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…
Story Tag: Faith
Blood on the Doorposts – Jeremy Lallier sabbaththoughts.com
The distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians became strikingly evident during the plagues preceding the tenth. From the flies to the darkness, God made it clear He protected His people while bringing judgment upon Egypt. However, for the tenth plague, a crucial change occurred. Although God assured the safety of the Israelites, they were required to mark their doorposts with the blood of a…
The Passover Effect – Brian Orchard leadingtolife.org
In a world lacking clear leadership and purpose, many people lead aimless lives, unsure of their existence and the path they should follow. Isaiah 3:12 laments the consequences of misguided leadership. Meanwhile, society’s anger and rejection of God contribute to confusion and destructive thinking, as described in 2 Peter 2:1-3. Satan targets believers, seeking to disrupt their intimate relationship with God (1 Peter 1:2). Yet,…
What Makes You Think You Belong Here? – Jeremy Lallier sabbaththoughts.com
Traditionally, the Feast of Tabernacles prompts the question “Why are you here?” However, the author poses a more uncomfortable query: “What makes you think you belong here?” delving into the phenomenon of “Impostor Syndrome.” This pervasive feeling of inadequacy, often discussed in professional contexts, extends into various aspects of life, including Christianity. Emulating Jesus, a perfect being, may evoke a sense of spiritual fraudulence. Acknowledging…
The Path of Conviction – Tim Vail leadingtolife.org
Many today claim to believe God, but that belief has little influence on their behavior – living by preferences, not convictions. Standing for something because of what others do or don’t do, given to peer pressure, these beliefs are preferences, not convictions. As laid out in this article, belief without action is not conviction, it’s just a type of intellectual righteousness. What is biblical conviction?…
Symbolism of Second Holy Day of Unleavened Bread Festival youtu.be
This is a 30 minute podcast group discussion about why there are two Holy Days in the Days of Unleavened Bread. The day maps to the Israelite’s crossing of the Red Sea. A greater symbolic meaning is addressed in Hebrews 12:2, where Paul said that we look “to Christ as the author and finisher of our faith”. He is the beginning or originator. He starts…
Vaccine Policy – Richard T. Ritenbaugh cgg.org
To take the jab or not is a very divisive issue in our modern culture and Covid 19 has really turned the heat up on personal opinions and attitudes. One of the main reasons for such a sharp polarity is the sheer volume of information that has been offered up so “authoritatively” in clear support of either taking the jab or not. Who is a…
Hope in Times of Depression – Marissa Baker churchofgodnetwork.org
In times of great stress and anxiety the Bible is an excellent source for hope. This hope is not a superficial, “I hope everything turns out the way I want.” The words of the Bible give us hope in something greater than ourselves. Knowing God is working out a greater purpose in us is strength in itself. We then take this knowledge to face stress…
Faith to Face Our Trials – Pat Higgins cgg.org
Life sometimes seems to be one trial after another. However, God has revealed an astounding facet of our relationship with Him that should give us the faith to soldier on despite our many trials. On the night of His crucifixion, Jesus declared that the Father loves us just as much as He loves Christ. As the perfect Parent, He does not love any one child…