What happened with Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well? In Jesus\u2019 day, Jewish people and Samaritan people did not get along and wanted nothing to do with each other.
One day, Jesus and his disciples were passing through the land of Samaria. Jesus stopped to rest at a water well while his disciples went to a nearby village to buy food. Around noon, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well. Jesus asked her for some water. \u201cShe said to Jesus, \u201cYou are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?\u201d (John 4:9, NLT)
She was surprised because:
The Jews and Samaritans did not associate with each other - they were not friends.
According to the culture, a teacher like Jesus wouldn\u2019t be speaking to a woman in public.
In those times, giving and receiving water or food indicated a good relationship.
What a strange situation!
Instead of answering her question, Jesus directed her to something more important. In the Bible, water often symbolizes truth. Using picture language, Jesus told the woman about special \u201cliving water,\u201d by which he meant the Gospel message, the truth of God\u2019s word that cleanses, refreshes and, if believed and followed, can lead one to eternal life. Jesus is like a fountain from whom the true word of God flows, so the only way to get this \u201cliving water\u201d is by following Jesus.
Because he knew secret things about the woman\u2019s sinful life, she guessed he was a prophet. Jesus revealed to her something far better: he was the MESSIAH that believers had been waiting for! (See John 4:26) In spite of her sins, Jesus listened to her, responded, and taught her with compassion and love.
Excited, the woman left her water jar and ran to the village to tell the people about Jesus. As a result, people came streaming from the village to see him. (See John 4:20, 39) In fact, he and his disciples stayed in the Samaritan village for two days. In John, they said, (4:42 NIV) \u201c...we know that this man really is the Savior of the world!\u201d What a great blessing they received!
So, what happened with Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well? Jesus used picture language to tell a good-hearted Samaritan woman about special \u201cliving water\u201d that brings eternal life. This \u201cliving water\u201d is the Gospel message - God\u2019s truth which flows from Jesus. When we drink water, we become thirsty again later. But with \u201cliving water,\u201d the truth of God\u2019s word, we can be cleansed, refreshed and filled with peace. If we continue to drink this \u201cliving water,\u201d by studying and absorbing God\u2019s word daily, we won\u2019t be \u201dthirsty\u201d for anything else!<\/p>","youtube_id":"sKDGtdyPJlY","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/sKDGtdyPJlY.jpg","timestamp":"February 16","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-happened-with-jesus-and-the-samaritan-woman-at-the-well\/","added":"19 days ago | 140 views | 02:53 min","info":"19 days ago | 140 views | 02:53 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":173,"views":"140","categories":["Jesus","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"222","title":"Why did Jesus have to die for Adam’s sin?","description":"
God created the first man, Adam, and gave him a beautiful garden home to live in. As atest of obedience, God said he could eat fruit from any tree in the garden except for one, called the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. (see Genesis2:16,17)
If Adam disobeyed and ate from that one tree, the punishment would be death. God created Eve, the first woman, as a partner for Adam. She also knew God\u2019s rule. God didn\u2019t mean Adam and Eve would be struck dead immediately. He meant they would not live forever but would grow old and die.
An angel in heaven named Lucifer (later called Satan) chose to disobey God. In the form of a snake, Lucifer lied to Eve, tricking her by saying she would not die for eating the forbidden fruit. Eve ate it and gave some to Adam, who ate it too. Adam knew he would die, but disobeyed God anyway. They both failed the test of obedience.
God doesn\u2019t change His rules. This is important. God\u2019s word is true; He is reliable. God wouldn\u2019t say, \u201cNever mind, Adam, I didn\u2019t mean it when I said you would die if you disobeyed.\u201d No, when God makes a rule, He means it.
After they sinned, Adam and Eve were forced to leave the garden. They grew old and eventually died. Adam\u2019s disobedience started a terrible chain reaction of sin that has been passed down to everyone. Romans (5:12, NLT) says, \u201cWhen Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam\u2019s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone...\u201d Sin is like an infection - it starts small and then quickly spreads, ALWAYS leading to bad results. We all die because we sin, and we sin because we inherited sin from Adam.
But because God is so loving and wise, He created a special plan to rescue Adam (and all of us!) from the death penalty. This plan involved a substitute that would take Adam\u2019s place. Jesus, God\u2019s son, was asked to go to earth, be born as a perfect human being, and give his life as a substitute for Adam. (see Isaiah 6:8) He had to be perfect in order to be equal to Adam before he sinned.
The Apostle Paul describes this process with a special word: \u201cRANSOM.\u201d In 1 Timothy, (Timothy 2:5,6, NIV) he says, \u201c\u2026the man Christ Jesus,...gave himself as a ransom for all people.\u201d
The word \u201cransom\u201d comes from two combined Greek words: \u201canti\u201d and \u201clutron,\u201d which means a \u201ccorresponding price.\u201d \u201cCorresponding\u201d means \u201cequivalent.\u201d So we can think of the word \u201cransom\u201d as \u201can equal price.\u201d
For example, if you want to buy something at a store that costs $2, you need exactly $2 in order to buy it. Since Adam was a perfect man before he sinned, only another perfect man could \u201cbuy\u201d him. That other man would then be the \u201ccorresponding price.\u201d By dying as a perfect man, Jesus provided the RANSOM PRICE and canceled out Adam\u2019s sin. He has freed Adam (and all of us) from the original death penalty. Because Jesus gave his life and \u201cbought\u201d Adam, there is hope for ALL because the cycle of sin and death will eventually end.
For completing his mission perfectly, God rewarded Jesus by resurrecting him to the highest plane of existence in heaven as a divine spirit being. In God\u2019s kingdom, Jesus will use his power to raise everyone who has ever died back to life! 1 Corinthians (15:21, Contemporary Version) says, \u201cJust as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Christ.\u201d
So, why did Jesus have to die for Adam\u2019s sin? Jesus himself tells us in Matthew (20:27-28, NASB): \u201c\u2026the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.\u201d He willingly paid the ransom price for Adam, which canceled the death penalty that affects all of us. If Christians are faithful to the end, they are raised to heaven. The remainder of mankind will be raised from the grave to live on this earth in God\u2019s coming kingdom. Then they will have an opportunity to live forever if they choose to obey God\u2019s righteous principles.
Romans (5:18, NLT) says \u201c...Adam\u2019s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ\u2019s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.\u201d <\/p>","youtube_id":"nfWReejQ2R0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/nfWReejQ2R0.jpg","timestamp":"January 26","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-did-jesus-have-to-die-for-adams-sin\/","added":"40 days ago | 808 views | 04:46 min","info":"40 days ago | 808 views | 04:46 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":286,"views":"808","categories":["Jesus","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"221","title":"How does God know what is best for us?","description":"
God, the Creator of all, is omniscient. This means He is all-knowing, aware of everything and everyone at all times. To illustrate, let\u2019s imagine watching a parade. We can only see what\u2019s happening right in front of us. But God can see the ENTIRE parade, from start to finish. Similarly, God can see through ALL of time, backwards and forwards - He knows the end from the beginning and all parts in between. He\u2019s NEVER taken by surprise.
His memory never fails. He never makes a mistake in judgment. God knew Adam would choose to disobey, causing a chain reaction of sin and death, so He arranged the solution for our ultimate good. In fact, He had a detailed master plan already in His mind even before the world existed! His plan involved sending His only begotten son, Jesus, to die for Adam\u2019s sin, thus canceling out the death penalty that is upon all of us. This is called the \u201cransom,\u201d and it\u2019s the reason Jesus came to earth. In Mark, (10:45 BSB) it says, \u201cFor even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.\u201d In the future, because of God\u2019s foresight, death will be destroyed! (See 1 Peter 1:10)
In Isaiah, God says, (55:9, NLT) \u201c\u2026My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.\u201d When bad things happen in the world, we must remember that everything is part of a larger, orderly process that God is fully aware of and understands.
God created time and He controls it. He has chosen specific times for different aspects of His plan to unfold. With our limited knowledge and understanding of time, sometimes the plan can seem delayed. But it\u2019s actually a necessary part of His perfect timing to allow prophecies to be fulfilled exactly when He wants, and for mankind to learn lessons during the limited time when there is evil in the world.
God knows each of us better than we know ourselves. He has a deep, personal knowledge of every human being who has ever existed. The Bible says that God searches and knows our hearts. (See 1 Chronicles 28:9, Psalm 7:9, Jeremiah 17:10, Romans 8:27) He understands our thoughts even before we speak them. He knows what we need even before we ask. This personal knowledge allows Him to customize experiences for our specific needs and growth.
The only path to God is through His son, Jesus. Following Jesus is not easy. We all make mistakes because of sin. Like a loving father does, God corrects us for our good, so we can develop the qualities needed to bless others and be blessed in His future kingdom. Because He knows us so well, He can correct us in exactly the way we need so we can grow our characters to be more like Jesus.
So, how does God know what is best for us? Because He is omniscient, knowing all things and all of His creation personally. He designed a perfect plan to rescue humanity from sin and death, and it was in place since before time began. If we\u2019re doing our best to follow in Jesus\u2019 footsteps, God guides faithful Christians throughout their lives. He even uses their difficult experiences to shape them for a future of peace, happiness, and righteousness. God\u2019s plans for ALL PEOPLE will be accomplished according to His purpose and timing.<\/p>","youtube_id":"_N-sWFrAms8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/_N-sWFrAms8.jpg","timestamp":"January 05","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-does-god-know-what-is-best-for-us-2\/","added":"61 days ago | 209 views | 03:41 min","info":"61 days ago | 209 views | 03:41 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":221,"views":"209","categories":["God"]},{"id":"220","title":"What is prayer?","description":"
Prayer is the way we communicate with God. It\u2019s like a power cord that stretches all the way to Him in heaven. Prayer \u201ccharges\u201d our hearts with more energy to serve Him while increasing our faith and peace. When we pray to the Creator of the Universe, our attitude should be humble, respectful, and thankful. The quality of our prayers is not dependent on the number of words we use, but on the sincerity of our heart.
We should remove all distractions when we pray. We might choose to fold our hands, close our eyes, or kneel in order to help us focus better. Although we can pray anywhere, anytime, our prayers are preferable in quiet places, like in our room when we wake up in the morning or go to bed at night. We also pray before a meal, to tell God how thankful we are for what He has provided.
We pray because we want to have a relationship with God through his son, Jesus. Jesus provided the best examples of prayer and praying. He depended on God and always approached Him with humility, recognizing God\u2019s superiority. If Jesus, the highest being created by God, was completely dependent upon God, then even more so, we should be too!
In the book of Matthew, (see 6:5,6) Jesus taught us to pray in secret. This doesn\u2019t mean we can\u2019t pray in front of others or that we have to go to a literal, secret place. He meant our prayers should not be used as a show for others. (see Matthew 6:5)
In the book of Luke, Jesus spoke a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector. Pharisees were the religious teachers of that time, and many were prideful and insincere in their worship of God. (see Luke 18:10-14 NASB 1995)
Jesus said, \u201cTwo men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: \u2018God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. \u2018I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.\u2019 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, \u2018God, be merciful to me, the sinner!\u2019 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.\u201d
Do you see the difference between the two prayers? The Pharisee was, in effect, praying to himself and not God, congratulating himself on what a great person he thought he was. The other man was sincere and humble, recognizing how he needed God\u2019s mercy.
Here are some keys to prayer that are pleasing to God:
Recognizing God\u2019s power and approaching Him through His son Jesus, with faith, humility and respect Praising God for his love and mercy Offering prayers of thankfulness Praying for others in need Praying for God\u2019s kingdom to be established in His perfect timing So, what is prayer? It\u2019s like a lifeline to the Creator of the Universe! We should always approach God with humility, respect, and thankfulness. 1 Thessalonians (5:17, NLT) tells us we should \u201cNever stop praying.\u201d <\/p>","youtube_id":"YHcX27EjlQw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/YHcX27EjlQw.jpg","timestamp":"November 03","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-prayer\/","added":"505 views | 03:19 min","info":"505 views | 03:19 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":199,"views":"505","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"219","title":"Can zombies possibly be real?","description":"
NO! Often, when societies don\u2019t understand something, they fill in the gaps with their imagination. Legends, folktales and superstitions are invented and passed down, sparking interest and curiosity.
Today, the entertainment industry has made the false, or imaginary, idea of zombies part of our popular culture. Zombies are said to be \u201cundead\u201d - people who were once alive, then they died, and then they were brought back to life to exist in an \u201cin-between\u201d life and death state.
But does the concept of zombies fit with what the Bible teaches us about life and death?
Genesis (2:7, Life Application Bible) tells us how God created the first man, Adam. \u201cAnd the Lord God formed a man\u2019s body from dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And the man became a living person.\u201d
A human being needs both parts - body and breath of life - in order to be alive. If either part is taken away, there is no life - the person would be dead. So, in reality, no one can exist in an \u201cin-between state\u201d like zombies supposedly do. A person is either alive or dead. And when a person is dead, ONLY GOD\u2019S POWER can bring them back to life.
In Genesis, God gave a clear rule to our first parents, Adam and Eve, not to eat the fruit from one particular tree in the Garden of Eden. If they did, they would eventually grow old and die. (see Genesis 2:17) Adam and Eve understood this rule, yet they disobeyed God anyway, failing the test of obedience.
In Genesis, (3:19, Christian Standard Bible) God explained part of their punishment: \u201cFor you are dust, and you will return to dust.\u201d Notice that God isn\u2019t separating the body from the identity or mind of the person - He says \u201cYOU\u201d - meaning, ALL of you will return to the natural elements.
As far as the state of being dead, Ecclesiastes (9:10, New Century Version) says, \u201cWhatever work you do, do your best, because you are going to the grave, where there is no working, no planning, no knowledge, and no wisdom.\u201d
This scripture says nothing is happening when a person is dead. They can\u2019t feel anything, think anything or do anything.
When Jesus\u2019 friend, Lazarus, died, Jesus said that death is like \u201csleeping.\u201d (see John 11:11, 38-44) When Lazarus was dead for four days, he had no consciousness. He had no concept of time passing, just like when we go to sleep.
Jesus miraculously raised Lazarus, giving us a picture of God\u2019s future kingdom.
If something interesting HAD been happening to Lazarus while he was dead, such as being in a new place, or experiencing an \u201cin between\u201d state of mind, why didn\u2019t he tell everyone about it? Because it\u2019s impossible - Lazarus experienced NOTHING in those four days!
The Bible says that eventually, with power from God, Jesus will raise EVERYONE who is \u201csleeping\u201d in the grave. (see John 5:28) At that time, ALL who choose to follow Jesus, obey God\u2019s rules, and live righteously will receive blessings beyond their wildest dreams. (And that does NOT include \u201czombies,\u201d who can\u2019t possibly be real!)
Submit YOUR questions to https:\/\/ChristianQuestions.com. Thank you for liking and subscribing!
If you liked this video, you might also like:
Are the dead really dead? https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ay2XGpKM2K8
What is the soul? https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dwTTsWvuymU&msockid=563bfb80966711f08650f729fbe4b67e
Why did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead? https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sS3oN7XMZIY
What happens when we die? https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6gP6ulUspuM
What will God\u2019s kingdom be like? https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pUqK3p_uHxk<\/p>","youtube_id":"VL4xYElkVd8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/VL4xYElkVd8.jpg","timestamp":"September 29","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/can-zombies-possibly-be-real\/","added":"351 views | 03:12 min","info":"351 views | 03:12 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":192,"views":"351","categories":["Death","Seasonal"]},{"id":"218","title":"What's wrong with judging others?","description":"
In Romans, the Apostle Paul says, (3:23, NLT) \u201cFor everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God\u2019s glorious standard.\u201d Still, it seems easy to judge others\u2019 sins and think we\u2019re somehow better.
\u201cTo judge\u201d means forming an opinion about someone, based on their words, actions, or appearance. We often make judgments quickly with limited information, but this can be harmful.
In Matthew, (7:1,2, NLT) Jesus says, \u201cDo not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.\u201d
Jesus is warning us about judging others in a careless way, such as deciding something negative about someone for a careless reason, or passing judgment in order to make someone else\u2019s failures seem bigger. (Based on the Greek words for judgment as outlined on page 2 of CQ episode 1181.) If there\u2019s someone at school who looks different or acts differently, do we immediately judge them as not being worth our time or friendship? If a classmate makes a mistake, do we pass a judgment that puts them down in order to make ourselves look better?
The Pharisees were the religious rulers in Jesus\u2019 day. Instead of recognizing their own sins, they harshly judged others regarding theirs. They were supposed to be teaching and helping the people, but really, they just tried to make themselves look better than everybody else!
Jesus gives us exaggerated examples to help us further understand. (see Matthew 7:3-5) The \u201cspeck\u201d he mentions is like a piece of dust, and the \u201clog\u201d is like a piece of wood:
\u2026 \u201cAnd why worry about a speck in your friend\u2019s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, \u2018Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,\u2019 when you can\u2019t see past the log in your own eye?\u2026First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend\u2019s eye.\u201d
He didn\u2019t mean we all have literal pieces of dust and wood in our eyes\u2026he meant we should look at our OWN usually bigger faults (logs!) before calling attention to someone else\u2019s tiny \u201cspecks,\u201d or much smaller flaws. On the other hand, if someone\u2019s actions are harmful, telling them in a loving way or involving a trusted adult is appropriate and helpful. In this way, judgment becomes a valuable tool for building someone up rather than tearing them down. But note that we cannot judge someone\u2019s heart - only their outward actions.
So, what\u2019s wrong with judging others? It\u2019s a bad practice if done carelessly or for the purpose of making other people\u2019s faults look bigger. Before we find ourselves criticizing someone, are we angry, jealous or wanting revenge? Is our motivation to help them or to make trouble? We\u2019re ALL sinners, and we can\u2019t judge someone else\u2019s heart. Let\u2019s remember: when we point a finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at us!<\/p>","youtube_id":"outyq7V8Kxo","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/outyq7V8Kxo.jpg","timestamp":"September 15","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/whats-wrong-with-judging-others\/","added":"333 views | 03:01 min","info":"333 views | 03:01 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":181,"views":"333","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"217","title":"What is zeal? CQ Kids","description":"
Zeal is a strong desire to do something with energy and enthusiasm. For example, if we\u2019re serving God or others with zeal, it means we\u2019re excited and enthusiastic - never complaining or having a poor attitude. We actively look for ways to be helpful.
Godly zeal is long-lasting - a devotion to Him that doesn\u2019t diminish over time. It's not just a quick feeling of excitement that soon goes away. King David had zeal for God. He wanted to build a Temple for God - a permanent, physical place to worship Him, according to God\u2019s direction. (See 2 Samuel 6:12-19, 2 Samuel 7:2, Psalms 132:2\u20135)
In Psalms (69:9, NIV) David said, \u201c...zeal for Your house consumes me.\u201d Another translation helps us understand David\u2019s zeal better: (Good News Translation) \u201cMy devotion to Your Temple burns in me like a fire.\u201d The Temple in Jerusalem was going to be a symbol of God\u2019s presence among the people. This desire to build a dwelling place for God was a driving force in David\u2019s life - not just a quick burst of emotion that soon fizzled out.
As a man of war, David wasn\u2019t allowed to build it himself. Instead, he carefully collected the needed materials for this huge project. God revealed detailed instructions to David, and David shared this information with his son, Solomon, a man of peace, so that he could build it instead. (See 1 Chronicles 28:9-21) -
Zeal is a powerful emotion that motivates us to take action - but that action can be positive or negative.
Saul of Tarsus was an example of negative zeal. He thought he was serving God by persecuting Christians, but his zeal was focused in the wrong direction. As a result, people were hurt because of his actions.
However, when Jesus, resurrected as a divine being, spoke to him on the road to Damascus, Saul focused his zeal in the RIGHT direction! Saul became the Apostle Paul, working in full-time service for God, zealously preaching Jesus\u2019 message to many people. Paul endured many difficult experiences, but because of his zeal, he never gave up!
So, what is zeal? It\u2019s a strong desire to do something with energy and enthusiasm. Today, it\u2019s easy to settle into our routines and make excuses as to why we aren\u2019t studying the Bible or doing very much for others. Does our zeal for God and Jesus burn in us like a fire, or has the fire gone out? Let\u2019s make sure we keep that fire burning - serving God, Jesus and others passionately and energetically with zeal!<\/p>","youtube_id":"Iv8xThj6CmE","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/Iv8xThj6CmE.jpg","timestamp":"August 25","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-zeal-cq-kids\/","added":"533 views | 02:35 min","info":"533 views | 02:35 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":155,"views":"533","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"216","title":"Is it a sin to be rich?","description":"
Some people say that being a good Christian means that God will automatically bless you with riches, but this is not true. Jesus and his apostles owned very few possessions, and they never taught that a Christian\u2019s life would be carefree and filled with earthly wealth - often it\u2019s just the opposite.
However, being rich is NOT a sin - as long as we have the right values. A value is something that\u2019s important to us. Today we\u2019re surrounded by messages that having lots of money and things should be important to us.
In 1 Timothy, (6:10, NKJ) the Apostle Paul says, \u201cFor the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.\u201d Paul is NOT saying money itself is bad; he\u2019s warning that loving money too much - making it a priority - can easily lead us away from God. (Note: VO says \u2018the\u2019 love of money, but actual translation says \u2018a\u2019.)
In Matthew, (6:19-21, NLT) Jesus said, \u201cDon't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.\u201d
He meant that earthly wealth is temporary and can be lost at any time. On the other hand, spending our time and energy on heavenly treasures is far more valuable and will be safe forever!
Here are some examples of heavenly treasures:
increasing our love for God and Jesus learning more about God\u2019s character doing our best to follow Jesus\u2019 examples helping others studying the Bible and spending more time in prayer
But don\u2019t we need money to live? Of course! Even though we want our hearts to be spiritually-focused, we\u2019re still responsible for earthly duties. For kids, that means honoring and obeying our parents; for parents, that means taking care of our families. (see 1 Timothy 5:8) So, money IS needed to live, but we shouldn\u2019t prioritize having lots of money or things over our relationship with God. And if we DO have earthly wealth, it\u2019s best to use it in God\u2019s service, like being generous to others and helping those in need.
So, is it a sin to be rich? No, as long as we prioritize spiritual things ahead of earthly things. We need money to live and take care of our families, but TRUE wealth is found in living a God-honoring life, following His righteous principles. In Matthew, Jesus wisely explained, (6:24, NASB) \u201c...You cannot serve God and wealth.\u201d
Let\u2019s remember: Spiritual growth is a more valuable treasure than earthly success!<\/p>","youtube_id":"QWOJmuWSUwg","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/QWOJmuWSUwg.jpg","timestamp":"August 04","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/is-it-a-sin-to-be-rich\/","added":"390 views | 02:53 min","info":"390 views | 02:53 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":173,"views":"390","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"215","title":"Who was Cornelius?","description":"
Cornelius was a Roman army officer, a captain in the Italian Regiment.
We learn more about him in the book of Acts (10:1,2):
He was a \u201cGentile,\u201d which means he was not Jewish. He was \u201cdevout,\u201d which means he had deep, religious feelings. He was devoted to God.
He and his household respected and worshipped the one, true God and not the fake, pagan gods of Rome that surrounded them. He was generous, donating (most likely) money and food to poor people. (Acts 10:4)
He was respected by the Jewish people. (Acts 10:22) He prayed continually to the God of Israel.
During Cornelius\u2019 time, only the Jewish people enjoyed special favor and blessings from God. Even though, as a Gentile, he was outside of God\u2019s favor, that didn\u2019t stop Cornelius from praying to God and worshiping Him\u2026and God noticed!
One day, at around three in the afternoon, Cornelius had a vision. (see Acts 10:3,4, Amplified Version) An angel of God came to him, saying that God had heard his prayers and noticed all of his generous gifts. God considered them as a \"memorial,\" which is an offering made in remembrance of His past blessings!
The angel told Cornelius to send his men to the city of Joppa to find the Apostle Peter and invite him to his home to hear Peter\u2019s message. (see Acts 10:22)
Meanwhile, God was working with Peter, too! Just as Cornelius' men were on the way to find him, Peter was praying on the flat roof of where he was staying. It was around lunchtime, and Peter was hungry. He then fell into a trance and saw a vision. The sky opened, and something like a large bed sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of four-footed animals, birds and reptiles. (Acts 10:12) A voice told Peter to kill and eat these animals.
\u201cNo, Lord,\u201d Peter declared. \u201cI have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.\u201d (Acts 10:14, NLT) Peter knew that according to Jewish Law, certain animals were forbidden to be eaten - they were considered \u201cunclean.\u201d
The voice answered, \u201cDo not call something unclean if God has made it clean.\u201d (Acts 10:15, NLT) This vision was repeated three times, and then the sheet was pulled up back toward heaven.
Naturally, Peter was confused. Just then, Cornelius\u2019 men arrived. God spoke to Peter through the holy spirit, telling him to go down and meet them. The men explained who Cornelius was (see Acts 10:22) and how the angel had instructed him to send for Peter. The next day, they set out for Cornelius\u2019 house, along with other Jewish believers from Joppa.
When they arrived, Cornelius, his relatives and close friends were waiting to meet Peter. (Acts 10:28, NLT) \u201cPeter told them, \u2018You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.\u2019\u201d
Cornelius described his encounter with the angel. Peter said, \u201cI now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. (Acts 10:34, NIV) God is pleased with everyone who worships Him and does right, no matter what nation they come from. (Acts 10:35, CEV)
Peter preached about Jesus to them, and while he was still speaking, God gave His holy spirit - His power and influence - to everyone who heard the message! (see Acts 10:44) Peter then commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
So, who was Cornelius? The first Gentile believer to receive the holy spirit and become a Christian. Hebrews says that God (11:6, NLT) \u201c...rewards those who sincerely seek Him.\u201d That certainly was true in the case of Cornelius!
This was a big change in Jewish history. God made it clear that the Good News about His son, Jesus, was for EVERYBODY! Now ALL people who choose to follow Jesus, worship God and to try to do what\u2019s right have the opportunity to receive the privilege of God\u2019s favor and blessings!<\/p>","youtube_id":"-otcOVQrHjc","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/-otcOVQrHjc.jpg","timestamp":"July 14","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/who-was-cornelius\/","added":"4,717 views | 04:03 min","info":"4,717 views | 04:03 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":243,"views":"4717","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"214","title":"Why should we keep our promises?","description":"
To make a promise is to say that we\u2019ll do something, like, \u201cI promise to finish my homework tonight,\u201d or NOT do something, like, \u201cI promise I won\u2019t play video games before I finish my homework.\u201d Either way, our actions should match what we say.
People who do what they say are reliable. We can count on them because we trust that their words are true. Isn\u2019t it nice when our friend says they\u2019ll help us study for a test and then they actually help us? Now imagine how you would feel if your friend said they\u2019d help you but then didn\u2019t! It\u2019s not a very nice feeling, is it?
Let\u2019s use God and Jesus as our perfect examples of keeping promises.
God is the ultimate promise keeper. When He makes promises, He always keeps them. For example, in the book of Ezekiel, (see 36:24) God promised that the people of Israel, once scattered from their homeland, would return to the land He gave them. After thousands of years, in recent decades, millions of Jewish people have returned to the nation of Israel. We look forward to more of God's promises being fulfilled in the future since God's promises always come true! In Isaiah, we read about what He says: \u201c...my word\u2026will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.\u201d (Isaiah 55:11, NIV)
Jesus was committed to doing God\u2019s will no matter what. Jesus taught us the principles of keeping our word, as some people do and some do not. In the book of Matthew, he scolded the Pharisees: \u201cA tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad\u2026How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.\u201d (Matthew 12:33,34 NLT)
Let\u2019s imagine ourselves as a tree. Does our tree produce bad fruit by speaking bad or untrue words? Or does our tree produce good fruit as we speak good and true words?
Continuing in Matthew, Jesus also said, \u201cThe good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.\u201d (Matthew 12:35 Berean Standard Bible)
If we say we are doing our best to follow Jesus, yet make promises that we don\u2019t keep, we are bringing out bad treasure!
So, why should we keep our promises? Because we love and trust God and Jesus, so we put them first. We want to do the right thing by following their excellent examples. Others will also know we\u2019re trustworthy and reliable - they can count on us! To have a high quality of character, we have to follow through on our promises by doing what we say we\u2019ll do. <\/p>","youtube_id":"vahMy8xBkho","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/vahMy8xBkho.jpg","timestamp":"June 23","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-should-we-keep-our-promises\/","added":"549 views | 02:42 min","info":"549 views | 02:42 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":162,"views":"549","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"213","title":"What happened on the Mount of Transfiguration?","description":"
Several times, Jesus had told his disciples about his death. He said he must go to Jerusalem to suffer, be killed, and then be raised on the third day. (see Matthew 16:21, 17:22,23, 26:11, Luke 18: 31-34, Luke 13:33) But they still didn\u2019t really understand that this was going to happen or why. Jesus took his friends, the Apostles Peter, James and John, to a high mountain to pray. Once there, Jesus\u2019 features and clothing were \u201ctransfigured\u201d (meaning, transformed or changed).
His face shone like the sun and his clothes turned to a dazzling white. (see Matthew 17:2) Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared, (see Matthew 17:3) talking with Jesus about his predicted death in Jerusalem. (see Luke 9:31) But the REAL Moses and Elijah had died hundreds of years before.
A bright cloud covered them and they heard God\u2019s voice saying, \u201cThis is My beloved son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to him!\u201d (Matthew 17:5, English Standard Version) The apostles fell on their faces, terrified! (see Matthew 17:6) Jesus told them to get up and not be afraid. When they looked up, Jesus was alone and the vision was over. Jesus told them not to tell anyone about what they had seen until after he was resurrected.
In the vision, Jesus was the main focus. As he grew up, Jesus learned and understood that he was the Messiah who had come to save the world. He learned about his mission by reading about himself in the Scriptures, often referred to by the Jewish people as \u201cthe Law and the Prophets.\u201d
\u201cThe Law\u201d here referred to the first five books of the Bible, written by Moses. \u201cThe Prophets\u201d referred to the rest of the books of the Old Testament, written primarily by prophets God chose to deliver His messages.
In the vision, we understand that Moses represented the Law and Elijah represented the Prophets. So, the Law and the Prophets - the Scriptures - pointed to Jesus as being the central part of God\u2019s plan for all of mankind. In the vision, Moses and Elijah were speaking of Jesus\u2019 coming sacrifice on the cross, which had been prophesied long before. This vision would have given Jesus great assurance that everything was going according to God\u2019s plan.
Jesus\u2019 shining face and bright clothing was a picture of himself glorified in heaven, after his death and resurrection. (See 2 Peter 1:16-18)
Years later, after Jesus was crucified, Peter spoke about what he, James and John had seen with their own eyes. In 2 Peter, he said, \u201c...we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, \u2018This is My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.\u2019 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.\u201d (2 Peter 1:16,18 NLT; 2 Peter 1:17, Berean Standard Bible)
So, what happened on the Mount of Transfiguration? God provided a vision that accomplished several purposes:
1. To prepare and encourage Jesus - and his apostles - for the difficult events ahead. 2. For God to publicly announce He was pleased with Jesus and that the apostles should listen to him. 3. To strengthen the disciples\u2019 faith after Jesus died. It proved that even though he had died and it might APPEAR as though all hope had been lost, Jesus truly WAS God\u2019s son, and through him, God's kingdom WOULD be established.
The vision teaches us that Jesus WAS and IS the central part of God\u2019s plan for all of mankind. Because Jesus carried out his mission perfectly, there will be great blessings for ALL people in God\u2019s future kingdom!<\/p>","youtube_id":"3uAByrgZ51o","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/3uAByrgZ51o.jpg","timestamp":"June 02","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-happened-on-the-mount-of-transfiguration\/","added":"625 views | 03:47 min","info":"625 views | 03:47 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":227,"views":"625","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"212","title":"What was manna?","description":"
Manna was special food from God that fed the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. He provided manna after helping Moses lead the people out of slavery in Egypt. Exodus (16:4, Christian Standard Bible) says, \u201cThen the LORD said to Moses, \u201cI am going to rain bread from heaven for you\u2026\u2019\u201d
\u201cWhen the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground.\u201d (Exodus 16:14, Berean Standard Bible)
Nobody knew what it was, because they had never seen anything like it before! Moses had to tell them God had provided bread from heaven so they would not starve.
God is so compassionate and wise. Not only did he lead the people out of slavery through Moses, but He had a plan in place to keep His people fed for forty years!
Exodus (See 16:31) tells us it was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. Numbers (11:8) tells us the people ground or beat it to make baked cakes of bread, and it tasted like fresh oil.
Each household gathered what they needed for that day. There was always enough for everyone! (See Exodus 16:16?18)
But there were important rules regarding this new miracle food. They had to eat each day\u2019s potion without saving any extra for the next day. But some people didn\u2019t listen, and the next morning, it smelled bad and had worms in it! (See Exodus 16:19-21)
They also had to gather it every morning, and if they didn\u2019t, the sun would melt it! However, the sixth day of the week was special. They were instructed to gather twice as much so they could rest and observe the seventh day, called the Sabbath. (See Exodus 16:22?24) But in this case, the extra didn\u2019t spoil overnight - another miracle!
By paying attention to God\u2019s instructions through Moses, they learned to obey God\u2019s rules. (See Exodus 16:4) This miraculous feeding system also required a daily faith that God would provide for their needs.
In Jesus\u2019 time, many of the Jewish people weren\u2019t convinced that he was the Messiah. A group came to him asking for proof as to who he was. They wanted to see a miracle similar to the \u201cbread from heaven\u201d given to their ancestors in the wilderness.(See John 6:30, 31)
Jesus said,\u201cThe true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.\u201d (John 6:33, NLT) \u201cThen Jesus declared, \u2018I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.\u2019\u201d (John 6:35, NIV)
He was saying that they didn\u2019t NEED to see a miracle of bread from heaven - the TRUE bread from heaven was standing right in front of them! HE was the source of their SPIRITUAL food, which was more important than physical food. (See Matthew 4:4) If they had accepted him, they could have fed on his teachings and learned how to live in a God-honoring way.
So, what was manna? Miraculous food from heaven that God provided to the Israelites after they left Egypt. Back then, manna was God\u2019s gift of physical food to the Israelites. Today, Jesus is God\u2019s gift of spiritual food for ALL people! What a neat picture God gave us!<\/p>","youtube_id":"HcCxeZjRTTg","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/HcCxeZjRTTg.jpg","timestamp":"May 05","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-was-manna\/","added":"1,175 views | 03:09 min","info":"1,175 views | 03:09 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":189,"views":"1175","categories":["Bible","What is...?"]},{"id":"211","title":"How do we know Jesus died and was resurrected?","description":"
Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection are important to believe and understand. Because he offered his life and died, he provided the ransom price (or payment) for Adam\u2019s sin and all of ours because we are Adam\u2019s descendants. Because he was resurrected as a powerful spirit being, eventually he will raise everyone who has ever died! (see John 5:28)
The Bible gives us evidence of his death:
After Jesus died, a soldier thrust a spear into his side. The Apostle John records that blood and water came out. (see John 19:34) When a person dies, their red blood cells separate from the watery plasma.
When Jesus died, miraculous events happened. From noon until 3 in the afternoon, darkness came over the land. The thick curtain in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom, there was an earthquake, and rocks split apart. (see Matthew 27:45,51) The Roman guards were terrified, and in Matthew (27:54, NLT), they acknowledged he was dead by saying, \u201cThis man truly was the son of God!\u201d
The chief priests knew he was dead because they requested securing the heavy stone that was blocking the tomb\u2019s opening. Guards then sealed the stone and watched the tomb. They didn\u2019t want Jesus\u2019 followers to be able to roll away the stone and remove his body in order to \u201cpretend\u201d he had been resurrected.
Jesus\u2019 friend, Joseph of Arimathea, knew firsthand he was dead because he wrapped Jesus\u2019 body in a linen cloth for burial. (see Matthew 27:59)
The Bible gives us evidence of his resurrection:
In Mark, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, came to the tomb, and saw a young man - probably an angel - sitting inside. He said, \u201cHe has risen! He is not here\u2026\u201d (Mark 16:6, NIV)
Jesus was resurrected as a spirit being, but because spirit beings are invisible, Jesus \u201cdressed\u201d himself with flesh and clothing so he could be seen. He appeared to his followers in various forms\u2026as a gardener, a stranger on the road to Emmaus, a man on the shores of Galilee and as the one who was pierced. He did this to demonstrate that he was a spirit being, no longer bound by human limitations as before.
