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Jonathan Petersen
March 21, 2019

Settle My Soul: An Interview with Ruth Schwenk

Ruth SchwenkNeed a break from the daily grind? Need extra encouragement to carve out daily moments with Jesus? Need to hit the pause button and embrace tranquility? What is a good way to invest quiet moments in Scripture, thought, and prayer to help you center your mind and heart on the Source of peace?

Bible Gateway interviewed Ruth Schwenk (@thebettermom), who, along with Karen Ehman (@karen_ehman), wrote the devotional book, Settle My Soul: 100 Quiet Moments to Meet with Jesus (Zondervan, 2019).

Buy your copy of Settle My Soul in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day

What message is the title of the book meant to convey?

Ruth Schwenk: There’s a lot in life that pulls at the soul, making us feel restless, anxious, and distracted. The psalmist says, “My soul finds rest in God alone” (Psalm 62:1). I hope the title of the book makes a woman feel like this is an invitation to find rest, real rest, for their soul. It’s an invitation to experience more of God’s love, grace, and truth, which is what our soul desperately needs most.

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Mel Lawrenz
March 20, 2019

How to Live the Bible — Jesus and the Pharaohs: Reflections from Egypt

howtostudythebible

This is the fifty-fifth lesson in author and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ How to Live the Bible series. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email here.

To know the crucified and resurrected Christ more deeply as we approach Easter, consider using the devotional Knowing Him: Devotional Thoughts About the Cross and Resurrection

A few days ago I stood at the base of the Egyptian pyramids on the outskirts of Cairo, as I have before. And again, it took real mental concentration to comprehend the meaning of this place. When Moses grew up in Egypt the pyramids were already 1,000 years old. I stretched out my hand to touch the stones, wondering whether Moses did the same.

Mourning Girl on Swing illustration

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Guest Post
March 20, 2019

Sacred Pace: 4 Steps to Discerning God’s Will in Your Decisions / Step 3 – Watch for Circumstances

Terry Looper

By Terry Looper, author of Sacred Pace: Four Steps to Hearing God and Aligning Yourself with His Will (W Publishing, 2019).

How often do you read a devotional or a Bible verse, and it later proves providential? Or maybe you hear a sermon or have a seemingly random conversation with someone, and in a week or two, something that was said speaks to a decision you’re trying to make?

One of Christianity’s giants, George Müller, wrote that we should not only take circumstances into account but consider them providential. “We can make our plans,” says Proverbs 16:9 (NLT), “but the LORD determines our steps.”

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Guest Post
March 19, 2019

I Can’t Handle Everything and Neither Can You

Nate PyleBy Nate Pyle

“God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

That’s one of the most common axioms we are handed in the midst of intense grief. Well intentioned, sure. Everyone needs to be encouraged, and what better way than by letting someone know they must be strong enough to face whatever circumstance lies before them because the Divine has deemed them able. But for all its well-meaning consolation, it’s about as scriptural as “God helps those who help themselves,” and “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Which is to say, it’s not. You can make the argument for these sentiments using the Bible, but you have to be a trained contortionist to make everything bend the right way.

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Guest Post
March 18, 2019

John Maxwell Profiles in Leadership: Jonah – Second Chances

John Maxwell This is the sixth lesson in bestselling author and speaker John Maxwell’s Leadership by the Bible series. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, tell them to sign up to receive John’s free email devotional here.

By John C. Maxwell

Jonah 3:1-3

Buy your copy of The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Third Edition (NIV) in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time.” After all Jonah had done (and failed to do), God still offered him a second chance to be a leader of great influence. What does a “second time” mean?

