How should I honor my parents?

At a time when failed marriages, broken homes, spousal abuse, and neglect affect way too many households, the fifth commandment, “Honor your father and your mother,” presents a real challenge for millions of children. That wasn’t as big an issue when I was growing up, as all of my friends and neighbors lived in two-parent […]
Is the Sabbath still relevant?

More than 3000 years ago, God gave Moses a collection of commandments to help guide the family of Israel as they moved from captivity in Egypt to the promised land comprising present-day Israel and adjacent lands. After commanding the people to serve the one, true God and forsake all idols, God commanded that they should […]
How does one take God’s name in vain?

When I was a kid, I thought that if I didn’t curse, I wouldn’t be breaking the third commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” As I have studied scripture and gotten to know God better, I realize that keeping this command is impossible. Yes, we should always […]
What is Lent?

In the years immediately following the death and resurrection of Jesus, believers began engaging in a time of focus on their sin and God’s forgiveness of that sin in advance of the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Over time, the church standardized 40 days (not counting Sundays) as a period of reflection and called it Fortieth […]
Is idol worship a thing?

While Western society may have moved away from creating physical idols like those worshiped by millions around the world today, the essence of the second commandment—directing worship and devotion to God alone—remains significant. When Moses led the Israelite nation out of captivity from Egypt, he had an encounter with God during which he was directed […]
One God…Really?

The first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me,” is a profound declaration of monotheism and a call to exclusive worship. It sets the tone for devotion to one God—the creator of the universe and everything in it including men and women. This commandment calls for a life centered around the worship […]
What is True Love?

“I love you” is much more than a Valentine’s Day sentiment. It’s much more than words on a card. So what is true love? The Bible says the greatest commandment is: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5) and “love your neighbor […]
What do Christians Believe?

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines belief as “to accept something as true, genuine, or real.” Another of its definitions is “to have a firm or wholehearted religious conviction or persuasion: to regard the existence of God as a fact.” When we, as Christians, use the word believe, we think of the second definition, the idea that we […]
How does a person get ‘right’ with God?

When you recognize that one day you will stand before God and have to answer for the life you have lived, you will have to know the answer to this question. Ironically, you can’t get right with God by yourself. He set out standards that are so high that that no man has ever been […]
What are you thankful for?

If this question stumps you, maybe you haven’t stopped to think about the many blessings you enjoy. You don’t need to have a great job, or perfect family, or new car or a big turkey dinner on Thanksgiving to realize that you probably have many reasons to be thankful. You might start by being thankful […]