The book of Acts provides a beautiful picture of the early church walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Acts 9:31 states, “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” This verse comes after the conversion of Saul, who had been persecuting the church. His dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus radically changed him, and he went from persecuting Christians to preaching the…
Author: Matt Primack
The Bible has a lot to say about setting goals and living purposefully. Here are some key biblical principles about setting goals: 1. Seek God’s will and guidance As Christians, our top priority should be seeking God’s will for our lives (Matthew 6:33). Before setting any goals, we need to spend time in prayer and Bible study, asking God to guide us and reveal His purposes for us (Proverbs 3:5-6). God may direct us toward goals we would never think of ourselves! 2. Set goals in line with biblical values Our goals should align with godly principles and values found…
Joshua was one of the most important figures in the Old Testament. He was the successor to Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land after their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Here are some common questions people have about Joshua: What was Joshua’s background before becoming leader? Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:8). He was born in Egypt prior to the Exodus. As a young man, Joshua was chosen by Moses to be one of the 12 spies to explore the Promised Land (Numbers 13:16). Joshua and Caleb were the only two spies…
Here is a 9000 word article on the story of Abner and Joab: Abner and Joab were two military commanders who played significant roles during the reigns of King Saul and King David in the Old Testament. Abner was Saul’s cousin and the commander of his army. Joab was one of David’s nephews and became the commander of David’s army. The story of Abner and Joab is marked by rivalry, betrayal, and ultimately murder. Abner first appears in the biblical account as the commander of Saul’s army fighting against the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:50). He led Saul’s forces for many…
Numbers are prevalent throughout the Bible and often have deeper symbolic meanings beyond their quantitative values. Here are some common questions people have about numbers in the Bible: What is the significance of the number 7? The number 7 appears over 700 times in the Bible and signifies completion, perfection, and God’s work. God rested on the 7th day after creating the world in 6 days (Genesis 2:2). Every 7th year was a sabbath year for the land to rest (Leviticus 25:4). The 7 seals, trumpets, and bowls represent God’s judgment being completed in Revelation. The number 7 signifies the…
The question of whether Jesus is alive or not is central to the Christian faith. The Bible, which Christians consider to be the authoritative Word of God, has much to say about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and his continued life and lordship after his crucifixion. Here is an overview of the key biblical evidence for Jesus being alive today. Jesus Predicted His Death and Resurrection During his earthly ministry, Jesus made repeated predictions that he would be killed but would rise again to life. For example: “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he…
The Jebusites were an ancient Canaanite people group that inhabited Jerusalem prior to it being conquered by King David and the Israelites. Here is a 9000 word overview of who the Jebusites were according to the Bible: Origins and Identity The Jebusites were descended from Canaan, the son of Ham and grandson of Noah (Genesis 10:15-16). After the flood, Noah cursed Canaan for Ham’s sin, declaring “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers” (Genesis 9:25). This set the stage for the later conquest of Canaan by the Israelites. The Jebusites settled in the land…
The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to worship false idols is found in Daniel 3. These three young Hebrew men were appointed by King Nebuchadnezzar to govern the province of Babylon. When the king constructed a massive golden image and demanded that all worship it, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused. In his rage, Nebuchadnezzar ordered that they be thrown into a blazing furnace. As the three were being tied up to be thrown into the furnace, King Nebuchadnezzar taunted them, saying, “What god will be able to deliver you out of…
Religiosity refers to the numerous aspects of religious activity, dedication, and belief. It encompasses behaviors, practices, and beliefs related to religion. Religiosity is a multidimensional concept that includes various dimensions like religious affiliations, frequency of prayer, attendance of religious services, adherence to religious doctrines and texts, and more. Understanding religiosity provides insights into the role and significance of religion in an individual’s life. Dimensions of Religiosity Religiosity is a complex phenomenon with multiple dimensions. Here are some of the key dimensions: Religious Affiliation This refers to an individual’s identification with a particular religious tradition or denomination. Religious affiliations provide a…
David, the second king of Israel, had a group of mighty warriors who helped him unite and expand the kingdom of Israel. These “mighty men” were skilled fighters and leaders in David’s army. The Bible provides some background on who these men were and their feats of valor. There are three main lists of David’s mighty men found in 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11-12. The lists are not identical, containing some different names and details. Based on these lists, some of the key mighty men of David included: Jashobeam – He was chief of the officers under David…