The Christmas season is a time for reflection, joy, and celebration. It's also a time of patience, yearning, and expectation.
As we wait for Jesus to enter the world — and then rejoice in peace and exultation when he inevitably does — it gives us an opportunity to enter into the Bible story and experience it for ourselves. We re-experience the long, hopeful, sometimes desperate wait that God's people had to endure before Christ was finally, blessedly born to us on that night in Bethlehem.
As you enter into this time of waiting and celebration, here are Bible verses you can read, study, and reflect on — whether quietly to yourself or together as a family. |
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The Apostle Paul calls us to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Rom. 12:2). So how do we go about this supernatural endeavor?
Pastor and author Matt Damico encourages you to avail yourself of the Psalms and add them to your armory, so that you can take up the Psalter in the holy war against worldliness and the noble pursuit of renewing your mind.
Here's why the psalms are indispensable for the Christian life. |
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Bible News The latest Bible-related and Bible-adjacent news |
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December 18 — Four years ago, Pat Forrester stepped down from his role as NASA's chief astronaut to begin a pastoral internship at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Forrester went from flying jets, planning space trips, and building the International Space Station to a $1,300/mo. stipend alongside seven under-40 seminarians. Today, he's developmental director of 9Marks, a ministry focused on building healthy churches. (The Gospel Coalition) |
| December 18 — In Nigeria, a violent clash between the United Methodist Church (UMC) and the breakaway Global Methodist Church (GMC) resulted in the deaths of three United Methodists, including two children, as well as homes set ablaze and many displaced. UMC leaders condemned the violence, calling for GMC leaders to do likewise and bring the perpetrators to justice, while urging United Methodists to remain peaceful. (The Christian Century) |
| December 18 — A Pew Research Center report on international religious freedom identified Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, and Iraq as countries where both government and social persecution severely limit religious freedom. These two issues were found to often coincide, though a direct causal link is unclear. Harassment against religious groups increased globally, affecting 145 (of 198) countries — up from 137 the previous year. (RNS) |
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Have you ever thought about the parts of your Bible that aren't actually the Bible?
We tend to picture our Bibles mostly as words — an unchanging, directly accessible, unmediated sacred text. Words do stand at the heart of Scripture — but there are a lot of other elements, often hidden in plain sight.
Dr. Garrick Allen calls us to consider "paratexts" — all the features of the Bible other than the main text itself. From introductions and notes, to section headings, to even chapter and verse numbers, these paratexts change the way we read Scripture — for better and for worse. |
| Look at the Book: Obadiah |
The shortest book in the Old Testament, Obadiah calls back to the sibling rivalry between Jacob and Esau in the book of Genesis, insisting that Israel (Jacob) will get his due. Here's your quick reference guide to the book, including summary, key verse, important info, and reading guides. |
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Read the Bible like a novel in The Story! Condensed into 31 accessible chapters, The Story sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. Like any good story, The Story is filled with intrigue, drama, conflict, romance, and redemption—and this story's true! |
| NIV, Chronological Study Bible |
This Bible presents Scripture in chronological order—the order in which the events happened—with notes, articles, and full-color graphics that connect the reader to the history and culture of biblical times. Starting with creation and moving through God's people in the Old Testament, the life of Jesus and the birth of the church, this Bible provides a vivid picture of God's work throughout history. |
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Devotionals and Reading Plans Sign up to get daily inspiration, biblical themes, and guided studies that allow you to engage with Scripture in a meaningful and practical way. |
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| Bible Audio App Listen to God's word in your favorite narration. Enjoy features such as setting a timer, adjusting the speed, or repeating verses to better absorb the Word of God. |
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