Category: Bible Study

“To one he disbursed five thousand silver pieces, to a second two thousand, and to a third a thousand.” –Matthew 25:15 Parables are often misinterpreted. It’s easy to miss the punch line by getting bogged down in details. For example, the parable about the corrupt judge and persistent widow can be misunderstood so that we think God is unwilling to show His love for us. However, the parable intends to show just the opposite. The Lord will not delay long but will give us swift justice (Lk 18:7-8). Likewise, the parable of the talents is not about investments, interest, or...

“It is God’s will that you grow in holiness.” –1 Thessalonians 4:3 The Lord told Paul to tell the Thessalonian Christians to grow in holiness (see 1 Thes 4:3) and to please God by their conduct even more than before (1 Thes 4:1). The Lord expects and delights to see His children grow holy in every aspect of their conduct (1 Pt 1:15). In fact, the Lord probably wants us to have a growth spurt in the last part of this year. Little children and teenagers commonly grow several inches in a short time. Likewise, we who are God’s children...

“You must be prepared.” –Matthew 24:44 Jesus is coming back to take us with Him (Jn 14:3). No one can know the exact day or hour of Jesus’ return (Mt 24:42). He will return at the time we least expect (Mt 24:44). Therefore, we must be always ready. We are ready for Jesus’ second and final coming when: 1) We are faithful, farsighted servants (Mt 24:45). 2) We are working to feed people physically and/or spiritually (Mt 24:46). 3) Our hearts have been strengthened and made blameless and holy (1 Thes 3:13). 4) We have accepted Jesus’ salvation (2 Pt...

“We thank God constantly that in receiving His message from us you took it, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.” –1 Thessalonians 2:13 The preaching of Paul and Silas at Thessalonica was taken “not as the word of men, but…the word of God” (1 Thes 2:13). Paul said: “Our preaching of the gospel proved not a mere matter of words for you but one of power; it was carried on in the Holy Spirit and out of complete conviction” (1 Thes 1:5). The Thessalonians’ faith in God was celebrated throughout every...

“Do you believe just because…” –John 1:50 “When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, He remarked: ‘This man is a true Israelite. There is no guile in him’ ” (Jn 1:47). Nathanael asked Jesus, “How do You know me?” (Jn 1:48) This is a revealing response. The typical response to a total stranger would be to ask: “How do you know this information about me?” Yet Nathanael asked: “How do You know me?” The brief encounter between Nathanael and Jesus resulted in a supernatural knowledge, a binding of hearts, a joining of the divine and the human. Nathanael (Bartholomew) had...