What Does The Bible Say About Fathers? Knowing what the Bible says about fathers will guide you into rightly doing God’s will as the head of a family. In our write-up, you’ll also find the Best Bible Verses About Becoming A Christian Father. Truth be told, there is nothing easy about being a father. This truth holds especially these days that the society makes it easier for children to go wayward. It is without doubt that the waywardness of some children have brought much pain and sadness into the hearts of many parents. Whatever the case, there is always a way out whenever we involve God in the midst of our challenges. Note that God is still saying something about how father’s can rightly bring-up their children and fulfill their role as head of the Christian family unit after Christ.
The Bible says much about what it takes to become a successful Christian father. God in His unconditional love, unmerited favor, mercy and sovereignty has listed a good number of principles in the Bible which fathers can actively embrace in successfully playing their role in the family. It is in this light that we hereby write to present the Best Bible Verses About Becoming a Christian Father. A father who teaches his children the ways of God is likely to call on God’s mercy and favor on his entire generation. Note that a child who is given a direction in his early years is likely to grow following that direction all through his/her life. Also remember that as a father, you’ll give an account to God on the last day concerning the teachings that you gave to your children.
What Does The Bible Say About Christian Fathers?
Israelite history clearly reveals that a father was to diligently instruct his children in the ways of God Almighty. He was to teach them about the laws of God at all times so that they grow with it in their hearts. The children of Israel learned the ways and laws of God for their spiritual growth, development, and well-being. Every parent who obeyed the scriptures did his best to teach his children the laws of God in the morning, afternoon, and evening. God was pleased with such fathers and located them and their generations in His line of favor as we can read from the Bible verses about the father.
We can as well support the command for parents to train their children in the ways of God by reading from Proverbs 22:6 – “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” The word “train” which is used here eventually indicates the first education that parents give to their children. This primary education is intended to teach the child the convictions of his father on the existence, fear, and laws of God. Starting a child’s education by teaching him/her about the fear of God is of utmost importance.
What the Scriptures say about becoming a Christian father
Although becoming a successful Christian father can be challenging, it is not impossible. Through the scriptures, God teaches us how to go about this task successfully. Whenever we are asked what the scriptures say about becoming a Christian father, we point to a clear answer which happens to be the greatest commandment in the scriptures; “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). A slight move back to verse 2 (Deuteronomy 6:2) clearly says; “So that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.”
In simple terms, we get the summary of what God truly wants from fathers in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” We can as well capture a summary of instructions to the Christian father from Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” In this scriptural verse, the negative part is calling on Christian fathers not to foster negativity into their children by severity, partiality, injustice, or any kind of unreasonable exercise of authority. Note as a father that harsh or unreasonable conduct towards a child will only serve to nurture evil in his/her heart.
Understanding the meaning of the word exasperate or provoke in Ephesians 6:4
In simple terms, the word “provoke” means “to exasperate, irritate, rub the wrong the wrong way, or incite.” Such is influenced by a wrong spirit and wrong methods which could include unreasonableness, severity, needless restrictions, sternness, cruel demands, harshness, and selfish insistence upon dictatorial authority. It is without doubt that such provocations are likely to produce adverse reactions, reducing the children’s desire for holiness, making away with their affection, and giving them an impression that they cannot possibly please their parents no matter how hard they try. Through love, a wise parent makes obedience desirable and attainable by their children.
On the other hand which deals with the positive part of Ephesians 6:4, we perceive a clear expression of a comprehensive guide in bringing-up children in the ways of God. That is, educating them, teaching them, and developing their character to embrace a lifestyle that is pleasing to God Almighty. In other words, we can talk of contributing to their conduct in all of life by the instruction and admonition of the Lord. This makes up for the whole process of educating and disciplining a child. Still on what the Bible says about Fathers, the word “admonition” carries the whole idea of regularly reminding the child of his/her faults (constructively) and duties (responsibilities). That’s why it is said that the Christian father is an instrument in the hands of God.
Understanding The Father’s Role In Bringing-Up A Child God’s Way
It is without doubt that the Christian Father is an instrument in the hands of God. He teaches his/her child the importance of a Sincere Repentance and the need to obey the Key Teachings of Jesus Christ in achieving Eternal Life as oppose to Eternal Punishment which awaits the wicked in the Lake of Fire. However, the entire process of instruction and discipline must be in line with that which God commands and which He administers. This will bring God’s authority into constant and immediate contact with the Child’s mind, heart, and conscience. In this way, the child is more likely to willingly go after the ways of God in love and faithfulness. The human father should never present himself as the ultimate authority to determine truth and duty. The goals of education are best attained by making God the teacher and ruler on whose authority everything is done.
10 Things Scripture Says About Becoming A Christian Father
1. Be your child’s “first teacher” (Proverbs 22:6)
Proverbs 22:6 – “Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their lives.” It is a Christian parent’s duty to teach or train a child the way he/she should go about living life. Here, we are not talking about the school, the neighbor, or the government but you. It’s your responsibility which comes as a command from God.
2. A father needs to exemplify a good lifestyle (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)
2 Corinthians 3:2-3 – “You yourselves are the letter we have, written in our hearts for everyone to know and read. It is clear that Christ himself wrote this letter and sent it by us, It is written, not with ink but with the spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets but on human hearts.” It is important to understand here that our children are reading us on daily basis since we are letters from God. They are more likely to do what they see us doing and speak the things they hear us speaking. That’s why as Christian parents, we must pay attention to our thoughts, words, and actions; always making sure that they are aligned with the will of God. In this way, we’ll teach our children with words and actions.
3. Provide for your family (1 Timothy 5:8)
1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not take care of his relatives, especially the members of his own family, he has denied the faith and is worst than an unbeliever.” This scripture makes it clear that as a father, it’s your responsibility in the light of God’s ways to provide the needs of your family. However, this is not call for you to look down on yourself if you are struggling to pickup a job. Remember that what matters most before God is the mind, intentions, and desires of human beings. Being a responsible father who provides the needs of His family covers more than merely keeping food on the table and providing shelter. However, you must work hard as a dad to meet-up with your family’s needs. Remain focus and courageous enough to provide for your family even when times are financially difficult.
4. A father should spend quantitative and qualitative time with his children (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 – “Never forget these commands that I am giving you today. Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working. Tie them on your arms and wear them on your foreheads as a reminder. Write them on the doorpost of your houses and on your gates.” Spending time with children these days is something that has eluded the minds of many fathers due to the busy schedule that the society subject them to. However, this is no-excuse for you to fail in respecting God’s command. Note that it is not just about spending time with your children but spending quality time with them. That is, using the time to teach them the ways and laws of God. Teach them wisdom and they’ll grow to make good use of it.
5. A Christian father never fails to discipline his children (Proverbs 13:24)
Proverbs 13:24 – “If you don’t punish your son, you don’t love him. If you do love him, you will correct him.” Any father who truly loves his child is careful to discipline him/her whenever need arises. This also has to do with the proactive leadership in our homes.
6. A Christian father should be compassionate (Psalm 103:13)
Psalm 103:13 – “As a father is kind to his children, so the Lord is kind to those who honor Him.” It is right for a father to have for his children. However, this compassion should not blind him from justly disciplining and maintaining them on the right path that leads to success and eternal life.
7. A Christian father should not provoke his children (Ephesians 6:4)
Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” As a father, instead of presenting yourself as the ultimate authority for truth and duty, rather lean on God who is the true teacher and guide in bringing up your children successfully. In love and compassion, discipline and bring them back to the right path without necessarily making them detest holiness.
8. Display or put into practice the values that you are teaching your children (James 1:22)
James 1:22 – “Do not deceive yourself by just listening to His word; instead put it into practice.” This scripture clearly points out that it is of no good for us to listen to God’s word without putting it into practice. In the same light, we shouldn’t just be telling our children what is right without actually practicing it ourselves.
9. Never give up on your children as a Christian father (Luke 15:20-24)
Luke 15:20-22 – ““20 So he got up and went to his father.“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”
Luke 15:22-24 – “22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” This is the story of “The Prodigal Son” went against his fathers principles but when he realized himself and came back, he was welcomed with compassion and love. In the same light, we should avoid giving up on our children.
10. A Christian father should regularly pray for his children (1 Chronicles 29:19)
1 Chronicles 29:19 – “Give my son Solomon a wholehearted desire to obey everything that you command and to build the Temple for which I have made these preparations.” In this scripture, we perceive king David praying for his son, Solomon, to be successful in keeping God’s commands and to be able to build God’s Temple. It is in this light that we hereby invite all Christian parents to regularly pray for their children so that God can guide and maintain them on the right path. In addition, even if your child is wayward, instead of giving-up, you should rather get on your kneels praying God for His intervention. And God who never fails will hear and answer you just as He promised in Jeremiah 29:12.
What The Bible Says About Christian Fathers
Matthew 6:6 – “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
1 John 3:1 – “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
Proverbs 3:11-12 – “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,and do not resent his rebuke,because the Lord disciplines those he loves,as a father the son he delights in.”
Psalm 103:13 – “As a father has compassion on his children,so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
John 10:28-30 – “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
John 17:24 – “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
Group 1 – What The Bible Says About Christian Fathers
John 1:12 – “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Philippians 4:20 – “To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
John 14:23 – Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
John 1:12 – “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Philippians 4:20 – “To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 John 2:15 – “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”
John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Luke 12:32 – “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
Matthew 10:29-31 – “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Group 2 – What The Bible Says About Christian Fathers
Isaiah 9:6 – “For to us a child is born,to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?“
John 14:21 – “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Matthew 26:53 – “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”
John 14:13 – “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Matthew 6:17-18 – “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
John 1:18 – “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”
John 14:2 – “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”
Group 3 – What The Bible Says About Christian Fathers
Genesis 18:19 – “For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”
Colossians 3:21 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”
Proverbs 20:7 – “The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!”
Psalm 103:13 – “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”
Proverbs 19:18 – “Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.”
3 John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
Proverbs 3:11-12 – “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”
Proverbs 13:24 – “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”
Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Group 4 – What The Bible Says About Christian Fathers
Luke 15:20-24 – “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”
Proverbs 14:26 – “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.”
Proverbs 10:1 – “The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.”
Matthew 23:9 – “And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.”
Psalm 127:3-5 – “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”
Group 5 – What The Bible Says About Fathers
Proverbs 14:26 – “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.”
Matthew 7:9-11 – “Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Joshua 24:15 – “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Proverbs 13:22 – “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 – “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise, You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Psalm 68:5-6 – “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.”
Group 6 – What The Bible Says About Fathers
Malachi 4:6 – “And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
Proverbs 23:22 – “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Proverbs 23:24 – “The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.”
Malachi 2:10 – “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?”
1 Corinthians 16:13 – “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
Hebrews 12:7 – “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”
Job 1:4-5 – “His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.”
Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Christian Fathers?
Deuteronomy 1:29-31 – “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’”
Romans 8:14 – “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Hebrews 12:4-13 – “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. …”
Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Christian Fathers?
Ephesians 6:1-3 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.””
Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Isaiah 64:8 – “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
Deuteronomy 6:1-25 – “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ...”
Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Christian Fathers?
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 – “For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”
1 Chronicles 29:17 – “I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.”
John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Ephesians 5:25-33 – “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, …”
1 John 3:1 – “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Christian Fathers?
Matthew 6:9 – “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
John 14:2 – “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”
Romans 8:15 – “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Colossians 3:20 – “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Ephesians 4:6 – “One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Luke 15:20 – “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
Isaiah 9:6 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Matthew 10:34-36 – “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Fathers?
Galatians 4:6 – “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!””
John 14:23 – Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
Ephesians 6:1-4 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.“
Ephesians 6:11-18 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. …”
Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Fathers?
1 Timothy 3:8-13 – “Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. ...”
Proverbs 3:11 – “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,”
Hebrews 12:11 – “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
Psalm 68:5 – “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.”
John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
1 Corinthians 8:6 – “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”
John 1:18 – “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”
Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Fathers?
John 14:13 – “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
1 Corinthians 3:11 – “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Acts 17:28-29 – For “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.”
2 Corinthians 6:18 – “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
Ephesians 6:1 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
Matthew 11:27 – “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Proverbs 15:5 – “A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.”
John 14:9 – “Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”
Matthew 26:53 – “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?”
Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Fathers?
Philippians 4:20 – “To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Psalm 103:1-22 – “Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. …”
1 John 2:15 – “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful; …”
Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Fathers?
Proverbs 17:24 – “The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.”
Luke 15:24-32 – “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, …”
Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Christian Fathers
1 John 2:13 – “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.”
Romans 8:19 – “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”
John 17:24 – “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”
Mark 1:11 – And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Fathers?
Luke 12:32 – “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
John 10:28-30 – “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 14:21 – “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
Group 18 – What Does The Bible Say About Christian Fathers
Matthew 7:11 – “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
1 Corinthians 16:15 – “Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—”
Matthew 15:4 – “For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’”
Proverbs 10:9 – “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”
Group 19 – What Does The Bible Say About Fathers?
Hebrews 12:19 – “And the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.”
Matthew 10:29-31 – “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Matthew 6:8 – “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Colossians 3:14 – “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Matthew 6:17-18 – “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
What Does The Bible Say About Fasting? Fasting is one of the most important spiritual exercises. It features tremendous benefits when done rightly. That’s why we hereby write to reveal what the Bible says about fasting worth knowing by all Christians. An objective look across the Old Testament reveals how God commanded the children of Israel to observe several designated times of fasting. During the days of Christ, we realize that fasting was neither commanded nor forbidden. However, Christ showed us an example of a fasting life and even talked of His followers fasting after His ascension into Heaven. As His followers, it is just normal for us to embrace a fasting life in His likeness. Most early Christians practice prayer and fasting regularly as a way of growing spiritually.
Behold brethren, let no one deceive you for fasting and prayer are Christian duties which should be observed diligently. Jesus Christ Himself affirmed that after His death, fasting would be appropriate for His followers. Let’s support this message by reading from Luke 5:35 – “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” In simple terms, fasting clearly has a place and purpose in the lives of Christians today. This spiritual truth is supported by the Deep Spiritual Scriptures On Fasting. Fasting helps to establish a more intimate relationship between us and our savior, Jesus Christ. In addition, fasting opens our eyes on spiritual truths as it takes us for a higher spiritual walk with Christ Jesus.
What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Facts on what the Scriptures say about Fasting
What is Fasting?
In most cases as we can read from the Scriptures About Fasting, a spiritual fast has to do with abstaining from food while focusing on prayer. In simple terms, this can mean abstaining from snacks between meals, skipping one or two meals a day, abstaining from particular foods, or practicing a total fast from all food for one or more days. However, some people may not be able to fast from food altogether due to complicated medical situations. Such people may simply choose to abstain from certain foods, like chocolate or sugar, or from something different from food. The whole truth is that believer in Jesus Christ can fast from anything. That is, doing without something temporally in order to subdue the body and focus on prayer.
An example of fasting from anything here could be refraining from television or redirecting our focus from any earthly thing to the things of God. Such is still considered a spiritual fast so long as it pulls back the body from its desires and wants for the sake of focusing on the things of God. The Holy Scriptures present fasting as the very spiritual act of abstaining from Food, Drinks, or Bodily Desires in order to seek God’s face or will. Note that genuine fasting is led by the Holy Spirit just as it led Jesus Christ after His Baptism into the desert for fasting (Matthew 4:1-2). Such is the type of fasting that moves the heart and hand of God into action thereby manifesting or materializing what seems impossible to the human eye and mind.
The Purpose of Spiritual Fasting
You probably know that many people fast to lose weight. However, dieting is not the purpose of a spiritual fast. A spiritual fast rather provides unique spiritual benefits in the life of a believer. Fasting is like knocking the heavenly doors for divine help even in the face of hopeless situations (Matthew 7:7-8). Remember that All Things Are Possible With God Almighty. In short, impossibility exist only before the eyes and minds of men and women. God did it in the past, He is still doing it these days, and He will certainly do it even in times to come.
Whatever be the situation or problem that we are going through, let’s simply knock the doors of Heaven for a solution. Remember that Heaven is God’s dwelling place (Matthew 5:34). For God Himself spoke through Prophet Jeremiah saying, “Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you” (Jeremiah 29:12). Fasting requires self-control and discipline since the one practicing it must deny the natural desires of the flesh for God’s sake. Genuine spiritual fasting directs our hunger towards God. During this spiritual exercise, the believer’s focus is removed from the physical things of this world and actively concentrated on the Kingdom of God. In addition, it draws us closer to God and makes us more receptive to His voice. Hence, we hear God’s voice more clearly and are more willing to follow His ways.
What Fasting is Not
Fasting is not a public display of spirituality; but a practice between you and God. Spiritual fasting is not necessarily to move God to do something in our lives. At times, we fast just to experience a spiritual transformation or to go closer to God in as much as we can fast as a way of thanking Him for His goodness in our lives. Remember that fasting is a spiritual act between you and God alone. Hence, you should not make it a public show as the hypocrites do. As for such people, they’ve already received their public reward and should not expect anything from God. Christ pointed out that making this spiritual practice a public show actually forfeit its benefits. In addition to this, Christ instructed us to carryout our fasting in private and in all humility (Matthew 6:16-18).
