READ JOHN 3:31–36 The phrase “I believe” is repeated several times in the Apostles’ Creed. It’s believed that the apostles developed a statement of faith to give churches doctrinal direction and foundation. Today, the Apostles’ Creed is cited in poetry, music, and a variety of services as a reminder of the early faith of the
READ LUKE 7:24–30 Imagine that the famous nineteenth-century evangelist D. L. Moody came forward in time to speak at your church. You hear he’s certainly different, and that’s evident in his appearance and way of speaking. Still, the church is filled. Could it be because Mr. Moody is different from your usual minister? Whatever it
READ LUKE 3:10–14,21,22 Recently I tried to set up my perfect home office. I found there were barriers. For example, the room was too small to install a large office desk or the cozy recliner I wanted. That left me with a worktable and an old rocking chair. However, I soon realized that since these
READ LUKE 3:1–9 What does the street sign “Dead End” really mean? Of course, it designates a street that just ends, and requires drivers to turn around. One form of a dead-end street is a cul-de-sac, where drivers can reverse direction by driving in a loop. He went into all the country around the Jordan,
READ MARK 1:1–8 In 2008 when an Iraqi journalist threw a shoe at President George W. Bush during a press conference, the Arab world understood the gesture was a serious insult. In their culture, footwear is often considered offensive because of the connection to the feet, which touch the ground. John the Baptist used similar
READ MATTHEW 28:16–20 “I hope I can pull this off,” Cindy whispered to Sue from where they stood just off stage. “I know it’s only a small part, but I still—” “You’ll do fine,” Sue interrupted. “And since we’re in this scene together, I’ll help you if you need it. Okay, here we go! And
READ EZEKIEL 47:1–5 In a detailed vision spanning multiple chapters of the book bearing his name, the prophet Ezekiel is taken by an angelic presence on a tour of God’s holy Temple and the activities that would take place there. The Temple tour ends with a remarkable sight. The man brought me back to the
READ ISAIAH 1:10–17 He was flat on his back in a hospital bed, but he could not understand why. He attended every doctor’s appointment. He bought every prescription and read every journal, but a heart attack laid him out. Maybe it was because he never actually took those medicines or followed the advice in those
READ NUMBERS 19:13–19 History is replete with figures whose greatness reverberates through the centuries. Sometimes people want a piece of that greatness for themselves. A recent auction allowed people to bid on items that would be considered mundane had they not belonged to figures of distinction. A letter from George Washington sold for $275,000, and
READ NUMBERS 19:7–12 Some say there are two kinds of jobs: the kind where you wash before work and the kind where you wash after. In ancient Israel, the men presenting sacrifices to the Lord of Hosts had both. “The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and
