God Used Samson - Judges 13-16 Samson's sin led to his own death, but God used his death to save the Israelites from their enemies. Samson's story reminds us of Jesus. Jesus never sinned, but God sent Him to die on the Big Picture Question What is the punishment for sin? The punishment for sin is death. Key Passage For the wages of sin is death, but the gi...

The People Kept Sinning - Judges 2 After God's people sinned, the judges helped God's people obey God again. But the judges could not change the people's hearts and make them love God. God had a plan. He sent His Son, Jesus, to change His people's hearts and save them from sin forever. Big Picture Question What is the punishment for sin? The punishment for s...

"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." - Luke 23:46 By Danielle Dietrich Those who know me, know I am generally an emotional person. I often tell people that "any emotion above an 8, I'm in tears." Happy, sad, angry, overwhelmed, it doesn't matter, I'm crying. Often the thought of Christ's death brings me to tears. The depths of pain, injustice, and betrayal o...

It is finished. - John 19:30 By Amanda Koser This is the last thing Jesus said before he died. While some of the other authors of the Gospels say that Jesus gave a loud cry and gave up His spirit, this specific phrase is only found in the Gospel of John. Why is that? Each of the Gospel writers had a specific message or theme they wanted to communicate. I believe th...

"I thirst." - John 19:28 By Kassidy Reynolds How often I have suddenly exclaimed, "I'm thirsty!" Life demands water, and without water, we cannot live. But I have never been so thirsty to the same point of desperation as a teenage girl suffering from a terrible car accident whose one request was, "Please, can I just have a drink of water?" One result of major blood...

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - Matthew 27:46 By Jonathan Suggs When you hear, "Luke I am your father", you probably think of Star Wars. When you hear, "December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy", you probably think of Pearl Harbor. Likewise, when you hear, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", you might think of Jesus on the cross; and...

"Woman, behold your son." - John 19:26 By Addison Hamrick As we reflect on the gravity and significance of the crucifixion of Christ our minds immediately go towards the future reality that Christ won for all of us: eternal life with him. And if you are like me, you might fall into the thinking that Christ is only concerned with the eternal. It is a great comfort t...

Easter - God's Miracles Prove Who He Is Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but He didn't stay dead. God was pleased with Jesus' sacrifice and miraculously raised Jesus from the dead to prove He is the Son of God and salvation is found in Him. Big Picture Question What is a miracle? A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done. Key Pa...

Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. - Luke 23:43 By Addison Hamrick Do you remember a time in your life when everything clicked and you saw Jesus for who he truly is? Whenever this happens, we begin to see and understand life completely differently. For some of us it happens over time, but for others it can happen in an instant. But the result...

"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34 By Isaac Lipe How can Jesus love me with all my sin? This question comes up frequently in my personal walk with the Lord, and I am sure it comes up in the lives of many others. Although we have the eternal hope of the resurrection of Christ, we so easily lose sight of hope in moments and only fixate...

Joshua Challenged The People (Joshua 23-24) Before Joshua died, he left the Israelites with a task: obey God. After Jesus' death and resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and left them with a task: obey Him by telling others about Him. Big Picture Question What is a miracle? A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done. Key Pass...