Retreat and Return

“About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus […]

Is It Ok To Talk to God About Our Anger?

Article from the Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition Several psalms shock those familiar with New Testament teachings. The psalmists didn’t hesitate to demand God’s justice and make vivid suggestions on how he might carry it out. Apparently, no subject was unsuitable for discussion with God, but our tendency is to avoid the subjects of […]

What Is Your Story?

Our lives are filled with moments. Moments of joy. Moments of sadness. Moments of agony. Moments of exhilaration. Moments when life is mundane, and sweet moments of simplicity and rest. All these moments are integral to our individual stories. Stories that intersect and diverge from others. Stories that have peaks and valleys. A story of […]

Unlikely Heroes

Judges Book Introduction from the Life Application Study Bible, 3rd Edition Real Heroes are hard to find these days, thanks in large part to social media, which has made the foibles and weaknesses of our leaders all too apparent. We search in vain for men and women to emulate. The music, movie, and sports industries […]

John the Baptist

Personality Profile taken from the Life Application Study Bible There’s no getting around it—John the Baptist was unique. He wore odd clothes and ate strange food and preached an unusual message to the Judeans who went out to the wastelands to see him.But John did not aim at uniqueness for its own sake. Instead, he […]

Is It Ok To Make Fun of Someone?

Taken from the Boys Life Application Study Bible Is it okay to make fun of someone who deserves it? This question has a simple answer: No. Do you want some proof? “You should not have gloated when they exiled your relatives to distant lands. You should not have rejoiced when the people of Judah suffered […]

How to Use the Gifts God Has Given You

Note from the Life Application Study Bible “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a […]

Going Beyond Content

For Nate, Christianity was just something you did—you go to church, you try to do good, and you just live your life. He was happy. He had an amazing wife, two energetic and wonderful kids, and found fulfillment in his job as a police officer. “I complained to my wife that I didn’t understand the […]