Let’s support our point by reading from Matthew 6:16-18 – “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
How Long Should I Fast?
Truth be told, there is no specific duration for fasting. However, fasting, especially from food, should be limited to a reasonable length of time. Fasting for to long without directives from the Holy Spirit can cause severe harm to the body. Hence, your decision to fast should be guided by the Holy Spirit just as it did for Jesus Christ and other Biblical figures. It is recommended, especially for those who are still new in the fasting practice to seek medical and spiritual counsel before embarking on a prolonged fasting. While Jesus and Moses both fasted for 40 days and nights without food and water, it is without doubt that this was an impossible human achievement, which could only be achieved through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and under its directives. There are stories of many who have tried this and ended up dying before completion.
Below are some examples of fasting from the Bible that you can embrace and boost your spiritual growth and walk with God:
One day or part of a day (1 Samuel 7:6; Judges 20:26; 2 Samuel 1:12; 3:35;Jeremiah 36:6; Nehemiah 9:1)
One-night fast (Daniel 6:18–24)
Three-day fasts (Acts 9:9; Esther 4:16)
Seven-day fasts (2 Samuel 12:16–23; 1 Samuel 31:13)
Fourteen-day fast (Acts 27:33–34)
Twenty-one day fast (Daniel 10:3–13)
Forty-day fasts (Deuteronomy 9:9; Matthew 4:2; 1 Kings 19:8)
Fasts of unspecified lengths (Luke 2:37; Matthew 9:14; Acts 13:2; 14:23).”
Fasting duration groups
1. Occasional short fasts
The occasional short fast is characterized by self-denial of food or some other form of pleasure for a lasting period of say 6, 12, or 24-hours. Such is a one time fast for a purpose which does not come with a commitment to make it again.
2. Intermittent fast
The intermittent fast is normally a regular act of abstinence which can take place say one time a week. Here, you abstain from food or make some other kind of self sacrifice for the sake of getting closer to God. Such practice integrates the spiritual discipline of fasting in your life and makes it a lifestyle.
3. Longer fasts
A longer fast just like others can be about self-denial of food or some other sacrifice in order to focus on the things of God. Here, a non-food fast could be abstaining from watching TV from Monday to Friday. Hence, taking the time to meditate on the Laws of God, praise and worship Him. Here, you can as well dedicate every evening for a period of one week to pray and share the word of god with friends. You can as well go without food for a given period of time as led by the Holy Spirit. A longer-water only fast can last from one to three days. During this period, you abstain from food and consume just water. If you embrace something other than food for the fast, it is likely to last longer.
4. Extended fasts
The extended fast is actually the hard part of this spiritual exercise. Here, you willingly choose to give up something that you need or value for an extended period of time. An example of a non-food extended fast could be deciding to wake-up an hour earlier for spiritual meditation, praise and worship during a period of one month.
5. Occasional group fasts
Such is the type of fasting called by a Church, or group of Churches. Such can also apply to a nation during times of crisis. It is then that you hear a call for everyone to partake in such.
6. Open-ended fasts
Here, everything revolves around defining and accomplishing goals. That is, you make a commitment not to break the fast until your goals are achieved. Some extended fasts are open-ended fasts.
7. Longer group fasts
Here, the range of options for a group fast is extensive. Everyone can decide to fast at the same time or go on a rotational pattern. The members of the group will have to determine whether it is an open-ended fast or not.
How Often Should I Fast?
There is no fix spiritual pattern for Christian fasting. However, it is important for the New Testament Christians to regularly practice prayer and fasting. Since there is no Biblical command to fast, believers or followers of Christ should be led by God through prayer concerning when, for how long, and how often to fast.
Examples of Fasting in the Bible
Old Testament
Below are examples of fasting that we can find in the Old Testament of the Bible:
Moses fasted 40 days on behalf of Israel’s sin (Deuteronomy 9:9, 18, 25-29; 10:10.)
King David fasted and mourned the death of King Saul (2 Samuel 1:12)
David fasted and mourned the death of his child (2 Samuel 12:16)
King David fasted and mourned the death of Abner (2 Samuel 3:35)
Prophet Elijah fasted 40 days after fleeing from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:7-18)
Ahab fasted and humbled himself before God Almighty (1 Kings 21:27-29)
Darius fasted in concern and love for Daniel (Daniel 6:18-24)
Daniel fasted on behalf of Judah’s sin while reading Jeremiah’s prophecy (Daniel 9:1-19)
Prophet Daniel fasted regarding a mysterious vision from God (Daniel 10:3-13)
Queen Esther fasted on behalf of her people (Esther 4:13-16)
Ezra fasted and wept for the sins of the returning remnant as he called on god for help (Ezra 10:6-17)
Nehemiah actively fasted and mourned greatly over the broken walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:4-2:10)
The people of Ninevah repented and fasted after hearing the message of Prophet Jonah (Jonah 3)
New Testament
Below are examples of fasting that we can find in the New Testament of the Bible:
Anna fasted for the redemption of Jerusalem through the promised Messiah who was to come (Luke 2:37)
Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days before His temptation and the beginning of His Earthly Ministry (Matthew 4:1-11)
The disciples of John the Baptist regularly fasted (Matthew 9:14-15)
The elders of the Church in Antioch fasted before sending off Paul and Barnabas to do God’s work (Acts 13:1-5)
Cornelius fasted and sought God’s plan of salvation (Acts 10:30)
Apostle Paul fasted three days after his Damascus Road encounter (Acts 9:9)
Apostle Paul fasted 14 days while at sea on a sinking ship as he called on God for divine intervention (Acts 27:33-34)
The Things Fasting Does For Spiritual Life
Below are a few things that fasting does for our spiritual life or walk with Jesus Christ:
Fasting and Prayer makes us more receptive to God’s voice
Through fasting and prayer, we can hear God more clearly
Fasting an prayer strengthens our relationship with God and takes us closer to His sanctuary
Fasting and prayer can teach us how to pray the right motives and pray God’s will
Through fasting and prayer, we are able to build our faith for higher accomplishments for the Kingdom of God
Types of Fasting
1. Fasting from food
Here, the believer forgoes food partially or completely for a given period of time in order to focus on prayer and other things of God’s Kingdom. Here, he or she could pass more time praising God, worshiping Him, and/or meditating on His laws.
2. Fasting from drink
Here, the believer forgoes drink partially or fully for a given period of time in order to concentrate or focus on God and the things of Heaven. He/she can dwell on studying the Bible, praising God, and/or worshiping Him for who He is.
3. Social Media Fast
The social media fast is turning to become one of the most common types of fast in our culture. Today, it’s almost impossible for one to separate or stay off the social media for a significant period of time. Almost everyone visits these platforms repetitively or for a good number of times in a day. It is unfortunate that some have even become addicted to social media platforms and can’t stay off for up-to an hour. With this type of fasting, you simply log out of your accounts or delete them from your electronic devices and spend some quite time with God. During this time, you pray, praise and worship Him. In addition, you can also study His Laws and make them part of yourself.
4. TV/Movie Fast
Here, you can forgo or take a break from a weekly favorite in order to study the Bible. That is, you forgo watching TV or your favorite movie in order to do something that please God or leads to the advancement of His kingdom like evangelism.
5. Secular Music Fast
This is another form of fasting in which you decide to listen to a Christian radio station for period of time rather than listening to Top Hits on the Radio. Here, you can as well listen to a Christian podcast or audio-book rather than listening your favorite non-christian audios.
6. Fast from going out
Here, you simply have a look at your calendar and pick a night when you’d usually go out for pleasure and rather spend that time praising and worshiping God. You can as well spend it studying His word and writing His Laws in your heart so that they become part of you.
The circumstances under which some Biblical figures fasted
When seeking help and guidance from God (Ezra 8:21-23)
When focusing on God’s purpose (Luke 4:1, 2)
As a way of demonstrating their repentance over past sin(Joel 2:12-15)
When observing the day of adornment (Leviticus 16:29-31)
Improper motives for fasting
To impress others (Matthew 6:16-18)
As a way of proving one’s self righteous (Luke 18:9-14)
What The Bible Says About Fasting
Acts 13:3 – “So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
Joel 2:12 – “Even now,” declares the Lord,“return to me with all your heart,with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Ezra 8:23 – “So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.”
Matthew 6:17-18 – “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Isaiah 58:6 – “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”
Acts 13:2 – “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.””
Luke 4:2 – “Where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.”
Exodus 34:28 – “Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.”
Daniel 10:3 – “I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.”
Group 1 – What The Bible Says About Fasting
Psalm 69:10 – “When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.”
Matthew 6:18 – “That your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Joel 2:12 – “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;”
Matthew 6:16-18 – “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Isaiah 58:3-7 – “‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?“
Group 2 – What The Bible Says About Fasting
Luke 4:2 – “For forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.“
Daniel 10:3 – “I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”
Acts 14:23 – “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
Ezra 8:23 – “So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.”
Psalm 35:13 – “But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.”
Nehemiah 1:4 – “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”
Matthew 4:4 – But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Isaiah 58:6 – “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”
Group 3 – What The Bible Says About Fasting
Ezra 8:21-23 – “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.”
Luke 18:12 – “I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.”
Acts 13:2 – “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.””
Matthew 6:16 – “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
Exodus 34:28 – “So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”
Acts 13:3 – “Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
Luke 2:37 – “And then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.”
Daniel 9:3 – “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.”
Group 4 – What The Bible Says About Fasting
1 Corinthians 9:27 – “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Matthew 4:2 – “And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”
Esther 4:16 – “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
Isaiah 58:1-14 – “Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, ...”
Group 5 – What The Bible Says About Fasting
Ezra 8:21 – “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.”
Acts 9:9 – “And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”
Isaiah 58:6-7 – “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”
Matthew 9:15 – “And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
Mark 9:29 – And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
Judges 20:26 – “Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.”
2 Samuel 1:12 – “And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.”
Group 6 – What The Bible Says About Fasting
1 Corinthians 7:1-5 – “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Matthew 9:14-15 – “Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
Matthew 9:14 – Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
Ezra 10:6 – “Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles.”
Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Jonah 3:5-10 – “And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.””
Mark 2:18 – “Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?””
Zechariah 7:5 – “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted?”
Joel 1:14 – “Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.”
Isaiah 58:3 – “‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.”
Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Mark 2:18-20 – “Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.”
2 Corinthians 11:27 – “In toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.”
Nehemiah 9:1 – “Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads.”
Matthew 6:17-18 – “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
2 Samuel 12:16 – “David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.”
1 Samuel 7:6 – “So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.”
Daniel 10:2-3 – “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”
Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Zechariah 8:19 – “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.”
1 Kings 19:8 – “And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.”
2 Samuel 12:16 – “David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.”
1 Samuel 7:6 – “So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.”
1 Samuel 31:13 – “And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.”
Acts 10:30 – “And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing.”
Daniel 6:18 – “Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.”
Acts 13:2-3 – “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Isaiah 58:5-8 – “Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”
Esther 4:3 – “And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.”
Acts 13:1-3 – “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Luke 5:33-35 – And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”
Matthew 4:1-11 – “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, …”
Exodus 34:28-29 – “So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.”
Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
2 Samuel 12:16-22 – “David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” ...”
Psalm 109:24 – “My knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt, with no fat.”
Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Matthew 4:1-2 – “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”
Psalm 35:13-14 – “But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting, I prayed with head bowed on my chest. I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.”
Joel 2:15 – “Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly;”
Jeremiah 14:12 – “Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”
2 Samuel 3:35 – Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!”
James 1:1-27 – “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. …”
Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
1 John 2:1-29 – “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: …”
Daniel 10:1-3 – “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”
Acts 27:33 – “As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.”
Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Matthew 17:20-22 – “He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men,”
Matthew 17:20 – He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Joel 2:12-13 – ““Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.”
1 Corinthians 8:8 – “Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.”
2 Chronicles 20:3 – “Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”
Luke 5:34-35 – And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”
Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Luke 5:33 – And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.”
James 1:17-27 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. ...”
Acts 27:9 – “Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,”
1 Kings 21:27 – “And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly.”
2 Samuel 12:15-17 – “Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.”
Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
1 Timothy 2:1-15 – “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, …”
Leviticus 23:26-32 – “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord. And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. …”
Group 18 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Deuteronomy 28:1-68 – “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field, Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. …”
Mark 1:13 – “And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.”
Luke 5:35 – “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”
Matthew 4:1-4 – “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’””
Group 19 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Leviticus 16:29 – “And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.”
Jeremiah 36:9 – “In the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the Lord.”
2 Samuel 12:21 – Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”
Group 20 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Deuteronomy 9:18 – “Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin that you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger.”
Esther 4:15-16 –
Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
Group 21 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
Acts 13:1-52 – “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. …”
Group 22 – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 – “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— …”
Daniel 9:3-5 – “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.”
What Does The Bible Say About Family? The first words that God speaks to humans in the Bible, precisely in Genesis 1, are the divine blessing “be fruitful and multiply.” Let’s further support this message by reading from Genesis 1:27-28 – “So God created human beings, making them to be like Himself. He created them male and female, blessed them, and said, ‘Have many children so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all wild animals.”‘ Today, the father, mother, and children make up a unit which we refer to as the family. And behold, the principles of a successful family are all embedded in the Bible. That’s why we hereby write to reveal what the Bible says about family.
There are many verses in the Bible that actually talk about the family in the light of God’s ways. When these verses are read and adhered to, they produce a wonderful and God-fearing family that is destined for Eternal Life through Christ. Such a family is one that has Sincerely Repented from their sins and embarked on a journey of obeying the Key Teachings of Jesus Christ. God is pleased with such a family and He will locate them in His Mercy and Favor. Such a family will live to see God. God will always reach out to help them whenever they are in trouble, hardship, pains, and sickness. It is in this light that God has instructed every parent to teach His ways to their children in the morning, afternoon, evening, and at all times.
What Does The Bible Say About Family?
What the Scriptures say about Family?
Going through the Bible, we realize that the concept of family is very important in the eyes of God. Indeed, it is very important both in the physical and theological sense. The concept of family was introduced from the very beginning by God as we can read from Genesis 1:28. Brethren, let no one deceive you for God’s plan for creation was that men and women get married to have children who will occupy the whole earth. From the very beginning, a man and woman were destined to become “one-flesh” through the union of marriage. Let’s support this by reading from Genesis 2:24 – “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one.”
We also perceive in the early Biblical times that the family members were to look after and care for one another. Remember when God asked Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” Cain’s flippant answer, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” came as a result of the sinful path that he had taken by killing his brother, Abel. It is God’s will that we show love as well as cater for our family members. In the same light, we are all called by Jesus Christ, savior of the world, to care and love every human-being as we love and care for ourselves. It is even said in the Bible that anyone who does not love does not know God. This is because God is love in nature. He displayed the greatest level of love by sending His only beloved son, Jesus Christ, to be crucified on the cross for our sins.
How does God define Family?
Through the framework of the family, God guides us into understanding authority and His plan for humanity. In addition, the structure of the family is vital to many other principles, laws, and teachings in the Bible. By understanding God’s plan for the family, we can clearly understand His word. God instituted the family back in Genesis 2:18 – “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Having said this, God formed Eve from a rib of Adam as we can read from Genesis 2:21-24 – “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
God in His wisdom brought Adam and Eve together as Husband and Wife thereby establishing the basis for the family. God’s desire for the family is that it reproduce and multiply. God desires that husbands and Wives bring forth offspring. This makes up for the definition that God has for the family. Within a family, God has given each member a role and responsibility. Below are the main roles given by God to each member of the family. Note that each member can fill one or more of the following roles:
1. Husband
Colossians 3:19 – “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” Ephesians 5:25-28 – “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”
It is a command from God that a husband loves his wife as his own flesh. Failing to love your wife as your own flesh is failing to honor God’s plan for marriage. As a husband, you’ve been invited by God to deeply love and support your wife. By so doing, you are calling on God’s favor and mercy in your family. Remember that there is no prerequisite mentioned as a condition for the wife to fulfill before her husband loves her.
2. Father
Colossians 3:21 – “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” Ephesians 6:4 – “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” In simple terms, a father is a man who has begotten a child. God commands Fathers to bring up their children in His ways and not “provoke them to wrath.”
3. Wife
Ephesians 5:22, 23 – “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.” It is God’s command for wives to submit to the authority of their husbands. Through submission to their husbands, they are showing a proper relationship to authority. Doing so will also help children to understand the importance of accepting and submitting to the authority over them. Note here that there is no prerequisite condition for the husband to fulfill before his wife submits to his authority.
4. Mother
Titus 2:4, 5 – “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” 1 Timothy 5:14 – “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”
The Old Women in the Church of Christ have as responsibility to teach the Young Women on bearing children, loving children, teaching them the ways of God, loving their husbands, taking care of their home, caring and submitting to their husbands.