In 1 Corinthians, reliable testimony from the Apostle Paul, who saw the resurrected Jesus himself, also confirms other eyewitnesses:
\u201c \u2026Christ died for our sins,...He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day\u2026He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time\u2026Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.\u201d (1 Corinthians 15:3-7, New Living Translation)
So, how do we know Jesus died and was resurrected? Those present at his death knew he was dead. Jesus proved his resurrection to the spirit nature by appearing in various situations and in different bodily forms. The Bible describes many reliable eyewitnesses to the events. We also trust the testimony of the angel, the Apostle Paul and others.
We rejoice and are thankful that Jesus completed his mission perfectly and faithfully, ensuring future blessings for everyone who has ever lived!<\/p>","youtube_id":"EQ9ZdA6HxtM","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/EQ9ZdA6HxtM.jpg","timestamp":"April 14","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-do-we-know-jesus-died-and-was-resurrected-cq-kids\/","added":"570 views | 03:27 min","info":"570 views | 03:27 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":207,"views":"570","categories":["Seasonal","Jesus"]},{"id":"210","title":"What is the lesson of the widows mites?","description":"
When Jesus was in the temple, he saw a poor widow who donated two small \u201cmites,\u201d which were coins of small value in those days. A widow is someone whose husband has passed away, so she is alone and without a companion and helper. Life could be hard for widows, especially if they were poor, because it could be difficult for them to earn money, so some needed extra support. Even Jesus indicated that some religious leaders took advantage of widows. (See Luke 20:47)
Psalms says that God is a \u201c\u2026protector of widows\u2026\u201d (Psalm 68:5, English Standard Version) The Israelites were not to mistreat widows, (See Exodus 22:22) and they were also instructed to set aside extra food for them. (See Deuteronomy 14:28,29; 24:19)
This poor widow was so devoted to God that she willingly gave all that she had - just two small coins. Instead of looking at the amount of the gift, Jesus saw her true character and her heart\u2019s desire to give her all.
Others were giving too, but the way they gave was different. Rich men gave larger amounts, (See Luke 21:1) but in proportion to what they had, the woman had given the most of all. In Luke, \u201c...Jesus said, \u201cthis poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.\u201d (Luke 21:3,4, NLT)
Her example teaches us how God and Jesus look at giving. People today tend to be impressed with large, expensive gifts and big gestures of generosity, but God and Jesus look at the heart.
Jesus wanted the disciples to understand that it is not always the great things we do that God values. Small daily sacrifices and self-denials can also represent our love and devotion to Him. Whether it be time, talent, energy or money, giving is our privilege! It shows our love for God, Jesus and others. 2 Corinthians says, \u201cGod loves a cheerful giver.\u201d (9:7, English Standard Version) He looks at the attitude in which we give a gift, not the amount. When we care for others by giving, we are showing God what\u2019s in our heart!
So, what is the lesson of the widow\u2019s mites? The poor widow\u2019s example teaches us the standard of godly sacrifice - to give all that we can with a willing heart. It also gives us insight into how God and Jesus look at giving - it\u2019s not about the amount of the gift, but the attitude behind it. Let\u2019s think of ways we can be more giving on a daily basis. Acts says, \u201cIt is more blessed to give than to receive.\u201d (Acts 20:35, New King James Version)<\/p>","youtube_id":"Zen9zDxZzMs","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/Zen9zDxZzMs.jpg","timestamp":"March 31","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-the-lesson-of-the-widows-mites\/","added":"525 views | 02:37 min","info":"525 views | 02:37 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":157,"views":"525","categories":["Jesus","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"209","title":"What happened with Elijah and the priests of Baal?","description":"
Our story begins with wicked Ahab, the 8th king of Israel. Instead of worshiping Jehovah, the one true God, he worshiped a fake god named Baal!
1 Kings (16:30, NLT) says, \u201c...Ahab\u2026did what was evil in the LORD\u2019s sight, even more than any of the kings before him.\u201d
By contrast, Elijah was a faithful prophet of God. A prophet was a person God chose to deliver His message. It was time for Israel to turn their hearts back to God and give up their false idol worship. The practice of worshiping false idols was disobedient to the very first commandment God gave to Moses, which said, \u201cYou shall have no other gods before Me.\u201d (Exodus 20:3, NASB)
Elijah proposed a test for Ahab, the 450 false priests of Baal, and the people of Israel. (see 1 Kings 18:22)
The test took place on Mount Carmel and would demonstrate - without a doubt - who the TRUE God was.
This was the test: the priests of Baal were to prepare a sacrifice, lay it on their altar, and then call upon Baal. Elijah was to do the same on an altar built for God. Whichever god answered by setting fire to the sacrifice was the one, true God.
The priests called upon Baal all morning, shouting and dancing wildly around the altar. Of course there was no reply because their god didn\u2019t exist!
Around noon, Elijah began to tease them, because obviously their behavior was silly. Elijah mocked them, suggesting they shout louder - maybe Baal was asleep or on vacation! (see 1 Kings 18:27) (Of course Elijah knew Baal was NEVER going to answer them no matter what they did!)
Finally, around 3pm, it was clear there would be no response.
Now it was Elijah\u2019s turn.
Elijah repaired an altar of Jehovah that had been torn down. He assembled 12 stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel. Then he dug a trench all around the altar. He piled wood on the altar and put the sacrifice on top of the wood.
He told the people to fill four large jars with water and pour them over the sacrifice and the wood. He had them do this three times until everything was soaked - even the trench was filled with water.
Elijah then stepped up to the altar and prayed, (1 Kings 18:36,37 NIV) \u201cLORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.\u201d
We serve an intelligent God who does not need to be shouted at to get His attention. Elijah\u2019s prayer was simple and sincere - not boastful. He recognized he was merely a servant of God. His goal was not a personal display of power, but to draw the people\u2019s hearts back to God.
God responded to Elijah\u2019s prayer immediately! Fire flashed down from heaven and burned up everything - the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the DUST on the GROUND - even the WATER in the trench! (see 1 Kings 18:38)
When the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, \u201cThe LORD is God!\u201d (see 1 Kings 18:39)
We may look back at the Israelites\u2019 behavior and say, \u201cWell, I don\u2019t worship false gods - I don\u2019t have any idols!\u201d But in OUR day, there are other types of idols. They may not look like the ones that Ahab and the Israelites worshiped, but they exist.
Today, an \u201cidol\u201d means anything that takes our main focus away from God. Examples might be money, possessions, popularity, or more influence on social media. These things can distract us so we have to be careful how we spend our time and what we pay attention to! Let\u2019s remember what Jesus said in Luke (4:8, NIV): \u201cIt is written: \u2018Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.\u2019\u201d
So, what happened with Elijah and the priests of Baal? Elijah proposed a test to demonstrate whether Jehovah or Baal was the true God. Of course, Baal never \u201canswered\u201d the priests, but Jehovah heard Elijah\u2019s prayer and immediately responded. He sent fire to miraculously burn up His completely soaked altar, thus showing everyone that He is the one true God!<\/p>","youtube_id":"dKcQHonmOi8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/dKcQHonmOi8.jpg","timestamp":"March 10","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-happened-with-elijah-and-the-priests-of-baal\/","added":"36,867 views | 04:33 min","info":"36,867 views | 04:33 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":273,"views":"36867","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"208","title":"Why does Jesus want us to be like little children?","description":"
Why does Jesus want us to be like little children?
In the book of Matthew, Jesus\u2019 disciples asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. This question showed the wrong heart attitude. In response, \u201cJesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. And he said: \u2018Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.\u2019\u201d (Matthew 18, verses 2, 4, 5, NLT; verse 3 NIV)
Little children are generally sincere in heart and typically have some natural qualities that are pleasing to God and Jesus. These nice qualities can potentially fade as we get older, so it\u2019s important to cultivate them. To \u201ccultivate\u201d means to take special care in order to make something develop or grow, like flowers or vegetables in a garden. People spend a lot of time and effort in their gardens because they want to grow lovely or useful things. It\u2019s the same with our characters - if we want to \u201cgrow\u201d a beautiful character, we must spend time and effort working at it.
Little children are trusting. Little children trust their parents and depend on them to provide what they need to grow up in a healthy way. Likewise, we can depend on God because He is reliable and wants what\u2019s best for us. His word is true and trustworthy. When God promises something, He makes it happen! In Isaiah (55:11, NLT) God says, \u201cIt is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.\u201d
Little children are humble. Nowadays, it seems like people want to brag about themselves or their accomplishments, especially on social media. But Jesus was never prideful like that. If we want to copy his humble character, there\u2019s no room for pride! James says, \u201c...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.\u201d (James 4:6, NLT)
Little children are teachable. Children go to school to learn the information they\u2019ll need to contribute to the world in a positive way. Part of being teachable is realizing that others know more than we do, and then listening carefully to learn the right lessons. God\u2019s word, the Bible, contains lessons, too! We can study the lives of the people of the Bible and learn from their examples - especially Jesus. Psalm says, \u201cYour word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.\u201d (Psalm 119:105, NLT)
So, why did Jesus want us to be like little children? Because little children tend to have some natural qualities that God and Jesus appreciate, like trust, humility and teachability. No matter how old we are, we should try to cultivate these qualities so we can share in God\u2019s future kingdom!<\/p>","youtube_id":"eFNO-FbWddk","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/eFNO-FbWddk.jpg","timestamp":"February 17","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-does-jesus-want-us-to-be-like-little-children\/","added":"646 views | 03:02 min","info":"646 views | 03:02 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":182,"views":"646","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"207","title":"How can we let our light shine?","description":"
In Matthew (5:16, Christian Standard Bible) Jesus said, \u201c...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.\u201d
\u201cLetting our light shine\u201d means copying the life of Jesus so that we reflect his light to others.
Let\u2019s consider how this works with an example:
Imagine you\u2019re in a dark room with many people. Everyone is stumbling around trying to find the door. YOU can see a door with a sliver of light through the keyhole. Now imagine you have a mirror that can catch that light and spread it around the room. The people see it and can move towards you! As they come closer to you, they see that you are not the light itself, but are reflecting it. From this reflection, they can trace the actual source of the light. In John (8:12, NIV), Jesus said, \u201cI am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.\u201d HE is the source of light in our example, and we do our best to reflect it to others!
Light conquers darkness. When we are in complete darkness, we long for light. The same is true for Jesus\u2019 faithful followers - they long for the light of God\u2019s word, the Bible, to light up the path of their life so they take the right steps. Psalm (119:105, NLT) says, \u201cYour word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.\u201d
We live in a dark world with many negative influences. John (1:5, GNT) says, \u201cThe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.\u201d We can please God by shining our light in the darkness, thus making the world a more beautiful and colorful place!
Light can change our feelings. Jesus had an inner peace and joy that made others feel better. In John, he said, (15:11, NKJ) \u201cThese things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.\u201d Like when the sun comes out after a cloudy morning, we are brightened by the light of others who follow Jesus - they make us feel joyful. We want our lives to bring peace and joy to others, too!
Here are some ways we can let our light shine:
We can watch our words. Are we using language that\u2019s pleasing to God? Do our words build others up or tear them down?
We can keep our promises. This shows others we\u2019re trustworthy. God always keeps His promises, so let\u2019s show Him and others that we keep ours! We can show respect to everyone, especially to those who others think are not so important. Let\u2019s try to be friends with everyone at school and stand up for those being bullied or mistreated.
We can be kind to others even if they are not kind to us. Jesus said to love our enemies. (see Matthew 5:43,44) It can be hard to do, but we can still try our best to follow his command.
So, how can we let our light shine? We can copy the life of Jesus so that we reflect his light to others. Nobody lights a candle and then hides it under a basket - that would be silly. (see Matthew 5:15) So let\u2019s not hide our light either - let\u2019s let it shine to bless others!<\/p>","youtube_id":"7BON89eOiV4","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/7BON89eOiV4.jpg","timestamp":"January 28","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-can-we-let-our-light-shine\/","added":"1,801 views | 03:19 min","info":"1,801 views | 03:19 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":199,"views":"1801","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"206","title":"What happened with Jesus, Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman?","description":"
What happened with Jesus, Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman? This is a wonderful lesson about the importance of faith, humility and forgiveness. Jesus' mercy and compassion is contrasted by the self-righteous, judgmental attitude of the Pharisees.
The Pharisees were the religious teachers of the Jewish Law. Many of them were prideful, thinking they were better than everyone else. One day, a Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to his home for dinner.
A sinful woman in town heard that Jesus would be at Simon\u2019s house, so she went there with a bottle of perfume and stood near his feet. It seems she did not say a word, but instead spoke with her tears. As she cried, her tears washed his feet and she dried them with her hair. She then kissed his feet and poured perfume on them.
She had a repentant heart with a desire for forgiveness, wanting to live a better life. She showed humility as she honored the Master. But Simon looked down on her and said to himself that if Jesus was REALLY a prophet, he would know what sort of person she was and would never allow her to touch him. But Simon was wrong on so many levels!
Of course Jesus knew what Simon was thinking, so he spoke a parable - a story with a lesson - to help Simon recognize the importance of love and forgiveness. He said, \u201c...\u2019A man loaned money to two people\u2014500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?\u2019\u201d (Luke 7:41,42 NLT)
Simon answered the one who had the larger debt canceled. Jesus said he was correct. He went on to say that Simon hadn\u2019t even performed the most ordinary customs of the day for a guest, like washing his feet or greeting him with a kiss. Yet the woman who shouldn\u2019t have even been there washed his feet with her tears, kissed and poured perfume on them.
Jesus\u2019 lesson was that the higher degree of love and respect was shown by the woman, who had a greater realization of her sins and therefore a greater desire to be forgiven. Simon judged her yet didn\u2019t see that he, too, was a sinner in need of forgiveness. Oftentimes, those who are prideful and think they don't need Jesus are the ones who need him the most.
Jesus said, \u201c...her sins, which are many, are forgiven\u2014for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.\u201d (Luke 7:47, English Standard Version) He then told her that her sins were forgiven. We also must put our faith in Jesus, and recognize when we have sinned in order to repent and appreciate forgiveness.
We can\u2019t read the hearts of others like Jesus could. We don\u2019t know every circumstance of a person\u2019s life. In Matthew, Jesus said, \u201cDo not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.\u201d (Matthew 7:1,2 NLT)
So, what happened with Jesus, Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman? A sinful woman came to Jesus with faith and a repentant heart and was forgiven. A prideful Pharisee judged her, unable to recognize his own sins and his need for forgiveness, too! Let\u2019s be humble and understand we need to go to God in prayer and ask daily for forgiveness for our mistakes. And let\u2019s never look down on someone\u2026unless we\u2019re helping them up!<\/p>","youtube_id":"s4Q58EdxoF0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/s4Q58EdxoF0.jpg","timestamp":"January 06","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-happened-with-jesus-simon-the-pharisee-and-the-sinful-woman\/","added":"1,147 views | 03:30 min","info":"1,147 views | 03:30 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":210,"views":"1147","categories":["Jesus","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"205","title":"Who was Simeon?","description":"
Simeon was a prophet who was already old at the time of Jesus\u2019 birth. Luke records, \u201cAt that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The holy spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord\u2019s Messiah.\u201d (Luke 2:25,26, NLT) So Simeon was an elderly man, with an excellent character and reputation, looking forward to the coming of Jesus. He had not given up hope, nor allowed doubt or fear to settle into his heart. Instead, he eagerly awaited God\u2019s precious, promised gift to mankind. Through the holy spirit - God\u2019s power and influence - he knew that God would allow him to see Jesus before he died.
Luke continues: \u201cThat day the spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the Law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying: \u2018Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.\u2019\u201d (Luke 2:27-29, NLT)
Nine months earlier Mary had also referred to herself as God\u2019s servant. (see Luke 1:38) But she was at the beginning of her service and Simeon was at the end of his.
Now an old man, the most important thing Simeon looked forward to in his life was a glimpse of the baby Jesus, God\u2019s gift to the world. He saw the baby, took him in his arms and knew that his life was now complete, because he was holding the hope of the world. What joy he must have felt, knowing this was the promised Redeemer who would bless all the families of the earth in God\u2019s future kingdom!
Then Simeon said, \u201c\u2018With my own eyes I have seen what You have done to save your people, (Luke 2:30, Contemporary Version) which You have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of Your people Israel!\u2019 Jesus\u2019 parents were amazed at what was being said about him.\u201d (Luke 2:31-33, NLT)
Simeon explained how the gift of Jesus was available for everyone - his death and resurrection would provide the opportunity for ALL who have ever died to live again in God\u2019s kingdom.
He acknowledged that Jesus was a light that would touch EVERYONE. Of course, at that time, the light was only a baby, but that baby was the hope of the world for all of us today!
Now Simeon had sorrowful words: \u201cThen Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby\u2019s mother, \u2018This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.\u2019\u201d (Luke 2:34,35 NLT) One interpretation of Simeon\u2019s words is that many would not believe that Jesus is the promised Redeemer who will bless all mankind - until their opportunity in God\u2019s future kingdom. But based on Jesus\u2019 life and example, many WOULD believe. He then hinted at how Jesus\u2019 death would naturally be a very difficult experience for Mary.
So, who was Simeon? A elderly man of good character whom God promised would not die before he saw the Savior. Let\u2019s be patient like Simeon was, understanding that in all things we must wait for God\u2019s perfect timing. Let\u2019s have faith like Simeon did, strong and certain in our belief that God will keep His promises.<\/p>","youtube_id":"Rfs_UoPUmYI","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/Rfs_UoPUmYI.jpg","timestamp":"December 02","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/who-was-simeon\/","added":"1,368 views | 03:33 min","info":"1,368 views | 03:33 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":213,"views":"1368","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"198","title":"Who was John the Baptist?","description":"
In the Bible, we read about Zachariah and Elizabeth, a Jewish couple who were faithful in following all of God’s commandments and requirements. (see Luke 1:6)
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\r\nHowever, Elizabeth could not have children, and now they were very old. (see Luke 1:7) But God sent the angel Gabriel to deliver a message to Zachariah that he and Elizabeth would miraculously have a son named John, who would be great in the eyes of God. (see Luke 1:15) He would be filled with the holy spirit - God's influence and power working in his life - even before his birth! (see Luke 1:15)
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\r\nIt’s believed that Elizabeth and Mary, Jesus’ mother, were related, perhaps cousins. If so, this would make John and Jesus cousins, too! Luke describes John when he was young: (1:80, NIV) “And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.”
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\r\nMatthew (3:4, NASB, see also Mark 1:6) describes John as a man: “Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.”
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\r\nIn Hebrew, “John” means “God is gracious” - and He certainly is! Other New Testament writers - Matthew, Mark, and Luke - attached “the Baptist” to his name.
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\r\nJohn the Baptist was a great prophet of God. He urged the Jewish people to repent from their sins and turn their hearts back to God. His goal was to point to a coming messenger who was more important - Jesus! He prepared the hearts of the people so they could receive Jesus and his teachings. One day, when John was baptizing people in the Jordan River, Jesus walked up to him to be baptized, too. In Matthew we read, “But John tried to prevent him, saying, ‘I have the need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?’” (3:14, NASB) “But Jesus said, ‘It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.’ So John agreed to baptize him.” (3:15, NLT)
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\r\nGod graciously gave John the privilege of preparing hearts for Jesus and baptizing the Savior of the world!
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\r\nThe start of Jesus’ mission would signal a decrease in John’s popularity. John understood that Jesus was the beloved son of God, and people should stop looking to John and start looking to Jesus. (see John 3:28) John humbly told his disciples about Jesus, “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30, NIV)
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\r\nJohn the Baptist later lost his life because he stood up for righteousness. (see Mark 6:21-27) But his life remains as an example to us of dedication, purpose, and humility.
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\r\nIn speaking of John’s faithfulness and the privilege of his work, Jesus said, “among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist;” (Matthew 11:11, NIV)
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\r\nSo, who was John the Baptist? A prophet whose mission was to bring the people back into a relationship with God by repenting of their sins. He also pointed the way to Jesus, preparing the hearts of the people to follow him.
\r\n <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"BMnlW9EOn1Q","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/BMnlW9EOn1Q.jpg","timestamp":"November 04","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/who-was-john-the-baptist\/","added":"2,052 views | 03:03 min","info":"2,052 views | 03:03 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":183,"views":"2052","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"197","title":"Should Christians visit fortune tellers or mediums?","description":"
Should Christians visit fortune tellers or mediums?
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\r\nNO!
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\r\nThe Bible strongly warns us against fortune tellers, mediums, psychics, witchcraft, and sorcery…and this would include tarot cards, horoscopes, and ouija boards, too!
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\r\nSpeaking through Moses, God instructed the people in Deuteronomy (18:9, English Standard Version, 18:10,11 NLT, ) “When you come into the land…you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations…And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.
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\r\nWhen Lucifer (later called Satan) was cast out of heaven, other angels followed him - we know them today as fallen angels or demons. Some even call them “spirit guides” to make them sound helpful. No matter what they’re called, they’re actually dangerous and deceitful.
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\r\nA fortune teller is someone who claims to know the future. But where are they getting this information? Not from God, because he calls fortune telling “abominable,” which means it’s very bad. At best, these so-called predictors of the future are making things up and taking people’s money. At worst, their predictions come from evil, satanic sources. (see Acts 16:16-18)
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\r\nIt’s dangerous to look for answers from the spirit world. For guidance, we should go to God’s word, the Bible, or to God Himself in prayer. Not knowing the future helps us to develop faith and dependence on God, just as children trust their parents and depend on them to feed and clothe them.
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\r\nA medium is someone who claims they can speak to the dead. But the Bible tells us that the dead can’t do anything and don’t know anything (see Ecclesiastes 9:5,10) - nothing happens in the grave. So who are the mediums REALLY talking to?
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\r\nJesus himself described Satan as “...a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44 ESV) Today, Satan is still lying, making people think that the dead can communicate with the living. But according to the Bible, they CAN’T. At best, those who call themselves mediums are putting on a fake show and taking people’s money. At worst, they’re communicating with demons PRETENDING to be dead people, which is evil AND pretty scary.
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\r\nThose who love God and His word do everything they can to listen to God’s warnings and avoid these harmful practices. At parties or other gatherings, we may see tarot cards (used to tell the future) or ouija boards (used to communicate with the dead). If we see these things, we should leave the room immediately and not have anything to do with them!
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\r\nIsaiah says, (8:19,20, NLT) “Someone may say to you, ‘Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.’ But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.”
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\r\nSo, should Christians visit fortune tellers or mediums? No - NEVER! Their practices are abominable to God, so why would we want to associate with such things?
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\r\nWe should rely on God (who is all-knowing) and His Word, (which is a light for the path of our lives). (see Psalm 119:105) God does and will reveal information to us in His perfect timing. The book of John (5:28,29, NLT) says, “Don’t be so surprised!...the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again…” So at that time, we WILL be able to see and speak to our REAL loved ones!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"ThbpTEsqVmc","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/ThbpTEsqVmc.jpg","timestamp":"October 14","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/should-christians-visit-fortune-tellers-or-mediums\/","added":"1,518 views | 03:48 min","info":"1,518 views | 03:48 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":228,"views":"1518","categories":["Character Development","Seasonal"]},{"id":"196","title":"Why cant we see God?","description":"
John (1:18, NKJ) says, "No one has seen God at any time.“
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\r\nGod is a spirit being, which means, like all spirit beings, He’s invisible. But just because we can’t see God doesn’t mean He isn’t there. We can’t see the wind, but we CAN see leaves blowing on tree branches. We can’t see a wi-fi signal, but we DEFINITELY know when we’re online (of offline!).
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\r\nLikewise with God, although we can’t see Him, we CAN see the effects of His power and design skills - just step outside and appreciate our beautiful, natural world…look up at the night sky at the moon and the stars, or visit a forest and enjoy the trees and animals He created!
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\r\nNot being able to see Him with our eyes helps build our faith. The Apostle Paul says that Jesus’ followers “Walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7. KJV) Faith is a confident belief in things unseen based on evidence that CAN be seen.
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\r\nEvery building has an architect, so it makes sense that the earth and mankind have a designer, too! Everything in our physical world has orderly, arranged patterns. Oranges don’t grow from apple seeds. Bees know how to make honey, but flies never will. Order does not come from disorder. Everything God made operates under specific, scientific principles because He designed them!
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\r\nThe Apostle Philip wanted to see God, too! He asked Jesus to show God to him. (see John 14:8,9 NIV) Jesus answered, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” This meant that Jesus was the best and the closest reflection of God’s divine character that was or ever would be possible to give to mankind. Jesus, God’s son, was in such harmony with God and doing what God wanted, that knowing Jesus is like knowing God! Have you ever felt good after eating your favorite food? In the book of John (see 4:34), Jesus compared that feeling with how satisfied he was learning and obeying God's word. This gave him spiritual nourishment.
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\r\nWe can “see” (or, perceive) God’s character through His word, the Bible. We learn about God’s character traits of love, wisdom, justice and power. We learn about what He expects of us.
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\r\nAnother way we can “see” (or, perceive) God is through His holy spirit - His power and influence - given to Jesus’ faithful followers. Those followers can also "see" (or, recognize) God in their lives by seeing His influence in their experiences, as well as how He guides their paths and touches their hearts.
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\r\nIt’s actually a GOOD thing that we can't see Him, because in Exodus (33:20, NLT) God said to Moses, “But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see Me and live.”
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\r\n1 Timothy (6:16, NLT) says, “He lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen Him, nor ever will.” Perhaps it’s because God’s power is so mighty, so great, so bright, that it would be dangerous for our imperfect and weak human bodies to survive such power! Think of electricity - it’s invisible and powerful, but extremely deadly if we come into contact with it!
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\r\nSo, why can’t we see God? Because He’s a spirit being, and spirit beings are invisible. Today, faithful followers of Jesus walk by faith and not by sight, and not being able to see God is faith-building. God’s character and His holy spirit is shown to us in the Bible, and we can look to Jesus for a reflection of God’s character.
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\r\nSubmit YOUR questions to https:\/\/ChristianQuestions.com. Thank you for liking and subscribing!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"VIPyhoKaNsk","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/VIPyhoKaNsk.jpg","timestamp":"September 30","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-cant-we-see-god\/","added":"1,134 views | 03:40 min","info":"1,134 views | 03:40 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":220,"views":"1134","categories":["God"]},{"id":"195","title":"What is compassion?","description":"
Compassion is ACTIVE sympathy. It’s a feeling of wanting to help those who are suffering. In other words, we don't just FEEL bad - we’re motivated to DO something to help, because we want to show our compassion!
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\r\nGod has compassion on US and our sinful condition. Psalms says, “The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” (108, 8: NLT)
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\r\nThe Bible says God’s compassion NEVER fails! (Lamentations 3:22) God showed His ULTIMATE compassion and love by sending His only begotten son, Jesus, to earth. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross put into motion God’s compassionate, future plan for ALL mankind. Those who have died will be raised back to life and given an opportunity to live forever on a perfect earth!
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\r\nWhen he was here on earth, Jesus had compassion on the people he met during his ministry. Speaking about Jesus, Matthew says,“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36, NLT)
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\r\nJesus didn’t coldly look on and then pass by those who needed help - he DID something to relieve that suffering by performing miracles of healing! In Matthew, we read, “A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.” (12:15, NIV) Notice how it says ALL - Jesus not only had sympathy, but he took that feeling further and demonstrated compassion by DOING something about their illnesses!
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\r\nWhile we obviously can’t heal the way Jesus did, God and Jesus don’t want us to be cold and unfeeling towards others who are suffering. But what CAN we do?
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\r\nFirst, we can be aware of others’ feelings. Then, we can open our hearts to feel more than just sympathy - we can actively look for ways to show compassion!
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\r\nIs a new student feeling nervous and out of place? You can show compassion for them by making them feel welcome! Share what you have, ask them to play on your team, or include them with your friends.
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\r\nIf you know someone who is sick or sad, you can spend time with them to cheer them up. Play a game, bring them a gift, or just be a good listener!
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\r\nJesus showed compassion towards his enemies, so we should too. He died for EVERYONE. We can't read the hearts of those we disagree with - we don't know why they act the way they do - maybe they’ve had a difficult life.. But we CAN control our OWN behavior, so let's show compassion in OUR actions and reactions, even with those we disagree with.
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\r\nSo, what is compassion? It’s active sympathy. It’s more than just feeling bad; it leads to DOING something to help ease another’s suffering. God’s compassion never fails, and Jesus showed us how to be compassionate by caring for others. How can YOU show more compassion today?<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"1aKU009zbTo","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/1aKU009zbTo.jpg","timestamp":"September 09","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-compassion\/","added":"597 views | 02:59 min","info":"597 views | 02:59 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":179,"views":"597","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"194","title":"Why cant we have everything we want?","description":"
Life is filled with wonderful blessings from God. We have fun with our friends and family, we have varieties of delicious foods to eat, and we love playing outside.
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\r\nBut when we’re young, we tend to think we should have EVERYTHING we want ALL the time! The problem is mistakenly thinking WE know what’s best for us, but it’s really God who does. Good parents do their best for us, so it’s wise to trust and obey them! Speaking about God, Matthew (6:8, NIV) says, “...your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Colossians (3:20, NIV) says, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
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\r\nIt helps to think about the future in the “short term” and the “long term.” The “short term” means getting something right away that seems nice at the time. Maybe that’s eating candy for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But in the “long term” - later - you’ll be sick! That’s a simple example of how getting something NOW in the short term SEEMS good, but really, it can cause future problems in the long term. Just because we want something doesn’t mean it’s good for us - in the short term OR the long term!
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\r\nGod can see the big picture for ALL of us - we cannot. He knows what’s best for us in the long term. Good parents know a lot about what their kids need to stay safe and healthy on a daily basis. So when we start to feel like we should get everything we want - whenever we want it - let’s trust that God always knows best about what we need, and good parents are trying their best.
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\r\nOur next thought might be, “That’s not fair!” And that’s understandable, because at this time, life ISN’T fair. People lie, steal, and hurt others. We live in an unfair and sinful world, but eventually, it WILL be made fair - because of God’s beautiful plan for EVERYONE!
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\r\nIn God’s future kingdom, sin will eventually be removed and everyone will be given lots of help to make good choices — like sharing and thinking of others instead of themselves.
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\r\nHowever, even though we know things will be made fair in the future, right now we still need to be patient, obedient, and do our best in the circumstances that God has allowed us to be in. He ALWAYS knows what’s best!
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\r\nSo, why can’t we have everything we want? Because what we want may not be good for us. We have to trust that God knows what we need, and good parents try to do what’s best for us in the long run. Even though life isn't fair right now because of sin, eventually in God’s kingdom, sin will be removed and all will have the opportunity to make good choices that will promote fairness for ALL people. We are thankful for God’s plan!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"ympJwLXLp9k","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/ympJwLXLp9k.jpg","timestamp":"August 26","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-cant-we-have-everything-we-want\/","added":"758 views | 03:00 min","info":"758 views | 03:00 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":180,"views":"758","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"193","title":"What is the highway of holiness?","description":"
The Bible teaches us about a highway in God’s future kingdom.
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\r\nThe prophet Isaiah says, “A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness…” (Isaiah 35:8, NASB) This is not a literal highway - Isaiah is using picture language. We can imagine the highway as a path of learning. Everyone who will be awakened on earth from the grave will be able to travel on this symbolic highway, learning to live righteously by following God’s ways.
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\r\nIsaiah continues, “The unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those.” (Isaiah 35:8, NASB) Mankind inherited Adam’s sin, so when they are first raised from the grave, they START OUT being unclean - meaning, sinful. The purpose of the highway is to gradually remove all traces of sin through the learning process. Eventually, those who successfully reach the end of this symbolic highway will no longer be unclean - they will be righteous and reconciled to God. To be “reconciled” means living in harmony with God’s ways. Therefore, they will have the opportunity to live forever on a beautiful, perfect earth!
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\r\nIsaiah (35:9) also says, “No lion will be there, nor will any vicious animal go up on it; they will not be found there.” More picture language! These lions and vicious animals represent Satan’s temptations, false teachings, and other negative, harmful things that can lead us away from God.
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\r\nWe know from 2 Corinthians (see 4:4) that right now, Satan is the “god of this world,” influencing mankind to do bad things. But while those raised from the dead travel this highway, once having chosen to follow God's righteous principles, Satan and all of his evil influences will be bound or completely restrained. This will make it easier for everyone to understand that following God's ways brings peace and blessings!
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\r\nFinally, Isaiah says, “But the redeemed will walk there, those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return…Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.” (35:9 NASB, 10 NLT) Everyone will be given lots of help to learn how to live righteously. Those who will have successfully traveled this highway and learned God’s ways will then be filled with joy because they will have gradually come back into a full, proper and loving relationship with God.
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\r\nWhat a beautiful picture of the fair and effective learning process we can expect in God’s future kingdom. He has wonderful things in store for ALL of us!
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\r\nSo, what is the Highway of Holiness? It’s picture language to describe the learning process in God’s future kingdom. Mankind will eventually be reconciled back into a relationship with God - by learning how to obey His commandments and live righteously!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"jNYFm296cR0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/jNYFm296cR0.jpg","timestamp":"August 12","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-the-highway-of-holiness\/","added":"395 views | 02:48 min","info":"395 views | 02:48 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":168,"views":"395","categories":["Bible","What is...?"]},{"id":"192","title":"What is repentance","description":"
Repentance is the process of realizing we have made a mistake, sincerely asking for forgiveness from God (and if possible anyone we might have hurt), and then changing our behavior so we don’t make that same mistake again.
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\r\nChanging our behavior is an important part of repentance. It’s not just about feeling guilty or sorry about what we did (or that we got caught!) and then going and doing it again - we have to do our best to head in the opposite direction!
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\r\nWhen Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden by disobeying God, he set off a chain reaction of sin that we all inherited. So, we ALL sin, but when we do, we feel further away from God. Repenting can help us get back on track and bring us closer to God!
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\r\nLet’s take the example of a child named John not listening to his parents. To repent, he would first realize that this behavior was wrong - good parents make good rules, and children have a responsibility to follow them and treat their moms and dads with respect. Next, John would pray and sincerely ask God for forgiveness and apologize to his parents for his behavior. Finally, John would work at making things right, like actively looking for ways to listen to and respect his parents. Do you see the turnaround? John is doing his best to focus his behavior in a new, positive direction!
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\r\nIn the Bible, we learn about a Pharisee named Saul, who thought he was doing the right thing by persecuting Christians who followed Jesus. After Jesus appeared to him as a spirit being on the road to Damascus, Saul realized his terrible mistake.
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\r\nActs (9:3-6, Life Application Study Bible) says, “As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him! He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?’ ‘Who are you, sir?’ Saul asked. And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’”
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\r\nAfter this miraculous event, Saul turned his behavior in the complete opposite direction. He later became the Apostle Paul - an incredible leader and faithful follower of Jesus!
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\r\nSo, what is repentance? It’s the process of realizing we have made a mistake, sincerely asking for forgiveness from God (and if possible anyone we might have hurt), and then changing our behavior so we don’t make that same mistake again. The Apostle Paul is an example of someone who repented from his wrong behavior. His zeal was then positively directed into preaching the gospel message and standing up for Jesus!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"KCNGgx5eWJ8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/KCNGgx5eWJ8.jpg","timestamp":"July 29","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-repentance\/","added":"2,375 views | 02:44 min","info":"2,375 views | 02:44 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":164,"views":"2375","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"191","title":"What does the Bible say about honor?","description":"
To honor means to value someone or something with a high level of respect. Most importantly, we should honor God and give Him the high level of respect He deserves. (Revelation 4:11) We can honor God by obeying His righteous principles, like doing nice things for others, (see Galatians 6:10) and being generous to those in need. (see Proverbs 14:31)
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\r\nThe Bible teaches that along with honoring God, we are to honor His son Jesus. (see Revelation 5:13 and 1 Peter 3:15 using RVIC, John 5:22, 23) Jesus deserves to be honored because he was faithful in completing every aspect of his mission when he was here on earth. He graciously offered his life as a ransom for Adam so that all who have died can be raised in God’s future kingdom!
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\r\nWe should honor our parents. (see Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16) Ephesians (6:1,2, NIV) says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother…” One way we can do this is by being obedient. Good parents make good rules and try to do what is best for their kids.
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\r\nThe Apostle Peter says we should honor everyone! (see 1 Peter 2:17) We can honor others by treating them the way WE want to be treated. If we want others to share with us, let’s share what WE have. If we want others to be kind to us, let’s be kind to others. We also shouldn’t brag about ourselves or our accomplishments. Proverbs (29:23, NASB) says, “A person’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.”
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\r\nThe Apostle Paul gives Jesus’ faithful followers a fun challenge! In Romans, he says, (12:10, English Standard Version) “...Outdo one another in showing honor.”
