Is formal study of Scripture different to personal devotional reading? How do we keep them separate? Should we? How do I balance my academic reading of Scripture with my devotional reading? It’s a question I get from friends, students and pastors. I understand why: if we read the Bible only to write papers or deliver… Continue reading Academic or devotional? How do you read?
Author: Crossmap Blogs
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The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Plea for Forgiveness
This post was first published in March, 2015. —ed. Because of the physical rigors of crucifixion, Christ spoke only with great difficulty during His final hours on the cross. Scripture records just seven brief sayings from the Savior on the cross, but every one of them reveals that Christ remained sovereignly in control, even as… Continue reading The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Plea for Forgiveness
The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Promise of Salvation
This post was first published in March, 2015. —ed. You may have heard stories of immediate answers to prayer. A destitute family thanks the Lord for a non-existent meal, and someone knocks at the door with food. A man with an empty bank account prays for help, and immediately finds an unexpected check in the… Continue reading The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Promise of Salvation
The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Provision for His Mother
This post was first published in March, 2015. —ed. In the midst of His greatest anguish, Christ’s attention was not on Himself and His needs. Even as He hung on the cross, beaten and bleeding to death, His focus was on all that His Father was accomplishing—we see that illustrated in each of His seven… Continue reading The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Provision for His Mother
The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Petition to the Father
This post was first published in March, 2015. —ed. Famous last words can be tragic or inspiring. Not everyone has the opportunity to choose their last words carefully, but for those who see death coming, what message of wisdom, love, confession, or summation do they deliver with their final breaths? In preparation for the celebrations… Continue reading The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Petition to the Father
Jonah: The Rogue Prophet
This post was first published in March, 2015. —ed. The sea is no place to go for peace and quiet. Modern meteorology has documented the destructive power rogue waves, tropical cyclones, microbursts, and other weather phenomena that pose unique threats to ships at sea. But the storm described in the first chapter of Jonah was… Continue reading Jonah: The Rogue Prophet
Why I Still Preach the Bible
This post was first published in January, 2014. —ed. Sadly and ironically, in its attempt to achieve cultural relevance, mainstream evangelicalism has become essentially irrelevant. As Os Guiness points out, [1] the seductive promise of “relevance” is, in reality, the road to irrelevance. When the church markets itself like the world, the distinctiveness of its message is… Continue reading Why I Still Preach the Bible
Backsliding inspirational Bible quotes to empower you
Reading inspirational Bible quotes is crucial to our faith. In spirituality, backsliding holds significant importance. “Backsliding” refers to a spiritual regression, falling away from one’s faith, returning to old ways, or drifting away from a close relationship with God. The Bible provides profound insights into the nature and consequences of backsliding, urging believers to be… Continue reading Backsliding inspirational Bible quotes to empower you
Best inspirational deep quotes to make your life meaningful
Reading inspirational deep quotes brings meaning to our lives. Most of us are caught in the daily humdrum of our existence. We thrive in a routine world – work, eat, sleep, and repeat. As a result, we constantly search for a deep and true meaning in life. We yearn for purpose, a sense of fulfillment… Continue reading Best inspirational deep quotes to make your life meaningful
Positivity inspirational Bible quotes for husbands
In a world of chaos and uncertainty, positivity inspirational bible quotes greatly help husbands fulfill their roles as embodied in the Scriptures. Do we see a glass of water as half-empty or half-full? Having a positive outlook in life is essential and beneficial. According to Johns Hopkins expert Lisa R. Yanek, M.P.H, “People with a family… Continue reading Positivity inspirational Bible quotes for husbands