C. S. Lewis declared, “Enemy-occupied territory—that is what the world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in his great campaign of sabotage.”</p>
<p>We’re in a fight! Yet it’s a fight in which our King has won the decisive victory. And because he’s been victorious, so can we. We haven’t been freed <em>from</em> the struggle; rather, we’ve been freed <em>for</em> the struggle. We were only <em>victims</em> to the machinations of sin before. Now we can be <em>victors</em>. But there are strategies to devise, tactics to employ, and battles to be fought. We need to learn how to struggle well.</p>
<p><strong>What did Jesus come to destroy?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ben Stuart:</strong> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+3%3A8&version=NASB&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/1John.3.8&tab=study" title="Read 1 John 3:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 John 3:8</a> says, “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” (NASB). All the way back in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3&resource_entry=bible-panorama/Gen.3&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 3</a> we’re told that the seed of the woman would one day come to crush the head of the serpent. As much as Jesus is presented in the Scriptures as a <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A29&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/John.1.29&tab=study" title="Read John 1:29 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lamb</a> or a <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A11&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/John.10.11&tab=study" title="Read John 10:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shepherd</a>, he’s also called a warrior. His arrival was a landed invasion. And it was a rescue operation. Early in his ministry he declared he was here to “proclaim release to the captives” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A18&version=NASB&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6634-deliverance&tab=study" title="Read Luke 4:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 4:18</a> NASB). Paul declares that Jesus’ death on the cross disarmed the rulers and authorities (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2%3A15&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/4127-Satan-defeat&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 2:15 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 2:15</a>). And that he delivers us from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of the beloved Son (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A13&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/2321-Jesus-Christ-as-redeemer&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 1:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 1:13</a>).</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/rest-and-war-audio-bible-studies-a-field-guide-for-the-spiritual-life-audiobook-unabridged?variant=39701032534152&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/24155747/Rest-and-War-Audio.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of Rest & War in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="20%" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What do you mean we are free to fight and fight well?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ben Stuart:</strong> For those who are in Christ, the spiritual life is one movement with two parts. It consists of a movement <em>away</em> from actions and ways of thinking and living that isolate us from intimacy with God. And it also consists of a movement <em>toward</em> ways of thinking and living that promote intimacy with God.</p>
<p>The traditional word for this is <em>sanctification</em>, the process of being made more holy or set apart: away from some things and toward someone. Theologians had words for each of the parts: <em>mortification</em>—mortifying or putting to death ways of thinking and living. And <em>vivification</em>—cultivating and nurturing God-honoring ways of thinking and living. It’s like pulling up weeds and planting grass.</p>
<p>Paul commends this rhythm to the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Colossians on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians</a> when he says, “Set your mind on things that are above” and “put to death therefore what is earthly in you” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A2%2C+5&version=ESV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6744-sanctification&tab=study" title="Read Colossians 3:2, 5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colossians 3:2, 5</a> ESV). Similarly, Paul told Timothy, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A22&version=ESV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/6030-sin-avoidance&tab=study" title="Read 2 Timothy 2:22 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 2:22</a> ESV).</p>
<p><strong>How are we to “understand the enemy’s playbook” as you explore that theme in chapter four?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ben Stuart:</strong> In the classic book <em>The Art of War</em>, Sun Tzu states, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. . . . If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of James on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">his epistle, James</a> provided a marvelous breakdown of how temptation works on each of us. When we’re equipped with an understanding of the enemy’s strategies to tempt us, we’re empowered to employ our own strategies to counter it.</p>
<p><strong>What role should the Bible play in a person’s “rest and war”?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ben Stuart:</strong> That is not a quickly answered question, but I’ll try! According to James, God “brought us forth by the word of truth” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A18&version=ESV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Jas.1.13-Jas.1.18&tab=study" title="Read James 1:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James 1:18</a> ESV)! It’s through the proclamation or reading of the Word of God, the good news of what he’s done on our behalf in Jesus, that brings us to life! James also refers to the Word of God as the “implanted word” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A21&version=ESV&resource_entry=asbury-bible-commentary/f-attending-the-implanted-word-1-19b-21&tab=study" title="Read James 1:21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:21</a> ESV). God has placed a desire and inclination for his Word in us! Paul called it, “the word of God, which is at work in you believers” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+2%3A13&version=ESV&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Word-Lord&tab=study" title="Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Thessalonians 2:13</a> ESV). And as we peer into the word, what James calls “the law of liberty” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A25&version=ESV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Jas.1.25&tab=study" title="Read James 1:25 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:25</a> ESV) it fills our minds with thoughts of God to aid in stirring our affections for God, so we can live a life in the pursuit of God! Paul tells us, ”All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A16-17&version=NIV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/2Tim.3.16-2Tim.3.17&tab=study" title="Read 2 Timothy 3:16–17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 3:16–17</a> NIV).</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
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<p><strong>What do you want to accomplish with this book?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ben Stuart:</strong> This book is a field guide for the spiritual life. It contains ancient methods of transformation transposed into a modern key. My hope is to equip believers to walk elegantly through the battlefield of life.</p>
<p><strong>What is a favorite Bible passage of yours, and why?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ben Stuart:</strong> That’s another tough question! At the moment, I would say <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A1-6&version=ESV&resource_entry=nivac-sample/Heb.12.1-Heb.12.2&tab=study" title="Read Hebrews 12:1–6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hebrews 12:1–6</a> (ESV).</p>
<p><em>Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”</em></p>
<p>I love the clear call to cast off all that entangles and to run the race determined by God for each of us. I love that we’re called to fix our eyes on Jesus, who blazed the trail for us all the way to the end. And I love the encouragement that, as we contemplate him it will keep us from getting fainthearted when life gets hard. And I love that it closes by telling us that we struggle as children who are dearly loved by our Father.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ben Stuart:</strong> Bible Gateway is an incredible resource I hope everyone will tap into. I love the accessibility and ease of use, pretty much every <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/" title="Read the Bible in multiple Bible translation on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">translation you’ll ever need</a>, and access to some of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/resource-library-profile" title="See the chart describing all Bible reference resources available to you with a Bible Gateway Plus membership." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the best commentaries</a>. What an amazing gift to the world.</p>
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<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/rest-and-war-rhythms-of-a-well-fought-life?variant=39485797236872&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of Rest & War in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rest & War</a> <em>is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Bio:</strong> Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church, Washington, DC. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served for 11 years as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries, a weekly Bible study attended by thousands of college students on the campus of Texas A&M. Ben earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Ben and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime. They live in the District of Columbia with their three kids, Hannah, Sparrow, and Owen.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/what-is-the-meaning-of-life-an-interview-with-ben-stuart/">What Is the Meaning of Life?: An Interview with Ben Stuart</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6878089
2022-01-24T03:57:31-12:00
2022-01-24T04:15:06-12:00
Does Reading the Bible Lead to Losing Your Faith?
