Category: Bible

For Christians, the Bible is an essential text that provides guidance and direction on how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. However, interpreting and understanding the Bible can be a challenging task, especially for those who are new to the faith. This is where sermons come in. Sermons, which are typically delivered by a pastor or religious leader during church services, play a vital role in developing a deeper understanding of the Bible. 

Sermons are a form of religious discourse that is designed to convey religious teachings and inspire the congregation to live according to those teachings. Sermons typically focus on a specific passage or theme from the Bible and aim to provide insight and understanding on that topic. They are an opportunity for the pastor or religious leader to share their interpretation of the Bible and offer guidance on how to apply those teachings to everyday life. 

One of the main benefits of sermons is that they can help individuals develop a deeper understanding of the Bible. Reading the Bible on your own can be challenging, especially if you are not familiar with the language, context, or historical background of the text. 

Sermons provide a way to bridge that gap by offering an interpretation of the text that is grounded in scholarship, tradition, and personal experience. By listening to sermons, individuals can gain a better understanding of the Bible and how its teachings can be applied to their own lives. Sermons also play a crucial role in building a sense of community and connection within the congregation. 

When individuals come together to listen to a sermon, they are participating in a shared experience that is rooted in faith and shared values. Sermons can provide a space for individuals to connect with others who share their beliefs and to find support and encouragement as they navigate the challenges of daily life. In this way, sermons can help to foster a sense of belonging and community within the church. 

Another benefit of sermons is that they can inspire individuals to take action and make positive changes in their lives. Sermons are often designed to challenge individuals to live according to the teachings of the Bible and to make choices that align with their faith. By listening to sermons and reflecting on their messages, individuals can be motivated to make changes in their lives that bring them closer to their spiritual goals. 

Sermons can provide a source of inspiration and motivation that can help individuals to overcome obstacles and stay on track in their spiritual journey. In conclusion, sermons play a vital role in developing a deeper understanding of the Bible and in fostering a sense of community and connection within the congregation. 

Through sermons, individuals can gain insight and understanding of the teachings of the Bible and how those teachings can be applied to their own lives. Sermons can also inspire individuals to take action and make positive changes in their lives that bring them closer to their spiritual goals. If you are looking to deepen your understanding of the Bible and connect with others who share your faith, attending church services and listening to sermons can be a valuable tool in your spiritual journey.

When it comes to the Bible and forbidden food, the mind instantly turns to the Garden of Eden, which was home to the forbidden fruit. God told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit, but they chose to eat the apple from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This led to Adam and Eve being exiled from the Garden of Eden and ended up putting the rest of us in a pretty tough spot for years to come.

That particular apple that seemingly doomed mankind isn’t the only food that has been forbidden in at least some form throughout the Bible, though. To this day, there are many that have a lot of dietary restrictions due to religious beliefs, with certain foods either completely barred from the Bible or coming with adjustments that have to be made. Here are five of those foods that you have to look out for according to the Bible.

Fat

The Bible seems to be all over the place when it comes to fat on both animals and humans. As people, we don’t want to be gluttonous, but having an abundance of body fat is seen as protection of the organs in the Bible and a gift from God. The same applies to animals (sans gluttony rules), and parts of the Bible explicitly say that humans should not eat any of the fat from livestock animals including cattle.

However, other verses in the Bible explicitly say that you should eat animal fat. “Then he said unto them, go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet,” Nehemiah 8:10 reads. It turns out that there’s a very particular type of fat that should not be eaten. This is the hard fat called peder which is found around certain organs including the liver and kidneys.

Pre-Killed Animals

As humans, most of the animals that we eat have been slain either by ourselves or other humans. According to the Bible, if you see an animal that was killed by another animal, then you are not to eat it. This comes from the book of Exodus, which reads “You must be my holy people. Therefore, do not eat any animal that has been torn up and killed by wild animals.”

It’s not something that comes up often in the modern age, so you don’t really have to worry about it. You don’t really get the chance to get the scraps of a gazelle after a lion has picked it apart. If you do find yourself in that situation, though, Exodus continues by saying of the food that “You shall throw it to the dogs.”

Flying Birds

It feels that humans would be without a paddle if we weren’t able to eat flightless birds like chickens and turkeys. When it comes to birds that are able to fly, though, most of them are off-limits according to the Bible. This pops up several times throughout the Bible, especially in Leviticus.

