By E. Tod Twist If you’ve ever pondered the meaning of life in “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) or even in “Christ who is your life” (Col. 3:4), this excerpt from Bible Word Studies: A How-to Guide will show you how to dig a...
He’s the universe’s public enemy number one, the chief opponent of God and his people, and the leader of uncounted demonic forces. Jesus says he’s been a murderer from the beginning, and he’s engaged in an all-out war against the forces of good in...
By Duane Garrett Speaking up for biblical principles is a dangerous thing. People may abuse you or accuse you, saying that you are a fool or even that you are evil. But Proverbs 9:7–8 gives us wise counsel in the face of such hostility: Whoever...
Anyone who is being crucified suffers from dehydration, with the mouth and throat unbearably dry and the tongue grossly swollen (see Ps 22:15). At first Jesus had refused the relief of the offered sour wine (Matt 27:34) so that all of his senses...
The Lexham Bible Dictionary defines Logos (λόγος, logos) as “a concept word in the Bible symbolic of the nature and function of Jesus Christ. It is also used to refer to the revelation of God in the world.” But it’s also arguably...
It is an understatement even to say you have written much on the Gospel of John. What sets Signs of the Messiah apart? Signs of the Messiah started out as a series of talks I gave to a group of pastors and serious Bible students over the course of a...
In pastoral leadership, you’ve got God’s grace to sustain you. He’ll help you through the rough times . . . but wouldn’t it be nice if there were fewer of them? In this excerpt adapted from Pastoral Leadership: For the Care of Souls, longtime pastor...
Salmon are anadromous. That’s a $25 word that feels how terms found in encyclopedias are supposed to feel: formal, scientific. It’s in a higher register of English. But if you know a little Greek, you’ll see immediately that all it means is “running...
If you could take a couple seasoned pastors out for coffee and ask them all your ministry questions, what would you ask? Some pastors who are barely hanging on after the past year might ask how they can get back on track spiritually or relationally...
An old saying goes, “A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to come unraveled.” And even though that’s true, Christians still need encouragement to pray. Here are nine sermon illustrations on prayer to help provide it. 1. How God listens From 300...
Remember always to go on to theology. — Mark Ward In preaching and other Bible teaching, your big strength can become a weakness. If you are good at careful analysis of biblical texts, don’t stop there. Remember always to go on to theology. Analysis...
Today’s post continues Logos Talk’s Christmas Bible study. Check back throughout December for more ways to study the birth of Jesus! The angel Gabriel is one of the prominent characters in the Nativity narrative. He’s remembered as the angel who...
In this second of a two-part article (read Part 1 here) adapted from Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Essays on the Relationship between Christianity and Judaism, David Rudolph continues to...
C. S. Lewis books are beloved by many—he is undoubtedly one of the most-read Christian writers of the twentieth century. Some of the more familiar are Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, and The Screwtape Letters. Keep...
“If I could only have one Bible study resource, what should it be?” I get this question often from people who are new to Bible study or want to commit to understanding the Word of God better for themselves. Of course, there are so many good options...
By Curtis Zackery The Bible calls us to be a living sacrifice. But what does that mean? Curtis Zackery explains in Finding Soul Rest: 40 Days of Connecting with Christ: A Devotional. *** As followers of Jesus, the best thing we can celebrate...
Many of the 150 canonical psalms have superscriptions or titles, like: “Of David,” “For the choirmaster,” and “According to the lilies.” Are these superscriptions in the psalms original? Or were they added at a later time? In this excerpt...
It was well past midnight as I stared out the window of the church retreat center at the falling snow. I was 19 years old and exhausted from 36 hours of nonstop work running my first weekend retreat for 200 teenagers. While it was quiet and serene...
In this first of a two-part article excerpted from Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Essays on the Relationship between Christianity and Judaism, David Rudolph considers the sometimes hotly...
We all have watershed moments in life, critical turning points where, from that moment on, nothing will ever be the same. One such moment in my own life came when I rediscovered the word elohim. It was in church on a Sunday morning while still in...
J. I. Packer is perhaps one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Like C. S. Lewis before him, he has spent a lifetime popularizing complex theological ideas and reaching a diverse audience through winsome...
Explore the disagreement that exists among evangelicals concerning the inerrancy of Scripture.
Grant Fishbook started preaching full time in 2003, but every few years, he’d discover that he wasn’t connecting with the modern audience. At first, he thought maybe he was the problem—maybe he wasn’t doing something right, or maybe he...
Pastors are people, too. It’s such a basic, “Of course!” truth, yet it so easily slips from Christians’ minds. Like “Dad” or “Mom,” a pastor’s position becomes their name. So even as the world is more and more abuzz with talk of mental health...
Jesus made seven statements about being the “bread from heaven,” but the first one might be the biggest head-scratcher: I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will...
Pastors, how many times a day do you get interrupted when you’re trying to prep for a sermon? Your concentration killers may not be this dramatic . . . But you’d probably still love to keep out of their way. Sign up by June 30 for your chance to win...
The meaning of “binding and loosing” in Matthew 16:19 has caused many students of the Bible to scratch their heads: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on...
Christians pray for their enemies—but should they also pray against them? Consider two verses. Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:44). But David says—of an enemy—“Let there be none who extend to him loyal...
There seem to be countless sermon illustrations on faith—but some are better than others. Find six memorable ones below! Sermon illustration on enduring faith From Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations & Quotes: Faith honors...
This post is lightly adapted from “Preach to the outer edges” by Patricia Batten in Preaching Points: 55 Tips for Improving Your Pulpit Ministry, edited by Scott M. Gibson (Lexham Press, 2016).