Bible Study MagazineColossians 3:8 leaves many believers hesitant to merge the worlds of philosophy and Christianity: See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world...
Guest Author“I am not the head of the church. Jesus is.” As a pastor, I had not only heard that many times, I had said it many times myself. And I really did believe it. But it left a major question unanswered for me. If I am not the head, what part of the...
Mark WardWrenching a Bible verse out of context isn’t the only bad Bible-quoting habit out there. There is a more subtle set of unfortunate customs we use in evangelical churches when we quote the Bible. Here’s an example: a relative of mine was reading to...
Karen EngleDid you know it’s easy to find Jesus in the Old Testament? Once you know how to look, you’ll find him everywhere—through prophecies, typology, and much more.
Logos StaffWhy were John Calvin’s writings more popular than one of Martin Luther’s disciples, Martin Bucer? In this video excerpt from the Mobile Ed course Understanding the Protestant Reformation: Precursors and Legacy, Gerald L. Bray, author of Doing...
Mary JahnkeAccording to Hallmark, Clergy Appreciation Month (aka Pastor Appreciation Month) started in 1992 “with a mission of uplifting and encouraging pastors, missionaries, and religious workers.” I don’t know about you, but I think it was long overdue...
Sunday, October 9, is Pastor Appreciation Day, a special reminder to encourage and pray for your pastor. We’ve pulled together eight prayers from Scripture and respected pastors to guide your intercession. Feel free to use them as-is, drop in your...
Explore the 5 Solas of the Reformation—what they are and how they dramatically impacted modern Christianity.
It’s easy to think reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin were superhuman. They stood up to the world’s strongest power. They did what others didn’t dare to do. They changed the world. We think, “These people were extraordinary!” We forget...
Here Richard Bauckham answers the question: "What first made you suspect that Matthew used Luke?"
In this “Word Nerd: Language and the Bible” video (full transcription below), Mark Ward (author of Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible) explores the origin of the word “Lord” in the English language—a word that, of course, shows...
Lexham PressThe Christmas season easily overwhelms, and meaning can be lost in the busyness. But a new Christmas devotional by Mark M. Yarbrough, Tidings of Comfort & Joy: 25 Devotions Leading to Christmas, reminds us why we celebrate with 25 short...
Peter KrolAccording to its opening verses, the book of Proverbs was written to help you 1) know what wisdom is, 2) recognize wisdom when you see it, 3) do wise things, 4) keep growing, and 5) remain anchored in God’s Word. The wisdom of Proverbs is neither a...
Pastors have a monumental calling. Acts 20:28 instructs, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” Whether you’re...
Do you know what a ramification is? Yeah, you do; you’ve heard the word, and you’ve probably used it. It’s kind of hard to come up with a definition on the spot, though, so I will help you. My dictionary defines a ramification as “a consequence of...
Marty O. WynnNow you’ve done it! You said yes to teaching an adult Sunday School class. And you are asking yourself, “What was I thinking?” Please permit me to offer you some encouragement. You can do this by God’s strength—you are embarking on the blessed...
Jennifer Powell McNuttOne cannot explore the emergence of the Protestant Reformation without talking about the contribution of Renaissance humanism—what I like to call “the tie that binds.” As one scholar declared famously, “No humanism, no Reformation.” Today...
In this excerpt adapted from The Trinity and the Bible, a new Lexham Press book on Trinitarian theology that Matthew Levering calls “richly rewarding,” Scott R. Swain explores the relationship between the Trinity in the Bible and the creeds. The...
Meisha CurryThe temptation is there—to just skim the Bible stories you’ve heard numerous times. Noah, animals, lots of water, check, got it! The path of least resistance for any Sunday school teacher is simply reciting the provided curriculum word for word...
Part 1: Academic Teaching with Support Raising One of the closest parallels to a traditional academic job is teaching in a position that requires raising financial support. These positions are generally available in schools outside North America...
Some time ago my wife and I visited a church we’d never been to before and heard a message about Old Testament promises, specifically from one paragraph in Joshua 1. Take particular note of the promises because the preacher did: This Book of the Law...
Ben BrowningYou just decided to read Paul’s epistles. Great choice! They are filled with deep theology, pertinent pastoral advice, and valuable instruction for Christian living. However, you may face some difficulties. At least Peter thought so. He...
Scrolling endlessly through photos is only fun when it’s by choice (oh hello, vacation albums). When you’re trying to find media for your church presentations, it’s just frustrating. And if you serve in a bilingual church where you need to create...
Quick, list everything you know about angels! If you’re thinking about bells, harps, and wings, your idea of angels might be more informed by Christmas movies than the Bible. That’s what Dr. Michael S. Heiser is trying to correct in Angels—now...
How should Christians relate to the Old Testament? Was the author of Hebrews against it? Adrio König explores these questions in this excerpt adapted from Christ Above All: The Book of Hebrews The basic message of Hebrews is that Christ is...
There’s an interesting passage in 1 Samuel 8 that has made me wonder: Did Israel fully understand that God was their king? It’s easy pass over, but when unpacked a bit, two verses turn out to be a hinge in this part of the story of Israel: The...
Douglas EstesMany people start their Bible study in the Gospels. Over time, the word “gospel” has come to mean several things, such as the good news that Jesus has victory over sin and death, but in this case “Gospel” means a particular type of literature...
Jennifer GrishamIn college, I heard a sermon about evangelism that stuck with me. Knowing how it feels uncomfortable unleashing a gospel presentation on a stranger, the preacher offered this advice: just start by asking if the other person goes to church somewhere...
Michael LefebvreJesus studied the books of the Old Testament from childhood (Luke 2:46). He was guided in his ministry by what he learned from them (Luke 4:4-12, 16-21). And they formed his curriculum for training the disciples (Luke 24:44). When we study the New...
While the core message of the New Testament is clear, sometimes complicated passages can make us scratch our heads—like why Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!” in Mark 8:33. In Navigating Tough Texts, Murray J. Harris (author of the...