The Importance and Value of a Church Building A church building holds great significance for Christians. It is a sacred place where believers gather to worship, pray, and fellowship together. Though the church is ultimately the people who make it up, the physical building itself also carries spiritual meaning and value. Here are some key reasons why the church building is important according to the Bible: The Church Building as a Place of Worship The most fundamental purpose of the church structure is as a place of worship. The book of Hebrews instructs believers to “not give up meeting together”…
Author: Kerry Baysinger
The word “recompense” appears numerous times throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. At its core, recompense refers to repayment or reward for something that has been done. In the biblical context, recompense often has to do with God rewarding righteous behavior and punishing unrighteous behavior. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key aspects of recompense as presented in Scripture. God’s Recompense for Righteousness In many passages, the Bible speaks of how God will recompense or reward those who do what is right and live according to His commands. For example, Hebrews 11 highlights…
The question of whether the ends justify the means is an ancient ethical dilemma that continues to challenge us today. At its core, it asks if achieving a desired outcome is enough to ethically justify using questionable or immoral actions to reach that goal. The Bible offers wisdom and perspective on this complex issue. In examining what the Bible says about the ends justifying the means, we find that Scripture emphasizes righteous motives and just actions. God cares not only about what we do but why we do it. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that “The Lord does not look…
Sportsmanship is an important virtue for Christians to cultivate. The Bible does not directly address sportsmanship, as modern sports did not exist at the time it was written. However, the Bible does provide principles that relate to good sportsmanship. Here is an overview of a Christian perspective on sportsmanship: Play Fairly and Honor the Rules The Bible emphasizes playing fairly and honoring rules and authorities. “Do not move the ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors” (Proverbs 22:28). This verse prohibits cheating by moving boundary markers in order to steal land. While it specifically addresses property rights, the principle…
Is Getting Drunk a Sin? The Bible has a lot to say about drunkenness and its effects on both individuals and society as a whole. While the Bible does not explicitly prohibit all consumption of alcohol, it makes clear that drunkenness is a sin and should be avoided by followers of Christ. This nearly 9,000 word article will explore the biblical basis for this position and explain why drunkenness is considered sinful from a Christian perspective. The Old Testament View of Drunkenness There are numerous verses in the Old Testament that condemn drunkenness and describe its ill effects. For example,…
Baptism is an important step of obedience and public declaration of faith for new believers in Jesus Christ. However, the Bible does not give a definitive answer on whether baptism must happen immediately after conversion or if a period of instruction and spiritual growth should come first. There are good arguments on both sides of this issue that thoughtful Christians have wrestled with throughout church history. Looking at key biblical passages and examples can help shed light on how to approach baptism for new Christians. Biblical Examples of Immediate Baptism There are several examples in the book of Acts where…
The Enuma Elish and the Genesis creation account in the Bible have some interesting similarities even though they come from different cultures and religious traditions. Here is an overview of some of the main similarities between the two ancient texts: Divine Origins Both texts depict the origins of the world and universe as the work of divine beings. The Enuma Elish comes from Mesopotamian religion and credits the gods for creation. Genesis comes from the Hebrew tradition and credits the Israelite God Yahweh for creation. Both see the cosmos as having a divine origin. Primordial Chaos There are similarities in…
Lois and Eunice are two women mentioned briefly in the New Testament of the Bible, but their influence is significant. Though not major biblical figures, they played an important role in the upbringing and spiritual development of Timothy, who became a leader in the early Christian church. Lois, Grandmother of Timothy Lois is identified as the grandmother of Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” This verse tells us three key things about Lois:…
In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus teaches his disciples about the importance of forgiveness. When Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, Jesus replies “seventy times seven.” This response emphasizes the boundlessness of forgiveness for the repentant. But what did Jesus really mean by “seventy times seven”? Let’s explore the meaning and significance of this phrase. The Context of Jesus’ Teaching Jesus shares the “seventy times seven” statement in response to Peter’s question: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21). Peter…
A love feast, also known as an agape feast, is a shared meal among Christians mentioned in the Bible. The term “love feast” comes from Jude 1:12 in the New Testament, which refers to “love feasts” in a figurative sense. Though the exact nature and purpose of these meals is debated, they seemed to be a way for early believers to come together, share food, and express their love and unity in Christ. Origins and History The love feast has its origins in the fellowship meals of the early church described in Acts 2:42-47. After Pentecost, the new community of…