Three pillars of righteous living are highlighted by Jesus: giving, prayer, and fasting. It's not a question of "if" but "when" you engage in these acts, implying that these should be standard practices for the faithful. While these aren't the sole measures of righteousness, neglecting them can turn our other righteous deeds into displays of self-indulgence and arrogance.

When we read the Bible, shouldn’t we take its words at face value? The answer to that question is both yes and no. While every word in the Bible is true, God inspired the writers to use metaphor, symbolism, irony, and other literary devices to convey the message.

The Book of Nehemiah, found in the Old Testament, often escapes notice within the collection of biblical stories. Yet, beneath its apparently ordinary account of post-exilic Israel's endeavors to reconstruct the walls of Jerusalem lies a remarkable unveiling of Jesus Christ. While Nehemiah may not directly introduce us to the Messiah as the Gospels do, it offers a compelling glimpse into Christ's character, mission, and redemptive work in the world.

In a world where revenge often seems like the natural response to mistreatment or harm, the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 5:38-48 can be difficult to embrace. After all, who wants to be kind and forgiving to those who curse us or speak ill of us? It goes against our human instincts to retaliate when wronged. However, as we delve into these passages, we are reminded that God's purpose for our lives transcends our desire for vengeance.

The hermeneutical spiral is a concept that describes the iterative and recursive nature of the interpretive process in Bible study. Let me explain: The hermeneutical spiral is like a cycle because you go through it again and again, and it helps you understand the Bible better each time. So, when you study the Bible, you don't just read it once and understand everything; you keep going back and digging deeper to learn more.

The Book of Ezra, found in the Old Testament of the Bible, may seem like a historical account of events that took place thousands of years ago, but it holds a deep message that reveals the presence of Jesus Christ in unexpected ways. One might be familiar with the stories of the Bible, but let's investigate how the Book of Ezra offers a glimpse of Jesus.