“These are the birds that you shall regard as vermin, and for this reason, they shall not be eaten,” it reads. “The griffon-vulture, the black vulture and the bearded vulture; the kite and every kind of falcon; every kind of crow, the desert owl, the short-eared owl, the long-eared owl, and every kind of hawk.” It then goes on to list a lot of other owls, and even the bat gets a mention.

Rabbits

In some parts of the world, it’s common to eat a rabbit, whereas in other parts it would be taboo. The Bible says that you shouldn’t be eating rabbits. In Leviticus 11, the rabbit is even mentioned just before the pig in prohibited foods.

“The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you.” For many of us, this is a relief, as rabbits are cute pets that we don’t perceive as food.

Certain Sea Life

There are a lot of instances of people eating fish in the Bible, and a lot of it has to do with fish being hand-picked by God as a food that we should be eating on a near-daily basis. Leviticus 11 reads that “Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales.” This means that even fish like the Great White Shark are fair game according to the good book.

That doesn’t mean that we should eat all sea creatures, though. Leviticus goes on to say that “But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales – whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water – you are to detest.” This means that we shouldn’t be eating shrimp or calamari.

The Holy Bible is the most common book in the world, with around 4 billion copies sold in the past half-century alone. There are a lot of bibles that are handed out for free, while others can end up being more valuable. Some of the bibles throughout history have been so rare and valuable that they have been worth millions of dollars at auction.

What’s the story behind these bibles, and how much did they sell for? Here’s a look at the five rarest and most valuable bibles throughout time. Before we get into the list, the prices of the bibles that were sold are adjusted for inflation. This allowed some of the books that were sold several decades ago to make their way up the list since they were more valuable when adjusted.

Bay Psalm Book

Known simply as the Bay Psalm Book, this bible’s full name is ‘The Whole Booke of Psalms Faithfully Translated into English Metre’ and was printed in 1640. The oldest and rarest American bible on the list, this one comes from Cambridge, Massachusetts.

By the time the 21st century came along, there were only 11 known copies of the Bay Psalm Book that were still intact. That’s why, in 2013, one of the copies was sold for what is now $16.5 million. Billionaire David Rubenstein was the one who purchased the book. Rubenstein is known for founding The Carlyle Group and is an avid art collector.

St. Cuthbert Gospel

There are some large books on this list, but the smallest one is the St. Cuthbert Gospel, which was created in the early 8th century and can fit right into your pocket at less than 5.5 inches in length. In fact, its tiny stature is what makes it so rare, as many of the smaller books created during that time have been lost for good.

The St. Cuthbert Gospel is the oldest Western bible that’s still alive today and contains just under 100 pages in total. This bible has been on display in several locations over the years and has had many different owners. Thankfully, the bible has been well preserved, and it sold in 2012 for what now amounts to around $17 million.

Gospels of Henry the Lion

A masterpiece of art, the Gospels of Henry the Lion were created for an altar in the Brunswick Cathedral in the 12th century. While an exact date isn’t given, many historians believe that it began work in 1175 and was completed after more than a decade. There are more than 260 pages in the book, containing four gospels and dozens of pages with illustrations.

At the time of its sale in 1983, the Gospels of Henry the Lion was the most expensive book ever sold for over 8 million GBP. The book is kept in near-mint condition to this day and is only displayed every other year. When adjusted for inflation, the book was sold for nearly $32 million, making it the third most expensive bible in history.

Sherborne Missal

Back in the 15th century, Robert Bruyning commissioned a bible to be created for the Abbey of St. Mary in Sherborne, England. The result was some of the finest religious artistry that has ever been seen in the form of the 347-page Sherborne Missal. At just over 21 inches in length and 15 inches in width, this large bible has detailed work on every single page.

The size of the book should also tell you just how heavy it is. Weighing in at a whopping 44 pounds, John Whas made sure that he put his heart and soul into the Sherborne Missal. The book was purchased by the British Library so that it could be displayed, and it sold in 1998 for $21 million. These days, that translates to over $32.5 million, as it’s considered a great art piece on top of a great bible.

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon serves as the main religious text of the Latter Day Saints. The book is said to have been started in the 7th century BC and wasn’t completed until nearly a millennium later. It wasn’t until the early 19th century that the handwritten version that we know today was written by Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism.