<p></p><blockquote><center>
<em>Editor’s Note: The following content is excerpted from</em> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/how-not-to-read-the-bible-making-sense-of-the-anti-women-anti-science-pro-violence-pro-slavery-and-other-crazy-sounding-parts-of-scripture?variant=34102523003016&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of How (Not) to Read the Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How (Not) to Read the Bible: Making Sense of the Anti-women, Anti-science, Pro-violence, Pro-slavery and Other Crazy Sounding Parts of Scripture</a> <em>by Dan Kimball (HarperChristian Resources, 2021)</em>
</center></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.dankimball.com/about" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/24102704/Dan-Kimball-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Dan Kimball" width="21%" /></a><strong>By Dan Kimball</strong></p>
<p>It’s January and that means many Christians have started the year with a fresh goal to read through the Bible. In the past, this has generally been celebrated and seen as a positive thing when someone decides to read through the “Good Book”. However, there is a significant change happening out there regarding the Bible. Many are starting to claim as they read the whole Bible, that it’s not the Good Book, but it’s the “Evil Book”.</p>
<p><span id="more-65591"></span></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/09/how-not-to-read-the-bible-an-interview-with-dan-kimball/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How Not to Read the Bible: An Interview with Dan Kimball" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>How Not to Read the Bible: An Interview with Dan Kimball</em></a>]</p>
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<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/13153344/evil-book.png"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/13153344/evil-book.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="381" width="504" /></a></figure></div>
<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Is the “Good Book” actually an “Evil Book”?</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/how-not-to-read-the-bible-study-guide-with-dvd-making-sense-of-the-anti-women-anti-science-pro-violence-pro-slavery-and-other-crazy-sounding-parts-of-scripture?variant=39485797105800&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/19154953/How-Not-to-Read-the-Bible-DVD.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of How (Not) to Read the Bible Study Guide with DVD in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="25%" /></a></p>
<p>If you go on TikTok and YouTube, you quickly see the increasing amount videos made by former Christians who tell their stories of how reading the Bible turned them into agnostics or atheists. The story generally goes that they grew up in churches and heard the usual nice stories in the Bible about Jesus <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" title="Read xxxxxxxxxxx on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">healing the blind</a> and teaching to people to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" title="Read xxxxxxxxxxx on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">care about the poor</a>. They heard the stories of amazing Bible heroes like young <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" title="Read xxxxxxxxxxx on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David defeating the giant Goliath</a> and saw the children’s artwork depicting the story of a Santa Claus-like looking <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" title="Read xxxxxxxxxxx on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Noah</a> with smiling happy animals in an ark floating on the water. But as they got older and started reading the whole Bible with a new lens, the Bible doesn’t seem so wonderful and good anymore.</p>
<p>They realize that David was a polygamist with at least eight wives and also had concubines (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+3&resource_entry=bible-panorama/1Chr.3&tab=study" title="Read 1 Chronicles 3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Chronicles 3</a>). They read how he even killed 200 men and removed their foreskins as a bridal gift to one of his wives’ fathers (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+18%3A27&resource_entry=matthew-henry/1Sam.18.12-1Sam.18.30&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 18:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Samuel 18:27</a>). They begin processing that the nice children’s story artwork they grew up on with Noah on a boat with happy smiling animals floating on water, was really a story of God causing massive death with the drowning of women, children, and infants. Also, their childhood children’s storybook and artwork didn’t show that Noah got drunk and passed out naked in his tent after God he got off the ark (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+9%3A20-21&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/family-tragedy-9-18-23&tab=study" title="Read Genesis 9:20-21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genesis 9:20-21</a>).</p>
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<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/13153220/shellfish.png"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/13153220/shellfish.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="473" width="598" /></a></figure></div>
<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Does God ban eating shrimp but endorses slavery?</strong></p>
<p>I talked with one college student who was a Christian but lost his faith when he got into a campus Bible study. He said he never knew that slavery was talked about positively in the Bible with people being sold as property, and even instructions for a father selling his daughter into slavery (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+21&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Exod.21.1-Exod.21.11&tab=study" title="Read Exodus 21 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Exodus 21</a>). This student was then led to explore more things about the Bible online and found plenty of graphical memes with Bible verses from the Levitical laws with commands by God to not eat shrimp or eat bacon or get tattoos. Critics repeat accusations that Christians cherry-pick the verses they like and ignore the ones they don’t like. There’s the understandable question of why would God create rules that ban the eating of shrimp but he didn’t ban slavery? This student saw Bible verses which seemed so misogynistic, such as, “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission…it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+14%3A33-35&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/1Cor.14.34-1Cor.14.35&tab=study" title="Read 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 14:33-35, NIV</a>).</p>