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\r\nWe should also honor the Bible because it came from God and helps us learn more about Him and what He expects of us. (see 2 Timothy 3:16,17) This means treating it as MORE than just “any other book.” It means reading and studying it, doing our best to learn the lessons from the people of the Bible. It also means paying respectful attention when we are learning about the Bible. The Bible also tells us to honor marriage, (see Hebrews 13:4, Peter 3:7), older people (see Leviticus 19:32), good teachers in our church (see 1 Timothy 5:17, 18) and those whose spouses have passed away. (see 1 Timothy 5:3)
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\r\nSo, what does the Bible say about honor? It says we should honor (or highly respect) God, Jesus, and our parents. We should honor the Bible. Peter said we should honor everyone! Let’s remember the wise words of Proverbs: (21:21, NRSV): “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor.”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"Bcdg4QnhD1M","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/Bcdg4QnhD1M.jpg","timestamp":"July 15","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-does-the-bible-say-about-honor\/","added":"1,219 views | 02:25 min","info":"1,219 views | 02:25 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":145,"views":"1219","categories":["Character Development","What is...?"]},{"id":"190","title":"Who was Jonah?","description":"
Who was Jonah?
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\r\nJonah was a prophet. A prophet was a person God chose to deliver His message. God wanted Jonah to deliver His message to the wicked people of Nineveh.
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\r\nHe wanted Jonah to preach that Nineveh would be overthrown because of their wickedness. The correct course of action was to repent, (meaning, feel truly sorry and then change their ways) to avoid this consequence.
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\r\nBut Jonah didn’t want to deliver this message. Foolishly thinking he could somehow hide from God, he disobediently boarded a ship that was set to sail in the OPPOSITE direction!
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\r\nGod caused a strong wind to come, and a violent storm threatened to sink the ship. The sailors tried to figure out the cause of their misfortune. Jonah confessed that HE was the reason for the storm and advised them to throw him overboard, and reluctantly, they did. The storm immediately stopped and then Jonah was swallowed by what the Bible describes as a “great fish” - we might think of it today as a whale.
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\r\nWhile inside the belly of the whale for three days, Jonah repented and prayed.
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\r\nGod then caused the whale to spit Jonah out onto dry land.This time, Jonah followed God’s command and went to Nineveh to preach that in 40 days, Nineveh would be overthrown.
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\r\nThe king heard the message and - remarkably - repented! He took off his royal robes, dressed himself in sackcloth, and sat in ashes.These actions symbolized that he was truly sorry for being so sinful. He issued a decree that everyone should fast (meaning, not eat or drink) for three days and be dressed in sackcloth, even the animals. God accepted their repentance, and the people of Nineveh were saved!
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\r\nWhy didn’t Jonah want to deliver God’s message?
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\r\nNineveh was the capital of a large, ancient empire called Assyria. Assyria was Israel’s dreaded enemy, a very strong nation at that time. Assyria often invaded Israel and treated them very cruelly. So obviously, the Israelites didn’t like the Assyrians!
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\r\nWhen we read Jonah’s words, we conclude that Jonah WANTED the people to be overthrown - after all, they were his country’s enemies! Jonah said bitterly to God, “...I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” (4:2, The Life Application Bible, which uses a form of NIV).
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\r\nIn other words, Jonah knew that if the people of Nineveh repented, God WOULD spare them because He is so merciful and loving. Therefore, Jonah decided that he would rather NOT give them the message - in HIS mind, it was better if they faced consequences without being warned!
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\r\nWhy did the king listen to a prophet that wasn’t even from his own country?
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\r\nIn those days, people exchanged news through the trade routes. Maybe the king listened and repented because he had heard the news of God’s great power in saving Jonah inside a whale!
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\r\nWas God’s word fulfilled or not? After all, He said Nineveh would be overthrown.
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\r\nWell, look at what happened - Nineveh repented, and even put sackcloth on their animals…so, in a sense, Nineveh - the OLD, evil Nineveh - WAS overthrown. Now there was a new, reformed Nineveh, intending to change their sinful ways.
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\r\nInterestingly, Jesus made a personal comparison with Jonah in Matthew (12:40, NIV). where he said, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
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\r\nHis stay in the tomb would correspond to Jonah’s stay in the belly of the whale. After three days, God rescued Jonah and after parts of three days, God resurrected Jesus.
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\r\nJonah offered his life to save the men on the ship, just like Jesus offered HIS life to save ALL of humankind. In God’s future kingdom, when all are brought back to life because of Jesus’ sacrifice, everyone will be given an opportunity to live forever on a perfect earth.
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\r\nWe see God’s love in both the story of Jonah and in Jesus’ life! So, who was Jonah? A prophet of God. Instead of delivering God’s message to the people of Nineveh, he disobediently fled in the opposite direction. After spending three days in the belly of a whale, he finally followed God’s command. The people of Nineveh listened, repented, and were spared. It’s silly to think we can hide from God or what He wants us to do, so let’s learn from Jonah and stay obedient to God’s word!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"46WmUiYJD88","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/46WmUiYJD88.jpg","timestamp":"July 01","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/who-was-jonah\/","added":"3,553 views | 04:49 min","info":"3,553 views | 04:49 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":289,"views":"3553","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"189","title":"What is integrity?","description":"
What is integrity? It’s the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Let’s think of it as standing up for what you know is right even if no one else is watching or agreeing with you…and that’s a hard thing to do!
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\r\nHere’s a simple example: Mom said you can’t have another cookie, but she’s not in the room. Do you take it anyway, or obey her because you trust there’s a good reason she said no? We might think nobody can see whether we take it or not, but God and Jesus can. The Bible says even the angels pay attention to our actions! Listening to Mom and not taking the cookie shows integrity.
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\r\nLiving our lives with integrity is important because it’s an example of shining our light to others - the light we have from trying to copy the life of Jesus. When we do good things, it brings praise to God! In Matthew, (5:16, KJV), Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
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\r\nIt may not be easy, but doing what God wants is always more important than doing what others want. (see Hebrews 13:6) Proverbs says, (29:25, GNT) “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe.“
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\r\nIf we are following God’s righteous principles, we must stay true to what we believe and not change because of peer pressure. Others around us may make choices that we wouldn’t. They can make those choices for themselves, but WE need to stick by - and stand up for - what we know is right! If we aren’t sure what to do, we can always discuss it with our parents. When the people of Israel couldn’t choose between serving fake gods and the one true God, Joshua showed integrity by speaking up for God with determination and courage. He bravely said, “...choose this day whom you will serve, …But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15, English Standard Version)
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\r\nDaniel is another example from the Bible who showed integrity. When the king of Persia passed a law that said nobody could worship anyone but him, Daniel continued to pray to the one true God. Even though he knew the punishment meant being thrown into a den of lions, he never thought twice about standing up for God - and God saved him from the lions! So, what is integrity? It’s the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. We want to stand up for what we know is right even if no one else is watching or agreeing with us. It can be a hard thing to do, but with God on our side, we can have the strength and courage to do what’s right!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"ZIOHToNNGKA","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/ZIOHToNNGKA.jpg","timestamp":"June 17","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-integrity\/","added":"3,043 views | 02:42 min","info":"3,043 views | 02:42 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":162,"views":"3043","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"188","title":"What is the highest form of love in the Bible?","description":"
The Bible describes four different kinds or levels of love - family love, brotherly love, philanthropic love (which means giving to others when you see a need) and a special kind of love that is selfless and unconditional. Unconditional love means loving without expecting or requiring anything in return. The word for this level of love is translated from the Greek words “agapao” or “agape,” so you might hear this type of love also referred to as “Agape Love.”
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\r\nAgape love is the highest form of love in the Bible. It is selfless and rare. It helps, comforts, cheers, blesses and inspires others to love and good works! Agape love is especially important because it is associated with God. In 1 John (see 1 John 4:16), we read that God IS love - this special agape love! This means His very nature is this special, selfless love flowing from everything He does. He acts in the best interest of ALL of His creation! In Matthew, Jesus said we should have this kind of love for God. (22:37, NIV) “‘...Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
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\r\nIf we have agape love for God, then we will do our best to be pleasing to Him with our thoughts, words and actions.
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\r\nJesus encouraged the necessary agape love among his disciples - just as he himself loved them. In John, he said, (15:17, NRSV) “I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.” Jesus gave and gave without any expectation of return. He respected others regardless of who they were. If we have agape love for others, we’ll be kind, forgiving and generous - which is love in action. We should give without expecting anything back. We’ll try to make friends with everyone at school, especially new students who might be nervous or scared, or those who come from different backgrounds. Jesus had agape love for his enemies and said we should too. In Matthew, he preached about having agape love for those who don’t treat us kindly: (5:44, NKJV) “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,...”
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\r\nThis may be a difficult commandment, but if we have agape love, we will do our best to love those who hurt us and never try to hurt them back. So, what is the highest form of love in the Bible? Agape love. This highest, selfless form of love gives and expects nothing in return. Jesus had agape love for both his disciples AND his enemies. Let’s try our hardest to love others with this highest form of love, using God and Jesus as our examples. 1 Corinthians (16:14, RSV) says, “Let all that you do be done in love.”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"mxpbiV5_2qg","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/mxpbiV5_2qg.jpg","timestamp":"June 03","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-the-highest-form-of-love-in-the-bible\/","added":"460 views | 02:51 min","info":"460 views | 02:51 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":171,"views":"460","categories":["Bible"]},{"id":"187","title":"How did Jesus show his love for others?","description":"
Jesus cared so much for those in need! Matthew (9:36, NLT) says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
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\r\nMatthew also describes a scene where Jesus showed his love by healing those who were sick. The scripture says, “A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.” (Matthew 12:15, NIV) Notice how it says “ALL.” He left no one behind!
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\r\nLuke (see 8:46) records that when Jesus healed, power went out of him. It cost him something to heal all those people. He generously used his power for those who needed his special care.
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\r\nJesus showed his love to people from all levels of society. He didn’t look down on others like the Pharisees did! Mark records, “When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” (Mark 2:16,17, NIV)
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\r\nJesus also showed love and attention to the youngest members of society! Luke records, “One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.’” (Luke 18:15,16, NLT)
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\r\nJohn (13:1, NIV) records that just before the Passover festival, Jesus knew that his time on earth was running out. Speaking about his disciples, it says, “...he loved them to the end.”
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\r\nEventually, men came to take Jesus away. Imagine the scene of soldiers coming to the Garden of Gethsemane with weapons (see John 18:3) to arrest this loving man. Jesus identified himself, and then, out of care for his disciples who were with him, said, “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” (John 18:8, NIV)
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\r\nAnd before he died on the cross, he was in such terrible pain, yet his concern was for his mother, Mary. She and his disciple, John, were standing nearby. He didn’t want Mary to be alone, so he told John that she was now his mother. John took her into his home from that time on.
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\r\nFinally, Jesus showed his ultimate love for ALL of us by leaving his heavenly home and coming to earth. He gave his life on the cross so that all of mankind will have an opportunity to live again in God’s kingdom!
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\r\nSo, how did Jesus show his love for others? In many ways, but here are just a few: by healing the sick, by caring for people (even the poor and needy) by thinking of his disciples when his life was in danger, and by directing the care of his mother while he was dying on the cross. And, most of all, by his willing sacrifice for all of us so that we can live again in God’s kingdom!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"eZVLByo9ra0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/eZVLByo9ra0.jpg","timestamp":"May 20","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-did-jesus-show-his-love-for-others\/","added":"1,748 views | 03:03 min","info":"1,748 views | 03:03 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":183,"views":"1748","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"186","title":"What is pride?","description":"
Pride is a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction because of our personal qualities or achievements. In other words, it’s thinking too highly of ourselves, what we have or what we do.
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\r\nDo we post pictures of ourselves online, hoping others will notice and praise us? Do we spend more time thinking about ourselves instead of others? Do we take credit for our talents and accomplishments instead of properly giving the credit to God?
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\r\nIf so, we may have a pride problem.
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\r\nJames says, (4:6, NIV) “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
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\r\nGod doesn't want us to brag or boast about ourselves - He wants us to be humble, which is the OPPOSITE of prideful! In Jeremiah, (9:23,24, NLT) we read, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know Me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things…’”
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\r\nIf we are going to boast, let’s only boast about the wonderful qualities of God, like His lovingkindness and mercy. Let ’s praise Him for the blessings He has provided!
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\r\nEverything we have comes from God, our Creator. Therefore, all of the glory and credit should go to Him! If someone compliments us about something we did, we can sincerely and humbly respond with something like, “I’m thankful God gave me the ability to do that.”
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\r\nJesus is a perfect example of humility. Speaking about Jesus, Philippians (2:7, KJV) says, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,...” Jesus wasn’t concerned about his social status and he didn’t promote himself. Instead, he served others and always properly gave the credit and glory to God.
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\r\nLet’s pay close attention to our words, thoughts and actions. If they seem to be going down a prideful path, let’s immediately try to remember that everything we have is from God. Then let’s cultivate an attitude of gratitude! Working on humility doesn't mean we have to put ourselves down. It’s been said that being humble isn’t about thinking less of ourselves; it’s about thinking of ourselves less!
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\r\nSo, what is pride? It’s thinking too highly of ourselves, what we have, or what we do. Let’s remember the wise and serious words of Proverbs: (Proverbs 16:18, Good News Translation) “Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall.”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"FdCl5NHdA-0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/FdCl5NHdA-0.jpg","timestamp":"May 06","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-pride\/","added":"1,060 views | 02:37 min","info":"1,060 views | 02:37 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":157,"views":"1060","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"185","title":"What is generosity?","description":"
What is generosity?
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\r\nGenerosity is the quality of being kind and generous. To be generous is to show a readiness to give more than what is expected or necessary.
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\r\nGod is generous with us. He created a place for us to live - our planet Earth! He put it in just the right spot in His universe - any closer to the sun and it would be too hot for us…any further away and we would be freezing! He has provided delicious foods to keep us healthy and beautiful things outside to look at. We can look up at the stars tonight and admire His generous character! In fact, let’s pray and thank Him for it!
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\r\nThroughout the Bible, we see the quality of generosity in Jesus' beautiful character. In Matthew (5:42, NLT), he said, “Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.” Also in Matthew, we read about a crowd of people who came to him - some couldn’t walk, speak, or see. The scripture says, “...he healed them all.” (Matthew 15:30, NLT) Jesus didn’t ignore them or just heal a few and then leave if he felt tired - it says he healed them ALL. He was generous with his energy, time and talents. What a lovely example for us to copy!
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\r\nIn Exodus we read about the Israelities generously giving materials in order to build the Tabernacle. Exodus (35:29, NLT) says, “So the people of Israel—every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the LORD had given them through Moses—brought their gifts and gave them freely to the LORD.”
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\r\nThe opposite of generosity is selfishness. A selfish person wants to keep everything for themselves, not wanting to give or share. However, giving may not be a quality that comes naturally to us, so how can we be more generous? Like many skills, we can practice to get better at it! We can think of a way to be generous every day, or every week, with a friend or family member.
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\r\nIf we have extra of something, like food or toys, we can share with a neighbor or a local shelter for those who don’t have so much. What can you donate today?
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\r\nIf we have extra time, maybe we can help a friend with their homework or a neighbor rake their leaves or shovel snow. Who can you help today?
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\r\nIf we know someone who is sad or sick, we can use our talents to cheer them up! We can draw them a picture, sing them a song, or play an instrument for them. How can you use your talents for others today?
\r\n
\r\nSo, what is generosity? It’s the quality of being kind and generous, which means giving more than what is expected or necessary. Being generous makes us feel good because we know it pleases God. 2 Corinthians (9:7, NIV) says, “...God loves a cheerful giver.”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"NtzCtmrxIrw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/NtzCtmrxIrw.jpg","timestamp":"April 22","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-generosity\/","added":"1,153 views | 02:49 min","info":"1,153 views | 02:49 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":169,"views":"1153","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"184","title":"Who was Nehemiah?","description":"
Nehemiah was a Jewish man living in captivity under the rule of the ancient empire of Persia. He held a high position in the royal court, serving the Persian king.
\r\n
\r\nOne day, when Nehemiah asked his brother and some visitors about Jerusalem, God’s holy city, he received terrible news. The wall around the city was broken down and the gates had been burned with fire. Nehemiah cried when he heard this report. Back then, cities without walls could be attacked at any time. No walls meant no protection or peace.
\r\n
\r\nNehemiah mourned, fasted, and prayed for four months.
\r\n
\r\nThe king was hosting a banquet, and we can imagine everyone was happy…except Nehemiah. The king noticed his sad face and asked what was the matter. Nehemiah was suddenly frightened. If a person displeased the king, they could be in big trouble!
\r\n
\r\nNehemiah explained what had become of Jerusalem, the city of his ancestors. The king asked for Nehemiah’s request.
\r\n
\r\nAfter a quick, silent prayer, (see Nehemiah 2:4) Nehemiah asked for a leave of absence so he could rebuild the city walls. God answered Nehemiah’s prayers - the king appointed him governor of Judah - the area around Jerusalem - and even provided a special military escort for the long journey. Nehemiah’s plan was wise: the Bible records many families who participated in the building project. Each family would work on the section of wall that was right in front of their own house. Naturally, they would be highly motivated to fortify the space in front of where they lived. Brilliant!
\r\n
\r\nThere were many difficulties during the rebuilding project, like discouragement, conflict, and wicked enemies who wanted to stop the work. Nehemiah never gave up - he constantly prayed and then acted to combat these obstacles. With God’s overruling, the work was completed in only 52 days!
\r\n
\r\nBut it wasn’t just the walls that needed rebuilding - the people had fallen away from obeying God’s Law. Nehemiah gathered everyone together to hear Ezra, the scribe, read the Law that God had given Moses so long ago. The people paid close attention, (see Nehemiah 8:3) lifted their hands toward heaven, and then bowed down and worshiped God with their faces to the ground. (See 8:6) They cried when they realized they had been so disobedient and sinful. (see Nehemiah 8:9)
\r\n
\r\nThe Levites praised God to the people. (see Nehemiah 9:6, Berean Standard Bible) They said,“You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.“ They continued, reminding the people of their history and all that God had done for them. (see Nehemiah 9:7-37) The people made a promise to God that they would obey His Law. (see Nehemiah 10:29)
\r\n
\r\nSo, who was Nehemiah? A faithful man of determination who organized and supervised the rebuilding project of the broken walls of Jerusalem. He stayed in Jerusalem for 12 years, improving the lives of the people in many ways. Through his leadership, the people were led back to a proper worship of God.
\r\n
\r\nWhen we have an opportunity to serve God, let’s combine prayer with planning and take action like Nehemiah did. No matter the circumstances, let’s never give up doing God’s will!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"bYz36kuL5Ck","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/H9daOzMctUA.jpg","timestamp":"April 08","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/who-was-nehemiah\/","added":"607 views | 03:29 min","info":"607 views | 03:29 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":209,"views":"607","categories":["Bible","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"183","title":"What does the Bible say about heaven?","description":"
God’s “house,” in a large sense of the word, is the entire universe overall, with heaven being where He and different groups of spiritual beings live, like angels, cherubim, seraphim and others.
\r\n
\r\nOne part of Jesus’ mission was to find faithful followers who will eventually live in heaven with God and His son, Jesus.
\r\n
\r\nIn Matthew (16:24, NLT), Jesus said to his disciples, “...If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
\r\n
\r\nAfter his resurrection, Jesus said this in John (14:2, NASB): “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”
\r\n
\r\nWe understand this to mean that faithful followers of Jesus will have a home in heaven. In much the same way we might prepare a special room in our house for a guest to live with us, Jesus said he was going to prepare a place for them in heaven.
\r\n
\r\nThis special group of faithful followers is also described in the BIble as the “bride of Christ,” (see Isaiah 61:10, Revelation 19:7) the “elect,” (see Matthew 24:24) the “church” (Ephesians 5:27) and other descriptions.
\r\n
\r\nThe church will have very important work to do in God’s future kingdom. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, every person who has ever died will be raised from the dead with the opportunity to live forever. The work of the church will be to help humankind living on the perfected earth to return to a relationship with God. So, Jesus’ followers inherit heaven as their home, but the earth will be their workplace.They will be working with the people on earth, reconciling them back to God, which means helping people to live good lives in harmony with God’s ways.
\r\n
\r\nWhat might heaven be like? In Isaiah (66:1, NIV) God says, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool…” Our earth is a magnificently beautiful place, so if the earth is being described as a footstool (a place to rest your feet), how much MORE beautiful heaven must be - where God lives! The book of Revelation (see 22:5) teaches us that it will always be filled with light!
\r\n
\r\nBoth the books of 2 Corinthians (12:2-4) and Revelation (2:7) relate heaven to “paradise” - so it’s reasonable to assume it is a very special, lovely place! So, what does the Bible say about heaven? God, Jesus and other spirit beings (like angels) live there. Part of Jesus’ mission was to look for a special group of faithful followers who would eventually live in heaven with him and serve God forever. In God’s future kingdom, this special group will work to bring raised humankind back into a restored relationship with God - free from sin!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"PoN7CAG63Mc","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/PoN7CAG63Mc.jpg","timestamp":"March 25","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-does-the-bible-say-about-heaven\/","added":"796 views | 02:55 min","info":"796 views | 02:55 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":175,"views":"796","categories":["The Spiritual World"]},{"id":"182","title":"Why did Jesus wash the disciples feet?","description":"
In Jesus’ time, people walked in sandals along dusty roads. Typically, when you visited someone, your host would have their servant wash your feet so that you would feel clean and refreshed. Washing someone’s feet was considered to be a job for someone with low status.
\r\n
\r\nBut for the night of the Passover supper, since Jesus and his twelve apostles were only using an upper room, there was no official host.
\r\n
\r\nDuring supper, the apostles started arguing among themselves who would have the greatest position of honor in the future kingdom that Jesus had promised to share with them.
\r\n
\r\nJesus arose from the table, put a towel around his waist, and humbly washed their feet as a servant would have. Surprisingly, no one had previously thought to do this for him or for each other. It seems that none of them were willing to take on a servant’s position.
\r\n
\r\nBut Jesus was.
\r\n
\r\nAfter he finished, he said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:14-17 NIV)
\r\n
\r\nIn other words, if you understand, appreciate and sincerely practice this lesson about serving that I have taught you, you will be blessed in my service and in God’s future kingdom.
\r\n
\r\nIn performing this humble task, Jesus gave them - and us - a very important example to follow. We should love and serve one another in meekness and humility. We should not consider any form of service too “beneath us” to be performed for each other’s comfort and benefit.
\r\n
\r\nToday, we can “wash each other’s feet” - not with literal soap and water, but figuratively, by being on the lookout for ways to refresh others. Is someone you know sad or discouraged? Build them up spiritually with a comforting scripture or offer to help them. In this way, we are figuratively washing their feet, by blessing and refreshing them with our love, kindness and attention. The focus will be rightly on THEM, and not on US.
\r\n
\r\nGalatians says, (5:13, NLT ) “...serve one another in love.”
\r\n
\r\nSo, why did Jesus wash the disciples’ feet? To teach a lesson of humility and a willingness to serve others even in the most humble way. The apostles lost an opportunity to perform a refreshing service for Jesus and each other, but we can learn from that by eagerly looking for ways to be a blessing to others. How can you figuratively wash someone’s feet today?<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"8wjNbdP3ENw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/8wjNbdP3ENw.jpg","timestamp":"March 11","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-did-jesus-wash-the-disciples-feet\/","added":"1,864 views | 02:47 min","info":"1,864 views | 02:47 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":167,"views":"1864","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"181","title":"What happened at Pentecost?","description":"
Pentecost was the Greek name for a feast celebrating a wheat harvest observed by the Jewish people. They called it the Feast of Harvests or the Feast of Weeks. It took place around May or June, 50 days after the first day of the feast of the Passover, another Jewish festival.
\r\n
\r\nIn the book of John (see 15:26), Jesus told his disciples that a “comforter” would be coming, and by this he meant the gift of the holy spirit.
\r\n
\r\nIn Acts, we read more about what Jesus said (1:4, NLT): “Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, ‘Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift He promised, as I told you before.’”
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\r\nOn the day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection, his statement was fulfilled. His believers were meeting together in Jerusalem. Acts (2:2-4, Life Application Bible) says, “Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the holy spirit and began speaking other languages as the holy spirit gave them this ability.”
\r\n
\r\nThe holy spirit is God’s power and influence. At that moment, God’s spirit made its entrance - the ‘mighty windstorm’ was like a forceful announcement of God’s incredible power and influence! This miraculous gift of God’s spirit helped guide them to speak in foreign, understandable languages.
\r\n
\r\nJewish people from surrounding countries were in town for Pentecost. They heard the gospel message being spoken in their own languages and were amazed. (see Acts 2:7) In Acts (2:11, NLT) they said, “…we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”
\r\n
\r\nIt’s important to note that this miraculous gift is no longer available. It was only accessible for a limited time to accomplish a specific purpose. In fact, 1 Corinthians (see 13:8) says the gift of miraculously speaking in other languages would stop. That makes sense, because after the gospel message spread, the ability wasn’t needed anymore because its purpose was finished.
\r\n
\r\nSo, what happened at Pentecost? Jesus’ followers received the gift of the holy spirit - God’s power and influence. They also received the ability to miraculously speak in other languages. This helped the gospel message spread far and wide! The Bible says that this gift is not available anymore. Today, we receive the gospel message through God’s word, the Bible.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"ibvm4r5TlYg","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/ibvm4r5TlYg.jpg","timestamp":"February 26","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-happened-at-pentecost\/","added":"636 views | 02:38 min","info":"636 views | 02:38 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":158,"views":"636","categories":["Bible","The Spiritual World"]},{"id":"180","title":" What are the different kinds of love in the Bible?","description":"
We can group them into four levels so it’s easier to understand!
\r\n
\r\nThe first level is “Family Love.” It’s the most basic and common type of love, like the love between you and your parents.
\r\n
\r\nTitus, a disciple of the Apostle Paul, advised older women in the church to teach the younger women. (Titus 2:4, NASB) He said, “...so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,...”
\r\n
\r\nThe second level is “Brotherly Love,” which includes feelings of loyalty and of protection and being protected. A team has this type of love, supporting each other so they can win the game.
\r\n
\r\nPeter instructs us to have this kind of love for our fellow church members. He said, (1 Peter 3:8, NLT) “...Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.”
\r\n
\r\nThe third level is “Philanthropic Love.” Maybe you’ve heard the word “philanthropy,” which describes a company or person generously making a large donation to people they don't know.
\r\n
\r\nThe Apostle Paul describes Philanthropic Love when he was shipwrecked on the island of Malta. (Acts 28:2 Christian Standard Bible) He said, “The local people showed us extraordinary kindness…” The word translated “kindness” here is this type of love.
\r\n
\r\nThe fourth level - the rarest of all - is selfless. It has only the thought of giving and receiving nothing in return. It’s called “Unconditional Love,” translated from the Greek words, “agapao” or “agape,” so you might hear this type of love also referred to as “Agape Love.”
\r\n
\r\nGod has this type of unconditional love for ALL of us. In John it says, (John 3:16 NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God’s agape love is at the heart of His plan for ALL of humankind. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, EVERYONE who has ever died will be raised from the grave in God’s kingdom!
\r\n
\r\nJesus said that we should have agape love for God, each other and even our enemies. (See Matthew 5:44, 22:37; John 15:17)
\r\n
\r\nSo, what are the different kinds of love in the Bible? Family Love, Brotherly Love, Philanthropic Love, and Unconditional (or Agape) Love. God’s agape love is selfless - and EVERYONE is included! We want to follow Jesus’ commands and have agape love for God, each other and our enemies.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"pJjUG4XiEZ4","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/pJjUG4XiEZ4.jpg","timestamp":"February 12","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-are-the-different-kinds-of-love-in-the-bible\/","added":"939 views | 02:38 min","info":"939 views | 02:38 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":158,"views":"939","categories":["Bible"]},{"id":"179","title":"Why didn`t some people like Jesus?","description":"
When he was here on earth, Jesus was a perfect human being. He was humble, loving, kind, and obedient to God. He healed the sick and raised the dead. He willingly came to earth and preached God’s beautiful message of the coming kingdom. He gave himself as a ransom sacrifice to cancel out Adam’s sin of disobedience. By doing so, everyone who has ever lived will have an opportunity to live again in the future resurrection! When we study Jesus’ life and character, it’s hard to imagine there were people who did not love and appreciate him - mainly the scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish leaders of that time.
\r\n
\r\nMany of them were prideful because of their high positions in society. They loved to be respected as authorities on God’s word and Jesus knew it. In Mark, (12:38, 39, NIV) “…Jesus said, ‘Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.’”
\r\n
\r\nAs he taught, Jesus revealed their TRUE nature! He correctly pointed out that they were hypocrites - a hypocrite is someone who pretends to act one way and then secretly acts in the opposite way.
\r\n
\r\nMany were jealous of Jesus and afraid of losing their power and influence - what if the people respected Jesus MORE and started listening to HIM instead of THEM?
\r\n
\r\nThey also didn’t believe Jesus was the son of God. They falsely accused him of blasphemy. Blasphemy means speaking against God. This was the OPPOSITE of what Jesus did!
\r\n
\r\nThe Pharisees thought they had the correct interpretation of the Law, and here was Jesus, explaining to everyone why they were wrong in so many ways. This made them angry!
\r\n
\r\nInstead of repenting and humbly learning from Jesus, they plotted to kill him. (See Matthew 12:14, 26:3,4)
\r\n
\r\nWhile Jesus’ death was an extremely painful experience, and it makes us very sad to think about it, in the end, he was successful in his mission, which means there will be future blessings for everyone!
\r\n
\r\nSo, why didn’t some people like Jesus? Many of the scribes and Pharisees were prideful and jealous. They didn’t believe Jesus was the son of God. They especially didn’t like his teachings because they showed everyone that they were wrong and hypocritical.
\r\n
\r\nHaving power and authority over others is a tricky thing - we see this problem in our society today. Many who enjoy high positions unfortunately use their influence to benefit themselves.
\r\n
\r\nBut for perfect spirit beings like God and Jesus, THEIR power and authority will ALWAYS be used righteously, in ways that are fair to ALL people!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"yFj5gvpktY0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/yFj5gvpktY0.jpg","timestamp":"January 29","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-didnt-some-people-like-jesus\/","added":"774 views | 02:53 min","info":"774 views | 02:53 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":173,"views":"774","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"178","title":"What is courage?","description":"
It’s the ability to do something in a scary or uncomfortable situation. So many of God’s faithful, courageous people in the Bible are great examples for us!
\r\n
\r\nGoliath was a giant Philistine man who made the Israelites feel small, making fun of them, as a bully today might. Every day he called for someone to challenge him. Nobody was brave enough to fight him…except for David. David had courage because he knew this was God’s fight, and God would be with him. With God in David’s corner, Goliath didn’t stand a chance. David defeated the terrible giant with just one stone from his slingshot!
\r\n
\r\nDaniel had courage when he told King Darius that he wouldn’t bow down and worship a false god. He was thrown into a lion’s den, but God shut the lions’ mouths and Daniel was safe!
\r\n
\r\nEsther had courage when she went before the king of Persia to make a request. Approaching the king without an invitation could have meant her death! But her plan involved exposing wicked Haman’s intentions to kill the Jewish people. With God’s help, Esther carried out her plan, and she and all the Jewish people were saved!
\r\n
\r\nToday, we might have to face “Goliaths” in our own lives. Maybe we need to have the courage to stand up for someone who is being bullied or treated unkindly. Maybe our “Goliath” is overcoming our fear to ask for help if we need it.
\r\n
\r\nIt will please God if we serve Him with bravery, kindness and integrity. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. For example, if a friend asked you to do something you knew was wrong, you wouldn’t be a part of it, because it would go against your sense of integrity. You would be brave and tell your friend, no way!
\r\n
\r\nBeing brave makes us feel like we have super powers because we have a super God who can give us a voice when we feel small, or encourage us to go outside of our comfort zone to make friends with someone new. In the movies, superheroes typically do amazing things that many people can see. But in real life, REAL courage is shown in the daily acts of standing up for what is right, even if it’s not the “popular” thing to do! God can give us the courage we need to do the right thing. When we live according to His righteous principles, with His help, we can show our courage by speaking up for ourselves or for others who are unable. Ephesians (6:10, NIV) says, “...be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
\r\n
\r\nSo, what is courage? It’s the ability to do something in a scary or uncomfortable situation. Faithful Christians have God on their side to help them be courageous and stand up for what’s right according to His godly principles. 1 Corinthians says, (16:13, NLT) “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"x7K0nfEtFy8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/x7K0nfEtFy8.jpg","timestamp":"January 15","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-courage\/","added":"1,374 views | 02:52 min","info":"1,374 views | 02:52 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":172,"views":"1374","categories":["Character Development","What is...?"]},{"id":"177","title":"Why did the kingdom of Israel split?","description":"
Our tragic story begins with King Solomon, who started out following God’s laws and commandments like his father David, but eventually worshiped false gods. Of course, this was a HUGE sin against the one TRUE God - there would be consequences for such terrible actions!
\r\n
\r\nA man named Jeroboam was in charge of King Solomon’s workers. They were upset because Solomon made them pay high taxes and forced them to work very hard on city projects.
\r\n
\r\nOne day, God’s prophet, Ahijah, brought a message to Jeroboam. He did a very strange thing: he took the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into 12 pieces, and then gave 10 of the pieces to Jeroboam. This action meant that in the future, because of Solomon’s idolatry, God would rip the kingdom into 2 parts: one in the north (called “Israel”) and one in the south (called “Judah”). Jeroboam would become king of the 10 northern tribes. And, IF he would keep God’s laws, God would be with him and build him a lasting dynasty like David's. (see 1 Kings 11:37, 38 BSB)
\r\n
\r\nWhen Solomon died, his son, Rehoboam, became the new king of Israel.
\r\n
\r\nWith a new king in place, Jeroboam and the unhappy workers asked Rehoboam to lighten their workload. Rehoboam said he would take 3 days to think about it.
\r\n
\r\nDuring this time, two groups offered advice. One was an older group of men, wise with experience, who had previously counseled Solomon. Their advice was this: “...If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.” (1 Kings 12:7, Berean Standard Bible)
\r\n
\r\nIn other words, they advised him to lighten their workload and be kind to them. Unfortunately, however, Rehoboam chose to listen to the other group, which consisted of his young, inexperienced friends he had grown up with. They said that Rehoboam should threaten the workers with a HARDER workload and severe punishments! (see 1 Kings 12:10,11)
\r\n
\r\nRehoboam should have looked to God in prayer as his father Solomon and grandfather David had done. When we are faced with decisions, it’s best to take the issue to God and pray that He might reveal the correct course. Then we should be watchful and alert to His leadings.
\r\n
\r\nAs a result of this unwise action, the 10 northern tribes revolted and named Jeroboam as their king - God’s prophecy through Ahijah had come true! Rehoboam gathered an army to fight against the north and take the whole kingdom back for himself, but a prophet from God told him not to fight and to go home. God said, “...this thing is from me.” (1 Kings 12:24, KJV) Rehoboam obeyed and went home. It’s clear the splitting of Israel into two parts was obviously God’s will.
\r\n
\r\nJeroboam was now the king of the north, and Rehoboam retained control of only the south. Tragically, BOTH kings were very bad because they led the people AWAY from the worship of the one true God with made up gods and useless idols.
\r\n
\r\nSo, why did the kingdom of Israel split? Tension and jealousy had already existed between the northern and southern parts. The final push for the kingdom to split came from a bad decision by Rehoboam. But in the end, it was God’s will that the kingdom should be split for a time.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"jo0KDSoXe6E","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/jo0KDSoXe6E.jpg","timestamp":"January 01","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-did-the-kingdom-of-israel-split\/","added":"133,218 views | 03:16 min","info":"133,218 views | 03:16 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":196,"views":"133218","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"176","title":"Why did Jesus perform miracles?","description":"
In Jesus’ day, Christianity was just beginning. The people needed extra help in believing Jesus was the son of God. In the book of John (4:48, English Standard Version), a man asked him to heal his son. Jesus said to the man, “...Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”
\r\n
\r\nTherefore, one of the reasons Jesus performed miracles was to help people see that God was supporting his new gospel message and had turned away from the old system of Jewish sacrifices required by the Law. These miracles prepared their hearts for the spiritual truths that he would teach them.
\r\n
\r\nAlso, for many, witnessing healings and miraculous events attracted their attention, increased their faith and made them want to follow him, which was exactly what was needed at the time so that the gospel message would spread far and wide. Back then, there was no internet or social media to get the word out that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah!
