Today in the Word Devotional
Today in the Word is a daily audio devotional podcast from Moody Bible Institute. It presents biblical content and study that reflect the Institute's mission and values. Each episode offers listeners a short, focused look at Scripture, helping them grow in their faith and understanding of the Bible.
Episodes
Fruitful Promises
“I think that I shall never see / A poem lovely as a tree,” wrote poet Joyce Kilmer in “Trees.” Indeed, everything made by our Creator God is a work of art. His description continues: “A tree that looks at God all day, / And lifts her leafy arms to pray... Poems are made by fools like me, / But only God can make a tree.” In Ezekiel 17, God plants a cedar tree as
The Fruitful Word
The Farmers’ Almanac has been published annually since 1818. Many have put their confidence in its long-range weather forecasts. It has also been a trusted source for home remedies, advice on gardening and cooking, and lists such as the “5 Worst Weather Cities.” While even trusted almanacs may fail, God’s Word never fails. As surely as the cycle of the seasons, God’s
Harvesting Joy
My wife and I have been blessed with five children. Five times, I watched her endure excruciating labor pains. Why? For the joy of new life. Admiring her strength and hearing our babies’ first cries are five of the most remarkable miracles I have ever witnessed. Those moments reminded me of Psalm 126:5: “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” Psalm 126 is written
Restored Harvest
In the Bible, God sometimes sent droughts to get Israel’s attention. In one prophecy of Jeremiah, for example, the ground is cracked and dry. There is no rain. Farmers despair. Even rich people can’t get water because the wells have run dry. Wild animals were suffering too. What’s the message? God was using drought to call His people to repent of their sins (Jer. 14, especially v
Ruined Harvests
The notorious desert locust lives in about 30 countries, but migration and wind help it travel much farther. One-tenth of the world’s population is at risk of locust plagues. In Africa today, a swarm can pack 40–80 million desert locusts into less than half a square mile. Each one is able to eat its weight in plants each day! The prophet Joel drew a horrifying picture of what such deva
Gleaning and Generosity
In ancient Israel, God ordained gleaning so that poor people would have a way to obtain food (Lev. 23:22). In our society, we provide for the poor through community food pantries or government food programs. A “Caring Committee” at my church gives out staple items and grocery gift cards to those in need. Naomi and Ruth were on the receiving side of such charity. Naomi was an older wido
Harvest and Blessing
Revelation 5 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It consists mainly of waves of praise directed at “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain” (v. 6)—in other words, our Savior, Jesus Christ. The four living creatures and 24 elders begin. They are joined by hosts of angels and finally by “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and a
Overflowing Gratitude
A popular health website recommends eight “miracle foods”: avocados, blueberries, green tea, kale, lentils, quinoa, walnuts, and red wine. Blueberries, for example, are full of antioxidants and can help prevent cataracts, varicose veins, heart disease, and cancer. Walnuts improve cognitive (brain) function and memory, aid in gut health, and support heart health by reducing cholesterol
Feast of Firstfruits
What was actually eaten at the first Thanksgiving? The colonists and Native Americans feasted on fresh venison; ducks, geese, and other fowl; and a kind of corn that they made into cornbread and porridge. Their “stuffing” was onions and nuts. They also ate cod, eel, lobster, and vegetables such as peas, beans, and squash. Sorry, no turkey, no mashed potatoes with gravy, no pumpkin pie.
