HAGGAI 2:15–23 Upon meeting my new friend, I noticed a ring on his finger. With time, I learned that the ring revealed his family’s history through an engraved family crest, making it a unique and meaningful experience. Haggai, the prophet, urged God’s people to start rebuilding the temple after being exiled. Haggai’s message included God’s promise … [Read more…]
JOHN 1:1–14 Space Shuttle astronaut Charles Frank Bolden Jr. experienced a significant change in his perspective on Earth when he first went into space and viewed it from four hundred miles. He saw the Earth as peaceful and beautiful from space. He later travelled to the Middle East, where he was shaken into reality by … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 14:13–23 I was helping in the children’s church, and it was a busy morning. There were perhaps a dozen small toddlers playing and talking. The place was so busy that I had to prop the door open because it was getting stuffy. When he thought no one was watching, a small child took advantage … [Read more…]
HEBREWS 11:32–12:3 The words “HOME OF THE 12TH MAN” are displayed prominently at the Texas A&M football stadium. Although each team is only permitted to field eleven players, thousands of A&M students stand the whole game to support their side, a phenomenon known as the “12th Man.” The origins of the custom may be traced … [Read more…]
ROMANS 15:1–7 His leg was stuck between a commuter car and the platform while he was getting on a train. Almost fifty passengers lined up and, on a count of three, pushed against the train when safety officials were unable to remove him. Together, they managed to move the weight just enough to release his leg. … [Read more…]
MARK 1:16–22 Jacob Davis, a tailor during the Gold Rush in the 1800s, used tent cloth from a dry goods company owned by Levi Strauss to create blue jeans. This heavy, sturdy material, which was used for gold miners’ work pants, became the basis for denim jeans, which have since become one of the most … [Read more…]
PHILIPPIANS 2:1–11 Many people are obsessed with fame, either by being famous themselves or following the lives of famous people through international tours, late-night shows, and millions of social media followers. A US study ranked famous individuals using an internet-scoured algorithm, with Jesus as the most famous person in history. Jesus was not concerned about obtaining … [Read more…]
GALATIANS 6:2–10 Brethren from a local church distributed food to a low-income area during a cold evening, amidst a woman’s overjoyed response to the food, showcasing her bare cupboard as an answer to her prayers. One of them started crying as they made their way back to the church. “That woman was my Sunday school … [Read more…]
COLOSSIANS 3:12–17 Last year, my students engaged in a game where they had to name something they were thankful for without repeating someone else’s words. Students who might complain about issues like tests, deadlines, and rules chose to be thankful and likely felt better after the game than if they had chosen to complain. This choice … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 2:1-12 The original wise men were not Jews. They were pagan astrologers from the east, known as the Magi. They were respected and scholarly Gentile scientists, likely serving as priests or court advisors. They wanted to uncover the mysterious star in the heavens, which they believed was a newborn king. They followed the star to … [Read more…]
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