\r\n
\r\nMiracles showed the depth of Jesus’ power and gave people back then (and us today!) a preview of what God’s future kingdom will be like. For example, Jesus miraculously fed over 5,000 people, and then later on another group of over 4,000 from just a few fish and loaves of bread. This shows us that he has the power to take care of all of humankind’s needs in God’s future kingdom.
\r\n
\r\nHealing the servant’s ear the night he was arrested teaches us to love and forgive our enemies, just as Jesus expressed in Luke (6:27, NIV): “...Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,...”
\r\n
\r\nAll of the times he cast out evil demons shows us his power and authority over evil spirits.
\r\n
\r\nWhen he raised his friend Lazarus and others from the dead, we see a picture of the future resurrection when he will raise ALL of the dead! (see John 5:28,29)
\r\n
\r\nIn addition, his miracles prove that his power and teachings came from our heavenly Father, so we can trust that they are genuine. In John (5:36, NLT), he said, “The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that He sent me.” Jesus’ miracles show us that he IS the son of God!
\r\n
\r\nSo, why did Jesus perform miracles? To help spread the gospel message, to give us a preview of God’s kingdom, to show us how to love and forgive our enemies, and to prove Jesus was the Messiah and his power and teachings were truly from God.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"gQZzYA1Qun0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/gQZzYA1Qun0.jpg","timestamp":"December 18","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-did-jesus-perform-miracles\/","added":"2,064 views | 02:28 min","info":"2,064 views | 02:28 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":148,"views":"2064","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"175","title":"What is joy?","description":"
Long ago, an important message of joy came from an angel to some shepherds, recorded in Luke (2:10,11, NLT). The angel said, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”
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\r\nWhy did the angel say that the message “will bring great joy to all people”? Because this announcement was about the birth of Jesus! Because of his sacrifice on the cross, EVERYONE can experience joy in God’s future kingdom because they will be raised out of death and given an opportunity to live forever!
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\r\nJoy is similar to happiness, but instead of a feeling, it’s more like an attitude - a state of mind. It’s deeper than happiness and lasts longer. Think of happiness as a short burst of nice feelings, like when you open a birthday present and it’s exactly what you wanted. Afterwards though, that feeling fades. And when you go through a difficult situation, you might not be feeling so happy.
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\r\nJoy, on the other hand, is a deep, continual attitude of cheerfulness, calm delight and quiet contentment - EVEN when things get tough. To be content is to be satisfied with what you have, no matter the circumstance.
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\r\n“To rejoice” means to feel or show joyful feelings. 1 Thessalonians (5:16, Berean Standard Bible) says, “Rejoice at all times.” Notice how it DOESN’T say, “Only rejoice when times are good.” Living a Christian life will not always be easy, but let’s remember that tough experiences help our characters to develop and grow. Believing in God, Jesus and the kingdom can lead to rejoicing!
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\r\nSpeaking about Jesus, Hebrews (12:2, NIV) says, “...For the joy set before him he endured the cross,...” Jesus rejoiced in doing his Father’s will, and that joy carried him through his pain, suffering and injustice.
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\r\nIn Galatians (5:22), we learn about “the fruit of the spirit” - nine good qualities God wants us to cultivate. Joy is one of them! In John, (see 15:9) Jesus talked about his love for his followers. He said to keep his commands and remain in his love, just as Jesus obeys God’s commands and stays in God’s love. He then said, (John 15:11, Berean Literal Bible) “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and your joy may be full.”
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\r\nKeeping Jesus’ commands and following God’s will will bring us joy!
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\r\nSo, what is joy? A deep, continual attitude of cheerfulness, calm delight and quiet contentment. The Bible tells us to rejoice in ALL things - even in trials - because they help our characters develop and grow. Let’s think about Jesus and how he felt so much joy in doing God’s will…WE will cultivate the good “fruit” of joy when we do the same!
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\r\nSubmit YOUR questions to www.ChristianQuestions.com\/YouTube. Thank you for liking and subscribing!
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\r\nWhat is the fruit of the spirit? https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KNlMJODZ5Ns
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\r\nWhy did Jesus come to earth? https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=aLsfPwHxjLM
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\r\nWhy did Jesus have to die? https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wLo5QMO0ViY
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\r\nWhen will God’s kingdom be here? https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cWTh5Bg4kXE
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\r\nWhat will God’s kingdom be like? https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pUqK3p_uHxk<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"Jcf_aht6I6Q","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/Jcf_aht6I6Q.jpg","timestamp":"December 04","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-joy\/","added":"2,872 views | 03:02 min","info":"2,872 views | 03:02 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":182,"views":"2872","categories":["Seasonal","What is...?"]},{"id":"174","title":"What was the Ark of the Covenant?","description":"
It was a piece of furniture in the Jewish Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was a moveable temple where God’s presence dwelled while Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. It was then set up in Shiloh under Joshua’s leadership after the death of Moses. The Tabernacle had four distinct coverings made of: seal skins, ram skins dyed red, goat hair, and white linen.
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\r\nThe Tabernacle was divided into two compartments called the Holy and the Most Holy. The Most Holy contained only the Ark of the Covenant, a wooden box overlaid with gold.
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\r\nInside were the two tables of the Law that God gave Moses, a golden pot filled with manna that never spoiled, and Aaron’s rod that budded. The golden lid was called the “Mercy Seat,” with two angels at each end - their wings outstretched and touching. Between the angels was a supernatural bright light, indicating God’s presence.
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\r\nAccording to Old Testament Law, before being moved, the priests carefully covered it so that no one could see it. It was to be hand-carried only by certain Levites (the Kohathites) using two wooden poles put through rings on the sides to ensure that they didn’t directly touch it.
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\r\nMany years later, the Israelites were at war with the Philistines. Thinking it would bring them victory, they brought the Ark into battle - but God had not commanded this. The Philistines won and captured the Ark. Israel’s most important, sacred treasure - a physical representation of God’s presence and power - was now in the enemy’s hands!
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\r\nThe Philistines put it next to the idol of one their false gods named Dagon. But the next morning, they discovered Dagon had fallen on his face in front of the Ark! They set up the idol again, but the same thing happened the next morning - but this time Dagon’s head and hands were broken off and lying in the doorway!
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\r\nThe Ark brought them MORE trouble - the people were plagued with tumors and mice - so they put it on a cart and returned it to Israel, to the town of Beth-shemesh. The people saw the returning Ark and rejoiced. But some men disobediently looked inside the Ark, and at least 70 died as a result.
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\r\nThe Ark was then brought to the hillside home of Abinadab whose son, Eleazer, took care of it for 20 years, far away from the people.
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\r\nKing David wanted to bring the Ark to the center of Jerusalem to bring the people of Israel back to a heartfelt worship of God. (see 2 Sam. 6) They joyfully brought the Ark out of the house on a cart, with Abinadab’s other two sons, Uzzah and Ahio, guiding it. David and all the people of Israel celebrated the return of God’s presence with singing and musical instruments.
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\r\nHowever, no one had studied how to properly move it. Yes, the Philistines had transported the Ark on a cart too, but they were not expected to know or follow God’s laws.
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\r\nRemember, it was to be hand-carried only by certain Levites using poles inserted into rings on the Ark to prevent directly touching it. (see Ex.25:12-15) (see Num. 4:15, 7:9). Israel, and especially David, (see Deut. 17:18-20) should have known that transporting the Ark this way was specifically against God’s command. Uzzah and Ahio had lived with the Ark in their home for years, knowing they were not to touch this holy thing. (see Num.4:15) The oxen stumbled and Uzzah put his hand on the Ark to steady it…and was immediately struck dead! (see 1 Chron.13:9)
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\r\nDavid was angry and confused. He took the Ark to the house of Obed-Edom, a Levite family. The Ark stayed there for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed’s household.
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\r\nNow David carefully studied the correct procedures before moving the Ark to Jerusalem. (see 1 Chron.15:2,13) It was carried properly as God had commanded and placed in a special tent David had constructed for it. The proper worship of God had come back to Israel at last!
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\r\nStudying the Ark’s history provides many lessons for us about God and holiness. For example, it’s not enough for us to know about what God wants us to do - we have to actually do it! He values obedience. We must respect anything having to do with God. We are to appreciate God’s blessings by using all that He has provided, like spending our time, energy and efforts wisely - whatever it takes to serve Him!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"Nl8-7tsiFXw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/Nl8-7tsiFXw.jpg","timestamp":"November 20","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-the-ark-of-the-covenant\/","added":"198,655 views | 05:04 min","info":"198,655 views | 05:04 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":304,"views":"198655","categories":["Bible","God","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"173","title":"What can we do when we're sad or frustrated?","description":"
Nobody ever said life was easy! The Bible promises that in His future kingdom, “God will wipe away all tears,” (see Revelation 21:4) but until His righteous government is fully established in His perfect timing, sometimes we can feel sad or frustrated.
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\r\nThe key is to not let these feelings overwhelm us. When we get upset, one thing we can do is breathe before reacting. We can take a deep breath and pretend we’re blowing out candles on a birthday cake, like after making a wish. But instead of a wish, we can say a prayer, since we can take everything to God in prayer.
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\r\nWhile doing our special “birthday cake breathing,” we can ask God to help us feel calm, so we can react to the problem in a kind, thoughtful way that would be pleasing to Him. We can also share our problem with our parents or a trusted adult, so they can help, too.
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\r\nIf the problem is with a friend, let’s think of a better way to react than getting sad or frustrated. We could say something like, “When you don’t play with me, I feel sad,” or, “I feel frustrated when you don’t share with me.” Talking it out in a nice way can solve a lot of issues!
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\r\nOne of the most difficult challenges we all face is losing a loved one. Jesus’ miraculous raising of Lazarus teaches us that death is like sleeping. Everyone who has died and is in the grave, is awaiting the time when they will hear Jesus’ voice also and be awakened.(See John 11:38-44; 5:28)
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\r\nSometimes, issues we learn about in school or see on the news can upset us. We see trees being cut down in the rainforest or animals affected by pollution and wonder what we can do. We can learn more about these issues and think of ways we can help - maybe it’s buying specific products or sharing what we’ve learned with others to hopefully inspire positive changes!
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\r\nWhen our feelings get so big that we feel overwhelmed, sometimes physical activity can help. We can let out our feelings in active ways, like playing basketball, running, or even singing loudly. Sometimes the best comfort can come from a family member in the form of a big hug!
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\r\nOne more thing we can do is memorize comforting scriptures, such as Revelation 21:4, (NLT, quoted earlier) because it’s about what God will do in His future kingdom: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
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\r\nSo, what can we do when we’re sad or frustrated? We can breathe, pray, and let others know our feelings in a nice way. We can learn more about issues that bother us and tell others what we’ve learned. Physical activity is a healthy way to get overwhelming feelings out, and memorizing scriptures is a wonderful way to feel comforted by God’s promises. After all, God loves us, wants what’s best for us, and has everything under control!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"W2a1Wbhf4b4","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/W2a1Wbhf4b4.jpg","timestamp":"November 06","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-can-we-do-when-were-sad-or-frustrated\/","added":"474 views | 02:59 min","info":"474 views | 02:59 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":179,"views":"474","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"172","title":"What does the parable of the wise and foolish builders mean?","description":"
Jesus often spoke in parables. A parable is a story that teaches a lesson.
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\r\nHere’s what he said during his well-known Sermon on the Mount in the book of Matthew:
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\r\nAnyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. (Matthew 7:24, NLT)
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\r\nThe rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Matthew 7:25, NIV)
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\r\nBut everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. (Matthew 7:26, Berean Standard Bible)
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\r\nThe rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (7:27, NIV)
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\r\nNow let’s study the meaning:
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\r\nWe learn God’s word through the teachings of Jesus, and they are righteous and good. If we obey them, we will have a strong foundation to rely upon and guide us through life, just like the house that was built upon the rock.
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\r\nLife can sometimes be “stormy.” When hard experiences come, those who put their faith in God and follow His word will be in the best position to safely pass through the “storms.” They will have a sense of peace and confidence in what to do because they trust that God has everything under control. After all, He has a beautiful plan for every person who has ever lived!
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\r\nIn times of trouble, people who depend on their own abilities, or other unreliable things, will often find themselves lost because they have not put their trust in God.
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\r\nProverbs says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” (3:5, NLT) 1 Corinthians says, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.” (3:11, NLT)
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\r\nSo let’s study, watch and pray - depending only on the sure foundation of God’s word through Jesus’ teachings!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"BPZXV-xxdQw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/BPZXV-xxdQw.jpg","timestamp":"October 23","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-does-the-parable-of-the-wise-and-foolish-builders-mean\/","added":"1,080 views | 01:58 min","info":"1,080 views | 01:58 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":118,"views":"1080","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"171","title":"What is respect?","description":"
Respect is a feeling of genuine politeness and kindness we have towards others. To help us remember how to be respectful of others, and exactly what we should do to show respect, we should think about what Jesus says in Matthew, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you…” (7:12, NLT) This means to treat people the way that WE would want to be treated.
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\r\nFor example, if we want others to play nicely with our toys, then we should do the same when playing with other people’s toys. If we want others to listen to our ideas, then we should listen to theirs. Let’s follow the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans: (12:10, NLT) “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
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\r\nHere’s a handy tip: before we do or say something, we can ask ourselves, “Would this be nice if someone did this or said this to ME?” We especially want to respect people who are older, like our parents and teachers, because they have more experience and knowledge than we do. Part of respecting our parents is being obedient to their good rules and wise advice. Ephesians (6:1, NIV) says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
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\r\nWhen we have a deep respect for a higher, divine authority, it’s called reverence. We always have reverence for God, Jesus and the Bible. We don’t speak carelessly about them because they are holy. When we are in a church setting, we should be on our best behavior, because we and others want to come to this special place to worship and pray. 1 Peter (2:17, CEV) says, “Respect everyone and show special love for God's people.”
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\r\nAnother part of respect is understanding that others have different opinions, beliefs, and values than we do. It’s important to learn about how others think and not be quick to say that their ways are wrong and ours are right. Activities and class projects can be more interesting when we listen to other opinions - sometimes we discover new ideas or ways of looking at things that we may never have thought of!
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\r\nIt’s healthy to have a feeling of respect towards ourselves, too - this is called “self-respect.” This doesn’t mean we brag about ourselves and our accomplishments, but at the same time, we should not put ourselves down as though we have no value at all. It’s good to be humble yet understand that we all have special abilities that can be used in God’s service. Of course, the credit should always go to God for giving us any talents at all!
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\r\nSo, what is respect? It’s a feeling of genuine politeness and kindness towards others. Our words and actions should be respectful towards other people’s beliefs and opinions, just as we would want them to be towards ours . The highest form of respect is called reverence, and we have this for God, Jesus and the Bible.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"rWI1oqupKas","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/rWI1oqupKas.jpg","timestamp":"October 09","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-respect-2\/","added":"3,104 views | 02:49 min","info":"3,104 views | 02:49 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":169,"views":"3104","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"169","title":"Why can we trust God?","description":"
To trust in God means to have a firm belief in His truth, ability, reliability and strength.
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\r\nProverbs says, (3:5, NLT) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” This scripture reminds us that because we are all imperfect, sinful human beings, the way we see things - our “understanding” - is extremely limited, which leads to poor judgment and mistakes.
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\r\nGOD IS RELIABLE By contrast, God is NOT sinful. His judgment is perfect. He NEVER makes mistakes. Therefore, He is reliable because His knowledge goes FAR BEYOND ours.
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\r\nGOD IS TRUSTWORTHY Sometimes friends or family members break their promises, but God NEVER does. This means that we can always trust He will do what He says He will do! He has given many special promises in the Bible to faithful Christians who have devoted their lives to serving Him and following Jesus.
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\r\nGOD CANNOT LIE Because humans are sinful, they don’t always tell the truth, which makes us doubt what they say. But the Apostle Paul in the book of Hebrews (see 6:18) assures us that it’s IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie - another reason He is trustworthy!
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\r\nGOD PROVIDES FOR US God is the Supreme Creator of the Universe, making all the laws of time and space. We can put our trust in Him and in what He has revealed to humankind through nature and the Bible. God made Earth for His creation because He loves us. He provided everything we need to live, like air, food and water. Good, earthly parents provide what is best for their children. We can trust God even more to know what is best for us! His future kingdom will provide blessings for all who have ever lived!
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\r\nFaithful Christians trust God because they see His leadings in the little things of their lives, which, in turn, helps them to trust Him for the bigger things. James (4:8, NIV) says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” So, deepen your relationship with God today - start with prayer and Bible study.
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\r\nIgnoring God’s direction and making decisions based on our own limited experience and information will only get us into trouble. The next time we think we know best, let’s remind ourselves that GOD’S way is always the BEST way.
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\r\nSo, why can we trust God? Because He is reliable, trustworthy and cannot lie. God provides for us. His knowledge goes far beyond ours, He never breaks His promises, He loves us and knows what’s best for us, and has a future plan that will bless all of humanity!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"3dmO3yaSgY4","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/3dmO3yaSgY4.jpg","timestamp":"September 25","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-can-we-trust-god\/","added":"1,495 views | 02:35 min","info":"1,495 views | 02:35 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":155,"views":"1495","categories":["God"]},{"id":"168","title":"How can we make God happy?","description":"
Psalms says, (19:14, NLT) "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."
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\r\nSo, one way is to have our thoughts and words be pleasing to God. This leads to actions that would make Him happy!
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\r\nHow can we do this?
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\r\nWe can spend time studying His word. For example, we can study the life of Jesus and be inspired by his examples of love and compassion. We can also study the lives of other faithful people in the Bible, like Moses, Daniel, Esther, and the Apostle Paul. Even the ones who WEREN’T so faithful are worth learning about, so we can more clearly see what NOT to do!
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\r\nWe can spend time in grateful prayer, praising Him and thanking Him for all He has provided. We can also share our questions, challenges and need for direction and strength. Psalms says, (33:20, Amplified Bible) “We wait [expectantly] for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.”
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\r\nWe can spend time in God’s creation, like taking a walk or camping, admiring the stars in the nighttime sky, and the beautiful nature on the earth, praising Him for His creativity, wisdom and power. Psalms says (19:1, NASB) “...The heavens tell of the glory of God; and their expanse declares the work of His hands.”
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\r\nWhen our thoughts are focused on pleasing God, we are more likely to be careful with our words and actions, looking for opportunities to be kind and unselfish towards others.
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\r\nFor example, we can pray and watch for ways to be encouraging to others. We can look for ways to brighten someone’s day. We can be obedient to our parents and helpful to our teachers. We can be a blessing to our friends. Hebrews says, (6:10, God’s Word Translation) “God is fair. He won't forget what you've done or the love you've shown for Him…”
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\r\nFinally, we can continue these efforts every day, never giving up. In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul says, (15:58, NLT) “...be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
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\r\nSo, how can we make God happy? We can try our best to make our thoughts, words and actions pleasing to Him, study His word, spend time in thankful prayer and in admiring His creation, and look for ways to be kind to others. Let’s never give up!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"6W89QECKC78","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/6W89QECKC78.jpg","timestamp":"September 11","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-can-we-make-god-happy\/","added":"847 views | 02:31 min","info":"847 views | 02:31 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":151,"views":"847","categories":["God","Character Development"]},{"id":"167","title":"What is jealousy?","description":"
Jealousy is a feeling of anger or bitterness because someone has something that you don’t. For example, Jesus never did anything wrong, yet the leaders of Israel were jealous of his power and influence over the people - even Pilate knew it! Mark (15:10, Contemporary English Version) says, “Pilate knew that the chief priests had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous.” King Saul was jealous of David, concerned about losing his kingship to him. It may sound silly, but Saul overheard women singing that David was a greater warrior than Saul, and his destructive thoughts took control. Saul was SO jealous of David that he even tried several times to kill him! (HOMEWORK: Read 1 Samuel 18:5-9)
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\r\nHuman jealousy is an ugly emotion. It can damage our character, attitude and relationships. Here are three things we can do if we are feeling jealous of others:
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\r\nSolution #1: Take a social media break. Social media is about showing the best parts of life, usually presenting a false image. Jealousy can creep in when we think, “Oh, that looks so good; I wish I had that or could go there!” Of course, the job of an influencer is to make a certain “thing” look wonderful and important – so often giving the APPEARANCE of “perfection” that isn’t real!
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\r\nSolution #2: Count your blessings. Don't be distracted by the things you DON’T have. Rather, be thankful for the blessings you DO have. The Apostle Paul had the right attitude. In Philippians (4:11-13) he says, “...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (4:11, NIV) I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (4:12,13, NLT)
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\r\nSolution #3: Admit the sin and pray for forgiveness. A big part of combating jealousy is catching it before it gets out of control, kind of like weeds in a garden. When the weeds pop up, you have to pull them out right away, because the longer you ignore them, the more they will grow and sap the energy from whatever it is you are trying to grow. Staying on top of those weeds from the very start requires honesty from ourselves…and honesty with God.
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\r\nLet’s remember this wise warning from James: (3:16, NLT) “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”
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\r\nSo, what is jealousy? A feeling of anger or bitterness because someone has something that you don't. Let's use the solutions presented to combat this ugly, negative emotion!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"MFK0Y1xPo3c","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_is_jealousy__cq_pt2m39s.jpg.jpg","timestamp":"August 28","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-jealousy\/","added":"1,615 views | 02:39 min","info":"1,615 views | 02:39 min","featured":"","length_seconds":159,"views":"1615","categories":["Character Development","What is...?"]},{"id":"166","title":"How do we keep trying when things are hard?","description":"
Sometimes we want to be the BEST at everything - RIGHT AWAY! But we soon learn that to reach a goal takes practice, patience and determination. Do we ever give up quickly when we don’t seem to see any progress? Have we ever tried something once, felt bad because it didn’t turn out the way we expected and then quit? Let’s turn this negative type of attitude around!
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\r\nLearning new things is hard and many obstacles can stand in the way of our goal. But just because it’s hard doesn’t mean we give up. Nobody was born playing the piano or scoring from the 3-point line. Hard work and a good attitude can help us get far! But it can take time to reach our goal. Don’t give up!
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\r\nFor example, in the Old Testament, God specifically told the Israelites not to be discouraged (see Deuteronomy 1:21) and to move forward into their new land. But they thought it would be too hard - even impossible. In Deuteronomy they said, (1:28, NLT) “Where can we go? …The people of the land are taller and more powerful than we are, and their towns are large with walls rising high into the sky.” They were discouraged and ready to give up.
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\r\nSometimes OUR problem may seem like “a town with large walls rising high into the sky”! But there is a wise saying: Experience is the best teacher. This means that trying our best and making mistakes is part of the learning process. But if we fail, an attitude of complaining, getting angry or giving up prevents us from learning how to work through our frustrations in a healthy way.
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\r\nFor example, let’s take a goal like learning about four people of the Bible. Rather than trying to do that all in one day, let's break that down into more manageable chunks. Maybe you will learn about a new person every week. Your parents can help you make the list. Start reading and make notes using your Bible, children’s books about the Bible or appropriate websites. Just think: every week, you’ll know more than you did the week before. And in one month, you will have accomplished your goal!
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\r\nOur intentions may be good, but we are all imperfect human beings. We have to keep trying! Even when we try to serve God, we make mistakes. Proverbs (24:16, NLT) says, “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again…”
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\r\nThe Apostle Paul encourages us in 1 Corinthians: (15:58, NLT) “...be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” The more we learn to practice something and not give up, the more goals we'll be able to accomplish as a result…tackling bigger ones as we get older.
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\r\nSo, how do we keep trying when things are hard? First, let’s check our attitude. Try to overcome those feelings of wanting to give up too quickly. Next, set small, realistic goals in order to accomplish what you want to do. If you fail or make a mistake, pick yourself back up and try again!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"nkjstdu3UTc","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/how_do_we_keep_tryin_pt2m57s.jpg.jpg","timestamp":"August 14","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-do-we-keep-trying-when-things-are-hard\/","added":"1,078 views | 02:57 min","info":"1,078 views | 02:57 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":177,"views":"1078","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"165","title":"What are some wisdom lessons for children from the Apostle Paul?","description":"
God chose the Apostle Paul to replace Judas, who betrayed Jesus. Paul was a zealous and dedicated servant of the Lord, providing us with good advice in several books of the Bible.
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\r\n“Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33, English Standard Version)
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\r\nOur friends can build us up or tear us down. They can encourage us to make smart decisions, or lead us to make poor choices. Are your friends a positive influence on you and you on them? Avoid those who often seem to get into trouble or encourage you to do things that you know would not be pleasing to God or your parents.
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\r\n“Don’t be misled - you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” (Galatians 6:7, NLT)
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\r\nPaul gives us a great example - a metaphor - about gardening. If we “plant” positive things like following God’s righteous principles, we will “harvest” blessings! On the other hand, “planting” sinful thoughts and actions “harvests” more sin, leading to unhappiness. Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that God doesn’t notice when we do or say things we know are wrong. Let’s cultivate godly characters!
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\r\n“...God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV)
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\r\nDo we give freely of our time and talents with a cheerful, helpful attitude? Or do we only do good deeds out of a guilty conscience or because our parents are forcing us? The next time there’s an opportunity to help someone, let’s remember this scripture, smile, and show God we are cheerful givers!
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\r\n“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9, NLT)
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\r\nAnother nice gardening metaphor! We should never feel like it’s a bothersome chore to be a blessing to others. We don’t do good in order to brag or take credit - after all, the credit should go to God for giving us the time and ability in the first place! We are blessed with a wonderful feeling when we serve others, knowing that God is pleased with this behavior.
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\r\n“Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13, NIV) A strong faith in God, Jesus, and the Bible helps us to stand up for what’s right! Let’s not shrink back from doing the right thing out of fear that we might be unpopular with others.
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\r\n“...Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8, NLT)
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\r\nThinking about positive, spiritual things can help us turn negative thoughts around!
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\r\nExamples might be:
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\r\n*Counting our blessings and recognizing all that God has provided for us and our family.
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\r\n*Thinking about our favorite heroes of faith in the Bible, like the Apostle Paul, Daniel, or Esther.
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\r\n*Admiring God’s creation, like our favorite animals or a beautiful day.
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\r\n*Focusing on the kindness of Jesus that we read about in the Bible, imagining him teaching and healing the people.
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\r\nAs we have seen, the Apostle Paul’s writings are full of good advice for us today.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"t03sb6WguRM","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_are_some_wisdom_pt3m12s.jpg.jpg","timestamp":"July 31","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-are-some-wisdom-lessons-for-children-from-the-apostle-paul\/","added":"686 views | 03:12 min","info":"686 views | 03:12 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":192,"views":"686","categories":["Character Development","Wisdom Lessons"]},{"id":"164","title":"What is idolatry?","description":"
In the Bible, idolatry - worshiping false gods instead of the one, TRUE God - was often a big problem for God’s people, the Israelites. Time and again they witnessed all of the wonderful things He did for them. He delivered them from slavery in Egypt, protected them from their enemies, fed them manna in the wilderness, and provided capable leaders to guide them.
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\r\nThrough Moses, God gave them the Law, including the Ten Commandments. These were important rules to follow regarding the correct behavior towards God and the proper treatment of others. In fact, the First Commandment says, “You are to have no other gods besides me.” (Exodus 20:3, International Standard Version) The Second Commandment says, “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.” (Exodus 20:4, NLT)
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\r\nDespite these two very clear commandments, they were often influenced by people from other regions who worshiped wooden (see Isaiah 44:13-15), stone (see 2 Kings 19:18) or metal images. (see Exodus 32, 1 Kings 12:28) These made up, fake gods couldn’t do anything, because, in reality, they were NOTHING - they didn’t exist!
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\r\nWhen Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law from God, the people grew restless. (see Exodus 32) Instead of patiently waiting for Moses to return, they told Moses’ brother, Aaron, to make them a god to worship! Shockingly, Aaron collected all of their gold earrings and formed a golden calf. They danced and bowed down to a useless piece of metal. God and Moses were understandably angry with this betrayal!
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\r\nWe are specifically told in 1 Corinthians (10:6,7, NIV): “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; …”
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\r\nOf course, it’s easy to look back at the Israelites’ behavior and say, “Well, I don’t worship idols. There are no golden calves in MY house! ” But in OUR day, we DO have idols, although they may not look like the ones that the people of the Bible worshiped.
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\r\nToday, an “idol” means anything that takes our focus away from God. Examples might be money, power, our appearance, acquiring possessions or influencing others. Are we focused too much on ourselves? On our “stuff”? On our friends? On social media? These can all be “idols,” leading US into idolatry.
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\r\nThe prophet Isaiah (44:9, NLT) sums it up well: “How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame.”
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\r\nSo, what is idolatry? Worshiping anything other than the one true God. In the Bible, idols were images of made-up, fake gods that didn’t exist. Today, an idol can be anything that occupies too much of our time or focus, removing God from being first in our lives. 1 Corinthians (10:12, NLT) warns us: “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.”
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\r\nThere is only ONE true God, the Creator of all, and nothing should come before Him.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"8i1BrBbeY9Y","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_is_idolatry__cq_pt3m18s.jpg","timestamp":"July 17","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-idolatry\/","added":"7,070 views | 03:18 min","info":"7,070 views | 03:18 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":198,"views":"7070","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"163","title":"What is a blessing?","description":"
A blessing is something good in our lives that ultimately comes from God!
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\r\nSomething we can do to bring us closer to God is to “count our blessings,” which means to think about all of the things that God has provided for us and our family. Examples might be: the Bible so we can read God’s word, food, a clean, safe place to sleep, our pets, a sunny day, or the ability to go to a doctor who will make us well. What else can you think of? Make a list of blessings with your family and then read it to God in prayer so He knows how appreciative you are!
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\r\nSometimes even a hard experience can be a blessing because it teaches us that we need to rely on God every day of our lives. When faithful Christians go through tough times, their characters are strengthened because they learn to depend on God using prayer while watching for His leadings. They can use difficult experiences to help shape their characters to be more like Jesus, copying HIS wonderful character.
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\r\nWe can also BE a blessing to those around us - this means being a positive influence on others, like being kind and unselfish, or being willing to share or help out. Can you be a blessing to someone today? If someone has been a blessing to YOU, it’s nice to tell them so!
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\r\nYou may have been at a meal where someone is asked to “say a blessing” before everyone eats. In this case, the word “blessing” is a reference to prayer, when we thank God for the meal.
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\r\nSwitching to the verb form, “to bless,” we see many examples in the Bible where God “blessed” certain groups or individuals. This means that He showed them special favor. God is a wonderful gift-giver!
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\r\nGod blessed Mary, the mother of Jesus, in choosing her for the tremendous honor of giving birth to the Savior of the world! Luke records Elizabeth saying to Mary, “...‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed…’” (Luke 1:42, NLT)
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\r\nJesus taught us to be kind even to those who mistreat us. In Luke, he said, “...love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” (Luke 6:27, 28, NLT)
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\r\nSo, what is a blessing? The word “blessing” has a few different meanings: as something good from God (even if it’s a difficult experience, because those help produce good characters!), or it can refer to a prayer. “To BE a blessing” means to be a positive influence on someone. Ggod blessed certain groups or individuals in the Bible by showing them special favor. Jesus taught us to bless those who are unkind to us.
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\r\nWe definitely feel BLESSED when we have a relationship with God and Jesus!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"CgtzqRDOUI0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_is_a_blessingt2m41s.jpg","timestamp":"July 03","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-a-blessing\/","added":"4,011 views | 02:41 min","info":"4,011 views | 02:41 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":161,"views":"4011","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"162","title":"Why do we need rules?","description":"
When we are young, the thought of having no rules and getting to do “whatever we want” sounds pretty good! But actually, without rules, our lives would be disorganized and confused.
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\r\nRules keep us safe. When drivers follow the rules of the road, there are fewer accidents. Imagine if there were no traffic rules telling us when to stop or go!
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\r\nRules encourage fairness, like if your Dad says you need to share your toys with your friends or take turns playing a game. That way, everyone can play!
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\r\nRules instruct us how to behave and keep order. At recess, we wait patiently in line to go down the slide. Nobody is happy when someone pushes ahead of their turn.
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\r\nRules help us to be courteous to others. We don’t talk loudly in the library because others are trying to read and study quietly. Rules that encourage courtesy produce a nice environment for everybody.
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\r\nRules help us avoid bad consequences, like when your Mom warns you not to touch the hot stove - and for good reason! She doesn't want you to get hurt.
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\r\nGood parents make good rules. They know what is best for you and want you to succeed in all aspects of your life. Ephesians (6:1, NLT) says, “Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.”
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\r\nGod gave rules in the Bible, so if He thinks rules are good, then we should too!
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\r\nThrough Moses, God gave a list of hundreds of specific rules for the Israelites to follow - this was called the Law, and included the well-known Ten Commandments. When the people followed them, they were blessed. When they didn't, negative consequences followed.
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\r\nJesus also gave us rules to follow. In John (13:34, NIV) he said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
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\r\nSo, why do we need rules? Because without them, our lives would be in disorder, causing frustration, unhappiness, and confusion! Let’s do our best to follow the good rules we are given by God, Jesus, our parents, our schools, and our churches - that way, it will be nicer for everyone!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"YmYpF5JzWVk","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/why_do_we_need_rules_pt2m13s.jpg","timestamp":"June 19","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-do-we-need-rules\/","added":"7,337 views | 02:13 min","info":"7,337 views | 02:13 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":133,"views":"7337","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"161","title":"What does the Bible say about angels?","description":"
In the Bible, the word “angel” means “messenger.” God sent angels to deliver messages to specific people, like when the angel Gabriel delivered a VERY important message to Mary about the birth of Jesus! (see Luke 1:26-38)
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\r\nThe Scriptures suggest angels can look like fire, (see Hebrews 1:7, Exodus 3:2), or a bright light, like lightning. (see Matthew 28:3) Daniel described the angel he saw like this: “His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.” (Daniel 10:6, NLT)
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\r\nSometimes, angels took on a human form and appeared as men, but never as women or babies. Abraham (see Genesis 18:2), his nephew Lot (see Genesis 19:1), Gideon (see Judges 6:11-22), and the parents of Samson (see Judges 13:20) all saw angels who appeared as men.
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\r\nHow many angels are there? Many! In Revelation, John says he looked and heard “...thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.” (Revelation 5:11, NIV) That’s over 100 million angels! A scripture in Hebrews (see 12:22) mentions an “innumerable company of angels” - “innumerable” means too many to count!
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\r\nAngels are very strong and have great power from God. Psalms says, “Bless the LORD, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word!” (Psalms 103:20, NASB)
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\r\nLocked doors are no problem for angels. Peter was asleep in prison, chained between two soldiers. Suddenly, there was a bright light and an angel appeared INSIDE the cell, woke Peter up, and his chains fell off! Thinking he was dreaming, Peter followed the angel out of the cell past the first and second guard posts, and then the iron gate leading to the street miraculously opened! (see Acts 12:6-10)
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\r\nWe are examples to the angels. They can observe our lives, and the Bible says they are eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of God’s plan for all of humankind! (see 1 Peter 1:12, especially NLT)
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\r\nShould we worship angels? No - a scripture in Colossians tells us NOT to. (see Colossians 2:18) Further, Jesus said to Satan in Matthew: (4:10, NIV) “...For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” The Bible does not teach us to contact angels and make requests. They are not here to obey OUR commands - they work for God and His glorified son Jesus, and only obey THEIR commands.
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\r\nSo, what does the Bible say about angels? They acted as messengers in the Bible, delivering God's word to specific people, sometimes appearing as fire or lightning and sometimes even as men, but never as women or babies. They are innumerable, strong and powerful. We are not to worship them, or expect them to do what we ask because they only obey the will of God and His glorified son, Jesus.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"mqIMgQbMpJ0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_does_the_bible__pt2m55s.jpg","timestamp":"June 05","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-does-the-bible-say-about-angels\/","added":"37,111 views | 02:55 min","info":"37,111 views | 02:55 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":175,"views":"37111","categories":["The Spiritual World"]},{"id":"160","title":"What does the parable of the sower mean?","description":"
Jesus spoke in many parables. A parable is a story that teaches a lesson.
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\r\nHere’s what he said: (Matthew 13:3-9, NIV)
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\r\n“...A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown…”
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\r\nNow let’s look more deeply at the meaning:
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\r\nThe “seed” represents God’s message of His coming kingdom. The story is about the different reactions people have when they hear that message. The “ground” represents the conditions of peoples’ hearts.
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\r\nThe “seeds that fell along the path” represents a situation where people hear the message, but aren’t able to understand it and benefit from it just yet. Note that Satan’s goal is to try and prevent God’s message from entering hearts and taking root - represented by the birds devouring the seed.
