One could easily be overwhelmed and confused by the many different translations available these days. The Scriptures were originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, which makes translation necessary—but why are there so many? And are they really all that different? Is one better than...
When we encounter the Bible, we are encountering God. Through His Word, we are reproved, corrected, and trained in the way we should go; it defines and directs our lives. Will you listen to how God is speaking to you through His Word today or...
After last week’s warning from Hebrews 3, I clearly identify my natural tendency to harden my heart in virtually every area of my life. In verse 7, we hear that warning again: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” Here, the writer...
In the opening verses of Hebrews 2, the author warns Christians of their ongoing responsibility to hold close the message of Jesus. He warns that if we do not continually process the hope of the gospel, we may drift away from the Truth. We must...
When we pray, we speak or think in real, concrete language. How does God reply to us if He doesn’t use an actual voice; how can we be sure a “still small voice” or something similar isn’t just our mind making up what we desperately...
Recently while sitting in my home office, I glanced over at the bookshelf and noticed several dozen journals that I've kept over the years. In those journals are prayers for my husband and children, details of both joyful and difficult life experiences, my successes and...
This weekend brought to a conclusion our series on Esther, an orphaned Jewish castaway whose improbable rise to Queen of the Persian Empire became an instrumental piece in the preservation of the Jewish people. As we examine the last two chapters, an initial decree from...
Despite Haman's death, Esther and Mordecai still have work to do, as Haman's decree that all Jews are to be annihilated from the land still remains. Esther's compassion for her people drives her to plead for them before the King and points us to Jesus'...
In chapter 5, Esther has now grasped the eventual inevitability of her own death, a prospect which moves her, not to fear, but to freedom and action. Having resolved to go to the king’s hall in order to prevent Haman’s plot to kill the Jews,...
As Esther 4 opens, Mordecai has just learned of the king’s edict for the destruction of the Jews. He immediately goes into mourning and begins fasting, weeping, and lamenting. Esther, still unaware of all that had occurred between Haman and the king, sends new clothes...
In the final verses of the second chapter of Esther, Mordecai learns of a plot to kill the king and immediately alerts Esther of the danger. Esther in turn warns the king in Mordecai’s name, and when all is found to be true, Mordecai and...
This past weekend we were led through our second week of teaching in the book of Esther. The story of Esther is one that mirrors our own normal lives in terms of seeming randomness, logic, and complexity. What is helpful for us to recognize is...
This week, Matt kicks off the new series in Esther by teaching through the first chapter of the book. Though Esther does not explicitly mention God, it contains powerful lessons about divine sovereignty. It presents a narrative that clearly displays the transcendence of God’s plan...
We all want to know and understand the Bible better, but when it comes to putting all the pieces together and making sense of the bigger story of Scripture, things can get complicated. How do we glean the meaning and message of a particular book?...