<p>So, the more the Bible is read, the more it certainly seems to be anti-women, anti-science, pro-slavery and pro-violence. It makes sense then, as comedian and magician Penn Jillette <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/famous-atheist-magician-penn-jillette-cites-bible-as-a-favorite-book.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">says</a>: “Reading the Bible is the fast track to atheism.” But is this true that the Bible is not the “good book” and if you really read it, you’ll find things you never knew before and end up rejecting your faith?</p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-medium"><a href="https://churchsource.com/collections/how-not-to-read-the-bible-making-sense-of-the-anti-women-anti-science-pro-violence-pro-slavery-and-other-crazy-sounding-parts-of-scripture"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/13155322/HNTRTB-Social-Graphic-12-300x300.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="300" width="300" /></a></figure></div>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/introduction-to-the-bible/" title="Read Bible Gateway Blog posts that introduce you to the Bible" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read Bible Gateway Blog posts that introduce you to the Bible</a>]</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>There are answers when we understand how to and how <em><u>not</u></em> to read the Bible</strong></p>
<p>I understand why this is happening, as for so many growing up in churches today, many of the very tough and disturbing things in the Bible weren’t addressed. So, seeing verses put to memes or mentioned on TikTok, of course, is going to feel shocking and cause doubt and even disbelief. However, there are responses. While the Bible is 100% fully inspired by God (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A16-17&resource_entry=nivac-sample/2Tim.3.16-2Tim.3.17&tab=study" title="Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Timothy 3:16-17</a>), there are some basic Bible study methods we have to put into place to understand it and the difficult things in it. Such as:</p>
<ol type="1">
<li>
<strong>The Bible is a library not a book:</strong> When opening a Bible or reading it digitally, we don’t read it like a normal book. It’s a library of books written over 1,500 years, in different genres. Opening the Bible is like going into a library and pulling a book off a shelf, and depending on what section of the library you’re in, you read it differently. If you’re reading a book of poetry, it’ll be read differently than when reading a book of history. Or when you read a law book that has laws pertaining to certain people at a certain time and place, the laws may or may not apply for us today in our world.</li>
<li>
<strong>Never Read A Bible Verse:</strong> Pulling out single Bible verses on their own, one can make the Bible say almost anything. You always need to read the full context of what’s happening, not just look at single verses. You don’t pull a single sentence from <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=003415&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Lord of The Rings in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Lord of The Rings</em></a> and then make a conclusion, without placing it in the whole story. The Bible is not fiction, but the same principles apply. Every verse is part of a specific section of the whole Bible story we need to examine to make sense of the verse.</li>
<li>
<strong>The Bible was not written <em>to</em> us, but <em>for</em> us:</strong> Some parts of the Bible are written to everyone and some parts were written to specific people at a specific time for a specific purpose. It’s all 100% inspired by God and for us to learn from. But we must look at each part of the Bible from the eyes and culture of the original reader and why and what God was communicating to them.</li>
<li>
<strong>All the Bible points to Jesus:</strong> From the very opening chapters of the Bible to the very end, it all leads to and points to Jesus. When we see this, it all lines up to an amazing, beautiful, life-changing library of books.</li>
</ol>
<p></p>
<p>It’s so sad seeing so many who are losing faith over the inspired-by-God amazing Bible. I wasn’t a Christian growing up and the Bible changed my entire life; and I believe it can change so many others. There are answers when we search more deeply and understand it’s an ancient text that we can’t just read with modern eyes. My prayer is that parents and churches will teach early on about the difficult parts so it doesn’t catch people off-guard when they haven’t seen them before.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator">
<p><strong>Dan Kimball</strong> is the author of several books on leadership, church, and culture. He is on staff at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California. He also is on faculty with Western Seminary and leads the ReGeneration Project which is encouraging theology and mission to be part of younger generations lives and churches. He enjoys comic art, Ford Mustangs, and punk and rockabilly music. His passion is to see the church and Christians follow and represent Jesus in the world with love, intelligence, and creativity.</p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/m0_k-le5O2g"><strong>Watch the first video session</strong></a> of Dan’s video study,
<a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/how-not-to-read-the-bible-making-sense-of-the-anti-women-anti-science-pro-violence-pro-slavery-and-other-crazy-sounding-parts-of-scripture?variant=34102523003016&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=interview" title="Buy your copy of How (Not) to Read the Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>How (Not) to Read the Bible: Making Sense of the Anti-women, Anti-science, Pro-violence, Pro-slavery and Other Crazy Sounding Parts of Scripture</em>.</a></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/does-reading-the-bible-lead-to-losing-your-faith/">Does Reading the Bible Lead to Losing Your Faith?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6875953
2022-01-21T02:30:00-12:00
2022-01-21T04:30:06-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of January 16, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/weekly-brief-week-of-january-16-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of January 16, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6875317
2022-01-20T06:53:03-12:00
2022-01-20T11:00:03-12:00
The Illustrated Catholic Bible With More Than 500 Woodcut Images Made in the 16th Century
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nrsvce-illustrated-catholic-bible-leathersoft-black-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=34761119498376&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/19164137/Illustrated_Catholic_Bible_banner.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the beautiful Illustrated Catholic Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="90%" /></a></p>
<p>The <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nrsvce-illustrated-catholic-bible-leathersoft-black-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=34761119498376&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the beautiful Illustrated Catholic Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Illustrated Catholic Bible</em></strong></a> (Catholic Bible Press, 2021) is a one-of-a-kind Bible from <a href="https://www.catholicbiblepress.com/nrsv-ce/nrsvce-illustrated-catholic-bible/" title="See this Bible on Catholic Bible Press" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Catholic Bible Press</a>, containing 513 woodcut illustrations scanned directly from an original print copy of an eminent Latin Bible published in Venice in 1574 featuring the St. Jerome’s Vulgate translation, edited by Johannes Hentenius, and printed “in the shop of the heirs of Nicolai Bevilacqua and partners.”<br>
<a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nrsvce-illustrated-catholic-bible-leathersoft-black-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=34761119498376&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/12142147/Illustrated_Catholic_Bible.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy your copy of the beautiful Illustrated Catholic Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" width="30%" /></a></p>