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\r\nThe “rocky soil” represents those who hear the message and initially receive it with joy. At first, they are enthusiastic, but their zeal soon fizzles out. Like a young plant in rocky soil, the roots are shallow. At the first sign of trials or persecution, they shrivel up with fear and discouragement.
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\r\nThe “thorny ground” represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but the message is crowded out by things that distract them from following Jesus. Examples can be chasing money, success, possessions, or popularity on social media. The “ground” in their hearts may be good, but unfortunately there are other things growing there. The thorns must be removed so that the message can grow and produce “good fruit.”
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\r\nThe “good soil” represents the hearts of those who truly accept God’s message, follow Jesus at any cost and are completely devoted to God. They produce the “fruit of the spirit” in abundance as described in Galatians 5:22-23.
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\r\nHow can we cultivate “good soil” in our hearts for God’s message to take root?
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\r\nStart a relationship with God. Pray tonight before you go to sleep. Start by telling God everything you are thankful for!
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\r\nStudy the Bible and become familiar with God’s word and His people. Memorize your favorite scriptures and the order of the books of the Bible.
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\r\nDevelop an attitude of reverence, meaning, deep respect, for God, Jesus and the Bible.
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\r\nTell others about God’s kingdom. This will give them hope and possibly inspire them to learn more about Him and His plan!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"5Lyc3QA9b2E","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_does_the_parabl_pt3m5s.jpg","timestamp":"May 22","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-does-the-parable-of-the-sower-mean\/","added":"4,153 views | 03:05 min","info":"4,153 views | 03:05 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":185,"views":"4153","categories":["Bible","Character Development","Jesus"]},{"id":"159","title":"How can we do the right thing?","description":"
Knowing how to do the right thing can be hard sometimes, but God knows this and wants us to try our best. Here are some ways we can do the right thing:
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\r\nBe gracious if we lose. Nobody succeeds at everything in life. If we are on the losing team, let’s practice good sportsmanship by genuinely congratulating the winning one. It’s okay to be disappointed, but not okay to have bad feelings towards others who succeed. We can still have fun even if we don’t win! And if WE are the winner, we shouldn’t brag about it. Being humble is an important quality God wants us to have!
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\r\nBe honest. Suppose we were playing too roughly in the house and broke something. Instead of hiding or denying it, we would admit what we did and apologize. Then we would try to be more careful. God hates lying, (see Proverbs 12:22) so let’s be truthful!
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\r\nConsider the feelings of others - like when you’re at home, at school or on the playground. We should try to be patient when waiting for our turn to use equipment or play a game. If someone is speaking, let’s listen rather than being in a hurry to talk over them.
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\r\nHave a sharing attitude - being selfish is no fun for anybody! If you have a favorite toy or snack, try sharing so you can enjoy it together. Most likely, next time when they have something nice, they’ll want to share it with you, too!
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\r\nBe generous with your time and talents - this pleases God. 2 Corinthians (9:7, NIV) says, “...God loves a cheerful giver.” Do we grudgingly help out around the house or classroom, or do we look for ways to be a blessing before we are asked?
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\r\nBe polite and respectful of others. We can regularly use these nice phrases: “thank you,” “please,” and “excuse me.” Using our quiet voice in church or other public places like restaurants and libraries is also a way to be polite and respectful and not disturb others.
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\r\nStand up for what’s right. This can be hard if we have friends who pressure us to do things we don’t agree with. If someone is influencing you to go against what you know to be right, ask a parent or a trusted adult for help.
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\r\nSo, how can we do the right thing? We can be gracious if we lose, be honest, be considerate of others’ feelings, share, give freely of our time and talents, be polite and respectful, and stand up for what’s right.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"H4H8N9aHwLM","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/how_can_we_do_the_ri_pt2m28s.jpg","timestamp":"May 08","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-can-we-do-the-right-thing-cq-kids\/","added":"1,684 views | 02:28 min","info":"1,684 views | 02:28 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":148,"views":"1684","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"158","title":"How do we know the Bible is true?","description":"
We begin with faith that God exists. We look to the beauty of nature, precise scientific principles, and the belief that humanity and our universe did not come about randomly without a divine first cause.
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\r\nOnce we believe that God exists, it makes sense that He would want to communicate His plan and expectations with His creation…so He gave us the Bible.
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\r\nApproximately 40 people wrote the Bible over a period of about 1500 years. Despite having many authors over such a long stretch of time, the Bible’s themes and messages are consistent, as if one author had been overseeing the entire project. How can this be? Because through God’s spirit - His power and influence - He spoke to the authors through their hearts and minds, telling them to write down exactly what He wanted to be made known.
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\r\nThe Bible is one of the oldest books in existence. Throughout the centuries, individuals have tried to hide it, burn it, and even make it a crime to own or read it!! Despite this, it has been translated into hundreds of languages, available across the world. How did it survive? The evidence suggests it had divine help - that God is not only the author, but its protector!
\r\n
\r\nMuch of the Bible refers to Jesus of Nazareth. To prove the Bible is true, we must prove he existed. We have several non-Christian historical authors that confirm Jesus was a real person. One example is Flavius Josephus, a historian who lived shortly after Jesus died who referred several times to Jesus in his book on the history of the Jewish people.
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\r\nThe Bible contains scientific information unknown to the world at that time, and here is just one of many examples: some ancient people believed that the earth was being held up in space by a giant or a large animal. But in Job it says, “God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.” (Job 26:7, NLT) This is true about the earth, and only the Creator could have revealed this detail!
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\r\nThe Bible describes specific structures that are confirmed in ancient historical writings. Archaeological digs point toward evidence of the Tabernacle. The Jewish Tabernacle was a movable temple described in the book of Exodus, and served as a dwelling place for God to commune with the Israelites while they wandered in the desert for 40 years.
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\r\nFinally, the Bible contains many prophecies - predictions of future events. One dramatic example is that God said that He would gather His people and they would live in their own land. (see Deuteronomy 30:1-5, Jeremiah 23:3,4,7,8) In 1948, against many obstacles, the prophecy came true - the Jewish people WERE re-gathered to their own land, and they became the nation of Israel! When biblical prophecies that were foretold centuries before come true, our faith in the truthfulness of the Bible is strengthened.
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\r\nSo, how do we know the Bible is true? We begin with faith in God. Then we confirm the existence of Jesus. From there, we examine scientific principles that were established in the Bible long before anyone understood them. Next, we see that history has confirmed biblical structures like the Jewish Tabernacle. Finally, we discover exciting prophecies in the Bible that have come true so far - and God’s people look forward to the fulfillment of ALL of them!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"CWsVX1evaMI","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/how_do_we_know_the_b_pt3m23s.jpg","timestamp":"April 24","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-do-we-know-the-bible-is-true-cq-kids\/","added":"21,143 views | 03:23 min","info":"21,143 views | 03:23 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":203,"views":"21143","categories":["Bible"]},{"id":"157","title":"What did Jesus teach?","description":"
When Jesus was here on earth, he was a perfect man and a master teacher. The people loved to hear him speak because he taught the pure word of God with knowledge and authority. (see Matthew 7:29)
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\r\nJesus was an example of complete respect and obedience to God - one we should try to copy. He never took credit for himself, but instead always gave the glory and honor to God. In Matthew, he told the people, “…let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16, NLT)
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\r\nHow can WE give glory to God? We can be thankful for what he has provided, recognizing His mercy and generosity. And, when we do good deeds, we can give all the credit to God, for giving us the time, talent and ability to do them!
\r\n
\r\nJesus also taught us to love God and our neighbor. Our “neighbor” means everyone around us! In Mark, he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” and, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30, 31, NIV)
\r\n
\r\nHow can WE show love for our neighbor? We can share toys or snacks with classmates, or look for ways to be helpful to our parents and teachers.
\r\n
\r\nJesus also gave us a hard instruction to follow: to love our enemies. (see Matthew 5:44) It’s easy to love those who are kind to us, but much harder to love those who are unkind.
\r\n
\r\nHow can WE love our enemies? We can still be nice to those who are not so nice to us. We should never try to “get even” or harm those who hurt us.
\r\n
\r\nJesus preached exciting news about God’s coming kingdom, (see Mark 1:15), which will bring blessings to all of humankind. The miracles Jesus and his disciples performed - like healing the sick and raising the dead - gives us a preview of what this kingdom will be like!
\r\n
\r\nHow can WE prepare for God’s kingdom? We can do our best to live godly lives, being unselfish, forgiving, and compassionate - like Jesus! And of course, we can tell others about God’s plan to bless all of humankind.
\r\n
\r\nAs part of this coming kingdom, Jesus also taught about the future resurrection, when all who are in their graves will be awakened back to life with an opportunity to live forever. (see John 5:28)
\r\n
\r\nHow can WE bless others with this information? We can comfort someone whose loved one has passed away by sharing this good news! Let’s give them a reassuring scripture about what God will do, such as, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4, NLT)
\r\n
\r\nSo, what did Jesus teach? Many wonderful things, but here are just a few: to respect, obey and love God, and to love “our neighbor” and our enemies. He also taught about God’s future kingdom and the resurrection!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"NDqMGU5B0AM","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_did_jesus_teach_pt2m58s.jpg","timestamp":"April 10","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-did-jesus-teach\/","added":"2,440 views | 02:58 min","info":"2,440 views | 02:58 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":178,"views":"2440","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"156","title":"What were the ten plagues of Egypt?","description":"
In the book of Exodus, we read about how the Israelite people became slaves in Egypt. Egypt’s leader was Pharaoh, a cruel and stubborn man. God had chosen Moses to lead the people out of Egypt to the promised land of Canaan.
\r\n
\r\nBut Pharaoh wouldn’t let the people go. The Bible records a pattern between Moses and Pharaoh: Moses would warn that God would send a plague - something that would cause trouble or distress - if Pharaoh didn't let the people go. All of the plagues could have been avoided had Pharaoh listened to Moses, God's representative, and freed the Israelites from slavery.
\r\n
\r\nIn the first plague, the water in the land became blood. The fish died and the water smelled bad. The Bible says there was blood throughout the land and the Egyptians could not drink from the Nile River or wash in it. (see Exodus 7:21)
\r\n
\r\nThe second plague was frogs. Frogs are pretty neat, but THIS many were really annoying - they were everywhere, even inside houses!
\r\n
\r\nThe third plague was lice, although some translations say gnats or sand flies. Such insects bite victims and feed on their blood...not a pleasant thought!
\r\n
\r\nThe fourth plague was thick swarms of flies throughout Egypt. Imagine going outside and having that many buzzing all around you.
\r\n
\r\nFor the fifth plague, the cattle belonging to the Egyptians became diseased and died. Like today, the people depended on livestock for food and other things, so this plague was a real hardship.
\r\n
\r\nThe sixth plague brought boils - painful sores - on the animals' and people's bodies.
\r\n
\r\nFor the seventh plague, hail rained down from the sky upon all of the Egyptians. Hail is like large pieces of frozen rain. Through Moses, God said that any person or animal left outside would die under the hail.
\r\n
\r\nThe eighth plague brought locusts, an insect that always seems to be hungry. They ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit on the trees. There were so many that the ground looked black.
\r\n
\r\nThe ninth plague was three days of thick darkness. Imagine nighttime ALL the time. Since the Egyptians couldn’t see anything, it was hard to go anywhere.
\r\n
\r\nThe tenth plague was the most serious of all - the firstborn of each Egyptian household died - both human and livestock. Exodus (12:30, CEV) says, “In every Egyptian home, someone was dead.”
\r\n
\r\nSo, what were the Ten Plagues of Egypt? A series of ten devastating and difficult consequences due to Pharaoh refusing to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"qjTgGOc2eWw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_were_the_ten_pl_pt2m43s.jpg","timestamp":"March 27","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-were-the-ten-plagues-of-egypt\/","added":"2,866 views | 02:43 min","info":"2,866 views | 02:43 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":163,"views":"2866","categories":["Bible","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"155","title":"What are some wisdom lessons for children about our actions? (Part 2)","description":"
In the book of Proverbs, King Solomon and others offer wise advice - especially for young people growing up and learning to live a life that puts God first.
\r\n
\r\nWise actions are important:
\r\n
\r\n“Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.” (Proverbs 15:5, NLT) Our parents have a lot more experience than we do, so let’s humbly accept their good instruction. When we make a mistake, thinking carefully about what we did can help us make better choices in the future.
\r\n
\r\n“Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with an arrow.” (Proverbs 25:18, NLT) God hates lying. People should be able to trust that what we say is true. Lying about others is especially hurtful.
\r\n
\r\n“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13, NLT) Rather than hide our mistakes, let’s admit them and ask for forgiveness - both from God and the person we might have hurt. Then let’s try not to make the same mistakes again.
\r\n
\r\n“A quick-tempered man acts foolishly and without self-control,...” (Proverbs 14:17, Amplified Bible) Self-control is the ability to control one’s emotions and desires, especially in difficult or tempting situations. Exercising self-control helps our Christian characters. Let’s try to stay calm when things don’t go our way.
\r\n
\r\n“My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!” (Proverbs 1:10, NLT) Do you know someone who always seems to influence others to misbehave? Let’s avoid people like this!
\r\n
\r\n“The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise. So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy!” (Proverbs 23:24,25, NLT) Your parents are so happy when they see you being kind and unselfish. What are some ways you can make them smile today?
\r\n
\r\nAs we have seen, Proverbs contains valuable advice regarding our actions: “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13, NLT)
\r\n <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"1bUc82HISL0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_are_some_wisdom_pt2m17s.jpg","timestamp":"March 13","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-are-some-wisdom-lessons-for-children-about-our-actions-part-2\/","added":"789 views | 02:17 min","info":"789 views | 02:17 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":137,"views":"789","categories":["Character Development","Wisdom Lessons"]},{"id":"154","title":"What are some wisdom lessons for children about our actions? (Part 1)","description":"
In the book of Proverbs, King Solomon and others offer wise advice - especially for young people growing up and learning to live a life that puts God first.
\r\n
\r\nWise actions are important:
\r\n
\r\n“My child, obey the teachings of your parents,...” (Proverbs 1:8, Contemporary English Version) Good parents teach their kids many valuable things because they want them to succeed. Let’s listen up and follow their wise advice!
\r\n
\r\n“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” (Proverbs 15:30, NLT) We can be a blessing to others by letting our lights shine, being encouraging, and showing kindness wherever we can.
\r\n
\r\n“An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.” (Proverbs 29:22, NLT) When we are angry, we should be especially careful before speaking. If something upsets us, let’s stop, take a deep breath, and think before we say something we shouldn’t.
\r\n
\r\n“Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and whether it is right.” (Proverbs 20:11, NLT) As Christians, we want to act and speak in a way that would be pleasing to God. We are examples to everyone around us.
\r\n
\r\n“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” (Proverbs 25:28, NLT) Self-control is the ability to control one’s emotions and desires, especially in difficult or tempting situations. Exercising self-control helps our Christian characters. We want to be strong “cities,” not breaking down every time something doesn’t go our way!
\r\n
\r\n“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26, NIV) Choose friends who will support you rather than make you feel bad. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn’t. Avoid bad influences - stay away from people who make wrong actions seem right.
\r\n
\r\nAs we have seen, Proverbs contains valuable advice regarding our actions. “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13, NLT)<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"DBhE3AEbXEI","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_are_some_wisdom_pt2m18s.jpg","timestamp":"February 27","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-are-some-wisdom-lessons-for-children-about-our-actions-part-1-cq-kids\/","added":"938 views | 02:18 min","info":"938 views | 02:18 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":138,"views":"938","categories":["Character Development","Wisdom Lessons"]},{"id":"152","title":"What are some wisdom lessons for children about our character?","description":"
In the book of Proverbs, King Solomon and others offer wise advice - especially for young people growing up and learning to live a life that puts God first.
\r\n
\r\nA good character is pleasing to God:
\r\n
\r\n“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (Proverbs 4:23, NLT) Our heart reflects our attitude and determines how we spend our time and what we think is most important. Do we love God and Jesus and look for ways to serve them and others?
\r\n
\r\n“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18, English Standard Version) The Bible is filled with examples of prideful individuals who came to a bad end - just look at Satan. Humility - a quality Jesus had that we should try to copy - is a key to pleasing God.
\r\n
\r\n“Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Proverbs 3:3, NASB) Using picture language, this means kindness and truth should always be close to us, like a necklace. “Writing them on our hearts” means that these qualities should always be part of our character.
\r\n
\r\n“Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1, NLT) Our reputation is connected to the characteristics people see in us - like if we are known to be honest and trustworthy. We want to be good examples to everyone around us!
\r\n
\r\n“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25, NIV) Good deeds generate good feelings. When we have a giving attitude, we can inspire others to give back or pay it forward!
\r\n
\r\n“A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them.” (Proverbs 15:18, NLT) When something doesn’t go our way, do we get really mad and respond with angry words? Solomon is warning us against this. If someone else is upset, can we step in and try to calm the situation with loving words? (see Proverbs 15:18)
\r\n
\r\n“People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.” (Proverbs 13:13, NLT) We should respect advice and suggestions from others who are wise - like Solomon!
\r\n
\r\nAs we have seen, Proverbs contains valuable advice for improving our character: “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13, NLT)<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"mIxIBax74-o","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_are_some_wisdom_lessons_f.jpg","timestamp":"February 13","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-are-some-wisdom-lessons-for-children-about-our-character\/","added":"1,153 views | 02:37 min","info":"1,153 views | 02:37 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":157,"views":"1153","categories":["Character Development","Wisdom Lessons"]},{"id":"141","title":"What are some wisdom lessons for children about our words?","description":"
In the book of Proverbs, King Solomon and others offer wise advice - especially for young people growing up and learning to live a life that puts God first.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Choosing our words carefully is important: <\/p>\r\n\r\n
“A kind answer soothes angry feelings, but harsh words stir them up.” (Proverbs 15:1, Contemporary English Version) Conflict can quickly create bad feelings. We often say things we don’t mean in the heat of an argument. If we instead speak calmly and kindly, it’s easier for angry people to calm down.
\r\n
\r\n“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.” (Proverbs 31:8, NLT) Bullying is a serious problem today. If you see someone at school being mistreated, tell a trusted adult, like a parent or a teacher. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
“Truth will last forever; lies are soon found out.” (Proverbs 12:19, Contemporary Version)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lies hurt both the teller and the listener. It’s also hard to remember the lies we tell, so we tend to tell more. Soon, we’re in a huge mess. What’s more, God hates lying! (see Proverbs 6:17)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Proverbs 21:23, Christian Standard Bible) Sometimes we say things without thinking first, causing problems. Solomon reminds us that we need to watch our words carefully, and think before we speak.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” (Proverbs 16:24, NLT) <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Doesn’t it feel nice when sincere people say kind things to us? We should do the same for them! Can you say something encouraging to someone today?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.” (Proverbs 27:9, NLT) <\/p>\r\n\r\n
When a friend comes to us in need, do we put all distractions away and focus on what they are saying? Only in this way can we listen carefully and give good advice. Don’t we want our friends to do the same for us?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As we have seen, Proverbs contains valuable advice about our words: “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13, NLT)<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"pEVf2WapvLM","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/wisdom_lessons_words.jpg","timestamp":"January 30","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-are-some-wisdom-lessons-for-children-about-our-words\/","added":"1,276 views | 02:15 min","info":"1,276 views | 02:15 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":135,"views":"1276","categories":["Character Development","Wisdom Lessons"]},{"id":"140","title":"What are some wisdom lessons for children about God?","description":"
In the book of Proverbs, King Solomon and others offer wise advice - especially for young people growing up and learning to live a life that puts God first.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Our relationship with God is very important!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of knowledge. Only a fool rejects wisdom and good advice.” (Proverbs 1:7, Contemporary English Version) When we think about God’s goodness and mercy, we have feelings of love, thankfulness, and admiration. Our appreciation deepens and we want to know more about Him and His plan for all of humankind, so we study His word and gain knowledge. Anyone who does not respect God’s wisdom is foolish!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5,6, NLT) Today, there is a growing trend of arrogance, where people think that they don’t need God because THEY know best. But NO ONE knows better than God, because He can see the full picture of our lives and His beautiful plan for all of humanity. Following His righteous principles helps to keep us on a godly path.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” (Proverbs 30:5, NKJV) God’s word - the Bible - teaches us many things, so let’s study to learn even more. We can become familiar with the people of the Bible, learn about the life and mission of Jesus, and memorize scriptures to keep God’s word close to our hearts. We can trust Him because He wants what’s best for us. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
“People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.” (Proverbs 21:2, NLT) Sometimes when we act unrighteously, we create excuses to make us think our bad behavior or thoughts are okay. But God cannot be fooled. He can look into our hearts and know our true motives and reasons for everything we do. What does God see in YOUR heart?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.” (Proverbs 3:7, NLT) Here again we are advised to not think so highly of ourselves as though we know so much. To please God, we must be humble, just like Jesus. The word ‘fear’ in this scripture means ‘reverence,’ which is to respect deeply. We must do our best to turn away from sinful thoughts and actions, and show reverence for the one true God!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As we have seen, Proverbs contains valuable advice regarding our relationship with God: “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13, NLT)<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"eQsVHrRHb_Y","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/wisdom_lessons.jpg","timestamp":"January 18","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-are-some-wisdom-lessons-for-children-about-god\/","added":"4,041 views | 02:43 min","info":"4,041 views | 02:43 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":163,"views":"4041","categories":["God","Character Development","Wisdom Lessons"]},{"id":"139","title":"What is Obedience?","description":"
Ephesians (6:1, NIV) says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Obedience means following a rule, request, or law from a higher authority - like God, your parents or your teachers, for example. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the Bible, when God’s people followed His righteous commands, they were happy and received blessings. We trust and obey God because:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
1) He loves us and has our best interests in mind,
\r\n2) His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, (see Isaiah 55:8,9) and
\r\n3) We can’t see the full picture of our lives like He can. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
For instance, imagine attending a parade. As you watch the decorated floats pass by, you can only see what is directly in front of you, and maybe a bit ahead or behind if you turn your head. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Now imagine God in heaven, who can see the ENTIRE parade from above, from start to finish. (see Isaiah 46:10) When it comes to His plan for all of humanity, He knows the beginning, the end, and everything in between. He has all of the information but we do not. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jesus is an excellent example of perfect obedience. Throughout his life and ministry, as God’s representative on earth, Jesus always obeyed the will of his father. Hebrews (5:8, Berean Study Bible) says, “…he learned obedience from what he suffered.” This means that he learned to be obedient under pressure - the pressure of enduring many extremely difficult experiences. Despite everything he went through, he carried out his Father’s will perfectly, succeeding at every turn!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Obedience goes along with humility, which is the quality of not thinking too highly of yourself, of being humble. Jesus was certainly humble. Speaking about him, Philippians (2:8, NASB) says, “...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (2:9, NIV) “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,...”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jesus received this incredible reward because of his willing obedience, humility and faithfulness. Let’s try our best to copy these qualities that please God so much! <\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, what is obedience? It’s following rules, requests or laws, like the ones from God, our parents and our teachers. We choose to obey God’s righteous principles because His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. (see Isaiah 55:8,9) We put our faith and trust in Him because He can see the long-term, big picture of His plan, and we cannot. Just like a loving parent, He knows what is best for us, so it’s always wise to trust and obey Him!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"_jsJ16ua6q4","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_is_obedience.jpg","timestamp":"January 02","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-obedience\/","added":"23,400 views | 02:35 min","info":"23,400 views | 02:35 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":155,"views":"23400","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"138","title":"What does the holy spirit do?","description":"
The holy spirit is God’s invisible power and influence. Over time, the role of the holy spirit changed.
\r\n
\r\nIn Old Testament times and before Jesus’ baptism, the function of the holy spirit was primarily to guide and direct His prophets by inspiring them to write or speak words they generally did not understand. The meanings of these writings were often revealed in the New Testament, meant for us to study and understand now.
\r\n
\r\nAfter Jesus died, the apostles and others received miraculous “gifts of the holy spirit” (see 1 Corinthians 12:8-10) to help establish the early church and quickly spread the gospel message, such as being able to preach in different languages. (see Acts 2:1-4) These miraculous gifts ended once the apostles died. (see 1 Corinthians 13:8*, see also 2 Peter 1:19-21**)
\r\n
\r\nIn our day, those who make a consecration to God, if accepted, receive the gift of the holy spirit. To “make a consecration” means transforming one’s life, trying to follow the way Jesus lived his life. A consecrated person turns away from their natural sinful tendencies and instead tries very hard to obey God’s will in every decision of life. The Bible calls those with the holy spirit, “spirit begotten.” (see 1 John 5:1, ASV)
\r\n
\r\nA spirit-begotten person sees, thinks, speaks, and acts differently than they did before. (see 2 Corinthians 5:17) Their loyalty and allegiance is to God first. They are committed to a higher purpose - doing things God’s way instead of their way.
\r\n
\r\nThe holy spirit is like a tool to help a person do the work required to live a consecrated life. When a person is spirit begotten, they can:
\r\n…be helped with their weaknesses. (see Romans 8:26-28, Rotherham)
\r\n…be a good example to others. (see Galatians. 6:10, 1 Timothy 4:12)
\r\n…develop the “fruit of the spirit” Paul describes in Galatians, in order to glorify God. (see Galatians 5:22,23, John 5:18)
\r\n…be comforted through difficult experiences, knowing that the power of God is working in their lives for their best spiritual welfare. (see Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 1:4)
\r\n
\r\n…be inspired to share the word of God with others. (see Matt.5:16, Phil 2:15, 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Timothy 4:6,7)
\r\n...help transform and renew their minds to set their focus on serving God. (see Romans 12:2)
\r\n…have a greater understanding of the Bible - not through a miracle without any effort, but through the hard work of studying God ’s word. (see Matthew 6:15-17, 2 Tim 2:15)
\r\n…have a sense of peace as they rejoice in the Lord and guard their hearts and minds against evil. (see Matthew 10:13, Phil 4:4-7)
\r\n…be motivated to serve and build up other Christians. (see Galatians 6:10, Hebrews 6:10, Matthew 25:40)
\r\n…be guided in the work of self-sacrifice, which is giving up one’s own desires in order to do the will of God. (see Romans 12:1,2, Philippians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 3:9) …increase their own hope and faith in God and His promises. Romans (5:5, NLT) says, “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the holy spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, what does the holy spirit do? The function of the holy spirit changed over time. Today, it motivates, helps, comforts, and inspires dedicated Christians. A consecrated life is not easy - it is full of hardships, persecutions, and sacrifices. However, with the holy spirit, there is a quiet joy, peace, comfort and strength that God - through His invisible power and influence - is helping every step of the way.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"2Hdf8-_v6hA","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_spirit_do.jpg","timestamp":"December 19","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-does-the-holy-spirit-do\/","added":"1,228 views | 03:02 min","info":"1,228 views | 03:02 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":182,"views":"1228","categories":["The Spiritual World"]},{"id":"137","title":"What was life like in Bible times?","description":"
What was life like in Bible times?
\r\nThe Bible is like a historical “time capsule” giving us insight into daily life!
\r\nHow did people get around with no airplanes, cars, or trains?
\r\nThey walked of course, and there were animals and other things to ride.
\r\nJesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey a few days before his death. (see Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, John 12:14)
\r\nJacob’s wives and children rode camels. (see Genesis 31:17)
\r\nJoseph rode a chariot when he went to visit his father, Jacob. (see Genesis 46:29)
\r\nJoseph gave his brothers carts (sometimes translated as ‘wagons’) to bring their children, wives and father to Egypt. (see Genesis 45:21)
\r\nIn Moses’ time, Pharaoh’s army (see Exodus 14:9, 23) rode horses and chariots.
\r\nSo, if you like animals, you would’ve had fun taking care of them and riding them!
\r\nWhat kind of music did they have?
\r\nMiriam, Moses’ sister, played the tambourine. (see Exodus 15:20)
\r\nDavid played the harp (see 1 Samuel 16:23) and wrote many songs praising and honoring God.
\r\nWhen David’s son, Solomon, became king, they played “ram’s horns” (or “trumpets”) at the celebration. The account also mentions “pipes” (or “flutes.”). (see 1 Kings 1:35-40)
\r\nSo, if you’ve got musical talent, you would have enjoyed writing songs to praise God, and playing various instruments!
\r\nWithout video games or the internet, what did people do for fun?
\r\nThe Apostle Paul compares a Christian devoting their lives to God and following Jesus as “running a race,” so that was obviously an activity people knew. (see 1 Corinthians 9:24)
\r\nPaul also mentions boxing in the same context. (see 1 Corinthians 9:26)
\r\nPaul further talks about athletes training and competing as a metaphor for the challenges associated with living a godly life, so his audience clearly understood this sports reference. (see 1 Corinthians 9:25)
\r\nSwimming is mentioned in the Bible, so it’s reasonable to imagine people swam for enjoyment or even competition. (see Acts 27:43, Ezekiel 47:5, Isaiah 25:11)
\r\nWe know people attended weddings, and even Jesus was a guest! (see John 2:1-12)
\r\nThere were parties in Bible times, too - a banquet was given in honor of Esther becoming queen (see Esther 2:18)
\r\nPeople danced to praise God. (see Psalm 149:3)
\r\nSo, maybe you would have been invited to exciting parties with food and dancing. If you like competitions and physical activities, you could have joined in!
\r\nWith no instant messages, how did people communicate with far-off friends?
\r\nThey wrote letters!
\r\nThe Apostle Paul is credited with writing several books of the Bible, and some of these books are actually letters to the early churches. Paul was a very good writer, offering valuable advice and encouragement, like, “Be thankful In all circumstances,…” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT) and “Let us not become weary in doing good,…” (Galatians 6:9, NIV)
\r\nSo, if you like writing, you could have sent letters to faraway friends and family, perhaps telling them everything you were thankful for!
\r\nSo, what was life like in Bible times? Many activities are familiar to us today. Let’s make the most of what we have in our OWN time period, learning about and praising God!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"LvqrVkPX7Ww","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/life_bible_time.jpg","timestamp":"December 05","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-was-life-like-in-bible-times\/","added":"2,273 views | 02:56 min","info":"2,273 views | 02:56 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":176,"views":"2273","categories":["Bible","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"136","title":"Why did Jesus tell his disciples to buy swords?","description":"
Why did Jesus tell his disciples to buy swords?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jesus was a man of peace, who healed the sick and stood up for righteousness at every turn as God’s representative. He carried out his mission perfectly, preaching about God’s kingdom and dying as a ransom for Adam.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Does it surprise you to know that on the night he was arrested, he told his disciples to buy swords? Some misunderstand this scripture to mean that Jesus supported violence. Could that be true?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Absolutely not!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
First, let’s look at the account in Luke where Jesus said in the Upper Room: (Luke 22:36, NASB 1995) “...whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Now let’s set the scene: He and his disciples are in the Garden of Gethsemane, and Jesus knows the time has come when he would be betrayed by Judas, taken as a prisoner, and then crucified the next day. But there was something the group who came to arrest him did not know - that Jesus was able to ask his Father to send him legions of angels for his defense and protection. Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to show that he willingly allowed himself to be captured. The swords were there to give the impression that Jesus COULD HAVE defended himself, but he did not - he clearly went voluntarily to die for all of humankind. Had there not been weapons present, it would have looked as though he had had no choice but to go with them, and that’s not the lesson we are to take from this account.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Another reason we know Jesus did not support violence is because of what happened when Peter, attempting to defend Jesus, (ironically with one of those swords), cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, named Malchus. In Matthew, we read: “‘Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.’” Then Jesus miraculously healed the servant’s ear - a perfect example of what it means to love your enemies!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In his darkest hour, they came to arrest this peaceful man with swords and clubs as though he was a dangerous criminal. He knew the terrible treatment that was to come, yet his thoughts were of the safety of his disciples. He said (John 18:8, NIV), “... if you are looking for me, then let these men go.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, why did Jesus tell his disciples to buy swords? Because it was necessary to show that his capture was not made by force, but that he voluntarily allowed himself to be taken and crucified. The swords were intended only for show - a demonstration - and not for a true defense, even though impulsive Peter ended up using one. But kind-hearted Jesus reprimanded him for that action and healed the wound Peter had caused. Jesus never supported violence, but instead was a perfect example to us of peace and love. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"_sCHkoY3G0Q","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/jesus_sword.jpg","timestamp":"November 21","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-did-jesus-tell-his-disciples-to-buy-swords\/","added":"3,494 views | 02:40 min","info":"3,494 views | 02:40 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":160,"views":"3494","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"135","title":"What is sin and what can we do about it?","description":"
Sin is anything that misses the mark of God’s perfect, divine standards, like a bullseye on a target where God’s standards are represented by the innermost circle. What we say, do and think can be sinful.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Humans have one BIG thing in common: we are all sinners. Romans (3:23, NLT) says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Sin ALWAYS has bad consequences, and if we think otherwise, we are only fooling ourselves. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sin was introduced into the world when the first man Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. His disobedience set off a chain reaction of sin that his descendants inherited - that’s us!
\r\n
\r\nWe commit willful sins when we know what we are doing is wrong - like evil speaking - but we choose to do it anyway. We can also sin in our minds - like having mean thoughts about others. Still further, there are sins we may not even realize we have committed - like accidentally hurting someone’s feelings. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
If we know sin brings unhappiness, why don’t we just stop sinning? Because from the moment we were born we inherited sin from Adam. Not only that, but Satan and his fallen angels make things worse by trying to tempt humankind to do things Satan’s evil way instead of God’s righteous way. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, if we can’t stop sinning, should we just give up? Never! When we sin, we feel further away from God, so we should try hard to do better each day and pray for forgiveness when we make mistakes, both from God and the people we hurt. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
There is a clever saying: you can’t stop birds from flying over your head, but you CAN stop them from making a nest in your hair. It sounds funny, but the lesson is good: sin is always around us, but that doesn’t mean we have to actively engage in it and let it take root in our thoughts and actions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Our sinful situation makes us appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made by dying for all of humankind. His death paid a ransom for Adam’s sin, providing a future symbolic “covering” for all of resurrected humankind in God’s future kingdom. While under this covering, people will be given every opportunity to learn to live righteously WITHOUT Adam’s inherited sin and WITHOUT Satan’s evil influence. Each person will be responsible for their own actions - they won’t be able to blame Adam or others for their sins. (see Jeremiah 31:29) <\/p>\r\n\r\n
It’s easy to get discouraged sometimes, but God knows our low status and that we are trying to do our best. This Psalm (103:14, NIV) says it beautifully: “...for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, what is sin and what can we do about it? Sin is anything that misses the mark of God’s perfect, divine standards. Every day, let’s do our best to not sin. Let’s pray for forgiveness in Jesus’ name when we do. If we try hard, we can live up to the potential that God sees in all of us.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"RWXpTsh_luU","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_is_sin.jpg","timestamp":"November 08","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-sin-and-what-can-we-do-about-it\/","added":"31,228 views | 02:53 min","info":"31,228 views | 02:53 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":173,"views":"31228","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"134","title":"Do people turn into angels when they die?","description":"
There are NO examples in the Bible of this happening - and no one in the Bible says it does. Sometimes books, movies or our own imaginations can introduce incorrect concepts not taught in the Bible.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The first man God created, Adam, was human, just like us. He was given life with a perfect mind and body, an earthly paradise in the Garden of Eden, and authority over the earth and the animals. (see Genesis 1:26) The Bible says that the payment for sin is death, (see Romans 6:23) so when he sinned, he eventually grew old and died. (see Romans 6:23) This set off a chain reaction of death that is passed down to all of us, since we all came from Adam.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When Adam died, he went into the grave and returned to the dust from which he was made. (See Genesis 3:19) Just like Adam, all humans go to the same place when they die: the grave. God never promised that humans would turn into angels when they died - but he DID promise He would bless humankind with exactly what Adam originally had: life with a perfect mind and body and authority over the animals and a perfect earth. (see Acts 3:21, Isaiah 35:1) Speaking about Jesus, Paul says in Acts, (3:21, NLT) “For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.” This scripture is saying that God has promised a restoration of all things. “To restore” means to bring something back to the way it was. What is God’s plan in order to do this?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
God’s fair sense of justice required that someone of equal value should take Adam’s place in the grave. That person was God’s only begotten son, Jesus. Adam was a perfect human man, and when he was on earth, Jesus was a perfect human man, so only Jesus could be that substitute for Adam. This is known as “the ransom.” 1 Timothy (2:5,6, NIV) says, “... the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” The ransom is the main focus of God’s plan for all humankind. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Referring to Jesus, Luke says, “...for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10, NKJ) What was lost? When Adam sinned and had to leave the Garden, he did not lose a heavenly home as an angel, but an earthly home as a human. Jesus gave his life in order to restore that earthly home and existence to humankind.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
God’s kingdom will be more wonderful than anyone can imagine! When humankind is awakened from the dead in the resurrection, an opportunity to keep their raised human existence on a perfect earth will be offered to ALL who will have faith in Jesus and obedience to his requirements. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, do people turn into angels when they die? No. There are no examples in the Bible of this happening. Furthermore, God never promised that humans would turn into angels after death. He did, however, promise to restore to humans exactly what Adam lost: a perfect body and mind, and authority over the earth and animals to all who will have faith in Jesus and obey his requirements. Jesus giving his life as a ransom for Adam was how God chose to make this future plan happen.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"eoW4iyv4ynU","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/People_turn_angels.jpg","timestamp":"October 29","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/do-people-turn-into-angels-when-they-die\/","added":"1,295 views | 03:02 min","info":"1,295 views | 03:02 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":182,"views":"1295","categories":["The Spiritual World"]},{"id":"133","title":"What does the Bible say about Satan?","description":"
God created the spirit being we know as Satan. The prophet Isaiah indicates he was once known as “Lucifer.” (see Isaiah 14:12 - KJV uses the term “Lucifer”) He calls him “son of the morning,” but other translations (of the Bible) say “star of the morning,” implying he was bright and beautiful, like a light in heaven.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lucifer was given the task of watching over Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. (see Ezekiel 28:14) But tragically, he had a pride problem. Isaiah (14:13,14, NLT) tells us, “For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars…I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’” He wanted to be like God! So instead of being a blessing to our first parents, he took the form of a snake and deceived Eve with a lie, because he wanted power and authority - to rule over God’s creation.
\r\n
\r\nJesus, in his pre-human existence, saw him fall away from God because of his pride. In Luke, he says, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” (Luke 10:18, NKJ)
\r\n
\r\nAfter God cast Lucifer out of heaven, he was called by a new name - Satan. (see 1 Chronicles 21:1, Job chapters 1 and 2, Matthew 4:10) In the book of Matthew, where he tried unsuccessfully to tempt Jesus into disobeying God, he is also called “the tempter,” and “the devil.” (see Matthew 4:1,3,5) <\/p>\r\n\r\n
In Ephesians (see 2:2, NASB translation), Paul called Satan “the prince of the power of the air” because he is permitted - for now - to live invisibly in our atmosphere where he encourages mankind to do evil things. In John, Jesus referred to Satan as the “ruler of this world.” (see John 12:31, NKJ translation) In 2 Corinthians (4:4, NLT), the Apostle Paul called Satan the “god of this world,” and said we are not unaware of his evil schemes. (2:11) <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jesus described Satan’s character in John: (John 8:44, Berean Study Bible) “He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Satan is dangerous, and his goal is to turn people away from God, so we must be careful. Peter says, (1 Peter 5:8, NIV) “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Satan is sneaky and deceitful. Paul says (2 Corinthians 11:14, NLT), “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” This means that witchcraft can appear to be harmless, or ungodly actions like evil speaking can somehow seem ok. Fortunately, James gives us excellent advice: (James 4:7, NKJ) “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, what does the Bible say about Satan? He is a prideful, dangerous spirit being that God cast out of heaven. He now lives invisibly in our atmosphere, doing all he can to disrupt God’s plan. However, he will eventually be destroyed. (see Revelation 20:10) In the meantime, let’s be on our guard from ALL evil influences and do our best to follow God's righteous principles.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"7_1WRtyIBys","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/bible_satan.jpg","timestamp":"October 10","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-does-the-bible-say-about-satan\/","added":"5,415 views | 02:52 min","info":"5,415 views | 02:52 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":172,"views":"5415","categories":["Bible","The Spiritual World"]},{"id":"132","title":"Why is Christian fellowship important?","description":"
Fellowship means having a friendship with people who share similar interests. Christians share a love for God, Jesus and the Bible, so they have lots in common. Fellowship helps to form a strong relationship with others who want to serve the Lord.
\r\n
\r\nJesus taught in the book of John (15:12, NLT), "...Love each other in the same way I have loved you." He spent time fellowshipping with those he loved, and who also loved God.
\r\n
\r\nWhen we really get to know someone, like a best friend, we can understand them better. Is there someone at your church you’d like to know better? Sharing your love of the Bible is a great place to start! Begin your fellowship with someone new by asking them what their favorite scripture is and why, or which person in the Bible inspires them the most. A new friend is just a question away - through fellowship!
\r\n
\r\nYou will likely meet Christians who have been following Jesus longer than you have. This means there is more to learn! In your fellowship time, ask questions about the Bible from those with more knowledge. Pay attention to your teachers in Bible class, learning all you can. God has graciously given us so much to study - and discuss through fellowship - that we can never be bored!
\r\n
\r\nIn Hebrews, the Apostle Paul says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,…” (Hebrews 10:24, English Standard Version) Fellowship can motivate us to serve the Lord even more by getting involved in activities with others who inspire us. When we see their service, and how much joy it brings others, we want to join in!
\r\n
\r\nFinally, life has many hard experiences. Christians we fellowship with can give us special comfort and encouragement through tough times because they are familiar with God’s love and His promises. Is someone you know grieving because a loved one has passed away? Give them a card with a reassuring scripture, such as: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain…” (Revelation 21:4, NLT) Every person who has ever died will be brought back to life in God’s future kingdom, and you can share this Good News through your fellowship.
\r\n
\r\nSo, why is Christian fellowship important? We can be brought closer to others who share the same Christian values we do. Jesus’ actions and words teach us to spend time with and love each other as he did. We can learn more about God’s plan by fellowshipping with those who have been studying God’s word longer. We can become inspired to serve the Lord when we see the good examples of service by others around us. We can both give and receive comfort and encouragement through tough times. We can do many things together by strengthening the bonds of our Christian fellowship!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"JpQ74KdfBSI","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/christian_fellowship.jpg","timestamp":"September 26","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-is-christian-fellowship-important\/","added":"5,138 views | 02:41 min","info":"5,138 views | 02:41 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":161,"views":"5138","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"131","title":"Why did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead?","description":"
Jesus’ dear friend Lazarus was very sick. But instead of visiting him right away, he waited until Lazarus had died and been in the tomb for four days (see John 11:17). Why? Because this way the miracle would have the most powerful effect. Lazarus was truly dead. No one could say he was just resting deeply or in a coma. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
In a seemingly curious conversation, Jesus first told his disciples that Lazarus was “sleeping,” and that he would go and wake him up. The disciples, thinking he was referring to ACTUAL sleep, said that if Lazarus was resting, then he would get better. (see John 11:12) Jesus then told them plainly that Lazarus was dead. (see John 11:14)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Here Jesus gave us a clue as to what death is like - sleeping. With God’s power, Jesus will eventually awaken EVERYONE who has ever died out of this “sleep” condition in the future resurrection. (see John 5:28,29)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After Jesus said that Lazarus was dead, he added, “…I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.” (John 11:15, NKJ) He meant that seeing Lazarus raised would help them believe in the resurrection power of God - which would soon become a great comfort to them after Jesus was crucified.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This miracle made a lasting impression on many. (see John 12:17,18) Before Jesus performed the miracle, he prayed aloud in front of Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, and other witnesses, thanking God for hearing him. He said this so they would believe that God DID actually send him to be the Savior of the world (see John 11:42). Jesus made it clear that the power to raise Lazarus was coming from God and not himself. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
In our day, when we learn about this miracle, we not only recognize God’s power through His son, but we see the compassionate character of Jesus. When he arrived and saw all the people crying, he cried too. In the shortest scripture in the Bible, John (11:35, NIV) said, “Jesus wept.” Even though he KNEW Lazarus was going to be raised, he STILL felt sad and sympathized with everyone who was crying. His reaction helps us more easily relate to the human man, Jesus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, why did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead? To give evidence of God’s power over death through Jesus, to encourage and strengthen the faith of his disciples, and to help us all better imagine the joy of what the resurrection will be like in God’s future kingdom!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"sS3oN7XMZIY","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/lazarus_raise.jpg","timestamp":"September 12","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-did-jesus-raise-lazarus-from-the-dead\/","added":"1,759 views | 02:18 min","info":"1,759 views | 02:18 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":138,"views":"1759","categories":["Bible","Jesus","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"130","title":"Why do we worship God?","description":"
To worship is to show a feeling of love and respect for a supreme being. We worship God because He is our Creator with extraordinary qualities, and, therefore, worthy of our love, respect, and appreciation.
\r\n
\r\nLet’s discover why:
\r\n
\r\nHe is superior over all creation. Isaiah (46:9, NIV) says, “...I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.”
\r\n
\r\nHe doesn’t lie (see Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 32:4) or change His mind (see Malachi 3:6, James 1:17), so we can count on His promises to come true. He is a trustworthy God!
\r\n
\r\nHe represents perfect love. The Apostle John said, “...God is love,” (1 John 4:8) and, “God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all.” (1 John 1:5, NLT) Love and light - what a beautiful combination!
\r\n
\r\nHe is patient and merciful towards us, even though we don’t deserve it. Psalms says, (103:8, NASB) “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.”
\r\n
\r\nHe loves goodness and fairness. Psalms (33:5, NIV) says, “The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.”
\r\n
\r\nEvery human has to rest, but God never gets tired or weary. He is always awake, aware of everything going on with His human creation. (see Isaiah 40:28)
\r\n
\r\nWithout God, life would not exist. He gave His creation a home - our beautiful earth. Think of all of the lovely places we can visit - the mountains, the beach, the desert, the rainforest…there are interesting places all over our planet for us to explore and appreciate. He gave us so much variety in plants and animals that we could never be bored!
\r\n
\r\nHe created us with the ability to learn, reason and make decisions. (see Isaiah 1:18) As a result, we have a natural curiosity about where we came from and how to please Him. (see Acts 17:27 and Romans 1:20) God has graciously satisfied this curiosity by giving us the Bible. When we study this holy book, we can learn about His character, what He expects from us, and His plan for all of humankind.
\r\n
\r\nIn the book of John, we also learn about God’s greatest gift to us: (3:16, NKJ) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This scripture is so important because without the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, there would be no opportunity for the resurrection in God’s future kingdom. God has a grand plan, and YOU and everyone you know is a part of it!
\r\n
\r\nSo, why do we worship God? Because He is our Creator, and His character is worthy of our love, respect and appreciation. He gave us the Bible so we could learn more about Him and what He expects of us. He gave us His only begotten son so that in His future kingdom, humankind could be redeemed from Adam’s sin. What a privilege we have to know about and worship our incredible Creator!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"Ns2xhCBbKJQ","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/why_worship_god.jpg","timestamp":"September 06","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-do-we-worship-god\/","added":"2,610 views | 02:51 min","info":"2,610 views | 02:51 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":171,"views":"2610","categories":["God","Character Development"]},{"id":"129","title":"What should we pray for?","description":"
Prayer is a special privilege and should be done with great humility and respect. After all, we are speaking to the Creator of the universe! With this in mind, we must be sure we are praying for the RIGHT things that are pleasing to God. But what sorts of prayers are appropriate?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Having a thankful heart is always the right way to be! What are you thankful for? Your family? A home? Your school? Good things to eat? Say “thank you” for the many blessings He has provided, and tell Him specifically what you are thankful for. Psalms (136:1, NASB 1977) says, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
We should pray for forgiveness for our mistakes, appreciating that God understands that it’s hard to live righteously all the time. Psalms (103:14, New Heart English Bible) says, “For He knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.” When we realize we have made a mistake, let’s immediately go to God with a repentant heart. To be “repentant” means to feel sincere regret. Psalms (51:17, Good News Translation) says, “My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God; you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jesus taught us to pray for God’s kingdom to come, so it’s always appropriate to copy his example. In Matthew (6:10, NIV), Jesus said, “...your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” God’s kingdom has many parts that occur in different stages. When we pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth and in heaven, we are showing Him that we are eager for His righteous government to be fully established. God made a promise to Abraham in Genesis (22:18, NIV) “...and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” This means many wonderful blessings are coming to every person who has ever lived. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, what should we pray for? At least three things are always appropriate: expressing thankfulness for His blessings, for forgiveness and for His kingdom to come. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"EQwPx5CjqVo","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/pray_for_children.jpg","timestamp":"August 15","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-should-we-pray-for\/","added":"1,253 views | 02:08 min","info":"1,253 views | 02:08 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":128,"views":"1253","categories":["Character Development","Prayer"]},{"id":"128","title":"Why should we get along with our brothers and sisters?","description":"
There’s a popular saying: you can choose your friends but not your relatives. Often, it’s not until we grow up and look back that we cherish the time we had with our siblings. Even if you’re an only child, you can still have special relationships with your “brothers” and “sisters” in your faith who share the same Christian values you do.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Psalms (133:1, NIV) says, “…How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live in unity!”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Siblings who get along can work as a team. When one lacks a certain skill, the other can make up for it and support the other in order to accomplish great things. Moses and Aaron were brothers. Moses said he was not a good speaker, and therefore could not take on the responsibility of leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. God said not only would Aaron be able to help Moses talk to the people of Israel (Exodus 4:14) and Pharaoh, (see Exodus 6:30 - Exodus 7:1,2,3) but that He would teach both Moses AND Aaron what to say and do. (see Exodus 4:15)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Getting along with our siblings can build a special bond of love and support we can rely on in hard times. David also had a “brother,” but not by blood. His name was Jonathan, King Saul’s son. Saul was jealous of David and even tried to kill him, but because of David and Jonathan’s close friendship, they were able to deal with this difficult situation together. Jonathan understood David’s concerns and did everything he could to sympathize with him and protect him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were very special friends of Jesus, and they were siblings, too! They listened to Jesus’ message and showed him hospitality. These siblings were blessed with an extraordinary miracle when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Their shared common goal of faith and service bound them together.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, why should we get along with our brothers and sisters? Because whether related by family or Christian fellowship, brothers and sisters can work as a team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Like Moses and Aaron, they offer different strengths to support each other.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Although David and Jonathan weren’t actually related, their brotherly relationship enabled them to protect each other and endure hard experiences together. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Finally, beautiful things can happen when, like Mary, Martha and Lazarus, we share a common goal of faith and service with our siblings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As we grow up, it may sometimes feel like there’s no one else on this earth who can understand us the way a brother or sister can. Protect that special relationship and be loyal, supportive and loving towards your siblings!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"k01kqpjx-Rc","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/siblings_along.jpg","timestamp":"August 09","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-should-we-get-along-with-our-brothers-and-sisters\/","added":"2,944 views | 02:34 min","info":"2,944 views | 02:34 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":154,"views":"2944","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"127","title":"How can children serve God?","description":"
Jesus loved to spend time with children. When parents brought their children to him so he could pray for them, his disciples tried to stop them, thinking they were bothering the Master, but in Matthew (19:14, NLT) Jesus said, “...Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” He meant that his followers needed to adopt the humble and teachable qualities of children. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Here are some ways that kids can serve God:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Children have a responsibility to their parents to be obedient and respectful. One of God’s commandments is to “Honor your father and mother.,...” (Exodus 20:12, NLT) Colossians (3:20, ESV) says, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Children can also serve God by copying the qualities of His son, Jesus. Be an example to your friends of kindness, compassion, and unselfishness. Encourage others like Jesus did. Record a nice message or song, draw a picture, or make a card for someone who is sad or sick. Sit with a classmate who looks lonely. By copying Jesus, your time and efforts become special gifts - and God loves a cheerful giver! (see 2 Corinthians 9:7)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
If you have brothers or sisters, be kind to them by playing with them and supporting them if they need help with their homework or making friends.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ask others how you can be a blessing. Parents will appreciate it if you help around the house with a good attitude, and teachers are always looking for extra help!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Begin a relationship with God by praying - if you feel shy, write Him a letter! If you don’t know what to say, make a list of blessings and tell Him what you are thankful for.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Study the people of the Bible. This shows God that you are interested in His word and getting to know His people. Become inspired by godly leaders and important prophets in the Bible!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Memorize scriptures. These will bring you even more comfort as you get older. Being able to recite scriptures by memory helps us feel closer to God and His word.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It might be difficult, but we all need discipline. Parents sometimes have to teach their children when they are wrong. Proverbs says that good parents discipline their children out of love. (see Proverbs 13:24) So let’s do our best to receive instruction in a thoughtful and humble way, because it’s meant to help us do better. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, how can children serve God? They can respect and obey their parents, copy the qualities of Jesus, be kind to their siblings, ask others how they can be a blessing, pray, study the Bible, memorize scriptures, and receive instruction in a humble way. Proverbs (20:11, NLT) says, “Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"oYmGq_GEz88","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/children_serve.jpg","timestamp":"July 20","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-can-children-serve-god\/","added":"3,749 views | 02:44 min","info":"3,749 views | 02:44 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":164,"views":"3749","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"126","title":"What are the Ten Commandments?","description":"
They are instructions from God for leading a godly life, teaching us right from wrong regarding our relationships with God and those around us.
\r\n
\r\n(1st Commandment, Exodus 20:3, NLT)
\r\n“You must not have any other god but Me.” This means God should always be FIRST in our hearts and lives, and we should only worship Him.
\r\n
\r\n(2nd Commandment, Exodus 20:4, NLT)
\r\n“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind…” This does not only mean worshiping a physical idol, like a statue. An idol can be considered anything that would take our focus away from God.
\r\n
\r\n(3rd Commandment, Exodus 20:7, NLT)
\r\n“You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God…” Since God is holy, we should keep His name holy, and not use it in careless ways that show disrespect to Him or His character.
\r\n
\r\n(4th Commandment, Exodus 20:8, KJV)
\r\n“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy…” For the Israelites, Saturday was the sabbath day to stop working, rest, and think about God. For Christians today, Sunday is typically a day for worshiping God and considering the “rest” and peace we find in following Jesus. However, we should take time to worship God regularly, not just on one day.
\r\n
\r\n(5th Commandment, Exodus 20:12, NLT)
\r\n“Honor your father and mother…” Most parents do a lot for their children. God wants us to recognize this and show our appreciation for their love and care.
\r\n
\r\n(6th Commandment, Exodus 20:13, NKJ)
\r\n“You shall not murder.” Most of us would not think of harming someone, let alone killing them. Jesus took this rule even further and said a person who hates another is also a murderer. (See 1 John 3:15) Let’s be careful about how we treat and think about others!
\r\n
\r\n(7th Commandment, Exodus 20:14, NKJ)
\r\n“You shall not commit adultery…” We should be faithful and loyal to our husbands and wives if we are married. God expects us to keep our commitments.
\r\n
\r\n(8th Commandment, Exodus 20:15, NKJ)
\r\n“You shall not steal.” We should never take anything that doesn’t belong to us.
\r\n
\r\n(9th Commandment, Exodus 20:16, NLT)
\r\n“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.” Our “neighbor” means everyone around us. We should never lie or gossip about others in order to get them in trouble.
\r\n
\r\n(10th Commandment, Exodus 20:17, NKJ)
\r\n“You shall not covet…” To covet means to strongly want something that does not belong to us. Let’s instead be happy when others have good things, and also count our blessings, appreciating all that God has provided for us. In Hebrews, the Apostle Paul says, (13:5, NIV) “...be content with what you have,..”
\r\n
\r\nSo, what are the Ten Commandments? Instructions from God to teach us right from wrong regarding our relationships with God and those around us. Their basic, core values will always apply to our lives because they help us build a foundation for living a life that honors God.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"aQ_pKZoc8YU","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/10_commandmanets.jpg","timestamp":"July 05","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-are-the-ten-commandments\/","added":"6,852 views | 02:43 min","info":"6,852 views | 02:43 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":163,"views":"6852","categories":["Bible","God","Character Development"]},{"id":"125","title":"Why was Jesus baptized?","description":"
John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin. John’s mission was to prepare the hearts of the Jewish people to turn toward Jesus and his teachings. He did this by urging them to repent, (meaning, feel sincere regret) for their sins, to change, and to return to their nation’s special relationship with God.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Baptism is a symbolic act, where a person is gently lowered backward into water and then quickly raised out of it. Being baptized by John was an outward symbol that showed a person felt sincerely sorry for their sins. It publicly showed a turning away from sin, and the return to a state of holiness and devotion to God.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Jesus was not a sinner. Hebrews says he is (7:26, Good News Translation) “...holy; he has no fault or sin in him; he has been set apart from sinners…” A baptism of repentance for sins would not have been appropriate in his case.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jesus was baptized to symbolize his willingness to die as a ransom for Adam, so that all people may have an opportunity to live again in God’s future kingdom. In addition, he gave an example for us to follow - we are to turn away from the world's sinful ways and begin a new spiritual life with a full devotion to doing God’s will until death.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Matthew (3:16, 17 English Standard Version) says, “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and...the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and...a voice from heaven said, ‘This is My beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.’”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When it says “the heavens were opened to him,” we understand it to mean Jesus received a new, spiritual understanding or awareness. He would need this information in order to carry out his ministry exactly as God wanted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, why was Jesus baptized? To symbolize his willingness to die for the sins of the world as a ransom for Adam, as well as to give us an example to follow - we are to turn away from sin and devote our lives to doing the will of God.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"v4CipPAaJyg","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/jesus_baptized.jpg","timestamp":"June 20","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-was-jesus-baptized\/","added":"822 views | 02:05 min","info":"822 views | 02:05 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":125,"views":"822","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"124","title":"What is self control?","description":"
It's the ability to control one’s emotions and desires, especially in difficult or tempting situations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For example, it’s almost dinner time but you’re thinking about cookies. Eating a lot of cookies now will spoil your meal, as well as give you a stomachache. Someone with self-control would not eat the cookies and instead wait for their healthy dinner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Exercising self-control helps our Christian characters. Our first emotion might be anger if someone does something wrong, but with self-control, we might pause and consider being more kind and understanding - because all of us make mistakes. Proverbs (16:32, NKJ) says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty. And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Christians also use self-control to manage their time, possibly giving up things that might bring temporary enjoyment, in exchange for activities that are much more rewarding in the long run. Examples could be spending less time on social media and more time in prayer…less time playing video games and more time reading the Bible and memorizing scriptures.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In biblical times, cities defended themselves from outside attacks by building strong, high walls. Proverbs (25:28, NLT) says, “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This means that without self-control, our defenses are down, leaving openings for Satan’s attacks. Those attacks certainly did not work on Jesus and his superior self-control when he was tempted by Satan three times in the wilderness. (See Matthew 4:1-11) Jesus combated every one of Satan’s statements with the scriptures and his strength of character. He is such an excellent example to us! <\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, what is self-control? It’s the ability to control our emotions and desires, especially in difficult or tempting situations. Negative emotions can overtake us - like jealousy, impatience and selfishness. We can also be robbed of our time if we fill our days with empty activities that don’t strengthen our relationship with God and Jesus. Let’s ask God to help us build up our self-control - our imaginary city walls - so that we can remain strong in our devotion to living godly lives.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"vDI-g3Gqr3Q","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/self-control.jpg","timestamp":"June 06","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-self-control\/","added":"1,550 views | 02:19 min","info":"1,550 views | 02:19 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":139,"views":"1550","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"123","title":"Why did God tell Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?","description":"","youtube_id":"XdBWPbKUAkU","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/abraham_sacrifice.jpg","timestamp":"May 23","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-did-god-tell-abraham-to-sacrifice-isaac\/","added":"3,702 views | 02:29 min","info":"3,702 views | 02:29 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":149,"views":"3702","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"122","title":"What is reverence?","description":"
The word “reverence” means “deep respect,” which is exactly the attitude we should always have regarding God, His son Jesus, and the Bible.
\r\n
\r\nIn Exodus, when God chose Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He spoke to him through a burning bush. (Exodus 3:5, NIV) “‘Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’” Doing this was an act of reverence for God and His message.
\r\n
\r\nIn the book of John (see John 2:13-16), it was deep reverence for God that caused Jesus to overturn the tables of the money changers in the temple. He knew they were cheating the people and not treating God’s house with the proper respect His father deserved.
\r\n
\r\nDaniel (see Daniel 6:10) continued to pray to God even after it was declared against Persian law to do so. He knew the punishment was to be thrown into a hungry lion’s den, but his reverence for God was so great that he could not stop praising and honoring Him. By God’s grace and protection, Daniel was saved.
\r\n
\r\nSometimes the Bible tells us to “fear the Lord,” but the word “fear” in some cases really means “reverence.” For example, 1 Samuel (12:24, Berean Study Bible) tells us, “Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.” This Scripture isn’t saying we should be “afraid” of God, but instead that we should have deep reverence when we serve Him and always remember the blessings He has provided.
\r\n
\r\nHow can WE show reverence?
\r\n
\r\nFirst, we can pray with the highest respect towards God, recognizing His mighty power and greatness while remembering how small we are.
\r\n
\r\nSecond, we should pay attention when we are learning about God or studying the Bible, either in a class or at home. We shouldn’t be distracted because we are receiving knowledge that is very important for our lives. The Bible is God’s written word so it deserves our reverence.
\r\n
\r\nThird, we can recognize that meeting together with other Christians is a privilege and a blessing, so we want to be on our best behavior, especially in a church setting. In this way, we reverence God because we respect His people and the time we spend with them.
\r\n
\r\nSo, what is reverence? It’s an attitude of deep respect we should always have for God, his son Jesus, and the Bible. When we pray, study the Bible or meet with other Chrstians, we should have a respectful, reverential attitude for the blessings God has provided for us.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"VSwUxxW5OS0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_reverence.jpg","timestamp":"May 10","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-reverence\/","added":"13,673 views | 02:29 min","info":"13,673 views | 02:29 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":149,"views":"13673","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"121","title":"When will God`s kingdom be here?","description":"
God’s kingdom has many parts that happen in different stages. Jesus told us to pray for it. (see Matthew 6:10) He also talked about the future resurrection, when everyone who has ever died will be raised to life. (see John 5:28) The prophet Micah said nations would not fight each other in wars anymore (see Micah 4:3). The prophet Isaiah talked about the desert blossoming like a rose (see Isaiah 35:1), wild animals becoming tame (see Isaiah 11:6), and people with physical difficulties being healed (see Isaiah 35:5,6). Revelation (21:4, NLT) says, “He (God) will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain…”
\r\nIt sounds almost too good to be true, but God always keeps His promises. Isaiah (see 9:7) assures us there will be no end to the peace of His government!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
An angel who spoke to Daniel gave us two clues to watch for (see Daniel 12:4, KJV).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He said, “Many shall run to and fro” - In Jesus’ day, they walked or rode horses or donkeys. But throughout history, our transportation methods have certainly advanced. Horses and buggies were replaced by cars. Trains bring people and goods across countries. Now we’ve got super fast airplanes that can take us around the world in just a few hours and powerful rockets launch us into space. We have lots of ways to ‘run to and fro’ in our day!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The angel also said, “Knowledge shall increase” - Not long ago, we didn’t have information just a tap away. Our devices instantly bring us knowledge, and we immediately know when something has happened on the other side of the world. We can barely keep up with newer, faster technology. There is no question that knowledge has increased since Jesus’ day!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Even the disciples of Jesus wanted to know when the kingdom would be here (see Matthew 24:3). He gave additional clues to watch for, saying there would be wars and rumors of wars (see Matthew 24:6). (Sounds like our day, doesn’t it?) <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Using picture language of a fig tree, Jesus also said that when we see the nation of Israel reborn, we would know that the kingdom is near (see Matthew 24:32). Although he predicted this about 2,000 years ago, Israel became an independent nation in 1948.
\r\nThese are exciting pieces of evidence!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, when will God’s kingdom be here? The Bible gives us many clues, but here are just a few: the advancement of the ability to travel, knowledge increasing, wars and rumors of wars, and Israel becoming a nation. We are very near to the full establishment of God’s kingdom on earth so let’s continue to watch and pray!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"cWTh5Bg4kXE","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/when_god_kingdom.jpg","timestamp":"April 25","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/when-will-gods-kingdom-be-here\/","added":"983 views | 02:30 min","info":"983 views | 02:30 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":150,"views":"983","categories":["God"]},{"id":"120","title":"What is patience?","description":"
Patience, sometimes translated in the Bible as “perseverance” or “long suffering,” is the ability to accept delay, suffering or trouble without getting angry or upset. A person with patience can wait for something they want - like dessert or birthday presents, for example - without complaining. Patient people push down the emotion of wanting something RIGHT NOW. They show a sense of “cheerful endurance,” trusting that God has perfect timing in all things.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Today we live in a world of “instant gratification,” which means getting what we want right away. We can go online and read messages, watch videos, or purchase items instantly. When we get used to quickly receiving what we want, it can be a shock when we don’t, leading to anger and frustration…otherwise known as impatience!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Patience can be a difficult quality to improve, but we should still keep trying to do our best to make progress. One reason is because it’s included in a list of important qualities God wants Christians to develop. This list, found in Galatians, is called “the fruit of the spirit.” (5:22,23, NASB): “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…" <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Why is patience important? Well...<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Do you want to make good decisions? Proverbs (14:29, Christian Standard Bible) says, “A patient person shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Is something making you scared or nervous? We know that God has a plan for the entire world and are confident He has everything under control. Romans says, (12:12, NLT) “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Do you want to be more loving? Being patient is a part of that. 1 Corinthians (13:4, English Standard Version) says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant,...”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In Ephesians, (4:2, Common English Bible) Paul advises Christians to: “Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love,…”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, what is patience? It’s the ability to accept delay, suffering or trouble without being angry or upset. It’s a quality that God wants every Christian to develop, so let’s try hard to be patient the next time we find ourselves in a difficult situation or having to wait for something we want!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"ho2sBUUjWNs","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/patience_kids.jpg","timestamp":"April 11","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-patience\/","added":"10,221 views | 02:34 min","info":"10,221 views | 02:34 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":154,"views":"10221","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"119","title":"What happened on the road to Emmaus?","description":"
Jesus had been crucified and his followers were devastated. Their hopes had been built up for 3 ½ years that Israel would become a restored kingdom with Jesus as king. They thought he had come to rescue the nation from their enemies, but here he had died. They didn't seem to remember the Scriptures had prophesied (meaning, foretold) that he was going to die, and that God would raise him after three days.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In Luke, (see 24:13-31) we read about two followers of Jesus walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus, a distance of about 8 miles (or almost 13 kilometers). Perhaps they wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and go somewhere quiet where they could talk, reason together, and try to understand. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
As they went along, they were very sad, discussing everything that had happened. Suddenly, another man was walking beside them, asking what they were talking about. The men told him about how Jesus, a mighty teacher, had been arrested and put to death. Some women had visited his tomb early that morning and found his body missing. They were having difficulty trying to make sense of this situation. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The stranger said to them (Luke 24:25-27, NAS 77) "’O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, he explained to them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.” He taught in such a deep and meaningful way that the account says their hearts “burned within them” (see Luke 24:32) as they listened.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Since it was getting late, the two men begged the stranger to stay with them for the night. As they sat down to eat, the stranger took some bread, asked for God’s blessing on it, tore off some pieces, and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened and they recognized him as Jesus (see Luke 24:31) - and then he disappeared from their sight!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Why couldn’t the disciples recognize Jesus in the beginning? And why did he temporarily hide his identity? <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Maybe God had prevented them from recognizing him (see the NLT translation of Luke 24:16). Or, perhaps Jesus, now a spirit being, had taken on a different human form because he had a bigger purpose in mind: had he revealed himself right away, they might not have been able to concentrate on his important words. This way, they could focus on the deep meaning of the Scriptures as he explained to them in disguise.
\r\n
\r\nSo, what happened on the road to Emmaus? Two followers were walking along, very sad by the news of their Savior’s death. Jesus appeared and explained the Scriptures to them, but they didn’t recognize him at first. He reassured them that everything was going perfectly according to God’s plan.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"vc8hkDMlgHw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/emmaus.jpg","timestamp":"March 30","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-happened-on-the-road-to-emmaus\/","added":"5,254 views | 02:40 min","info":"5,254 views | 02:40 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":160,"views":"5254","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"118","title":"What was the Jewish Tabernacle?","description":"
It was a movable tent (or temple) where the Israelites could be in contact with God’s presence as they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nExodus (25:8 NLT) says, “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Imagine a small building surrounded by a large courtyard. The building was 15’ wide, 15’ tall and 45’ long, divided into two compartments called the Holy and the Most Holy. Only priests were allowed to enter the Holy and only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy, and only once a year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Most Holy contained the Ark of the Covenant, a wooden box overlaid with gold. Inside were the two tables of the Law that God gave Moses, a golden pot filled with manna that never spoiled, and Aaron’s rod that budded. On top of this box was a golden lid with two angels at each end, with their wings outstretched and touching. In between the angels was a supernatural bright light, indicating God’s presence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Holy contained three pieces of furniture: a Golden Candlestick, a Table of Shewbread, and an Incense Altar. The Candlestick provided the only light within the Holy. Sitting on the Table of Shewbread were twelve loaves of unleavened bread stacked in two rows of six, with incense on top of each stack. Incense was also burned on the Incense Altar continually.
