What Is Faith? ucg.org
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
God wants us to know Him and develop a relationship with Him, offering assurance of His plans for us now and in the future. His Word reveals that godliness benefits all aspects of life, both present and eternal (1 Timothy 4:8). Yet, there’s a critical distinction between merely believing in God and truly believing God. Believing in God acknowledges His existence. Many people do this,…
The Seven Churches: What Now? – Richard T. Ritenbaugh cgg.org
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
Internal biblical evidence indicates that the seven churches of Revelation 2-3 represent attitudes and conditions within God’s church throughout history, culminating in the end time. Revelation’s focus on the Day of the Lord (Revelation 1:1, 10) underscores this conclusion. The prevalent attitude of the Laodicean church (Revelation 3:14-22), marked by spiritual indifference, mirrors conditions today as Christ’s return approaches. As the church undergoes scattering, what…
God’s Name in Vain youtube.com
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
Imagine a world where the universally accepted standard is to never take God’s name in vain. What would that look like? How would it transform our world? At its core, this commandment isn’t just about avoiding blasphemy or disrespectful speech. It’s about humility—living in a way that reflects God’s character, truth, and love in every word and action. If society embraced this command, we’d see…
Lucifer youtube.com
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
Before he was Satan, meaning “adversary,” Lucifer was a high-ranking angel, known as the “shining one.” As an anointed cherub, he served near God’s throne, perfect in wisdom and beauty (Ezekiel 28). But pride corrupted him. He sought to exalt himself above God, leading a rebellion and convincing a third of the angels to join him (Isaiah 14). Cast down from heaven (Revelation 12), he…
What Is Spirit? – Steve Moody lifehopeandtruth.com
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
The Bible presents God as a spirit (John 4:24), and angels are also spirits (Hebrews 1:13-14), suggesting that the entire spirit realm is composed of spirit, unlike the material world, which is made up of matter. This means that everything associated with God’s presence—including His throne (Ezekiel 10:1) and the heavenly sanctuary represented by the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:17,…
The Church Through the Ages – John H. Ogwyn tomorrowsworld.org
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
The Church that Jesus Christ built has faced challenges throughout history, as depicted in Revelation 2 and 3, where Christ addresses the seven churches of Asia Minor. These churches symbolize both literal first-century congregations and different periods of Church history. The first, Ephesus, represents the Apostolic era, where the Church struggled with false teachings and lost its zeal after Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 AD. Smyrna,…
Sabbath Day youtube.com
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
Imagine a world where just one of the Ten Commandments was prioritized. In this case commandment 4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. With just this one command society would transform. Being much more than just a break from work; this would be a chance for real connection. Every Sabbath would become a day to nurture relationships, uplift neighbors, and serve each other’s…
Creation Story youtube.com
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) All that was created was created by the Word, who later became Jesus Christ. (John 1:1) As God laid the foundations of the earth, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” (Job 38:4-7) All was very good! (Genesis 1:31) But then, something happened. The earth became…
The Holy Day Satan Hates Most – David Treybig lifehopeandtruth.com
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, is a holy day focusing on humanity’s reconciliation with God. The word “atonement” means making amends or restoring a relationship. This day signifies the time when the whole world will have the opportunity to be reconciled to God after Jesus Christ returns (Romans 5:10). Christians today can seek forgiveness through repentance (1 John 1:9), but the Day of…
Godly Justice leadingtolife.org
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
Administering justice is a key theme in the Bible. God expects His people to practice justice, as seen in scriptures like 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, where saints are called to judge the world and even angels. The question for us is: are we practicing justice in our daily lives? In the business world, justice often aligns with legality—what is lawful is deemed just. However, laws can…
Ideological Subversion – Marshall Stiver leadingtolife.org
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
In a 38-year-old interview, former KGB spy Yuri Bezmenov warned that the U.S. could be undermined through a process of ideological subversion. He explained that this method would change Americans’ perception of reality, making them unable to protect their country, families, and communities. Bezmenov outlined four stages: demoralization, destabilization, crisis, and normalization. The demoralization phase separates people from God, leaving them to rely on their…
The Trinity: What Is It? – Larry Neff lifehopeandtruth.com
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
The doctrine of the Trinity, a core belief of the Roman Catholic Church and most Protestant denominations, is considered essential to the Christian faith by many. However, its origins and scriptural support raise important questions. The Trinity is not found in the Bible but was a concept developed over centuries. Around A.D. 180, Theophilus of Antioch first mentioned the term, though his description of “God,…
The Fall Festivals – Jerold Aust ucg.org
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
Long before modern maps, people used creative methods to represent their world. For example, the Marshall Islanders crafted stick charts to depict winds and wave patterns, while Eskimos carved coastal maps from ivory, and early Europeans sketched maps on cave walls. The concept of mapping is deeply human, representing a form of communication and understanding. Even today, we use the term “map” to describe plans…
Why Israel? leadingtolife.org
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
Discussing “Why Israel?” in a non-church environment can be uncomfortable due to its association with British-Israelism, a belief that Britain’s people descend from ancient Israel. This ideology, tied to notions of racial superiority and colonialism, has been discredited by historians and is widely considered racist. British-Israelism has also influenced extremist movements like “Christian Identity” and “Serpent Seed,” which promote white supremacy and distort biblical teachings…
The Sabbath Controversy – Richard F. Ames thebiblesaysthat.com
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
Different religions have distinct days of worship: most Christians observe Sunday, Muslims worship on Friday, and Jews keep the Sabbath from Friday evening to Saturday evening. But does it matter which day we observe? And does God care when we worship, as long as we do? Many Christians accept their traditions without questioning them. I used to do the same until I asked, “Why do…
Thou Shalt Not Steal youtu.be
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
In a world where traditional moral foundations are increasingly questioned, the relevance of ancient wisdom might surprise you. Take the Eighth Commandment: “Thou shalt not steal.” This simple directive isn’t just about preventing theft—it’s about unlocking profound real-world benefits. Theft costs society more than just money. The annual losses are staggering, but the indirect costs—security, insurance, and lost trust—are even greater. Imagine a world where…
Integrity youtube.com
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
The Bible has a lot to say about the impact leaders have on the well-being of their people. In Proverbs 29:4, it says, “By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.” So, looking at the world today, how do our leaders stack up against this standard? Proverbs 6:16-19 spells out seven things that can lead…
Gnosticism: Why John Wrote 1 John – Brian Orchard leadingtolife.org
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
The New Testament Church began with great enthusiasm, adding 5,000 people one day and 3,000 shortly after, as recorded in Acts. However, over time, the Church’s “first love” diminished due to Satan’s influence and false teachers infiltrating the Church. Christ rebuked the Church in Ephesus in Revelation for losing its initial passion, and the Apostle John, writing towards the end of the first century, addressed…
A Godly Quest for Pleasure – David F. Maas cgg.org
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
Throughout creation, God has established patterns that are evident in all living things, including the drive-reduction mechanism—where the body seeks to satisfy needs like hunger and thirst to reduce tension. This concept aligns with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which identifies the fulfillment of basic drives as foundational to human behavior. Philosophies like Epicureanism, which prioritize pleasure, have emerged around these physical needs. However, the Bible…
The Magdalene Gospel – Mark J. Hulme vision.org
Ryan Welsh
7 hours ago in Bible
Among the women in the Bible, one figure has gained notable attention recently: Mary Magdalene. Known as one of Jesus’ most mentioned female disciples, she appears in all four Gospels. Catholicism honors her as Saint Mary Magdalene, recognizing her both as an apostle and a sinner. Additionally, apocryphal texts like the Gospel of Mary offer intriguing insights into her life and role in the early…