The Bible provides detailed information about where Jesus lived during His time on earth. Though Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He spent most of His life in Nazareth and Capernaum, with significant ministry travels throughout Galilee, Judea, and surrounding regions. Bethlehem Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a small town about six miles southwest of Jerusalem. Bethlehem was the hometown of Jesus’ earthly parents, Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:4-7). The prophet Micah had foretold around 700 years earlier that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Mary and Joseph had traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register for a…
Author: Tim Collings
A sin tax is a tax imposed on goods or services that are seen as vices, such as alcohol, tobacco, gambling, drugs, and pornography. The purpose of sin taxes is to discourage consumption of these products, while also raising revenue for the government. Sin taxes have a long history, dating back hundreds of years, and remain controversial today. The Bible does not explicitly mention sin taxes, as they are a modern policy tool. However, the Bible does speak extensively about sins, vices, greed, and the proper role of government. An examination of these biblical principles can inform Christian views on…
The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ are two separate end times events described in the Bible. Though sometimes confused, they are distinct and occur at different times. The Rapture The Rapture refers to the event where Jesus Christ will descend from heaven and take believers up to meet him in the air. As Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV): “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we…
A psalm is a sacred song or hymn, in particular any of those contained in the biblical Book of Psalms. The Book of Psalms is a collection of 150 songs and poems written to God. David penned about half of them, likely compiling his and others’ songs into a unified hymnal. Psalms represents the outpouring of the hearts of men to their Creator. The Book of Psalms contains some of the most beloved passages of Scripture. Within its pages lie hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. The book of Psalms has been designed to be the prayer book of God’s…
In 1 Timothy 1:19-20, Paul mentions Hymenaeus and Alexander as two people who had “made shipwreck” of their faith. Let’s take a closer look at who these men were and what it meant that their faith was shipwrecked. Who Was Hymenaeus? Hymenaeus was a false teacher who is mentioned twice in the New Testament letters of 1 & 2 Timothy. His name indicates that he was likely Greek. The first reference to Hymenaeus is in 1 Timothy 1:19-20, where Paul says he had “handed over to Satan” Hymenaeus and Alexander so that they would be taught not to blaspheme. This…
The Bible has a great deal to say about women, their roles, and their rights. There are various perspectives on how the Bible’s teachings should be interpreted and applied today when it comes to women’s rights. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical passages and themes related to this complex topic. Equality in Creation The first chapters of Genesis teach that God created both men and women in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). This affirms the fundamental equality and dignity of both genders. Woman was created as a “helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18), suggesting mutual…
Who is Steven Furtick, and are his teachings biblical? Steven Furtick is an American pastor and songwriter who founded Elevation Church based in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2006. He was born on February 19, 1980 in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. He is married to Holly Furtick and they have three children together. Furtick earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications from North Greenville University and a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. After college, he moved to Charlotte and started Elevation Church with just 8 families in attendance. The church has since grown to over 20,000 members across…
The Bible does not prescribe one specific structure or model for how the church should be organized. However, it does provide some guidance and principles for thinking about church leadership and governance. Here are some of the main things the Bible teaches about church structure: Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church The New Testament makes it clear that Christ himself is the supreme leader and authority over the church. Ephesians 1:22-23 says God has put all things under Christ’s feet and gave him as head over all things to the church. And Colossians 1:18 calls Christ the “head…
The story of Esther in the Bible contains many examples of courage, wisdom, and faith. One of the most famous lines from the book of Esther is when Esther resolves to approach the king unsummoned, saying “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). This line reveals much about Esther’s character and the significance of her decision. To understand the significance of this statement, it is important to know the context. Esther was a Jewish woman living in Persia, married to the Persian king Ahasuerus. When Haman, one of the king’s officials, plotted to destroy all the Jews in Persia, Esther’s…
A sin offering in the Bible was a sacrifice made to atone for unintentional sins committed by individuals or the community as a whole. It was one of several types of sacrifices prescribed by God in the Old Testament law to deal with different kinds of sins and impurities. The purpose of the sin offering was to purify people and objects from defilement associated with sin. By sacrificing an animal as a substitute, the sinner symbolically transferred their guilt onto the animal, which was then killed. The blood of the animal was sprinkled or smeared on the altar to make…