If you could erase the painful parts of your life story, would you? Psychologist Jonathan Haidt described a thought-provoking hypothetical experiment in which participants were given a summary of someone’s life and asked to imagine it as the inevitable journey of their unborn daughter. With an eraser in hand, they…
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19) When people hear the word gospel, many immediately think about the New Testament — the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While that is true, the message…
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19) When people hear the word gospel, many immediately think about the New Testament — the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While that is true, the message…
Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” (Matthew 26:48, ESV) This week we have studied several biblical events that happened around the midnight hour. The Bible has many other midnight stories, but today’s is the most significant. Let’s…
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him . . . And coming in that instant she [Anna] gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him…
“Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.” Ruth 4:1 This fourth chapter of Ruth gives…
“And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest:…
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our…
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24, ESV) Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Five diverse women, but one thread holds them…