Loving Your Neighbor

Right before Luke’s story about the Good Samaritan, Jesus and a lawyer discuss the way to have eternal life. In that talk the lawyer says that the whole of the Law of Moses is contained in Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19.18. Immediately before Luke’s story about the Good… Read More

Jericho

Jericho is located near the southern end of the Jordan Valley. It has been an oasis and a population center in the otherwise mostly barren valley. Some scholars think Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Jericho is located near the southern end of the Jordan… Read More

Inns and Innkeeping

An “inn” in the world of the Bible might refer to one of several possibilities. It could be merely a place to stretch out on the ground for a night’s sleep, or a room in someone’s home situated by the highway. It could also be a public building where rent… Read More

Inheriting Eternal Life

The phrase “to inherit eternal life” reflects more than a simple description of a time line. Its deeper meaning hints at a life where one is free of the restraints typical of human existence. In the phrase “to inherit eternal life” the focus is not so much on… Read More

How the Gospel Came to Be

The Gospels might seem to be biographies of Jesus’ life, but they more than this. As John 20:31 says, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Find out more about… Read More

From Jerusalem to Jericho

Although Jericho is northeast of Jerusalem, travelers go “down” to Jericho. A traveler must come down from Jerusalem’s height, approximately twenty-five hundred feet above sea level, to Jericho’s depth, some eight hundred twenty-five feet below sea level. Although Jericho is northeast of Jerusalem, travelers go “down” to Jericho. The… Read More

Compassion and Mercy

The Greek term for feeling compassion is used by Luke in several key stories, including the Widow of Nain and the Prodigal Son. This verb includes a physical aspect in the tone of its feeling because the related noun means “bowels, viscera.” Both the Greek verb and noun match our… Read More

The Evidence for Jesus

What can you know for sure about Jesus Christ? If you believe everything you hear, you might think the answer is “Not very much.” Most people assume that there are so many myths and legends surrounding Jesus Christ, it’s impossible to know the truth. The Following is and excerpt… Read More

Jesus, Who Was He?

Is John 14:6 a fair reflection of what Jesus taught about himself? Did he really teach that he was the only way to the Father? The following is adapted from the book, Just Looking: Christianity—Your Chance to Believe it or Not, by John Allan. “I… Read More

How to Go to Church and Enjoy It

There can be a lot of things that may make you uncomfortable at a church. The paint may be peeling off the walls, and the people might dress up in fancy clothes. The following is an excerpt from the book Just Looking: Christianity – Your Chance to Believe it… Read More