Religion

Jesus of Nazareth was a Master Teacher. His study of Scripture and long hours of prayer, coupled with his reliance on the Holy Spirit, meant that he spoke the words of God in spirit and truth. He knew the God who spoke the Word, and he taught the heart behind the Word. How did Jesus teach? The Gospels record several times that hearers were “astonished” by his teaching. Using the English word astonished as an acrostic, let’s explore some of them.

In July 2022 there was a “blast from the past” on the Publishers Weekly Religion Nonfiction bestseller list. The number two title was Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking, a book originally published in 1952 that was celebrating its seventieth anniversary.

“Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ ” (Acts 4:24-25)

Matthew 4:19 “And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and so not be subject again to a yoke...

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)Freedom — one of the...

“When he (Jesus) was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then...

“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)The...

My son’s first-grade class is participating in a reading challenge to develop their reading skills. Their goal is to read 50 short, teacher-appointed books...

Titus 2:13-14 “…looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself...