The Bible does not directly address the concept of subscribing or unsubscribing to a modern “Question of the Week” service. However, there are some biblical principles that can provide guidance when considering whether to continue or discontinue receiving regular content like this. On one hand, seeking knowledge and truth is viewed positively in Scripture. We are called to grow in wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 4:5-7). The Bereans were commended for eagerly examining the Scriptures daily to see if what they were taught was true (Acts 17:11). Paul instructs Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, teaching, and…
Author: Nicole Sands
The term “Semite” refers to people who are descended from Shem, one of the sons of Noah in the Old Testament. According to the Table of Nations in Genesis 10, the Semitic people groups descended from Shem include: – The Elamites – The Assyrians – The Lydians – The Arameans – The Hebrews – The Arabs – The Canaanites So in biblical times, the Semitic peoples were found primarily in the Middle East and included both Jews and Arabs. The term “anti-Semitic” today refers specifically to prejudice against Jewish people, but biblically the term Semite had a broader meaning. Shem…
The parting of the Red Sea is one of the most miraculous events recorded in the Bible. It demonstrates God’s power over nature and His desire to deliver His people from harm. This event is described in Exodus 14. The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for over 400 years. Through 10 plagues, God forced Pharaoh to let His people go. After the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally relented and let the Israelites leave Egypt. However, he soon regretted his decision and set out after them with his army (Exodus 14:5-9). With the Red Sea before them and Pharaoh’s army behind…
Heavy shepherding refers to authoritarian and controlling practices by church leaders who seek to exert excessive influence over members’ personal lives. The term arose in the 1970s to describe abusive and manipulative tactics employed by some leaders in Charismatic and Pentecostal churches. While all churches require a level of obedience and submission to authority, heavy shepherding goes beyond biblical standards and represents an imbalance of power. Heavy shepherds view members as spiritually immature and in need of their directives to grow in Christ. They insert themselves into private details like finances, relationships, vocation, and child rearing. Their oversight extends to…
Holy Saturday, also known as Easter Eve or Black Saturday, is the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It falls during Holy Week on the day before Easter. Holy Saturday commemorates the day that Jesus Christ’s body lay in the tomb after his death on Good Friday. It is a time of reflection and waiting in preparation for the joyful celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The Bible does not provide many details about what happened on the Saturday between Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. However, we can gain insight into the significance of Holy Saturday from the Scriptural…
What does it mean to have peace with God? Having peace with God is a profound and life-changing gift offered to us through Jesus Christ. At its core, it speaks to being reconciled and brought into right relationship with our Creator. When we have peace with God, we move from hostility and alienation to intimacy and acceptance. Several key aspects comprise this peace: We are forgiven of our sins Our biggest problem before God is our sin. Sin ruptures our relationship with Him. It provokes His righteous wrath and makes us deserving of judgment (Romans 1:18). But even while we…
Moloch was a god worshipped by the Ammonites and Canaanites in ancient times. The name Moloch is derived from the Hebrew word מלך (melek), meaning “king”. Moloch was associated with child sacrifice, a practice forbidden by God in the Bible. The worship of Moloch is condemned several times in Scripture. The first mention of Moloch is in Leviticus 18:21, where God commands the Israelites not to sacrifice their children to this pagan god: “You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.” Again in…
The phrase “live by the sword, die by the sword” originates from Matthew 26:52 in the Bible. Jesus says these words to Peter after Peter uses a sword to cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest who had come to arrest Jesus. The full verse reads: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.'” (Matthew 26:52 ESV). So what does it mean to “live by the sword and die by the sword”? Let’s explore this concept more fully. Living by the…
Holy Days of Obligation are important feast days in the Catholic liturgical calendar on which Catholics are required to attend Mass and refrain from unnecessary servile work. Failure to attend Mass on these days is considered a grave sin unless one has a good reason for being absent, such as illness or travel. The purpose of Holy Days of Obligation is for the faithful to set aside time to commemorate and worship on the most significant days of the liturgical year. There are 6 Holy Days of Obligation in the universal Catholic Church calendar. However, the number varies by country…
Christian fellowship is vitally important for followers of Jesus Christ. At its core, Christian fellowship is about believers coming together to share their lives with one another and to mutually encourage each other in faith. Through fellowship, Christians experience the Lord’s presence in a powerful way (Matthew 18:20) and live out the biblical call to love one another (John 13:34-35). Here are some key reasons why fellowship is so important for Christians: 1. Fellowship helps us grow spiritually When Christians gather together and open God’s Word, they are able to learn from one another and sharpen each other spiritually (Proverbs…