Hebrews 9 is one of the most significant chapters in the Bible that explains and applies the meaning of Christ’s death. It is filled with contrasts—the earthly with the heavenly, the temporal with the eternal, the old with the new, and many more. The Day of Atonement provides the backdrop…

I love a good mystery in any shape or form. Whether a classic novel, film, show, or game, mysteries are great at honing the skills of observation and deduction. My wife and I even recently participated in a murder mystery dinner party. While we didn’t successfully solve the crime, it…

We all know that one attribute Yahweh uses to reveal himself is “steadfast love” (hesed, cf. Ex. 34:6–7). The term is difficult to convey in English, so translations differ on how to express it. Should it be “lovingkindness” (ASV), “steadfast love” (ESV), “mercy” (KJV), “faithfulness” (NASB), or simply “love” (NIV)?…

After the stoning of Stephen at the end of the Acts 7, the church in Jerusalem faced fierce persecution and fled throughout the surrounding regions. While the opponents of the church were seeking to destroy it, their intense persecution actually helped spread the word. Those who fled Jerusalem did not…

Jesus’ discussion with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in John 4 is an extraordinary conversation. It comes on the heels of his private discussion with Nicodemus in John 3:1–15 about the need for new birth. John applies his statement that “God so loved the world” (3:16) immediately as Jesus breaks the…

Have you ever considered the connection between corporate prayer and the mission of God? While many of our churches include corporate prayer in our gatherings, we can miss the overarching purpose of it and how it relates to the overarching purpose of God. How does corporate prayer relate to God’s…