[Sign up to receive the 30-day free email devotional by John Maxwell of biblical teachings to equip and encourage leaders and those who serve with them to meet the challenges of the 21st century]

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Jonathan Petersen
March 17, 2019

Bible News Roundup – Week of March 17, 2019

Read this week’s Bible Gateway Weekly Brief newsletter
⇨ Bible Gateway Weekly Brief
⇨ Newsletter signupSee the Bible News Roundup archive on Bible Gateway
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Support Bible Gateway—Browse the Bible Gateway Store
⇨ BibleGatewayStore.com
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Hundreds of Australians Support Printing of the First Full Bible Commentary Written by Arabs in Arabic
⇨ Eternity
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Researchers Double-Checking Polls on Religion’s Demise
⇨ Baptist News Global
⇨ Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Latest Bible-Related Research
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Zondervan Academic
March 14, 2019

What Is the Book of James About? Here Are 10 Key Themes

Dr. Karen JobesToday’s post is adapted from Dr. Karen H. Jobes’ Letters to the Church, available in MasterLectures, a new video-streaming platform that offers unlimited access to thousands of videos on the Bible and theology.

The Book of James is a short letter full of practical insights into Christian living.

James was a prominent leader of the early church. He uses his letter to expound on the true nature of faith and teach about the behavior and perspectives believers should embody.

His letter is packed with powerful lines and memorable imagery. It embodies many of the essential teachings and beliefs of early Christianity.

Let’s take a look at ten of the key themes in this short New Testament book.
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Jonathan Petersen
March 14, 2019

Spiritual Maturity: What It Means in Everyday Living to Really Trust God

Kevin Myers

This is the final lesson in the Spiritual Maturity Bible Gateway Blog video series by Kevin Myers (@KevinMyersPK), based on his book with Charlie Wetzel, Grown-Up Faith: The Big Picture for a Bigger Life (Thomas Nelson, 2019).

The book asks, “Why isn’t life everything we expected it to be? And why doesn’t our faith resolve our frustrations and problems?” Pastor Myers believes the reason we don’t experience a transformed life is that we fail to grow up spiritually. We focus on developing physically, intellectually, emotionally, and financially, yet our faith remains immature and anemic. In this brief video series, he introduces you to a simple road map to achieving a grown-up faith as you understand the Bible and the big picture of God’s story.

 

Lesson Five: What it means in everyday living to really trust God
 

 

 

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Jonathan Petersen
March 13, 2019

The Bible Explained with Infographics: An Interview with Karen Sawrey

Buy your copy of The Infographic Bible in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day

Karen SawreyFor centuries, visual imagery has been used to communicate the textual stories and teachings of the Bible. Hand-painted illumination, illustrations, fine art have all helped make Scripture more quickly accessible to the common person. In today’s world, infographics are one more way to share that message.

Bible Gateway interviewed Karen Sawrey (@karensawrey) about The Infographic Bible: Visualising the Drama of God’s Word (Zondervan, 2018), the 2019 Kantar Information is Beautiful Awards bronze award winner in the category of Arts, Entertainment, and Culture.

What is an infographic?

Buy your copy of The Infographic Bible in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day

Karen Sawrey: The Collins English Dictionary has a great explanation already prepared for me: “A graph, diagram, or other visual image designed to present complex information in an easily understandable form.”

What is The Infographic Bible and who is it for?

Karen Sawrey: I’ve had the honor of spending the last five years working on The Infographic Bible, by far the hardest piece of work I’ve completed in my career, but, of course, the most incredible! My hope is that it’s a blessing to many, as it’s been written with a millennial audience in mind. A global visual language is quickly becoming the currency of communication for this generation and research has shown that combining visuals with text astronomically improves communication and learning.

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Guest Post
March 13, 2019

Sacred Pace: 4 Steps to Discerning God’s Will in Your Decisions / Step 2 – Gather the Facts

Terry Looper

By Terry Looper, author of Sacred Pace: Four Steps to Hearing God and Aligning Yourself with His Will (W Publishing, 2019).

Have you ever known two people who went through the same experience, perhaps a shopping trip or a dinner out, and yet their individual accounts of it were noticeably different? If you’re married or you have kids, I’m sure it’s happened to you! No one’s trying to mislead or misrepresent what happened. It’s just that our brains don’t absorb, remember, or accurately interpret all the data that comes our way.

If we struggle like this in everyday scenarios, is it any wonder that we find it difficult to effectively interpret the facts in situations that involve heightened emotions—such as buying a house, determining how to discipline a child, or deciding between two great job applicants?

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    The Bible Gateway Blog features the latest news, announcements, and reflections from Bible Gateway. We hope what you find here will add to your understanding of and appreciation for the Bible.