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Guest Post
January 29, 2020

So You Want to Be Useful to God…

Craig GroeschelBy Craig Groeschel

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. —John 12:24

At the ripe old age of 27, I felt called by God to start a new church. My wife, Amy, shared my vision, so we dreamed together and moved forward with a plan. We chose a name for our new church and filed the paperwork. We recruited friends who had already expressed interest in joining us and printed invitations for others we hoped to enlist as we got our new church off the ground.

To say that we were idealistic would be an understatement. With way more faith than wisdom, I envisioned how it would be. I’d preach powerful messages. The atmosphere would be electric, with vibrant worship and dynamic music. Crowds of people would gather. Lives would be changed. God would be honored. The city would be different. And we would live happily ever after.

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Jonathan Petersen
January 28, 2020

Rest Is Not Disconnection: An Interview with Jenny L. Donnelly

Jenny L. DonnellyDo you worry a lot? Is it common for you to dread upcoming events? Does pressure or stress trigger outbursts of anger, isolation, depression, or feelings of failure?  Do you have a hard time finishing what you start? Do you find it impossible to work in the middle of chaos? Do you wonder if God is really going to come through for you in difficult times?

Bible Gateway interviewed Jenny L. Donnelly (@JennyLDonnelly) about her book, Still: 7 Ways to Find Calm in the Chaos (Revell, 2020).

Buy your copy of Still in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day

What is a biblical definition of REST? Do you believe that most people understand rest in the way that is described in the Bible?

Jenny L. Donnelly: I’d say when most of us hear the word REST, we automatically think “slow down” or “temporarily disconnect from my responsibilities” or “take a vacation.” All of these are forms of REST, but they don’t even come close to the deeper, richer dimension of REST that Jesus offers us.

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Jonathan Petersen
January 27, 2020

Video: God’s Redemption Seen In A Pine Cone

The remarkable knobpine coneAccording to the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway, “redemption is deliverance from the power of an alien dominion and enjoyment of the resulting freedom….The heart of the biblical message of redemption is the deliverance of the people of God from the bondage of sin by the perfect substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ and their consequent restoration to God and his heavenly kingdom.”

At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought. But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence.
Colossians 1:21-22

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Jonathan Petersen
January 26, 2020

Bible News Roundup – Week of January 26, 2020

Read this week’s Bible Gateway Weekly Brief newsletter
⇨ Bible Gateway Weekly Brief
⇨ Newsletter signupSee the Bible News Roundup archive on Bible Gateway
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Support Bible Gateway—Browse the Bible Gateway Store
⇨ BibleGatewayStore.com
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Philippines National Bible Week Starts with Four-Day Bible-Reading
⇨ Mindanao Times
⇨ Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Read the Bible in the Tagalog Language on Bible Gateway
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Pope at Mass: ‘Make Room in Your Lives for the Word of God’
⇨ Vatican News
⇨ Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Bible Table of Contents
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Drew Reichard
January 25, 2020

Bible Reflections: Be Forgetful

Forgetfulness isn’t generally something we consider a virtue. Which is why it was an initial surprise to me that, in Isaiah 43, the prophet issues a call to “forget the former things; do not dwell on the past” (Isaiah 43:18 NIV).

The Olive Tree Bible Overview in the Bible Gateway Study sidebar provides some helpful context, pointing out that Isaiah 43 is part of what is often considered the second distinct section of the book of Isaiah. This section, which “is a message primarily of comfort and hope to the exiled community of Judah,” is comprised of chapters 40-55 and follows the exhortations against idolatry of the early chapters.

God’s people, when faced with new oppressions and dangers, had a tendency to seek comfort by fixating on his past humbling of Egypt. And, while Isaiah does affirm that God was indeed the God of the exodus (43:16-17) and that his nature hasn’t changed, he also needs them to understand that he is doing a new thing. This fixation on exodus as a past glory is blinding them from seeing the new ways he’s working in their lives now.

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Guest Post
January 24, 2020

Be Strong in the Lord

Dr. Tony EvansBy Dr. Tony Evans

Doing battle against Satan requires more than a New Year’s resolution and a dose of will power. Spiritual warfare requires spiritual weaponry. The strength you need to successfully do such battle is supplied by God. That may seem obvious. But, judging from the way we treat this truth, it bears repeating.

Many of us tend to swing toward one of two extremes when it comes to the devil. Some overestimate him. They become fearful and timid, lest Satan leap upon them. Remember: “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

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Jonathan Petersen
January 23, 2020

Violence Against Christians Surges; More Than 1,000% Increase in Attacks on Churches Since 2018

Open Doors 2020 Interactive World Watch Map

“If one part [of the Body of Christ] suffers, every part suffers with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:26

Buy your copy of Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day

The world has become less tolerant and less safe for hundreds of millions of Christians. Based on current statistics, every day around the world …

  • 8 Christians are killed for their faith
  • 23 Christians are raped or sexually harassed
  • 25 Churches are targeted and attacked
  • 10 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned for their faith.

[Sign up to receive the free email devotional, Standing Strong Through the Storm]

Buy your copy of Killing Christians: Living the Faith Where It's Not Safe to Believe in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day

Every week around the world …

  • 186 church buildings are attacked
  • 276 Christian homes are burned or destroyed.

The number of persecuted Christians internationally has risen by 15 million in the past year. According to persecution watchdog organization Open Doors (@OpenDoors) 2020 World Watch List (#WWL2020), 260 million Christians live in countries where they experience high, very high, or extreme levels of persecution; up from 245 million in 2019.

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Guest Post
January 23, 2020

Experiencing God Fully

Dr. Tony EvansBy Dr. Tony Evans

Many old football and baseball stadiums have been torn down, and new ones built in their places. The older ones were okay, but they lacked modern improvements and technology. Moreover, many of these older stadiums included seating areas with obstructed views: a beam or a post would block a fan’s full visual participation in the sporting event. In fact, oftentimes, if a fan was seated in one of these seats behind a column, he would have to ask another person what had just happened. He’d have to get secondhand information because he couldn’t see things for himself. He could hear the noise and excitement, but the column kept him from being a full participant in the activities.

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Mel Lawrenz
January 22, 2020

How to Live the Bible — The Unchanging Providence of God

howtostudythebible

This is the eighty-ninth lesson in author and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ How to Live the Bible series. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email here.

See Mel Lawrenz’s book, How to Understand the Bible.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty…. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday (Psalm 91:1, 5-6).

Young man praying illustration illustration

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Jonathan Petersen
January 22, 2020

Bible Connection Podcast: Love Thy Neighbor with Thomas Hunter

Go to the Bible Connection Podcast index page

Watch and hear the Bible Connection Podcast: Love Thy Neighbor with Thomas Hunter

Bible Gateway presents the Bible Connection Podcast, where we talk about the Bible and how it connects to every facet of life.

In this twelfth episode of the Bible Connection Podcast, former professional athlete Thomas Hunter talks about his journey out of athletics and into his current role as a pastor and the community relations director for the Davidson County Sheriff’s Department. Thomas tells us how important it is for the church to be involved with the community and shows us what it looks like to touch the broken.

Go to the page to view this podcast episode

Go to the Bible Connection podcast episode page for Love Thy Neighbor with Thomas Hunter

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    The Bible Gateway Blog features the latest news, announcements, and reflections from Bible Gateway. We hope what you find here will add to your understanding of and appreciation for the Bible.