\r\nOutside the Tabernacle structure was the Court. It had two pieces of furniture: the Brazen Altar where sacrifices were burned and the Laver where the priests washed their hands and feet before entering the Tabernacle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
To show that God was with them, He created a pillar of fire at night and a cloud by day. If either started to move, the Israelites knew it was time to dismantle the temple, travel to the next location, and set it up all over again.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Christians study the Tabernacle because it pictures concepts of the good things to come in God’s plan. It also symbolizes the Christian’s walk and the stages they go through when they decide to approach God by following His son Jesus. To learn more about the Tabernacle and its many symbolic pictures, ask your parents to search for podcast episode 1099 at Christianquestions.com. There is so much more to learn!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"FOXBXNh0Qw4","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/tabernacle_kids1.jpg","timestamp":"March 19","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-was-the-jewish-tabernacle-2\/","added":"1,506 views | 02:37 min","info":"1,506 views | 02:37 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":157,"views":"1506","categories":["God"]},{"id":"117","title":"What makes a true friend?","description":"
Proverbs (17:17, Bible in Basic English) says, “A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.” This means that a true friend has love and concern for us in all aspects of our life, but especially when we are in trouble, just like a loving brother would. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Friendly people don’t exclude one group or another. Jesus is our best example of this, because he loved everyone and spent time with all different kinds of people: rich and poor, healthy and sick, those with lots of friends, but also those who had no one. So if you see someone sitting alone, introduce yourself with a smile, and let your light shine!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
True friends look out for each other. If we see a friend doing something that might be hurting themselves or others, we should kindly speak up because we care. If WE are the one being corrected, we should have an open heart and a listening ear, knowing that when someone cares about us, they want what is best for us. When King David was corrected by God through the prophet Nathan, he listened, realized his mistake, asked God for forgiveness, and then tried to do better.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Friends are not judgmental. We should avoid putting others down or harshly criticizing if they make mistakes. Matthew (7:1,2 NIV) says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Of course, if you or someone you know is being bullied or mistreated, it’s good to ask a parent, family members or teachers for help. We should never try to get back at the person hurting us.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
True friends can depend on each other because they keep their promises. If we say we’re going to do something, we should do it to the best of our ability. God always keeps His promises, so we know it pleases Him when we keep ours!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lastly, true friends don’t “evil speak,” or gossip about each other behind their backs. Titus (3:2, ESV) advises us “To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” Proverbs (21:23, God’s Word Translation) says, “Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”
\r\nRemember 1 Thessalonians: (5:11, NLT) “So encourage each other and build each other up,...”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, what makes a true friend? Someone who lets their light shine with everyone (regardless of their social status), looks out for others, has a heart that is open to constructive criticism, keeps their promises, and avoids gossip and evil speaking.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"hYHR4fQWwkM","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/true_friend.jpg","timestamp":"February 28","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-makes-a-true-friend\/","added":"1,583 views | 02:35 min","info":"1,583 views | 02:35 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":155,"views":"1583","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"116","title":"Why does God let bad things happen?","description":"
Sin and Satan’s influence has made everyone miserable for thousands of years. There is war, pain, hate, and death. But God has a plan that allows these things to only be TEMPORARILY permitted for a certain amount of time and not a day longer. We are all learning a powerful lesson: sin only brings sorrow and pain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
God’s plan, the establishment of His righteous kingdom - the one Jesus taught us to pray for - (see Matthew 6:10) has many parts that happen in multiple stages. When there is trouble in the world, we are comforted by the fact that God is in full control of His plan, which will eventually bring blessings to you and everyone you know.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Bible says there will be no crying or pain in His kingdom (see Revelation 21:4). Jesus will raise to life every human who has ever died, (see John 5:28) and because of his sacrifice on the cross, humankind will have the opportunity to restore their relationship with God. The prophet Isaiah describes the earth being transformed into a beautiful paradise, (see Isaiah 35), where most people will live.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Eventually, after humankind has enjoyed God's righteous and fair government, they will remember the lesson from the past of what sin brought. This will make it easier to choose the RIGHT way, because GOD’S way brings happiness and blessings! Later on, Satan will be destroyed. (see Revelation 20:10)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Always remember that God is not uncaringly sitting back as people get hurt or hurt others because He loves the world and ALL people! John says, (3:16, NKJ) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Are you excited for God’s kingdom to come? To our imperfect, human minds and limited knowledge of God's timing, it can seem like His plan is moving slowly, but we have to be patient! The prophet Habakkuk (2:3, NLT) was shown a vision of God's future plan. God said, “...It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, why does God let bad things happen? Because it’s part of a plan that will ensure everyone’s best eternal welfare. The bad things caused by Satan and sin are helping us all learn a powerful lesson: sin brings sorrow and pain. In time, humankind will realize that obedience to God’s righteous laws brings happiness and blessings. God will eventually remove ALL “bad things” and His plan will be fulfilled...and YOU and EVERY person you know will be a part of it!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"f56VOwh9I2U","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/bad_things.jpg","timestamp":"February 17","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-does-god-let-bad-things-happen\/","added":"28,785 views | 02:40 min","info":"28,785 views | 02:40 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":160,"views":"28785","categories":["God"]},{"id":"114","title":"What does God look like?","description":"
Since God is a spirit being, we don’t really know, because humans cannot see spirit beings. There were times in the Bible when spirit beings created a human-like body to communicate with people. But what the people saw was a temporary human image, not the actual spirit being.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, we should note that there are examples in the Bible where human features are used to describe God, like having a face. David says to God in Psalms: (31:16, NASB) “Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; save me in Your lovingkindness.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In 1 Samuel, (13:14) David is described as being a man after God’s own heart.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
God is also described as having hands, such as in Psalms (95:5, NLT), explaining the creation of the ocean and land: “The sea belongs to Him, for He made it. His hands formed the dry land, too.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking about the Law God gave to Moses, Exodus says, (31:18, NLT) “When the LORD finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, written by the finger of God.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Moses, called a “friend of God,” is the only human to have ever come close to seeing Him. Moses asked to see God’s glory, but learned that doing so would be a dangerous thing! In Exodus, (33:20, Christian Standard Bible) God tells Moses, "...You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, God did allow Moses to see an image of the back of Him as He passed by in Exodus, chapter 33. God told Moses to stand on a nearby rock. There was an opening in the rock, called a “cleft,” and God hid Moses there and covered him with His hand until He had fully passed. When God removed His hand, Moses was able to see an image of Him from the back. It’s a good thing Moses had not seen God’s face, otherwise he would have died!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Later, Moses was up on the mountain talking with God for 40 days and 40 nights, and when he came down, his face was glowing from being in God’s presence. It was so bright that he had to wear a veil when he spoke to the people!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, what does God look like? We don’t really know, because He is an invisible, perfect spirit being. Moses did not see God’s face, but he did see a measure of His brilliant glory. Maybe the Bible uses human features to describe God to help our imperfect minds form a mental picture of Him in order to help us become closer to Him! <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"fE5dHuKXRO4","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/god_looks.jpg","timestamp":"January 31","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-does-god-look-like\/","added":"4,455 views | 02:30 min","info":"4,455 views | 02:30 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":150,"views":"4455","categories":["God","The Spiritual World","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"113","title":"How can we fight loneliness?","description":"
We don’t have to be afraid of loneliness - noticing that we are lonely helps us realize that something is not quite right - maybe our relationships are not as strong as we want them to be, or maybe we could use more support. Prayer is the best place to start to conquer anything! We should go to God in prayer and tell Him all about our feelings, asking Him what our next steps should be, and then watching where He leads us.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Next, let’s focus on the Scriptures to find inspiration from the people of the Bible. Find a quiet place away from distractions and an easy-to-read Bible translation or book about the people of the Bible. Have you ever read about the prophet Elijah? He was sad and thought he was alone. But because he stayed connected to God, he learned there were 7,000 faithful people just like him, ready to serve the Lord with him! Choose a person of faith to learn about, cheer on, and become inspired by.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
We can also reach out and make friends with someone at church or school, on a team or from a club - and we don’t mean connecting with someone on social media. Social media can add to our loneliness because people often exaggerate about how well they are doing, making us feel like we aren’t good enough. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
But what if we are shy and don’t feel comfortable making the first move to start a friendship? That’s okay - we can begin by helping someone else. We learn about the importance of giving in Acts: (20:35, NASB) “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, let’s find someone we can help, even if it’s in a small way. Can you clean out your closet or toy box and find things to donate to someone in need? Is there someone in your class struggling to learn something that you understand well? Focusing on others takes away the focus on ourselves. Soon, we are feeling less lonely and more in a giving spirit. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
If your loneliness doesn't seem to be going away, let a parent, teacher or trusted adult know how you are feeling.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Those of us who aren’t lonely can look for others who may need our help. Pray WITH them and FOR them, and include them in activities. Choose a hero of faith from the Bible and study together to find inspiration!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, how can we fight loneliness? Through prayer, Bible study, initiating friendships, and serving others. If we see a lonely person, we can reach out to them and do our best to help them overcome their feelings of loneliness.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"50uGG7JFJ2w","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/loneliness.jpg","timestamp":"January 17","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-can-we-fight-loneliness\/","added":"1,021 views | 02:34 min","info":"1,021 views | 02:34 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":154,"views":"1021","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"112","title":"What`s wrong with complaining?","description":"
Complaining is saying you are annoyed or not satisfied about something. It’s not productive because it brings negativity to the situation and is contagious - meaning, it often spreads to others who then join in. Sometimes we complain for attention or sympathy. We often use complaining to bring down others we are unhappy with. Complaining is also known as “grumbling” or “murmuring.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
There’s a wise saying: you can’t feel thankful and complain at the same time. The Israelites complained many times to Moses and Aaron when they should have been thankful to God for His many blessings. Because Moses was God’s representative, it was like they were complaining about God and insulting Him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For example, the Israelites were treated very badly as slaves in Egypt. God chose Moses to safely lead them out. But when they were in the desert, (see Exodus 16:1) the people complained that they missed the food back in Egypt! God said He would rain down “bread from heaven.” (See Exodus 16:4) This special food was called “manna.” Exodus says it was white and tasted like wafers with honey. (See Exodus 16:31)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Later on, when the people were thirsty, they complained to Moses for water. They continually forgot God’s mercy towards them. Being hungry and thirsty is understandable, but the way the people complained about it showed that they did not have faith, patience or reverence. They were disrespectful to God and ungrateful to Moses and Aaron who were trying to lead them. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
As usual, the Bible gives us good advice. Philippians (2:14, NLT) says, “Do everything without complaining and arguing,...” Let’s remember this the next time our parents ask us to clean our rooms or help around the house! 1 Peter (4:9, Berean Study Bible) says, “Show hospitality to one another without complaining.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, what’s wrong with complaining? It’s unproductive, disrespectful to God, and sets our mood to be unthankful for what we DO have. If we are in a difficult situation, instead of complaining, we should pray to God, respectfully sharing our concern about it and look for solutions that would please Him. If we stay positive and focus on counting our blessings, we show God that we are respectful and thankful.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"7Nhh8mwL_us","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/complaining.jpg","timestamp":"January 03","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/whats-wrong-with-complaining\/","added":"9,302 views | 02:12 min","info":"9,302 views | 02:12 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":132,"views":"9302","categories":["Character Development","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"111","title":"Will the earth always be here?","description":"
Yes, it will, although there are some Scriptures that “seemingly” say the earth will be burned up and destroyed. But all of those are not talking about the “actual” destruction of the earth. Instead, they are symbolic of destroying the old, unfair earthly governments and sinful societies to make way for God’s righteous new government in the future.
\r\nOne unmistakably clear scripture that the earth will always be here is in Ecclesiastes: (1:4, NIV) “Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.”
\r\nPsalms (104:5, RVIC) reassures us the earth will always be here when it talks about God, “Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved for ever.”
\r\nIsaiah gives us many Scriptures describing beautiful promises about God’s future, earthly kingdom: (35:1, RVIC) “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.” Right now, most wildernesses and deserts are still difficult places to live, so we know this is a future prophecy. Not only that, but earth has to exist in order for that blossoming to happen!
\r\nIn another future prophecy, Isaiah says: (11:6, Good News Translation) “Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats. Calves and lion cubs will feed together, and little children will take care of them.” Where will those animals and children be? Earth!
\r\nAbout this future, earthly kingdom, Isaiah goes on to say: (11:9, RVIC) “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.” Imagine the entire earth filled with people who know God and worship Him!
\r\nIsaiah adds a very good reason for God’s clearly-stated plan for the earth: (Isaiah 45:18, NASB) “For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create...a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), I am the LORD, and there is none else.” This Scripture is saying that God’s purpose in making the earth is for humans to live on it!
\r\nSo, will the earth always be here? Yes! God designed our earth for us to not only enjoy it now, but for humankind to enjoy it forever in His future kingdom!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"GIgaHbWCNiw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/earth_always.jpg","timestamp":"December 20","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/will-the-earth-always-be-here\/","added":"5,710 views | 02:18 min","info":"5,710 views | 02:18 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":138,"views":"5710","categories":["Bible"]},{"id":"110","title":"Did God send the coronavirus?","description":"
Many thousands have lost someone close to them, or known someone who has, because of Covid-19. Our hearts are touched with compassion for them. Some may wonder why God permitted this pandemic and all of the other world tragedies that occur so frequently.
\r\n
\r\nIt’s important to understand that God did not “send” the coronavirus. Throughout the centuries, humankind has been devastated by LOTS of tragedies like disease, war and death. These things are the result of sin and Satan’s influence, which began with Adam disobeying God in the Garden of Eden, setting off a chain reaction of sin and death. God’s plan involves permitting evil to temporarily happen for a set time, so that everyone can fully understand the consequences of sin and disobedience to God’s laws. But He gives us hope that things will not always be this hard!
\r\n
\r\nSpeaking prophetically about Jesus, Isaiah says, (61:1, NIV - see also Luke 4:18): “...the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,...
\r\n
\r\nWe are the brokenhearted. WE are the prisoners in the darkness of sin. But God promises that the darkness will eventually end, and a future time is coming when our broken hearts will be healed from the sorrow that the coronavirus has caused.
\r\n
\r\nThere is a wise saying: experience is the best teacher. Throughout the centuries, humankind has seen the results of hate, greed, and injustice. Without experiencing the results of evil, people would not be able to compare and choose the good. Humankind has been learning a powerful lesson - sin only brings sadness and death.
\r\n
\r\nIn God’s kingdom, everyone who has ever died - even those who don’t believe in God - will be raised to life because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Satan and his evil influences will be removed, and everyone will be given an opportunity to choose to live righteously. So if you’ve lost someone to Covid-19, (or for any other reason), God promises that you’ll see them again in His future kingdom.
\r\n
\r\nSo, did God send the coronavirus? No. God doesn’t “send” any bad things to us. The bad things we experience come from Adam’s sin of disobedience. God permits evil and sin for a limited time, but it’s for a wise purpose - to teach an everlasting lesson: sin only brings sorrow and death, but obedience to God and His righteous principles brings life and happiness. So be strong, courageous and patient! Lamentations (3:25,26, NKJ) says, “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"chtk9Quj2E4","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/god_virus.jpg","timestamp":"December 06","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/did-god-send-the-coronavirus\/","added":"1,096 views | 02:54 min","info":"1,096 views | 02:54 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":174,"views":"1096","categories":["God"]},{"id":"109","title":"How do we know Jesus was the Messiah?","description":"
“Messiah” means “anointed one.” To be “anointed” means to be chosen for a special purpose. God anointed Jesus - and Jesus willingly volunteered - to die as a ransom for Adam, putting into motion a plan that will bring all who have ever died back to life in God’s future kingdom.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Old Testament Scriptures were written by various authors over a thousand years before Jesus would come. With God’s help, these Old Testament writers prophesied - meaning, foretold specific aspects about Jesus’ life - so people living in New Testament times (and all of us today) could identify that Jesus was the Messiah. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, to prove that Jesus was the Messiah, God’s anointed one, we go to the prophecies of the Old Testament. There are hundreds, but here are just a few:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Old Testament writer Micah (5:2) said the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, (“one to rule”) and sure enough, many years later, that’s where Jesus was born! (Luke 2:4-7)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hosea (11:1) said God’s son would flee to Egypt, and that’s exactly what happened when King Herod wickedly ordered that all baby boys should be killed. Warned about this in a dream, Joseph took Mary and the baby Jesus to safely hide in Egypt.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Psalms (78:2-4) prophesied how God’s teachings would be communicated through parables - meaning, through His son, the Messiah. A parable is a story meant to teach a lesson or show right from wrong. Jesus taught using many parables. (Matthew 13:34,35)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Isaiah (53:3) prophesied the Messiah would be rejected, and it’s true that many Jewish people - his own people - did not accept Jesus. (John 1:11, Luke 23:18)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In Psalms (41:9) and Zechariah (11:12,13), we learn how Jesus would be betrayed by a close friend (then see John 13:26-31) for 30 pieces of silver (then see Matthew 26:14,25). We know this was Judas Iscariot, who accepted that exact amount of money to reveal the location of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane so the chief priests could arrest him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Most tragic of all, Psalms (22:14,16) prophesied that the Messiah would die by painful crucifixion. We then read about this happening to Jesus in the four gospels. (see Matthew 27:27-50; Mark 15:16-37; Luke 23:26-46; John 19:16-30)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, how do we know Jesus was the Messiah? The many prophecies of the Old Testament, written thousands of years before Jesus came, point to the details of his life that prove no one else could have been the promised Messiah. There are many exciting prophecies in the Bible that have yet to come true, and God’s faithful people eagerly await them!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"Wu7vFaKTDag","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/jesus_messiah.jpg","timestamp":"November 22","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-do-we-know-jesus-was-the-messiah\/","added":"27,954 views | 02:23 min","info":"27,954 views | 02:23 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":143,"views":"27954","categories":["Bible","Jesus"]},{"id":"108","title":"How is the Bible organized?","description":"
The Bible is made up of 66 smaller books and divided into two sections, the Old Testament (which has 39 books) and the New Testament (which has 27 books).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Each book of the Bible contains chapters and verses. A chapter is a small grouping of a similar topic. A verse is a smaller section of a chapter, usually a few sentences long.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When someone quotes a Scripture or reads it out loud, they will usually say the name of the book first, then the chapter and then the verse. For example, if we wanted to confirm God’s purpose for sending Jesus to earth, we would look up the name of the book (John), the chapter number (3) and verse number (16). John 3:16 (NKJ) says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Bible has been translated into many languages. This is because it was originally written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. To translate one language into another is difficult because not everything in one language has a direct, clear meaning in another. Some translations are easier to read because they use modern words like we have today. However, these versions might not be as accurate - meaning, not as close to the specific thoughts expressed in the original text.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Over the years, many people have done the work of translating, sometimes with their own feelings and personal opinions influencing their word choices. As a result, a Scripture in one translation might have a slight change of meaning in another. To get a deeper understanding of a Scripture, try reading it in multiple translations. It's also helpful to use a reference book, such as Strong's Concordance with a lexicon, to look up the definitions of the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic words. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
To make the most out of your Bible study, try to memorize the books in order so you can look up Scriptures faster. Once you find the book, the rest is numerical; meaning, it goes in order by number. Find the chapter and the verse, and then you’re all set!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, how is the Bible organized? By two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. There are 66 total books, and each book contains chapters and verses. MemorizIng the books in order will save you valuable study time!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"sfXgMtmiEzQ","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/bible_organized.jpg","timestamp":"November 08","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-is-the-bible-organized\/","added":"7,239 views | 02:23 min","info":"7,239 views | 02:23 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":143,"views":"7239","categories":["Bible"]},{"id":"107","title":"How can we be more giving?","description":"
Humans have a tendency to be selfish. For many of us, it might not feel “natural” to go out of our way to give. But as Christians, giving is something we should enjoy and be good at! <\/p>\r\n\r\n
2 Corinthians (9:7, NIV) says that “...God loves a cheerful giver,” so that’s reason enough to work on this important quality!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When we think of the perfect gift-giver, our minds go to God. James (1:17, NIV) reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
God gave us a beautiful earth and a variety of foods to support healthy lives. He also gave our bodies the ability to heal if we get hurt. We can be inspired to give by how God gives to us. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Having a giving spirit doesn’t always involve physical items. We can also give of our time and talents. Do your parents need help around the house or outside with yard work? Is there someone in your class struggling with an assignment? Offer to help so they can succeed too!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When we give, we honor others. The wise men gave gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus to honor him - perfect gifts for the future king! In our case, making a card or craft for someone who is having a hard experience is a great way to honor them and show our love and support.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jesus had a servant’s heart - he freely gave of his time and talents. When he healed, it cost him strength and energy. If we don’t feel like giving, let’s think of how Jesus constantly gave of himself to others and try to follow his example. In Matthew, (see 25:40) Jesus explains that when we do good things for others, it’s the same as doing it for him - that’s another reason to give!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It’s easy to give to people we love, but what about those who are unkind to us? In Luke, (6:35, Berean Study Bible) Jesus says, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Giving feels good! In Acts (20:35, NLT) Paul says, “And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, how can we be more giving? We can be inspired by the unselfish characters of God and Jesus, and think about honoring both those we love and those who might be harder to love. We can use our time and talents to bless others, understanding the words of Jesus that it’s more blessed to give than to receive!
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\r\nParents, another nice Scripture to support giving is Galatians 6:10 (NIV): “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"EjIWvuFYrL4","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/more_giving.jpg","timestamp":"October 26","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-can-we-be-more-giving\/","added":"1,350 views | 02:36 min","info":"1,350 views | 02:36 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":156,"views":"1350","categories":["Character Development","Seasonal","Jesus"]},{"id":"106","title":"Do good luck charms have power?","description":"
No! Believing in things like good luck charms goes as far back as ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece. Today you might hear of people carrying crystals, statues, rabbit’s feet, four leaf clovers or wearing “evil eye” jewelry. None of these things has the power to bring luck or offer protection from evil. They are just lifeless objects!
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\r\nIn 2 Corinthians (see 5:20) the Apostle Paul describes a Christian as being an ambassador for Christ. An ambassador is someone who represents his country in a foreign land. As Christians, we represent Jesus. People watch what we say and do. We wouldn't want them to associate good luck charms with our faith. We don’t want these superstitious customs associated with following Jesus. Putting our faith in these items distracts us from our Christianity. We should leave these sorts of things behind because we want to put our faith in God’s wisdom rather than ordinary, powerless objects. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
1 Corinthians says (10:31, NASB) “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Doing all to the glory of God should be our standard of what we do, say and think, and even what we wear or carry with us. Instead of wearing charms for protection or luck, we should be symbolically wearing the armor of God, as described in Ephesians (6:14-18 GNT) “So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. At all times carry faith as a shield;...And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the spirit gives you.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Through the holy spirit - God’s invisible power and influence - faithful Christians study the Bible, pray, and are blessed with wisdom from God, not luck. They have what He has allowed in their lives. They want to accept whatever His will is for them. When we have God’s protection, we do not rely on so-called “magical” objects. Our Christian faith is not about objects; it is about our dedication, loyalty, and living righteously...humbly and faithfully accepting God’s overruling in our lives. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, do good luck charms have power? No! But God and Jesus do. The faithful Christian’s protection comes from above - not from superstitious objects.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"Akzp9I-ygi8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/luch_charms.jpg","timestamp":"October 12","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/do-good-luck-charms-have-power\/","added":"989 views | 02:32 min","info":"989 views | 02:32 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":152,"views":"989","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"105","title":"Are the dead really dead?","description":"
Yes. The Bible confirms this.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Some movies or books present the idea that the dead aren’t really dead, but are instead more alive than ever after they pass on. This is a lie that started with Satan when he told Eve in the Garden of Eden she would not die if she disobeyed God. Today, many people believe the lie that Satan told...but do we want to follow a deceitful liar, or God?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the book of John, (5:28,29 NLT) Jesus said, “Don’t be so surprised! ...the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again…” <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Consider this: If the dead are not really dead, then why would Jesus need to resurrect them?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ecclesiastes says, (9:10, NLT) “...For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This Scripture is saying a person can’t do anything in the grave because they are dead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ezekiel (18:20, NASB) says: “The person who sins will die.” Since all humans are sinners, (except for Jesus when he was human), all of humankind dies. It does not say, “The person who sins turns into an angel or a ghost and continues living.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n
This topic often brings added confusion as to what a “soul” is. This word “soul” from the original Hebrew can also be translated in English as “living being.” The Bible says the soul is made up of two parts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
To create the first man Adam, Genesis (2:7) tells us God took dust from the ground to make a body and breathed into man what is called the breath of life. And “...man became a living soul.” Human life can only exist if these two parts - body and breath of life - are working together. So, a person does not “have” a soul...they ARE a soul! The soul is not something separate that escapes and lives on after a person dies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So, are the dead really dead? Yes! The Bible confirms that all people go to the grave, to wait as though they are sleeping until the resurrection. When we think that the dead are simply dead, it can seem harsh. But that is not true. Being raised is the very next thing a person will know after they die, because there is no consciousness when we are dead. It’s like being in dreamless sleep. If you’ve ever had surgery or talked to someone who has, it’s like having anesthesia. It feels like we have been asleep only an instant, when it could have been many hours or in the case of humankind overall - centuries. Faithful, spirit begotten Christians will awaken to a heavenly spiritual reward. Everyone else who has ever lived will awaken to a promised resurrection on a perfect earth.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"ay2XGpKM2K8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/really_dead.jpg","timestamp":"September 27","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/are-the-dead-really-dead\/","added":"2,637 views | 02:48 min","info":"2,637 views | 02:48 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":168,"views":"2637","categories":["Death","Seasonal"]},{"id":"104","title":"What does the Lord`s Prayer Mean ?","description":"
When Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, he gave them this simple prayer as an example in the book of Luke. It says:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“Our Father in heaven...” (Luke 11:2, NKJ)
\r\nFirst, we must remember that God is our loving Father in heaven, the Creator of the universe.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“...hallowed be your name.” (Luke 11:2, NKJ)
\r\nTo “hallow” means to honor as holy. Since God’s name is holy, we should have reverence, love, respect and awe for Him. We honor God when we tell others about His glorious plan that will bless all who will live according to his laws in His future kingdom.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Luke 11:2, NKJ)
\r\nRight now, God’s will is not being done on earth. But Jesus said to pray for the kingdom, when God WILL be obeyed on earth as He now is in heaven. Many verses in the Bible describe this kingdom: the time when God will wipe away everyone’s tears, and crying will pass away. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
“Give us each day our daily bread.” (Luke 11:3, NIV)
\r\nWhen we pray that our Heavenly Father will provide for us our daily bread, we don’t mean we just want food for our bodies. We also want food for our hearts and minds. We can receive this special, spiritual food from the Word of God - the Bible. In the book of John (6:35), Jesus said he was the “bread of life,” meaning that his words and example are the spiritual food we are looking for.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“...and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” (Luke 11:4, NLT)
\r\nJust as we want God’s forgiveness when we do something wrong, we must also be forgiving when others commit wrongs against us and not hold a grudge. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
While some Bible translations state the next line (11:4) as "lead us not into temptation," we know "abandon us not in temptation" is a more accurate translation since James (1:13) says God tempts no one. In 1 Corinthians, (10:13) Paul says God will not permit faithful Christians to have trials beyond their ability and that He will direct the issue. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Not all early copies of the Bible add the line "deliver us from evil" or "deliver us from the Evil One," meaning Satan. (see Luke 11:4)
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\r\nSo, what does the Lord’s Prayer mean? In summary, it means we should always reverence the one true God who is in heaven, and respect His holy name. In God’s kingdom, all who live according to His godly rules will be blessed. We look to Jesus’ words and examples in the Bible to serve as our spiritual food. Just as we want God to forgive our sins, we should forgive others for theirs. Lastly, when we have temptations to do wrong, we should pray hard and look for the correct way out that God might be showing us.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"KAclxAs1Jdc","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/lords_prayer.jpg","timestamp":"September 20","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-does-the-lords-prayer-mean\/","added":"10,392 views | 02:39 min","info":"10,392 views | 02:39 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":159,"views":"10392","categories":["Prayer","Jesus"]},{"id":"103","title":"What happened in the Garden of Gethsemane?","description":"
Arriving with a large group carrying swords and clubs, Judas betrayed Jesus by greeting him with a kiss, a prearranged signal so they would know whom to arrest. (see Matt <\/span>26:47<\/span>, Mark <\/span>14:43<\/span>, Luke <\/span>22:47<\/span>, John 18:3) <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n To protect Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off the high-priest servant’s right ear. After telling him to put away his sword, (see Matt <\/span>26:52<\/span>) Jesus said, (Matt <\/span>26:53<\/span>, Good News Translation) “Don't you know that I could call on my Father for help, and at once he would send me more than twelve armies of angels?” It was necessary to show that his capture was voluntary, not by force. He healed the man’s ear and went peaceably with his captors because he knew his time had come. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n But the story doesn’t end there - Jesus dying on the cross was a part of God’s plan that will eventually allow everyone who has ever died to return to life in God’s kingdom! <\/span><\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"mk7Ey0XDx0w","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/happened_garden.jpg","timestamp":"August 30","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-happened-in-the-garden-of-gethsemane\/","added":"38,005 views | 02:39 min","info":"38,005 views | 02:39 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":159,"views":"38005","categories":["Jesus","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"102","title":"What is faith?","description":" Do you ever wonder if the sun will be there in the morning when you wake up? Probably not, because you’re sure that it will. But, why are you sure?<\/p>\r\n\r\n Because for your entire life, you have woken up and it has been there - so you have a confident belief based on that daily evidence that you can see. Solid houses are built upon strong foundations. Similarly, Christian faith is built upon the strong foundation of God’s word, the Bible, that contains His promises which always come true.<\/p>\r\n\r\n A readiness or willingness to believe something on just a little bit of uncertain evidence is called “credulity.” Credulous people will believe anything, but Christian faith is evidence-based. The Bible teaches us to prove our faith and not be credulous. 1 Thessalonians (5:21, RVIC) says, “...but prove all things;”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Maybe you are thinking you can’t see God, so how can you have faith He is there? We can’t see a wi-fi signal but the evidence of its existence is there when we are able to go online.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Likewise, we see the evidence of God’s existence just by looking outside. Think of our beautiful earth with animals, oceans and trees. Our sky dazzles us with stars, planets and galaxies. Everything in our physical world has orderly, arranged patterns. Order does not come from disorder.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Hebrews (11:6, NLT) says, “... it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists…” <\/p>\r\n\r\n Christians with faith don’t have to see God to know He is there. In fact, in 2 Corinthians (5:7, RVIC), the Apostle Paul says, “...we walk by faith and not by sight.” When faithful Christians follow God’s will, their faith is strengthened when they see the evidence of God working in their lives. Hebrews (11:1, NLT) says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” So, what is faith? It’s a confident belief in something we can’t see (like God) - but this belief is built upon a strong foundation of evidence we CAN see, like God’s beautiful designs, His promises that come true, and His leadings in faithful Christian peoples’ lives.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"xf7liqSijg0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_is_faith.jpg","timestamp":"August 23","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-faith\/","added":"22,403 views | 02:48 min","info":"22,403 views | 02:48 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":168,"views":"22403","categories":["God","Character Development"]},{"id":"101","title":"Who were the scribes and Pharisees?","description":" They were the Jewish leaders in Jesus’ time. They were religious and educated in the Scriptures and also the Law, which was the list of special rules for Jewish people to follow. The scribes were like the official recorders of the day, writing legal documents.<\/p>\r\n\r\n We might think such an educated group would be the best examples to teach the people how to follow God’s ways. But Jesus called them hypocrites. A hypocrite is someone who says they believe a certain way, but then then secretly acts in the opposite way. They were also self-righteous, looking down on those thought to have a lower place in society.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The self-important Jewish leaders felt threatened by Jesus’ teachings. Matthew (7:28, 29 Good News Translation) says, “When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowd was amazed at the way he taught. He wasn’t like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority.” According to John, even the temple guards sent to arrest Jesus reported to the Pharisees, (John 7:46, NLT) “We have never heard anyone speak like this!”<\/p>\r\n\r\n In many instances, they tried to discredit Jesus with trick questions, in order to make him appear as though he didn’t know God’s law, but they never succeeded. Thinking Jesus would take away their power, they plotted to kill him. (See Matthew 12:14)<\/p>\r\n\r\n There was one Pharisee, however, named Nicodemus, who was different from the others. He was sincerely interested in what Jesus had to say, but because of his high position, he didn’t think he could risk being seen with Jesus, so he visited him at night in secret. <\/p>\r\n\r\n The Apostle Paul was also a Pharisee, who initially persecuted Christians. But after the resurrected Jesus spoke to him on the road to Damascus, he changed his life and redirected his focus to preach the gospel message, becoming the 12th Apostle of Jesus, replacing Judas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, who were the scribes and Pharisees? The religious teachers of the Jewish Law in Jesus’ day. Threatened by Jesus’ teachings and the possibility of losing their power, they plotted to kill him. Most of them felt they were superior to others because they held high positions in society, but we know social status means nothing to God and it pleases Him when we are humble. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"p3aOuh_Xrdo","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/scribes_pharisees.jpg","timestamp":"August 02","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/who-were-the-scribes-and-pharisees\/","added":"13,824 views | 02:10 min","info":"13,824 views | 02:10 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":130,"views":"13824","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"100","title":"Why do we study the Bible?","description":" First, we study the Bible, which contains the inspired word of God, to learn about our loving Creator. It’s like an instruction manual for Christians so we know what is expected of us.<\/p>\r\n\r\n 2 Timothy (2:16, RVIC) says, “Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n Paul is saying that the Bible is useful to teach what is true and make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.<\/p>\r\n\r\n We study to learn the many things we need to know so we can properly serve God. It is a privilege to look for His will and to do it to the best of our ability. 2 Timothy (2:15, American King James Version) says, “Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n The word “workman” suggests the thought of being active in service. “Rightly dividing the word of truth” means studying to understand how, when, and where a Scripture applies, and to share God’s word correctly. One way we can do this is by telling others of God’s loving plan for all of humankind, to be brought about in His kingdom.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Another reason we study the Bible is to learn about Jesus so we can be more like him. We want to copy his beautiful character and his loving actions towards others. Likewise, we want to know about the many other people in the Bible so we can learn from their experiences - both triumphs and mistakes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n If we study the Bible, we can find prophecies - these are promises from God about events that have either already come true or will in the future. It’s exciting to look for these clues that reveal that His future kingdom will soon be fully established!<\/p>\r\n\r\n Finally, when we study the Scriptures, God’s wisdom, justice, love and power are revealed to us in everything He does. Psalms (33:5, NKJV) says, “He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, why do we study the Bible? Because it contains the inspired word of God, it’s the only way to know God’s will, character, and how we can serve Him. We can try to be more like His son Jesus and learn from the experiences of the people of the Bible. Lastly, studying prophecies - events God says will happen - enables us to know where we are in the stream of time and when we might expect God’s kingdom.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"e6R1RQVlDDU","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/why_study_bible.jpg","timestamp":"July 20","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-do-we-study-the-bible\/","added":"1,541 views | 02:29 min","info":"1,541 views | 02:29 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":149,"views":"1541","categories":["Bible"]},{"id":"99","title":"What if your friends don`t believe in God?","description":" That’s okay! You can still be a good example to them by showing Christian principles of faith, honesty, kindness, forgiveness, patience, and joy. While we should not be afraid or embarrassed to tell others about Jesus or God’s wonderful future plan, we also shouldn’t force our beliefs on others.<\/p>\r\n\r\n 1 Peter (3:15, English Standard Version) says, “...but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect...”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Daniel was an amazing example who kept praying even though it was against a new law of the Medes and Persians. Not only that, but his faith and devotion to God encouraged a proud king to respect the one true God!<\/p>\r\n\r\n Darius was the king of the Medo-Persian empire. Impressed with Daniel’s character, he appointed him to be a supervisor in a very high position. Men who were jealous of Daniel tricked the king into signing a law that said anyone who prayed to anyone besides the king would be thrown to the lions. But Daniel didn’t change his habit of praying three times a day to God. Because the law couldn’t be changed, the king reluctantly ordered Daniel to be thrown into the lion’s den. Worried about Daniel, he couldn’t sleep all night. When morning came, he hurried to check on Daniel, who was alive and safe! He told the king that God had sent His angel to shut the lions’ mouths.<\/p>\r\n\r\n King Darius then sent a message out to people of every race, nation and language, saying, (Daniel 6:26, NLT) “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and He will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His rule will never end.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Just as when Darius’ message informed all the people in his day about God, eventually, everyone in the future will also know who God is. Hebrews (8:11, ERV) says, “Never again will anyone have to teach their neighbors or their family to know the Lord. All people - the greatest and the least important - will know me.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Habakkuk also (2:14 NLT) says, “For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will (read as shall in VO) be filled with an awareness of the glory of the LORD.“<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what if your friends don’t believe in God? That’s ok! Even if they have different beliefs or no beliefs at all, that won’t stop you from praying, increasing your faith, studying, and copying the life of Jesus as best you can. Maybe there’s a King Darius in YOUR life who will see your Christian example and rejoice because of it!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"duNFlFDNWI8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/Believe_God.jpg","timestamp":"July 12","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-if-your-friends-dont-believe-in-god\/","added":"1,660 views | 02:32 min","info":"1,660 views | 02:32 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":152,"views":"1660","categories":["God","Character Development","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"98","title":"How can we know God?","description":" Because we are all imperfect human beings, and so much lower than God and His ways, it’s not possible to completely know Him. However, it IS possible to know some things about Him. <\/p>\r\n\r\n The first way is through His word, the Bible. The Bible is like a handbook for Christians from God, describing how we should properly worship Him and what He expects of us. When we study the Scriptures, we learn about God’s wisdom, justice, love and power.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Next, we can know Him through His son, Jesus. Jesus said (John 14:9, NIV), “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” This means Jesus was like a representative of God and all He stands for. Most countries have representatives or ambassadors who speak for the leaders of their country. An ambassador for the United States, for example, represents the American ways of thinking and behaving. So, by studying Jesus and his life, we learn more about God because Jesus represents and demonstrates the qualities of God.