Martin Luther’s Small Catechism is a catechism, or a manual for teaching the basics of the Christian faith, that was written by Martin Luther in 1529. Luther wrote it to provide a simple way for parents to teach their children the core elements of the Christian faith. The Small Catechism condenses basic Christian teaching into short questions and answers related to the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the sacrament of Holy Baptism, Confession and the sacrament of the Eucharist. It’s considered one of the most influential and widely-used catechisms in the Lutheran tradition. Here is an overview…
Author: Nicole Sands
Jesus performed many miracles during his earthly ministry, as recorded in the four Gospels of the New Testament. These miraculous signs demonstrated Jesus’ divine nature and power as the Son of God. Here is an overview of some of the major miracles performed by Jesus: Turning water into wine (John 2:1-11) This was the first of Jesus’ miraculous signs, performed at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. When the wine ran out, Jesus instructed the servants to fill six stone water jars with water. When a servant drew from one of the jars, the water had been turned into…
Humor is an important part of the human experience. It can relieve stress, improve relationships, and provide perspective. Though the Bible speaks seriously about sin and salvation, it also contains some examples of humor and wit. Here are some Bible verses that touch on the topic of humor and laughter. Genesis 18:12-15 – Abraham and Sarah laugh at the promise of a child in old age In Genesis 18, three men (one of whom is the Lord) visit Abraham and Sarah to tell them that Sarah will have a son in her old age. Sarah laughs silently to herself at…
The Bible offers many verses that provide assurance and comfort to Christians. These verses remind believers of God’s promises, presence, and eternal salvation. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages about assurance: Assurance of Salvation One major area of assurance is salvation. Christians can be confident in their eternal security and relationship with God. Verses about this include: John 10:28 – “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” 1 John 5:13 – “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the…
The topic of luck is not directly addressed in the Bible. However, there are several biblical principles that relate to the idea of luck or chance. Here is an overview of some key points: God is sovereign The Bible emphasizes that God is sovereign over all things. Nothing happens outside of His divine will and purpose (Isaiah 46:10). This means that from a Christian perspective, there is no such thing as pure chance or luck that operates outside of God’s control and oversight. Proverbs 16:33 – The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the…
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown has sparked much interest and controversy since its publication in 2003. This fictional novel makes many claims about Christianity, Jesus, and the Bible that contradict what Scripture teaches. Here is a biblical look at some of the questions raised by The Da Vinci Code. Was Jesus married to Mary Magdalene? The Da Vinci Code claims that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and that they had a child together. However, the Bible never mentions Jesus being married or having children. As an observant Jew, it is likely Jesus would have been married, as…
Basil of Caesarea, also known as Saint Basil the Great, was an influential 4th century bishop and one of the Three Cappadocian Fathers of the early Christian Church. He made significant contributions to the development of doctrine, liturgy, and monasticism in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Here is an overview of Basil’s life and legacy: Basil was born around 329-330 AD in Caesarea, the capital of Cappadocia (in modern day Turkey). He came from a wealthy and pious Christian family. His grandmother Macrina, parents Basil the Elder and Emmelia, sister Macrina the Younger, and brothers Gregory of Nyssa and Peter of…
Christian Communication – What Are the Keys? Communication is a vital part of the Christian life. The Bible has much to say about how Christians should communicate with God and with each other. Here are some of the keys to biblical Christian communication: Listening Listening is an important part of communication that is often overlooked. James 1:19 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” Being quick to listen shows respect and love for the other person. It also helps us better understand them before responding. Being slow to…
The Bible has a lot to say about diversity and how we should approach differences among people. Here is an overview of some key Bible verses that speak to this topic: We are all made in God’s image Genesis 1:27 states “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” This verse establishes that all human beings, regardless of gender, ethnicity, social status, abilities, or any other factor, are made in the very image of God. This gives all people innate dignity and value. There is no…
Here is a 9000 word article on “What are some Bible verses about vanity?”: Vanity is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. Scripture warns against becoming vain, prideful, and arrogant. It cautions against seeking worldly things like riches, possessions, and outward beauty over pursuing righteousness, humility, and a relationship with God. There are many verses that touch on the topics of vanity, pride, arrogance, fleeting pleasures, and earthly things that do not last versus eternal things that have true value. In Ecclesiastes, written by King Solomon later in his life, the entire book focuses on the vanity and meaninglessness of…