A heartfelt, compassionate letter from Paul to the Thessalonians takes an apocalyptic turn in this passage, looking ahead to the end times. Through Paul’s eyes we see bodies, dead and alive,...

The church’s prayer book—the psalter—is for worship and instruction. The author of Psalm 78 introduces the material as “my teaching” and addresses the psalm not to God but to “my people”...

Lifted out of context, this passage depicts God as punishingly harsh, demanding and uncompromising. “He is a jealous God,” Joshua says. “He will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If...

Joshua gathers the Israelites and their leaders in a solemn assembly at a pivotal point in their history. Yahweh has liberated them from slavery, sustained them in the wilderness, shaped them...

As an Asian woman, it is rare to see someone like me portrayed as an example of a child of God. Even as a clergywoman, I am often questioned because of...

October 31 is Halloween in the United States. Children—and sometimes adults—often dress up as someone they admire or aspire to be. They knock on doors, saying, “Trick or treat,” often imagining...

When I was part of a young adult group, I joined a church mission project. During the event, I noticed that the pastor always went first in the food line. This...

At one of my former churches, a small group of members formed a Spiritual Renewal Team. Their purpose was twofold: to encourage spiritual renewal both in the church and in their...

When people return from exile or a traumatic experience, the road back to normalcy can be long and uncertain. Psalm 107 recounts the struggles of those redeemed by God, wandering in...