The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement emerged in 2013 following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The movement grew significantly in 2020 after the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others at the hands of police. This led many Christians to ask: How should we view the BLM movement from a biblical perspective? At its core, BLM advocates for racial justice and bringing attention to racism and inequality. As Christians, the Bible compels us to care about justice and defend the oppressed. God tells us “to act justly and to love mercy and…
Author: Nicole Sands
Church membership is an important topic for Christians to understand from a biblical perspective. While the Bible does not explicitly command formal church membership, it does speak to the importance of Christians being committed members of a local church body. Here are some key reasons why church membership matters: 1. Church Membership Reflects our Commitment to Christ When we become Christians, we become part of the universal church, the global body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). However, we are also called to be active participants in a local church. Joining a church demonstrates our commitment to living out our faith…
The statement “If I be lifted up” is found in John 12:32, which says “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” This statement was made by Jesus towards the end of His earthly ministry as He was preparing for His crucifixion. But what exactly did He mean by “If I be lifted up”? There are a few key things to understand from this verse: Jesus is referring to His death on the cross. The phrase “lifted up” refers to being lifted up on a cross for crucifixion. This is made clear…
The concept of a “spirit animal” has become popular in modern culture, often referring to an animal that a person feels closely connected to or sees as representing some aspect of their personality. However, the idea of spirit animals originates in the religious beliefs and practices of certain indigenous cultures. In these traditional contexts, a spirit animal was an animal believed to spiritually guide and protect a person. The Bible does not explicitly discuss the idea of spirit animals. However, there are some principles and concepts that can provide insight from a biblical perspective. Here is an overview of what…
The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by over 40 authors over a span of 1500 years. It contains many different genres and styles of writing, yet has one overarching story and message – God’s redemption plan for humanity through his son Jesus Christ. So is Jesus, the Messiah, present in some way in every book of the Bible? The short answer is yes! Here is a high-level overview of how Jesus is foreshadowed, prophesied, or proclaimed in every book of the Bible: Old Testament Genesis – God promises that the seed of woman will crush the head…
The phrase “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” comes from Matthew 3:8, where John the Baptist is preaching to the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to see him. It’s an important verse that sheds light on what true repentance looks like according to the Bible. To understand this verse fully, it’s helpful to look at the broader context. In Matthew 3, John the Baptist is preaching in the wilderness of Judea, calling people to repent and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. Many people came out to see John and be baptized by him as they confessed their sins…
The phrase “you were bought with a price” appears twice in the New Testament – in 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23. In both instances, the apostle Paul is reminding believers that they belong to God, having been purchased by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Here is a detailed explanation of the meaning behind this important biblical truth. The Price That Was Paid In 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23, Paul states that we as believers were “bought with a price.” This is a reference to the supreme price paid for our salvation – the blood of Jesus…
A covenant is a formal agreement or promise between two parties that establishes a relationship and stipulates the conditions of that relationship. In the Bible, the Hebrew word for covenant is “berith” and the Greek word is “diatheke”. Covenants play a central role in the biblical narrative as God enters into covenants with individuals and groups to establish relationships and outline responsibilities. There are several important covenants mentioned in the Bible: – The Noahic Covenant: God’s covenant with Noah after the flood to never again destroy the earth. This covenant is unconditional and everlasting (Genesis 9:8-17). – The Abrahamic Covenant:…
Many people think that following Jesus and living the Christian life must be incredibly dull and boring. After all, Christians are expected to avoid common vices like excessive drinking, casual sex, and wild partying. Doesn’t that mean giving up all the fun in life? While the Christian life does require sacrificing some worldly pleasures, the truth is that it opens us up to a deeper and more satisfying kind of joy. The Bible makes it clear that walking with God leads to an abundant, vibrant life filled with meaning and purpose. Here are a few reasons why the Christian life…
Ecclesiology is the study of the Christian church. The word comes from the Greek ekklesia meaning “assembly” and logos meaning “word” or “study.” As a field of theology, ecclesiology looks at the origins, nature, structure, and mission of the church. Some key topics in ecclesiology include: The Nature of the Church The Bible uses several images and metaphors to describe the nature of the church: – The body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) – The church is the living, breathing manifestation of Jesus on earth empowered by his Spirit. – The temple/building of God (1 Corinthians 3:9, Ephesians 2:19-22) -…