Category Archives: Uncategorized

The story of Esther is a familiar one to Jewish and Christian children. We tell the story of the courage of Queen Esther in standing up for her people from her privileged position, risking her life to save the Jews. Many Jewish girls and women bear the name “Hadassah,” Esther’s Hebrew name, and there areContinue reading “June 19: Esther 1-2; Acts 5”

The rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem was a monumental step for the people who had come back to the land. After lying in ruins for so many years, the people had started to build only to be stopped by their enemies. When Nehemiah arrived, however, the work had moved quickly, and it was obviousContinue reading “June 18: Nehemiah 12-13; Acts 4:23-37”

It amazes me sometimes how  people can acknowledge that something is true yet refuse to accept the consequences of that fact. A student is told there will be a test a Friday, believes the teacher will give it, yet doesn’t study and hopes it will just go away. Our bank account is low, we knowContinue reading “June 17: Nehemiah 10-11; Acts 4:1-22”

Seeing someone miraculously healed would certainly get your attention. You might wonder about the people who initiated the healing, try to figure out exactly what happened, make sure the person healed was someone you knew was really sick or injured, and perhaps be in a little fear of the power that was revealed. You wouldContinue reading “June 16: Nehemiah 7-9; Acts 3”

Except for Jesus in His mission to go to the cross to die for our sins, there may be no more determined person in the entire Bible than Nehemiah. He held a prominent, influential, and apparently well-paying job in the Persian government, yet when he heard about the plight of Jerusalem he took immediate actionContinue reading “June 15: Nehemiah 4-7; Acts 2:22-47”

On the Day of Pentecost the Church began as the followers of Jesus experienced the coming of the Holy Spirit in a powerful way. When Christians today read this we often focus on the spectacular signs of the Spirit’s coming and on Peter’s preaching. We look at the events that got the church started sinceContinue reading “June 14: Nehemiah 1-3; Acts 2:1-21”

When a leader has to be replaced, it can be difficult to find someone to fill his or her shoes. You need to find someone who is well-qualified for the role, but also a person who can work well in the group’s culture. The successor must be able to provide continuity with the one whoContinue reading “June 13: Ezra 9-10; Acts 1”

Have you ever tried to give God a helping hand? I don’t mean using your gifts in His service, proclaiming the gospel and working to expand the kingdom of Jesus Christ. I mean looking at a situation and trying to find the best possible solution you can think of so that God doesn’t have toContinue reading “June 12: Ezra 6-8; John 21”

After the fall of Babylon, King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to their homeland. Although he sent them back with fairly generous provision for their future, relatively few took the offer to go back. Many Jews remained in Babylon and in other parts of the Persian Empire and remainedContinue reading “June 11: Ezra 3-5; John 20”

Throughout his gospel John has made it clear that Jesus knew what He was sent to do and that He was in control at every step. He was not caught by surprise when Judas betrayed Him nor when His disciples fled the garden. The animosity of the Jewish leaders was not hidden from Him, andContinue reading “June 10: Ezra 1-2; John 19:23-42”