God wants to be known and he wants his word to be understood, so it makes sense that most of the Bible is pretty accessible even for a first-time reader. There are layers upon layers of depth to even the simplest parts of Scripture, but the basics of most passages are pretty straightforward.
That said, there are a few parts of the Bible that are incredibly challenging even for the seasoned student of Scripture. This is certainly a feature, not a bug, because when we run into these hard parts, we're reminded of the magnitude of God, how much we depend on Him, and how much we have to learn from His Word.
It’s great to pause and reflect on such things, but at some point we have to get down to the challenging business of wrestling through those difficult passages. This article is meant to help with that.
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Bible News
The latest Bible-related and Bible-adjacent news
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Study Reveals Ancient Shepherds Crossed War-Torn Borders — Apr. 16: A study of 3,000-year-old animal teeth in Israel's Upper Galilee reveals that ancient shepherds continued grazing their flocks across contested lands between Israel and Aram, even during times of war. Isotope analysis showed consistent grazing patterns, suggesting that political and military conflicts during the Divided Kingdom era did not disrupt the daily lives of common people, who were able to cross political borders as needed. (Times of Israel)
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UK Churches Launch Initiatives to Engage Youth — Apr. 17: The Church of England and the Evangelical Alliance UK have launched initiatives to engage younger generations with faith. The Church of England's program, in partnership with iSingPOP, uses primary school worship performances to connect collective worship to church life. Meanwhile, the Evangelical Alliance's "Ethos" targets spiritually curious young adults through a digital platform offering quizzes, personalized insights, and spiritual practices. (Christian Today; Christianity Daily)
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Texas Brothers Launch Catholic AI to Combat Secular Influence — Apr. 18: Texas brothers Peter and Thomas Cooney have launched Acutis AI, a Catholic-based chatbot designed to provide families with a faith-driven alternative to mainstream AI platforms. Grounded in 2,000 years of Catholic teachings and named after Millennial saint Carlo Acutis, the chatbot offers moral guidance and includes parental controls, aiming to address concerns about secular AI's influence on youth. (Fox News)
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Some picture the Holy Spirit as an ethereal ghost — ill-defined and transient. Some reduce the Holy Spirit to a powerful feeling of emotion or the voice of your conscience. In the Bible, the Holy Spirit is depicted as fire, water, and wind — each incredibly powerful when harnessed for good.
While all of these reflect parts of the Holy Spirit, none of them fully explain the mystery. This mysterious member of the Trinity is distinct and works in the Christian’s life before and after they are saved.
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Access an additional $3,100 worth of resources and go even deeper in your Bible study. Try it free for 7 days
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You’ve probably heard the phrase YOLO — “You only live once.” It’s catchy. It’s been used to justify everything from reckless spending to spur of the moment decisions. But for all its hype, YOLO might be one of the most misleading ideas we’ve embraced.
Why? Because it implies that this is all there is. That the goal of life is to squeeze out as much pleasure, achievement, or comfort as possible before the clock runs out.
As followers of Jesus, we believe something very different — something that changes everything: You don’t only live once. You live twice.
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Have you ever wondered if current events are signs of the end times mentioned in the Bible? The study of end-times prophecy, known as eschatology, can feel complex and even intimidating. Yet, understanding these prophecies isn't about setting dates or causing fear. It's about preparation, hope, and recognizing God's sovereign plan as it unfolds. By exploring these biblical truths, we can learn to live with greater wisdom and urgency in our faith.
This article will help make eschatology approachable. We will look at key concepts from Scripture, including the significance of the red heifer, the future of the temple in Jerusalem, and the identity of the Antichrist. The goal is to equip you with a clearer understanding of biblical prophecy so you can remain watchful, discerning, and anchored in Christ, no matter what headlines appear.
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Jesus Calling for Moms features 50 relevant devotions from Sarah Young's New York Times bestseller Jesus Calling®, to celebrate mothers and their love, comfort, and strength, offering timely, biblical truth.
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Relaxed Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video
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Learn spiritual growth practices for your daily life that remove your own anxious striving and center you on the One who was never worried about a thing.
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Devotionals and Reading Plans
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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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ChurchSource's Summer Ministry Sale has trusted Bible study resources to help you stay connected to God’s Word.
Save 10% on orders of $80 or more with code 10SUMMER — or if you're stocking up, save 15% on $180 or more with code 15SUMMER.
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*All prices are in USD. Additional sales tax may apply. The free trial is available to new subscribers only.
*FaithGateway sale price ends on 04/30/26 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.
*Offers valid until May 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST or while supplies last. Offer valid online and by phone only. 10SUMMER and 15SUMMER offers cannot be combined with each other or any other offers. Shipping, gift cards, or customization of products does not qualify towards minimum purchase requirements. Receive free standard ground shipping on non-rush orders of $35 or more, valid within the 48 continental United States or to an FPO/APO address; offer does not apply to Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. Territories, rush orders, or expedited shipping methods. Offer only available to customers in the United States age 18 and older. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with any other discount offer. ChurchSource reserves the right to de-activate the offers 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.
This email was sent to alitealbum.biblegateway@blogger.com by Bible Gateway, 501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214, USA. You received this message because you signed up to receive updates and offers from Bible Gateway and its sponsors. If you have questions or comments about
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