Jesus was the master teacher, and as such, he used stories to illustrate his teachings. One of his most familiar is the parable of the seeds and soils. For many of Jesus’ parables, his explanation is not recorded. But he explained this one privately to his disciples. But even with Jesus’ explanation, there have been various interpretations. So, how should we interpret and apply this most important story?
Jesus’ parable of the shrewd manager is a great story with an important lesson. But it’s a difficult one for many people. In it, Jesus used a dishonest and conniving character to illustrate an important spiritual principle. Why would he do that? And what is the principle he’s teaching?
To some people, the teachings of Jesus and those of the apostle Paul don’t always agree. Critics of the Bible and of the Christian faith like to point out what they see as glaring differences. Even solid believers are known to gravitate toward the teachings of either Jesus or Paul. But are Jesus and Paul really at odds? Is there a conflict between the two?
Prayer is such an important part of our relationship with God. But is there a right way to pray? Can prayer be misguided? If so, what can we use as a guide? Let’s look at how Jesus taught his disciples to pray to our Father.
The Pharisees and Sadducees play a very large part in the story of the gospel. Who were they and what did they believe? Why did Jesus confront them so strongly? And can we learn anything from this history? Are there any groups today who think and act in the same way?
“What is truth?” Pontius Pilate’s infamous question to Jesus during his trial seems sarcastic, maybe even cynical. Was he asking to find ultimate truth? No, probably not. But it’s a legitimate question—what is truth? Is it real, or just an illusory concept? Are there really absolutes as opposed to just ideas? And what is Christ’s kingdom of truth?
In the ancient world and even in many parts of the world today, farmers used animals to do the heavy work of plowing fields, carrying loads, and pulling carts. A wooden yoke connected the animal to the plow or load. When two animals were used, they were joined together by the yoke. Jesus used this most familiar farm implement to describe the relationship he has with those who trust and serve him.
People today are subject to such a quickly changing spiritual climate and theological landscape. Popular beliefs, music, worship styles, and even theology seem to change every year. What should we rely on for guidance? To rise above the confusion, we need to receive the new wine of Christ’s gospel and hold firmly to his teaching found in Scripture.
Are miracles of God possible? Many people in our society are skeptical. In this age of science, can we believe that God can really break into this physical world and supersede the laws of nature? And if so, why would he want to? Many also ask: “If miracles are possible, then why doesn’t God do them for me?”
What is God like? What are his characteristics? If we believe that there is a Creator, then this Creator must have certain attributes. The following lists give God’s most prominent eternal, character, and personal attributes with a brief explanation and Scripture for each. These attributes are referenced extensively in Christ in Scripture blog posts.
