God desires to make Himself known to humanity. As it says in Jeremiah 9:24, God wants us to know Him for who He truly is. Throughout history, God has revealed Himself in many ways so that we can know Him, experience His presence, and live in relationship with Him. Through Creation One of the most basic ways God reveals Himself is through the natural world He created. Psalms 19:1 declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” When we observe the intricacies of nature, the vastness of the universe, and the beauty of…
Author: Nicole Sands
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. With over 3.3 million members in more than 8,900 congregations across the 50 states and Caribbean region, the ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States. The ELCA came into existence in 1988 through a merger of three Lutheran church bodies – the American Lutheran Church (ALC), the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC) and the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). Each of these predecessor churches traced their roots back to European immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries.…
Being bold and courageous is an important theme in the Bible. Here are some key Bible verses about boldness: Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” This verse comes from when Joshua was commanded by God to lead the Israelites into the promised land after the death of Moses. God encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous because He would be with him. Proverbs 28:1 “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are…
The prophecy of 1,260 days in the book of Revelation has been the source of much discussion and debate among Bible scholars. It is mentioned several times in Revelation in reference to the activities and persecution of God’s people by an evil power. Here is an overview of the key points regarding this important prophetic time period: The 1,260 Days in Revelation 11 In Revelation 11:2-3, the holy city (representing God’s people) is given over to be trampled by the nations (representing oppressive powers) for 42 months. Using the biblical reckoning of 30 days per month, 42 months equals 1,260…
Jude was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and the traditional author of the Epistle of Jude in the New Testament. He is often referred to as Jude Thaddeus to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot, another disciple who betrayed Jesus. The name Jude means “praise” in Hebrew. He was also called Thaddeus, meaning “courageous heart.” Not much is known about Jude’s background except that he was the son of another disciple – James, the brother of Jesus. Jude and James were biological brothers, while the other disciples were brothers in a spiritual sense as followers of Christ. Jude…
The identity of the “Servant of the Lord” is one of the most debated topics in biblical studies. This mysterious figure is mentioned several times in the book of Isaiah, particularly in chapters 42-53. Interpretations vary widely on who exactly this servant represents. Some see the servant as symbolizing the nation of Israel, others view him as a prophecy about the coming Messiah, and still others argue he refers to actual historical figures like the prophet Isaiah himself. Let’s explore the main views on the identity of the Servant of the Lord: 1. The Servant represents Israel One of the…
Mid-Acts dispensationalism is a theological framework for understanding the Bible that sees a distinction between God’s plans for Israel and the church. The “mid-Acts” refers to the view that the dispensation or administration changed in the middle of the book of Acts, specifically with the apostle Paul’s conversion in Acts 9. Here are some key points about mid-Acts dispensationalism: It sees God as having two distinct plans – one for Israel and one for the church. The dispensation changed from the age of Law to the age of Grace in Acts 9 with Paul’s conversion. Paul receives new revelation from…
The “Name It and Claim It” teaching, also known as the prosperity gospel or health and wealth gospel, is a controversial doctrine within Christianity. It essentially teaches that believers can claim or declare health, wealth, and other blessings by speaking them into existence through positive confessions of faith. But is this teaching biblical? There are several key aspects of the “Name It and Claim It” doctrine that run counter to Scripture: 1. Overemphasis on Material Blessings The prosperity gospel puts a heavy emphasis on obtaining material blessings like financial prosperity, physical health and wellness, and other tangible rewards in this…
Conflict is inevitable in human relationships. Even among believers, disagreements and disputes happen. As Christians, how should we handle conflict when it arises? The Bible provides much wisdom and guidance on resolving conflicts in a godly manner. Overarching Principles for Conflict Resolution Here are some key biblical principles for dealing with conflict: Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19-20). Seek to understand before making judgments. Treat others as you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). Be respectful and thoughtful. Look out for others’ interests, not just your own (Philippians 2:4). Be willing to compromise.…
Warfare prayer is a form of intercessory prayer that involves praying against evil forces and strongholds that are seen as influencing people, situations, and places. The concept comes from passages in the Bible that talk about spiritual warfare and the weapons of warfare that believers have to fight against spiritual forces of darkness. The goal of warfare prayer is to break down strongholds of the enemy and take authority over anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and His purposes (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). It’s praying with authority against demonic influences, accusations, thoughts, sickness – anything that is in…