5. Children
Ephesians 6:1-3 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Exodus 20:12 – “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
God commands children to obey and honor their parents. Children do not only need to obey but to obey in a respectful manner that adds value to the growth of the family unit under their father’s supervision. Although we do not know how long God has given us to live, the Bible tells us that those who obey their parents will live longer lives than they would if they were hateful, disrespectful, and disobedient to their father and mother.
6. Siblings
I Timothy 5:1-3 – “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honour widows that are widows indeed.” Apostle Paul through his teachings is calling on all of us to hold tight to the fact that a family unit behaves with respect and love towards one another. In God’s church, we are to honor, love, and respect one another as we would do to our brothers, sisters, mother, and father.
Family, Church and God’s Authority
Upon understanding the family framework in the light of God, we get a better grasp of how God wants us to interact with one another and with His Sovereign authority as the Father of Creation. The family unit portrays another establishment made by God – the Church of Christ. In this establishment, Jesus Christ is the head. That is, He is the head of the Church (an assembly of God’s people). The Church as a whole is His bride. It operates under His authority. We as individuals in the Church of Christ are His children, and siblings. Hence, having a proper family unit will guide your children into having a better understanding of God, His Church, and His authority. Note that children are more likely to fear and respect God whom they do not see if they are taught to respect and honor their parents whom they dwell with.
What The Bible Says About Family
Proverbs 6:20 – “My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
Acts 16:31 – They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
1 Corinthians 1:10 – “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
Isaiah 49:15-16 – “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?Though she may forget,I will not forget you!See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;your walls are ever before me.”
1 John 4:20 – “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
Psalm 133:1 – “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
Group 1 – What The Bible Says About Family
Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
1 Timothy 5:8 – “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Proverbs 22:6 – “Start children off on the way they should go,and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
Psalm 103:17-18 – “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”
Luke 11:13 – “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Proverbs 17:6 – “Children’s children are a crown to the aged,and parents are the pride of their children.”
1 Kings 8:57 – “May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us.”
Proverbs 18:24 – “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times,and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Group 2 – What The Bible Says About Family
Matthew 19:19 – “‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Joshua 24:15 – “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
1 John 3:2-3 – “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”
Proverbs 23:15 – “My son, if your heart is wise,then my heart will be glad indeed.”
Proverbs 27:10 – “Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.“
Matthew 19:18b-19 – “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Proverbs 10:1 – “A wise son brings joy to his father,but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.”
Proverbs 23:24 – “The father of a righteous child has great joy;a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.”
Group 3 – What The Bible Says About Family
Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”
Proverbs 15:27 – “A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.”
Colossians 3:20 – “Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.”
Proverbs 31:15-17 – “She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings, she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.”
Proverbs 11:29 – “He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be a servant to the wise.”
Acts 18:8 – “Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized.”
Mark 3:23-25 – “Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart.””
1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Proverbs 22:6 – “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”
Group 4 – What The Bible Says About Family
Ephesians 6:1-2 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” – which is the first commandment with a promise.”
Colossians 3:20 – “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Proverbs 15:20 – “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.”
Matthew 15:4 – “For God said, “Honor your father and mother” and “Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.””
Romans 8:15 – “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!””
Proverbs 6:20 – “My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
Proverbs 1:8 – “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
Ephesians 3:14-15 – “For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.”
Ephesians 1:5 – “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”
Ephesians 2:19 – “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.”
Group 5 – What The Bible Says About Family
Proverbs 31:28-29 – “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.””
Acts 10:2 – “He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.”
Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
Psalm 103:17 – “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.”
Deuteronomy 5:16 – “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Family?
Proverbs 6:20 – “My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
Proverbs 1:8 – “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
Colossians 3:20 – “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Genesis 30:22-24 – “Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!””
Ephesians 6:1-2 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise.”
Psalm 103:17 – “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.”
Joshua 24:15 – “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Deuteronomy 5:16 – “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Family?
Leviticus 19:17-18 – “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.“
Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Matthew 15:4 – For God said, “Honor your father and mother” and “Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.”
1 Timothy 3:4 – “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity…”
Proverbs 15:27 – “A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.”
Proverbs 15:20 – “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.”
John 3:1-36 – “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.”
Acts 2:39 – “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 – “And unto the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
Ephesians 3:14-15 – “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Family?
Acts 2:47 – “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
1 Corinthians 1:2 – “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.”
Romans 10:9-10 – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
1 Corinthians 15:22 – “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
John 17:21 – “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
John 8:1-59 – “Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.”
Acts 2:41 – “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.”
Acts 2:38 – “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Proverbs 30:18-19 – “There be three [things which] are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:”
Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Family? – What Does The Bible Say About Family?
Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Ephesians 5:21 – “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”
Ephesians 6:4 – “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Hebrews 11:1-40 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Proverbs 3:6 – “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
1 Peter 1:1-25 – “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,”
Luke 16:18 – “Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from [her] husband committeth adultery.”
Psalms 1:1-6 – “Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
Psalms 127:1 – “(A Song of degrees for Solomon) Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain.”
Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Family?
Genesis 2:15 – “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”
Proverbs 1:1-127 – “The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;”
Joshua 24:15 – “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.“
John 10:10 – “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have life and that they might have [it] more abundantly.”
Proverbs 16:1-33 – “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.”
Proverbs 1:8 – “My son, hear the instruction of thy father and forsake not the law of thy mother.”
Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Family?
Romans 8:1 – “[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.“
Proverbs 13:22 – “A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner [is] laid up for the just.”
Psalms 23:1-6 – “(A Psalm of David.) The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Proverbs 22:7 – “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender.”
Proverbs 21:20 – “[There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spendeth it up.”
Luke 14:28 – “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]?”
2 Thessalonians 3:6 – “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”
Genesis 1:26-27 – “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.“
Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Family?
Ephesians 6:1-4 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”
Matthew 5:4 – “Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.“
Psalms 127:1-5 – “(A Song of degrees for Solomon) Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain.”
Luke 12:51-53 – “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather, division.”
Joshua 24:15 – “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Family?
Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 – “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Proverbs 6:20 – “My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
Colossians 3:20 – “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Proverbs 1:8 – “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
Proverbs 13:24 – “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.”
Hebrews 13:4 – “Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
2 Corinthians 6:18 – “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
Genesis 2:24 – “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Family?
Psalm 127:3 – “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.”
Ephesians 5:24 – “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”
Proverbs 22:6 – “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Ephesians 6:1-2 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour your father and mother – which is the first commandment with a promise.”
Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Family?
Proverbs 18:24 – “A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.”
Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Psalms 127:3-5 – “Lo, children [are] a heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.”
Ephesians 5:22-33 – “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.“
Genesis 1:28 – “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
Psalms 127:1 – “(A Song of degrees for Solomon.) Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain.”
Matthew 12:48-50 – “But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?”
What Does The Bible Say About Faith? Unraveling the mysteries of faith is more of a challenging task. Faith can’t be explained through human ways nor understood in a single dimension. A man of faith needs no explanation. As for the person without faith, no amount of explanation is sufficient to hep them understand. In most cases, when things are not unfolding the way we expected, we turn to lose faith because of our weak spiritual natures. Such an approach is wrong because God is always in control. In such moments, instead of losing hope and thinking that it is the end, we ought to rely more on God who never fails. We should not give room to the Devil to use failure as a faith weakening tool in our lives.
It is not because we’ve experienced life’s monumental failures that we should lose hope in God and his ability to accomplish even the things which we see as impossible. Faith which goes beyond hope is rooted in the expectations of good things to come even in the face of struggles. Many people would like to know the difference between faith and hope. Faith actively dwells in the heart and the spirit while hope dwells in the mind. From most of the Bible verses about faith, we learnt that Faith can’t really be explained by reason or logic. However, we know that it is the certainty that things will go well because God is in full control. Faith is all about taking the next step even when you cannot completely see the entire staircase. In our Christian journey, faith is what keeps us going even when times are tough.
What Does The Bible Say About Faith?
Bible verses about faith are very important when it comes to successfully running the Christian race. Their spiritual meanings are also of a greater importance. That’s why we’ve chose to start by guiding you into understanding what faith is all about before presenting the different Bible verses about faith. If we ask what is faith, many people will come up with many answers. In most cases, these different answers would all be pointing to the same spiritual truth. Although there is no fixed definition for faith, you can have a look at the following points to understand what it is all about:
Faith is the force that converts the invisible into the visible
Faith is the link between the supernatural and the natural
It is the force that overcomes the world
Faith has its origin in God’s word
A man of faith is he who takes God for his words
It is by hearing and obeying God’s word that faith comes
Faith is the certainty that all God’s promises will be accomplished at the right time
Faith is the substance of things not seen and the evidence of things hoped for
A person of faith is he/she who has a complete confidence in God’s yet unfulfilled promises
A mature faith is not weakened by mere discussions
True faith is not uprooted by failure or disappointments
A mature faith is not weakened nor shaken by the happenings of life
True faith relies only on God alone and not on what the ears hear nor what the eyes see
Exercising and growing your faith to maturity (What the Scriptures say about Faith)
From the different Bible verses about faith, we are made to know that faith which is a supernatural gift from God can be requested and properly handled in many ways. It is true that God has promised to give faith to anyone who ask, but this does not exclude the fact that we have a role to play. In addition to asking, knocking, and seeking, it is left for us to exercise and take to maturity the faith that God gives us. The scriptures say that God will give to anyone who ask but we must put ourselves in receptive modes in order to benefit from this promise. Upon consulting most of the Bible verses about faith, we found the following ways to put yourself in a receptive mode:
Soak or saturate yourself with God’s word
Live by the word of God in the morning, afternoon, and evening
Until you know what is yours, you cannot claim it
Until you act on God’s word, you will never see God in action
Acting on the word means doing what the word says
Recall how Peter acted on Jesus’s words and caught uncountable fishes
Peter also took Jesus Christ for his words and walked on water for as long as his heart was free from doubts
By standing firm on the word, you’ll live to testify the goodness and power of God
Consciousness of God’s presence with a person eliminates fear and doubts
Importance of faith in the Christian Journey
A faithful life holds a lot of benefits as we can read from the best Bible verses about faith. Faith is very important for anyone who is serious about successfully running the Christian race. Below are some of these importance:
To be sons and daughters of God ( Gal: 3:6-9 )
To be sons and daughters of God ( Gal: 3:6-9 )
Through faithfulness, men and women find righteousness in Christ ( Rom 5:1 )
Faithfulness leads to eternal life through Christ ( Gal 3:11 )
Through faith, we are able to receive all the promises of God ( Rom:4:16 )
With faith, prayers are heard and answered from above ( Mk 11:22-24 )
Faith leads to hope in Christ ( Rom: 4:18-19 )
Through faith, we are able to receive all the promises of God ( Rom:4:16 )
Faith keeps us walking in the light of God while on Earth ( 2 Cor:5:7 )
It is with faith that we enter and inherit the kingdom of God ( Mark 10:15 )
Through faith in Christ, our sins are forgiven ( Mark 2:5 )
Faith is the assurance of our salvation before the throne of the Father of Creation ( Hebrews 10:39 )
What The Bible Says About Faith
Group 1 – What The Bible Says About Faith
James 1:6 – “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Ephesians 3:16-17 – “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.”
Mark 11:24 – “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 – “For we live by faith, not by sight.”
Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
1 Peter 1:8-9 – “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
John 11:40 – Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
James 1:3 – “Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Group 2 – What The Bible Says About Faith
John 11:25-26 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Mark 9:23 – “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Romans 14:1 – “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.”
1 John 5:4 – “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
Mark 10:52 – “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”
1 Timothy 6:11 – “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
Matthew 21:22 – “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
John 6:35 – Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
1 Corinthians 13:2 – “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
Psalm 119:30 – “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.”
Romans 10:10 – “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Group 3 – What The Bible Says About Faith
Hebrews 11:11 – “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.”
Galatians 3:26-27 – “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 1:17 – “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Acts 16:31 – “They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.””
1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthian 16:13 – “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
James 2:17 – “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.“
1 John 5:13 – “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
1 Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
John 6:29 – Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Group 4 – What The Bible Says About Faith
Hebrews 12:2 – “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Matthew 17:20 – He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
2 Thessalonians 1:3 – “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.”
Romans 10:17 – “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Romans 10:11 – As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Group 5 – What Does The Bible Say About Faith?
Mark 11 :23 – “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.”
2 Peter 1:5-7 – “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection, and to mutual affection, love.”
Philippians 1:29 – “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.”
John 20:29 – Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Romans 10:9 – “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.“
1 Thessalonians 4:14 – “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
James 5:14-15 – “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”
1 Timothy 6:6 – “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Faith?
Galatians 3:22 – “But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.”
1 John 5:5 – “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Romans 14:4 – “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.”
Romans 12:3 – “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”
Luke 8:50 – Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 – “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.“
John 1:12 – “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Faith?
Matthew 21:21 – Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.”
Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 5:6 – “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
Romans 3:21-22 – “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.”
Galatians 2:15-16 – “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”
Galatians 6:10 – “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
Romans 10:4 – “Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”
Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Faith?
1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Habakkuk 2:4 – “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.”
Mark 1:15 – “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
John 3:18 – “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Romans 1:11-12 – “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”
Jude 1:20-21 – “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”
Hebrews 3:12 – “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
Hebrews 3:14 – “We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.”
Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Faith?
Acts 19:4 – Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
Acts 2:41 – “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.“
2 Timothy 4:7-8 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
John 14:12 – “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
1 Timothy 3:16 – “Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, He was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, He was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”
What Does The Bible Say About Evil? It is without doubt that the Bible has a good number of things to say about evil. We are all living in a fallen World where evil exist. In other words, evil is real. However, evil was not part of God’s design for mankind. This is to say that God is not responsible for the evil that we are living today. However, we can rather say that evil only exist by His permission. Note that the Bible tells us that God is able to overrule evil for good. And for sure, He will certainly do this but at His own time. It is worth noting that evil does not work in a logical or rational way; it is such that, it affects everyone whether good or bad.
Brethren, let no one deceive you for a person cannot commit evil acts without paying some penalty. In other words, breaking God’s Laws comes with some penalties. And talking of breaking God’s laws is talking of sin. Sin is anything that we think, say, or do that is not inline with God’s will. It must be understood here that the Bible says that the consequences of sin is death. However, God so loved the world that He send His only beloved Son, Jesus Christ, so that anyone who believes in His message is saved from the power of death (John 3:16). God is involved in solving the problem of evil given that He sent His Son to die on the Cross at Calvary for our sins. Today, anyone who Sincerely Repents from their evil ways and starts obeying the Key Teachings of Jesus Christ is given Eternal Life.
What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
What the Scriptures Say About Evil?
1. Where Did Evil Originate?
The word evil is mentioned in the Bible for the first time in Genesis 2:17 – “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Hence, we can say without doubt that God created humans with the ability to choose good and evil. That is, mankind was given the choice to choose between what is good and what is evil. And because mankind chose evil, sin entered the world from that very day as did judgement. This is what is referred to in theology as the fall of man. The judgement which entered the world from the fall of man also extends to the serpent, Satan, the one who deceived mankind into choosing evil and going against God’s ways and who is still doing same these days.
Brethren, let no one deceive you for evil did not originate from God. Humans went wrong or sinned as a result of actively listening to the lie of Satan. Note here that Satan was one of God’s divinely created beings, but one who turned to evil and extended it to humanity. In simple terms, God did not create evil, but He eventually created a universe in which evil could exist. God created humans with the ability to choose between evil and good in this universe. Romans 3:23 tells us that sin was passed unto the rest of humanity due to the disobedience of Adam and Eve. Theologians refer to this as the sinful nature of mankind which comes from birth. When talking of evil people, many think of drug dealers, thieves, and terrorist, but the Bible clearly points out that we are all sinners with a sinful nature (Romans 6:23).
2. Why Didn’t God Stop Evil?
It is without doubt that God knows everything. That is, He is aware of all that took place in the past and all that will take place in the future. This means that He knew everything from the beginning of creation. Having this in mind, many question themselves why God allowed evil to enter the world? They as themselves why God could not prevent evil from entering the world? But are these the questions we should be asking ourselves? This is an old-century topic that has been in a continuous discussion between philosophers and Christian spiritual leaders. Nothing happens without God’s knowledge or Him being aware. Remember that He created man to have a choice between obeying him or not. Whatever the case, Jesus Christ pours more light on this subject matter in His parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30).
Matthew 13:24-30 – “Jesus said:The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.The owner’s servants came to him and said, “Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?”“An enemy did this,” he replied.The servants asked him, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?”“No,” he answered, “because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.”
Biblical Facts About Evil
Below are some of the spiritual truths that the Bible clearly points out about Evil:
We live in a fallen world
The Bible recognizes that evil does exist
We live in a world that has fallen into sin
God is not responsible for evil
Evil cam as a result of the choice of mankind – not God
When God allowed humans to have the ability to make a choice, there was the possibility to choose evil
God allows evil to exist by His permission
Evil cannot overrule
God can overrule evil for good just as He did in the case of Joseph son of Jacob
Evil is not logical but random and we should not expect it to unfold in a righteous way
Breaking God’s Laws come with consequences (Galatians 6:7)
God is actively involved in solving the problem of Evil through Jesus Christ His beloved Son
An age is coming when Evil will be done away with
What The Bible Says About Evil
Romans 16:17 – “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.”
Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.“
Psalm 121:7-8 – “The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15 – “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.”
Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.“
Mark 7:20-23 – He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
Proverbs 8:13 – “To fear the Lord is to hate evil;I hate pride and arrogance,evil behavior and perverse speech.”
Group 1 – What The Bible Says About Evil
John 17:15 – “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”
Psalm 97:10 – “Let those who love the Lord hate evil,for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 – “But test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”
Proverbs 3:7-8 – “Do not be wise in your own eyes;fear the Lord and shun evil.This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 – ““In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Romans 12:9 – “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
2 Timothy 4:18 – “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Zechariah 7:9-10 – “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’”
Isaiah 1:16 – “Wash and make yourselves clean.Take your evil deeds out of my sight;stop doing wrong.”
Psalm 34:14 – “Turn from evil and do good;seek peace and pursue it.”
Proverbs 10:12 – “Hatred stirs up conflict,but love covers over all wrongs.”
Group 2 – What The Bible Says About Evil
Psalm 119:133 – “Direct my footsteps according to your word;let no sin rule over me.”
Matthew 6:13 – “And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.”
John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
James 1:21 – “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
Psalm 5:4 – “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.”
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Romans 12:19 – “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.””
Proverbs 8:13 – “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”
Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Isaiah 5:20 – “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
Group 3 – What The Bible Says About Evil
Genesis 50:20 – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
Genesis 6:5-7 – “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.””
Matthew 6:13 – “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Proverbs 16:4 – “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.”
Ephesians 6:12 – “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Isaiah 45:7 – “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.”
Group 4 – What The Bible Says About Evil
James 1:13 – “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Psalm 64:1-10 – “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” …”
1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
Proverbs 20:22 – “Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “Abstain from every form of evil.”
Romans 13:4 – “For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”
1 Corinthians 15:33 – Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Group 5 – What The Bible Says About Evil
James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Genesis 6:5 – “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Luke 1:37 – “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 12:9 – “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
1 Peter 3:9 – “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
Proverbs 6:16-19 – “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
Malachi 2:17 – “You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?””
Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
James 1:21 – “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15 – “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”
Psalm 23:1-6 – “A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. …”
Deuteronomy 17:12 – “The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.”
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
2 Peter 2:4 – “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;”
Proverbs 17:13 – “If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.”
Psalm 34:16 – “The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.”
Genesis 3:22 – Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—”
Proverbs 3:7 – “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”
Psalm 97:10 – “O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.”
Matthew 5:39 – “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Romans 2:6-8 – “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
John 3:1-36 – “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. …”
Colossians 1:1-29 – “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, …”
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
Colossians 2:1-23 – “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. …”
Ephesians 6:10-18 – “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, …”
Matthew 7:12 – “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Psalm 34:14 – “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
Genesis 2:17 – “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
2 Timothy 4:18 – “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
John 3:20 – “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”
Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. …”
Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
Proverbs 12:20 – “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.”
Matthew 18:15-17 – “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.“
Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Deuteronomy 17:7 – “The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.”
Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Joshua 24:15 – “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
Genesis 3:1-24 – “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” …”
James 1:13-15 – “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
James 1:19-20 – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
1 Peter 3:8-18 – “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” …”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 – “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
Ephesians 5:11 – “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
Colossians 4:1-18 – “Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. …”
Ephesians 5:16 – “Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
Romans 7:13 – “Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.”
John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Romans 16:17 – “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”
Romans 12:17 – “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.”
Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
John 15:1-27 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ...”
Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Ecclesiastes 7:7 – “Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.”
Proverbs 4:27 – “Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Luke 6:27 – “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,”
Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
Genesis 3:5 – “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 42:25 – “And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.“
Leviticus 20:13 – “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 – “But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”
Jude 1:6 – “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—”
Hebrews 1:14 – “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”
Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Evil?
Matthew 5:29-30 – “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”
1 Samuel 26:11 – “The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”
Numbers 12:1-12 – “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. …”
What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism? Behold, we have all been called to be witnesses of Jesus Christ to the four corners of the world. This has to do with witnessing the good news of Jesus Christ which is all about repenting and turning to God for Eternal Life. In as much as missionaries have a special calling to spread the gospel, so do regular Christians. In simple terms, we are all called to go and make disciples, thereby teaching them what Jesus Christ taught His immediate disciples and Apostles.
The English word “Evangelism” is transliterated from the Greek word, “Euangelio.” In the New Testament, this word appears many times. It is translated as “Good News” or “Gospel.” In simple terms, an Evangelist is a person who proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ. He/she is out to call on everyone to Sincerely Repent and start obeying the Key Teachings of Jesus Christ in order to obtain God’s Mercy and Favor. It is through repentance and faithfulness in Christ that we obtain God’s grace and are entitled to everlasting life in His presence. It is this message that Christ came to preach. And it is the very message that we’ve been called to preach these days.
What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
What the Scriptures say about Evangelism
Jesus Announced the arrival of the Good News (Mark 1:14-15)
The Gospel was promised in the Old Testament (Romans 1:1-4)
We are not to be ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:14-17)
The Gospel is the only answer for Humanity (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
We have all been called to be witnesses of the Good News which was brought by Christ (Acts 1:6-9)
The Gospel brings Salvation and Life (Ephesians 2:4-10)
The Gospel is about a new birth (John 3:3-8)
More on what the Bible says about Evangelism
1. Shining the Gospel – Matthew 5:14-16
Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” This is what Christ said during His famous Sermon on the Mount. As Christians, we are the light of the world. In simple terms, we are like light bulbs in an otherwise darkroom.
This light which we produce is the sum total of the good works we do. Some of these good works were mentioned by Christ in His sermon: loving God with all our heart, loving our neighbors as ourselves, rightly handling anger with love and compassion, radically fleeing lust, holding to our words, and remaining faithful in marriage. These are some of the things that make us stand out from the world. In addition, they make us reflect the nature of Christ and His mark of ownership in our lives. As followers of Christ, our lives should reveal His values and qualities. This is a more natural way of evangelism. If we are serious about evangelism, we must pay attention to our thoughts, words, and actions. It is our duty to strive that they align with the will of God.
2. Adorning the Gospel – Titus 2:9-10
Titus 2:9-10 – “Bond-servants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” This second point which has to do with adorning the Gospel is closely connected with shinning the gospel. It is our duty to make the Gospel attractive. This is a call for us to pass through our behavior as Christians to adorn the Holy Doctrine of God Almighty. A doctrine which was revealed by Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of God, Father of Creation.
Note that we adorn the truth by our thoughts, words, and actions. This is to say that our distinctive Christian lifestyle sets us apart and reveals the darkness that is in the world. On the other hand, when we live like the world, we obscure the Gospel and make it unattractive. We should strive hard not to repel all potential followers of Christ with Christian Hypocrisy.
3. Answering About the Gospel – Colossians 4:5-6
Colossians 4:5-6 – “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Evangelism is a great way of answering about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is our Christian duty to clarify the teachings of Jesus Christ to those who are being saved. In addition, we’ve been called to edify, comfort, and encourage each other in the path of the truth.
4. Collaborating in the gospel – Ephesians 4:11-12
Ephesians 4:11-12 – “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ …” As followers of Christ, we’ve been called by our names to shine the gospel, adorn the gospel, answer about the gospel, and collaborate in the gospel. However, not everyone is called to be an Apostle. In the same light, not everyone’s chief function is to be an evangelist. Remember that Apostle Paul did not address the Christians saying “Why aren’t you doing what I’m doing? What are you still doing at home? Come on an board a ship, go to a foreign land and share the Gospel!”
Instead, Apostle Paul wrote in words like 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 – “… aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” Although not everyone is called to operate in the Apostolic office, they can still participate in the Apostolic Ministry in various ways (e.g., the believers in Acts 4; the deacons in Acts 6). There are just many ways to contribute as a Christian to God’s work; it may be hospitality, logistical support, service, prayer, and administration. Everyone is equipped with a special gift to assist in God’s vineyard.
5. Proclaiming the Gospel – Luke 10:2
Luke 10:2 – He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Proclaiming the gospel is our Christian duty. Still on what the Bible says about evangelism, it is very natural for God’s people to talk about Him because He is awesome. In the New Testament we perceive even non-Apostles proclaiming the Gospel; Stephen (Acts 7), and Philip (Acts 8). As we grow in Christ, sharing our faith becomes more natural and enjoyable.
6. Imperative Command – Matthew 28:19-20
Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This scripture portrays Jesus Christ giving the church an imperative command to take the Good News through evangelism to all people.
7. God compelled – Jeremiah 1:5
Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” In this scripture, we perceive God sending Prophet Jeremiah to speak His message. It seems that Jeremiah was compelled from birth to proclaim God’s message. Let’s further support this by reading from Jeremiah 20:9 – “If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot” It is in this light that the Prophets and Apostles were compelled to preach the Good News of God to Men.
However, proclaiming God’s message is not limited to the pastors alone. We’ve all been called to talk about God to our children. friends, and neighbors. Let’s support this by reading from Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”Romans 10:15 – “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news”
8. The Gospel as the power of God to save mankind – Romans 1:16
Romans 1:16 – “I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God’s power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles.” These are divinely inspired words spoken by Apostle Paul in his letter to the Christian Church. The Message of the Cross or the Holy Gospel of Christ is indeed God’s power to save all those who turn from their sins and embrace faithfulness. This is the very message of evangelism being preached these days. Such is that which is inline with what the Bible says about evangelism.
What The Bible Says About Evangelism
Romans 1:1-4 – “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power- by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Mark 1:14-15 – “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!””
Acts 13:47 – For this is what the Lord has commanded us:“I have made you a light for the Gentiles,that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Romans 1:14-17 – “I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.””
Group 1 – What The Bible Says About Evangelism
Acts 4:8-12 – “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 – “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, …”
Group 2 – What The Bible Says About Evangelism
Acts 1:6-9 – “Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
1 Peter 1:22-25 – “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.”
Group 3 – What The Bible Says About Evangelism
John 3:3-8 – Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:4-10 – “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Group 4 – What The Bible Says About Evangelism
Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”
Matthew 28:19-20 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16:15 – He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Acts 20:24 – “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Romans 10:17 – “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.“
Psalm 105:1 – “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;make known among the nations what he has done.”
1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Matthew 5:15-16 – “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Group 5 – What The Bible Says About Evangelism
Mark 8:35 – “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 – “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”
John 13:35 – “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Matthew 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Titus 2:1 – “You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.”
Isaiah 12:4 – In that day you will say:“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;make known among the nations what he has done,and proclaim that his name is exalted.”
2 Thessalonians 2:14 – “He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Group 6 – What The Bible Says About Evangelism
Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
John 15:8 – “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Ezekiel 38:23 – “And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Matthew 4:17 – From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
1 Corinthians 2:2 – “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.“
Colossians 1:27 – “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.“
Mark 10:29-30 – “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”
Group 7 – What The Bible Says About Evangelism
Romans 10:10-17 – “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? …”
Mark 16:15 – And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
Matthew 9:37-38 – Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”
Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Isaiah 6:8 – And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
1 Corinthians 9:22 – “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”
Colossians 4:2-6 – “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
2 Timothy 4:5 – “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
Mark 16:15-16 – “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.“
Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
1 Corinthians 1:17 – “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Luke 12:8 – “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,”
Proverbs 11:30 – “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.”
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Acts 2:38 – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
2 Corinthians 5:20 – “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Matthew 10:7-14 – “And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. …”
Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ”
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Isaiah 45:22 – “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”
Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Matthew 12:30 – “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Ezekiel 3:17-19 – “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Mark 16:14 – “Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.”
John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Philemon 1:6 – “And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”
Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
1 Peter 3:18-22 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”
Luke 13:3 – “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
John 20:19-24 – “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” …”
Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“
Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Matthew 9:36 – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
John 5:24 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
John 8:24 – “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
Acts 2:1-47 – “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting, And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. …”
1 Corinthians 11:1-2 – “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.”
Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Acts 8:4-25 – “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city. …”
1 Corinthians 11:1-2 – “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.”
Daniel 12:3 – “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Ezekiel 3:17-20 – “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, ...”
Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Romans 3:24 – “And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”
Malachi 1:11 – “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”
Psalm 73:28 – “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”
1 Corinthians 9:16 – “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”
John 6:50-71 – “This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. …”
Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. …”
Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Ephesians 4:11 – “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,”
Romans 2:6-16 – “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. …”
Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Luke 4:18-19 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 – “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”
Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Luke 24:47 – “And that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
Group 18 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Acts 21:8 – “On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.”
Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
John 4:36-38 – “Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
Proverbs 24:11 – “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.”
Acts 16:1-40 – “Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. …”
Group 19 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Romans 2:16 – “On that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 1:28 – “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:7 – “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”
John 15:7 – “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 12:26 – “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”
Acts 15:1-41 – “But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, …”
Group 20 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
2 Timothy 2:11-12 – “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;”
Ephesians 4:12 – “To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”
Romans 15:20 – “And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,”
Romans 1:5-6 – “Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,”
Psalm 71:24 – “And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 – “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
Romans 2:6-8 – “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”
John 4:37 – “For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’”
Ephesians 4:12 – “To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”
Group 21 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Psalm 40:1-17 – “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry, He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. …”
2 Thessalonians 2:14-15 – “To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”
Matthew 11:1-6 – “When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. …”
Group 22 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Jeremiah 8:20 – “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
Luke 1:47-48 – “And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;”
Isaiah 6:8-10 – And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
Matthew 9:6-8 – “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.”
John 6:67-71 – “So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.”
Group 23 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Isaiah 66:18-23 – “For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory, and I will set a sign among them, And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations, And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, on horses and in chariots and in litters and on mules and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord. …”
Isaiah 12:4 – “And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.”
Psalm 105:1 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!”
Matthew 9:1-5 – “And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?”
Group 24 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
John 15:8 – “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?“
John 4:3-42 – “He left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” …”
Romans 1:28-32 – “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”
Group 25 – What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
Matthew 25:14-30 – “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. …”
What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life? According to the Christian Eschatology, Eternal Life traditionally refers to continued life after death. Even the Apostles’ Creed testifies: “I believe… the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.” It is experienced in its fullness after the Second Coming of Christ. In line with the mainstream Christian Theology, after death but before the Second Coming, the saved live with God in an Intermediate State. After the Second Coming, they experience the physical resurrection of the dead and the physical recreation of a New Earth. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “By death the soul is separated from the body, but in the resurrection God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul. Just as Christ is risen and lives for ever, so all of us will rise at the last day.”
Behold Brethren, God’s plan is not to abandon this world, but He intends to remake it. Upon doing this, He will raise all people to new bodily lives to live in it. Having this in mind, you can rest in peace with all hope that Christ will bring back to life all those who follow Him. God’s plans for us are the best as we can read from Jeremiah 29:11 – “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.” And for sure, the future we hope for is life everlasting in His presence through Christ. This scripture from Prophet Jeremiah clearly reassures us of God’s promise of everlasting life. And as we know, God’s promises never fail. He always does what He says He will do.
What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life?
John 3:16 – “For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who BELIEVES in Him may NOT DIE but have ETERNAL LIFE. For God did not send His Son into the World to be its judge, but to be its savior.” In simple terms, it is not God’s will that we perish. That’s why He sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ to come and free mankind from sin. Although Jesus Christ had no sin of His own, He was handed to evil men who persecuted and nailed Him on the cross at Calvary for our sins. Christ willingly gave up His own life so that we may in-turn have life through Him.
God sent Jesus Christ to the Earth as the Lamb that takes away the sins of all those who come to Him through a sincere repentance, change of mind, and readiness to do good. Christ is the sacrificial lamb of God that breaks the spiral of sin that dates back to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. On the cross at Calvary, He took with Him the sins of all those who come to Him and gives them eternal life in the presence of God Almighty. Anyone can benefit from this eternal life that God offers to mankind through Christ. In order to benefit from it, you’ll need to Sincerely Repent from your sins and start obeying the Key Teachings of Jesus Christ.
More on what the Scriptures say
What is eternal life?
It is not strange to hear people asking the question, “what is eternal life?” According to the Bible, eternal life is a special gift from God that comes only through Jesus Christ. Let’s support this spiritual truth by reading from Romans 6:23 – “For sin pays its wage – death; but God’s free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.” The gift of eternal life from God is in contrast to “death” which naturally results from sin. Eternal life is a free gift from God to all those who believe in Jesus Christ, who is Himself “the Resurrection and the Life.” Let’s support this by reading from John 11:25-26 – “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die; and all those who live and believe in me will never die. Do you believe this?‘”
The fact that the life that is offered by Jesus Christ is “eternal” means that it is perpetual life – that is, a life that goes on and on and on, having no end. An eternal life is not necessarily one which comes with an unending progression of years. Aiónios is the commonly translated New Testament word for “eternal.” It is wort noting that Aiónios carries the idea of quality and quantity. This is to say that eternal life is not necessarily associated with a number of “years.” We say this because eternal life is independent of time. It can function outside time, within time, and even beyond time. Hence, we can perceive eternal life as something that Christians begin experiencing in the present age through faith in Christ. Eternal life is not necessarily something that starts when believers die.