Reap What You Sow
“Sow a thought, reap an action,” observes a classic adage. “Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a life.” The principle behind these words is one we all know: We reap what we sow (v. 7; Hos. 10:12–13). God put this principle in place as a general representation of justice or fairness. To act otherwise is to mock Him. This w
An Agricultural Planner
Master gardener Gregory Bratton has helped start nearly 100 urban farms across Chicago. For decades, he has worked to bring fresh vegetables to urban neighborhoods. Local volunteers are very willing to invest time in these gardens, especially when they and their communities benefit directly. We might not think of Joseph as an agricultural planner, but he was! In Genesis 41, Joseph had interpreted
The First Farmer
Our family enjoys going to the Art Institute of Chicago to appreciate great paintings and sculptures. In one gallery hangs Grant Wood’s American Gothic (1930), an iconic representation of a farming couple. A dour-looking man grips his pitchfork, while a similarly unsmiling woman looks into the distance. The first farmer in the Bible, as you may know, was Cain. Technically, it was probably Ad
Curse of the Ground
John Milton first published the Christian epic poem Paradise Lost in 1667. But while previous epic poems featured heroes and battles, this one focused on the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The battle was spiritual not physical—and our first parents lost it by sinning against God. Adam and Eve suffered the costs of their disobedient choice. Sin and death entered the world (
The Creation Mandate
A seventeenth-century German prince created a garden in which he collected all the shrubs and flowering plants known at that time from throughout the world. Then he commissioned a lavish illustrated book of them, titled Hortus Eystettensis(Garden of Eichstätt), using elaborate copper engravings. Published in 1613, it “was and is the greatest botanical picture book ever created.” T
The People Repent
Mob justice often becomes injustice. There is no judge, no jury, no presentation of evidence or a trial—just the accusation, the mob’s confidence in their own righteousness, and the punishment of perceived evil. At the close of the book of Ezra, we see a situation that could very easily have veered toward vigilantism. Instead, Ezra shows godly wisdom in laying out a plan to ensure just
The People Confess
Have you ever heard the saying that God has no grandchildren? It’s a simple yet powerful reminder that we cannot depend on our Christian heritage for our salvation. We must personally trust in Jesus and turn from our sins. Ezra had confessed Israel’s sin to God. But that was not enough—the people responsible also needed to confess in order to be made right with God. In Ezra 10, w
Prayer of Repentance
There’s a vast difference between being sorry that you got caught doing something and being sorry that you did something. In the book of Ezra, after God’s people acted wickedly, Ezra approached God in repentance. He reflected genuine sorrow—even though he personally had not participated in the sin. Ezra’s prayer of confession for the people highlights the concept of corpora
Covenant Unfaithfulness
From time to time my wife and I leave our three young sons with a babysitter. On the way home I always feel the same anxiety—did our children torment this sweet girl who watched them for a few hours? I’ve never gotten a bad report, but I still worry. Ezra, unfortunately, received a bad report about the behavior of the people living in Israel. Chapter 9 begins, “After these things
Arrival in Jerusalem
Reaching the end of a long journey is a beautiful thing—you step out of the car, stretch your legs, and look forward to some rest and relaxation. In our study of the book of Ezra, we’ve seen this godly leader and his co-travelers reach the end of their long trip to Jerusalem—all without the benefit of planes, trains, or automobiles! Earlier in chapter 8 Ezra refused to ask the ki
A Safe Journey
You’ve mapped out your journey. The car is packed. The children are buckled in. But before you embark on a cross-country road trip, what else do you do? If you were Ezra, you would stop and plead yet again for the Lord to give you a safe and successful journey. In 8:21, Ezra said: “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask
Needing Help
I’m not very handy, but from time to time I’ll attempt a DIY home project. These typically require about a hundred trips to Home Depot, lots of hand-wringing, and then a call to a buddy or two for help. In today’s passage Ezra wasn’t wringing his hands or running to the home improvement store, but he did realize he needed more help. He called for reinforcements. The passage
Ezra’s Response
What do you do when God provides an unexpected gift in your life? In the time of Ezra, the reigning king, Artaxerxes, had a huge change of heart. He went from shutting down work on the temple to giving full support and sending Ezra to teach God’s people God’s law. Today, we see how Ezra responds to this kindness from the Lord. His reaction is a model for us as we reflect on the many wa
Miraculous Decree
Changing hearts, reversal of fortune, good winning out over evil—those are my favorite types of books to read and movies to watch. There’s something refreshing and encouraging when we see the little guy win or the hardhearted ruler change his ways. In Ezra 4 we learned about the opposition God’s people faced. At that time, Artaxerxes had issued “an order to these men to sto
Ezra the Scribe
When movies switch back and forth in time, a caption on the screen will typically appear: “twenty years later” or “1957.” The book of Ezra doesn’t quite do that, but it does use the reigns of kings to signal transitions in time. Chapter 6 ends in 515 BC, with the completion of the temple. Chapter 7 opens nearly 60 years later, “during the reign of Artaxerxes kin
Passover Observed
