Unlocked Archives
June 5, 2021
The Exodus is my favorite Bible story. It's an edge-of-your-seat narrative where an underdog hero defies the most powerful ruler in the world and rescues his people from slavery. Unfortunately, sometimes we look at the ten plagues as evidence that God is cruel. Was God spitefully tormenting the Egyptians? Or could He actually have been [...]
April 21, 2021
King Nebuchadnezzar had no interest in God. As the greatest king of the world's largest empire at that time (Babylon), he considered himself greater than the deity of the tiny nation he had conquered so easily (Judah). In fact, he was so convinced of his own divinity that he constructed a giant statue of himself [...]
March 21, 2021
I keep it handy. A college notebook. From time to time, I open it to the back of my American History final. On this page, my favorite professor wrote: It was a real joy to have had you as a student this past term. Your diligence and enthusiasm were always apparenteven on those days when [...]
March 11, 2021
By grace alone, through faith alone. Many believers describe the how of salvation in these terms (based on Ephesians 2:8-9). If a person places their faith in Jesus, that person receives forgiveness of their sins by the grace of God. Good works cannot add to or grant the forgiveness that comes by grace alone through [...]
February 7, 2021
In the 300s, a controversy erupted throughout the church over the doctrine of the Trinity. The Arian sect claimed Jesus was a lesser deitysince He was begotten of God the Father, there must have been a time when He was not in existence. About that time, a young man named Athanasius entered service to Alexander, [...]
January 14, 2021
Exodus is a continuation of the story begun in Genesis, written by the same author (Moses) and for the same audience (Israel). Whereas Genesis relates to Israel's earliest beginnings, Exodus follows the growing nation. It is primarily a rescue story: God rescuing His people from slavery in Egypt, bringing them to freedom with Him as [...]
January 13, 2021
Just like the start of a modern adventure story, Genesis is an attention grabber. It's an exciting beginning for the Bible and serves as a foundation for all that follows. Only this story is real; we're living out its continuation. Most scholars attribute Genesis to Moses. It was written for the newly emerging nation of [...]
October 12, 2020
Torien nudged Strider forward, holding fast as the horse muscled his way up the steep incline. Word had come only days ago that Torien's uncle had fallen ill. His mother had sent him to manage his uncle's farm until he recovered. The journey across Malinor was long and dangerous, leading past the Disputed Lands. From [...]
October 7, 2020
Have you ever assembled an aquarium? If so, you understand how certain requirements must be met to create an ideal habitat for fish. Some species require fresh water, others salt. Some thrive with companions; others prefer to live alone. Temperature must be adjusted, a bubbler installed, and the right kind of food provided. If your [...]
September 25, 2020
God calls some Christians to marriage and some to lifelong singleness (1 Corinthians 7). So, as you think about the possibility of marriage in the future, there are some important truths to keep in mind. Most importantly, realize that a future spouse will fail you, but Jesus Christ never will. We were created to know [...]