Experiencing Eternal life
Eternal life begins the very moment that a believer exercises faith in Jesus Christ. That’s why it won’t make much sense for believers to talk about waiting for the beginning of eternal life only after death. John 3:36 says, “Whoever BELIEVES in the Son has ETERNAL LIFE; whoever disobeys the Son will NOT HAVE LIFE, but will remain under God’s PUNISHMENT.” The focus on eternal life is not necessarily on our future, but on our present standing in Christ.
The Bible linking eternal life with Jesus Christ
The Bible inextricably links God’s gift of eternal life with the person of Jesus Christ. Let’s support this message by reading from John 17:3 – “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Through this scripture, we clearly perceive Jesus Christ equating “eternal life” with a knowledge of God and of the Son. Hence, we can say without doubt that there is no knowledge of God without the Son, for it is through the Son that the Heavenly Father reveals Himself to the elect. Let’s support this Divine Truth by reading from John 17:6-7 – “I have made you known to those you gave me out of the World. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They have obeyed your word, and now they know that everything you gave me comes from you.”
What does the Bible say about Heaven, Hell, Eternal Life, and the Resurrection of the Body?
It is without doubt that everyone keeps wondering and marveling about how and what eternal life will be like in the last days. Although the Bible does not give us many details about this subject matter, it provides us with sufficient information to maintain our hope in Jesus Christ who is the life giving water from above. In addition, it clearly reassures us of an everlasting life in the presence of God through Christ who is Himself the Resurrection and the Life. That is, Christ will raise back to life all the dead for judgement. Those who will be justified in Him through their past thoughts, words and actions will be send to benefit from the highest level of eternal life in the presence of God while the wicked will be condemned and send to the lake of fire for eternal punishment.
It is reported that at death, we may enter an Intermediate State until the Second coming of Jesus Christ. It is upon His Second Coming that all who have ever lived will be resurrected for the final judgement. All those who are saved will receive new glorified bodies and given a place in the presence of God Almighty. On the other hand, the wicked will be cast into the fire of Hell. Many might want to know what is the intermediate state? In simple terms, the intermediate state is the time between a person’s death and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Due to the fact that the Bible has not clearly spoken on the intermediate state, there are many beliefs that have arisen with time. Below are some of the main beliefs worth knowing:
Continued life of the soul
According to a majority view among the Protestants, a person’s soul (or spirit) survives physical death thereby remaining conscious during the intermediate state. In addition, they believe that at the time of death, a person’s soul is separated or freed from his/her body (Revelation 20:4, Matthew 10:28, Acts 2:27). According to them, those who are saved will dwell in peace with God when they are in the intermediate state (Philippians 1:23-24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15, Luke 23:43, John 11:25-26, 14:23, Luke 16:22-24) while the souls of the wicked dwell in torment (Luke 16:23).
Purgatory
Similar to the majority of Protestant teachings on this subject matter is that of the Roman Catholic Church except for the fact that those who are saved will have to undergo a process of purification after death in order to achieve the holiness that is necessary to enter the perfection o Heaven and dwell in the Holy Presence of God Almighty. It is this purification process that is referred to as Purgatory. The process is inferred from the testing by fire as mentioned in 1 Peter 1:7, and 1 Corinthians 3:15, and the atonement for the death that is spoken of in 2 Maccabees 12:45.
Soul Sleeping
On a few occasions, the Bible speaks of the death as those having fallen asleep. Let’s support this point by reading from the following scriptures: John 11:11-13 – “After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.” Acts 13:36 – “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.”
From the above mentioned scriptures, some few people believe that the souls of the dead are asleep and unconscious during the intermediate state. In addition, they believe that these souls will remain in this way until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. However, the majority view on this aspect is different as many perceive that these references to sleep are just a figure of speech for death which is perhaps used to indicate that death is not the final end for those who are saved through Christ.
Nonexistence
According to Jehovah’s witnesses, people do not have a soul that survives death. They teach that at death, a person completely ceases to exist until he/she is brought back to life at the resurrection of the dead. They use a few Old Testament citations to support this their belief (Genesis 3:19, Psalms 146:3-4, Ecclesiastes 9:5, 9:10). However, most Christians believe that the revelation of Jesus Christ and that of His Apostles pour more accurate light on this subject matter than the above mentioned Old testament Passages.
Resurrection of the Dead and Final Judgement
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will initiate the resurrection of all the dead. Everyone including the resurrected dead and those still living will face the final judgement of God (Revelation 20:11-15, Matthew 25:31-32; Romans 14:10-12). Even those who profess the Christian faith will face judgement. In short everyone will be judged based on their past thoughts, words, and actions. The righteous who shall proceed from this judgement will be given eternal life in the presence of God Almighty while the wicked will be condemned to eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Matthew 5:29-30, 10:28, 18:8-9, Acts 24:15, Mark 9:43-48). John 5:28-29 says, “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his [Christ’s] voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”
Inline with what the Bible says about eternal life, it is important to note that God will judge different people by different standards. He will judge depending on their knowledge of the Gospel, abilities, wealth, and the responsibilities that they were charged to accomplish. Luke 12:48 says, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.”
Heavenly Bodies (Analyzed in the light of Bible Verses About Eternal Life)
All those who will be judged and found righteous through Christ will be granted eternal life. In addition, they will receive new glorified, spiritual bodies that are up to some extent similar to our Earthly bodies and up to some extent different (Philippians 3:18-21, 1 Corinthians 15:50-55). Let’s support this fact by reading from 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 – “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable, it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”
What is Heaven?
In Christianity, the word “Heaven” is used to designate or refer to the final dwelling place of all those who are saved through Jesus Christ. It is portrayed as a place of perfection where people who have lived righteous lives through Christ will dwell forever in the presence of God Almighty. It is wort noting that in the Bible, heaven (or heavens) has several meanings. All the universe beyond the Earth refers to the physical heaven (Genesis 1:1, Revelation 12:3-4, Matthew 24:29). Heaven is the dwelling place of God Almighty (Deuteronomy 26:15, 1 Kings 8:28-30, Matthew 5:44-45).
Heaven and Earth will be brought to perfection or recreated upon the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This recreation will be done according to the Holy Will of God (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, Revelation 21:1, 2 Peter 3:10-13). This new world will be the dwelling place for those who are saved through Christ (John 14:2-3, 1 Peter 1:3-4).
What is Hell?
In Christianity, Hell is the word which is used to designate or refer to the final dwelling place of people who are not saved. In simple language, it is portrayed as a place of eternal punishment for people who have lived wicked lives on Earth. It is important to note and understand that in the Original Bible Languages, there are several different words that translate or denote the abode of the dead or state of the dead. Many Bible verses translate these words as “Hell” thereby obscuring their distinct meanings. However, some newly translated versions of the Bible allow these words untranslated to preserve their distinctions and original meanings:
Hell in the Old testament
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word Sheol was perceived as the dwelling place of all the dead, both righteous and unrighteous. This Hebrew word was conceived as the place beneath the Earth where all the souls of the dead existed in darkness, gloom, oblivion, and silence (Psalms 94:17, Job 10:21, Psalms 88:12). Let’s support this fact by reading from Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might; for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”
Hell in the New testament
1. Hades
Hades is a Greek word that is equivalent in perception as the Hebrew word Sheol. This is to say that in the Greek version of the Old Testament, the word “Sheol” was translated as “Hades.” However, in the later Jewish writings, we perceive that the words Sheol/Hades were conceived as having different regions of comfort for the righteous and the divine punishment of the wicked.
Luke 16:22-26 says, “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.”
2. Gehenna
Coming from the Hebrew word ge-hinnom, it means “valley of Hinnom.” This was a valley outside of Jerusalem. In the days of Jesus Christ, this valley was used as a garbage dump where fires burnt in a continuous manner. Before becoming a garbage dumb, this valley was formerly used as a place of idolatrous practices, including human sacrifices as we can read from Jeremiah 32:35 and 2 Chronicles 28:3. Mark 9:43-45 says, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.”
In addition, we can as well read from Matthew 5:22 – “But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.” Today, we can say that the Christian conception of Hell as a place of punishment for the wicked is most closely associated to the word Gehenna as used by Jesus Christ.
3. Tartarus
The word Tartarus appears in the Bible once. And its appearance is in the New Testament. Coming from Greek mythology, this word is used to represent a place of punishment as we can read from 2 Peter 2:4 – “For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but condemned them to the chains of Tartarus and handed them over to be kept for judgment;”
4. Lake of Fire
Apostle John in his revelation of the last days uses the word “Lake of Fire” to describe the fate of the wicked. Let’s support this by reading the following scriptures: Revelation 20:10 – “And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:14-15 – “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
What are Paradise and the “Third Heaven”?
1. Paradise
Paradiseis a Persian word that originally meant “a walled garden“. In the days of Jesus Christ, a good number of Jews believed that life after death would be in Paradise which was perceived as similar to the Garden of Eden. They believed that the souls of the Patriarchs of Israel and those of righteous people will be taken to Paradise. In Luke 16:22-23, Jesus Christ makes reference to the belief of Paradise in His Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Let’s read some other scriptures were Christ makes mention of Paradise. Unto one of the thieves on the Cross, Jesus said in Luke 23:43 – “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” This suggest that paradise is the intermediate state that souls are taken immediately after death. In Revelation 2:7, Paradise is also mentioned.
2. Third Heaven
In line with the Jewish tradition, there are three heavens. Apostle Paul in his writings mentioned the highest heaven, that is the “third heaven” in connection with paradise (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). Although there is no further explanation on this, Apostle Paul might have intended the third heaven to be synonymy for paradise.
How does Heaven and Hell Look like? (Answered in the light of the Bible Verses About Eternal Life)
Although the Bible does not give many details on Heaven and Hell, it gives sufficient elements for us to have an image of what they look like.Note that most sayings in the Bible that surround these places are more of symbolic and metaphorical language. Whatever the case, the Bible makes it clear that there will be a glorious future for the righteous and eternal punishment for the wicked (Luke 10:25-28, 13:24-28, Matthew 7:13-14, 13:40-42, 19:28-29, John 5:28-29, 6:40, Revelation 21:8, Romans 6:22-23, 8:18). Lets read from Revelation 21:3-4 – “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, ...”
Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46 says, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; … Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; … And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Are we going to be able to recognize our relatives and friends in Heaven? Do people get married in Heaven?
It is without doubt that almost everyone wonders whether they’ll be able to recognize their friends and relatives in heaven. Unfortunately, the Bible does not give a precise answer to this question. However, some Christians have assumed that we’ll meet up some day with our friends and relatives in Heaven. As for marriage, Jesus Christ gave a word in Luke 20:34-37 – “Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.”
Will most people be saved or condemned to Hell?
Jesus did not clearly give a precise answer to this question but rather pointed out that the path that leads to Heaven is full of challenges and only a few people end up succeeding to travel it to the end. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Is Hell Eternal, or just the End of Life?
Coming up with a definite answer to this question is quite challenging. This is because some Bible verses point to the fact that anyone who ends up in Hell will be punished eternally (Luke 16:23-24, Matthew 25:46, Revelation 20:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10), but others just mention the destruction of both the body and soul (Luke 12:4-5, Matthew 10:28). Or perhaps it could be punishment till the final judgement then destruction (Jude 1:6, 2 Peter 2:4). Or still, it could be that the duration of punishment in hell depends on the degree of wickedness in life (Matthew 18:33-35). However, it is generally believe that punishment in Hell is eternal as pointed out by the scriptures above.
Before the Second Coming of Christ or if you are still alive, have in mind that God is inviting you to turn away from your sins and receive eternal life. By sin here, we mean anything that you think, say or do that does not please God. Repent from your sins when it is still day time. For a time shall come when there shall be no more mercy or grace to set you free and as a result, you’ll suffer in the fire of Hell for eternity. Make up your mind today, Sincerely Repent, and start obeying the Key Teachings of Jesus Christ in order to stay far away from the eternal fire of Hell.
What The Bible Says About Eternal Life
Group 1 – What The Bible Says About Eternal Life (Believers Can Face Death Without Fear)
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 – “Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:“Death is swallowed up in victory.O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting?”For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
John 10:28-30 – “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
2 Corinthians 4:18 – “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.“
1 John 2:17 – “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
Proverbs 8:35 – “For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.”
1 Peter 5:10 – “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
Group 2 – What The Bible Says About Eternal Life (Believers Enter the Lord’s Presence at Death)
2 Corinthians 4:17 – “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
1 John 5:13 – “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
1 John 5:11 – “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
2 Corinthians 5:8 – “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.”
Philippians 1:22-23 – “But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.”
Matthew 7:13-14 – “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
John 17:3 – “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
Psalm 139:23-24 – “Search me, God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Group 3 – What The Bible Says About Eternal Life (Believers Will Dwell with God Forever)
Revelation 21:3-4 – “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Psalm 23:6 – “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
1 Timothy 1:16 – “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”
Matthew 10:39 – “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”
John 4:14 – “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Revelation 1:8 – “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Romans 8:18 – “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Group 4 – What The Bible Says About Eternal Life (Jesus Christ is Preparing a Special Place for Believers in Heaven)
Romans 5:21 – “So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Psalm 37:28 – “For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;the offspring of the wicked will perish.”
Galatians 6:8 – “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
John 14:1-3 – “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
John 5:24 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
Matthew 25:46 – “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 17:3 – “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Hebrews 7:25 – “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.“
Group 5 – What The Bible Says About Eternal Life (Heaven Will Be Far Better Than Earth for Believers)
Galatians 6:7-8 – “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Romans 10:13 – “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Philippians 1:21 – “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Revelation 14:13 – “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”
Romans 2:6-8 – “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.“
Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Group 6 – What The Bible Says About Eternal Life (The Death of a Believer Is Precious to God)
John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.“
Luke 23:43 – And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Revelation 21:8 – “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Psalm 116:15 – “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”
John 6:50-71 – “This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. …”
Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life? (Believers Belong to the Lord In Heaven)
Acts 24:15 – “Having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.”
John 14:23 – “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
1 John 2:25 – “And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.”
2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
Romans 14:8 – “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
Matthew 7:13-14 – “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 5:28-29 – “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life? (Believers Are Citizens of Heaven)
Acts 2:38-39 – “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.””
Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Philippians 3:20-21 – “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
John 4:14 – “But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Hebrews 9:27 – “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”
John 6:66-71 – “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” …”
Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life? (After Their Physical Death, Believers Gain Eternal Life)
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Proverbs 3:6 – “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Romans 3:21-22 – “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:”
John 11:25-26 – “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”
1 Timothy 1:16 – “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”
John 6:27 – “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
Revelation 2:11 – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’”
Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life? (Believers Receive An Eternal Inheritance in Heaven)
1 John 5:20 – “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
1 Peter 1:3-5 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Revelation 21:1-27 – “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” …”
Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life? (Believers Receive a Crown In Heaven)
1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
2 Thessalonians 1:9 – “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,”
1 John 5:13 – “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”
2 Timothy 4:7-8 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Revelation 20:1-15 – “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. ...”
Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life? (Eventually, God Will Put An End to Death)
Acts 2:27 – “For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.”
Revelation 21:1-4 – “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away … I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God … And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
1 Peter 3:18-22 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”
Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life?
Psalm 49:15 – “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.”
Matthew 10:28-29 – “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.”
John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
John 6:47 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.”
1 John 2:27 – “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.”
Philippians 3:21 – “Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
John 6:40 – “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”
Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life?
1 John 5:11 – “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
Matthew 10:28 – “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
John 10:27-28 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 11:25-26 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”
Nahum 1:7 – “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”
1 John 1:2 – “The life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—”
Romans 5:21 – “So that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life?
John 6:39-40 – “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Revelation 20:4 – “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
Revelation 1:8 – “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
1 John 5:1-13 – “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? …”
Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life?
Philippians 3:20-21 – “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Titus 1:2 – “In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.”
1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1 John 3:4 – “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.”
Romans 6:22 – “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-58 – “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. …”
Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life?
Romans 10:9 – “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Galatians 3:5-14 – “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. …”
John 14:1-31 – ““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” …”
Luke 20:35-36 – “But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.”
Group 18 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life?
Genesis 3:19 – “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Psalm 86:13 – “For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.”
Isaiah 26:19 – “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.”
Ecclesiastes 9:5 – “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.”
Luke 14:14 – “And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Psalm 16:10 – “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.”
2 Corinthians 4:17 – “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,”
Galatians 2:15-16 – “We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
2 Corinthians 5:17– “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Group 19 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life?
John 20:19-24 – “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” ...”
Revelation 22:1-5 – “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”
Group 20 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life?
John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Luke 16:23 – “And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.”
John 5:39 – “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,“
Galatians 6:8 – “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
John 6:35 –Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
Matthew 18:8-9 – “And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.”
Daniel 12:2 – “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Matthew 25:41 – “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Group 21 – What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Life?