Smith translated the ancient texts in the United States and it has since served as the main guide for the religion. The original transcript from Smith himself had been owned by Oliver Cowdery and was obtained by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at the start of the 20th century. It was purchased by the modern LDS Church to the tune of what is now over $38.7 million in 2017.

The Holy Bible is by far the most popular book in the world, but there are many celebrities that skip out on reading it. Hollywood has always been known to be areligious for the most part, but there are still plenty of celebrities that have not only read the bible but openly talked about their faith. It can be pretty rare, but it does happen, and some of the biggest names in show business make the list.

So who are these celebs that have read the bible? Let’s take a look at the five most notable names that you’re certain to recognize. We’ll also take a look at what they’ve said about the bible and how it has positively affected their lives. Some of the names on the list may end up surprising you.

Ben Affleck

Growing up in Boston, “Justice League” and “Armageddon” star Ben Affleck said that he never read the bible. He said he was too afraid to read about the imagery of hell and said that there were plenty of Christians that put that fear into him, saying that those that enforced their faith on others gave him the wrong idea of the religion itself. That was, until, he was an adult and read the bible for himself.

“Reading the bible disabused me of any sense that a hateful person could represent this faith,” Affleck said, choosing the Book of Matthew as his go-to. “The book is beautiful and exquisitely written – but it is characterized by one quality that colors every page: love.” Affleck admits that he has struggled with religion throughout his life, but has continued to turn to the bible for direction.

Stephen Baldwin

The Baldwin brothers have left a huge mark on Hollywood, with almost all of them becoming huge stars throughout their careers. One of the more notable members of the family is Stephen Baldwin, the youngest member of the brothers. After his breakthrough role in “The Beast”, Baldwin would go on to star in films including “Born on the Fourth of July”, “The Usual Suspects” and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas”.

Baldwin wasn’t really brought up religious, but he discovered faith following the attacks of September 11, 2001. Baldwin began a ministry that began touring the country and he’s been active ever since. He travels everywhere with his bible and reads for at least one hour per day, which was even stipulated in his contract to appear on “Big Brother”.

Candace Cameron-Bure

The life of a child star isn’t always the easiest, and Candace Cameron Bure knows that very well. Cameron grew up appearing on shows including “Growing Pains”, “Who’s the Boss?”, and “Punky Brewster”, but had her true breakthrough when she starred as D.J. Tanner on the long-running series “Full House”. Since then, Cameron has appeared in many Hallmark films, hosted “The View” and became a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars”.

When she was a child actor, Cameron began practicing as a Christian and has remained part of the Christian faith ever since. She has read through the bible multiple times, and in January 2023 she challenged all of her followers on social media to read through the entire book during the year.

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone has been one of the biggest action stars in Hollywood for around a half-century. Stallone has starred in films ranging from “Rocky” and “Rambo” to “Spy Kids 3” and “The Suicide Squad”. No matter what movie he’s in, Stallone is usually playing a very tough character that might not be the brightest, but Stallone himself is very well-educated.

Stallone is also very religious. During his childhood, Stallone read the bible but left religion once he got to Hollywood. During the 2000s, though, Stallone rediscovered his faith and said that he was once again practicing. He says he doesn’t belong to a specific religion these days, but Stallone does read the bible and is more spiritual now than at the height of his career.

Denzel Washington

After getting his start on stage, Denzel Washington rose to stardom during the 1980s when he starred in the long-running series “St. Elsewhere”. Throughout the 1990s, Washington became a movie star thanks to blockbusters including “Malcolm X” and “Philadelphia” while winning Academy Awards for his roles in “Glory” and “Training Day”.

Early on in his career, Washington thought about giving up acting to become a preacher as he’s a devout Christian who reads the bible every day. He said that during the height of his career, he still thought about stepping away from Hollywood because he felt that he was meant to preach. Washington has donated millions to build churches, spreading the faith.

The Bible is loaded with amazing stories about early Christianity, detailing the timeline all the way back to the creation of heaven and earth. Some of the miracles are often cited in other popular works of art from film and television to other books and are even well-known by people who have never read the Bible.

There are dozens and dozens of miracles to choose from in the Bible, but which ones are among the most well-known? Here’s our list of five of the greatest miracles that you can find in the Bible.

The Creation

There is no greater miracle than the creation of life itself. In the Book of Genesis, creation is explained by God first creating heaven and earth. It goes on to say that the earth was originally without any form and was completely in the dark until he said “Let there be light.” God then created everything that we know and see, according to the Bible, and became the basis of all mankind.

“God created man in his own image, in the image of God create he him; male and female created he them,” the Bible reads. “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” 

Water From the Rock

In Numbers 20, Moses is described as being able to get water from a rock, which is something that we think we’ll never see for ourselves when trying it. There was no water for Moses’s congregation as they wandered away from Egypt. The congregation asked why they didn’t just die with some of their brethren instead of getting lost for years and having nothing to eat and no water to drink.

The Lord spoke to Moses after the backlash that he suffered. The Lord said “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” Moses did just that, with water coming out in abundance, preserving their faith in the Lord.

Jonah and the Whale

One of the most famous stories from the Bible that even non-religious people know is that of Jonah and the Whale. Jonah was a prophet from the Hebrew Bible who was also the son of Amittai. He’s the focus of the Book of Jonah, which details how God commanded him to travel to the city of Nineveh, but Jonah goes off the path instead and is swallowed by a whale after being ejected from a ship.

Jonah was swallowed whole and sat in the whale’s stomach for three days. While in most cases it would be instant death, Jonah survived for all three days and prayed to God the entire time. After enough prayer, God allowed the whale to vomit Jonah out of his stomach and he makes his way to Nineveh as God requested.

Parting of the Red Sea

We already mentioned one miracle that pertained to Moses, though it’s this one that’s more well-known by non-religious people. In the Book of Exodus, Moses is leading his people out of Egypt to escape slavery and persecution, but are almost caught when they reach the Red Sea.

With nowhere to go and the sea being unable to be traversed across, Moses needed a miracle to get to the other side and reach safety. A wall of fire stopped the Egyptians in their tracks, allowing Moses time to perform the miracle of parting the Red Sea, and allowing the Israelites to cross. When the Egyptians tried to pursue, the water returned, stopping them for good as many drowned.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is, of course, the center of Christianity, and many people who follow the faith know the story of his death and resurrection. After being crucified for his beliefs, Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day in what many consider to be the miracle that started the entire branch of the religion.

In the Bible, the resurrection itself doesn’t have a very detailed description but rather describes that the tomb Jesus was placed in after his death was empty on the third day. Jesus then appeared spiritually to the apostles and many others. In John 11:25-26, it reads that “Jesus told (Martha), ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

When many of us are in need of a little bit of hope, we turn to the Holy Bible for inspiration. There are many stories that pertain to hope all throughout, with some specific verses really standing out as go-to’s for people who need that boost. Here are 10 Bible verses about hope that will keep you going throughout your day no matter how difficult it may get.

Romans 15:4

The verse: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

If we want to know what’s in store for us in the future, we have to look toward the past, including the faith that’s shown toward God. The Scriptures know what’s in the cards for you.

Jeremiah 29:11

The verse: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

The Lord will always have a plan for everyone, and it’s best to trust in the Lord and know that, despite the tests of strength, will end up being for the better.

Job 14:7-9

The verse: “At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant.”

There is hope in everything around us, from the smallest bug to the birds that fly the highest. This includes trees, which end up finding new life even when they’re at the end of their mortal shell.

Romans 8:18

The verse: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed for us.”

There are going to be times in your life when you wonder if it’s worth it to go through all of the trials and tribulations. When you have hope in eternal happiness, though, you’ll realize that the current problems you face are minor quarrels. 

Deuteronomy 31:6

The verse: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake.”

No matter where you go in life, you are not alone. The Lord is always there to help guide you through the best of times and worst of times, and that will never change.

Peter 5:10

The verse: “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.”

In your worst moments, the Lord knows the type of suffering that you’re going through and will do everything possible to make you better for the future.

Isaiah 61:1

The verse: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim the liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”

There are always going to be people who have it worse than you do at that very moment. It’s best to have hope and count your blessings, spreading that hope to others.

2 Corinthians 4:18

The verse: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

We place too many of our feelings in what we see, but need to place our hope in the Lord and the miracles we can’t see with our two eyes.

1 Peter 1:13

The verse: “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”

In the end, all of our hope should be in the Lord and that he will return and save mankind.

Revelation 21:3-4

The verse: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold the dwelling of God is with me. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.”

God will wipe away all of the pain and suffering, and we must hope that there will no longer be that pain in our lives.