Solid Food

Do you know what has been in the news a lot lately?The rapture. It’s because a preacher recently claimed to have been told by God that the rapture would happen on September 23-24, 2025. When that did not happen, it was revised to October 7-9, 2025. What did you think of that?

This is not the first time such a thing has happened. What is the rapture anyway, and when will it happen? There is a biblical answer for one of those questions. Let's study together.

Works Cited

https://www.newsweek.com/10-rapture-predictions-that-never-came-to-pass-10476612

D. Michael Martin, 1, 2 Thessalonians,vol. 33, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & HolmanPublishers, 1995), 236.

Brandon Smith, “The Rapture,” in Lexham Survey of Theology, ed. Mark Ward et al. (Bellingham, WA:Lexham Press, 2018).

Perhaps you've heard about a sin (or sins) that are said to be unpardonable. They range from suicide to adultery to homosexuality and more. But did you know the Bible only specifically and expressly identifies one sin as such? Let's study together in order to know what it is and avoid eternal jeopardy.

Works Cited

Craig Blomberg, Matthew,vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & HolmanPublishers, 1992), 204.

Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMGPublishers, 2000).

R. T. France, Matthew: AnIntroduction and Commentary, vol. 1, Tyndale New TestamentCommentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 96.

Jay E. Adams, Fifty DifficultPassages Explained (Cordova, TN: Institute for NoutheticStudies, 2020), 38.WeHi

One of the best tools for Bible study is your own mind. What is meant by that is that we have an innate desire to seek information and are naturally curious. We are at our best when we apply those natural tendencies to our time with Scripture. For example, in Mark 8:22-24, Jesus heals a blind man, but it took multiple efforts. We should naturally wonder why and then seek the answer. Let's do just that together.

We all know John the Baptist as the forerunner of Christ. He was well known for his spartan appearance, his fervor for his mission, and his fearless righteousness. He famously baptized Jesus, but would later ask if he was actually the Messiah. What would cause him to ask such a question? Further, what was Jesus' answer, and why did he choose to answer him the way that he did? Let's study.

Family, today’s inspiration comes from something that I hear referenced often during conversations about the Bible or in Bible studies that involve things like the sinner’s prayer, whereChristians go when they die, and the necessity of baptism (or lack thereof). Of course, there are widely varying opinions about each of those topics, but they all seem to work their way around to referencing the “thief on the cross.”

 Many point to “the” thief on the cross as having been saved, without the ritual of baptism, and to having gone straight to heaven with Jesus upon their deaths. Have you ever heard anyof these positions? Do you advocate for any of them? Because I’ve heard these and other claims about the narrative, I thought it would make an excellent subject of study. Join me.

Works Cited Ceslas Spicq and James D. Ernest, Theological Lexiconof the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers,1994), 241.

Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMGPublishers, 2000).

Allison A. Trites, William J. Larkin, CornerstoneBiblical Commentary, Vol 12: The Gospel of Luke and Acts (CarolStream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2006), 303.

Trent C. Butler, Luke, vol. 3, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 395.

Benjamin M. Austin, “Afterlife,” in Lexham Theological Wordbook, ed. Douglas Mangum et al., LexhamBible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

Robert H. Stein, Luke,vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 593.

What did the apostle Paul mean when he expressed the preference to be absent from the body and present with the Lord? As it turns out, there is quite a bit involved with the multiple concepts he is conveying. Let's study it together.

Works Cited

Craig A. Smith, “Complaining,” in Lexham Theological Wordbook, ed. Douglas Mangum et al., LexhamBible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

FrancescoBianchi, “Desire,” in LexhamTheological Wordbook, ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham BibleReference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMGPublishers, 2000).

David E. Garland, 2 Corinthians,vol. 29, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & HolmanPublishers, 1999), 261.

Not long ago, I asked a great friend if he believed in ghosts. At the time, I did not. His response was, "Well, there's one in the Bible." Naturally, that is all that was needed to launch into a study. What was found was a need to also examine the consequences of disobedience to God. It is fascinating how the two considerations collided in Scripture.

Works Cited

Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel,vol. 7, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & HolmanPublishers, 1996), 268.

James Swanson, Dictionary ofBiblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament)(Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

It seems that the world is full of turmoil. The news constantly broadcasts wrongs done to some by others. Social media seems to traffic in little else. Even face-to-face interactions can erupt into conflicts and violence. Why is there such inhumanity between humans? Let's study a biblical narrative to provide at least one answer as well as a solution.

Works Cited

Henry George Liddell et al., A Greek-English Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996),

Aaron C. Fenlason, “Beauty,” in Lexham Theological Wordbook, ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

K. A. Mathews, Genesis 1-11:26, vol. 1A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996)

John R. W. Stott, The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 19, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988)

There are many paths to faith. It is virtually an inexhaustible topic. In this episode, we will accompany a young lady who has lost all resources, all ability, and all hope until she finds faith. Let us do as she did and reach out.

[1]Eric Lewellen, “Miracles,” in Lexham Theological Wordbook, ed. Douglas Mangum et al., LexhamBible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

[2]Leon Morris, Luke: AnIntroduction and Commentary, vol. 3, Tyndale New TestamentCommentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 179.

We all have a pretty good idea of the general meaning of "forgive," but what does the Bible have to say about it? What is its biblical definition? What are its implications? What responsibility do we have to extend forgiveness? Is God's forgiveness of us conditional? Let's study!

Sources

Jeffrey E.

Horst Robert Balz and Gerhard Schneider, Exegetical

R. T. France, Matthew: An