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<p></p><center><strong>Sign up to receive Bible Gateway’s free 7-day email, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/catholic-devotional-the-tradition/" title="Sign up to get the free email, Catholic Devotional: The Tradition from Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Catholic Devotional: The Tradition</em></a></strong></center>
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<p>Designed and set in the Catholic Comfort Print® Typeface, created exclusively for HarperCollins Christian Publishing at the 2k/denmark type foundry, each original art rendering in this devotional Bible—individually photographed and digitally processed—is accompanied by a caption containing a verse or a couple of verses from the Bible text to guide your reflection.</p>
<p>Now using the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-Revised-Standard-Version-Anglicised-Catholic-Edition-NRSVACE-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Revised Standard Version</a> Anglicised Catholic Edition translation, the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nrsvce-illustrated-catholic-bible-leathersoft-black-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=34761119498376&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the beautiful Illustrated Catholic Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Illustrated Catholic Bible</em></a> contains the complete Catholic canon of 73 books—including the deuterocanonical books in the traditional Catholic order—printed on single-column pages for easy reading. Specialized appointments of the Bible include richly gilded page edging, two satin ribbon markers, and Smyth-sewn binding to allow for laying the Bible flat in your hand or on your desk.</p>
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<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/11/the-bible-table-of-contents/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Bible Table of Contents" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>The Bible Table of Contents</em></a>]</p>
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<p>Since the English language has developed in different ways in separate countries, a divergence has grown between the language as it’s used in the USA and the form most commonly used in the British Isles and other countries where British usage is preferred. The NRSV Anglicized Edition maintains the integrity of the NRSV translation while rendering words that might otherwise be uncertain or awkward into the best generally acceptable equivalent in British usage, and adjusting appropriate points of spelling, grammar, and punctuation.</p>
<p></p><center><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cO3BG8HYcHc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>
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<p>The Catholic Edition of the NRSV bears the imprimatur of the Roman Catholic Church and is approved for private use and study by the Catholic faithful. <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2014/documents/papa-francesco_angelus_20140406.html" title="Read Angelus, St. Peter's Square, April 6, 2014" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Pope Francis has said of the Bible</a>, “Take it, carry it with you and read it every day: It is Jesus himself speaking to you in it!”</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/01/celebrate-sunday-of-the-word-of-god/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Celebrate Sunday of the Word of God" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Celebrate Sunday of the Word of God</em></a>]</p>
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<em>An interior page with the woodcut for Ezekiel 40:2-3 from the</em> Illustrated Catholic Bible. <em>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+40%3A2-3&version=NRSVACE&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/7470-temple-significance&tab=study" title="Read Ezekiel 40:2-3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezekiel 40:2-3</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelations+21%3A9-10&version=NRSVACE&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/7241-Jerusalem-significance&tab=study" title="Read Revelation 21:9-10 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revelation 21:9-10</a> on Bible Gateway.</em>
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<a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/19170112/Illustrated_Catholic_Bible_page.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/19170112/Illustrated_Catholic_Bible_page.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge this interior page with the woodcut for Ezekiel 40:2-3 from the Illustrated Catholic Bible" width="90%" /></a>
<p><a href="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20133707/Illustrated_Catholic_Bible_woodcuts.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20133707/Illustrated_Catholic_Bible_woodcuts.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Click to enlarge these woodcuts from the Illustrated Catholic Bible" width="90%" /></a></p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-Revised-Standard-Version-Anglicised-Catholic-Edition-NRSVACE-Bible/#booklist" title="Read the New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE) on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE) on Bible Gateway</a>]</p>
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<p><em>The</em> <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/nrsvce-illustrated-catholic-bible-leathersoft-black-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=34761119498376&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the beautiful Illustrated Catholic Bible in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Illustrated Catholic Bible</a> <em>is published by Catholic Bible Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.</em></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/the-illustrated-catholic-bible-with-more-than-500-woodcut-images-made-in-the-16th-century/">The Illustrated Catholic Bible With More Than 500 Woodcut Images Made in the 16th Century</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6875018
2022-01-20T03:51:40-12:00
2022-01-20T06:30:05-12:00
How to Live the Bible — When We Experience Depression
<p></p><center><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19094916/howtolivethebibleheader.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="howtostudythebible" width="640" /></center>
<p><em>This is the <a title="See all the lessons of How to Live the Bible on Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/category/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one-hundred-ninety-second lesson</a> in <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>How to Live the Bible</strong> series</a>. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>
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<p>“The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+18%3A14&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8713-discouragement&tab=study" title="Read Proverbs 18:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prov. 18:14</a>).</p>
<p><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/10115419/How-To-Live-The-Bible-Worry1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A photo of man holding his head in depression" width="90%" /></p>
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<p>Depression is rising in our communities. That’s a longtime trend, and the stress and isolation of recent times has led to more and more depression.</p>
<p>But there is hope.</p>
<p>Several years ago, the shocking news of the suicide of actor Robin Williams left millions of people all over the world with a mystery: How could someone known for a whole-face smile that caused multitudes of people to laugh to the point of tears be so distraught and dark that he would take his own life? Many were perplexed, and there were many others who said to themselves: <em>If anyone knew how desperately depressed I am, they would be surprised</em>.</p>
<p>I write as someone who has seen depression across numerous generations in my own family, and as a pastor who has officiated at the funerals of those who have taken their own lives.</p>
<p>Many people turn to the Scriptures to understand and, if they look widely, they’ll find not only the hope the Scriptures offer, but also the honesty and accuracy with which the Scriptures account for one of the most common inner maladies of all time: depression.</p>
<p>King David despaired of life more than once. Not only do we have dozens of “Psalms of Lament,” but we have physiological descriptions of the effects of the broken heart, as in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+38&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-38&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 38 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 38</a>: “there is no health in my body. . . . my guilt has overwhelmed me, like a burden too heavy to bear . . . . I am bowed down and brought very low. . . all day long I go about mourning . . . . I am feeble and utterly crushed . . . . my heart pounds, my strength fails me . . . . I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak . . . . I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me . . . . L<small>ORD</small>, do not forsake me.”</p>
<p>This is not a description of “feeling low,” sad, or unhappy, but rather what can happen when sadness deepens into despair and then into a physical condition.</p>
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<p>Even powerful and successful people can be brought low in depression. The prophet Elijah defeated the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel in a stunning victory by God. And yet, fleeing the wrath of Jezebel, Elijah went into isolation and prayed, “I have had enough, L<small>ORD</small>, take my life, I am no better than my ancestors” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19%3A4-5&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/1Kgs.19.1-1Kgs.19.8&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 19:4-5 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 19:4-5</a>).</p>
<p>God did not condemn Elijah for being destitute and depressed. God did not say: <em>Buck up, man. Where is your faith? Shake it off.</em> Instead, an angel of God came, touched Elijah, and offered fresh-baked bread and a jar of water (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19%3A5-6&version=NIV&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/1330-God-provider&tab=study" title="Read 1 Kings 19:5-6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Kings 19:5-6</a>). This is the way God is. “The L<small>ORD</small> is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A18&version=NIV&resource_entry=wiersbe-be-bible-study/4-trust-lord-vv-17-22&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 34:18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ps. 34:18</a>).</p>
<p>At a desperate moment, the prophet Jonah wanted to die: “Now, L<small>ORD</small>, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+4%3A3&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Jonah.4.1-Jonah.4.4&tab=study" title="Read Jonah 4:3 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jonah 4:3</a>). Yes, that’s in the Bible. One of the most significant spiritual leaders in Old Testament history came to the point of wondering if he wanted to live or not.</p>
<p>And then there’s <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&version=NIV&tab=intro" title="Read the book of Job on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job</a>, whose illnesses and profound losses made him despair of life—his wife and “friends” did not help. In the end, God did not offer Job answers for his questions, but instead, God offered himself.</p>
<p>This is what God does and what we must do for each other—be a caring presence. What makes deep depression dangerous is isolation. Often, someone else needs to help the depressed person get connected with the right medical and spiritual resources. We need to know when we’re the right people to make those connections. None of us should be put off if our well-meaning words do nothing to help a depressed friend. That may be the time when we need to do less talking and just be there.</p>
<p>As one desperate man said, “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+6%3A14&version=NIV&resource_entry=matthew-henry/Job.6.14-Job.6.21&tab=study" title="Read Job 6:14 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Job 6:14</a>).</p>
<p>If difficult times have pushed you down into serious depression, let someone know. Reach out to your physician. Find trusted, wise confidants (particularly those who know about depression) and connect with a counselor. Far too many people suffer deeply inside, not letting anyone else know. There’s nothing to be ashamed or afraid of about letting the right people know where you really are.</p>
<p>And for those of us who know someone who has become deeply depressed, we need to be there for them. There’s not one simple thing we can tell them to do to raise them up. If someone has sunk low, it took a while to get there, and it will take a while to heal. We need to be compassionate listeners, to nullify shame, and to support them as they seek the help they need.</p>
<p>[See previous – <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/how-to-live-the-bible-goodness-is-always-greater/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Live the Bible — Goodness Is Always Greater" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Goodness Is Always Greater</a>]<br>
___________</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p>[If you believe this series will be helpful, this is the perfect time to forward this to a friend, a group, or a congregation, and tell them they too may <a title="Sign up to receive weekly email lessons on How to Live the Bible from Bible Gateway" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/landing/how-to-live-the-bible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for the weekly emails here</a>]</p>
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<p>Mel Lawrenz (<a title="Mel Lawrenz Twitter stream" href="https://twitter.com/MelLawrenz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@MelLawrenz</a>) trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s teaching pastor. He has a PhD in the history of Christian thought and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. Mel’s <a title="Browse books by Mel Lawrenz in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/page/tcg/biblegateway/bible-gateway-promotions/bg-mel-lawrenz?p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many books</a> include <a title="Buy your copy of Spiritual Leadership Today in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/spiritual-leadership-today-having-deep-influence-in-every-walk-of-life?variant=13756491726959&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Spiritual Leadership Today: Having Deep Influence in Every Walk of Life</em></a> (Zondervan, 2016). See more of Mel’s writing at <a href="http://www.wordway.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WordWay</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/how-to-live-the-bible-when-we-experience-depression/">How to Live the Bible — When We Experience Depression</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6873002
