Teamwork is an important concept in the Bible. Scripture emphasizes the value of people working together in unity and harmony to accomplish God’s purposes. Though the word “teamwork” itself does not appear in the Bible, there are many examples and principles regarding how God’s people are meant to collaborate with one another. Old Testament Examples of Teamwork In the Old Testament, we see many examples of people working together in teams to fulfill God’s plans: Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt – Moses had help from his brother Aaron and others to confront Pharaoh and guide the people through…
Author: Mike Solis
Neo-evangelicalism is a movement within evangelical Christianity that emerged in the mid-20th century. The term “neo-evangelical” was coined by Harold Ockenga in 1947 to distinguish a new movement within evangelicalism from the more fundamentalist-oriented evangelicalism of the early 20th century. Some key characteristics of neo-evangelicalism include: A desire to engage positively with society and culture, rather than separation from society as fundamentalists promoted. An openness to biblical criticism arising from scholarly study. A focus on the gospel and conversion as the means of reforming society. A spirit of cooperation among Christians of various traditions. Prominent early neo-evangelical leaders included Harold…
The Bible has a lot to say about religion, both positively and negatively. Here is an overview of some key Bible verses that discuss religion: Verses about true religion Several verses describe what “true religion” looks like in God’s eyes: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27) “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” (James 1:26) These verses emphasize that true religion involves…
Theophostic counseling is a form of Christian counseling developed in the 1990s by Dr. Ed Smith. It integrates psychology and theology to help people heal from emotional pain and trauma. The core premise of theophostic counseling is that people’s pain is rooted in lies they believe about God, themselves, and others. These lies are called “lie-based thinking.” Theophostic counseling aims to identify the root lies a person believes and replace them with truth from God’s Word. During a theophostic prayer ministry session, the counselor asks the client to focus on their pain and identify any associated memories or images. The…
Excellence is defined as the quality of being outstanding or extremely good. As Christians, God calls us to strive for excellence in everything we do. Here are some key Bible verses about excellence: Philippians 4:8 – Think about things that are excellent “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” This verse encourages us to fill our minds with excellence – to meditate and focus on things that are excellent, worthy of…
Arrogance is a sin that is warned against throughout Scripture. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages that address the topic of arrogance: Proverbs 8:13 “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” This verse explains that arrogance is something God hates. Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” This popular verse warns that pride and arrogance lead to downfall and destruction. Proverbs 29:23 “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.” Being humble and lowly is contrasted with…
Apollinarianism is a Christological heresy named after Apollinaris of Laodicea. It arose in the 4th century AD and was condemned as heretical at the First Council of Constantinople in 381. Background on Apollinaris and his Teachings Apollinaris was born in the first half of the 4th century and became bishop of Laodicea in Syria. He was a strong defender of Nicene orthodoxy against Arianism, which denied the full divinity of Christ. However, in his zeal to uphold Christ’s true deity, Apollinaris went too far in the other direction. Apollinaris taught that in Christ, the divine Logos or Word had taken…
Is ecumenism biblical? Ecumenism refers to the movement promoting unity and cooperation among different Christian denominations and churches. The key questions regarding ecumenism are: Does the Bible encourage or discourage ecumenism? Should churches seek to unite with one another? What are the benefits and concerns regarding ecumenism from a biblical perspective? This approximately 9,000 word article will explore what the Bible says about ecumenism. Unity of the Church The Bible places great emphasis on unity within the church. Jesus prayed for unity among believers: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me…
The Bible has a lot to say about itself and the importance of God’s word. Here are some key Bible verses about scripture: All Scripture is God-Breathed “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) This famous verse teaches that all scripture comes from God. Since it is inspired by God, it is useful for teaching, correcting, and training Christians to live righteous lives. Scripture is Truth “Sanctify them in the truth;…
Devotion is an important concept in the Bible that refers to one’s dedication and commitment to God. Here are some key Bible verses about devotion: Deuteronomy 6:5 – Loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (ESV) This famous verse emphasizes wholehearted devotion to God. We are called to love and serve Him with everything we have – our hearts, minds, and strength. Joshua 22:5 – Being careful to walk in God’s ways “Only be very careful to…