you choose Q: is Jesus' birth or death most important?
Q: Which is most important to believers in Jesus, the birth of Christ or the death of Christ? —Nkeh
A: That Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas and commemorate Good Friday tells us that both the birth and death of Christ are important events of our Christian faith, neither of which is more important than the other. For both are…
God’s love
Seventeen-year-old Chris sits on the sofa looking sullen. His father tries to reason with him and tells him with tears that he’s greatly grieved with him. Chris’ dad feels wounded by the ingratitude he’s received, even after lovingly caring for his son. In response, the boy snorts, “Really? Prove it!”
Sound absurd? Well, take a look at Malachi 1. The…
forgiveness at the cross
2 Peter 3:9: The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
When was the last time you heard a sermon that was centered on the "Cross of Christ?" Anytime I think about the love of God…
forgetting
The river bulkhead where the Augusta Canal and Savannah River meet is one of the most scenic places to go in our hometown. Swirling in giant eddies, the canal moves from placid to turbulent as it flows against the foundation of the canal works. One day as a friend and I took our children walking there, I tossed a rock…
crossing over
John 10:34-39: Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods, why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’?…
google and grace
"For the Internet that brings connection has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘Yes’ to YouTube and Facebook, and to live me-controlled, self-indulgent and quick-fix lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed ‘beep’—the glorious appearing of our friend on MSN.”
When a friend created this quote, by replacing some words in the NIV…
for me?
Upon the cross He took the sin;
paid the debt,
For me?
Upon the cross He took the pain;
He conquered death.
For me?
Upon the cross He took the anguish;
He endured separation, alone.
For me?
Torment followed Him,
Hopelessness mocked Him,
Judgment nailed Him,
Love kept Him there.
For me? For all.
—submitted by Diane Billing, US
…
good friday
1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 25: “I pass on to you what I received from the Lord Himself. On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and said, ‘This is My body, which is given for you. Do this to remember Me.’ In…
adrenaline for the soul
Using contemporary language, while attempting to capture the depth and vitality of the original words that moved and inspired early believers in Jesus, Eugene Peterson translated Hebrews 12:2-3 this way: Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating…
comfort
Isaiah 40: 1 - 5, “Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.” Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight…
Jesus is risen
I have recently started painting and I have made a series of my own impressions of the Easter story using just oil pastels on paper. This painting is one of them. “He is risen” represents the words of the angel who was at Jesus’ empty tomb (Matthew 28:6). The white cross has its form, but it has no substance, signifying…
two trees
Genesis 2:9: “The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden He placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
Did you know that the Bible says that God surrounds Himself in thick darkness? This might…
Lover of your soul
"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us…
the spirit, the kingdom
One of the many juggling acts parents perform is deciding when to give information to their children. If I know a trip or a family fun time is on the horizon, I want to tell our boys early enough so they can enjoy the anticipation. If I tell them too soon, however, their agony of waiting (and my agony caused…
resolved
Checking the texting inbox on my phone, I understood my friend’s frustration when I read her message: “I am sick of unresolved conflict!! I can’t take it anymore!” Ironically, our Bible study the night before had been on peace. As I thought about her situation—and some of my own—I was reminded how easily conflict can arise and how difficult resolution…
