Although the Bible doesn’t give a direct command on this issue, examples of fasting appear in both the Old and the New Testaments. One of the most telling passages in which fasting is mentioned is Matthew 6:16, where Jesus is teaching His disciples basic principles of godly living. When speaking on fasting, He begins with,…
In Between Despair and Joy
So far as we know, there has only been one day in the last two thousand years when literally not one person in the world believed Jesus was alive. On Saturday morning after Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples wake after not having slept for two days. The city that was screaming for blood the day before is quiet. Crowds…
7 Last Sayings of Jesus on the Cross
7 Last Sayings of Jesus on the Cross Throughout this Lenten season, Christians around the world are focusing on the gift of Salvation. Remembering the agony experienced by Jesus in His death on the Cross, crucified by Roman soldiers is so profound, isn’t it? In the final hours of His earthly time, as Jesus hung…
The High Cost of Following Christ
The first character we’re going to talk about in this study is Joseph Caiaphas. If you grew up in church, you probably know him as Caiaphas. He was the high priest during the time of Jesus — the most powerful, influential person in Jerusalem, Judea, and what we would consider ancient Israel. He was the…
Everything God Made, He Made with Wisdom
When we look at the world around us, the diversity of Creation is amazing. God didn’t create a world without color or one season. Instead, He made a world awash with color, packed with variety, differing seasons, and various sounds. When we look at the world around us, we realize that God, the Creator,…
Christ-Centered Easter Traditions for Kids
One of the best parts of being a parent and having my own family is getting to pass on family traditions, as well as starting new traditions of our own. Growing up, on Easter, I always wore a new Sunday Easter dress, went to early worship service then headed to my aunt’s house for a late…
Jesus or the Easter Bunny: An Easter Memory
As I think back on the years of celebrating the Easter holiday with my husband and children, my memories are filled with Easter morning church services, frilly handmade dresses, matching ties, and baskets full of fresh fruit, plastic eggs, and inexpensive treats. I remember Easter afternoons spent vacuuming the green plastic Easter grass off our…
Celebrate Easter with a Treasure Hunt – With a Twist
Spring has arrived which means… Easter is coming! Is your family as excited as ours is about Resurrection Sunday? My family loves celebrating with an Easter treasure hunt! While we’ve all come to know and love the traditional Easter egg hunt, an Easter treasure hunts adds even more thrills to the holiday festivities. What’s the…
Preparing Our Hearts and Minds for Easter
Holiday seasons are wonderful, but it’s easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of preparations for activities and forget that our hearts and minds need preparation as well. Easter is the glorious celebration of Christ’s resurrection! If there is ever a time we want to focus our hearts and minds on all that Jesus…
When Your World Turns Against You
Get up, we must go. Look, here comes the man who has turned against Me. The words were spoken to Judas. But they could have been spoken to anyone. They could have been spoken to John, to Peter, to James. They could have been spoken to Thomas, to Andrew, to Nathanael. They could have been spoken to the Roman…