By Dr. Mark Scott School boys used to say, “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugliness goes all the way to the bone.” When it is spiritual ugliness, it goes deeper still. The minor prophet Hosea experienced spiritual ugliness. Like many of God’s prophets, his life got intertwined with his prophecy. Last week’s lesson about […]
Devotional thoughts on Song of Solomon 6:4-12 By Elizabeth Matko Despite God’s warning that we should avoid comparing ourselves to others (Galatians 6:4), we do it all the time, don’t we? Even worse, we do it to our friends, coworkers, parents, children, and our spouses. Comparisons seem harmless—even positive—if they are in our favor. However, […]
By David Faust I am a list maker. I keep on my desk a list of current things to do. Every Friday afternoon I plan the week ahead and write down what I need to accomplish. Non-list makers shake their heads at such habits. To them a task list seems restrictive and legalistic, but those […]
By Dr. Mark Scott We should always interpret the Bible in light of the genre used because that sets expectations for interpretation. If I say, “Roses are red and violets are blue,” then I am using the genre of poetry. The reader interprets appropriately, expecting to see things like figures of speech, rhyme, and parallelisms. […]
Questions and Activities for Small Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. Which of the following do you think is a good maxim to live by? Why? • “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” • “Beauty is only skin deep.” • “Beauty is God’s handwriting.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson • “There is a kind of beauty in imperfection.” —Conrad […]
