Soaking prayer is a form of meditative prayer that involves quietly resting in God’s presence. The concept comes from verses such as Psalm 91:1 which says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” The idea is that as we rest and abide in God’s presence, we receive refreshment, renewal, and empowerment from Him. In soaking prayer, we quiet our minds and focus on the presence of God. We don’t necessarily bring requests or say anything – we just soak in His presence. It involves getting still before God and…
Author: Richard Curi
The book of 2 Corinthians is one of Paul’s letters written to the church in Corinth. It addresses several issues facing the Corinthian church and provides insight into Paul’s ministry. Here are some common questions people have about 2 Corinthians: Why did Paul write 2 Corinthians? Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to address concerns in the church at Corinth and defend his apostleship. After writing 1 Corinthians, Paul made another painful visit to Corinth where he encountered further opposition. He then wrote a stern letter expressing his grief and calling the church to repentance. 2 Corinthians is Paul’s follow-up letter after…
The Book of Acts, also known as The Acts of the Apostles, is an important book in the New Testament that chronicles the early history of the Christian church. Acts picks up where the Gospels leave off, following Jesus’ ascension into heaven. It tells the story of how the disciples carried out the Great Commission to spread the gospel message around the ancient Mediterranean world. Acts raises many fascinating questions for Bible readers today. Some key questions include: Who wrote the Book of Acts? The Book of Acts does not specifically name its author, but it is almost universally believed…
A Full Gospel church is a Christian church that emphasizes the fullness of the gospel message as revealed in the Bible. The term “Full Gospel” reflects the belief that the Holy Spirit is still actively working in the world through spiritual gifts, signs, wonders, and miracles. Full Gospel churches teach that the baptism of the Holy Spirit empowers believers for Christian ministry and service. They also place a strong emphasis on the experiential dimension of faith, not just intellectual assent to biblical doctrines. Core Beliefs Here are some of the core beliefs in Full Gospel churches: The Bible is the…
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most well-known and impactful stories that Jesus told during his ministry on earth. Recorded in Luke 15:11-32, this profound teaching provides incredible insight into the nature of God, the state of mankind, and the transforming power of redemption. The term “prodigal” means wastefully or recklessly extravagant. So in essence, this is a story about a young man who foolishly wastes his inheritance but eventually comes to his senses and returns home. The lessons encompassed in this parable have the power to change lives even today. The Story of the Prodigal…
Who wrote the book of Zephaniah? The book of Zephaniah identifies the author as Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah (Zephaniah 1:1). Zephaniah was a prophet who likely lived and prophesied in Judah during the reign of King Josiah, approximately between 640-609 BC. He traced his ancestry back four generations to King Hezekiah, indicating he was of royal blood. The name Zephaniah means “Yahweh has hidden” or “Yahweh protects” in Hebrew. Not much else is known about the prophet Zephaniah outside of the book that bears his name. When was the book of…
Can the return of Christ truly be said to be imminent? The return of Jesus Christ is one of the most anticipated events for Christians around the world. Many believers wonder if His second coming is imminent or could happen at any moment. What does the Bible have to say about the timing of Christ’s return? Definition of Imminent The word “imminent” means ready to take place, impending, or likely to occur at any moment. When we say Christ’s return is imminent, it gives the sense that He could come back very soon, suddenly, or without warning. Several key passages…
The question of whether Satan was the serpent that tempted Eve in Genesis chapter 3 is one that has been debated amongst biblical scholars for centuries. While the Bible does not explicitly identify the serpent as Satan, there are several clues throughout Scripture that strongly suggest they are one and the same. In Genesis 3, we read about the serpent who tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This serpent is described as the craftiest of all creatures (Genesis 3:1) and as one who speaks and reasons (Genesis 3:1-5). Yet serpents…
When we say that God is infinite, we are affirming that He possesses every perfection in an unlimited, unbounded, and eternal degree. God’s infinitude encompasses all of His attributes. There is no limit to His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, love, grace, mercy, and truth. The infinite nature of God is something that is crucial for us to understand because it impacts how we relate to Him and worship Him. God’s Eternal Nature One aspect of God’s infinitude is His eternality. God has no beginning and no end (Psalm 90:2). He exists outside the confines of time; in fact,…
The phrase “land of milk and honey” is used several times in the Bible to describe the land of Israel. This metaphorical description represents the agricultural abundance that God promised for the Israelites in the Promised Land. The first mention of this phrase is in Exodus 3:8, when God tells Moses that He will bring the Israelites “to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” It is repeated again in Exodus 3:17, Exodus 13:5, Exodus 33:3, Leviticus 20:24, Numbers 13:27, Numbers 14:8, Numbers 16:13-14, Deuteronomy 6:3, Deuteronomy 11:9, Deuteronomy 26:9, Deuteronomy 26:15, Deuteronomy 27:3, Deuteronomy…