Stumbling Blocks: What They Are and How to Avoid Becoming One
What are stumbling blocks? The metaphor of “stumbling block” is used in various ways throughout Scripture, but it often depicts an obstacle along the path of life that makes us stumble. Stumbling blocks in our path are important for us to watch out for, but we must also be vigilant that we ourselves aren’t placing […]
The Breastplate of Righteousness: 3 Ways Righteousness Guards Our Hearts
In describing spiritual “armor” which protect followers of Jesus, the apostle Paul includes the “breastplate of righteousness.” But what is it about righteousness that protects us? How does righteousness, as a physical breastplate protects the heart, guard our inner life? Here are three ways. Former U.S. Senate chaplain Peter Marshall gave the following illustration: “An […]
What Is the Glory of God in the Bible? A Q&A with Donnie Berry, PhD
Editor’s Note: What is the glory of God in the Bible, and why does it matter to learn about? Far from being a peripheral concept, God’s glory is actually central to the gospel—to the good news about King Jesus—and central to understanding God’s agenda for our lives. To help us understand God’s glory better, I […]
Summary of Ephesians: Understanding the Basics of Ephesians in the Bible
Here’s a short summary of Ephesians: Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus and the churches in the neighboring cities to help them see all that God had done for them in Christ and how that should shape their life. In the first half of the letter (chapters 1-3), Paul […]
How to Avoid Dancing Off a Cliff
God redeems the seemingly unredeemable. Taking that hope as my cue, I’m going to try to redeem some time I accidentally spent absorbed in a Paw Patrol episode my kids were watching. Spoiled kid-villain Harold Humdinger was driving a special supervillain vehicle and blaring music from his supersonic sound system. It was so loud that it caused […]
Walk by Faith, Not Sight: What It Means, What It Doesn’t
What does it mean to walk by faith, not sight (2 Cor. 5:7)? It’s common to think that, as inspiring as the phrase sounds, walking by faith would make a person unintelligent, sheltered, and aloof. The truth is, walking by faith means being perceptive, resilient, and engaged. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, the apostle Paul says, […]
Who Was Mark in the Bible? A Quitter Who Finished Well.
Who was Mark in the Bible? He’s an early Christian and Gospel writer who was friends with Peter, Paul, and Barnabas. He was called Mark (Acts 15:39) and John (Acts 13:15); so it’s also common also to call him John Mark. We read about him in the book of Acts (e.g., as a missionary companion […]
Discipling the Next Generation by Inviting Them into God’s Mission
Discipling the next generation may seem daunting. But it’s in the church’s DNA. We see Jesus disciple and launch young men who changed the world with his gospel. We see Paul mentor a young Timothy, who would continue ministering in Paul’s footsteps long after Paul’s death. How do we disciple the next generation in our […]
