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The Birth of Christmas
When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and then to shepherds with good news for the world (Luke 1:26-27; 2:10), was it good news to this teenage girl? Perhaps Mary was thinking: How do I explain my pregnancy to my family? Will my fiancé Joseph call off the betrothal? What will the townspeople say? Even if my life is spared, how will I survive as a mother all alone?
When Joseph learned about Mary’s pregnancy, he was troubled. He had three options. Go ahead with the marriage, divorce her publicly and allow her to be publicly scorned, or break off the…
What Christmas Is All About
Fifty years ago A Charlie Brown Christmas was first broadcast on American television. Some network executives thought it would be ignored, while others worried that quoting the Bible would offend viewers. Some wanted its creator, Charles Schulz, to omit the Christmas story, but Schulz insisted it stay in. The program was an immediate success and has been rebroadcast every year since 1965.
When Charlie Brown, the frustrated director of the children’s Christmas play, is discouraged by the commercial spirit of the holiday season, he asks if anyone can tell him the real meaning of Christmas. Linus recites Luke 2:8-14 including the words, “For…
Discover how Elisha fills the shoes of his mentor
Today on “Discover the Word,” we will uncover another “Left Behind” story in the Bible. When the prophet Elijah was taken to heaven, caught up in a whirlwind, he left a very distressed Elisha. Elijah was his mentor, his friend, and his father in the faith. How could Elisha fill those shoes? Be part of the conversation today on “Discover the Word”!
Responding to the One who gave us everything
Today on “Discover the Word,” we conclude the two-week discussion about doing what we can for Jesus with what we’ve been given. Through Mary of Bethany’s courageous act of passionate devotion to Jesus, we’re invited to become part of the ongoing story. Mary is our example of how the world could change if each of us gave what we had in response to the One who gave us everything.
Ever feel like you’re on the outside looking in?
Today on “Discover the Word,” we continue to peel back the layers of the story of Mary of Bethany and the alabaster jar. What we discover is that Mary wasn’t the only outsider in that room full of religious men. Simon the Leper had been an outcast before Jesus healed him. Ever feel like you’re on the outside looking in? Then be part of the group today right here on “Discover the Word”!
3 Steps to Take When You Face a Problem
“Why is the bus taking so long to arrive?” “Why didn’t I charge my phone last night?” Have you ever noticed how we can get so bothered by the smallest of problems?
Reaching out to others
We all have our reasons for not doing what we can to help others. And yet we’re still plagued with guilt when we don’t do anything. Today on “Discover the Word,” we’ll discuss excuses we give for not reaching out to others. Excuses like “What if I’m rejected?” or “What difference could I make?”
Why Doesn’t My Friend Believe in God?
For the longest time, a good friend of mine has been seeking the truth and trying to make sense of life. And for many years, I have been trying to introduce Christ to him. I believe that all his questions about life can be answered.
Beyond Disappointment
Perhaps you’ve seen the video of the little boy who learns he’s getting another sister. In the middle of his meltdown he laments, “It’s always girls, girls, girls, girls!”
The story gives an amusing glimpse into human expectations, but there’s nothing funny about disappointment. It saturates our world. One story from the Bible seems especially steeped in disappointment. Jacob agreed to work 7 years for the right to marry his boss’s daughter Rachel. But after fulfilling his contract, Jacob got a wedding night surprise. In the morning he discovered not Rachel but her sister Leah.
We focus on Jacob’s disappointment, but imagine…
Unpacking our doubts about God’s love
The “Discover the Word” group continues their series “She Did What She Could” today. After Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with expensive ointment, Judas and others criticized her . . . until Jesus told the men to “leave her alone.” Join us as we unpack the concept of “leaving ourselves alone”. . . by not being hard on ourselves, or allowing others to make us doubt God’s love for us.
The Main Event
While watching a fireworks display during a celebration in my city, I became distracted. Off to the right and the left of the main event, smaller fireworks occasionally popped up in the sky. They were good, but watching them caused me to miss parts of the more spectacular display directly above me.
Sometimes good things take us away from something better. That happened in the life of Martha, whose story is recorded in Luke 10:38-42. When Jesus and His disciples arrived in the village of Bethany, Martha welcomed them into her home. Being a good host meant that someone had to…
Doing what we can with what we’ve been given
Today on “Discover the Word,” we conclude week one of the discussion on doing what we can for Jesus with what we’ve been given. Today’s discussion contrasts the two women whose act of passionate devotion for Jesus led them both to anoint Him with perfume. One woman, Mary of Bethany, did this out of love with the purpose of preparing Jesus’ body for burial. The other woman anointed her Savior in grateful response to having been forgiven.
Living loved
How often do we talk about doing good for others, but then never act on it? Today on “Discover the Word,” we will talk about how Mary of Bethany was a woman who “lived loved.” As a result she found the courage to step up at a pivotal moment in Christ’s life, giving Him comfort when He needed it the most. She did. “She Did What She Could” continues today on “Discover the Word”!
