BibleScholar

 James K.A. Smith, in You Are What You Love, argues that worship is not just about what we believe but about what we habitually do. Our liturgical practices, whether formal or informal, shape our long-term desires. Corporate worship trains our hearts in ways that individual devotion cannot fully replicate. Singing hymns, reciting creeds, praying together, and hearing the Word preached all reinforce our ultimate allegiance to Christ.  Moreover, worship engrains spiritual disciplines into our daily lives. Just as athletes train their bodies through repetitive practice, worship trains our souls, forming habits that make us more Christlike. Worship is inherently communal. In the Old Testament, Israel’s identity as God’s chosen people was reinforced through feasts, sacrifices, and temple worship. In the New Testament, the Church is called the "body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27), united through shared worship. Corporate worship binds believers together, reminding us that faith i...

 Augustine of Hippo famously argued that the root of sin is disordered love—loving lesser things more than we love God. Worship corrects this by realigning our affections so that God is at the center. The first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3), is not merely a prohibition but an invitation to place God in His rightful place in our hearts. Regular worship fosters love for God and, in turn, love for others. Jesus emphasized this connection when He said the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is like it: to love one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). True worship produces a life that reflects God’s love, mercy, and justice. Worship not only informs us but also transforms us by shaping our moral compass. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul urges believers to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, which is their "spiritual worship," and to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Worship changes our perspective, helping...

 Peter J. Leithart’s *The Ten Commandments: A Guide to the Perfect Law of Liberty* is a part of Lexham’s Christian Essentials series. Leithart, president of Theopolis Institute, offers a readable, theological reflection on the Decalogue, drawing from his extensive experience in biblical and cultural studies. The book includes two introductory chapters that assert the relevance of the Ten Commandments for Christians, citing their presence in the New Testament, early church writings, and Christian worship. Leithart argues that the Decalogue, like Jesus, is a vital part of Christian life. The book divides the Ten Commandments into two sections: the first focusing on God and worship, and the second on human relationships. Leithart explores how the commandments touch on various areas of life, such as family, violence, sexuality, and speech, and he emphasizes their ongoing importance in Christian practice. For example, he connects the Sabbath commandment to the need for rest and worship,...

 How does worship shape us?  Worship is far more than a religious duty; it is a formative practice that molds our affections, habits, and identity. The way we worship shapes not only our beliefs but also our character, desires, and even our perception of reality. From the biblical perspective, worship is a response to God's self-revelation and a means through which we are transformed into His likeness. At the heart of worship is the idea that we become like what we worship. The Bible consistently warns against idolatry because worshiping false gods leads to moral and spiritual degradation. As Jeremiah 2:5 states, "They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves." Conversely, when we worship the true God, we are shaped into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18). This process of identity formation occurs as we repeatedly engage in practices that reinforce who we are in relation to God. Liturgy, Scripture reading, prayer, and song all serve to reorient our hearts and ...

  Review Jesus and His Promised Second Coming Dr. Tucker S. Ferda is an Associate Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 2016, an M.T.S. from Duke University in 2009, and a B.A. from Bethel University in 2007.   Dr. Ferda's research interests encompass the Gospels, the historical Jesus, Second Temple Judaism, eschatology, and hermeneutics. He has authored several scholarly works, including "Jesus, the Gospels, and the Galilean Crisis" (2019) and "Jesus and His Promised Second Coming: Jewish Eschatology and Christian Origins" (2024). This present review will analyze Ferda’s most recent work titled Jesus and His Promised Second Coming. In Jesus and His Promised Second Coming , Dr. Tucker Ferda challenges the prevailing scholarly consensus that the expectation of Jesus’s second coming was a later development, crafted by his early followers in response to his death and the delay of ...

 After centuries in Egypt, culminating in slavery, Yahweh delivered the Hebrews not only from Pharaoh but also from the false gods of Egypt and beyond (Exodus 7–12, Psalm 78). This liberation set the stage for something far more intimate than mere laws—it was a covenant, akin to wedding vows, between Yahweh and His people. A Covenant, Not Just Commandments Rather than a burdensome yoke (Acts 15:10), the events at Mount Sinai resemble a marriage ceremony, complete with: Mikvah (ritual cleansing) – The people were commanded to purify themselves (Exodus 19:10-14). Chuppah (canopy) – Yahweh covered the mountain with a cloud (Exodus 19:17). Ketubah (marriage contract) – The Ten Commandments, given in duplicate, symbolize mutual commitment (Exodus 20:1-17). Sign – The Sabbath, a visible and perpetual reminder of the relationship (Exodus 31:16-17). Each commandment reflects an expectation within this covenant, much like the commitments in a marriage: No other gods – "I am your only ...

 Reprobation is an important part of life before our Savior. Wayne Grudem defines reprobation as God's sovereign decision before creation to pass over certain individuals, not granting them saving grace, and punishing them for their sins to manifest His justice. This doctrine, essential to Calvinism, asserts that some will never be recipients of God's redeeming love, regardless of their exposure to the gospel. Their exclusion from grace is not based on their actions but solely on God's glory. The Augustinian/Reformed tradition maintains that God eternally ordains (1) not to offer saving grace to some and (2) to judge them by divine justice. Reprobation finds biblical grounding in Pharaoh's hardened heart (Exodus) and Paul's argument in Romans 9. The doctrine, formulated by Augustine and upheld by Aquinas, Luther, and Calvin, has been a point of contention within Christian theology. Marks of the reprobate include rejecting Christ (Jn 10:26-30), blindness to the gospe...

 Daniel is a powerful example of how Christians should respond in situations where their beliefs are challenged or threatened. His actions reveal a bold and unwavering commitment to his faith in God, even when faced with significant personal risk. When the king issued the decree that no one should pray to anyone but him, Daniel did not hesitate to continue his practice of praying to God. He went home, opened his windows, and publicly prayed, displaying his devotion without fear of the consequences. In doing so, Daniel demonstrated the kind of courageous faith that we, as Christians, are called to emulate today. In today’s society, it is increasingly common to see Christians who are hesitant or afraid to openly express their faith, especially when it may be unpopular or come with potential consequences. The pressure to conform to societal norms or to avoid confrontation can make it easy for believers to hide their faith or shrink back from standing firm in what they know to be true....