The Apostle Paul, writing to Titus, includes a jarring line: "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures" (Titus 3:3, NIV).
The word that deserves attention here is enslaved. Most of us read that and picture someone who is obviously self-destructive and whose life has visibly come apart.
But Paul is also describing decent, capable, disciplined people who are making reasonable choices, trying to build worthwhile lives, and yet have handed their hearts over to gifts instead of the Giver, and to created things instead of the Creator. That's what makes what the Bible calls idolatry so difficult to see.
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Bible News
The latest Bible-related and Bible-adjacent news
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U.S. Catholic Bishops Consecrate Nation to Sacred Heart of Jesus — June 9: U.S. Catholic bishops are consecrating the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as part of the country’s 250th anniversary. The Sacred Heart devotion is a long-standing Catholic practice centered on Jesus’ sacrificial love. It has paradoxically been associated with both Catholic nationalism and anti-state sentiment, but supporters say it’s simply a reminder that national life should be accountable to God’s law of love. (AP)
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39 Years Later, 3,800 Notsi Speakers Have Their Own Bible — June 9: After nearly four decades of work, the New Testament has been translated into Notsi, a language spoken by about 3,800 people in Papua New Guinea. Many in the community at first saw little need for Scripture in their mother tongue, relying instead on other languages — but gradually found that the message became clearer, more personal, and spiritually transformative in Notsi. The work is now continuing with an Old Testament translation. (Christianity Today)
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Bible Scholar Encourages Believers to Seek Historical Evidence of Jesus — June 10: Many Christians are facing tougher questions about the evidence for Jesus outside the Bible, especially from younger skeptics and secular friends. Bible scholar Jeremiah Johnston urges Christians not to avoid such questions, as mainstream scholarship widely accepts Jesus’ existence and crucifixion, while archaeology helps illuminate his world. Johnston argues that historical claims about Jesus are central to why Christianity stands or falls. (RELEVANT)
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by Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright
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Joseph was a seventeen-year-old young man when his seemingly perfect life turned upside down. Like many of us at that age, he must have had hopes and dreams for his future — who he would marry, where he would live, what he would do for a living. Joseph was obedient and trustworthy and dearly loved by his father. What could possibly go wrong? Yet what unfolded next would change the course of his life forever.
Joseph’s life was upended on a seemingly ordinary day. He followed his father’s instructions to check on his brothers who were tending the sheep some distance away. His brothers, who had become insanely jealous of Joseph, saw him coming towards them and conspired to grab him and throw him into an empty cistern. Then they sold him to Ishmaelite slave traders headed to Egypt.
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Today we’re often told anger is a “gift” for our use, when we feel it’s “reasonable.”
We’re also told we should be aroused to anger when we see one of God’s commands being broken. Really? Then we’re going to be busy … really, really busy. We’re also going to be really, really angry, all the time — and that’s just at ourselves, for starters.
The Bible actually directs us to get rid of anger (Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8), but our idea of “righteous anger” turns that directive on its head: We can actually pat ourselves on the back for being offended and embracing anger. And all that boiling, piercing, corrosive power becomes part of our lives — and destroys us.
Here's a better option: being unoffendable.
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Have you ever wondered how the Bible influenced the American Revolution? The answer is at hand. On Sunday, June 7, the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. kicks off a six-month lecture series designed to satisfy Americans' curiosity about the Bible’s role in our war for independence.
“These Truths Are Not Self-Evident” lecture series is central to The Bible & America 250, the museum’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. On July 3, the museum said it will open two new exhibitions that “trace the Bible's profound influence on American history from the founding era to today.”
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Seeking After the Heart of God for 52 Weeks
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In this 52-week Bible study—designed to be started at any point in the year—Max Lucado delves into King David's story to discover what it means to chase after God's own heart.
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Summer is a time to pause, reflect, and embrace the beauty of God’s creation. This collection of devotions is your invitation to slow down and savor the season while deepening your faith.
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*The Bible Gateway Plus sale is valid through June 15, 2026. All prices are USD. Additional sales tax may apply. The 7-day free trial is available to new subscribers only.
*FaithGateway sale price ends on 06/30/26 at 11:59 PM. Limited quantities available. Sale pricing excludes ebooks and audiobooks. Free Standard Shipping for U.S. orders over $35 excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
*ChurchSource offers valid until July 26th, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST or while supplies last. Offer valid online and by phone only. Shipping, gift cards, or customization of products does not qualify towards minimum purchase requirements. Save 50% on your order when you purchase 50 or more resources from Alpha, Emotionally Healthy, and Celebrate Recovery with code BTC50. Offer only available to customers in the United States age 18 and older. To redeem offer, enter promo code during online checkout or provide the code to a representative during phone orders. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with any other discount offer. ChurchSource reserves the right to de-activate the promo code in the event of fraud or technical issues and limit quantities of individual items eligible for purchase with this discount. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Not valid for resale.
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