Kaleb CuevasLast week we examined five of the most common mistakes made when studying the Bible. Today, we’re going to cover five more. 5. Missing the historical setting Contrary to popular belief, the Bible was not written to twenty-first century Americans...
Nate SmoyerAuthor and humorist Jon Acuff recently relaunched his popular blog, StuffChristiansLike.net. We had a chance to speak with him about it. For those who may not know you, who are you and what do you do? I write books, speak all over the country, and...
Chuck McKnightWe know we ought to be studying the Scriptures, but sometimes we don’t know how. Here are five of 10 common Bible study mistakes to avoid: 10. Starting without prayer The Bible is unlike any other book because it was inspired by God himself. Paul...
Ray Deck IIIProverbs—one of my favorite books in the Bible—contains wisdom for nearly every facet of human life. Written primarily by the wise King Solomon, Proverbs is best known for its contrasting descriptions of wisdom and foolishness, but it has a lot to...
Scripture—Proverbs in particular—offers wisdom about a wide range of subjects, from finance to relationships and everything in between. Some of its most prevalent wisdom, though, is framed around the subject of wisdom itself—what it is, how it acts...
Today we welcome guest bloggers Drs. Nick and Leona Venditti. Authors of Daily Treasures from the Word of God, the Vendittis have been serving together at INSTE Bible College for many years. “Why daily devotions?” One of the best responses comes...
Proverbs has a lot to say about wisdom, and it also has a lot to say about foolishness. See if anything on this list surprises you: A fool starts fights. (Proverbs 18:6) A fool is easily upset. (Proverbs 12:16) A fool believes everything he reads...
If you follow @Faithlife on Twitter, you’ve seen our Verse of the Day slides, created by our team of designers. Each day, they illustrate a new verse with digital art. The results are often illuminating and always stunning. We recently...
It probably felt funny standing on the Galilean hillside that spring after everything that had happened. The people were all familiar, but not quite the same. I imagine Peter looking over Jesus’ shoulder, expecting the Roman cavalry to crest...
John Wesley said, “Christianity is essentially a social religion . . . to turn it into a solitary religion, is indeed to destroy it.” But living as part of a faith community can be difficult. Differences in personality, upbringing...
Dominic SickichWhat if God’s Word came to life? Now it does, in our new Bible text animation videos! We invite you to enjoy these free videos by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Bible text animations make for engaging church presentations, simple encouragement...
In a survey conducted by Lifeway Research, 90 percent of churchgoers responded that they “desire to please and honor Jesus” in all they do. Yet only 19 percent reported reading the Bible every day. Why do so many people neglect to read...
The English Standard Version Bible (ESV) is the revised and edited version of the Revised Standard Version, which many consider to be the twentieth century’s best translation. Led by Dr. Lane T. Dennis in the early 1990s, hundreds of people...
“You’re a pessimist.” “No, I’m a realist.” I’ve heard my dad, a pastor with several decades of ministry experience, respond to that criticism several hundred times. About half of them were leveled, with a...
God’s plan of redemption stands at the center of Scripture, so if you’re already engaged in a relationship with God, you can ignore the Bible—right? Wrong. Here are three reasons why: Relationship God values relationship so highly...
It’s a question worth considering: How much should we trust a 3,000-year-old book? The Bible certainly has its enemies. Since the moment of its completion, Scripture has been under attack. AD 300—The Roman emperor Diocletian ordered...
Using the three-step Bible study process—observe, interpret, and apply—you’re bound to learn new things about God. The observe phase doesn’t require any tools beyond a copy of the Scripture itself. (If you’re in search of one, we...
It’s always a delight to read over a favorite passage of Scripture. Familiar words and phrases unfold, conjuring the sense of wonder we felt upon our first understanding. Unfamiliar passages can present more of a challenge, though. Personally...
Many evangelicals shy away from the word “meditation” because of its association with eastern religions, but it should be noted that meditation is taught in several places throughout Scripture (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2, Psalm 119:148)...
The Lexham Bible Dictionary, the world’s most advanced Bible dictionary, is getting bigger and better. Buying a Bible dictionary is usually like buying a computer. As soon as you get it home, it’s already out of date. Words printed on physical...
Rebecca Van NoordWhy was the Epistle of Barnabas removed from Bibles? And why did the Gospel of Thomas never make it into the canon? Find out in the May–June ’13 issue of Bible Study Magazine, where we address one of the most controversial topics in recent history:...
Logos StaffIt’s easy to connect with your Faithlife groups using custom reading plans. Whether it’s for your church, your small group, or your Christian book club, you can create a plan around your schedule and needs. Maybe you already have a Faithlife...
The Faithlife Study Bible is a dynamic and growing resource. Already an enormous study Bible, the FSB has added all-new content to its already exhaustive notes. These new additions include Faithlife Study Bible sidebars by respected and high-profile...
John D. Barry“Lexham Bible Dictionary is an unbound product—it has no back cover.” This statement drove all discussion and decisions about creating this resource.Could an enormous pool of content and information—not just the articles but the articles’ status and...
“And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.”—Colossians 4:16 (ESV) From the beginning, the Scriptures were intended to be read, interpreted...
Research is difficult. When you also need slides and media, and when you add the stress of preparing a sermon, class, or Bible study, it can be overwhelming. Add in your other teaching and preaching responsibilities and you may find it impossible to...
Youth workers are always trying to come up with that perfect fundraising idea. But how many car washes can you do? How many candy bars can you sell? Bake sales? Raffle tickets? In the end, you might raise enough money to go on a mission trip and...
Jeffrey KranzFaithlife is where Christian community happens online. There’s no place quite like it for sharing life with other believers. You keep up with friends on Facebook. You manage your messages with email. If you have a band, you (might) still be on...
A good study Bible will have millions of words, thousands of study notes, and lots of maps, timelines, charts, and more. But all those pages add up; there’s only so much you can put in a printed study Bible. That’s not an issue anymore, though. The...
One of my favorite Bible teachers encouraged us to "study wide and then narrow our focus." Understanding the big picture is key to good exegesis. It protects us from falling into the trap of interpreting verses before appreciating the context of the...