The Bible is full of promises for those who will trust in God. One of God’s promises is very important for those going through tests and trials. But this promise has good news and bad. And if we don’t understand it, we can make our trials much worse. Perhaps, even last longer.
Who are the influencers in your life?
Before you answer, don’t just think about the people you know personally. Think about the people who regularly have your attention.
Whose podcasts do you listen to? Whose books do you read? Who fills your social media feed? What celebrities, authors, teachers, commentators, or online personalities do you follow? Who shapes the way you think about success, marriage, money, beauty, happiness, and even right and wrong?
We can spend hours with people we’ve never met, and over time, their values and priorities can begin to shape ours.
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6.21). So what might our viewing, listening, reading, spending, and scrolling habits reveal about where our treasure really is?
We’ll consider those questions in today’s post and talk about how we can intentionally cultivate a taste for influences that help us grow in Christ.
Also, whether you’re married or single, how content are you with where God has you right now? Discontentment can be dangerous for all of us, but for a single believer who longs to be married, it can open the door to especially costly compromises.
What does the Bible actually say about marriage and divorce? Is divorce always forbidden? What about remarriage? And what does Scripture say about singleness and sexual intimacy both inside and outside of marriage?
These aren’t merely theological questions. They affect real marriages, real families, and sometimes some of the most painful decisions people will ever face. And in a culture that has radically redefined marriage and sexuality, we need to know whether God’s Word still speaks clearly to these issues.
In today’s reading from 1 Corinthians 7, Paul addresses all of them—marriage, sex, singleness, divorce, and marriage to an unbeliever. And what he wrote nearly 2,000 years ago is just as relevant today.
We’ll also return to the fascinating subject of unusual creatures in the book of Job. God devotes an entire chapter to Leviathan, a massive and terrifying sea creature no human could control. Was Leviathan a crocodile, some other giant reptile, or possibly a creature we would call a dinosaur? And more importantly, why did God spend so much time describing him?
Finally, Proverbs gives us a vivid picture of drunkenness and the person who, despite suffering its painful consequences, gets up and goes looking for another drink.
Leaving a church can be a difficult and painful decision, especially when you’ve worshiped there for years, built relationships, served faithfully, and come to love the people.
Scripture warns us against being critical, complaining, stirring up division, or constantly moving from church to church because something doesn’t suit our preferences. But does that mean we should never disagree with church leadership? What if a church begins compromising biblical truth? When should we speak up—and when might it actually be time to leave?
We’ll look at some biblical principles that can help us distinguish between sinful divisiveness and legitimate concerns that should not be ignored.
Also, our reading in Proverbs raises another sometimes controversial question: Should spanking or physical discipline have a place in Christian parenting today? And if parents do spank, what should—and shouldn’t—be going on in their hearts when they do?
Most of us will, at some point, stand beside someone whose world has fallen apart.
A spouse dies. A child walks away from the Lord. A cancer diagnosis changes everything. A job is lost. A dream comes to an end.
In those moments, we desperately want to help. But what do we say? What should we avoid? How can we encourage without unintentionally adding to someone’s pain?
Job’s friends started well. They showed up. They wept with him. They sat quietly.
Then they opened their mouths.
Instead of comforting Job, they became what he later called “miserable comforters.”
Today we’ll learn from their mistakes and discover practical, biblical ways to comfort those who are suffering—with wisdom, compassion, and the comfort we’ve first received from God.
Pain changes us.
Sometimes it draws us closer to God. Other times, it tempts us to question His goodness, doubt His love, or even pull away from Him altogether.
Why does suffering have such different effects on people?
The answer often comes down to one thing: what we believe about God.
When life falls apart, our view of God’s character becomes the foundation beneath our feet—or the weakness that causes us to stumble.
Today we’ll continue through the book of Job and discover why knowing God’s goodness, holiness, mercy, and sovereignty enables us to trust Him even when we don’t understand His ways. We’ll also discuss one of the Bible’s most misunderstood parenting passages and one of the most freeing promises ever written.
What is the one sin every believer struggles with?
You might immediately think of anger, lust, worry, fear, or greed. But Scripture points to something even deeper—a sin so subtle that we often fail to recognize it in ourselves, even while we see it clearly in others.
It can disguise itself as perfectionism, defensiveness, impatience, self-pity, self-reliance, or even a desire to appear humble. It quietly poisons relationships, hinders our prayers, blinds us to our own faults, and keeps us from growing into the people God has called us to be.
Today’s readings expose that hidden enemy.
We’ll also watch the tragic story of a king who began well but allowed success to feed his pride until it ultimately brought about his downfall. His life reminds us that no one is beyond temptation and that spiritual victories in the past don’t guarantee faithfulness today.
As we work through today’s passages, let’s ask God to search our hearts, reveal those areas where pride has quietly taken root, and replace it with the humility that delights Him and leads to genuine spiritual growth.
Have you ever looked at the headlines and wondered, How did we get here?
Our world seems to be changing at breathtaking speed. Truth is ridiculed, evil is celebrated, and many believers wonder if there’s anything we can do to make a difference.
The first-century church faced a culture every bit as hostile to the gospel. Yet within a few decades, ordinary believers were accused of “turning the world upside down.”
How did they do it?
Was it political influence? Better marketing? Larger platforms?
No. They believed the gospel was the power of God to change hearts, and they trusted the Holy Spirit to work through ordinary people.
Today we’ll discover why the answer to our world’s deepest problems is still the same—and what God calls each of us to do while we wait for His return.
How do you respond when someone falsely accuses you, mistreats you, or wounds you deeply?
Our natural instinct is to defend ourselves, get even, or at least make sure everyone knows our side of the story. But what if God’s strategy is completely different?
Today we’ll watch Paul and Silas respond to brutal injustice in a way that seems almost impossible. Instead of bitterness, they worship. Instead of revenge, they show mercy. And God uses their response to save an entire household.
We’ll also talk about the everyday hurts that come to all of us—from rude strangers and difficult family members to betrayal by people we trusted—and discover the surprising way believers are called to fight back.
Betrayal hurts differently than almost any other kind of pain.
When an enemy attacks, we expect it. But when the wound comes from someone we trusted—a close friend, a spouse, a family member, or someone from church—it can shake us to the core.
So what does God want us to do?
Should we confront them? Walk away? Protect ourselves? Fight back? Or simply pretend it didn’t happen?
Today’s readings introduce us to one of the Bible’s greatest betrayals and reveal a surprising strategy that is far more powerful than revenge. It isn’t natural, but it has the power to transform both our hearts and, sometimes, the heart of the one who wounded us.
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