Chances are you’ve heard someone say, “pride goes before the fall.” But what exactly does that mean? And where did the phrase come from?

As it turns out, the phrase originates in the Bible, from Proverbs 16:18, which says “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before the fall.”

The popular expression is somewhat different than the verse, but they carry the same basic message: pride is dangerous. But why? What was the Biblical author trying to tell us? 

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The Bible never specifically addresses whether or not piercings are sinful. However, while the Israelites were forbidden from mutilating their bodies, piercings were a common practice both before and after the implementation of Levitical law.

King David is one of the most prominent heroes of the Old Testament. But working in the background, and often forgotten, was Nathan the Prophet. Nathan was responsible for guiding and sometimes rebuking the King. But who was this man, and what exactly was his role in David's court?

A prophet’s life is never easy, but Jeremiah had an especially rough time.

Known as the Weeping Prophet, Jeremiah was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah in the Old Testament, right before Judah ultimately fell to Babylon and was led away into captivity. God sent Jeremiah to a crumbling nation to warn of their impending demise – a warning they didn’t heed.

However, Jeremiah’s most lasting legacy may in fact be one of hope. One of the most oft-quoted verses in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11, has offered hope to believers for centuries. So, who was this weeping prophet in a dying nation who also brought such words of comfort and promise?

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Someone who helps others is often referred to as a “good Samaritan.” But what is a Samaritan?

The Samaritans were a people group in the Bible that lived in the area of Israel following the Assyrian conquest. They survived through the time of Jesus, and even, in limited numbers, to the present day. 

The Bible mentions plenty of stories about Samaritans, and the hatred between Jews and Samaritans features prominently in the Gospels. So, what did it mean to be a Samaritan?

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God knows we all have the propensity to lie. But what does the Bible say about lying as a sin?

It’s not unlikely that you might hear a sermon preached on Gideon. The story of Samson is a Sunday School staple — despite some of its more mature elements. And Deborah serves as an inspirational biblical woman.

However, these are only three of the twelve judges of Israel recorded in the book of Judges. The other nine have stories that are sometimes dramatic, sometimes forgettable, but all point towards the downfall of Israel and the need for stable leadership. 

We hear a lot of things about God. Books upon books have been written on his attributes. However, there are some attributes of God that we like to brush under the rug.

These attributes are uncomfortable. They don’t give us the warm fuzzies. They challenge us and remind us of how small we are.

However, all the attributes of God are good. Perhaps the issue here is not that God has some attributes that we need to gloss over, but rather that we need to dig deeper to discover the hidden beauty and goodness He has in store.

For more than 200 years, congregations have been singing these familiar words:

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!

“How Firm a Foundation” has been a classic hymn across centuries and denominations. But what has made it stand the test of time? And what can we learn from it today?