• Topic > Christian Beliefs

    God’s mercy stops the consequences we deserve

    We suffer because of sin and we sin to relieve our suffering. It’s an unhealthy cycle that has disastrous consequences. And today on “Discover the Word,” we, along with our special guest Robert Gelinas, discuss how only God’s mercy can stop the full domino effect that would take place if we all suffered the consequences of what we deserve. Don’t miss part two of a series on “The Mercy Prayer.”

    Building Biblical Theology

    Faithful Christians have always recognized the importance of the progress of biblical history, especially as it relates to humanity’s fall into sin and to God’s redemptive work. The discipline of biblical theology arose as a means to study this progress in responsible ways. Much like systematic theology, biblical theology organizes theological ideas in ways that increase our understanding of Scripture. But whereas systematic theology organizes its ideas according to topics, biblical theology organizes its findings in historical periods or epochs. Used rightly, biblical theology is a powerful and helpful tool for interpreting and applying the Bible.

    Leaning into the Light

    One day I received a bouquet of pink tulips. Their heads bobbed on thick stems as I settled them into a vase, which I placed at the center of our kitchen table. The next day, I noticed that the flowers were facing a different direction. The blossoms that once faced upward were now leaning to the side, opening and reaching toward sunlight that streamed in through a nearby window.

    In one sense, we all were made to be like those flowers. God has called us to turn to the light of His love. Peter writes of the wonder of being called…

    When God Wasn’t My First Love

    It was during the time I was in university life, that I gave in to my own desires. Ben (not real name) and I had been good friends for three years when, in our final year, our friendship got a little more complicated.

    How do we balance a merciful and just God?

    Did you know that the most common prayer in the Bible is a prayer asking God for mercy? So how do we balance a God who has a reputation for being merciful, who also is a God who loves justice? Today on “Discover the Word,” we welcome our special guest, pastor and author Robert Gelinas to the table to begin a two-week study called, “Mercy Prayer.” Join the group today on “Discover the Word”!

    Lifeblood

    Mary Ann believed in God and His Son Jesus, but she struggled with why Jesus had to shed His blood to bring salvation. Who would think of cleansing something with blood? Yet the Bible says, “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood” (Heb. 9:22). That, in Mary Ann’s opinion, was disgusting!

    Then one day she had to go to a hospital. A genetic condition had altered her immune system, and doctors became alarmed when the illness started attacking her blood. As she was in the emergency room she thought, If I lose my blood, I will die. But…

    To All Single Christian Girls: There’s More to Life than Finding Your Soulmate

    My dear friends, Penning this letter brings back memories and emotions of my long, eventful journey as a single woman. Although I was a believer, I felt unloved by God.

    3 Things to Do While You’re Single

    Another Valentine’s Day has gone by and I’m still single. When I was young, Valentine’s Day felt like a popularity contest. I could gauge how well liked I was by the amount of candy, chocolate, or heart-shaped stickers I received.

    Taking Notice

    When I clean my house for a special event, I become discouraged because I think that guests won’t notice what I clean, only what I don’t clean. This brings to mind a larger philosophical and spiritual question: Why do humans more quickly see what’s wrong than what’s right? We are more likely to remember rudeness than kindness. Crimes seem to receive more attention than acts of generosity. And disasters grab our attention more quickly than the profound beauty all around us.

    But then I realize I am the same way with God. I tend to focus on what He hasn’t done…

    The depth of the love of God

    Today on “Discover the Word,” we will talk about the depth of the love of God. Only special creatures can tolerate the deepest part of the ocean. But, the depth of God’s love? We can all revel in the fact that we’re loved that much! “The 4-D Love of God” . . . finish that discussion with the group today on “Discover the Word”!

    Mom, why don’t you love me?

    Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I felt unloved by my mother—the person I was supposed to be the closest to. Instead of showing me love, she often scolded me and used words that hurt me deeply.

    How to Grow Old

    “How are you today, Mama?” I asked casually. My 84-year-old friend, pointing to aches and pains in her joints, whispered, “Old age is tough!” Then she added earnestly, “But God has been good to me.”

    “Growing old has been the greatest surprise of my life,” says Billy Graham in his book Nearing Home. “I am an old man now, and believe me, it’s not easy.” However, Graham notes, “While the Bible doesn’t gloss over the problems we face as we grow older, neither does it paint old age as a time to be despised or a burden to be endured with…

    The 4 dimensional love of God

    What did the apostle Paul mean when he said that he prayed we would grasp the “height” of God’s love? Today on “Discover the Word,” we dig further into Paul’s profound description of the 4 dimensional—“The 4-D love of God.” Are you afraid of heights? Well, you won’t be in this conversation today on “Discover the Word”!

    Go Fever

    On January 28, 1986, after five weather-related delays, the space shuttle Challenger lumbered heavenward amid a thunderous overture of noise and flame. A mere 73 seconds later, system failure tore the shuttle apart, and all seven crewmembers perished.

    The disaster was attributed to an O-ring seal known to have vulnerabilities. Insiders referred to the fatal mistake as “go fever”—the tendency to ignore vital precautions in the rush to a grand goal.

    Our ambitious human nature relentlessly tempts us to make ill-advised choices. Yet we are also prone to a fear that can make us overly cautious. The ancient Israelites demonstrated both traits.…

    Let’s take the long view of God’s love

    When people say, “Take the long view,” it means getting a sense of perspective about the present by also considering both the past and the future. Well, today on “Discover the Word,” we’ll discuss how there are several different ways to look at the phrase “the length of God’s love.” Be part of the discussion as we “take the long view” of God’s love, today on “Discover the Word”!