Posted by Kathryn M. Schifferdecker on 3/1/2014 2:39 PM
Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard, and Kathryn Schifferdecker. Article written by Kathryn Schifferdecker.
Why do people suffer? It’s a question as old as the Bible (or older) and as current as today’s newspaper. Someone we love dies. A child is abused or neglected. A tornado wipes out a whole town. And we ask, "Why? Why do people suffer?"
The atheist has no real problem here. Why do people suffer? Because that’s the way life is. Chance, circumstance, luck, whatever …
Posted by David Lose on 2/1/2014 6:20 AM
Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard, and David Lose.
Article written by David Lose.
What does the Bible say about the cross? Quite a bit, actually.
But it doesn’t all agree. And while that may trouble those looking for absolute consistency among the four gospels, it also sheds light on the richness and variety of the ways the earliest Christians understood God’s work in and through the cross.
Imagine, for a moment, four artists who decide to paint a city. Because each …
Posted by Enter the Bible on 1/2/2014 11:37 AM
Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard, Chick Lane and Grace Duddy. Article written by Chick Lane and Grace Duddy.
What does the Bible say about money and possessions? Obviously, a lot. Someone has observed that other than the Kingdom itself, Jesus talks about money more than any other topic. The Old Testament has plenty to say about God’s generosity, our abundance, and both the responsibilities and the dangers of having material possessions.
At the heart of what the Bible says …
Posted by Craig R. Koester on 12/1/2013 1:56 AM
Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard, and Craig Koester. Article written by Craig Koester.
What is my favorite part of the Christmas story?
When I think of the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, according to Luke 2, I am struck by its subversive quality. Luke tells the story in a manner that is challenging to both ancient and modern sensitivities. If we begin with the ancient context, the opening lines of the story take up familiar themes in the Roman world. The central …
Posted by Rolf Jacobson on 11/1/2013 1:00 AM
Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard, and Rolf Jacobson. Article written by Rolf A. Jacobson.
Ask a Stupid Question...
Would Jesus shop on Black Friday? First of all, nobody knows. But -- in case you are the one person in North America who doesn’t know what Black Friday is -- Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. Which makes it the first day of the Christmas shopping season.
The day when there are crazy, door-busting, jaw-dropping, loss-leader sale prices on …
Tags: Rolf Jacobson, Bible, questions, Jesus, consumerism, Black Friday, Christmas, economy, Luke 12, John 14, Bible Question, Rolf Jacobson
Posted by Diane Jacobson on 10/1/2013 7:02 AM
Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard, and Diane Jacobson.
Article written by Diane Jacobson.
I love the stories of the women in the Old Testament. Many we know well -- Ruth, Naomi, the matriarchs, Hannah, Esther, and more. So, a question: Who would make your list of the top five most interesting women of the Old Testament that most people have never heard of? Here are mine:
- Hagar, mother of Ishmael
You've probably already heard of Hagar. But have you read her stories lately in …
Posted by Terence E. Fretheim on 9/1/2013 10:33 AM
Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard and Terence Fretheim.
Article written by Terence Fretheim.
A regular rhythm of natural disasters has occurred in recent years, from floods in the Midwest, to fires in California and Colorado, to hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, to earthquakes in China and Haiti, to the tsunamis in Southeast Asia. The list is long.
Given this painful history, it is not surprising that the Bible’s pages are filled with references to natural disasters: the flood, …
Tags: Bible, questions, God, natural disasters, tsunami, flood, earthquake, wildfire, famine, plague, creation, new, Bible Question, Terence E. Fretheim
Posted by Cameron B.R. Howard on 8/1/2013 6:00 AM
Podcast discussion with Luther Seminary faculty James Boyce, Eric Barreto, and Cameron Howard. Article written by Cameron Howard.
What's with all the begats? Do you skip over the genealogies when you read through the Bible? If so, you’re not alone. These long lists of names, usually joined by the famous “begat” in the King James Version or “became the father of” in other translations, often seem like tedious interruptions to otherwise riveting stories.
But genealogies …
Posted by James Boyce on 7/8/2013 1:44 PM
Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard, and James Boyce. Article written by James Boyce.
Where did the Bible come from? For most Christians questions about the origins of the Bible are not just a matter of idle curiosity. Virtually all of us hold these writings we call the Scriptures as inspired by God and authoritative for faith and life.
But we do not always agree on what being “true” and “authoritative” means. By examining how these writings originated, we …
Posted by Enter the Bible on 6/11/2013 1:57 PM
by Pastor Clint Schnekloth
In previous months we've looked at how to pick a study Bible and where to read the Bible online.
Here's another way to study the Bible:
5. Read a fresh translation of the Bible
Many new translations of Scripture come out each year. It may interest you to read a translation other than the one you are used to. One of the best is the Common English Bible (CEB). The English is how it is spoken, today, and has a fresh feel to it. Try it out and see what you think.
Check back …