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I love revisiting the Sunday School classics as an adult and discovering how rich they are in meaning and interesting details. The fall of Jericho did not disappoint! Fun Facts: • Yes, “the walls came a-tumblin’ down,” but Jericho was rebuilt many times. Located in the West Bank, it’s a contender for the world’s oldest city (11,000 years)! • Joshua declared a curse on anyone who rebuilds Jericho, which was fulfilled in 1 Kings 16:34 with Hiel of Bethel. • The archaeological s

“Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man, and she swiftly made him a sandwich.” (Genesis 2:22) …This isn't far off from how some people interpret "helper". But was is the real meaning? In Genesis, God calls His creation “good” seven different times before He identifies something that was “not good”… Adam was all alone. So God made “a helper suitable for him”. That one little word has been misinterpreted, misused,

Are we doing Communion right? How did the Lord’s Supper go from this… ...to this? The night before His death, Jesus and His disciples shared a massive multi-course Passover feast. We’re talking wine, flatbread, roasted lamb, bitter herbs, and sides like lentil stew, eggs, fruit, nuts, and olives. After the meal, Jesus gave his disciples bread and wine, declaring them to be His body and blood. He told them to repeat the act in His memory. For a century or two afterward, the e

Peter’s journey is one of the most satisfying and beautiful story arcs in the Bible… At the Last Supper before the crucifixion, Peter makes a bold claim. He tells Jesus, “Even if I must die with you, I will never disown you.” Jesus responds, “Oh, really? You’ll disown me three times before the rooster crows” (but less sarcastic). That night, Jesus is arrested and taken away. Peter follows at a distance. He warms himself by a charcoal fire in the courtyard of the high priest’s

Moses may have been ethnically Hebrew, but he was educated by their enemy, likely had an Egyptian accent, and probably more than a few Egyptian “quirks”. Moses belonged nowhere. He went from infant Hebrew slave to being raised as Egyptian royalty. From prince to a shepherd in a foreign land. And from “slow of speech and tongue” to a leader of millions of distrusting Israelites. …But God didn’t waste a single chapter of his life, and each stage was the perfect preparation to f

What’s up with the crazy-long lifespans in the Bible? What are we to think when we read that Adam lived to 930, Noah to 950, and Methuselah (the record-holder) to 969? How would that even work? Did they Benjamin Button their way through childhood (30-year-old toddlers)? ...Probably not. But let’s look at some common interpretations… The traditional view is that the pre-Flood world was a very different era, and people actually lived that long. In this view, God originally crea

It’s one of the most fascinating stories in the Bible. ...So let’s talk demon possession! Matthew, Mark, and Luke all recount the story of Jesus healing the “Gadarene demoniac.” Picture a naked man (bear with me…) living in the tombs outside of town. He’s constantly screaming and cutting himself with stones. He’s so violent that no one can pass by, and so supernaturally strong that he snaps the iron chains whenever townspeople are brave enough to bind him. Oh, and did you kno

Why did John always refer to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”? Did he have a complex? Was he bragging? Scholars generally agree it’s the opposite… Humility: John may have stayed anonymous out of humility. Instead of boasting about his role, he keeps the focus on Jesus. A casual reader wouldn’t even know that John wrote it without making some inferences, comparing it with the other Gospels. Even then, we can’t be 100% sure. Identity in Christ: John’s primary identity

For those familiar with the Israelites’ story, we’ve all thought it… "What the heck was their problem?" They’re called a “stiff-necked” people nine times in the Bible. The metaphor comes from a stubborn ox that locks its neck muscles, fighting against the yoke and refusing to turn. Similarly, the stiff-necked Israelites continually refused to submit to God’s direction. A mere 40 days after witnessing a supernatural and terrifying manifestation of God’s presence on Mount Sinai

The biblical story of David killing a lion is only two verses long, but it always captivated me, and stirred up so many questions in my head. What kind of lions lived in ancient Israel? Was it a male lion? How does one kill a lion with their hands? Does it feel good to kill a lion? Why haven’t I killed a lion? These important questions led me to do some light research… I quickly found the conventional talking points of the story… The wilderness was the young shepherd’s traini

Why was God pleased with Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s? Does God like lamb more than veggies? Did God like Abel more than Cain? The answer isn’t obvious. But like all Bible stories, the picture becomes clearer when you look a little deeper. First, look at the text… Abel offered the “fat portions” from the “firstborn of his flock.” Cain offered “some of the fruits of the soil.” Abel gave the best of his best, but it appears that Cain may have just whipped something up. S

What do you do when your kids are being kids at church? Yell at them? Challenge them? Or let them be?

What makes Abraham the undisputed heavyweight champion of faith? Let’s break it down. God spoke to Abram (a pagan) and told him to leave his home, family, and security to travel to an unknown destination. He did this without question. God promised a 75-year-old Abraham that he would be a father of a nation. After 24 years of waiting, God specified that his wife Sarah (who was barren and now 89 years old) would bear a child. Abraham trusted God over the reality of their bodies

You were probably taught that the little boy was a generous and willing participant in the feeding of the five thousand. That’s what is taught in Sunday School, and I think there's a high probably that's what happened... but it’s not in the bible. If you read all four accounts of the story, and consider the historical context, another plausible narrative is that the disciples found him, commandeered his lunch, and then brought it to Jesus. Children had no social status, and i

Growing up in the 90s in my conservative home, there was good music (e.g.,Perry Como) and evil music (everything recorded after 1970)… I was always nervous listening to anything with an electric guitar. When my Vanilla Ice cassette tape was discovered, I thought my life was over. But the bible encourages the creation of new music (Psalm 33:3), and using a variety of instruments (Psalm 150:3-5) in our worship. As with everything, it’s not about appearance or style, but what’s

What would you do if your face glowed like Moses'? Think of the possibilities!

Only one man had the opportunity to wipe out ticks from the face of the earth.

Why do angels in the Bible always lead with "Do not be afraid"? Aren't they all chubby naked harp-playing babies with wings? Not quite. Biblical angels are multidimensional horror shows that defy human comprehension. Common reactions include extreme trembling, losing all strength, and falling facedown “like dead men” (Matthew 28:4). And those are just the messenger angels, who have an appearance “like that of a man” (well… a man with a “face like lightning” and “eyes like bla

The story of the three wise men – as interpreted by eight year olds everywhere.

Just a few of my favorite lines from the Song of Solomon. He was a master of romance. Take note, men.