The “fear of God” is a concept that appears numerous times throughout the Bible. At its core, fearing God means having a reverence and awe for who God is—his power, majesty, holiness, and sovereignty over all creation. It goes beyond simply believing in God’s existence to living one’s life in light of who He is and what He desires for us. Scripture describes both positive and negative aspects to the fear of the Lord. On the positive side, fearing God leads to wisdom and right living. Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and…
Author: Tim Collings
The verse in Genesis 1:2 that describes the earth as “without form and void” has been the subject of much discussion and debate among biblical scholars. Let’s take a closer look at this cryptic phrase and what it might mean in the context of creation. The Passage in Context Genesis 1:2 reads: “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” This verse comes right after Genesis 1:1 which declares “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”…
Cowboy churches are a relatively new phenomenon in American Christianity, emerging in the late 20th century as a way to reach out to rural and ranching communities. The name comes from their intention to provide a church home for cowboys and ranchers who may feel uncomfortable in a traditional church setting. Here’s an overview of what cowboy churches are all about: History and Origins The first cowboy church was founded in the 1990s by a Texas Baptist minister named Cecil Murphy. Murphy had a heart for rural families and ranchers who often missed Sunday service due to the demands of…
Divorce has become increasingly common in our society, with some studies estimating that nearly 50% of all marriages end in divorce. This statistic is often cited as evidence that divorce rates do not differ significantly between Christians and non-Christians. However, a closer examination of the data reveals a more nuanced picture. There are several factors that contribute to higher divorce rates among Christians: Cultural acceptance of divorce. As divorce has become more socially acceptable, Christians have not been immune to these shifting attitudes. Marrying young. Christians tend to marry at a younger age, which is associated with higher divorce risks.…
The topic of judging others is a sensitive one. On one hand, Jesus clearly teaches us “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). Yet in John 7:24, He also says, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with righteous judgment.” At first glance these verses seem contradictory, but a deeper look reveals important principles for understanding how we can judge righteously. What does it mean to judge? First, we must understand what Jesus means by “judge.” The word translated “judge” comes from the Greek word krino, meaning to separate, select, choose, determine, or judge. It can have either…
Christian theology is the study of Christian belief and practice. It aims to understand, organize, defend, and apply the teachings of the Bible concerning God, Jesus Christ, salvation, ethics, and other core beliefs and practices of the Christian faith. Here is an overview of some key topics in Christian theology: Doctrine of God Christian theology upholds belief in one God who exists eternally as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is known as the doctrine of the Trinity. God the Father is the creator and sustainer of all things (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16-17). The Son is Jesus Christ,…
The phrase “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” is commonly associated with Christian funeral services and burials. However, this exact wording does not appear verbatim in the Bible. The phrase loosely paraphrases certain biblical passages that describe human mortality and the cycle of life and death. The concept behind “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” is that human beings are created from dust and return to dust upon death. As Genesis 3:19 states, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are…
YouVersion is a free Bible app that allows people to read, listen to, study, and share the Bible. Developed by Life.Church, YouVersion aims to make the Bible accessible and engaging for people around the world. Here are some key things to know about YouVersion: Accessibility One of the main goals of YouVersion is to make the Bible available to anyone with a smartphone or tablet. The app can be downloaded for free on iOS and Android devices. This allows people to carry the Bible with them wherever they go. YouVersion is available in over 1,700 languages, enabling people to read…
The Bible addresses many crucial questions that people have about life, God, and eternity. Here are some of the key questions the Bible provides insight on: Does God Exist? The Bible affirms that God does indeed exist. Scripture points to evidence of God’s existence through creation (Psalm 19:1), conscience (Romans 2:15), and Christ Himself (John 1:1, 14). The Bible also makes it clear that God desires for us to know Him (Jeremiah 9:24). Faith in God is reasonable and rational. Why Does Evil Exist? The Bible teaches that evil entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve (Genesis…
The name Chloe appears only once in the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 1:11, where Paul mentions that some in the church at Corinth reported to him that there were quarrels among them. Specifically, Paul writes “For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.” From this brief mention, we can gather a few details about Chloe: She was likely a believer in Christ and part of the early Christian church at Corinth. She had “people” or servants who traveled to visit Paul, likely in Ephesus where he was at the time.…