A bar mitzvah is a coming of age ritual in Judaism where a Jewish boy becomes a man in the eyes of God and the community. The term “bar mitzvah” literally means “son of the commandment.” When a Jewish boy reaches the age of 13, he is considered accountable for fulfilling the commandments and religious rituals. This milestone is marked by a bar mitzvah ceremony and celebration. According to traditional Jewish law, when a boy comes of age at 13 years old, he becomes obligated to observe the 613 commandments of the Torah. He can now be counted as part…
Author: Matt Primack
Jeroboam was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the united kingdom split into the northern and southern kingdoms following the death of King Solomon. Jeroboam’s sin is a central theme discussed in 1 Kings starting in chapter 11. Jeroboam is described as leading the northern kingdom into idolatry and false worship by setting up golden calves for the people to worship instead of God. This article will examine in detail what Jeroboam’s sins were, the context around them, and the consequences. The Kingdom Divides After the death of King Solomon, his son Rehoboam became king. However,…
The return of Jesus Christ is one of the most anticipated events for Christians around the world. The Bible provides many details about Christ’s second coming, but it does not give an exact date or time. So is it possible to know when Jesus will return? Let’s explore what the Bible says. The Unknown Timing of Christ’s Return In Matthew 24:36, Jesus plainly states that no one knows the day or hour of His return: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” This shows that…
The Diatessaron is a synthesis of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) into a single narrative. It was created by Tatian, an early Christian apologist, in the 2nd century. The Diatessaron is important for several reasons: 1. It provides us an early harmonization of the four canonical Gospels. In compiling the Diatessaron, Tatian aimed to create one continuous narrative out of the four separate Gospel accounts. This shows that early Christians recognized the similarities and differences between the Gospels and sought to reconcile them into a unified story of Jesus. 2. It shows the importance of the four…
The Bible provides guidance on how churches should handle monetary offerings received from congregation members. Here is an overview of biblical principles on this topic: Offerings Should Support Gospel Work and Ministry A primary purpose of offerings is to support the work and ministry of the church in advancing the Gospel. Paul explains this in passages like Philippians 4:14-18, where he commends the Philippian church for supporting his missionary work through their financial gifts. Their offerings went towards advancing the Gospel through Paul’s ministry. Philippians 4:14-18 – Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians…
A prayer chain is a coordinated effort by a group of Christians to pray consistently for someone or something specific. The purpose is to unleash the power of focused, persistent prayer by getting many believers to pray over a period of time. Prayer chains are organized in different ways, but generally involve participants praying for the specified need and then passing the request along to ensure continuous prayer coverage. The concept of a prayer chain has biblical precedent. Jesus taught that there is power when two or three gather in his name to pray (Matthew 18:20). The early church devoted…
A Christian work ethic is centered around the principles and values taught in the Bible regarding work. At its core is the belief that work has inherent value and that Christians have a duty to work diligently while avoiding idleness. Key aspects of a Christian work ethic include: Work as Service to God The Bible teaches that whatever work we do, we should do it wholeheartedly as if serving the Lord rather than men (Colossians 3:23). Our work should be an act of worship to God. We honor and glorify Him through working diligently and doing quality work. Stewardship and…
Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important relationship any person can have. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). Here are some key principles from the Bible on how you can begin and grow in your relationship with Jesus: Repent and Believe The starting point is repentance and faith. Repentance means turning away from sin and turning to God. You need to acknowledge you are a sinner and confess your sins to God. The Bible says “If we confess our sins,…
Situationism refers to the theory that human behavior and actions are more influenced by external, situational factors than by internal traits or motivations. The key premise of situationism is that the context of a situation has a greater impact on behavior than personality or character. The roots of situationism can be traced back to the field of social psychology in the 1960s and 1970s. Early social psychology experiments by scholars like Stanley Milgram and Philip Zimbardo pointed to the power of context in shaping human actions. For example, in his famous prison experiment, Zimbardo found that random assignment of participants…
The question of how God’s sovereignty and human free will work together in salvation is a complex theological issue that has been debated for centuries. At the heart of the matter is an apparent paradox: If God is truly sovereign over all things, how can humans have free will to accept or reject His offer of salvation? And conversely, if humans have libertarian free will, how can God still be considered sovereign? There are various perspectives on how to reconcile these two truths, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. This article will provide an overview of the main views…