Bible Gems

Encouraging, Powerful, Uplifting

Called to the Wedding

13 years ago   -  4 comments

In Matthew 22, we read about a royal wedding of the son of a certain king. I like to try and imagine what it might have been like as the couple joyfully prepare for the occasion. The best venue is located; speeches prepared; special music practiced; the finest chefs are ready to present a lovely banquet. The date draws nearer still but to their amazement the guests aren't coming! Invitations were sent, RSVP dates given, yet none confirmed! The king was very angry and said to his servant "th...

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The 2nd Smallest Word

13 years ago   -  7 comments

Yes, just a small word. Hence this gem will only be short. :) Remember Jesus told a story about a certain man who was robbed and left half dead on the road to Jericho? And how the kind Samaritan had compassion on him and attended to his needs. Jesus said something profound after He told the story. "...Go, and do thou likewise" - Luke 10:37 Jesus says go, and then what does He say? Do! It's easy to say now, ah yes, of course I would have stopped and helped the poor man on the sid...

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Deepen His Footsteps

13 years ago   -  1 comment

As a younger child I have fond memories of bush walking (hiking) with my family in the national park around our property. Sometimes when I walked behind Dad I would watch intently to see where he stepped, then with my short little legs I would try to jump to where he last stepped, and then watch his next step and jump to where his foot had just been, and so forth. This reminds me of a powerful spiritual lesson. First let's read some verses from Matthew 7. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: ...

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Oh Death, Where is Thy Sting?

13 years ago   -  21 comments

A few weeks ago we started on a journey through the Bible searching its pages for the truth about death. Why does it exist? What is it? What happens after death? However, what the Bible teaches about death must not become just a lifeless theory. No, no! The plan of redemption, God's marvellous love, the amazing condescension of the Son of God to this fallen world, the death and resurrection of Christ, His plan to uplift man from the ruin and degradation of sin, is the theme around which every...

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1,000 Years and the 2nd Death

13 years ago   -  1 comment

In last week's gem we discovered that those who die in Christ Jesus will sleep until He returns to this earth in the clouds of glory to take them with Him to heaven. But now.. what happens to the rest of the dead? And what are the righteous doing? What does the Bible say? The Bible tells us about two resurrections: "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrec...

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Does Hell Last Forever?

13 years ago   -  29 comments

Would a God of infinite love, delight in torturing sinners in a lake of fire for eternity? Does hell last forever? What does the Bible say? If you have not already done so, please read the following gems that set the scene for what we are about to study: Why Death? What is Death? Hope Beyond This World 1,000 Years and the 2nd Death Now let's dig deep in the word of God for answers. Always remember to have a prayerful, humble spirit as you study the Bible, that way ...

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Hope Beyond This World

13 years ago   -  3 comments

Last week we dug deep in the treasures of God's word to discover what death is, and what happens when a person dies. We read from the book of Job: " So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. " - Job 14:12 So the dead, lie in the sleep of death until the heavens be no more, which we learnt was the coming of the great day of God in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise (2. Peter 3:10). Th...

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