We pray to a loving Father in heaven who wants to bless us, and we should always ask for His will to be done. The Lord's Prayer is a model for all prayer, and it's essential to pray for God's kingdom to come, our personal needs, and forgiveness. We should also pray for God to deliver us from temptation and evil. The Bible teaches us that prayer is a privilege for the child of God, and we should pray with intensity and perseverance, seeking God's will and guidance in our lives. [... more]

Godly older women are to be reverent, not malicious gossips, and teach younger women to love their husbands and children, modeling a life of self-sacrificing love and godly living. [... more]

The Bible categorizes people into three groups: the natural man, born into the natural world and blind to the spiritual world; the spiritual man, born twice and living by the Spirit; and the carnal man, a Christian who is defeated, dependent, and divisive. [... more]

Jesus teaches us to pray for divine deliverance from temptation and evil, trusting in the Father's sovereignty and protection. He shows us how to invoke the Father's power against hostile powers of evil, and how to confidently call on Him for forgiveness and deliverance, knowing that our plea is answered in the person and work of Jesus Christ. [... more]

God's son is tested in the wilderness to prove his faithfulness, and Jesus teaches us to pray for deliverance from temptation, trusting in the Father's sovereignty and protection, and knowing that our plea for deliverance is answered in the person and work of Jesus on our behalf. [... more]

The Lord's Prayer emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, both in our relationship with God and with others. Jesus teaches that those who have been forgiven will forgive others, and that our forgiveness is a sign of genuine saving faith. The second half of the fifth petition in the Lord's Prayer is not a condition for God's forgiveness, but rather an aspiration to imitate our Father in heaven, who forgives sinners of an infinite debt. [... more]

God the Father's generous provision for our daily needs is a reminder of our dependence on His grace, and praying for our daily bread teaches us to trust in His providential care, acknowledge our dependence on Him, and give thanks for His gifts, while also emphasizing the importance of moderation and using our resources to honor His name and love our neighbors. [... more]

Jesus teaches us that true prayer is impossible without the gospel, and that the Lord's Prayer focuses on seven major themes that reveal the true character of God the Father. He instructs us to pray 'your will be done' on earth as it is in heaven, which means to fulfill our office and calling, and to live in readiness to give up our fallen desires and obey the revealed will of the Father. [... more]

The Lord's Prayer is a gift that reminds us of the divine gift of salvation, which is only possible through Jesus Christ. The prayer is a constant companion to the sacraments, and its petitions are answered in the Lord's Supper, which is a gift of forgiveness and a promise of eternal life. [... more]

The kingdom of God is a gift that God the Father in love is giving to rebellious, undeserving subjects through the sending of his gift, his Son. Entrance into the kingdom of God is a miracle of resurrection, made possible by the power of God who raises the dead to life and speaks them back into existence. The kingdom of God comes as the Holy Spirit conquers hearts by means of word and sacrament, and it spreads throughout the whole world in these last days through the proclamation of the gospel. When we pray, 'Your kingdom come,' we are praying for the success of the worldwide spread of the gospel of the kingdom, the consummation of the Father's kingdom, and the establishment of his rule and reign and blessing in its fullness. [... more]

God's promise of the serpent crusher in Genesis 3:15 is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the last Adam, who brings about a restored and glorious kingdom where God's people can enjoy an intimate relationship with Him in His presence without fear, but total joy and blessing. [... more]

Jesus teaches us to pray with intimacy and reverence, honoring God's name by our theology and practice, and seeking to glorify Him throughout the whole earth. Our relationship with God is becoming God-centered, restraining from sinning out of love and honor for the Father, not out of fear or selfish reward. We are joining in the call to worship, praying for the day when our Father's name will be hallowed in all the earth, and the gospel will be fully realized. [... more]

Jesus teaches that our understanding of God the Father determines our practice of prayer, and that righteous prayer is rooted in the knowledge of God as our Father. He commends to us a pattern of righteous prayer that focuses on the honor of God the Father, and explains that our thoughts about God are crucial in determining how we live the Christian life. [... more]

Jesus teaches that righteous prayer is rooted in childlike trust and reverence, addressing God as our Father in heaven, and coming to Him with confidence and awe. He emphasizes that prayer is not a mechanical technique or formula, but an expression of gospel-based faith, and that knowing God as Father is the key to understanding Christianity. [... more]

Jesus teaches that true righteous prayer stems from the grace of God in the gospel, and that it is rooted in sonship and a relationship with the Heavenly Father. He contrasts this with the hypocritical, pompous, and purposeless prayers of the scribes and Pharisees, which are based on a misunderstanding of how God the Father expects to be approached. Jesus gives us the model of righteous prayer in the Lord's Prayer, which is a divine, gospel-centered, and wisdom-guided pattern for prayer that is rooted in the gospel of grace and intended to guide believers in their life of faith. [... more]

Contemplating the brevity of life and the inevitability of death invites us to become people of depth, and to live wisely in an unpredictable world. Solomon's wise counsel from Ecclesiastes 7 offers four surprising principles for living, including contemplating our casket, choosing companions carefully, cultivating character wisely, and considering our Creator with humility. [... more]

Carrie Newhoff, pastor, speaker, and best-selling author, shares his journey from burnout to biblical rest, emphasizing the importance of managing energy rather than time, and delegating tasks to others when not at their best. He discusses how to prioritize tasks, set boundaries, and maintain a healthy work-life balance, highlighting the benefits of Sabbath and prehab in achieving rest and rejuvenation. [... more]

Paul's letter to the Philippians emphasizes the importance of dwelling on excellent and worthy thoughts, rejecting those that are not true or honorable, and pursuing a mind that is pure, lovely, and commendable. He provides a list of eight guidelines to govern thought patterns, including what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and commendable, and encourages believers to practice these patterns through the discipline of acceptance and rejection. [... more]

God's peace surpasses all comprehension and guards the hearts and minds of believers. It's sourced from His character and is a gift of His extravagant grace. To experience this peace, one must stop worrying and start praying with thanksgiving, acknowledging dependency on God and trusting in His sovereignty. [... more]

Christian parents navigating their children's same-sex attraction and LGBTQ identity face complex challenges. Sean McDowell, a Christian apologist and author, offers guidance on maintaining biblical fidelity while showing compassion and love to their children. He emphasizes the importance of creating safe environments for open conversations, building close relationships with children, and developing a talking relationship where kids feel comfortable discussing their thoughts and feelings. [... more]