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    Forsaken for Our Sake

    Does having a friend nearby make pain more bearable? Researchers at the University of Virginia conducted a fascinating study to answer that question. They wanted to see how the brain reacted to the prospect of pain, and whether it behaved differently if a person faced the threat of pain alone, holding a stranger’s hand, or holding the hand of a close friend.

    Researchers ran the test on dozens of pairs, and found consistent results. When a person was alone or holding a stranger’s hand while anticipating a shock, the regions of the brain that process danger lit up.  But when holding…

    The “Wondrous Cross”

    What would you say causes you the most pain in life? And do you ever wonder where Jesus is in your pain? Today on Discover the Word, the team gathers to discuss one of the hardest questions we face as Christians. We find the answer at the “Wondrous Cross.” Listen to Discover the Word!

    The Power of the Cross

    Bill Crowder presents the centurion’s perspective on the crucifixion of Christ to encourage a deeper understanding of its significance and power to change lives.

    “A man of sorrows, acquainted with grief”

    “A man of sorrows, acquainted with grief” is a description that not only helps us understand why Jesus can help us when we hurt, but it also shows that His heart breaks for a world lost in sin. Today on Discover the Word, we will talk about why the rejection Jesus endured can help us think […]

    Christ fulfills the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah 53

    When Christ was crucified, the people who thought He was the Messiah were undoubtedly surprised! Yet, God had actually provided plenty of advance notice that it was going to happen! Today on Discover the Word, we will dig into one Old Testament prophecy that could have helped them make sense of what was happening. It’s […]

    The Collision of God and Sin

    The Cross of Christ is the revealed truth of God’s judgment on sin. Never associate the idea of martyrdom with the Cross of Christ. It was the supreme triumph, and it shook the very foundations of hell. There is nothing in time or eternity more absolutely certain and irrefutable than what Jesus Christ accomplished on the Cross— He made it possible for the entire human race to be brought back into a right-standing relationship with God. He made redemption the foundation of human life; that is, He made a way for every person to have fellowship with God.

    The Cross was not something that happened to Jesus— He came to die; the Cross was His purpose in coming.

    Experiencing Lent for the First Time

    This year marks the first time I’m actively participating in the season of Lent. Apart from it being an annual liturgical season, I originally had little idea what Lent was about.

    Malchus – a small player in one of history’s biggest scenes

    Remembering names can be hard, so it’s not surprising that there are people in the Bible who we may have forgotten about. Today on Discover the Word, the group will kick off a couple of weeks with an Easter focus by taking a closer look at someone who was a fairly small player in one […]

    All of Me

    Young Isaac Watts found the music in his church sadly lacking, and his father challenged him to create something better. Isaac did. His hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” has been called the greatest in the English language and has been translated into many other languages.

    Watts’s worshipful third verse ushers us into the presence of Christ at the crucifixion.

                See from His head, His hands, His feet,

                Sorrow and love flow mingled down.

                Did e’er such love and sorrow meet

                Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

    The crucifixion Watts describes so elegantly stands as history’s most awful moment. We…

    The Talking Tree

    One of the earliest Christian poems in English literature is “The Dream of the Rood.” The word rood comes from the Old English word rod or pole and refers to the cross on which Christ was crucified. In this ancient poem the crucifixion story is retold from the perspective of the cross. When the tree learns that it is to be used to kill the Son of God, it rejects the idea of being used in this way. But Christ enlists the help of the tree to provide redemption for all who will believe.

    In the garden of Eden, a tree was the source…

    Doing good for the sake of the gospel

    Today on Discover the Word, hear the conclusion of a thought provoking study on Titus chapter 2 with previous hosts Haddon Robinson, Alice Mathews, and Mart DeHaan. It’s a special encore presentation of an unconventional Christmas series that originally aired years ago,  but one that can have a profound impact on how we live out […]

    A Second Look at the Christmas Story Blew My Mind

    A couple of days ago, I went to the park in a T-shirt, shorts, and sandals. It was 80 degrees Fahrenheit (about 27 degrees Celsius) outside and felt absolutely nothing like Christmas. In most parts of the United States, it’s cold—maybe even snowing.

    God’s grace changes the way we live

    God’s gift of grace does more than give us peace about our past and hope for our future. It changes the way we live today. Today on Discover the Word, join past hosts Haddon Robinson, Alice Mathews, and Mart DeHaan as they take a look at Titus chapter 2  and discuss the way God’s grace […]

    The greatest Gift of all!

    So much of the Christmas season is about giving and receiving gifts, and when you think back over the years perhaps there’s a particular gift that comes to mind for you. Today on Discover the Word, original hosts Haddon Robinson, Alice Mathews, and Mart DeHaan remember the greatest gift of all. It’s part of a […]

    A Message of hope

    Christmastime is filled with anticipation. As children, we could hardly wait to find those gifts beneath the tree. But as adults, there’s something even better to look forward to. This week, enjoy some classic Christmas programs with original Discover the Word hosts Haddon Robinson, Alice Mathews, and Mart DeHaan. They’ll share what the term “Advent” […]