Many churches observe Communion weekly; you may call it the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist. Others observe it monthly or quarterly. Jesus commanded that His followers do this regularly in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19). The wine (or grape juice) represents the blood of the new covenant, and the bread represents His body, broken for us. The Lord’s Supper was patterned after the Passover me
The Temple Dedicated
Have you ever been part of a church moving into a new building? If so, you understand the significance of the celebration described in Ezra 6: God’s people were rejoicing at the completion of the temple! Verse 13 reports that Tattenai, the governor of Trans-Euphrates, and his associates received Darius’s letter to support the completion of the temple. They “carried it out with di
The Heart of Kings
Have you ever experienced waiting for some bureaucratic decision over which you had no real power? You fill out the forms, state your case, pray like crazy, and then just wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. Ezra 6 gives us an inside look on what was happening on the government side of things, at least in ancient Persia. King Darius had received Tattenai’s letter (Ezra 5:7–17) and took
Report to the King
How do Christians live faithfully when governed by unbelieving leaders, especially in a culture that is often hostile to the Christian faith? This brief section in Ezra gives a clear example of how we can faithfully give witness in a way that is gentle, kind, firm, and clear. Previously Tattenai, the governor of the province where Jerusalem was situated, had questioned the Jewish leaders about the
Experiencing Hardship
Chances are good that you’ve experienced some sort of trouble as you’ve lived out your Christian faith. But experiencing hardship should not be a surprise. After all, Jesus promised His disciples certain trouble in this world (John 16:33). In the book of Ezra, God’s people experienced serious opposition to their plan to rebuild the temple and the city of Jerusalem. Ezra 4:24 told
Comeback Story
There’s a reason they don’t make movies about sports teams that dominate every opponent. That would be boring! By contrast, everyone loves a great comeback story. The team must overcome an initial obstacle, stiff opposition, or even apparent failure before the triumphant conclusion. The chronology at the end of Ezra 4 is a bit confusing. Verses 17–23 relate to the rebuilding of t
Twisting the Truth
The New Testament confirms that Satan “is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). We see evidence of this in the very first book of the Bible. In the garden of Eden, the serpent twisted God’s words to deceive Eve (Gen. 3:1). And in Ezra 4:6–16, we see another example of the enemy twisting the truth in order to harm God’s people. Verse 6 gives helpful historical co
Partnering in Ministry
Determining who to partner with in ministry can be tricky. For example, what level of theological alignment is necessary to lock arms with others in common causes? In Ezra 4, we read that a group of people living in Israel attempted to join the temple-rebuilding efforts, but the returnees refused their help. Why? These verses indicate that opposition from the people living in the land had persiste
The Foundation Laid
The foundation is the most important part of any building. It has to be stable, secure, and well-built. It’s also the first part to be built because, well, everything else goes on top of it. In Ezra 3:7–13 we read about the laying of the temple’s foundation. There’s great rejoicing over this monumental step, but it’s mixed with weeping from some of the people who were
Read the Instructions
There are two types of people in the world—people who read the instructions before trying to assemble furniture, and others who plunge right in. I guess there’s also a third type: people like me who give up before starting. In Ezra 3:4–6 we learn that God’s people were the “read the instructions first” type, at least when it came to what was truly important&mdas
Faithfulness over Fear
Courage is not a lack of fear. Courage is doing the right thing even when we’re afraid. We see courage on display in Ezra 3, when the people came “together as one” (v. 1), built an altar, and began offering sacrifices “despite their fear” (v. 3). The chapter opens with the notice that “the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns” (
Right Priorities
My family and I travel by car twice a year from our home in Sandpoint, Idaho, to a little school in the mountains of Colorado about 1,200 miles away. It usually takes us three days, with several stops and, of course, an overnight at a hotel with a pool. In the book of Ezra, the journey home for the exiles (50,000 people!) was about 900 miles. They traveled by caravan, not by car—a journey th
Holy Priesthood
Growing up Protestant, and Southern Baptist at that, I had very little understanding of what it meant to be a priest. My limited knowledge was based on the depiction of Roman Catholic priests in popular media. In the Old Testament, the priesthood was quite a bit different. Priests were assigned to offer sacrifices on behalf of God’s people and teach the people His law. These priests were des
List of Names
Ezra opens with a full chapter that speaks to God’s sovereignty to move the hearts of kings and bring His people back from their well-deserved exile. The second chapter of Ezra is like pulling the emergency brake while flying down the highway at 100 miles per hour. Who is Shephatiah? Adonikam? Mikmash? Hagabah? Why are we given this list of names? And why should we care? Good questions! The
Home at Last
There’s nothing quite like coming home after a long trip. It is wonderful to sleep in your own bed, eat familiar foods, and pet the family dog. You relax in a way that’s just not possible when you’re away. You are safe. You are secure. You are home. God’s people had been in exile for decades—that’s a very long time in a place where they don’t speak your la
Treasures Returned
The name Osama bin Laden conjures up a whole host of thoughts and emotions. His name is etched into the collective memory of Americans who lived during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the ensuing twenty years of war. In a similar way, the name Nebuchadnezzar carried significance to the exiles in Babylon. It had been many decades since the Babylonian king had razed and looted the temple, destroyed J
