Topic > Christian Beliefs
Still In God’s Hands
During my first year of seminary, I listened as a new friend described her life. Abandoned by her husband, she was raising two small children alone. Earning just over minimum wage, she had little chance of escaping the poverty and dangers she described in her neighborhood.
Divine Encounters: Mapping Your Spiritual Life
Welcome to Divine Encounters: Mapping Your Spiritual Life, a course designed to prepare you spiritually and emotionally as you begin your biblical and theological studies. You have a desire to know more about the Bible and to develop your relationship with God. Sometimes forward movement can occur most effectively after a backward look.
Truth In A Taxi
One day when I was in downtown Chicago, I hailed a taxi. Once inside, I noticed several advertisements for a New Age guru posted on the seat in front of me. The driver claimed that this mystic was the “divine one” for our day. He believed that God appointed various leaders throughout the ages, and that Jesus had merely been the appointee for His time.
Let’s take a look at the ultimate culmination of history—Christ’s return
Friday, September 28, 2012, Part 2
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:9).
IDEA: We usually pray for Christ’s kingdom to come without thinking much about our view of history.
PURPOSE: To help listeners understand what they are praying for when they ask that God’s kingdom may come.
Day Unknown
To many Londoners, 1666 looked like the year when Jesus would return. Prophecy enthusiasts had added 1,000 years since Christ’s birth to 666, the number of Antichrist, to arrive at the date 1666.
What Jesus meant when He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:9).
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17).
IDEA: When we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” we are also praying that this will somehow affect how we as Christians live today.
PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that praying for Christ’s kingdom in the future also asks for our lives today.
Discover what it means to come out of the darkness and live as people of the light
Monday, September 24, 2012, Part 4
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:9).
IDEA: The kingdom is where the king is.
PURPOSE: To help listeners grasp the dimensions of Christ’s kingdom.
The challenges of living as responsible residents of two worlds
Friday, September 21, 2012, Part 3
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:9).
IDEA: The kingdom is where the king is.
PURPOSE: To help listeners grasp the dimensions of Christ’s kingdom.
Much Trouble
A young boy named Riley started a fight with Avery on the school playground after a soccer match. The teacher broke it up, and both boys were sent to the principal’s office. Later, Avery said, “And of course, like always, we both got in trouble.” But he shared that he learned a lesson: “God is always with us, even if we get in as much trouble as this.”
From Duty To Delight
Because of my wife’s busy schedule, sometimes she can commit only a limited amount of time every week to each of our grandchildren. When possible, however, she will rearrange her schedule to spend more time with them—not out of duty, but because she loves them. When I see her with them, I understand what the word delight means.
Discover timely encouragement on how to grow in prayer
Thursday, September 13, 2012, Part 1
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9).
IDEA: Perhaps the most important result of our prayers is that it helps us honor God.
PURPOSE: To help listeners pray with greater thought.
Flying Solo
May 20-21, 1927, marked a turning point in aviation history as Charles Lindbergh made the first-ever solo, nonstop, trans-Atlantic flight. There had been other flights across the Atlantic, but none were accomplished by a pilot flying alone. It was a historic achievement. When Lindbergh landed at Le Bourget Field in Paris, he was thronged by thousands of admirers applauding his success. And when he returned to America, he was further honored with parades and awards in celebration of his individualistic courage and spirit.
See how our view of God impacts our relationships
Wednesday, September 12, 2012, Part 7
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9)
IDEA: We can hallow God’s name in many ways in our lives.
PURPOSE: To help listeners realize the many different ways we can reverence God’s name.