Topic > Christian Beliefs
Not One Sparrow
My mother, so dignified and proper her entire life, now lay in a hospice bed, held captive by debilitating age. Struggling for breath, her declining condition contradicted the gorgeous spring day that danced invitingly on the other side of the windowpane.
All the emotional preparation in the world cannot sufficiently brace us for the stark reality of goodbye. Death is such an indignity! I thought.
I diverted my gaze to the birdfeeder outside the window. A grosbeak flitted close to help itself to some seed. Instantly a familiar phrase popped into my mind: “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground…
Finding contentment
Today on Discover the Word, the group will conclude a series of conversations about how we may have been, “Misunderstanding Martha”! The discussion is centered on contentment and how we can learn to act out of the gifting God has given us. Are you comfortable with who God made you to be? Listen today to […]
Navigating Rough Waters
I was enjoying the start of my first whitewater rafting experience—until I heard the roar of the rapids up ahead. My emotions were flooded with feelings of uncertainty, fear, and insecurity at the same time. Riding through the whitewater was a first-rate, white-knuckle experience! And then, suddenly, it was over. The guide in the back of the raft had navigated us through. I was safe—at least until the next set of rapids.
Transitions in our lives can be like whitewater experiences. The inevitable leaps from one season of life to the next—college to career, changing jobs, living with parents to living…
Confident expectations
Jesus wants to give you lasting hope! And today on Discover the Word, we are back in the Gospels, looking at Martha—someone who might be called one of the Bible’s most misunderstood characters! There’s another side to this woman that shows how biblical hope goes beyond just a wish, to confident expectation. Listen today to […]
We Believe in God
This course briefly surveys what theologians call theology proper or the doctrine of God. It deals with questions such as: Who is God? What are his attributes? What is his eternal plan? What are his works in history? At the most fundamental level, the Scriptures were given to teach us about who God is and what he has done for us. In fact, knowing God is essential for us to understand ourselves and our world. This course is based on the lecture series, We Believe in God, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and hosted by Rev. Dr. Thurman Williams with…
When “getting the job done” takes a back seat
“I could use a little help here!” Yeah, when there’s work to be done, no one likes to see someone just sitting around! But are there times when “getting the job done” isn’t the most necessary thing? Today, the Discover the Word team uncovers the “whole story” about a familiar story in the Bible where […]
Praying: For whose ears?
Palms sweaty, heart racing, mind on overdrive. No, it’s not nervousness over an impending exam or presentation, but, well . . . praying with others.
A defining moment
Today on Discover the Word, the group will continue this week’s study about Martha, the sister who may have been terribly misunderstood. We’re looking at one of the defining moments in Martha’s life that leaves her changed forever. Grab a seat in the fourth chair and listen today to Discover the Word!
“Misunderstanding Martha”
Do you ever feel misunderstood? Then you might be able to empathize with one of Jesus’s close friends when He was on earth—Martha. Today on Discover the Word, join the group as they open up Luke chapter 10 to uncover how we might have been, “Misunderstanding Martha” this whole time. Listen to Discover the Word today!
Blink and Think of God
“God is like an eyelid,” my friend Ryley said, and I blinked in surprise. What could she mean by that?
“Tell me more,” I replied. Together, we had been studying surprising pictures of God in the Bible together, things like God as a laboring mother (Isa. 42:14) or as a beekeeper (7:18), but this one was new to me. Ryley pointed me to Deuteronomy 32, where Moses praises the way God takes care of His people. Verse 10 says that God shields and protects His people, guarding them “as the apple of his eye.”
But the word we translate apple, Ryley tells…
Seeing God
Caricature artists set up their easels in public places and draw pictures of people who are willing to pay a modest price for a humorous image of themselves. Their drawings amuse us because they exaggerate one or more of our physical features in a way that is recognizable but funny.
Caricatures of God, on the other hand, are not funny. Exaggerating one of His attributes presents a distorted view that people easily dismiss. Like a caricature, a distorted view of God is not taken seriously. Those who see God portrayed only as an angry and demanding judge are easily lured away…
Finding the Way Out
There’s a street with an intriguing name in the city of Santa Barbara, California. It’s called “Salsipuedes,” which means “leave if you can.” When the street was first named, the area bordered on a marsh that sometimes flooded, and the Spanish-speaking city planners dubbed the location with a not-so-subtle warning to stay away. God’s Word […]
Doing the right thing
Have you ever wondered, “What do I do next?” Well, today on Discover the Word, we end the weeklong discussion with John Townsend by talking about doing the next right thing. It’s part of the series called “The Entitlement Cure.” Join the team today on Discover the Word!
Keeping your promises
“Sure, I can make it to lunch with you today . . . unless something better comes along.” Ever been tempted to respond to an invitation that way? Have you ever had to make a choice in a situation like that? Today on Discover the Word, the team is joined by best-selling author John Townsend to […]
Clothed by God
When my kids were toddlers, they would play outside in our sodden English garden and quickly become covered in mud and dirt. For their good and the good of my floor, I’d remove their clothes at the door and wrap them in towels before sticking them in the bath. They’d soon move from dirty to clean with the addition of soap, water, and hugs.
In a vision given to Zechariah, we see Joshua, a high priest, covered in rags that represent sin and wrongdoing (Zech. 3:3). But the Lord makes him clean, removing his filthy clothes and covering him in rich…
