Before beginning his ministry, Jesus spends forty days in the wilderness in preparation. After his resurrection, Jesus spends forty days preparing his disciples for their ministry. He takes them through a...

Tomorrow’s passage from Luke 24 is the last of Luke’s Gospel; the reading today is the last in the book of Revelation. Both passages focus on ending and beginning. The Common...

Some people refer to this passage written to the Christians in Ephesus as “Paul’s Prayer.” Paul writes to commend the congregational members’ faith and love toward all the saints, a love...

In this story, the term slave applies to various people. The girl is a slave to her owner and the demon possessing her. She calls Paul and Silas “slaves of the...

After the resurrection, Jesus leads the disciples through Witness 101—a fast-track course in how they will become his earthly successors, inviting others to join God’s realm. The twelve appear clueless. They...

Both of these psalms, placed in a category called “enthronement psalms,” describe a pattern of worship that recognizes and honors God as the Lord, the Most High, the ruler of the...

Revelation 22 is the final chapter and offers the final images in the Bible, so it seems especially important to pay close attention. Before I took the time to read this...

I live in Cleveland, Ohio, which has a rich and diverse religious heritage. The immigrants who built the city also built houses of worship to honor God. Whenever I drive downtown,...

A month ago, the man I regarded as my mentor died after a brief illness. He had given me an internship my last year of graduate school, which led to full-time...

Love comes first; keeping God’s word flows out of that love. Loving God and loving others—those closest to us as well as strangers—is the first measure of faith. With this love...