2022-01-18T07:13:56-12:00
2022-01-18T09:30:07-12:00
Take That First Courageous Step
<p><strong><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/18120446/AnnieFDowns_Portrait2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Annie F. Downs" width="33%" />By Annie F. Downs</strong></p>
<p>I didn’t plan to write books. Today’s call to courage? I need to be willing to write about some things I don’t want to share but feel nudged by God to do so. But in 2006, when this whole journey began for me, it looked like eight pages.</p>
<p>I had to start somewhere.</p>
<p>The day I finished Beth Moore’s <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=686030&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Believing God in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Believing God</em></a> study, I sat down at my computer and pounded out an eight-page document of my life as a storyteller—from a childhood full of exaggeration to an adult life of wanting to be full of truth but telling the BEST stories. I wrote about how God was revealing to me, through Mrs. Beth’s teaching, that this was the direction my life was about to go.</p>
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<p>God’s brave moment for me that day in February 2006 was to write out what I was feeling with regard to sharing stories. He knows me. He knows you. He knows we need dreams in pieces because we would be too scared of the whole puzzle. Had I known I’d be an author and a speaker back then, I probably would have crawled under my covers and stayed there for a year or five. I’m here today because of the little starts and the brave moments dotted throughout my writing career that have grown into this.</p>
<p>I think of King David, way back when he’s a kid <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel%2017&resource_entry=dictionary-of-bible-themes/8214-confidence-basis&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">checking on his brothers in the battle against the Philistines</a>. When he gets there, everyone is scared to death of Goliath, this beast of a man who is fighting for the other army.</p>
<p>Young David the shepherd tells King Saul he’ll go against Goliath. Everyone is stunned because David is a kid and the rest of the Israelite army, full of adult dudes, is afraid of him. David’s response shows us the importance of the daily steps of courage that lead to the bigger story.</p>
<p><em>But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The L<small>ORD</small> who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the L<small>ORD</small> be with you.”</em><br>
—<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17%3A34-37&version=NIV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/1Sam.17.33-1Sam.17.37&tab=study" title="Read 1 Samuel 17:34-37" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 Samuel 17:34–37</a></p>
<p>And go he did! You can read what happened in this epic battle between David and Goliath in the rest of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17&resource_entry=bible-panorama/1Sam.17&tab=study" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 Samuel 17</a>. It’s worth a read, even if you’ve known the story your whole life.</p>
<p>David, as a shepherd boy, fought a lion. And a bear. And rescued his sheep. He never killed the lion in preparation for the bear. He didn’t kill the bear in preparation for Goliath. He just chose to be brave at every turn—to do his job and protect the sheep. And as the challenges grew in scope, so did David’s belief in the ways God had uniquely created him, and more importantly, David believed wholly in who God is and in the reality that David had a role to play on this planet that would require courage. Just like me. Just like you.</p>
<p>In 2006, I wasn’t dreaming of writing books. I could barely imagine writing out the story of how I wanted to tell stories! Then I started a blog that took courage every day to write. Then I wrote a Bible study for a group of high school girls who came over to my house on Monday nights. Then those printed-out lessons became <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/perfectly-unique-love-yourself-completely-just-as-you-are?variant=20534938894447&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Perfectly Unique in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Perfectly Unique</em></a>, a book read by thousands of girls around the world. And then came my next book, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/speak-love-your-words-can-change-the-world?variant=30694366412936&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Speak Love in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Speak Love</em></a>. And now we are here. You and I. And we are fighting against the fear.</p>
<p>My lion.</p>
<p>My bear.</p>
<p>My Goliath.</p>
<p>Oh my.</p>
<p>David wasn’t done after Goliath. I am not done being brave either. Neither are you, I hope.</p>
<p>My prayer for you today is that you will open the eyes of your heart to the map and the next brave thing and the step you need to start. Tell someone your dream. Maybe even write that first step. Make that first move to research or learn or pray about the thing that is like a God-struck match lit on your insides.</p>
<p>Maybe for you, it’s writing a note. Singing a song. Making a phone call. Having a conversation. Composing a story. Writing a check. Booking that trip. Sending an email. Going on a date. Reading a book. Signing up.</p>
<p>I’m trying to list as many options as possible, but you know the thing God is doing in your life better than I do. It’s time to get quiet before the Lord and ask him what it looks like for you to live a life of courage <em>today</em>. To start.</p>
<p>Just start.<br>
________</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/lets-all-be-brave-living-life-with-everything-you-have-1?variant=39485797990536&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/18115811/LetsAllBeBrave_Cover2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Let's All Be Brave" height="280" width="280" /></a>Adapted from <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/lets-all-be-brave-living-life-with-everything-you-have-1?variant=39485797990536&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Let’s All Be Brave: Living Life with Everything You Have</em></a> by Annie F. Downs. <a href="https://www.zondervan.com/p/lets-all-be-brave-living-life-with-everything-you-have-by-annie-downs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to learn more about this book.</p>
<p>A call to embrace the God-given courage living inside you from host of the <em>That Sounds Fun</em> podcast and bestselling author Annie F. Downs.</p>
