Paul’s letter to the Romans is an inspired masterpiece of doctrine highlighting God’s grace, truth, and redemption. Within its pages, the apostle shares his message of good news and eternal salvation
David is known as Israel’s greatest king, but he was certainly not a super-hero. He had to fight many difficult battles to establish his throne, and when he did become king, he committed murder, adult
Solomon is known as the wisest man who ever lived. His writings in the Old Testament range from practical, pithy proverbs to beautiful romantic poetry--and all are filled with his knowledge and insigh
It took more than forty years of wandering, but finally the nation of Israel was ready to enter the land that God had promised to them. However, they knew that arriving at the borders was just the beg
The times of the judges were turbulent days in Israel’s history, marked by a continuing cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. In time, the people of Israel decided they would do bette
Though attempting to live a transformed life by the power of the Holy Spirit, the church in Ephesus was immersed in an evil culture and surrounded by sin and pagan ways. Discouraged believers needed a
The New Testament launches with an eyewitness account of the events of Jesus’ life from Matthew, a former despised tax collector who experienced a radical conversion and became one of Jesus’ own disci
The Gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus from a perspective unlike any other. As a physician, Luke presents a detailed account of Jesus’ conception and birth. As a meticulous historian, he highligh
The Gospel of John is filled with profound truths and rich spiritual stories. Stories of Christ’s miracles that inspire His followers; stories of a death that redeems the lost; and stories of a resurr
Where did we come from? Why is there pain and suffering? Who committed the first murder? Why are there so many languages in the world? The first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis have the answers
Abraham is known as the “father of Israel” because God appeared to him and promised that his descendants would become a great nation. Yet Abraham is much more than the patriarch of a select group of a
Although the descendants of Jacob moved to Egypt as honored guests, in time they became despised slaves groaning under the mistreatment of Pharaoh. In response to the people’s cries, God called a man
As the gospel spreads to the far corners of the earth, the apostle Paul is under mounting pressure to provide doctrinal direction to maturing churches before they go astray. The Corinthian church in p
After spending eighteen months in Corinth helping to establish a church, the apostle Paul moved on in his mission to build more churches in Asia Minor. But back in Corinth, false teachers began to inf
Like a tender shepherd, Paul wrote the letters of 1 & 2 Thessalonians to the church he founded in Thessalonica, a huge city in Macedonia. These were friends he knew, loved, and missed. His purpose
The people of Israel were carried away to Babylon, where they lived as exiles and outcasts. God sent this judgment on His people because of their continued unfaithfulness to His word—but the day came
Timothy was a close associate of Paul who was facing problems within the church that he was leading in Ephesus. In these personal letters, Paul gives practical pastoral instruction to his protege, hig
Many of God’s people through the ages have been called to endure times of hardship, loneliness, and suffering. Some, such as Daniel and Esther, were even members of a race carried away to a foreign la
The Gospel of Mark, more than any other Gospel, gives us precious glimpses into Christ’s humanity. Jesus amazes His followers—those in the past as well as His disciples today—as He teaches, heals, per
The apostle James, the oldest half-brother of Jesus, was a key leader in the Jerusalem church. During the early days of the young church, the Jewish believers had been scattered by persecution. Out of
Believers in the early church scattered across the Roman Empire were facing the threat of increased persecution. Peter, the most outspoken of the disciples and leader among the apostles, wrote two pra
The book of Revelation unveils Jesus Christ in glory. The apostle John wrote this letter to the churches in Asia Minor who were feeling the overwhelming effects of persecution from all sides. This boo
Luke wrote the book of Acts as a testament to the explosive spread of the gospel and the rapid growth of the church after Christ’s ascension. Beginning with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentec
An urgent letter to the early churches in Asia Minor, Galatians expresses Paul’s concern for the spiritual welfare of the early believers. The central doctrine of Christianity was being undermined and
In the midst of persecution and rejection, the Jewish believers, who had come from a background of legalism and works, were tempted to hold onto symbols, rituals, and traditions that were grounded in
The people in the city of Philippi who received this letter from their friend, Paul, were suffering from two of Christianity’s greatest adversaries: self-sufficiency and complacency. While writing thi
“Jesus is the only way” can be an unpopular stand for Christians to take in our contemporary culture. But dangerous false teachings against Jesus Christ are not new. The Colossian church dealt with th
During the time of the divided kingdom, both the nation of Israel in the north and Judah in the south witnessed great miracles and great failures as their kings vacillated between serving God and foll
Nearly half the book of Genesis is devoted to the lives of Jacob and his twelve sons, who were important figures in the history of Israel and in the history of the Christian church. The account of the
“I heard Jesus speak,” John writes. “I saw him . . . I even touched him.” Just as we would write about someone we knew and loved, John tells us the truth about the Savior. In the face of false teachin
Under King Solomon the Israelites had been a united people, but that all changed when his foolish son Rehoboam came to power. In the days that followed, the nation divided into two separate kingdoms.
