The Importance of Context
What’s so important about context when reading scripture? The words and passages around text is vastly important to understanding scripture as a whole!
Grudges: Just let it go already!
Is there anyone you’re still angry with? The Bible is rich with text that tells us how we should feel towards grudges.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings!
How do you see God’s provision in your current situation?
Whose Chapter Is It Anyway?
Chapter numbers, verse numbers, and section headings may be affecting the way you interpret the Bible without you even knowing it.
The Lord’s Prayer
Prayer is not just a one way street. It’s a two way conversation between you and God. You speak to God, and God speaks to you through the Bible, through conversations with others, and through experiences. This is one reason why community with other believers is so important: Further understanding of God’s will, and His plan. So, how do you have a conversation with God? Speak scripture to yourself! Jesus left us with an awesome template for how we are supposed to communicate with Him! () Sure, we can pray the Lord’s prayer word for word – by itself it’s a great reminder of His love for us, and His provision, and it’s a wonderful communication tool. It’s also an effective outline for communicating with the Lord. If you’ve never tried this before, I’d challenge you to do so sometime soon. Use the Lord’s prayer as an outline for discussing the events of your life and current situation with your Father. “Our Father, in heaven, Hallowed be your name” – Lift Him up! Set yourself beneath Him! Father, you are greater than everything else, you are the Lord of all. You are amazing; all I have is from you, all I have is yours! Father God, Your will is greater than mine – Your will set my paths straight! I know that my plans are but nothing to what you have in store. Lead me Father! Today, I witnessed your greatness and provision in such an amazing way! Thank you so much for the sacrifice that you, that your son, took in my place – you have forgiven me...
Is Your Forgiveness Scalable?
In the same way that the Lord forgave you, you should also forgive. To the same degree. And how did God forgive you? Unconditionally.
Praise to the Lord!
When God answers your prayers, do you praise Him? Do you just carry on with life, as if He’s just given you what you deserve, or do you go to Him saying, “Praise you, Lord, for your great work and provision?”
The Student, The Fish, and Agassiz
Repeatedly visiting the same site can often reveal new insight; so too when we study scripture – the more you review the same passage, the more you see!
Road Rage
How do other people know that you are a follower of Christ? What reason do people have to think “There is something different about this person?”
Fruit of the Spirit
If the Fruit of the Spirit is a list of behaviors we’re expected to demonstrate to show that Christians are nice people – then the we are doomed.