Pharaoh dreamed that seven skinny cows gobbled up seven fat cows along the Nile River. Many people in Bible times believed that dreams carried hidden messages, so he called on the magicians of the land to tell him the meaning of his dream. Continue reading EGYPTIAN MAGICIANS
As epithets go, it’s hard to beat God’s description of David book of Acts: “a man loyal to [God].” A glimpse into David’s life reveals what it takes to be awarded such a designation. Continue reading MEN OF THE BIBLE (DAVID: A MAN LOYAL TO GOD)
This verse is part of Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). An estate was normally divided by a father among his sons at his death. But the father in this parable did so while he was still alive. Continue reading A SQUANDERED INHERITANCE
Sexual relations between people of the same sex. When discussing homosexuality, the biblical emphasis is on behavior, and the verdict is always that it is sinful.
HOMOSEXUALITY IS A CONSEQUENCE OF REJECTING THE CREATED ORDER. The prima facie case against homosexuality in the Scripture in found in God’s creative plan for human sexuality. God created mankind as male and female, to procreate within the context of marriage (Gen 1:27-28; 2:18-24.) This creation order for human sexuality received the endorsement of both the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 10:6-9; Matt 19:4-6) and the Apostle Paul (Eph 5:31), On the surface, homosexual behavior should be recognized as sinful because it violates God’s original plan for heterosexual monogamy. Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (HOMOSEXUALITY)
Jesus’ clash with the Pharisees throughout the Gospels may lead us to believe that all Pharisees were bad or that Jesus condemned them all. But this verse shows us otherwise. Continue reading DINING WITH A PHARISEE
Use of rocky sites as places of refuge (Num 24:21; Judg 15:8; 20:47) led to the frequent image of God as a rock, that is, a source of protection. Titles of God include the “Stone of Israel” (Gen 49:24 NASB), the Rock (Deut 32:4), the Rock of salvation (32:15), the Rock who begot Israel (32:18), “a rock that is high above me” (Ps 61:2 HCSB). Isaiah 8:13-14 pictures of the Lord of hosts as a “rock to stumble over” (NASB) to the unholy people of Israel and Judah. Paul identified Christ as the spiritual Rock that nourished Israel in the Continue reading DEFINITION OF ROCK
When God chooses to do anything, His choice involves saying yes to something and no to something else. Here, the choice seems arbitrary to our thinking. It could as well have been firstborn females, or last born, as far as we can jusdge.
Continue reading WHY DOES GOD CLAIM ONLY FIRSTBORN MALES FOR SPECIAL OWNERSHIP?
In the process of baking bread, leaven or yeast was added to the dough to cause it to rise. Thus, Jesus was saying that the kingdom of God had a power out of proportion to its size that caused it to permeate and influence all of society. Continue reading THE POWER OF LEAVEN
This synagogue in which Jesus read the Old Testament scriptures was in Nazareth, his hometown in the province of Galilee, Synagogues were built in towns and cities throughout Palestine. Their purpose was not to replace the temple in Jerusalem that served as the central place of worship and sacrifice for all Israel. Synagogues existed to reach the law to local people. Continue reading READING IN A SYNAGOGUE
HEAD OF THE CHURCH – Title for Christ (Eph 4:15; Col 1:18). In Ephesians, the metaphor of Christ as head of His body, the church, is carefully developed. Headship includes the idea of Christ’s authority (1:22; 5:23) and of the submission required of the church (5:24). More is in view than a statement of Christ’s authority. The focus is on the character of Christ’s relationship with the church. Unlike self-seeking human lords (Luke 22:25), Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY “HEAD OF THE CHURCH”