<p>How often does fear hold you back from the very things you most want to taste, touch, and experience? <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author, podcast host, and speaker Annie F. Downs admits she’s not exactly the bravest woman in the world. Even as an adult, she still cries sometimes when she leaves her parents’ home in Georgia, she’s never jumped out of a plane, and she only rides roller coasters to impress guys. But Annie knows that courage resides inside each and every one of us, and she’s on a mission to conquer her own fears while encouraging you to do the same.</p>
<p><a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/lets-all-be-brave-living-life-with-everything-you-have-1?variant=39485797990536&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Let’s All Be Brave</em></a> is more than a book; it’s a battle cry. Annie uses honest and often humorous illustrations from her own life, contemporary real-life examples from the lives of others, and fascinating biblical stories to challenge you to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Discover God’s surprising answers to overcoming fear, uncertainty, and anxiety</li>
<li>Let go of the things that hold you back—relationships, comfort zones, expectations, and more</li>
<li>Say yes to both small and big things</li>
<li>Live boldly and sacrificially for God and others</li>
<li>Hold on to hope, trust God, and be brave no matter your circumstances</li>
</ul>
<p>This book is your call to step into those places that require courage, giving you the help you need to take the next step forward—even when it’s scary.</p>
<p><strong>Annie F. Downs</strong> is a <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author, sought-after speaker, and successful podcast host based in Nashville, Tennessee. Engaging and honest, she makes readers and listeners alike feel as if they’ve been longtime friends. Founder of the That Sounds Fun Network—which includes her aptly named flagship show, <em>That Sounds Fun</em>—and author of multiple bestselling books including <em>That Sounds Fun</em>, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/100-days-to-brave-devotions-for-unlocking-your-most-courageous-self?variant=13750726918255" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>100 Days to Brave</em></a>, and <em>Remember God</em>, Annie shoots straight and doesn’t shy away from the tough topics. But she always finds her way back to the truth that God is good and that life is a gift. Annie is a huge fan of laughing with friends, confetti, soccer, and boiled peanuts (preferably from a back-roads Georgia gas station). Read more at <a href="https://www.anniefdowns.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anniefdowns.com</a> and find her (embarrassingly easily) all over the internet at @anniefdowns.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/take-that-first-courageous-step/">Take That First Courageous Step</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6871401
2022-01-16T23:00:00-12:00
2022-01-17T02:00:07-12:00
What Does the Bible Say About Justice?
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://bg3-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/28170009/Christopher_Reese.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Christopher Reese" width="20%" /></a><strong>By Christopher Reese</strong></p>
<p>On Martin Luther King Jr. Day we remember his pioneering work as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle to bring about a more equitable and just society. Justice is also one of the central concerns of the Bible, and it’s no coincidence that leaders of the Civil Rights Movement frequently appealed to Scripture as they advocated for fair and nondiscriminatory treatment under the law.</p>
<p>As long as we live in a fallen world in which human beings naturally gravitate toward evil (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+17%3A9&resource_entry=encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Nature-Man&tab=study" title="Read Jeremiah 17:9 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeremiah 17:9</a>), we must always strive to pursue justice in our personal lives as well as in our various communities. Below we’ll explore some key aspects of what the Bible says about justice and how justice relates to God, our relationship with him, and with one another. We’ll also see that justice is an integral part of the mission God has called us to today.</p>
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<h3>The Source of Justice</h3>
<p>The most basic but important point to make about justice is that its source and foundation is God’s holy nature. God himself is the standard of right and wrong, rather than anything outside of God. Scripture declares “he is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+32%3A4&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/dt-32-4-the-rock&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 32:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 32:4</a>). Since God desires to communicate his will to humanity, his commands in Scripture reflect his just and righteous character. Thus David declares, “As for God, his way is perfect: The L<small>ORD</small>’s word is flawless” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+22%3A31&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/2sa-22-29-51&tab=study" title="Read 2 Samuel 22:31 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Samuel 22:31</a>).</p>
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<h3>God’s Call to Justice</h3>
<p>Because God is just and righteous, he calls us to reflect these same qualities in all we do, say, and think. While “justice” is a difficult term to define, a helpful definition in the context of this discussion is the following: “Justice is the manifestation of God’s righteous character in the world—the execution of God’s righteousness. Justice is the expression of God’s righteousness through right action.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#1"><sup><strong>1</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>As has been the case throughout human history, in Old Testament Israel those most likely to suffer injustice were the weak, vulnerable, and marginalized. Consequently, God expressed special concern for those who experienced these circumstances, especially the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. Here are a few representative passages:</p>
<ul>
<li> “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+15%3A11&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-deut-15-11&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 15:11 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 15:11</a>).</li>
<li> “You, L<small>ORD</small>, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+10%3A17-18&version=NIV&resource_entry=reformation-study-bible/Ps.10.17-Ps.10.18&tab=study" title="Read Psalm 10:17-18 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Psalm 10:17-18</a>).</li>
<li> “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is.+1%3A17&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-biblical-theology/isa-1-17&tab=study" title="Read Isaiah 1:17 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaiah 1:17</a>).</li>
<li> “You are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+10%3A19&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-first-century-study-bible/dt-10-18-19&tab=study" title="Read Deuteronomy 10:19 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 10:19</a>).</li>
<li> “Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A4&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/jas-5-4-wages-you-kept-back&tab=study" title="Read James 5:4 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James 5:4</a>).</li>
</ul>
