Suffering is inescapable. Some people battle sickness – relentless pain, clinical depression, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, cancer. Others wrestle with the mental anguish caused by childhood abuse, death, family turmoil, or divorce. In developing countries human suffering often means hunger, lack of medical care, and the endless nightmare of civil war or oppressive dictatorship.…

Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, was a leper. After hearing from a Hebrew captive in his household that a prophet in Samaria could cure leprosy, Naaman traveled to Israel and arrived at Elisha’s door. The man of God instructed the decorated general to “go and wash in the Jordan seven times” (2 Kings 5:10).…

By Brent Smith [Brent is the preaching minister of the Trenton Church of Christ in Trenton, TN.] Is a child born with guilt inherited from dad and mom? God answers with a resounding “No.” In the 18th chapter of his prophetic book, Ezekiel says that “the soul who sins shall die. The son shall not…

(Author Unknown) In my adult Bible class on Sunday morning, I read a letter written to Abigail Van Buren by a woman in Georgia. She explained to the famous advice columnist that her mother and her friends were polite to each other’s faces but habitually critical behind turned backs. The mother defended the behavior as…

After his resurrection Jesus told the disciples that his death had been predicted in the Old Testament. He said that “everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). Surely, the second psalm was one of the passages Jesus had in mind. Psalm 2…

Philip the evangelist found the Ethiopian treasury secretary, a eunuch, on the desert road leading from Jerusalem down to Gaza. The man was riding in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah. At the traveler’s invitation, Philip climbed into the chariot and began teaching him. His success with the eunuch suggests a seven-point plan for reaching…

“The Old Rugged Cross Made the Difference” is a provocative song written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. “‘Twas a life filled with aimless desperation,” the first stanza begins, “Without hope walked the shell of a man; Then a hand with a nailprint stretched downward, Just one touch then a new life began.” The phrase “shell…

“Thank you for inviting me to church, but I’m not much of a church-goer. I am a pretty good person, though. Fact is, I’m a little better than some of the people you go to church with.” Has anyone ever told you something like this? Many people in the world are indeed “good.” They obey…

Is there something lacking in your Bible class? Is it as engaging or convicting as it could be? Do you find yourself attending Bible class out of habit or compulsion, but not much else? Are you a teacher who feels burned out, ill-trained, or unqualified? Is it tough putting together a lesson each week? Are…