The Lord’s Favor
Even today, with professional help readily available, moving to a new home is a big deal. Cross-country moves can be logistical nightmares, not to mention international moves. In Ezra 1:5–6, we see God’s people begin the long journey from Persia back to Jerusalem. Cyrus’s decree (see 1:2–4) ended by commanding the non-Hebrew people “to provide them with silver and gol
The King’s Decree
The Persian Empire was not a democracy. The king didn’t need to please his people. He was not concerned with reelection, and his word reigned supreme. The book of Ezra opens like the book of 2 Chronicles closes, with a decree from King Cyrus that God’s exiled people may return home at last! Cyrus opens by crediting Israel’s God with his success. He states, “The Lord, the Go
Seventy Years
It was 70 years ago, in 1956, that Jim Elliot and four fellow missionaries were speared to death in Ecuador while attempting to contact and evangelize the Waorani tribe. Their story, featured in Life magazine, inspired countless individuals to dedicate their lives to missionary service. And it continues to inspire others seven decades later. Seventy years is also how long God’s people toiled
Fall of Jerusalem
On September 8, 1988, Yellowstone National Park closed to all visitors for the first time in its history. A series of the largest wildfires the park had ever seen had torn through the pristine landscape, wreaking destruction all over. The devastation was nearly unimaginable. Horrifying, really. But if you visit Yellowstone today, you’ll see a vast forest of new growth that has arisen from th
Let Him Hear
We began our study in the book of Genesis. The creation account was an important foundation for our understanding of God as communicator and our communication as image-bearers. Today, we finish in the book of Revelation. Just as God opened His Word by revealing Himself through creation, He concludes by revealing Himself through His future plans (v. 1). The word “revelation” (apokalypsi
Give an Answer
What do you say when someone asks what you believe? Are you ready with an answer? Peter, writing to Christ followers scattered throughout the Roman provinces, urges them to “be prepared” (3:15). These believers—likely a combination of Jews and Gentiles—were coming under increased persecution. Peter exhorted them to stand firm in their faith. Peter calls believers to live in
Taming the Tongue
When I teach creative writing, I read the entire book of James out loud to my college students. I give them each a printed copy of the text to follow along. While they listen, I ask them to circle every example of imagery they hear. This keeps them busy. James is full of striking metaphors, similes, and descriptions. Chapter 3 is another good example of this. Here, James challenged his readers wit
A Tight Rein
The authorship of James is typically attributed to Jesus’ half-brother. This epistle was likely written soon after Pentecost (as early as AD 35). It may even be the earliest New Testament document. James is writing to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1)— Jews who believed in Jesus as the Messiah and had left Jerusalem, possibly due to persecution. Th
God Has Spoken
In Matthew 21:33–44, Jesus told this parable: A landowner leased his vineyard to several tenants. When he sent his servants to retrieve his produce, the tenants killed them. When the landowner sent a larger group of servants to complete the errand, the tenants killed them as well. Finally, the landowner sent his own son. However, the tenants saw in the son an even greater opportunity. They k
Rejoice and Give Thanks
“Intrapersonal communication” describes how we speak to ourselves—our thoughts, our self-talk, our reflection. It includes the way we process emotion, the lies we battle, and the truth we bring to bear. Philippians chapter 4 has much to say about the way we communicate within ourselves. In Philippians 4, Paul calls the church to a communal life of joy and peace. First, he address
Words That Build Up
American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne once wrote: “Words—so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become, in the hands of one who knows how to combine them!” The apostle Paul often talked about the way we speak. In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul instructed the church on the blessings of redemption, their re
Understanding Your Audience
In 1962, Don and Carol Richardson went to Papua New Guinea (then Dutch New Guinea) to work among the Sawi tribe. The Sawi people valued revenge and practiced ritualistic cannibalism. So when the Richardsons first shared the gospel with them, they perceived Judas Iscariot as the hero because his actions brought retribution. Then, Don discovered the Sawi custom of the “peace child.” In t
Creation Communicates
What aspect of creation best communicates the nature of God to you? Is it the majesty of the Rocky Mountains? The pure joy of a bubbling stream? The delicate intricacy of a flower petal? The fierce power of a crashing wave? Romans 1 describes the ways in which God communicates and how humanity has responded. Paul begins by declaring that he is “not ashamed of the gospel” (v. 16). He kn
Speak Boldly
Saul’s conversion is one of the most dramatic in Scripture. At the start, Saul was aggressively pursuing Jesus’ disciples (v. 1). He even requested letters from the high priest, giving him permission to capture any followers of the Way in the synagogue (v. 2). However, while on the road to Damascus, Jesus spoke to him through a flashing light and audible voice: “Saul, Saul, why d
New Community
If you could time-travel to any point in biblical history, which would you choose? Pentecost would be on my top ten list as a communication event that changed the course of history. Acts 2 records this pivotal moment in history when God sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples with a rushing wind and tongues of fire (vv. 2–3). The Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in other languages (v. 4).
