Right before Jesus’ farewell discourse to prepare the disciples for his death and departure from the community (John 14:1–17:26), Jesus gives them a deceptively simple commandment: “Love one another.” He doesn’t...

Have you ever read a Choose Your Own Adventure book? As the name suggests, you make decisions along the way that determine how the story ends. Sometimes it is clear what...

The Bible is not a novel or a mystery story that is ruined by reading the ending first. Nearly everyone now knows the story of Jesus before they read the Bible,...

The period between Easter and Pentecost is referred to by some Christians as the Great Fifty Days. It is often a time for followers of Jesus to contemplate and practice how...

“Are you kidding us, Peter?” The circumcised early Christians criticized Peter and demanded he explain why he dared to eat with “those Gentiles,” who might have accepted the word of God...

Who would not want God to wipe every tear from their eyes and remove causes for mourning, crying, and grieving—even death—from their life? The visions that the narrator describes include the...

Psalm 148 is a thorough source of guidance for anyone who ever wonders why, when, where, or how to praise God. Whether down in the pit or up in heaven, everyone...

The final part of this passage echoes Psalm 23. There will be no more hunger or thirst or pain. The shepherd will provide shelter, protection, nourishment, refreshment, and comfort. There is,...

This is a heartwarming passage for a city girl! Heaven is multicultural and densely populated. The palm branches—a symbol of victory and thanksgiving—remind us of the crowds who sang praises as...

Which comes first for a Christian disciple: believing or belonging? I believe that belonging is the starting point. Jesus calls his disciples to follow him long before he asks them about...