Is there marriage in heaven? Jesus responded in a way that suggests our earthly marriage relationships won’t be the same. This passage has puzzled and troubled many, and some claim to have all the answers. The Bible contains many perplexing passages like this. How do we understand the questions they raise? How can we know […]

Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? The Pharisees asked Jesus this trick question to trap him into saying something dangerous. This may sound like the debates today on whether the government takes too much or if everyone should chip in their fair share to help those in need. Jesus kept it […]

Jesus frequently talked about God’s judgment. He devoted more attention to this topic than he did on getting into heaven. One troubling thing about these teachings is how he described the consequences of judgment. He often talked about a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This sounds a lot like suffering. […]

God invites everyone to know Him and be part of His kingdom. However, while this inclusiveness is loving and full of grace, it raises a significant question: Can anyone enter regardless of their actions? What about abusers? What about those who harm children, exploit the weak, or revel in violence? What about people society considers […]

Every Easter, we remember the story of Jesus rising from the dead. But for some people, this story clashes with what we understand about how the world works. After all, people don’t typically come back to life once they’ve passed away. This clash with reality makes them skeptical. Many find it hard to believe in […]

Some invitations hold more significance than others. Think about it: getting an invitation through traditional mail somehow feels weightier than one through Facebook. Saying ‘no’ to a paper invite just feels harder. What about an invitation from God? What does it mean to accept or decline that invite? MATTHEW 22:1-10 | Chris Shandrow

Jesus regularly used stories to talk to people, but sometimes they could be hard to understand. They often had hidden meanings and stories within stories. He frequently used subtext to communicate truth. We are told the stories of Jesus are still relevant for us today, but if the original listeners had trouble understanding them, how […]

In our world, it’s common to see inconsistencies between what Christians profess and how they behave. There often appear to be differences between their beliefs and their actions. Jesus frequently highlighted these disparities among the religious people of his day. So, what can we learn from looking at the gaps between what we believe and […]

Have you ever come across a strange story in the Bible? One that was puzzling or hard to understand? These stories can leave us scratching our heads, wondering what they’re all about. Like, why did Jesus decide to curse a fig tree? And what exactly did he mean when he said we could have whatever […]

We all have the innate feeling that we deserve good things. We might think, “I deserve a raise for all the hard work I put in,” or “I deserve a better grade after studying so diligently.” We can even think we deserve a warning instead of a speeding ticket. But if we’re truly honest with […]