My Witnesses
The role of a courtroom witness is to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Witnesses are to share the facts of what they saw and experienced (not opinions or speculation), and these facts become evidence for the judge and jury. In the book of Acts, Luke addressed his same audience—Theophilus—linking this book to the Gospel of Luke. He reminded Theophilus of the G
Testify to the Truth
In 1521, Martin Luther was summoned before the assembly of the Holy Roman Empire to recant his critique of the Catholic Church. He refused unless proven wrong by Scripture, stating, “Here I stand; I can do no other.” Luther’s unrelenting position led to his excommunication—and the start of the Protestant Reformation. John 18 documents a series of intense confrontations, fro
Addressing Conflict
How do you address conflict? Experts suggest several tools to help. One is active listening—using eye contact and body language to build trust, then paraphrasing to confirm understanding. In active listening, we empathize with the other person’s perspective, even if we disagree. The second tool is “I-messages.” We use I-statements (e.g., I feel frustrated when…) rath
Fruit of the Heart
Lindsay Engers is an organic fruit grower who has adopted innovative practices of working with nature to build soil health. He applies volcanic rock dust to each tree annually and spreads diluted seaweed extract to the leaves several times a year. His diligent care results in a vibrant and resilient orchard. In Matthew 12, Jesus connects our inner life with our outward communication, using the met
When You Pray
Billy Graham described prayer like this: “At its deepest level, prayer is fellowship with God: enjoying His company, waiting upon His will, thanking Him for His mercies…listening in the silence for what He has to say to us.” Any biblical study on communication must include the discipline of prayer, and Matthew 6 is a central passage to consider. The Lord’s Prayer (vv. 9&nd
Because You Say So
Has God ever called you to do something that didn’t make immediate sense? If so, you’re in good company. Consider the stories of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Mary—to name a few. Sometimes God calls individuals to serve in a specific capacity, at a specific time, and for a specific purpose. Luke 5 provides us with one such example. Jesus was teaching a crowd near the lake of Gennesar
The Word Made Flesh
Classic literature is full of beautiful declarations of love. Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet declares, “My bounty is as boundless as the sea.” In Jane Austin’s Persuasion, Captain Wentworth writes to Anne Elliot, “You pierce my soul...I have loved none but you.” In Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations, Pip says to Estella: “You are part of
Good News
When you have good news to share, how do you communicate it? Do you phone a friend, send a group text to family, or post on social media? When Jesus’ disciple Mark had the best news to share, he wrote the Gospel of Mark. Although he originally wrote to the church during his lifetime, his account has been received by every subsequent generation of the faithful. Mark begins with this direct pr
A Two-Way Street
When our kids were young, we taught them about good conversations. “When I ask a question, you answer— with more than one word. Then, you ask me a question, and I’ll respond. It’s a two-way street.” Few biblical passages describe the two-way communication that God desires to have with His people more passionately than Jeremiah 29. This chapter is a letter from the pro
Power of Life and Death
We’ve all heard the children’s rhyme: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” The irony, of course, is that this much-recited ditty about brushing off wounding words is itself a lie. Words can hurt—and often do—even more than stones. The power of words—both harmful and healing—is highlighted throughout the book of Prover
A Wise Tongue
A proverb is a golden nugget of wisdom. While Proverbs are concise, “their brevity is dense with meaning and motivation,” said David Finkbeiner in The Moody Bible Commentary. Proverbs repeatedly uses the Hebrew poetical device of parallelism where the second line repeats, contrasts, or enhances the first. In Proverbs 15, we find a series of contrasts, describing the opposite effects of
Confession and Praise
Two of the most healing words we can say are: “I’m sorry.” The Psalms contain many forms of communication with God—praise, supplication, lament. But in Psalm 51, we find a raw and vulnerable confession. David begins his plea with an appeal to God’s character—namely, His lovingkindness and ability to forgive (v. 1). David used two images to describe the desired r
The Heavens Declare
