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Commonplace Democracy There are only six countries on earth that do not claim to be democratic. Four are on the Arabian peninsula: Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. One is Brunei, which has technically been under martial law since 1962. The other is the Vatican City. The rest of the world’s sovereign states hold some sort of elections.

Ponder the Eternal Danger A few years ago, I spoke to a high school student body on how to fight lust. One of my points was called, “Ponder the eternal danger of lust.” I quoted the words of Jesus that it’s better to go to heaven with one eye than to hell with two and said to the students that their eternal destiny was at stake in what they did with their eyes and with the thoughts of their imagination.

Let Your Heart Cheer You in the Days of Your Youth “Let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth” (Eccl. 11:9)—I love that. Here’s why. The Bible is saying, in effect: This barbaric world has no right to poison your heart. God looks upon “the days of your youth” with joy. And how God sees you is how you really are. You don’t have to invent enjoyment. It’s built in. Let it in. There will be time enough later on for bearing heavy burdens and overcoming impossible odds—of course.

Happiness for the Long Haul In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his followers, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). In the immediate context, Jesus was teaching on anxiety and worry, telling his disciples that their heavenly Father knew what they needed before they even asked him.

Jesus’s Humanity and Divinity Jesus, interestingly, never refers to himself as the Son of God. Other people mention him in those terms, but his favorite self-designation is actually Son of Man. And I think that is largely because Jesus is moving along the passageway of his life in light of all that God the Father has planned for him.

Illustrated by Don Clark ... Show All Format: Paperback Crossway+ members receive 30% off books. Learn more. Availability: In Stock Retail Price: $34.99 Other Books in This Series: Illustrated by Don Clark ... Show All Bring Biblical Discipleship Home with The Biggest Story Curriculum, Now in a User-Friendly Workbook for Families Early Bible literacy begins at home, but where do you start? Families need simple, engaging lessons that teach kids about Scripture from beginning to end.

Too Much Suffering? During a severe trial, you can almost count on a fellow believer saying, “Remember, God will never give you more than you can handle.” It’s usually meant to comfort, but often it does the opposite. For someone already overwhelmed, it can sound like a quiet accusation: If you’re struggling, maybe you’re failing. Many Christians connect that saying to 1 Corinthians 10:13, where Paul writes: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.

The Idea of a Mediator What is a mediator? A person might first think of all of human beings who act as middlemen between two parties. Priests in the Old Testament mediated between God and man. More precisely, Aaron and his sons were appointed as priests to mediate between God and his people Israel. Melchizedek is also named as a priest: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) (Gen.

But Is This Good News? God takes great pleasure in obedience, but can we? Is it good news to hear that God is pleased by obedience? Or is this a burden we thought we had escaped when we heard the gospel of forgiveness and justification by faith? I believe it is good news that God delights in obedience. There are at least four reasons. First, God’s pleasure in obedience is good news because it means he is praiseworthy and reliable. If God did not delight in obedience, he would be a living contradiction.

Cloth over Board, Flowers Design Wide, Ruled Margins in This ESV Bible Invite You to Creatively Engage with God’s Word The ESV Journaling Bible provides the perfect way for you to keep a journal of your spiritual life right inside the Bible that you read and study every day. This edition features a sturdy cover and the words of Christ in red, along with 2-inch ruled margins for writing observations, reflections, prayers, praises, and sermon notes.