Teaching is an important theme throughout the Bible. God calls certain people to be teachers to share His truth and disciple others. The Bible offers much wisdom about the qualities of a good teacher, the responsibilities of teaching, and why teaching God’s word is so vital. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical principles related to teaching: The Role of Teachers In the Old Testament, God set apart the tribe of Levi to be teachers of His law and truth (Deuteronomy 33:10). In the New Testament, the gift of teaching is one of the gifts of the…
Author: Kerry Baysinger
On the fourth day of our study of the Christmas story, we will focus on the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ as described in the Gospels. We will look at Luke 2:1-7 which describes Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, and his being laid in a manger. Luke 2:1-7 states: “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up…
Christmas Story – Day 3 On the third day of the Christmas story, we read about the shepherds in the fields who were visited by angels announcing the birth of Jesus. This is found in Luke 2:8-20. The passage tells us there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all…
The concept of subjective truth is the idea that truth is based on an individual’s perspective, feelings, or opinions. In other words, a subjective truth is a truth that is true for one person but may not be true for others. This differs from objective truth, which is factual information that is true regardless of personal opinion or interpretation. The Bible does not explicitly use the term “subjective truth,” but it does address the concept in various ways. Here are some key biblical principles related to subjective truth: Truth Originates from God The Bible teaches that absolute truth exists and…
The Bible provides clear warnings about the dangers of making any kind of deal with Satan or his demonic forces. Scripture makes it clear that the devil seeks to deceive, destroy, and dominate – but believers in Christ have victory through faith in Him. Here are some key biblical principles on this topic: The Devil is Real and Seeks to Destroy The Bible affirms the reality of Satan, a fallen angel who rebelled against God (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19). He seeks to tempt people into sin and rebellion against God (1 Peter 5:8). The devil opposes God’s work and seeks…
The story of the stones of remembrance in Joshua 4:9 offers rich insight into God’s workings and purposes for His people. After crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land, Joshua commanded one man from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to take a stone from the middle of the Jordan, where the priests had stood with the Ark of the Covenant, and carry it to the place where they would camp that night (Joshua 4:1-3). Joshua told them: “When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them…
The topic of predetermination, or predestination, is debated amongst Christians. At the core of the debate is whether God has predetermined all events and individuals’ destinies ahead of time or if humans have free will to make their own choices. There are verses in the Bible that can support both perspectives. Ultimately, there is mystery around how God’s sovereignty and human free will interact. Some key Bible verses often cited regarding predetermination include: Ephesians 1:4-5 – “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love…
Epaphras was an important figure in the early Christian church. Though he is mentioned only a few times in the New Testament, the references to him indicate that he played a significant role in the spread of the gospel. The name Epaphras is a shortened form of Epaphroditus, which means “lovely” or “charming” in Greek. He was a resident of Colossae, a city in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and was likely converted to Christianity by Paul during the apostle’s three-year ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19:10). Paul first mentions Epaphras in his letter to the Colossians, when he refers to…
Vanity is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. Scripture warns against vanity and pride, which are closely related sins. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages that address vanity: Vanity of earthly treasures and pleasures The book of Ecclesiastes, written by King Solomon, contains many reflections on the vanity of earthly life and pursuits apart from God. Solomon had immense wealth and power, but realized these things were meaningless without a right relationship with God. “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity…
Confessionalism and conversionism are two important concepts in Christian theology that deal with how people relate to God and find salvation. At a basic level, confessionalism emphasizes adherence to specific doctrines and creeds, while conversionism focuses on a personal experience of conversion. Confessionalism arises from the belief that the Christian faith rests upon certain foundational truths that are laid out in the creeds and confessions of the church. The three early ecumenical creeds – the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed – are seen as summarizing the core doctrines of Christianity. Various Protestant denominations also have specific…