Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. ~ Albert Einstein WELCOME Harry Houdini was one of the greatest escape artists the world has ever seen. One of the most famous tricks he loved to perform was to escape from jail cells across the world. Houdini would travel to a city and challenge…
Nothing to Prove: Are You Tired?
Last week, after years of tutors and tears and so much hard work and so little reward, my child received a diagnosis: Dyslexia. When I sat down to tell her, her eyes filled with tears. I was so worried this moment would define her view of herself for years to come. And it will.…
Finding Jesus in the Story of Creation
The entire Old Testament points to the coming of the Messiah in the New Testament. We find this from the very first letter and word in Genesis, which reveals that Creation itself was made through the Messiah — that He was the agent of Creation. The story of the Creation sets the foundation of…
What Am I Supposed to Do With All the Hurt
WELCOME! (SUGGESTED TIME: 2–5 MINUTES) Welcome to session 1 of Forgiving What You Can’t Forget. If this is your first time together as a group, take a moment to introduce yourselves to one another before watching the video. Then let’s get started! OPENING REFLECTION: (SUGGESTED TIME: 10–15 MINUTES) Leader Note: Have a few people share…
Psalms: The Hymnbook of Ancient Israel
INTRODUCTION Welcome to the Epic of Eden: Psalms! Along this journey, I encourage you to take part in as much of the personal, independent study as you have time for. As a biblical scholar and professor, my joy comes from doing the heavy lifting of decades of research and study so that I can pass…
What’s So Amazing About Grace: No Strings Attached
God’s Love for the Undeserving Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are. Categories of worthiness simply don’t apply. ~ Philip Yancey, What’s So Amazing About Grace? INTRODUCTION In one of His last acts before His death, Jesus forgave a thief dangling on a cross, knowing…
Don’t Give The Enemy A Seat At Your Table: The Table Before Us
The enemy wants to crush you. He wants to steal from you everything you value. He wants to kill everything in your life that’s good. He wants to destroy you. If he can claim the victory over your life. But you don’t have to let him get a foothold. For you have been invited to…
Romans: The Problem We Face
Welcome to Bible Study of the Week, where every Sunday we give you the free first sessions of new video Bible studies from leading authors, pastors, and Bible teachers. This is session one of Romans: In the Grip of Grace, our upcoming FREE online Bible study with Max Lucado starting June 21st! …
The Practice of Prayer
They all joined together constantly in prayer. — Acts 1:14 Before Session One Group Meeting Spend some time considering where your prayer life is currently and what your prayer experiences have been. In Your Group Watch Video Session One: Introduction: The Practice of Prayer and take notes Complete Group Discussion Questions Pray Together At…
Get Out of Your Head: Spiraling Out
The first time I taught the study you’re about to dive into, I gathered a room full of women in my local church to talk about what’s going on in our heads. We met for six weeks, and lives were changed. The first night those women streamed into the chapel where we were meeting, they…