From the category archives:

Bible Study

New Testament Commentaries: Compiling a Community Resource

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I’d like to form a resource for teachers, preachers, and students of the Bible.  What are some of the most helpful commentaries or study resources for the 27 books of the New Testament?
Please respond in the comments with the book, name of the commentary series (if that applies), and the author.  A sentence or two [...]

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Commitment In Relationships: A Lesson From Ruth

There once was a woman named Ruth, and she was a Moabite.  That is, she was from a mountainous strip of land in Jordan, then called “Moab.”  She can teach us a great deal about real, muscular commitment to relationships.
The Ruth of the Hebrew Scriptures made a commitment to Naomi, her mother-in-law, when her mother-in-law [...]

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The “Jealousy” of God

The idea that the God of the Bible is a “jealous” deity has always left me wandering.  On one hand, I kind of like that God is “jealous for me!”  It shows a passion and interest that is comforting (if not egocentric).  On the other hand, jealousy is not the most admirable emotion – it [...]

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Cycle of Grace

A common approach to life seems to be the cycle from “work” to “significance” to “success” to (the hope for) “acceptance.”  Something like this:

The key is that, for so many of us, the cycle begins in the “work” quadrant.  We feel the intense need to achieve in life.  Our identity is, all too often, based [...]

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An Image Worth Considering

An encouraging word for the weekend …
I’ve been studying the book of Colossians for several weeks now as part of a teaching series at The Bridge Community.  It’s a first century letter written to a young church, giving them a vision for life and faithfulness.  One of the significant passages in the book is Colossians [...]

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Who Am I? Why Am I Here?

In Luke 3:21-4:13, we read the story of Jesus’ baptism and temptation. After his baptism, during prayer, Jesus received affirmation from God regarding his identity and vocation. If you’re like me, maybe you’ve struggled with the questions, “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” Don’t you wish you could experience something dramatic [...]

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Scot McKnight on the Book of James

Beginning today over at Jesus Creed, Scot McKnight begins a Bible study on the book of James. In the past, Jesus Creed Bible studies have been devotional exercises for me, both because of Scot’s insight and the (generally) helpful, on-point discussion in the comments.
Check it out: http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2009/02/a-brothers-wisdom-1.html

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What Did Jesus Say?

I’ve read and heard these words hundreds of times.  They’re from one of Jesus’ most famous teachings.  These are words that are well integrated into the consciousness of western culture:
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
– Luke 6:27-28
As I read [...]

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