John 5:29 – “And come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
John 3:15 – “That whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”
Acts 2:38 – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
James 2:19 – “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
1 Corinthians 3:15 – “If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.“
1 John 2:17 – “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
John 3:2-16 – “This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. …”
What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry? When reading the Bible, we frequently hear of people being called by the Lord God Almighty for a specific ministry or service. There are many examples of people being called by the Lord God in the Bible for His service. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Ezekiel, and many others were called by the Lord God Almighty to be His Prophets. Likewise, Paul was called by the Lord God: “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:1). Likewise, the Old Testament priests were called by the Lord God to their special work (Hebrews 5:4; cf. Exodus 28:1). To be called by the Lord God Almighty is to be chosen by Him for certain purposes. When a person is aware of God’s calling in his/her life and surrenders to it, he/she starts living out the Lord God’s purpose for his/her life.
2 Chronicles 29:11 says, “My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.” Isaiah 49:1 says, “Listen to Me, O islands and coastlands, And pay attention, you peoples from far away. The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He has named Me.” Jeremiah 1:4-5 says, Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Galatians 1:14-18 says, “And [you have heard how] I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my countrymen in [my advanced study of the laws of] Judaism, as I was extremely loyal to the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news—the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me]. Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and stayed awhile, and afterward returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I did go up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and I stayed with him fifteen days.“ 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:“ Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ“ John 12:26 says, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” Matthew 20:25-28 says, But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 10:33 says, “But the one who denies and rejects Me before men, that one I will also deny and reject before My Father who is in heaven.”
What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry?
The Lord God Almighty called the entire nation of Israel to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Likewise, the church, redeemed by the blood of the beloved Son of God, Jesus Christ, is called: “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). The Lord God’s calling of Israel was to showcase His salvation to the pagan world. Sadly, Israel rejected that call by following idols and as a result never flourished in the way the Lord God wanted to prosper them. Nevertheless, the Lord God’s call today is to all those redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ to showcase to the world God’s love, mercy, grace, and salvation (Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:16). The Lord God is actively involved with His Universe than many people actually think. The Lord God is sovereign over the Universe and all creation as confirmed by Isaiah 46:9–11. Although the Lord God created humankind to be freewill beings and as such possess the freedom to make choices, His choices have already been made (Exodus 33:19; Romans 9:10–18). Likewise, Romans 11:29 says, “God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”
John 3:16 says, “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Behold, we are called by the Lord God to Salvation. In the New Testament, the Greek word ekklesia translated “church” means “a called-out assembly,” or “the called out ones.” God’s call to salvation involves conforming us “to the image of his Son.” Both His election and call to salvation are part of an eternal plan for us that guarantees our inheritance in heaven: “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:29–30). After salvation, we are further called to grow in Christian virtue and serve the Lord God by good works. As a matter of fact, it is this maturation process in the Christian faith that confirms our calling by the Lord God (2 Peter 1:5–10). The Lord God has provided us with Spiritual Gifts to aid us in our call to service in His vineyard. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts as He sees fit and then calls us into a field of service that makes use of those gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1–11).
Biblical Facts About Being Called By God
Behold, each and every Christian has a calling in his/her life. In fact, we were designed before the foundation of the world to be His workmanship, glorifying Him as we bring forth the fruit He desires. Ephesians 1:4-5 says, “just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will—“ Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].“
Generally, the Lord God’s call to service usually begins with a burden for a particular need that relates to His kingdom. Some are called to the political arena where they can contribute to ending things like child abuse, and human trafficking, as well as contributing to the well-being of society in one way or the other for the glory of God. Others are called to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Worship leaders, Bible translators, or to a host of other avenues that honor and glorify the Lord God (Matthew 23:34; 1 Corinthians 12:27-31; Ephesians 4:11). In this way, each one makes use of the gifts the Spirit has given to bring honor and glory to God’s name. We discover our call to a specific area of service by walking closely with the Lord God, loving Him, obeying Him, and offering ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1–2; Colossians 1:10). With time, we’ll grow spiritually and develop sensitivity to the voice of the Lord God. He can confirm His call in any way of His choice. Most of the time, confirmation can come through Scripture, godly counsel, fruitful results, natural gifting, and/or a sense of “rightness” that does not conflict with any of the other Scriptural confirmations.
Responding To God’s Call
When the Lord God calls us, He leads us into an awareness of the call. When we accept His calling on our lives, He prepares and equips us to be successful in His service. In the field, our callings are manifested through the works we are able to accomplish by the strength and gifts that God prepared and equipped us with. For example, a person may begin to have a burden for a particular foreign nation and its people regarding their salvation and spiritual well-being. The burden was placed there by the Lord God as part of His calling. The person makes further research about that nation and enrolls in a missions-focused school as his/her way to prepare for the work ahead. Once on the mission field, he/she is willing to suffer hardships and separation from family and friends because the call of God is his/her greatest motivation and focus. Apostle Paul wrote, “I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Notice that God’s call on Apostle Paul’s life became his motivating force. Acts 9:15–16 says, But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a [deliberately] chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will make clear to him how much he must suffer and endure for My name’s sake.”
In answering God’s call, we must obey His instructions in Scripture. By being faithful to the call of obedience, the Lord God can call us to more specific areas as well as increase our responsibility in his vineyard. Luke 16:10 says, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much.“ Matthew 25:21 says, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’“ Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 12:1-29 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. …“
Resisting/Refusing to Accept/Surrender to God’s Call
The Bible tells us that Jonah was called by the Lord God but refused to surrender to the call; rather, he ran the other way (Jonah 1:1–3). In spite of that, the Lord God pursued His disobedient servant until Jonah submitted himself to the call. With clear knowledge and understanding of Jonah’s disobedience beforehand, the Lord God had already prepared a big fish to swallow him and spit him out when he was humbled enough to repent (Jonah 1:17—2:1). When Jonah was back on dry land, the word of the Lord came to him for a second time, giving him another chance to obey. Jonah 3:1-3 says, “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it.”
It’s without a doubt that the Lord God Almighty could have rescued the Israelites from captivity in Egypt without Moses’ help. But He chose to do it through Moses (Matthew 19:26). Appearing to Moses at the burning bush, the Lord God said, “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt … and I have come down to rescue them” (Exodus 3:7-8). Surprisingly, the Lord God said, “Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). Notice that the Lord God had a plan to deliver His people; His plan was Moses. However, in response to God’s call, Moses immediately began making excuses. From the Bible, we can deduce 4 different excuses made by Moses in an attempt not to accept or surrender to God’s call on his life:
1) I am not Adequate for the Task (Lack of Confidence) – Exodus 3:11-12
Exodus 3:11-12 says, “But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” And God said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve and worship God at this mountain.” “Who am I,” Moses asked. In fact, he felt inadequate, and he was eventually right to feel that way. By himself, he was inadequate, just as each and every one of us is. Amazingly, the Lord God in reply said to Moses, “certainly I will be with you.” Notice that the deliverance of the Israelites who were held captive in Egypt didn’t depend on the ability of Moses but on the presence, mightiness, power, sovereignty, strength, and sufficiency of the Lord God. From this Scripture, it’s clear that when the Lord God calls people to serve His purpose, He always provides
Fascinatingly, in Exodus 3:11-12, no longer is Moses the bold, strong 40 years old man in Egypt, who could singlehandedly kill an Egyptian slave master and successfully flee away from the Egyptian army unhurt. It seems the last 40 years in the wilderness did erase his confidence. From a prince to a pauper, it’s clear that Moses suffered a serious demotion from royalty to one of Egypt’s most-wanted assassins who was on the run. This probably explains why after all these years of tending sheep in the desert with no prospects of any change on the horizon, Moses had a serious sense of personal inferiority. But what Moses failed to know was that the Lord God had His eyes on him all the time. Behold, the Lord God had chosen him to accomplish a task greater than anything he could have imagined. As a matter of fact, the last 40 years of tending sheep weren’t wasted. Rather, they had taught Moses a lot about leadership, for sheep are renowned for: 1) Wandering away, completely unaware of dangers that may lurk ahead of them. 2) Their crowd mentality, mob mentality, herd mentality, or pack mentality. 3) Their complete dependence on the shepherd to guard and provide for them.
Behold, if Moses could lead sheep, then he could certainly lead people. Moses had gained field experience in leading the sheep around the Median desert, leading them in finding food and water, and protecting them from wild animals. And as such, we think that Moses was best placed to lead the Israelites out of captivity and into the promised land. Although his objection sounds like an expression of deep humility, it’s not really about humility but lack of confidence, not lack of confidence in self but lack of confidence in the Lord God who called him. Given that the Lord God had seemingly abandoned Moses just when he was intervening to use his strength and position to ameliorate the plight of the Israelites who were held captive in Egypt, could he still trust Him for the future especially as it involved Pharaoh? (Exodus 2:11-22). Absolutely yes, Moses could trust the Lord God for the future and just everything that he needed. God’s reply, “I will be with you” was all that Moses needed. The expression “be with you” indicates intimacy, protection, guidance, provision, and comfort. In other words, everything that Moses would need, the Lord God would provide. Notice that this expression of encouragement in Exodus 3:12a was the same expression of encouragement that Jesus Christ gave to His disciples just before He ascended back to heaven and before they would face tremendous tests of their newfound faith: “Remember,I amwith you always,to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
2) I don’t Know Enough (A Lack of Knowledge of God) – Exodus 3:13-22
Exodus 3:13-14 says, Then Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers (ancestors) has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am”; and He said, “You shall say this to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’” Here, we see that Moses was worried about what to say should in case the Israelites challenge his authority and integrity by testing his personal knowledge of God. In fact, Moses was afraid the Israelites might ask him a question he couldn’t answer. Notice that he had to know the correct answer or else his authority would be in doubt. And knowing who he had been and what he had done, the Israelites were more likely to challenge him. Given his track record, they were likely to be suspicious of him.
Behold, if Moses didn’t answer correctly their hypothetical question as to God’s identity, they certainly would not welcome him, talk less of following him. The Lord God replied to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” And behold, whenever we say, “I don’t know enough,” “I’m not smart enough,” I’m not capable,” the Lord God Almighty says, but “I AM.” With this in mind, we should always trust Him because He is loving, worthy, faithful, and never fails.
3) People won’t take me Serious (Lack of Credibility with the People) – Exodus 4:1-9
Exodus 4:1 says, Then Moses answered [the Lord] and said, “What if they will not believe me or take seriously what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’” The Lord God had already promised Moses, “They will listen to what you say” (Exodus 3:18). Still, Moses protested. Notice that now it’s not a matter of the Israelites questioning who had sent him, but whether they would believe him and obey him. Now it’s more of a matter of personal credibility. Well, Moses certainly had cause to wonder if they would believe him. Remember, his track record wasn’t that great. Indeed, he had earlier attempted to protect the Hebrew slave who was being mistreated by the slave master, but then he had disappeared for up to 40 years. The people were likely to question his whereabouts for all these years, who he had become, and whether or not he would abandon them again.
Amazingly, the Lord God graciously gives him three miraculous signs by which he could prove his credibility and convince the Israelites that he had been sent to them by I Am, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. First, his miraculous rod – when he threw it to the ground, it became a serpent and when he took hold of it again it became a rod again (Exodus 4:2-5). Second, his hand – when he put it into his cloak, it became leprous and when he put it into his cloak again it was immediately restored to perfect health (Exodus 4:6-7). Third, water from the river Nile – when Moses poured it on dry land it would become blood (Exodus 4:9).
4) A Lack of Oral Ability – Exodus 4:10-12
Exodus 4:10-12 says, Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I am not a man of words (eloquent, fluent), neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and will teach you what you shall say.” Behold, public speaking happens to be a problem for many people. In fact, it’s a daunting task for many people. Moses found himself in a situation whereby he was called by the Lord God to speak to a multitude as vast as the Israelites and to the pharaoh, the very man who wanted to kill him and from whom he had fled many years ago for his life. Again, the Lord God graciously provides comfort and assurance to Moses. Surely, the Creator Himself is able to empower us to speak for Him and to give us the right words to speak at the right time (Luke 12:12).
I am not willing – Exodus 4:13-17
Exodus 4:13-17 says, But he said, “Please my Lord, send the message [of rescue to Israel] by [someone else,] whomever else You will [choose].” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled and burned against Moses; He said, “Is there not your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. Also, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be overjoyed. You must speak to him and put the words in his mouth; I, even I, will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; he will act as a mouthpiece for you, and you will be as God to him [telling him what I say to you]. You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs [the miracles which prove I sent you].”
“Please, Lord, Send someone else,” Moses said (Exodus 4:13). Indeed, Moses said this despite God’s grace, patience, and provision for his weakness and fears. Behold, this was not an excuse/objection, but it reveals the real issue. Notice that for every excuse/objection Moses had made, the Lord God offered His promise and provision. Upon running out of excuses/objections, Moses revealed what the real issue was: I am not willing or I don’t want to do this or get someone to do it. As a matter of fact, this is usually the real issue; we are simply not willing to step out in faith and obey God’s call and instructions for us. Sadly, there are many other excuses that we make when the Lord God calls us. One might say, “I’m too old” (Moses was 80 years old) or another might say, like Jeremiah, “I am only a youth” (Jeremiah 1:7). In reality, whatever the excuse, it often boils down to lack of trust and an unwillingness to obey the Lord God Almighty.
Can I Reject God’s Calling to be a Minister or His Servant?
If I refuse God’s calling to be a minister or His servant, will I be punished? What are the consequences of refusing God’s calling? Can I reject God’s call on my life and go free? From the previously presented cases of Moses and Jonah, we can draw some very important Biblical conclusions about resisting/rejecting God’s call. But before that, let’s get some Scriptural facts about this topic: Romans 14:12 says, “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.“ 1 Peter 4:5 says, “But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” Revelation 20:12 says, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” Matthew 12:36-37 says, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Luke 12:47-48 says, “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.“
From the Biblical examples of Moses and Jonah, we learn that when the Lord God calls us to be His servants or to minister for Him, it is wisest to obey. Moses refused to be God’s minister in the desert and as a result, God took part of his ministry away and gave it to someone else. Later in Numbers 20, we are told that Moses sinned and as a result, the Lord God did not let him go into the Promised Land. The Lord God gave his ministry to Joshua. With this in mind, it’s clear that the Lord God does not ultimately need you for the accomplishment of His purpose. If you refuse or get involved in sin, the Lord God can possibly give part or all of your ministry to someone else. In the Bible, we see an example of blatant and defiant refusal from Jonah. Jonah was a reluctant prophet who did not enjoy the ministry that the Lord God gave him. Although his ministry was phenomenally successful, he missed the joy of ministry because he refused. Still, notice that the Lord God once again did not let Jonah say no.
Following the calling of Moses and Jonah, is it possible to successfully refuse or reject God’s calling on your life? No. Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].” The message of the Scripture is that if the Lord God is calling you to minister for Him, He will not let you say no. He will pursue you until you say “yes.” The question now is, what ministry will you receive and how will you operate it? Scripturally, the Lord God can give part of the ministry that you could have had to someone else. In addition, you may not enjoy the ministry that you end up with, but then at least you are obedient, like Jonah.
Sadly, many people these days are battling in an attempt to refuse or reject God’s call on their lives. As a matter of fact, doing this is fighting a losing battle. Deep down in your heart, you know without a doubt that the Lord God is calling you into His service but you just can’t imagine yourself becoming a minister or His servant. The Lord God has revealed Himself and His calling on your life in different ways. He has confirmed His calling on your life through the Scriptures, godly counsel, spiritual leaders, dreams, visions, fruitful results, natural gifting, and/or a sense of “rightness” that does not conflict with any of the other Scriptural confirmations. Perhaps, you’ve even stopped attending church in an attempt to get your mind off the things of God, but He keeps reminding you of His calling on your life. Jeremiah 20:9 says, “But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!” Yet, you still keep trying to reject His calling. Trying to reject God’s call on your life as Jonah did is something that will put you in a more or less situation like that of Jonah whereby nothing in your life is moving as planned and on your own, you’ll be moving on towards distress, trouble, disaster and destruction as was the case with Jonah. Repent as Jonah did (Jonah 2), trust and serve the Lord God, “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
The Secret to answer God’s call for your life – 2 Chronicles 30:8
2 Chronicles 30:8 says, “Now do not stiffen your neck [becoming obstinate] like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and come to His sanctuary which He has sanctified and set apart forever, and serve the LORD your God, so that His burning anger will turn away from you.” When it comes to hearing and answering God’s call for your life, 2 Chronicles 30:8 is the scripture to embrace. It presents a powerful three-step principle on how to be used by God. This three-step principle remains the secret or answer to the question of how you prepare yourself to be used by God Almighty. This three-step principle can be presented with the following three words: Yield, Enter, and Serve. Likewise, Jesus Christ said in Luke 9:23, “Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” By doing these things, you’ll make yourself receptive to God’s call as well as ready to be used by God anywhere and at any time depending on His will. It’s our prayer that after examining these secrets to answer God’s call on your life, you’ll be equipped with what it takes to be successful in doing God’s work thereby winning more souls into His Kingdom.
