When We Understand The Text
In Matthew 5:3, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Is that what Jesus said? Blessed are the poor? No, He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” But you probably hear it the other way more often than you hear it the right way. “Wwutt?! In Luke …
In Matthew 5:3, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Is that what Jesus said? Blessed are the poor? No, He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” but you probably hear it the other way more often than you hear it the right way. The poor in …
“Believe in yourself,” is the most common moral to just about every kids movie and TV show out there. And it’s not just for kids. This mantra is for adults, too! Believing in yourself often means that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. But that’s not true. There are …
Have you ever been in a prayer group and someone prays for a hedge of protection? “Lord, we pray a hedge of protection around Lundeen and her family.” A hedge of protection? Like bushes? Why not pray for a fortress with a moat around it and armed sentries? Is the devil allergic to certain …
“When God closes a door, He opens a window.” Log that one among everyone’s favorite Bible verses not found in the Bible. Where does this saying come from anyway? Well, you can thank Rogers and Hammerstein for the phrase the way we have it. In “The Sound of Music,” the main character Maria says, …
Cleanliness is next to godliness. It’s true! Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts you double-minded.” Now the phrase itself, …
“Money is the root of all evil” is not in the Bible. Come on, you can think of sins you’ve done money had nothing to do with. Money is not evil. People are. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this …
Legend has it that Gandhi once told a group of missionaries, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” There are two problems with this quote. One is that Gandhi did not actually like the Christ of the Bible. And two, Gandhi did not say …
“Don’t be so heavenly minded that you’re of no earthly good.” Have you ever heard that expression before? It is a lie from the pit of hell. More accurately, don’t be so earthly minded that you’re of no heavenly good. Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all …
In Revelation 3, Jesus rebuked the church at Laodicea for becoming complacent in their faith. “I know your works,” he said. “You are neither hot nor cold. So because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Now, it’s often interpreted that being hot is having passion for God and cold …