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How a simple act of love made the headlines
Several years ago, a week before Christmas, a Somali refugee family in the Netherlands was attacked by racists who threw heavy fireworks at their rental house. The attackers left a nasty note with a picture of right-wing politician Geert Wilders and a threat: ‘White is better! Own people first! Foreigners need to move out! This is only the beginning!’ Of course the refugee family was scared to death. A young Christian pastor who heard about the attack was provoked by this injustice. He put out a message on social media asking people to show this family their love and support by sending them flowers. Within days the refugee family received so many flowers from all over the nation that their whole house was surrounded. One of the flowers had this little note: “Most people are good. Unfortuna...
How the Early Church handled two devastating epidemics… and doubled in size!
How can Christians respond effectively in times of crisis? Church history can teach us an important lesson – to keep calm, to care for others, and to focus on God’s Kingdom. In the years 165 AD and 251 AD two devastating epidemics – smallpox and measles – swept through the Roman Empire. It was lethal. During the 15-year duration of the epidemic, from a quarter to a third (!) of the empire’s population died from it. The epidemics weakened the Roman military and societal structures. So many people died that cities and villages in Italy and in the provinces were abandoned and fell into ruin. How did the tiny Christian church in the Roman Empire respond to this existential crisis? They made up only 0.08% of the population, which is comparable to today’s Christian population of Afghanistan, whi...
Church planter unites warring gangs
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit South Africa, something remarkable happened. In Manenburg, one of Cape Town’s most dangerous townships, warring gangs started working together in an unprecedented truce to deliver much-needed food to people under lockdown. Andie Steele-Smith is a former investment banker and businessman from Australia who now works as a ‘gang pastor’ in Manenburg. He has led murderers and drug lords to cooperate amid the pandemic on a new distribution network for soap and emergency food delivery. It all started five years ago when he joined a small church plant in a township near his house in Cape Town. “I was asked if I would run a Bible study. They said, ‘No one ever has. Everyone has been too scared.’ So I set up a barbecue and started cooking. I invited six young men, and...
The Best Bible Study Software just Got Better. Logos 9 is Here!
I’ve been using Bible Study Software for over two decades. I have used various versions of nearly everything on the market, including numerous software packages that are no longer available. About ten years ago, I started using Logos Bible Software, and have never looked back! And this year’s version, Logos 9, is the best version yet! Before you reader further, know that if you want to get Logos, you can get an exclusive partner discount on Logos Bible Software by following THIS LINK. The following post will cover some of the updates and items in the new version of Logos Bible Study Software, but let me share with you something that I am particularly happy about, which has been around for a while, but I have only recently started using… At my place of work, they recently installed new comp...
Did Jesus really exist? Discover the evidence
Did Jesus really exist? That’s a very good question. Because the Bible may be full of stories, but how reliable is a 2000-year-old book? And are there any other sources that confirm its existence? Let’s start with the Bible. The New Testament is full of stories and sayings of Jesus. For clarity: Jesus did not write the Bible himself. This second part of the Bible was written by friends of Jesus or written down by later followers based on eyewitness accounts. It is important to know that the storytelling culture was very strong at the time. Stories were often remembered and passed on very accurately. Because few people could read and write, storytelling was very much part of the culture. The first parts of the New Testament were written less than 25 years after Jesus’ death. Many eyewitness...
Who is Jesus?
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Where was Jesus born? Everything about Christmas
Every year on December 25th we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christmas trees, presents, family gathering, Christmas Eve celebrations. But who is Jesus? Where was Jesus born? Why do we actually celebrate Christmas? Jesus is the most important figure of the Christian faith. Our era begins with its birth more than 2000 years ago. Jesus is born in Bethlehem, in the land of Israel. His mother’s name is Mary. She receives a special message from an angel that she will become pregnant with an extraordinary child. Mary will remain a virgin but God creates new life in her womb. The Son of God. Where was Jesus born? Joseph, her fiancé, is shocked when he learns that she is pregnant. They’ve never had sex, so she must have been unfaithful. In a dream God tells Joseph that he should step forward t...
What names are used to describe Jesus?
“His name is Jesus.” Joseph and Mary, as parents of this special child, were allowed to name him. Jesus means: Yahweh saves. Yahweh is a Jewish way of describing God. In other words: God saves. Right at his birth, Jesus was given a name that suited his mission. Did you know that in Central and South America it is very normal to name your child Jesus? Immanuel is also an important name given to Jesus. Immanuel means: God is with us. This name also showcases an important element of Jesus. He is a way for us to experience God up close and personal. The Bible was written by many different authors. All with their own experience and interpretation of God and of Jesus. They often all highlight their own aspect of Jesus and all give a little insight to the question: Who is Jesus? For example, ther...
Why would I believe Jesus is the Son of God?
The Bible often refers to Jesus as the Son of God. God is portrayed as the trinity: father, son and holy spirit. God being the Father. Jesus the Son. The Holy Spirit as God’s presence in our daily lives. This might be a difficult and hard thing to grasp. It seems like three different identities. Yet there is only one God and in him all joins together. Different formsFor example: water is water. Right? But you can drink water and when it’s frozen you can walk on it. If it’s hot you can boil an egg. God is like water. H2O. Present in different forms, with different outputs. But always the same God. Jesus as the Son of God. This remains a stumbling block to many people. Struggling with JesusMaybe you believe in God but you struggle with Jesus. Inspiring as he may be, by saying he is the...
Is Jesus God?
What are we supposed to make of this Jesus fellow? Is Jesus God? Or is he just an interesting historical figure? The Bible is filled with stories and quotes by the intriguing man. Even our era is based on him. Countless art pieces paint a picture of Jesus. You can interpret his life in so many ways. And if you think that Christians have the monopoly on Jesus, you are mistaking. Jesus plays an important part in a lot of other religions too. As one of many Gods, an important prophet or as an inspirator. But in the Christian faith the connection between God and Jesus is the greatest. The two are intertwined. Father & SonIn the Bible it is written that Jesus says: “Whoever sees me, sees the Father. Whoever knows me, knows the Father.” Jesus often talks about God in an intimate way. L...
Where do the Christian holidays come from?
Our calendar is full of Christian holidays: Christmas, Easter, Carnival. All throughout the year Christians all over the world celebrate important markers in the life of Jesus. There are cultural differences in how these events are celebrated. But all take the time to commemorate the birth, the suffering, the death and the resurrection of Jesus. What is the meaning of Christmas? Christmas is the first holiday celebrated on the Christian calendar. Christmas marks the birth of Jesus. A new beginning between God and man. Read more about this celebration here and watch the Christmas story here. Why a celebration of Three Kings? The Three Kings were the first visitors of baby Jesus. This holiday is celebrated to mark the moment when the world became acquainted with Jesus. Three ...
The conversion of Paul
There was a man with a mission. His name was Saul. He was a zealous scribe. He breathed out murderous threats against anyone who did not follow Jewish law. He had them dragged to prison and executed. Saul destroyed the community of the followers of Jesus. Jesus, this so-called Son of God! Saul had no intention of stopping the persecution of Jesus’ followers. He wanted to go to Damascus to have the believers there imprisoned and brought to Jerusalem.
