Category: Bible

You can build better family traditions

You can build better family traditions

Every family falls into patterns of doing things. It can be something minor, like placing the cups in the cupboard upside down when you have washed and dried them. Or it might be something major, like a pattern of responding to disagreements with anger or resentment with little forgiveness or grace. Some families value sport …

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Looking forward to Jesus’ coming

Looking forward to Jesus’ coming

Can you remember looking forward to your birthday or Christmas morning as a small child? It is terribly exciting to know that, in a few short days, you will be opening presents and celebrating. There will be food and special activities to take part in. It will be a time of great joy that is …

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Not dividing over little things, but seeking justice and mercy

Not dividing over little things, but seeking justice and mercy

Christians often disagree on things. That’s to be expected, of course. If we encourage people to read the Bible for themselves, they will draw different conclusions. You can find different opinions on baptism, spiritual gifts, church government, what will happen at the end of time, whether alcohol is OK for Christians, birth control, and many …

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What should we make of Jesus’ harsh language in Matthew 23?

What should we make of Jesus’ harsh language in Matthew 23?

In Matthew 23, Jesus speaks very harshly to the scribes and Pharisees. As he outlines seven woes on them, Jesus calls them “hypocrites” and “blind” quite a few times. He goes much further than this as well, calling them “children of hell” (v15), “whitewashed tombs” (v27) and a “brood of vipers” (v33). This is somewhat …

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Be careful what you permit (2 Kings 15-16)

Be careful what you permit (2 Kings 15-16)

Have you heard of the “slippery slope” argument? It is the assertion that if you permit one thing, that will lead to other things being permitted. You see this kind of argument used every time a new type of law is introduced. There are those who think that this argument is flawed, that permitting one …

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