As I am writing, it is December in Illinois. All week long, the sunsets have been a particularly vibrant pink and orange, and people in our neighborhood chat have been posting photos of the flaming sky. While they might not give glory to God, I think of today’s psalm every time. Psalm 19 describes the communicative nature of our God. Verses 1–6 celebrate His revelation through creation
A Gentle Whisper
In my speech course, students employ a variety of methods to begin their speeches. They’ve used stories, statistics, pictures, videos, even music. One student slammed his fist on the podium, causing us to jump. In another memorable speech, the speaker took the stage and just stood in silence. This was even more effective at arresting our attention. In 1 Kings, God communicated with His proph
God Communicates His Law
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City hosted an exhibit titled Divine Egypt, featuring almost 250 works of art that depict the ancient Egyptian gods. Over Egypt’s long history, their list of gods grew to more than 1,500. But, at the time of the Exodus, some of the most revered were Hapi and Isis, the Nile gods; Heqet, the frog-headed goddess of fertility; Hathor, the cow goddess; a
I Will Help You Speak
Public speaking is an important—even essential—skill for leaders. A confident leader uses speech to articulate vision, impart training, motivate team members, persuade thinking, and inspire trust. Yet, public speaking is also a significant fear for many people. According to several studies, about 75 percent of us suffer from glossophobia (the fear of public speaking). Clearly, public s
God Confuses Language
The international terminal at an airport is an interesting place to people watch. It’s a unique space where people from around the globe converge for a brief time. You can hear multiple languages. You see the whole range of human emotion—sorrow, fear, confusion, anticipation, ambition, stress, excitement, joy. In some ways, it gives us a glimpse of Babel. In Genesis 11, we see the resu
Communication Corrupted
What happens when you are accused of wrongdoing? Do you own up to your error or blame someone else? In the opening chapters of Genesis, God established true, authentic, and meaningful communication. But in chapter 3, communication breaks down. The pure communion between God and man, as well as husband and wife are corrupted. In his book, The Trauma of Transparency: A Biblical Approach to Interpers
Created for Communion
The Latin word communis means “common” or “shared by all.” It is the root for communication, community, communion, and commune. Community can form around our shared interests, values, purpose, resources, or responsibility. Communis implies a reciprocal relationship; community members give and receive within this shared culture. The concept of communis is central to the stor
God Said
In The Sound of Music, governess Maria teaches a music lesson to the seven Von Trapp children by singing: “Let’s start at the very beginning; a very good place to start.” For our study on what the Bible says about communication, we will also begin at the very beginning. It’s an essential place to start. Of course, many Bible studies find their origin in Genesis chapter 1&md
The Authority of Jesus
A Roman centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant (Matt. 8:5–13). Shall I come to your home? Jesus asked. The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and
Wise and Foolish Builders
Have you ever played Jenga? In this game, players take turns removing wooden blocks from below, then re-placing them higher up. Everything must balance, but as the game goes on, the structure becomes increasingly unstable. When the tower collapses, the game ends. As we near the end of Matthew 7, Jesus once again uses true and false contrasts to challenge everyone hearing or reading the Sermon on t
False Followers
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,” Jesus said, “and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” This judgment parable is marked by surprise and simplicity. Both sides express surprise to which Jesus responds
Trees and Fruit
On the island of Crete there stands an olive tree estimated to be 3,000 years old. Called “the Olive Tree of Vouves” (the village in which it’s located); it welcomes 20,000 visitors per year. If you’re unable to go in person, a three-dimensional model of the tree can be found online. Astonishingly, this ancient tree still bears fruit. Which fruit? Olives, of course! (Yes, o
False Prophets
Fans of the Peanuts comic strip know that Linus often talks about the Great Pumpkin around Halloween. He tries to convince others to sit with him in the pumpkin patch on Halloween night, waiting and hoping for the Great Pumpkin to appear. Some kids call him a “false prophet.” “No one in my class has ever seen a false prophet,” says Sally. “How about joining me for &ls
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