How do we listen to God? There are many ways. We listen through studying God’s word, the Scriptures. God’s word is living and active, and he speaks through the Bible. The Bible is inspired by God, which means that God’s Spirit was at work in the lives of the authors, so that when we readContinue reading “How God speaks – 1st Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 5”
Tag Archives: scripture
When life is painful, do people make stupid comments to you? – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 2
Hannah is in a precarious situation. She can’t bear her husband an heir, and yet her rival wife, Penninah is quite fertile. Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, could kick Hannah to the curb. What will Elkanah do? In 1st Samuel 1, verses 4-5, we learn that, “Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would giveContinue reading “When life is painful, do people make stupid comments to you? – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 2”
God’s call is for everyone – Matthew 21:1-11, Part 4
Editor’s Note: This week at Faith Church we welcomed one of my current students, Molly Stouffer, as guest preacher. Molly is from Hagerstown, MD, studying Pastoral Ministries at Lancaster Bible College. Here is the fourth and final post in her series of posts guest blogging her Palm Sunday sermon! God’s will calls us into activeContinue reading “God’s call is for everyone – Matthew 21:1-11, Part 4”
How to study scripture like the first Christians – Studying scripture together, Part 5
As we think about studying scripture together, I want to point out an interesting episode in the early church that occurs during one of Paul’s mission trips. In Acts 17:10-12, we learn that, “As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the JewishContinue reading “How to study scripture like the first Christians – Studying scripture together, Part 5”
How personal Bible study was created – Studying Scripture together, Part 3
Would it surprise you to learn that for most Christians across the two millennia of the history of the church, study of God’s written word was accomplished together with other Christians? We contemporary Christians are used to the idea of personal Bible study. Personal devotions. Reading the Bible by ourselves. Reading through the whole BibleContinue reading “How personal Bible study was created – Studying Scripture together, Part 3”
How to study the Bible – Studying Scripture together, Part 2
What is studying the Bible? Reading it? Yes, but we read lots of things for a variety of reasons. We read the newspaper differently than we read a novel or poetry or history. How, then, do we read the Bible so that we are studying it? There is one important attitude and one important actionContinue reading “How to study the Bible – Studying Scripture together, Part 2”
Why embarrassment is necessary for…Studying Scripture together, Part 1
This past week in my class, I had a slightly embarrassing moment. I teach adjunct for a local Bible College. This semester I’m teaching the Gospels, the Life of Jesus. In class this past week, we were talking about Matthew 9, verses 9-13. I love this story. I’m very familiar with this story. But thisContinue reading “Why embarrassment is necessary for…Studying Scripture together, Part 1”
Personal Bible study is deficient, Preview
Do you have personal devotions? How about a quiet time? Maybe you read the Daily Bread? Maybe you use a phone app. I really like an app called Lectio 365. Some people try to read the through Bible in a year. There are all sorts of ways people read and study Scripture. So much ofContinue reading “Personal Bible study is deficient, Preview”
The second leg of the journey into the…Psalms of Ascent, Part 3
This week I welcome guest blogger, David Hundert. David and his wife Terri are members of Faith Church. David is currently studying for his Master of Divinity at Evangelical Seminary of Kairos University. The Second Antiphon (Chant) 125-129 In this next section, the next antiphon or chant of the Psalms of Ascent, our journey continues and weContinue reading “The second leg of the journey into the…Psalms of Ascent, Part 3”
How to pray when you’re down – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Part 2
The ancient Hebrews often uses parallel structures in their writing, and we see it throughout the Hebrew Bible, which we call the Old Testament. It seems that Psalm 30 was written with one of those structures. Here’s the way they work. The opening matches the closing. The second main point matches the second to lastContinue reading “How to pray when you’re down – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 