The end times refer to the final period of human history before the return of Jesus Christ. While the exact timeline is unknown, the Bible provides many details about the events that will take place leading up to and during this time. Here is an overview of the key events described in Scripture that will unfold during the end times: The Rapture The rapture refers to the event where believers in Christ will be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). At this time, Christians who have died and those still living will receive their…
Author: Nicole Sands
Pride Month presents a challenging issue for Christians who want to balance biblical truth with Christ-like compassion. Here is a 9000-word exploration of what the Bible teaches about human sexuality and how Christians can respond to Pride Month in a way that honors God and loves people. The Bible’s View of Human Sexuality The Bible lays out God’s design for human sexuality in the creation account in Genesis and in teachings throughout Scripture. God created people male and female and instituted marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 1:27-28, 2:24). The Bible celebrates the good of sexual intimacy within…
The Bible does not specifically mention “holy water” as we think of it today – water that has been blessed by a priest or minister for use in religious ceremonies and rituals. However, there are some passages in Scripture that refer to the symbolic use of water for cleansing and purification. Water for ritual cleansing in the Old Testament In the Old Testament, water was used for ritual cleansing and purification. The priests used water to wash themselves and sacred objects before entering the tabernacle or temple to make sacrifices (Exodus 30:18-21). Water mixed with the ashes of a red…
The phrase “groaned in the spirit” appears in John 11:33 in the English Standard Version of the Bible, which reads: “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.” This verse describes Jesus’ emotional reaction upon seeing Mary and the other mourners weeping over the death of Lazarus. But what exactly does it mean that Jesus “groaned in the spirit”? A few key points help explain this phrase. First, the Greek word translated as “groaned” is embrimaomai, which means to express strong emotion, often…
Holding grudges and refusing to forgive others is a common struggle that many Christians face. The Bible has a lot to say about how damaging grudges can be and why we must let go of them. Here is an overview of some key biblical principles on grudges: Grudges Are Sinful and Displease God Throughout Scripture, God makes it clear that refusing to forgive others is sinful. Jesus said, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).…
The role of associate or assistant pastor is not directly addressed in the Bible. However, there are some principles and responsibilities that can be gleaned from Scripture to help define this position in the church. Biblical Qualifications for Church Leaders While the Bible does not specifically describe the role of an associate/assistant pastor, it does lay out qualifications for those in church leadership positions. These would apply to anyone serving in a pastoral role, whether lead pastor or associate: Above reproach – lives a blameless life (1 Timothy 3:2) Husband of one wife – faithful spouse (1 Timothy 3:2) Sober-minded…
This is a question that many Christian couples wrestle with. On one hand, sex within marriage is a gift from God and an important part of marital intimacy. On the other hand, there are Old Testament ceremonial laws that prohibited sex during a woman’s menstrual period. So what guidance does the Bible offer on this topic? Old Testament Ceremonial Laws In the Old Testament, there were a number of ceremonial laws given to the Israelites that governed many aspects of everyday life. Several of these laws pertained to ritual cleanliness and purification after events that were considered ceremonially “unclean.” These…
James 1:15 states, “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.” This verse teaches us that sin leads to death. Let’s break it down step-by-step: 1. Desire Sin starts with desire. We all have natural desires within us, such as the desire for food when we’re hungry or the desire for relationships. These desires are not inherently sinful. However, some desires can lead us into sin if we let them control us or pursue them in the wrong way. For example, the desire for money can lead…
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is undoubtedly one of the most important events in human history. Christians believe that Jesus literally and physically rose from the dead after being crucified, buried, and lying in the tomb for three days. This event is central to the Christian faith and has massive implications if true. But is there good evidence to support the resurrection actually happened? Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says about this pivotal moment. Jesus Clearly Predicted His Resurrection In all four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – Jesus plainly predicted that after being…
Being spiritually lost refers to someone who does not have a relationship with God or an understanding of His truth. The Bible clearly teaches that every human being is born into spiritual lostness and needs to be reconciled to God. Here are some key things the Bible says about being spiritually lost: 1. We are all born spiritually lost The Bible teaches that ever since the fall of man into sin (Genesis 3), every human being is conceived and born in a state of spiritual lostness: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive…