The King James Version is a good translation that's stood the test of time. But how should we understand the many modern translations that have been released in recent years? Are they more reliable or have they corrupted the Word of God?
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Many see Revelation as a book of secrets that magically point to current events and signal what is about to take place in the geopolitics of our day. But the Book of Revelation tells us how it’s to be read, and if we would just follow its directions, we would benefit from the book and better understand its message. We still might not agree on all of the details, but we would be a lot closer, and we would have a common basis for our discussions.
When people think of church, they think of buildings and sermons, choirs and sacraments. But beneath the surface, the church has a hidden strategy that is the real power of the church. It’s spelled out in a leadership plan that’s given in the apostle Paul’s letter to a pastor named Timothy. Consider where you fit in the plan.
Even Christians who believe in God tend to see the Christian life in mostly secular terms. We acknowledge God but don’t think very often about evil spiritual forces. Satan has been caricatured so often that we’re a little embarrassed to even mention him. But that leaves us both vulnerable and confused. The Bible’s teaching about the armour of God helps correct our tendency toward seeing the world through secular lenses.
The Book of Acts reads like a novel. There’s drama, intrigue, death plots, and shipwrecks. The ending is disappointing though, right? As the book ends, Paul is under house arrest, awaiting a verdict from the emperor regarding false charges. But there’s no resolution. Not only is there no happily ever after but there isn’t even a conclusion to Paul’s story. Have you ever considered why?
[Please note: Due to technical difficulties, a video could not be recorded again this week.]
Have you read “The Legend of Jesus”? In it, Jesus doesn’t get tired, and He doesn’t rest by the well in Samaria or fall asleep in the boat. The crowds don’t turn away from Him, and the disciples just seem to get it. They don’t keep dozing off in the garden when Jesus asks them to pray. And Peter certainly doesn’t cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant or deny that he’s one of Jesus’ followers. In “The Legend of Jesus,” Jesus doesn’t pray for the Father to let Him off the hook. And He doesn’t need a stranger to help Him carry the cross. “The Legend of Jesus” is amazing.
[Please note: Due to technical difficulties, a video could not be recorded this week.]
As Joshua comes to the end of his life, much of the Promised Land remains just a promise. The people either avoided the hardship of the battle or decided that it would be more convenient to put the Canaanites to work for them rather than drive them out. We often face the same tension. God promises us the life that could be ours by His Spirit, but it feels like too much work. We’d rather make peace with our sins than put them to death. This is still a prescription for defeat for the people of God.
Joseph is given a dream of greatness and royalty, but he’s rejected and despised. Each time people try to harm him, he ends up closer to the throne. After his enemies presume him dead, he ascends to power and brings salvation and forgiveness to many. Joseph shows what kind of Saviour to look for and helps to identify Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Today’s E100 reading looks at the story of Noah’s Ark. Everybody knows this story, right? Children love drawing the zebras and monkeys, and adults endlessly speculate about how everything fit and what it might have been like. But all of those things distract us from the message that Noah’s Ark is intended to convey. Do you know what it teaches? There are several important lessons that we should hear from Noah’s Ark no matter what our age.
If you find yourself rushing through your reading, deliberately slow down. The Bible doesn’t TikTok well. Our digital scrolling trains us to skim but God’s Word needs to be stored and hidden deep within us to have its effect.