If a child fell into the deep end of a pool, a trained lifeguard would not hesitate to jump in and rescue him. That’s confidence. If I was the only adult nearby, I’d have to momentarily forget that I am terrified of being in water past my neck, throw an… Read More

Lisa Sharon Harper’s understanding of the gospel was transformed when she took a trip to the Cherokee Trail of Tears memorial and the former slave plantations of Georgia. As she walked in the physical location of some of America’s greatest atrocities—when people were forced off their land, enslaved, and abused—she had… Read More

“We’re living in the end times.” My friend’s eyes matched her tone: fearful. “Why do you say so?” I asked. She listed reason after reason: political crises, world events, cultural climate, devastating hurricanes and wildfires, immorality. It was a list mired in anxiety and dread. Nothing she… Read More

It’s that time of year again: evergreen trees, gingerbread, carols, holiday cheer, family, and gifts. Christmas is here! But as people are hanging up stockings, children are making gift wish lists, and relatives are coming to town, I can’t help but think of those for whom Christmas is a difficult… Read More

“Revelation,” they said. “We want to study Revelation.” My Bible study group was insisting that I lead them through the last book of the Bible. They hoped that I would be able to explain it all for them. Ha! I had been avoiding Revelation all my life, ever since… Read More

After seventy years in exile, the exiled people of Judah were permitted to return to their ancestral home in and around Jerusalem. Did they come singing and celebrating? Or did they come with some trepidation—their long-held hopes finally materializing? Some may even have dragged their feet, lamenting the life they… Read More

How does the Bible view women? At face value, some of its messages and examples can seem oppressive or devaluing. But when you learn more about how Jesus responded to the Bible’s historical and cultural context, you may rethink your first impressions. Christ entered into a specific time and culture… Read More

Genres are categories of literature, each with its own tone and techniques. The Bible uses a handful of genres—narrative and law, prophecy and letters, poetry, and apocalyptic literature. Understanding the genre in which the passage is written can help guide our reading. Follow the Biblical Genre Series to get… Read More

When you hear the words “Middle East,” what comes to your mind? For many, a slew of negative associations pop up—wars, sectarian killing, religious tension, suicide bombers, kidnappings, trauma. But we forget that this region is the physical context for much of the Bible. It is the rich backdrop for… Read More

One of my favorite comedians has a bit in which he imagines that the delicious foods we describe as “heavenly” aren’t actually allowed in heaven. I think of this joke whenever I read about manna, the mysterious substance that was showered upon the Israelites by God after they complained of… Read More