1. Completely Yield Yourself to God’s Will
Webster’s definition of yielding reads: 1) to give up possession of on claim or demand: such as a: to surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another: hand over possession of b: to give (oneself) up to an inclination, temptation, or habit c: to relinquish one’s possession of (something, such as a position of advantage or point of superiority) yield precedence d: to surrender or submit (oneself) to another e: to give up (one’s breath, life, or spirit) and so die 2) to be fruitful or productive. Below are characteristics of genuine yielding:
Yielding is fully letting God have His way in your life.
Genuine yielding prioritizes God’s will over your will.
It has to do with completely surrendering yourself to God.
True yielding acknowledges the confession; Not MY will but THY will be done in my life.
Through yielding, we become profitable to God’s kingdom.
Consecration and Sanctification are the two words used in the Bible for yielding.
Yielding is setting aside yourself for the sole purpose of God’s use.
By yielding ourselves, we are made available for God to use according to His will.
Our availability for God’s use depends on how much we give Him.
Hence, anyone who gives just a little of themselves to God will be used in a small way but anyone who gives much of themselves and their time to God will be used mightily in ways beyond human understanding.
Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.“ Luke 9:23 says, And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Galatians 5:24 says, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.“ John 12:24 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.“ 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.“ Matthew 10:38 says, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Romans 6:11 says, “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
2. Enter into God’s Sanctuary
Entering into God’s sanctuary is an important Christian exercise that we can’t afford to omit in answering the question “how do I prepare myself to be used by God?” This is to say that if you are serious about answering God’s call in your life, you’ll need to build a deep relationship or establish a covenant with Him. It is the process of establishing a faithful relationship with God that we refer to as entering His sanctuary. Entering God’s sanctuary is not necessarily going to a Christian assembly which we’ve come to refer to as a Church. It is more of getting into your secret place, where you regularly talk with God in all quietness. Referring to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Mark 6:46 says, “And after He said goodbye to them, He went to the mountain to pray.” Likewise, Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
God’s sanctuary can as well be perceived as your heart, a place where His Spirit dwells. This is a call for you to treasure your heart as you strive hard to always keep it clean so that God’s spirit won’t be grieved. You do this by paying attention to what proceeds forth from your heart thereby making sure that it is in line with the will of God. In the same light, you should pay attention and align your thoughts, words, and actions according to the will of God. Remember to fill your heart with the Love of God and that of your neighbor. By so doing, you’ll reflect the loving nature of God Almighty thereby gaining mercy and favor on His side. Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” 1 Samuel 16:7 says, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Acts 15:9 says, “And he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.“ Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.“ Matthew 15:11 says, “It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonors him.” Below are some of the spiritual exercises that will grow your relationship with God and maintain you in His sanctuary:
a. Praying without ceasing
As Christians, we are called to pray at all times and pray without ceasing. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, started with prayers and ended with prayers. It is without a doubt that a prayerful life was the key to achieving success in the Divine Mission which was attributed to Him by God the Father. It is in the light of following His footsteps that we ought to pray at all times and pray without ceasing. If you expect God to use you, you must value the aspect of regularly communicating with Him. It is through a prayerful life that you will identify what God wants you to do. Prayer is a two-sided communication line – that is, as you speak to God, He is also speaking to you. Hence, you should learn to listen and hear from God because He is always saying something.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing,“ Mark 6:46 says, “And after He said goodbye to them, He went to the mountain to pray.” Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” John 15:7 says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Matthew 6:6 says, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.“ Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Matthew 6:7 says, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.“ James 5:16 says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Luke 11:9 says, “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,“ Matthew 6:9-13 says, Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
b. Regularly reading and meditating on your Bible
The Bible is an authoritative means through which God speaks, teaches, and confirms His Holy Will to mankind. It is one of the greatest means of communication with God. The Bible teaches us about the great things which God has done, those that He is still doing, and those that He will do in times to come. God’s word is to our spirit what food is to our body. Failure to hear God’s word is likely to lead to what we refer to as spiritual starvation. By daily and regularly studying God’s word, you are equipped with what it takes to do His will as well as minister it to others.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.“ Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.“ Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.“ Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.“ John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.“ Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Hebrews 4:12-14 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Matthew 4:4 says, But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Jeremiah 23:29 says, “Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?“ Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.“ Psalm 19:7-11 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.“ Proverbs 4:20-23 says, “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.“ Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.“ James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Matthew 7:24 says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.“
c. Thanksgiving to God at all times
It is our Christian duty to be thankful to God at all times and in all circumstances. That is, we are to thank God for everything that comes our way – whether good or bad. We do this because God is always in control; nothing happens without His knowledge. Hence, we can say without a doubt that God is aware of all things that are happening to us. In short, He is in total control of all things that come our way. That’s why we should not dwell our hearts on worries. Always remember that God is working and turning all things for the good of His children. Let’s support this message by reading from Jeremiah 29:11 – “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Psalm 107:1 says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!“ Psalm 7:17 says, “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.” Ephesians 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,“ Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Psalm 100:1-5 says, “A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.“
d. Singing praises to God
Offering praises to God is more of an outer expression of the inward joy and happiness in one’s heart. This is generally done in acknowledgment of God’s goodness, immeasurable and unconditional love. True praise is a spontaneous action that is mental, physical, emotional, and highly verbal. In reading across the Bible, we hear more of the vocalization of praise than dances or other expressions of praise. Remember that it was the vocal praise that brought down the great walls of Jericho. Hence, it is without a doubt that vocal praise moves God into action as He locates His people in mercy and favor. The Greek word for praise is “Story.” The moment something proclaims the work of God, it is offering praise. In simple terms, praise is telling a story of God’s goodness, might, power, love, mercy, compassion, and sovereignty.
Psalm 69:30 says, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.” Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.“ Psalm 100:1-2 says, “A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!“ Psalm 95:1-2 says, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!“ Ephesians 5:19 says, “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,“ Psalm 147:1 says, “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.” James 5:13 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.” Acts 16:25 says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,” Psalm 104:33 says, “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.“ Psalm 150:1-6 says, “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! …“
e. Worship
Worship is a spiritual exercise being carried out in the presence of God Almighty. It is more of a personal experience with God, the Father of Creation. Since it requires a personal experience with God, you’ll need to have been baptized (filled) with the Holy Ghost in order to genuinely worship God for who He is. Remember the words of Jesus Christ when He said that all those who worship God MUST do so in Spirit and Truth. In worship, the Holy Spirit fills us with what is necessary to truly acknowledge God for who He is. It provides us with the necessary reasons to genuinely worship God in spirit and truth. Genuine worship is not necessarily due to what God has done but for who He is. This is more likely when the Holy Spirit renews your mind and convinces you of God’s unfailing, unconditional, and immeasurable love. You can also learn what the Bible says about Prophetic Worship.
John 4:23 says, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” John 4:24 says, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Psalm 95:6 says, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!“ Romans 12:1 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.“ Luke 4:8 says, And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” Psalm 29:2 – “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” Psalm 96:9 says, “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!“ Psalm 99:5 says, “Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!“ Psalm 66:4 says, “All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah Matthew 4:10 says, Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
f. Praying in the Spirit
Note that praying in the spirit is different from your normal or daily prayer routine. Here, you willingly allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you with its own words. Praying in the spirit can involve praying in tongues, prophesying into the air, and carrying out an intercessory prayer. When praying in the spirit, you speak many things which you would not speak under normal prayers. That is, the Spirit prays for those things through you that you normally should have prayed for but you are not aware of. At times, we lack words to pray or simply do not know how to pray. However, as we yield to praying in the spirit, the Spirit of God within us prays for all those things we ought to pray for and also intercedes on our behalf and that of our close ones before God. You can as well read the following: Understanding how praying in tongues opens supernatural dimensions and How to be filled with the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” Jude 1:20 says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,“ 1 Corinthians 14:15 says, “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.“ Colossians 3:14-17 says, “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.“
3. Serve the Lord your God
Behold, serving God is an act of voluntary service. There are many ways through which you can serve God. You can serve God when you minister to Him in worship, showing Him homage, and when you witness His love, sovereignty, goodness, mercy, favor, and faithfulness to others. Note that your greatest service to God Almighty is spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ which is a call for mankind to sincerely repent from their sins and turn to God. There are also many places in which you can serve God in Spirit and Truth. You can serve God in your local Christian assembly, you can serve God in a private location, and you can serve God in a different country. In short, you can serve God anywhere and at any time according to His will. Your service to God is reflected by certain characters and values in your life:
a. Holiness
Holiness is one of the key elements in answering the question of “how do I prepare myself to be used by God?” It is the power of God within you that strengthens and guides you to walk no longer in sin. This power is achieved through Christ by being faithful to His teachings. Jesus Christ is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the faithful thereby making them Holy before God. In Christ, we’ve all been given the power to overcome our corrupted flesh and reflect God’s righteous nature. Holiness is what causes a separation to manifest. A genuine follower of Christ who strives for righteousness on daily basis appears different in thoughts, words, and actions as compared to those who claim just by mouth to be of Christ. He/she who becomes righteous in Christ is easily detected by a change in morals, thoughts, words, and actions.
Leviticus 20:26 says, “You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.“ 1 Samuel 2:2 says, “There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.“ 1 Thessalonians 4:7 says, “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.“ 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” Hebrews 12:14 says, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.“ Romans 6:22 says, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.“ Matthew 5:48 says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.“ Leviticus 19:2 says, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”
b. Ministry
A person can as well serve God by working in the ministry. We can’t afford to omit ministry work when answering the question of how to prepare yourself to be used by God. Behold brethren, let no one deceive you for we have all been called into ministry in the presence of God. Indeed, we’ve been called as ministers, ministers of love, reconciliation, mercy, truth, and faithfulness to God Almighty. We’ve all been commissioned by Christ to spread the Good News of Repentance and Life Everlasting to the four corners of the World thereby restoring to God all His lost children. You can also serve God by joining local Christian ministries in your assembly. Here, you can willingly serve as a Minister, Usher, Deacon, Pastor, Evangelist, Teacher, Apostle, Prophet, or any other ministry that is available and that God has called and anointed you in it.
2 Chronicles 29:11 says, “My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.” Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,“ 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.“ 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.“ 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 says, “We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; …“ Romans 10:13-15 says, For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
c. Witnessing
Still, on how to prepare yourself to be used by God, we’ll say that witnessing is a great way to serve God in Spirit and Truth. This is more of a personal practice that does not necessarily require that you teach, preach or share out tracks. In simple terms, witnessing is all about telling others about the mighty things that God has done in your life out of His unfailing, unconditional, faithful, and immeasurable love. A witness is someone who has clearly seen or heard about something he/she can give a consistent account of how it took place. Here, the person gives his/her witness based on what they say or heard thereby persuading the audience to believe. In our case, when you witness, you are giving a testimony of Jesus Christ, the savior of the World.
Mark 16:15 says, “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.“ 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,“ Jeremiah 1:7-8 – But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.“ Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Matthew 10:33 says, “But the one who denies and rejects Me before men, that one I will also deny and reject before My Father who is in heaven.”
d. Loving
Loving is the greatest way of serving God. Christ spoke through His Apostles saying that “anyone who does not love does not know God.” This is because God has a loving nature. An objective look across the Bible will reveal that it revolves around Love – that is the love of God and the love of your neighbor. It is for this reason that some have gone to the very extent of calling the Bible “God’s Love Letter” to mankind. For God so loved the world that He sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ so that anyone who hears, believes, and obeys his teachings will not die but have everlasting life in Heaven (John 3:16). Jesus Christ did not come to condemn the World but to invite everyone to Sincerely Repent and start obeying the Commands of God.
Love is a lasting value in the Kingdom of God. Christ Himself summarized the Law of Moses and the teachings of the Prophets into loving God with all your being and loving your neighbor as you love yourself. Through love, we clearly reflect the nature of God and Jesus’ mark of ownership. It is Jesus’ command that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Mark 12:29-31; John 15:12). In this way, we will please God in the things that we do. Hence, we should never stop loving or get tired of loving. Behold, he/she who does not love does not know God just as the scriptures point out (1 John 4:7-8). On the other hand, he who loves is one who knows God, and one who knows God will live forever in His presence. When we say we Love God or our neighbor, our thoughts, words, and actions must reflect this saying. Mark 12:29-31 says, Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” John 15:12 says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.“ 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.“
What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry?
2 Chronicles 29:11 – “My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.”
Jeremiah 1:4-5 – Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Isaiah 49:1-2 – “Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.“
Deuteronomy 18:15 – “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—“
John 20:21-22 – “Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].” And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.“
Matthew 23:34 – “Therefore, take notice, I am sending you prophets and wise men [interpreters, teachers] and scribes [men educated in the Mosaic Law and the writings of the prophets]; some of them you will kill and even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues, and pursue and persecute from city to city,“
Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,“
Mark 16:15-18 – “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.Group 1- What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Matthew 28:18-19 – “Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,“
John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.“
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.“
Matthew 19:26 – “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
1 Peter 4:10 – “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:“
Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ“
John 12:26 – “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”
Matthew 20:25-28 – But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 22:14 – “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
Galatians 5:13 – “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.“
1 Peter 4:11 – “Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Group 2- What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
John 16:13 – “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.“
1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.“
Philippians 2:12-13 – “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.“
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Group 3 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
1 John 4:12 – “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.“
John 15:1-27 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. …“
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.“
Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.“
2 Corinthians 6:3-10 says, “We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; …“
Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;Group 4 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Luke 10:19 – “I have given you authority to trample on snakesGroup 5- What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Colossians 2:9-10 – “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”
Romans 8:26 – “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.“
James 1:27 – “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.“
Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.“
Hebrews 13:21 – “Equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Philippians 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Acts 2:38 – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
John 7:37 – “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.””
Romans 14:4 – “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Romans 5:1-21 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. …“
Hebrews 4:10 – “For whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”
Romans 15:17 – “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“
1 Corinthians 3:1-23 – “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. …“
Group 7- What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Psalm 54:4 – “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.”
Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Psalm 90:17 – “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!“
1 Corinthians 2:1-16 – “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. …“
1 John 4:2 – “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,“
John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 10:1-42 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” …
Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
John 8:24 – “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
Hebrews 6:1-20 – “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, …“
Acts 20:35 – “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Proverbs 14:23 – “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.“
1 Corinthians 15:1-58 – “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. …“
John 16:1-33 – ““I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ …“
Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Colossians 1:29 – “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.“
Genesis 1:26 – Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Hebrews 1:2 – “But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.“
Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,“
Acts 2:1-47 – “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. …“
Acts 17:31 – “Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
1 Timothy 2:4 – “Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Romans 7:1-25 – “Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. …“
John 14:1-31 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” …
Genesis 1:1-31 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. …“
Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Ephesians 4:28 – “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.“
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”
Proverbs 12:11 – “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.“
2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.“
Hebrews 6:10 – “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.“
1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
John 3:14 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,“
1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.“
2 Thessalonians 3:10 – “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.“
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.“
Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.“
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“
Revelation 20:1-15 – “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. …“
John 6:1-71 – “After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” …“
John 20:1-31 – “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. …“
Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
James 1:2 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,“
Revelation 21:1-27 – “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” …“
Matthew 16:19 – “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
John 17:1-26 – “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. …“
Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Hebrews 13:5 – Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Revelation 17:1-18 -“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” …“
1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.“
Ephesians 2:8-10 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.“
John 6:46 – “Not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.“
Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.“
Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.“
John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
1 Peter 5:3 – “Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.“
John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.“
2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.“
Colossians 1:16 – “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.“
Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Nahum 1:7 – “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.“
John 3:2 – “This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”“
Isaiah 40:1-31 – “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” …“
Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.“
Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
John 6:27 – “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”“
1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.“
Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Hebrews 10:25 – “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.“
Isaiah 26:12 – “O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.”
2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,“
Ephesians 2:2 – “In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“
1 Thessalonians 4:11 – “And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,“
Galatians 2:8 – “(for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),“
John 3:1-36 – “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. …“
Group 18 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.“
James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.“
Romans 12:11 – “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.“
Matthew 24:1-51 – “Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. …“
Isaiah 65:1-3 – “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here am I, here am I,” to a nation that was not called by my name. I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and making offerings on bricks;“
1 Corinthians 14:1-40 – “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. …“
Group 19 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Psalm 23:1-6 – “A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. …“
1 Chronicles 17:1-27 – “Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. …“
Proverbs 14:1 – “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.”
1 Corinthians 7:1-40 – “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. …“
Group 20 – What Does The Bible Say About Equipment For Ministry
Colossians 3:15 – “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.“
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; …“
Romans 13:8 – “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.“
Revelation 14:12 – “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”
1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.“
What Does The Bible Say About Encouragement? Discouragement is something that everyone feels. You might be wondering if it also applies for Christians. Behold, even Christians get discourage at times. Discouragement is not a thing of the past nor that of pagans. There are times that we all need encouraging words to move ahead. In as much as words can build, they can also destroy. There are moments when an unmet expectation or single word can deplete you off your confidence, make you feel disheartened, or drain your faith. Luckily enough, we can use the best Bible verses about encouragement to deal with these challenges. Below are some challenging situations that regularly bring discouragement:
Receiving negative words aimed at deprecating our value
Experiencing a setback at work
Difficult moments with your children
Money worries
A recent death in the family
Feeling of low esteem Maltreatment at school, work, or online
Failure in achieving goals
Unable to meetup with daily needs and
Fear.
