Before the Reformation, singing in church was often done by a group of performers instead of the whole congregation. The Reformers believed that the whole congregation should sing to give praise to God together and be an active part of worship. By 1524, only seven years after the Reformation began, Martin Luther, working with a […]
It was the summer after my senior year of high school. I went to the Young People’s Convention. Perhaps you’ve heard stories about the convention from your older brothers and sisters? I enjoyed the conventions, but my favorite memory is not the banquets or hanging out with friends or the games or anything you’ve probably […]
The sycomore tree is a lesser known tree in the Bible. It is mostly known as the tree that Zacchaeus climbs to see Jesus. The sycomore tree in the Bible is a type of fig tree and is not the same type of tree as the sycamore trees found in other parts of the world, […]
The palm tree is another important tree in the Bible. The type of palm tree native to Israel is also called the date palm because it produces large clumps of fruit called dates. Dates were an important fruit in Bible times. They were a main food that everyone ate since dates grew abundantly in the […]
The fig tree is the third tree mentioned by name in the Bible, after the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam and Eve used the leaves of the fig tree to try to make aprons for themselves to cover themselves after the Fall. Fig trees are mentioned as […]
Oaks are one of the trees mentioned often in the Bible. This is a recognizable tree for many of us since oaks are found all around the world. The particular types of oak mentioned in the Bible are two kinds that grow short, gnarled, and broad with acorns that are slim and pointed. Oaks were […]
One of the trees mentioned often in the Bible is the cedar of Lebanon. Cedar is a very versatile type of wood. It is very resistant to rot and is strong for use in building. The particular type of cedar that is called the cedar of Lebanon only grows in what is today Lebanon, Syria, […]
Recently, I was reading an article that stated that trees were the most mentioned living creature in the Bible after humans. Doing some digging myself by looking up the words tree, forest, wood, branch, bough, oak, cedar, palm, and including items made from wood such as rod, staff, and cross, I found over 800 references […]
The Synod of Dordt officially began on November 13, 1618 in the city of Dordrecht. It lasted through 154 meetings and ended on May 9, 1619. In a little less than six months, the delegates came to the decision that the Bible taught that all men are totally depraved, God’s election isn’t based on any […]