Explore the River Blog

Here are the givens. The coronavirus is spreading; many will become infected and some will die. That is a sad reality. The magnitude of the spread and the fatality rate is still being debated, even among those who know the most. But it is certain that the disease...

If you've ever heard someone talk about "the Lord's prayer" (Luke 11:1–3), you've likely heard them explain about how that model prayer begins: "Father, hallowed by Your name." Attention is given to addressing God as "Father." That, indeed, is rather unique. There...

Jesus explained that everyone, when fully trained, will be like his or her teacher (Luke 6:40). Among other things what this might mean is that no one does the Christian life originally. We all do what we do because we've learned from someone, we've followed a...

There is a common and prominent “myth” about reading the Bible that gets in the way of Christians becoming good readers of Scripture. The myth? “The Bible is very difficult to understand.” This myth summarizes the idea that the Bible is so difficult to understand...

Christmas. It is a wonderful time of the year. Yes, it can be a bit chaotic and busy, but with the carols and celebrations, the family and friends, we hear the name of Jesus on the lips many. Even those who do not have a personal relationship with Him seem more...

What is God’s will for me? That’s not an uncommon question. Particularly for those who are seeking to live out the Christian life well, the desire to understand what the Lord wants for us is prominent. But sometimes, it just doesn’t seem clear. We aren’t sure what...

These days most people have the convenience of a GPS device. It is incredibly helpful. It can help you get to your destination in a timely fashion, avoid delays, bypassing traffic problems and construction sites. With a few swipes on the screen and a few glances at...

In writing to Timothy, Paul encouraged him to give himself to exercise his gift of teaching—to be devoted to teaching—so that “his progress could be evident to all” (1 Timothy 4:13–16). This must mean that as gifted as Timothy was, he could get better in his...

It’s common to hear—from many sources and many teachers—about the need to grasp “the big story of the Bible.” The idea is that one needs not only to know what the big story is but that apart from knowing the big story one cannot read and understand Scripture....

There are times when you want—and need—an expert opinion. Your car is making a peculiar (and new) noise, but only when you turn to the left. You look under the car and try to assess the problem and find nothing amiss (at least to your relatively untrained eye). So,...