There are many things that can make us discouraged than we can list. However, all the above mentioned situations can lead you into the feeling of discouragement. In one way or the other, we end up being discouraged. And it is very normal to seek for peace in our hearts whenever we are discouraged. Whether you want peace in your family, self confidence, or money to pay off your bills, God is the source. He is ready, willing, and able to do it. Turning back to him won’t leave you disappointed. Note that there is nothing wrong in wanting and working for things to be different. Avoid dwelling in self-pity for too long. God’s opinion about you is what matters. It is in this light that we present the best Bible verses about encouragement.
What Does The Bible Say About Encouragement?
What the Scriptures Say About Encouragement (Desiring better things)
Just as we previously said, there is nothing wrong in wanting and working for things to be better on your side. Self-pity will do you more harm than good. As we can read from 1 Peter 2:11, actively indulging in discouragement feelings will fuel and activate the sinful passions of your flesh. If care is not taken, these sinful passions will end up completely leading you away from the faith. However, a turn to God is the key to resolving the problems of discouragement. There is only one antidote to fight discouragement which is encouragement. Through encouragement in Christ, you can successfully fight and overcome discouragement in your life. Rekindle the fire of faith in your heart and hold firm to God who never forsakes his children. Do this by embracing the following Bible verses about encouragement.
What The Bible Says About Encouragement
Group 1 – What The Bible Says About Encouragement
John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you;my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 9:9-10 – “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”
Isaiah 26: 3-4 – “Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.”
1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!”
Psalm 34:10b – “Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Group 2 – What The Bible Says About Encouragement
Isaiah 49:13 – “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.”
Psalm 121:1-2 – “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 – “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Psalm 32:7-8 – “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”
Matthew 6:34 –“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Romans 8:6 – “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 9:9 – “The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.“
Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Group 3 – What The Bible Says About Encouragement
Deuteronomy 7:9 – “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”
Psalms 4:3 – “Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.”
John 6:47 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.”
Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Colossians 3:15 – “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Proverbs 18:10 – “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Psalm 16:8 – “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Zephaniah 3:17 – “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you by his love, he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Group 4 – What The Bible Says About Encouragement
Psalm 118:14-16 – “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: ‘The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!’”
Psalm 119:114-115 – “You are my hiding place and my shield;I hope in your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.”
Psalm 62:6 – “He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”
Psalm 46:7 – “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Psalm 31:24 – “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!”
Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Isaiah 40:31 – “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 26:3 – “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Psalm 119:50 – “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”
Psalm 120:1 – “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.”
Group 5 – What Does The Bible Say About Encouragement?
John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Mark 10:27 – “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.’”
Isaiah 43:2 – “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Psalm 34:8 – “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
Nahum 1:7 – “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Encouragement?
Isaiah 26:3 – “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Psalm 27:4 – “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.”
Joshua 1:7 – “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.”
Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 8:31 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Encouragement?
1 John 3:22 – “And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”
1 Peter 2:11 – “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
Philippians 3:7-9 – “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”
1 Corinthians 16:13 – “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
Ephesians 3:17-19-21 – “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.”
Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Encouragement?
1 John 3:1-3 – “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appearswe shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”
1 Peter 2:9-10 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Encouragement?
2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Hebrews 10:19-23 – “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Ephesians 6:10 -“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Encouragement?
Psalm 37:39 – “The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.”
Nehemiah 8:10 – “Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’”
Exodus 15:2 – “The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
1 Chronicles 29:12 – “Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.”
Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
Psalm 8:2 – “Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.”
Psalm 18:1-2 – “I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalm 27:1 – “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Encouragement?
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 – “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Habakkuk 3:19 – “GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.”
Psalm 138:3 – “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.”
Psalm 71:16 – “With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.”
Psalm 119:28 – “My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!”
Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Encouragement?
Mark 12:30 – “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” ,
Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Isaiah 40:28-31 –“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Matthew 19:26 – “But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”
What Does The Bible Say About Easter? Easter is an important Christian event worth understanding its history and symbols. Before proceeding, it is important for us to pour more light on the meaning of Easter. In simple terms, Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb on the 3rd day after His crucifixion and burial. Referring to the book of Prophet Isaiah 53, we can say without doubt that Easter is the fulfilled prophesy of the Messiah who would be persecuted, killed for our sins, and rise on the third day. Celebrating Easter every year is a way of remembering Jesus Christ. And remembering His resurrection is a way of renewing our hope for eternal life with God through Him.
In addition, celebrating Easter reminds us of the victory of Christ over sin, evil, and death for those who come to Him. Coming to Christ is being set aside for God’s mercy and favor. To benefit from this divine mercy and favor, one must first Sincerely Repent and engage self in obeying the Key Teachings of Jesus Christ. Christ is the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the faithful and offers them life that never finishes in the presence of God Almighty. In line with he New Testament, Easter is three days after the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary. Easter follows a period of fasting which is called Lent. During this period of Lent, many churches set aside time for repentance and remembrance. The period of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Good Friday, the day that Jesus Christ was crucified.
What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
Overview
Just as we previously mentioned, Easter follows a period of fasting called Lent. The 40 day period was established by Pope Gregory 1 using the 40 day pattern of Israel, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus’ time in the wilderness. The week that leads to Easter is called The Holy Week, or “Passion Week”. The Holy Week includes Palm Sunday (the day that Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem and was celebrated as King). It also includes Maundy Thursday (the “Last Super”, a day where Jesus Christ came together with His Apostles to observe the Passover). And lastly, the Holy Week includes Good Friday (the day that Jesus Christ was crucified on the Cross at Calvary). Behold, there is much that the Bible says about Easter.
Easter is one of the most important events in Christianity. In short, it is the foundation of the Christian faith. It portrays Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of God who willingly gave up His own life so that all those who come to Him will never die but have everlasting life in the presence of God the Father. Jesus Christ having no sin of His own was persecuted and given the punishment of sinners. He came in the human nature, taught the ways of God the Father and was crucified on the cross at Calvary for our sake. Today, He is welcoming all those who hear His voice, turn away from their sins, and embrace the teachings of His Father.
When did Easter start?
It is important to know when Easter started in as much as it is important to know what the Bible says about Easter. The resurrection of Christ was celebrated by the earliest Christians on the fourteen of Nisan (our March-April), the date which matches with the Jewish Passover. The Jewish days were reckoned from evening to evening, implying that Jesus Christ had celebrated His Last Super the evening of the Passover and was crucified on the day of the Passover. Most early Christians who celebrated the Passover did worship Jesus Christ as the Paschal Lamb and Redeemer. It is reported that some of the Gentile Christians started celebrating Easter in the nearest Sunday to the Passover since Jesus Christ actually arose on a Sunday. This practice was significantly observed in the Western part of the Roman Empire. Even in Rome, different congregations celebrated Easter on different days.
However, many felt that the date should continue to be based on the timing of the resurrection during Passover. And as a result, immediately the Jewish authorities established or determined the date of Passover each year, Christian leaders went forth to establishing the date for Easter by counting three days after Passover. Note that following this schedule will mean that Easter would be a different day of the week each year, and only falling on a Sunday once in a while. From the other angle of view, other Christian leaders believed that since the Lord rose on a Sunday and that this day had been set aside for the Lord’s Day, this was the only possible day to joyfully celebrate His Resurrection. And as Christianity drew away from Judaism, many were reluctant to base this special Christian celebration on the Jewish calendar.
How the Easter date is calculated?
Besides knowing what the Bible says about Easter, it is worth knowing how the Easter date is calculated. Constantine was in support that Christianity should be totally separated from Judaism and did not want Easter to be celebrated on the Jewish Passover. In respect of his wish and that of other spiritual leaders, the council of Nicea required the feast of resurrection to be celebrated on a Sunday and never on the Jewish Passover. From then, Easter was set to be the Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Calculating the proper date of Easter can be challenging since the date of the vernal equinox change from year to year. Whatever the case, this is still the method being used to calculate the date of Easter these days. This explains why we have Easter earlier during some years than others.
What does Easter mean?
Before going deeper into what the Bible says about Easter, it is important to get its true meaning. Truth be told, the origin of the word easter is not certain. The Venerable Bede, an eighth-century monk and scholar suggested in his writings that the word may have been derived from the Anglo-Saxon Eeostre or Eastre – a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. However, recent scholars haven’t been able to trace back to any reference that supports this fact or links back to the goddess Bede. Hence, this theory has been discredited. Another possibility at hand worth analyzing is the Norse eostur, eastur, or ostara which literally means “the season of the growing sun“. Note that the word east comes from these very roots. Hence, there is a possibility that the word Easter is linked to the changing season.
A more recent and complex explanation of the origin of the word Easter comes from the Christian background unlike those from pagans. The early Latin word that was used for the Week of Easter was hebdomada alba or “white week,” and the Sunday after Easter day was referred to as dominica in albis. This word is derived from the white robes of those who were Baptized. The word alba is the Latin word for White and Dawn. Those who were speaking High Old German made a serious mistake in translating as they used a plural word for dawn, ostarun, instead of using the plural for white. From Osterun, we clearly get the German Ostern and the English Easter.
The connection between Easter and Passover
The day before Jesus’ crucifixion, He observed Passover with His 12 Apostles. This event is what we refer today as the Last Super. On the other hand, the Passover feast is a time that the Jews people remember their freedom and exodus from Egypt. During the Passover feast or Last Super of Jesus Christ, He told His Apostles that the bread symbolizes His body that would be broken and the wine, His blood, that would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins (Mathew 26:17-30). Today, Christian bodies celebrate the Last Super in order to keep a memory of Jesus’ sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. After the Last Super, Jesus Christ was arrested at the Garden of Gethsemane where He was praying and taken to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, for trial.
Christian and Pagan Traditions surrounding Easter
Today, one can’t argue the fact that there are many traditions surrounding the entire lent season, Holy Week, and Easter Sunday. Some of the globally celebrated traditions include the Easter Bunny, gift baskets, colored eggs, and flowers. Bunnies are considered pests that ruin crops and land in Australia. Aussies celebrate with their native marsupial. On Easter Monday in Poland, boys try to suck people with buckets or water. A tradition that roots in the baptism of Polish Prince Mieszko that took place on Easter Monday 996. However, what the Bible says about Easter will pour more light on this.
The morning of Holy Saturday in Greece is known as the annual “pot throwing”, a situation were residents throw pots out of windows. This tradition marks the beginning of spring and new crops being gathered in new pots. Large bornfires called Easter Fires are lit on Easter Sunday into Monday in Europe. The myth behind this is that the fire will chase away winter and Easter will bring spring.
Origin and History of Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs
Many ancient cultures viewed eggs as a symbol of life. Many Egyptians, Hindus, and Persians believe that the world began with an enormous egg. Some early Christians looked at the connection that eggs had with life and decided that eggs could be part of their celebration. That’s why you hear of colored eggs today. Concerning the connection of the rabbit with Easter in the name of Easter Bunny, we’ll say that some Christians saw the rabbit coming out of its hole as Jesus Christ defeating death and coming out of the tomb.
Other points of views come as a result of the fact that Easter is celebrated during spring which is believed to be a moment of fertility that portrays new life. And any animal like the hare or rabbit that produces many offspring was easily included to the feast. The hare is also an ancient symbol for the moon. And as we know, the Easter date depends on the moon. In short, there are several reasons for the hare or rabbit to be associated to Easter, all of which come through pagan celebrations.
The Easter Lamb
Concerning what the Bible says about Easter, the Easter lamb is the most symbolic during this Christian celebration. It is worth noting here that the Easter lamb has no strong ties with pagan traditions or celebrations. The lambs we are talking about are young animals born in spring time. The lamb comes from the Jews Passover during which each family killed a lamb as a sacrifice. And when Jesus Christ became the Passover lamb for everyone who comes to Him, the lamb became the symbol for His sacrifice. He is indeed the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world as we can read from John 1:29 – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
What The Bible Says About Easter
John 19:30 – “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
Luke 24:6-7 – “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”
Matthew 28:5-6 – “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.””
Mark 16:6 – “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
Mark 14:36 – ““Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.””
Luke 23:46 – “Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.“
Matthew 21:9 – “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,“Hosanna to the Son of David!”“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Hosanna in the highest heaven!””
Matthew 27:28-29 – “They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.”
Group 1 – What The Bible Says About Easter
Zechariah 9:9 – “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!See, your king comes to you,righteous and victorious,lowly and riding on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
John 20:8-9 – “Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)“
Matthew 27:37 – “Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.”
Matthew 20:18-19 – “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Acts 12:4 – “And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
1 Peter 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,“
Psalm 118:25-26 – “Lord, save us!Lord, grant us success!Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.From the house of the Lord we bless you.”
Group 2 – What The Bible Says About Easter
John 11:25-26 – “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?””
Romans 4:25 – “Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
Luke 24:1-12 – “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? …”
Romans 1:4 – “And was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,”
Mark 16:1-8 – “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him, And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb, And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. …”
Group 3 – What The Bible Says About Easter
Luke 24:36-39 – “As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.””
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 – “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power, It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
Romans 5:11 – “More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Matthew 28:1-20 – “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. …”
Group 4 – What The Bible Says About Easter
Isaiah 58:1-14 – ““Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. …”
John 20:1-18 – “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. …”
Group 5 – What The Bible Says About Easter
1 Corinthians 5:7 – “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
Mark 16:6 – “And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
Matthew 20:18-19 – “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
John 17:9 – “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.”
Isaiah 53:1-12 – “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. …”
Group 6 – What The Bible Says About Easter
Romans 8:34 – “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
Romans 10:9 – “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Psalm 136:1-26 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; …”
Acts 3:15 – “And you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.”
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
1 Corinthians 15:17 – “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”
Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”
Luke 24:6-7 – “He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
Romans 6:8-11 – “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Isaiah 1:1-31 – “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. …”
Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
Mark 16:9 – “Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.”
Luke 24:46-47 – “And said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
Luke 23:46 – “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.”
Acts 4:33 – “And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”
Matthew 28:6 – “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”
Mark 9:9 – “And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 – “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. …”
Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
Philippians 3:10-12 – “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-5 – “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”
Romans 6:4 – “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
1 Corinthians 15:20 – “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
Psalm 16:10 – “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Zechariah 9:9 – “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
Matthew 27:50-53 – “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
John 20:1 – “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.”
1 Corinthians 15:4 – “That he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”
Ephesians 1:20 – “That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,”
Job 19:25 – “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.”
Colossians 1:13-14 – “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Isaiah 26:19 – “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.”
John 11:25 – “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”
Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
Luke 24:34 – Saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
John 19:30 – “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
Acts 13:34-35 – “And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’”
Romans 6:9 – “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.”
1 Corinthians 6:14 – “And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.”
Romans 12:10 – “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.“
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 – “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.“
Mark 15:32 – “Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.”
Romans 1:4-5 – “And was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,”
Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
1 Corinthians 15:3 – “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,”
Mark 16:5-7 – “And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”“
Philippians 2:8 – “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Mark 14:36 – “And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.””
John 20:8-9 – “Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.”
Romans 8:11 – “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”
Romans 6:5 – “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
Romans 1:1 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
1 Peter 1:21 – “Who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
Matthew 27:37 – “And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”“
Mark 15:46-47 – “And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,“
Matthew 27:28-29 – “And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!””
Matthew 21:9 – “And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”“
Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
John 4:24 – “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 2:19 – Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Acts 17:2 – “And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,“
Matthew 12:40 – “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Luke 23:1-56 – “Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, …“
John 10:17-18 – “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”“
Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
Matthew 28:1-6 – “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ...”
Mark 8:31 – “And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.”
Isaiah 25:8 – “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.”
2 Chronicles 30:1-27 – “Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the Passover in the second month— for they could not keep it at that time because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem— and the plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly. So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed. …”
Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
1 Thessalonians 4:14 – “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
Philippians 2:5-11 – “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ...”
Mark 16:12 – “After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.”
Luke 23:46-47 – “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!””
1 Corinthians 15:6 – “Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”
Luke 24:2-3 – “And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”
Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
Matthew 27:65-66 – “Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.”
Luke 23:44-47 – “It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!””
Jeremiah 44:1-30 – “The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Judeans who lived in the land of Egypt, at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Memphis, and in the land of Pathros, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You have seen all the disaster that I brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah. Behold, this day they are a desolation, and no one dwells in them, because of the evil that they committed, provoking me to anger, in that they went to make offerings and serve other gods that they knew not, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers. Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, ‘Oh, do not do this abomination that I hate!’ But they did not listen or incline their ear, to turn from their evil and make no offerings to other gods. ...”
Group 18 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
Matthew 15:1-39 – “Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” …”
Genesis 3:14-15 – “The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””
Group 19 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
Hebrews 6:1-20 – “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, …”
Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. ...”
Group 20 – What Does The Bible Say About Easter?
1 Corinthians 15:16-20 – “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
Colossians 1:1-4:18 – “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, …”
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