Clarence L. Haynes Jr.

There are plenty of Bible verses and stories about money, often focusing on those who are generous. But in this lesser-known parable, is Jesus angry at the rich man? As with all passages, it's important to look at the context. Let's see what Jesus is, and is not, saying in this story.

For a married couple in a sexually monogamous relationship, there is nothing wrong with using birth control. I have yet to find a Scripture that can justify making the statement that using birth control is a sin. I will leave room for people to have different opinions about this topic, but if we are talking in a marital context, the question comes down to one of preference, not of right or wrong.

The purpose of any study Bible is to take you deeper into the Scriptures so you can broaden your knowledge and understanding of Scripture. The ESV Study Bible checks this box and fulfills that objective.

Have you uttered any of these statements in the last few months? "I’m tired." "I need a break." "I could really use some time off." "I wish I had just one more hour of sleep." Or even, "I am so ready for a vacation." For some, like my wife, it might be, "I could use a massage right now." 

These statements are indicators you need rest. The challenge is we live in a world that often runs at an exhausting pace, and the last thing we want to do is rest because we feel there is so much more to do. While you might think there is something noble in that, the truth tells us something different. God, in his wisdom, commands us to rest, and the benefits of rest are not just a luxury, they are really a necessity.

As we consider this topic, I want to be both spiritual and practical because, as you will see, lack of rest is clearly not in your best interest.

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The word “tribulation” means severe trial or suffering, and the Great Tribulation is a time of God’s judgment for man’s rebellion. This period, which lasts seven years, begins with the rapture of the church (more on this later) and during this time God will complete his discipline of Israel and final judgment upon the unbelieving citizens of the world.

The sacrifices of bulls and goats, while necessary under the Old Testament law, were only temporary measures. They could cover sin for a time but were incapable of removing it. Something greater was needed.

If there ever was a term that you could say is a loaded term, good Christian just might be it. After all what does it mean to be a good Christian anyway?

What we find in the story of the Widow's Mite is that the heart you give with is far more important than the amount you give.

It is impossible to truly think about Christianity without thinking about Christ, after all he is the foundation of it all. As I have thought about Christianity lately and what it looks like, I have begun to wonder how the message that Jesus preached aligns with the Christianity that we profess today. Does it in any way resemble what Jesus modeled for us?

If we really do a self-examination with Scripture as the judge, I believe we may realize that we are coming up short. There simply are some hard truths about Christianity that have either lost their popularity or, to be honest, we have forgotten them or chosen to ignore them. For this reason, I want to remind you of some of these hard truths about Christianity and pray that you and I will never forget them.

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Communion, which can also be known as the Eucharist or The Lord’s Supper, is a time when we come together to commemorate the death of Jesus for our sins. To celebrate this, we will take a bread element and a wine element. Collectively as one body, we eat and drink together while remembering the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us.

With every fad or popular mainstream idea, especially the secular ones that seep into the church, it always leads to debate. There have been debates over music styles, worship, clothes, among others. On the debate stage today, we bring tattoos.

Galatians 5:16 calls believers to walk in the Spirit rather than fulfill the desires of the flesh. This article explains what it means to live daily under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and shows how prayer, dependence on God, and staying spiritually connected help Christians follow the Spirit in everyday life.

As great as it is to celebrate where we are and where we are going, it is critical to never forget where we come from.

It’s a sobering reality we still face today in our nation that a holiday like Juneteenth can stir up discomfort in the hearts of some Americans. And yet, I believe that unease often points to a deeper misunderstanding of what this day truly represents.

We rejoice every year on the Fourth of July, celebrating America’s independence with fireworks, flags, and patriotic pride. But there’s an overlooked truth hidden behind that red, white, and blue. When those words “all men are created equal” were written in the Declaration of Independence, there were 500,000 people who were still living in chains as slaves in this nation. That represented one out of every five people in this country at that time. Take a moment and let that sink in.

While a nation declared its freedom, it did so while denying freedom to hundreds of thousands living within its own borders. Even some of the very men who signed the document proclaiming liberty, owned slaves. On one hand, declaring liberty and on the other hand denying it. The irony is impossible to ignore.

Eighty-seven years later, on January 1, 1863, President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring freedom for all enslaved people. The news of that freedom did not reach the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, until June 19, 1865, a day we now celebrate as Juneteenth. For a moment, put yourself in the position of those slaves and imagine what it must have felt like to know you are no longer slaves but are now free.

As we celebrate the freedom declared on Juneteenth, we must also be honest about the world we live in today. Yes, we have made progress, but the journey isn’t over. Inequality still lingers, and words you thought could bring us together, like diversity and inclusion, are now controversial and drive us apart. That’s a clear sign there’s still work to do.

So, while Juneteenth should be a day of celebration, it should also be a reminder to pray. Let’s pray that the truths we declared when we wrote that all men are created equal, would move from historical ideals to a reality that everyone in our country can experience. That’s why I share with you today eight prayers to pray on Juneteenth.

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