Jesus often used simple stories that sometimes confused His listeners. Answer: Jesus used parables to reveal the truth to those whose hearts were open to hear and to conceal the truth from those who were willfully hostile or spiritually dull. Biblical Explanation: The Purpose of Concealment and Revelation: When the disciples asked why He spoke in parables, Jesus answered, "The knowledge...

Tonight we're going to talk about aspiring to spiritual greatness. As I was thinking about this, the first thing that struck me was how many halls of fame there are. There are so many! There's the Football Hall of Fame, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and even a Firefighters Hall of Fame. No offense to firefighters—that's fine. I even noticed that the Firefighters Hall of Fame in Phoenix is...

The Question: The Old Testament contains hundreds of laws (the Mosaic Law) regarding diet, clothing, sacrifices, and conduct. Are Christians required to obey all of these laws? Key Verses & Explanation: Matthew 5:17 (Jesus' Relationship to the Law): "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Explanation: Jesus...

Many wonder why a loving God would require such a violent act. Answer: Jesus died as a perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for human sin, thus reconciling humanity to God.   Biblical Explanation: Sin's Penalty: The Bible states, "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). All humanity has sinned (Romans 3:23).   The Atonement: Jesus' death was a voluntary act to take on this...

The Bible does not name Cain's wife. Based on the Genesis narrative, she must have been a descendant of Adam and Eve (a sister or niece) as they were the first and only human couple on earth at that time. Intermarriage was necessary for humanity to populate the earth.