The Bible is like a time machine. It not only tells us about the past (which isn’t that hard), but it also tells us about the future—all the way to the end. In this episode of Live the Bible, we look at the future that we will all face one day.
The apostle Peter tells us that the end is near—and what are we supposed to be doing before Jesus comes.
We don’t have to scratch our heads and wonder about the future. We just have to read the Bible.
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When we picture ancient Egypt, we think of deserts, camels, the Nile River, and hieroglyphics. But there’s nothing more iconic of Egypt than the Pyramids of Giza.
(Photo: Giza Pyramids. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
They’re the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing, and the pyramids predate them all. In fact, there were already standing for centuries before even Abraham journeyed to Egypt in 2000 BC. They were more than a thousand years old when the Exodus occurred.
The age and location of these pyramids are such that it’s very likely many of our biblical heroes saw them— people like, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the prophet Jeremiah—and even Jesus, Joseph and Mary. Egypt was a place of escape and seclusion for many of them, but that wasn’t always a good thing.
For God’s people, Egypt was often an easy out— a way to keep from trusting God when life got tough.
Turns out, Egypt isn’t just in North Africa. It’s in our lives too.
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You are living the victorious Christian life, right? Before you answer, consider that it takes a battle before victory comes. In this episode of Live the Bible, we look at the tools God has provided us to have a victorious Christian life.
In fact, it begins in a very personal place: your mind. The Apostle Peter tells us how to arm ourselves with a mindset of victory—and then how to wield that weapon in the battle.
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Often the mundane days of our lives tell us lies. They seem to shout how insignificant we are, because all we do seems so small. Jesus’ childhood days in Galilee, near Sepphoris, turn those lies upside down.
(Photo: Sepphoris and Bet Netofa Valley. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
When Jesus, Joseph, and Mary left Egypt after Herod the Great’s death around 4 BC, they settled back in Nazareth, in Herod Antipas’s territory of Galilee. Antipas set about rebuilding the capital city of Sepphoris, and he hired local artisans as laborers.
The gospels refer both to Joseph and Jesus as “carpenters,” from the Greek word, tekton, a worker of wood and stone. Since this was the same time that Jesus’ family returned to Nazareth, it’s very possible that Joseph (and eventually Jesus) would have worked to build Sepphoris, since Nazareth was only about 4 miles from Sepphoris—an hour’s walk.
But even if Jesus did have a hand in helping to build this beautiful city, still—doesn’t it seem a huge waste of His gifts?
The answer to that question speaks volumes to our own lives.
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The good life. What is it? If we poured “the good life” through the filter of Scripture, what would be left? In this episode of Live the Bible, we look at how to live the true good life.
The world looks at external circumstances only, which are never good enough to satisfy us, are they? The Apostle Peter writes to us about good that is truly good – in spite of the bad all around us. It’s actually a focus on hope.
Now, that’s good.
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Sometimes a disappointing setback in our lives only serves to propel us forward in God’s sovereign plan. In the meantime, we need God’s help to keep going. David’s days at Ziklag show us how.
(Photo: Ziklag, Tel Sera. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
Just when things couldn’t have gotten worse for David, they did. Much worse! King Saul’s jealousy over David’s popularity eventually branded David a fugitive and kept him on the run from Saul for years.
In desperate moments, we need to strengthen ourselves in the Lord.
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When life seems unfair, it’s tough. When marriage seems unfair, it’s unbearable. In this episode of Live the Bible, we see one of the best examples when living the Bible cuts against the grain of our culture.
Frankly, it often goes against the teaching of many Christian churches today. The Apostle Peter gets close to home (literally) with this one! If your marriage feels unfair, God has not left you alone.
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Any situations in your life feel unfair? You’re not alone. Jesus felt it too. In this episode of Live the Bible, we look at what we can do when life is unfair.
Jesus shows us by example how in the world do we deal with unfairness—including bad authority, unfair decisions, and even harsh words and actions. Jesus’ example and Peter’s words give us practical steps for this much-needed challenge.
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Cotton candy is like most loves these days. Sweet but short. Instead, the Lord urges us to love what lasts. In this episode of Live the Bible, we discover the only two things that last forever.
The Apostle Peter gives us some practical encouragement to look beyond loving what is temporary, and instead, to love that lasts.
Better still, he shows us how to do it.
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We could summarize most sermons in two words: “Be good.” But why should we be good? In this episode of Live the Bible, we have the good-news answer to that question.
Sometimes we need more than simply being told to live a good life. Thankfully, the Bible gives us the why.
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