A 2,300-year-old gold ring set with a red gemstone has been discovered during excavations in the City of David. The ring was likely a coming-of-age gift from a wealthy Jerusalem family to a young person. It dates to the late 3rd century or early 2nd century BC, during the Early Hellenistic period. According to researchers, gold […]
What is Truth?
At the end of his sermon one Sunday morning, a pastor told his church he would preach on lying the following Sunday. He asked them to read Mark 17 to prepare. The next Sunday, he began by asking who had read Mark 17 that week. Almost every hand went up. The pastor smiled and said, […]
Baby Doe
Most babies are welcomed into the world by loving parents, goofy grandparents, excited neighbors and friends, lots of hugs and gifts, and a newly decorated nursery with a beautiful crib and a state-of-the-art intercom system so mom and dad will always know their baby is safe. I experienced none of this. I was born on January […]
Christmas Worship
4th week of Advent The Wise Men traveled perhaps a thousand miles to worship a king they knew only from prophetic writings. What stimulates this kind of worship? What does it mean to worship? The word comes from an Old English term meaning “worth-ship” – that is, assigning worth to something. In modern English, it refers […]
Christmas Magi
3rd week of Advent What do you know about the magi? Who were they? Where did they come from? How many of them were there? How long was their journey? Why did they care that a Hebrew king was born? What do we know about these Magi? Not much. Where did they come from? “The […]
Christmas Shepherds
2nd week of Advent Did you know that first-century shepherds were a despised group of citizens? Why would God choose these social rejects to be the first to hear of the birth of his son? First-century shepherds were considered dishonest and were often labeled thieves. They frequently led their flocks onto others’ property and stole […]