<p>God’s concern for the vulnerable and oppressed has not changed, so we should be watchful today for ways we can help those least able to help themselves. Citing James again, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A27&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-first-century-study-bible/jas-1-26-27&tab=study" title="Read James 1:27 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James 1:27</a>).</p>
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<h3>The Mission of God’s People and Social Responsibility</h3>
<p>Some Christians have worried, especially over the past century and a half, that an emphasis on social responsibility will detract from preaching the gospel. They view the primary mission of the church and individual Christians as evangelism, and see involvement in social issues to be a distraction from that primary goal. However, a strong biblical case can be made that preaching the gospel and ministering to practical needs are actually two sides of the same coin—namely, the mission of God’s people. Biblical scholar Christopher Wright summarizes this mission as “the whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole world.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#2"><sup><strong>2</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>The best example of the harmony between proclaiming the good news and meeting social needs is Jesus’s earthly ministry. Jesus not only “went around teaching from village to village,” but also “went around doing good and healing” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A6&version=NIV&resource_entry=nkjv-macarthur-study-bible/mk-6-6-he-marveled-because-of-their-unbelief&tab=study" title="Read Mark 6:6 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark 6:6</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10%3A38&version=NIV&resource_entry=believers-bible-commentary/10-36-38&tab=study" title="Read Acts 10:38 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acts 10:38</a>). He taught the importance of repentance and conversion through the Parable of the Prodigal Son (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+15%3A11-32&version=NIV&resource_entry=nasb-stanley-life-principles-bible/life-lessons-luke-15-32&tab=study" title="Read Luke 15:11-32 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 15:11-32</a>), as well as the necessity of providing physical well-being through the Parable of the Good Samaritan (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A25-37&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-grace-and-truth-study-bible/lk-10-25-37&tab=study" title="Read Luke 10:25-37 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luke 10:25-37</a>).</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/12/angels-in-heaven-frequently-asked-questions/" title="Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Angels in Heaven (Frequently Asked Questions)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, <em>Angels in Heaven (Frequently Asked Questions)</em> by Christopher Reese</a>]</p>
<p>The late church leader and theologian John Stott observed, “There was in [Jesus’] ministry an indissoluble bond between evangelism and compassionate service. He exhibited in action the love of God he was proclaiming.” <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BibleGatewayBlog#3"><sup><strong>3</strong></sup></a></p>
<p>Jesus’ example is one reason the church and individual Christians have often been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts that have changed the world—from creating the first hospitals, to establishing universal education, to abolishing the slave trade, to passing labor reforms, to advocating for social justice.</p>
<p>In remembering the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and those who opposed unjust laws that fell short of God’s standard of justice, may we be encouraged and challenged by God’s directives recorded by the prophet Micah:</p>
<p> He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.<br>
And what does the L<small>ORD</small> require of you?<br>
To act justly and to love mercy<br>
and to walk humbly with your God.<br>
(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+6%3A8&version=NIV&resource_entry=niv-study-bible/mic-6-8&tab=study" title="Read Micah 6:8 on Bible Gateway" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Micah 6:8</a>)</p>
<p><a id="1"></a></p>
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<p>1. [Mae Elise Cannon, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=837151&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Social Justice Handbook in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World</em></a> (IVP, 2009), 20.]<br>
<a id="2"></a><br>
2. [Christopher J. H. Wright, <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/the-mission-of-gods-people-a-biblical-theology-of-the-church-s-mission?variant=13763225878639&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The Mission of God’s People in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Mission of God’s People: A Biblical Theology of the Church’s Mission, Biblical Theology for Life</em></a> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 266.]<br>
<a id="3"></a><br>
3. [John Stott, <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=689378&p=1172374&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of The World (God's Word for Today) in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The World (God’s Word for Today)</em></a> (InterVarsity Press, 2019), 58, Kindle Edition. Much of my discussion here draws from Stott’s insights in this volume.]</p>
<hr>
<p><strong>BIO:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-l-reese/" title="Visit the LinkedIn page of Christopher Reese" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Reese</a> (MDiv, ThM) (<a href="https://twitter.com/clreese" title="Christopher Reese Twitter stream" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@clreese</a>) is a freelance writer and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://worldviewbulletin.substack.com/archive?utm_source=menu-dropdown" title="Visit The Worldview Bulletin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Worldview Bulletin</em></a>. He is a general editor of the <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/dictionary-of-christianity-and-science-the-definitive-reference-for-the-intersection-of-christian-faith-and-contemporary-science?variant=13746105909359&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Dictionary of Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2017) and <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/three-views-on-christianity-and-science?variant=34292904001672&utm_source=bg&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bookpromo" title="Buy your copy of Three Views on Christianity and Science in the FaithGateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Three Views on Christianity and Science</em></a> (Zondervan, 2021). His articles have appeared in <em>Christianity Today</em> and he writes and edits for Christian ministries and publishers.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/what-does-the-bible-say-about-justice/">What Does the Bible Say About Justice?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola
tag:dizzyk.com,2005:Post/6869142
2022-01-14T02:27:00-12:00
2022-01-14T06:00:05-12:00
Weekly Brief – Week of January 9, 2022
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/01/weekly-brief-week-of-january-9-2022/">Weekly Brief – Week of January 9, 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog">Bible Gateway Blog</a>.</p>
Dizzy K Falola