Probably the most important issue in understanding prophecy is the question of whether it should be understood literally. One widespread assumption is that while ordinary Scripture can be interpreted in a literal manner, with terms retaining their natural meaning, prophetic portions of the Bible should be treated as a special case, with the literal or […]
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How We Got the Old Testament
The Content and Extent of the Old Testament Canon Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. —The apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 10:11) The use of the Old Testament Scriptures by the church has been the subject of […]
Read MoreLooking at the Big Picture . . . and Finding Hope
If you know a little about the birth of Jesus, it might be best for you to forget it and start from scratch. The Christmas story has been so sanitised and romanticised over the centuries that even Hollywood—as jaded a culture as can be found anywhere—always fails to capture the gritty pathos that surrounded Jesus’s […]
Read MoreFive Promises from a Shepherd to His Flock
A number of years ago, a friend dropped by my study. He’s a true friend, one who knows me well . . . and loves me, warts and all. He also speaks the truth in love, which is exactly what he did in the last twenty minutes of our visit that day. I could tell […]
Read MoreDiscoveries
“Can you see anything?” What a question to ask! Howard Carter’s mouth and eyes opened wide when his aide asked it. He had stuck his head into a timeless tomb. Beads of perspiration popped out on the British archaeologist’s brow. For six straight years, he had been digging. Endless trenches. Tons of rubble, rocks, and […]
Read MoreCharting the Course to Biblical Literacy
Christ’s church has fallen into a troubling rut. Studies show that Christians know less of the Bible than at any other time in recent history. The level of Bible knowledge has decreased even among our best and brightest. One administrator of more than 20 years at a Christian college noted, “Our assumption now is that […]
Read MoreBeing the Beatitudes
On the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee there is a hill, green and gently sloped and overlooking deep, blue waters. From this hill a panorama unfolds of the early ministry of Jesus—healing in nearby Capernaum, calling His first disciples to fish for men, and simple yet profound teaching that continues to change lives […]
Read MoreBasic Bible Study Tools
The more serious you become about personal Bible study, the more you will be aware of the importance of owning some good study tools. Numerous books are available today, some of which are listed below. You should form the habit of purchasing at least one study aid per month for your own library. 1. Bibles […]
Read MoreFamine
The word hangs like an awful omen in our heads. Mentally, we picture brutal, grotesque images. Cow’s ribs and hips protrude. Babies’ eyes are hollow. Bloated stomachs growl angrily. Skin stretches across faces tight as a trampoline. The outline of the skull slowly emerges. Joints swell. Grim, despairing stares replace smiles. Hope is gone . […]
Read MoreCool Scepticism
Nine-year-old Danny came bursting out of Sunday school like a wild stallion. His eyes were darting in every direction as he tried to locate either his mum or dad. Finally, after a quick search, he grabbed his daddy by the leg and yelled, “Man, that story of Moses and all those people crossing the Red […]
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