<\/p>\r\n\r\n We can also know Him through His works. Just look outside and admire the beauty of nature! God designed and created everything we see: animals, mountains, oceans, and trees… There are countless different species of plants and animals and think about how different humans are from one another. This tells us He loves variety and beauty. His creations are purposeful, wonderful and interesting, deserving of our admiration and awe. His care in creating our earthly home strengthens our faith because He knows exactly what we need and what’s best for us!<\/p>\r\n\r\n Another way we can know God is through His people. What are your Christian friends like? They are probably doing their best to be kind, forgiving, and honest. This is because they want to follow God’s will and His godly rules. They try hard to live righteously and do good to others. In this way, God’s love and mercy is reflected in their actions, so we can look to God’s people to see what He is like.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Finally, we can begin to know God through our efforts to understand more about Him. James says, (4:8, Contemporary English Version) “Come near to God, and He will come near to you.” When we study the Bible, pray, and do our best to behave in ways that are pleasing to God, we are showing Him that we hope for His guidance in our lives.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Speaking of God, Jeremiah (29:13,14 God’s Word Translation) says, “When you look for me, you will find me. When you wholeheartedly seek me, you will find me, declares the LORD.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, how can we know God? In these five ways: through the Bible, His son, His works, His people and through personal effort.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"9CWO8jXjRlE","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/how_know_god.jpg","timestamp":"June 21","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-can-we-know-god\/","added":"1,423 views | 02:34 min","info":"1,423 views | 02:34 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":154,"views":"1423","categories":["God"]},{"id":"97","title":"What is Humility?","description":" What is humility?<\/p>\r\n\r\n It’s the quality of not thinking too highly of yourself, of being humble. Jesus is a great example of humility. Philippians (2:8, NASB) says, “...He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Maybe we have exceptional ability in sports, drama, or certain subjects in school. Instead of focusing on our talents with pride, let’s lift others up and help their talents grow. We can help others succeed by mentoring them - which means being an active, good example, giving support and advice to help someone make progress. We can share our talents and build each other up! Encourage someone on your team who is struggling, or tutor someone who may not understand something in class as well as you do.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The Bible is full of good advice, warning us against pride - the opposite of humility. The Apostle Paul in Romans says (12:3, NLT): “...Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves,...” David says in Proverbs (11:2, New Living Translation) “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom,” and (Proverbs 16:18, Good News Translation) “Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n James, the half-brother of Jesus, (4:6, Berean Study Bible) sums up how God feels about prideful behavior: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n In the book of Matthew (23:12, Contemporary English Version), Jesus says, “If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n This is not to say we should hang our heads, think we are worthless or put ourselves down. We just shouldn’t think of ourselves as more important than we are. Instead, we should be humble, focusing on respecting God, His son Jesus, and treating others as we would want to be treated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what is humility? It’s not thinking too highly of ourselves. Let’s remember what Micah (6:8, Christian Standard Bible) says about how we should act, especially when it comes to the Creator of the universe: “Mankind, He has told each of you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"LzKuL4hx0Dc","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_is_humility.jpg","timestamp":"June 07","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-humility\/","added":"7,357 views | 02:24 min","info":"7,357 views | 02:24 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":144,"views":"7357","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"96","title":"What can we offer to God?","description":" When we think about all of the blessings God has given us, it’s hard to imagine we can give anything worthy in return, but here are seven precious things devoted Christians can offer to God:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Joy - James (1:2,3 Christian Standard Bible) encourages us to be joyful even in difficult situations: “Consider it a great joy,...whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Thanksgiving and praise - in Ephesians, (5:19,20 NLT) Paul advises us to be “...singing...hymns...among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What specific things are YOU thankful for? <\/p>\r\n\r\n Good works - Everyone has a special talent - how can we use it in the service of the Lord? Do you like to sing or play an instrument? Volunteer to play something cheerful for someone who is sick. Do you like to draw or color? Send a picture to someone who is sad. Hebrews says, “But go on doing good and giving to others, because God is well-pleased with such offerings." (Hebrews 13:16, BBE) <\/p>\r\n\r\n Reverence - which is another word for deep respect. When we learn about God, we pay attention to our teachers. When we pray, we concentrate on our words carefully. When we speak about God, we do it in a respectful manner because He is the creator of the universe. Exodus (20:7 NLT) says, “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n Humility - which is the quality of not thinking too highly of ourselves, of being humble. 1 Peter (5:5 NLT) says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” A humble heart attitude is a precious thing we can offer to God.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Trust - in times of trouble, do we freeze with fear, or do we go to God in prayer, telling Him our problems and trusting in His goodness and mercy? He knows overall what’s best for all of us and has our highest spiritual well-being in mind. Proverbs says, (3:5, NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Time - do we make time for regular Bible study, prayer, and helping others? Try swapping out screen time for Bible time! Learn about the people of the Bible and their lives. Let’s spend more time in prayer and use our extra time to make things easier for others.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what can we offer to God? Joy, thanksgiving and praise, good works, reverence, humility, trust, and time.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"AeYmBXuq2JY","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/offer_god.jpg","timestamp":"May 24","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-can-we-offer-to-god\/","added":"1,592 views | 02:43 min","info":"1,592 views | 02:43 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":163,"views":"1592","categories":["God","Character Development"]},{"id":"95","title":"Why should we honor our fathers?","description":" When we think about fathers, we first consider God, our Heavenly Father. He has provided a place for us to live - our beautiful earth. He is the Creator of all things and without Him, humankind wouldn’t exist. Therefore, we are thankful to God and honor Him. To honor means to have deep respect. This is a good place to start when we think about our earthly dads. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Most dads give their children a place to live and provide for them, too. When we are young, we often tend to be a bit selfish, so we might not notice how hard our fathers work and how much they do for us. Noticing and expressing appreciation is the first step to honoring our dads. <\/p>\r\n\r\n In Deuteronomy (5:16), God gives us the commandment to honor our father and mother. Following God’s instructions honors God as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Dads are pretty wise. We may not recognize it when we are young, but fathers know a lot of things. They’ve had a lot more experiences than you’ve had, so it’s important to listen to what they have to say. Proverbs (1:8.9, NASB) says, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not ignore your mother’s teaching; for they are a graceful wreath for your head and necklaces for your neck.” We gain wisdom when we listen to our parents. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Just like everyone, fathers are not perfect. They make mistakes, too. Even the Bible is aware of this and gives instructions to fathers. Ephesians (6:4 NLT) says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n You are a blessing to your dad! Proverbs (23:24 NLT) says, “The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.” You can honor your dad by following his rules, helping before you are asked, listening to his advice, and saying “thank you” often!<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, why should we honor our fathers? Because it is a God-honoring thing to do, and the Bible explains how we gain wisdom when we listen to his instruction. Dads know a lot more than you might think - so let’s listen up and remember to say “thank you” for all of their help and support!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"ETwx3Zg8y3E","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/honor_fathers.jpg","timestamp":"May 10","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-should-we-honor-our-fathers\/","added":"995 views | 02:17 min","info":"995 views | 02:17 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":137,"views":"995","categories":["Character Development","Seasonal"]},{"id":"93","title":"How can we make good decisions?","description":" Good decision-making is a process. It takes thought, humility, and biblical principles so we can do things to honor and please God. Before a decision is made, faithful Christians first look for God’s leadings through careful study of the Scriptures and watching and praying. Most importantly, our decisions need to be God-based.<\/p>\r\n\r\n There is a popular saying: “What would Jesus do?” This is a very good question to ask ourselves because Jesus made sure everything he did and said honored God, so we want to do the same. When faced with a choice, we can ask ourselves, “Would this choice be pleasing to God?” <\/p>\r\n\r\n We should be careful of peer pressure and not just make a quick decision in order to go along with the group. We should watch out for our personal desires - just deciding on something because “that’s what I want most.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n Consider involving others who have the same Christian values as you do, but with more wisdom and experience. Hearing another viewpoint before making an important decision can be valuable!<\/p>\r\n\r\n Finally, we shouldn’t make decisions in anger but try to keep our emotions under control - strong feelings can sometimes cloud our thinking and lead us to make an impulsive, wrong decision.<\/p>\r\n\r\n James gives us wise advice not just for our lives, but also for making decisions: (James 1:19?,20, NIV; 1:21?, International Standard Version; 1:22?, NLT) “...Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, how can we make good decisions? We first consider if our decision would be pleasing to God and Jesus. We can ask others with wisdom and experience for advice. We should be careful of peer pressure, personal desires or having strong emotions when making decisions. We must follow God’s word in all we say and do. This can help us make better decisions.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"EDuaPltcGgE","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/good_decisions.jpg","timestamp":"April 25","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-can-we-make-good-decisions\/","added":"4,343 views | 02:15 min","info":"4,343 views | 02:15 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":135,"views":"4343","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"92","title":" Why Didn`t God Stop Satan From Tempting Eve?","description":" God allowed Satan to do what he did because He wanted humans and spirit beings to have the freedom to choose their behavior, also known as “free will.” He didn’t want to create robots that had no choice except to obey Him. God wants intelligent and willing obedience, rather than pre-programmed service to Him. This means we (including Satan and the angels) have a choice in what we do. Most moms give a lot to their families, especially their children. When we are younger, we tend to be a bit selfish, not considering that our moms have feelings, too! <\/p>\r\n\r\n You only get one mom in your life, so that makes her pretty special. The Bible tells us to honor our parents in Deuteronomy (5:16, NLT): “Honor your father and mother, as the LORD your God Honoring means to have deep respect. When you respect someone, you treat them well. You show them courtesy and kindness. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Jesus is always a good example to us. He loved his mother and honored her. When he was dying on the cross in extreme pain, he was thinking about Mary. He told John, his disciple, to take her into John’s home, and from that moment on, he took Mary to live in his household so she would be taken care of.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Moms have a lot of valuable experience and good advice - and the Bible agrees! Proverbs (31:26,27 NLT) says, “When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n Often, when we are young, we may not believe our moms have anything important to tell us. It’s only when we are older and start to have experiences of our own that we remember the valuable things she said. Proverbs (1:8.9, NASB) says, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not ignore your mother’s teaching; for they are a graceful wreath for your head and necklaces for your neck.” We gain wisdom when we listen to our parents. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Just like everyone, moms are not perfect. They make mistakes, too. We have to forgive each other when this happens and remember our shared love. 1 Corinthians (13:4-6) English Standard Version) says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n You can honor your mom by listening to her and obeying her rules. Say “thank you” often or even make her a card telling her how much you appreciate her.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, why should we honor our mothers? Because it is a God-honoring thing to do, Jesus showed us his example, and the Bible explains how we gain wisdom when we listen to her wise instruction. Never take your mom for granted - instead, be thankful and filled with love and appreciation.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"1S0hbzLY1r8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/honor_mother.jpg","timestamp":"April 05","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-should-we-honor-our-mothers\/","added":"4,251 views | 02:30 min","info":"4,251 views | 02:30 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":150,"views":"4251","categories":["Character Development","Seasonal"]},{"id":"90","title":"What is the Gospel?","description":" Sometimes the word “gospel” is used to describe the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Threatened by Jesus’ teachings, the Jewish leadership plotted to kill him. Judas accepted 30 pieces of silver to reveal Jesus’ location in the Garden of Gethsemane so they could arrest him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Judas’ reasons aren’t stated, and we can’t enter his mind. However, we can try to make reasonable assumptions based on the Scriptures. For example, both Luke (see 22:3) and John (see 13:27) suggest Satan had an evil influence over him. During his last week on earth, Jesus had been saying he would die. Instead of learning from and caring for Jesus in his last days, Judas was thinking about money. When Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ head and feet, symbolizing preparing him for burial, Judas said the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. But John (12:6, Christian Standard Bible) said, “He didn't say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n It has been suggested that by betraying the Lord, Judas might have been trying to bring about God’s kingdom sooner. By delivering Jesus to the authorities, as God’s son with unlimited power available to him, maybe Judas imagined Jesus would proclaim himself king and overthrow the Roman rulers, who didn’t treat the Jewish citizens very well. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Another reason might simply be that he was greedy. <\/p>\r\n\r\n The opposite of betrayal is loyalty. This means supporting, sticking by and standing up for those who love us and put their trust in us. We protect and care for them. We will not turn our backs on them or leave them in times of trouble. The holy spirit is God’s invisible power and influence. God alone decides who receives this precious gift. This phrase comes from the book of Song of Solomon, (2:15?, NKJV) “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n The Bible often uses picture language to help us understand deeper lessons.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Foxes appear to be innocent, but are actually crafty, clever animals. We may think that a beautiful little fox stealing a few grapes isn’t that harmful, but it can surprisingly do a lot of damage. When grapes are first starting to grow, they are delicate and easily snapped off the vine and destroyed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Now let’s look on a deeper level. Let’s imagine we are the vines, and the grapes are our characters. Every day we are trying to develop positive qualities like God’s son, Jesus. We try to be loving, merciful, and obedient just like him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Let’s think of the little foxes as small faults in our character that we may not even notice, like jealousy, dishonesty, and selfishness. For example, we might complain a little bit, act in a mean way, or speak carelessly, hurting someone’s feelings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Sometimes it’s hard to make progress as we grow our Christian characters. God knows and understands that it’s hard, which is why He looks at our heart intentions - did we try our best? Did we apologize if we hurt someone? Did we pray for God’s forgiveness? Did we try to stop ourselves from doing something that we knew would not be pleasing to Him? God’s mercy towards us is shown in Psalms where it says, (103:13, 14, Good News Translation) “As a father is kind to his children, so the LORD is kind to those who honor him. He knows what we are made of; he remembers that we are dust.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Just like the grapes that must be protected from the little foxes, we have to protect our characters from our little faults that we might not even notice. These can spoil (or even destroy) the positive, Christlike qualities we are trying to develop.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what are the “little foxes that spoil the vine”? The little foxes represent our small faults that can potentially do a lot of damage to our characters. The tender grapes represent our characters as we try to develop positive Christian qualities. Let’s guard ourselves from “the little foxes” - our little faults!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"-loi2tJH_gM","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/little_foxes.jpg","timestamp":"February 08","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-are-the-little-foxes-that-spoil-the-vine\/","added":"9,303 views | 02:22 min","info":"9,303 views | 02:22 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":142,"views":"9303","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"86","title":"How can we memorize Scriptures?","description":" Being able to call Scriptures to mind is a powerful skill. Verses can bring us or others comfort during difficult times, or give us good advice when faced with a decision or problem. Knowing where to find Scriptures quickly also helps us in our Bible study.<\/p>\r\n\r\n 2 Timothy (3:16 CEV) says, “Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n You’re more likely to remember a verse if it’s meaningful to you. Ask a family member or church friend to help you choose one. Do you want to memorize something Jesus said from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John? To praise God, you might turn to Psalms. Looking for some good advice? Try theV book of Proverbs. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Many students find flashcards to be helpful. Write the Scripture on one side and the book, chapter and verse on the other side. After studying, look at one side and see if you can remember what’s on the other side. Then turn it over and do the reverse. Just like actors who memorize their lines, repetition is the key!<\/p>\r\n\r\n Do you ever sing along to your favorite song? You weren’t born knowing the words; you remember because of the combination of music and repetition. Try creating a little tune for your Scripture. If you sing it enough times, it will stick in your head just like your favorite song does. Teach your song to others so they can learn too!<\/p>\r\n\r\n For some people, writing things down helps their memory. Try writing your Scripture ten times every day for five days. Say it out loud as you write. On the sixth day, see if you can recite it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Sometimes things are easier with a little support. Ask a friend to memorize with you, and then set goals for yourselves. Maybe you’ll both try to learn one new verse per week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Lastly, we can recite our memorized Scriptures to God in prayer. By doing this, we are not only praising Him, but we are helping the verses stick in our minds by repeating them to God, the best listener in the universe!<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, how can we memorize Scriptures? We can choose verses that are meaningful to us, create flash cards, set our Scriptures to music, write them down multiple times, set goals with friends, tell God in prayer, and repeat, repeat, repeat!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"KT3zakJgEIU","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/memorize_scriptures.jpg","timestamp":"January 25","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-can-i-memorize-scriptures\/","added":"1,486 views | 02:28 min","info":"1,486 views | 02:28 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":148,"views":"1486","categories":["Bible"]},{"id":"85","title":"What is the armor of God?","description":" Soldiers wear protective clothing to keep them safe. In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul compares a Christian to a soldier: in our imagination, we symbolically wear special items that protect us from bad influences and keep us on a path to serving God faithfully.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The first item we need is a “Belt of Truth.” In biblical times, the belt held together everything the soldier wore. Jesus said God’s word is truth. So, the “belt of truth” - the Bible - surrounds us as the foundation upon which everything else stands.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Next, we wear the “Breastplate of Righteousness.” A breastplate is metal body armor that protects a soldier's internal organs. Since we are all sinners, this breastplate refers to Jesus’ righteousness. When we symbolically wear it, our hearts are protected from Satan’s attacks because of Jesus’ sacrifice.<\/p>\r\n\r\n In our minds, our shoes will be fitted with “the readiness to announce the Good News of peace.” With good traction and firm footing, wherever our steps take us, we spread the good news of God’s word, which should be spoken with love.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Next, we imagine having a “Shield of Faith” to cover and protect us. We keep our faith in place wherever we go, because we can’t fight this battle without faith in God. <\/p>\r\n\r\n A helmet protects our head and, therefore, our thoughts and actions. To wear the “Helmet of Salvation” means that we accept and understand that salvation depends upon Jesus dying as a ransom for all, and having this knowledge will help us in every decision and aspect of life. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Finally, we have the “Sword of the Spirit,” defined as the “word of God.” Faithful Christians have God’s holy spirit to help them understand and apply God’s principles in the Bible. This sword is like having God’s own power and influence helping us battle an enemy we could never defeat on our own.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The entire armor of God, along with prayer, is described in Ephesians (6:14-18 GNT) “So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. At all times carry faith as a shield;...And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the spirit gives you. Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help...and never give up...”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"iMLZmPGQOn8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/armor_God.jpg","timestamp":"January 11","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-the-armor-of-god\/","added":"150,202 views | 02:36 min","info":"150,202 views | 02:36 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":156,"views":"150202","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"84","title":"Why is prayer important?","description":" Because prayer is the only way we can talk to God - to express thankfulness as well as ask for His guidance and forgiveness for wrongdoing. Prayer also helps us feel closer to Him. But with this important privilege comes responsibility. When you pray, remember you are talking to God, who created the entire universe. Be humble, and as you close your eyes, try to envision being in God’s presence, high in the heavens.<\/p>\r\n\r\n If you aren’t sure what to say, start by telling Him how thankful you are for His many blessings - your life, home, food, or even a beautiful, sunny day. Or, when you realize you said or did something that wasn’t nice, tell God how sorry you feel and ask Him to forgive you. He realizes we’re all imperfect and make mistakes. He provides our forgiveness through his Son Jesus who died for our sins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n It’s not appropriate to pray for money or more “things,” or even for a good grade on a test. Instead, we should pray for His perfect will to be done - which will bless us and all people in the long run - and for help in overcoming our weaknesses so we can be more like Jesus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n James (5:16 NASB) teaches us to “...pray for one another...the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” We should pray for those in need of strength or courage if they’re going through a difficult experience. Thinking about others increases our compassion and sympathy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The wonderful thing about prayer is that it can be done at any time, anywhere. We can pray alone or with others. We can pray out loud or silently in our hearts. Unlike us, God is always awake. He can hear prayers all over the world because He understands every language on earth and no one is hidden from Him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n There’s also no limit as to how many times a day we can talk to God. 1 Thessalonians (5:17 NLT) says to “Never stop praying!” Jesus found strength and comfort in praying to God, so of course we want to copy his example. Even if our schedules are busy, we should still make time for regular prayer, such as in the morning when we wake up, before meals, before bedtime, and any time in between when we want to thank God for a blessing or ask for guidance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, why is prayer important? Because this is the proper way to communicate with God and feel closer to Him. Praying and always ending with, “In Jesus’ name, Amen,” is the best way to stay connected to God in order to build and strengthen our relationship with Him. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"n_nvt43iyzA","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/prayer_important.jpg","timestamp":"December 28","player":"app","link":"","added":"10,692 views | 02:36 min","info":"10,692 views | 02:36 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":156,"views":"10692","categories":["Prayer"]},{"id":"83","title":"Did Jesus have any brothers or sisters?","description":" The Bible tells us that Mary was Jesus' mother, and God was his father, (not Joseph). The books of Matthew (13:55, 56) and Psalms (69:9) indicate that Mary and Joseph had four sons and several daughters after Jesus was born. Because they all had the same mother, these siblings were half brothers and sisters to Jesus. The short answer is: to give his life for the world. But what exactly does this mean?<\/p>\r\n\r\n Here’s a little story to help us understand: There once was a nobleman who had disobeyed his king. His home was taken away, and he was sent to a prison for the rest of his life. His wife went with him and they eventually had children. Now these children share in the man’s sentence and are not allowed to leave as long as their father is imprisoned there. Many years pass, and much of the family gives up hope of ever leaving. Then, one day, a nobleman of similar birth and equal rank presents himself to the king. He offers himself as a substitute for the first man - volunteering to serve his sentence - becoming what is called a “RANSOM” for the first man. <\/p>\r\n\r\n The king graciously accepts the offer and the first nobleman is released and restored to his estate. Because he is now free, the family he had while in prison is also free. These children, who never had real freedom because they were born prisoners under their father's sentence, are now also redeemed. They leave the prison and inherit the restored estate of their father together with him. The perfect man Jesus taking the perfect man Adam’s place satisfied God’s quality of perfect justice. With Adam’s death sentence ransomed, (or, canceled out), all of humankind will be raised from the grave in God’s kingdom - just like the children in the story being allowed to leave the prison.<\/p>\r\n\r\n This is what we mean when we say that Jesus gave his life for the world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n 1 Timothy (2:5,6 RVIC) says it was “... Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for ALL.” The ransom is THE central theme of the Bible, so it's important that we study and understand it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, why did Jesus come to earth? To be a “ransom” for Adam, so that eventually, humankind will no longer be under the death penalty. In the future, every person who ever died will be brought back to life. At that time (because of Jesus’ sacrifice so long ago) humankind will be given a new opportunity for eternal life by changing their sinful ways and learning how to live righteously on a perfect earth in God’s future kingdom.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"aLsfPwHxjLM","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/why_jesus_come.jpg","timestamp":"November 30","player":"app","link":"","added":"6,691 views | 02:41 min","info":"6,691 views | 02:41 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":161,"views":"6691","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"81","title":"Why did God choose Mary to be the mother of Jesus?","description":" The privilege of giving birth to the Savior of the world couldn’t be given to just anyone. Only a woman with outstanding faith, an extraordinary character, and pure heart would be appropriate for such an honor. Yes! Romans 6:6 teaches us that sin is going to be destroyed, AND we are promised in 1 Corinthians (15:26 NIV) that “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n When we pass a building under construction, do we criticize the builder? Do we say, “This looks terrible. The walls aren’t completed and I see bricks and materials everywhere on the ground. It’s not a solid structure and it will never be finished!”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Of course we don’t say this because we know the building is in progress. It takes time and care for the builder to finish the project so that we can eventually appreciate its quality and beauty. It may seem like a long time, but finally the day comes when what first looked like a messy, unfinished construction site has become a magnificent skyscraper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n This is how it is with God’s plan. Some may say that it appears God has forgotten about humankind, but that’s because His plan is still in progress. Our narrow, imperfect viewpoint is short-sighted, so we can only see a tiny bit of what’s around us. God looks at things from a bigger, long-term, eternal perspective. His plan might not appear to be happening as fast as people may want or expect it to be.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The Bible assures us that Satan will be destroyed, as well as sin and death. Since the Bible is the inspired word of God, we can put our full trust in it. Revelation (21:4 NLT) says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n In God’s kingdom, after people are resurrected on a perfect earth, they’ll be given lots of help to learn how to live righteously. People will apologize for hurting others, and, in turn, they will forgive those who hurt them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n God permits evil and sin for a limited time, but it’s for a wise purpose - to teach an everlasting lesson for all of us: that sin only brings sorrow and death, but obedience to God and His righteous principles brings life and happiness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, will sin and death ever end? The Bible tells us the answer is yes. But we must be patient, because like our example of the unfinished building, God’s plan isn’t finished yet, either!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"5T_d20-qqcA","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/sin_end.jpg","timestamp":"November 03","player":"app","link":"","added":"619 views | 02:23 min","info":"619 views | 02:23 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":143,"views":"619","categories":["God","Death"]},{"id":"79","title":"Where did Jesus live and work?","description":" To help us feel closer to Jesus and his life, it’s important to be familiar with his surroundings. Later, Jesus made Capernaum the center of his ministry work for a significant period of time (see R2581). This ancient fishing village is located in the region of Galilee in the modern day country of Israel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Jesus did much work in Galilee. Matthew (4:23 RVIC) says, “And he went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and...sickness among the people.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Another city that Jesus often visited was Bethany where his close friends Lazarus, Mary and Martha lived. When Jesus learned that Lazarus had died, he told his disciples that Lazarus was sleeping, but he was going to go and awaken him. This Scripture helps us understand that when a person dies, it’s as if they are sleeping, waiting until God’s kingdom when Jesus will awaken them out of sleep. Later, Mary poured costly perfume on Jesus’ head and feet, signifying the preparation for his death and burial that would be only a few days away. <\/p>\r\n\r\n We might be fortunate to live in an apartment or house, but consider this scripture in Luke (9:58, NIV) where Jesus says about himself, “...Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Imagine that! God’s only begotten son, who willingly gave up his heavenly home to die on the cross for the sins of ALL people had no place to call his own. He may have stayed with friends or followers as he traveled. We should count our blessings and appreciate ALL that we have, giving thanks to God.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, where did Jesus live and work? He was born in Bethlehem, then moved to Egypt and probably spent his youth in Nazareth. Later, he moved to Capernaum, in the region of Galilee, where he did much of his ministry work. In Bethany, he raised Lazarus from the dead and Mary poured perfume on Jesus’ head and feet. Knowing that our Savior had nowhere of his own to rest his head should make us very thankful to God for everything we have. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"qRA7GqTUJgA","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/jesus_live.jpg","timestamp":"October 19","player":"app","link":"","added":"4,605 views | 02:21 min","info":"4,605 views | 02:21 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":141,"views":"4605","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"78","title":"What does it mean to covet?","description":" The word “covet” is used in the 10th commandment of the Law that God gave to Moses: it says we should not covet various things that belong to our neighbor. Something so incredible that it changed the course of the Apostle Paul’s life, shaping the history of Christianity. By this time, the crucified and risen Jesus had appeared to several disciples. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Saul, later called Paul, was a Pharisee - a Jewish leader, religious and educated in the Law. He was zealous for God and sincerely believed that the Christian movement was dangerous to the Jewish faith. He thought he was serving God by persecuting Christians, or mistreating them because of their religious beliefs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n He went to the high priest to request letters addressed to the synagogues, or Jewish houses of worship, in the city of Damascus. These letters asked for cooperation in arresting followers of Jesus, so Saul could bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Acts (9:3-6, Life Application Study Bible) says, “As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him! He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?’ ‘Who are you, sir?’ Saul asked. And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’”<\/p>\r\n\r\n After Saul saw the supernatural light and heard the voice, he was convinced that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Saul was blind for three days after this miraculous experience, and he didn’t eat or drink anything. <\/p>\r\n\r\n In a vision, Jesus spoke to a follower named Ananias, assigning him to go to Saul and restore his sight. Ananias told Saul that Jesus had sent him to get his sight back and be filled with the holy spirit, and when he laid his hands on Saul, instantly something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. After this miracle, he was baptized.<\/p>\r\n\r\n At first, the apostles didn’t trust him; they thought he was only pretending to be a believer! When Barnabas told the other apostles how Saul had boldly preached the name of Jesus in Damascus, they accepted him, and he became the 12th Apostle of Jesus, replacing Judas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what happened on the road to Damascus? Saul, later known as the Apostle Paul, saw a brilliant light and heard a voice, convincing him Jesus had risen from the dead. His zeal was then positively directed into preaching the gospel message<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"i3Q0eVbELUg","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/damascus.jpg","timestamp":"September 21","player":"app","link":"","added":"2,637 views | 02:29 min","info":"2,637 views | 02:29 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":149,"views":"2637","categories":["Jesus","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"76","title":"What is wisdom?","description":" James 3:17 (NLT translation) “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Because King David’s son, Solomon, was faithful and pleasing to God, God said he could ask for anything and it would be given to him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Solomon could have asked for a long life or riches, but in 1 Kings (3:9 NLT) he said, “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong.” God was pleased with this answer and gave him wisdom.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Solomon’s wisdom helped solve arguments. One case Solomon judged involved two mothers who had each given birth the same week. One baby had lived but the other had not. Each woman claimed the living baby was hers. Which one was lying? To determine the real mother, Solomon made an outrageous suggestion: to cut the living baby in half and give a part to each mother! Of course he would never have done this - it was just a wise strategy to reveal who the true mother was.<\/p>\r\n\r\n One mother begged him not to harm the baby and to give him to the other woman. Solomon knew that only the TRUE mother would say this in order to protect her baby, so he gave the baby to her. Solomon’s ability from God to make good decisions with justice became known throughout Israel. Being wise is more than just being smart. It means learning from our mistakes and using better judgment the next time. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Wise Christians read the Scriptures and study the lives of the people in the Bible. Solomon says in Proverbs, (Prov 1:5, NIV) “Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser…” When we have difficult problems to solve, we can go to others who have more experience than we do. This could be a relative, teacher or church member. We also shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions if we don’t understand something.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Finally, we can follow Solomon’s example by praying to God for wisdom and to understand right and wrong.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what is wisdom? The quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgment. We can study the Scriptures and ask for advice from wise people we know. Just like Solomon, we can ask God to help us have an understanding heart.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"Fvu_601JahI","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/wisdom.jpg","timestamp":"September 07","player":"app","link":"","added":"28,250 views | 02:27 min","info":"28,250 views | 02:27 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":147,"views":"28250","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"75","title":"What made David and Jonathan`s friendship so strong?","description":" The Bible tells us about the unbreakable bond between David and Jonathan. We can apply these lessons to our own friendships today!<\/p>\r\n\r\n Friends usually share common interests, and for David and Jonathan, that was serving the Lord. When friends make God the number one priority in their lives, they can accomplish more by working together than on their own. Try reading a Bible story with a friend. The quiet thoughtfulness that comes with studying alone is nice, but with a friend, we might learn and remember twice as much! Ecclesiastes says, (4:9 Christian Standard Bible) “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Good friends are ready and willing to help, even in difficult circumstances. David needed Jonathan’s help to determine if King Saul, Jonathan’s father, intended to kill him or if he was safe. Jonathan didn’t hesitate to help David carry out any plan he chose to get the information they needed. 1 Samuel (20:4 NASB) says, “Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Whatever you say, I will do for you.’" <\/p>\r\n\r\n David and Jonathan were loyal to each other. Saul, jealous of David, DID want to kill him. Jonathan challenged his father’s angry feelings, (see 1 Samuel 20:32) even boldly asking why David deserved to die. It takes courage to stand up for our friends if they are being hurt or bullied. We should ask parents, family members or teachers for help if we see this kind of behavior. So, what made David and Jonathan’s friendship so strong? They were loyal and supportive, helped each other, and weren’t jealous if one had a higher position or greater ability. Godly friendships are especially strong because when we make God the number one priority in our lives, we work together for a wonderful purpose! <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"DE-oIuaE7nQ","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/david_jonathan.jpg","timestamp":"August 24","player":"app","link":"","added":"16,268 views | 02:28 min","info":"16,268 views | 02:28 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":148,"views":"16268","categories":["Character Development","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"74","title":"What will God`s kingdom be like?","description":" Jesus spoke often about God’s kingdom. He described it as coming in stages, ending with a future time when the earth will be restored and all those who died will be resurrected to learn how to live righteously. Saul was the first king of Israel. He was often disobedient and followed his own ways instead of God’s ways. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Obedience is loyally following God’s wishes and instructions rather than our own.<\/p>\r\n\r\n After yet another one of Saul’s willful sins, the prophet Samuel told him, (1 Sam 15:22, 23 New Living Translation from the Life Application Bible), “...Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to Him (meaning, God) is much better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshipping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you from being king.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n David was secretly chosen to be the next king once Saul had passed away. Saul was so jealous of David that he tried to kill him numerous times.<\/p>\r\n\r\n (see 1 Sam 20:5, 30-33) David and Saul’s son, Jonathan, became very good friends. David knew Saul wanted to kill him, but Jonathan didn’t believe it, so they devised a plan to find out for sure. David would purposely not attend a festival to see how Saul would behave. If Saul didn’t react to David’s absence, then all was well. But if Saul became angry, it meant he had been planning to kill David.<\/p>\r\n\r\n When he saw David wasn’t at the festival, Saul became enraged and took his anger out on Jonathan, admitting he did want to kill David. When Jonathan asked Saul what David had done to deserve death, Saul threw a spear at his own son!<\/p>\r\n\r\n Jealousy is an ugly emotion; it clouds our thinking and sets us on a destructive path. Saul obsessively hunted David for the rest of his life.<\/p>\r\n\r\n (see 1 Sam 28) Talking to mediums or psychics - people who falsely claim they can speak to dead people - was strictly forbidden in Israel. After banning all mediums, Saul sinned terribly by visiting one for advice about an upcoming battle. The Bible says we should never consult mediums, psychics or fortune tellers because their information is either fake, or worse - it comes from Satan and fallen angels, never God. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Rather than be killed by the enemy, Saul purposely fell on his sword on the battlefield, ending his life and his reign, and then David became king. <\/p>\r\n\r\n So, who was King Saul? Israel’s first king, who started out humble, then did things his way instead of God’s way. We can learn from Saul’s example by obeying God, guarding our hearts from jealousy, and avoiding fortune tellers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Learn more by watching “Who was King Saul? Part 1”! https:\/\/youtu.be\/tuZtaGsPiT8<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"Hac2Wx2Db7Q","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/kingsaul2.jpg","timestamp":"July 27","player":"app","link":"","added":"3,331 views | 02:34 min","info":"3,331 views | 02:34 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":154,"views":"3331","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"72","title":"Who was King Saul? (Part 1)","description":" The Israelites were complaining that they wanted to be like other nations with fancy kings who sat on thrones and led them into battles. But by demanding a king, they were actually rejecting God, who was already their invisible king, more powerful than any human king could ever be.<\/p>\r\n\r\n God instructed the prophet and judge, Samuel, to explain to the people that this was not a wise decision, but they didn’t listen. Although God was unhappy with their request, He chose Saul to be the first king of Israel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Saul started out “little in his own eyes,” (see 1 Sam 15:17) meaning, he had the proper humble spirit we should strive for. Unfortunately, his high position filled him with pride, and he willfully disobeyed God many times, doing things his own way. (see 1 Sam 13:8,13) For example, Samuel was going to meet Saul and offer a sacrifice for Israel, to ensure God would be with them in battle. But when Samuel didn’t come at the agreed upon time, Saul offered the sacrifice himself. This was a serious act of disobedience - against God’s commandment - and through Samuel, God said Saul’s kingdom would not continue. (see 1 Sam 13:14)<\/p>\r\n\r\n Saul’s prideful feelings also caused him to make poor decisions and behave in shocking ways.<\/p>\r\n\r\n (see 1 Sam 14:24) For instance, after a fierce battle, Saul’s men were worn out because Saul had foolishly commanded that no one would be allowed to eat anything until they had completely defeated their enemies. But Saul’s son, Jonathan, not having heard his father’s command, tasted some honey in the forest. When Saul found out, he declared that his own son should die for what he did! Thankfully, the people saw Saul’s decree as ridiculous, so Jonathan was saved from death. (see 1 Sam 14:45)<\/p>\r\n\r\n Instead of admitting he was wrong, Saul at first stubbornly refused to back down, even if it meant killing his own son. It takes more courage to admit our mistakes, rather than clinging to statements that can hurt others.<\/p>\r\n\r\n James (4:6) says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (New Living Translation)<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, who was King Saul? Israel’s first king, who started out humble, then did things his way instead of God’s way. We can learn from Saul’s example by obeying God, not thinking too highly of ourselves, and admitting when we are wrong.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Learn more by watching “Who was King Saul? Part 2”!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"tuZtaGsPiT8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/kingsaul1.jpg","timestamp":"July 26","player":"app","link":"","added":"8,289 views | 02:26 min","info":"8,289 views | 02:26 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":146,"views":"8289","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"71","title":"What is evil speaking?","description":" Evil speaking is similar to slander or gossip, which is saying something about someone that hurts their good name or reputation. The Bible says the tongue is like a fire - and a fire can be destructive. (see James 3:6) If we hear evil speaking, slander or gossip, we should put a stop to it, and not listen or participate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Titus (3:2 Good News Translation) tells us how we should act: “Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Proverbs (16:28 Good News Translation) says, “Gossip is spread by wicked people; they stir up trouble and break up friendships.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n Evil speaking is dangerous. We cannot read other people’s hearts - only God can do that. For example, King David and King Nahash of the Ammonites were friends. When King Nahash died, David sent ambassadors to the king’s son, Hanun, to express his sympathy about his father’s death. But Hanun’s advisors spoke evil about David, assuming he had bad motives. They said David had NOT sent messengers to honor his father, but to spy on the city so he could conquer it. They then mistreated the sincere messengers, and this act started a war! (see 2 Sam 10)<\/p>\r\n\r\n David tells us about his experiences with gossip and evil speaking in Psalms: (41:5-7 Life Application Bible-double checked by LJ) “But my enemies say… evil about me...They visit me as if they are my friends, but all the while they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.” Remember to treat others like WE want to be treated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n (see 1 Peter 2:1) Peter associated evil speaking with envy. We may say negative things about others because we are jealous of their abilities - maybe we want to make ourselves look better by making someone else look bad. But Ephesians (4:29 NLT) says, “...Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what is evil speaking? It’s talking about someone that may result in ruining their good name or reputation. If we hear someone evil speaking about another person, we can kindly but firmly say we don’t want to listen, and then we can change the topic to something positive. If we participate in evil speaking, we should ask God for forgiveness and the ability to do better. As Christians, we want to build others up, not tear them down!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"rWWx7Xo4F0U","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/evil_speaking.jpg","timestamp":"July 06","player":"app","link":"","added":"2,240 views | 02:29 min","info":"2,240 views | 02:29 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":149,"views":"2240","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"70","title":"What makes a good Christian leader?","description":" Sometimes at school or church, we might be asked to lead others, maybe on a team or for a group activity. As Christians, we must watch our behavior extra carefully to be sure we are copying the life of Jesus in everything we do. Fortunately, we have excellent examples of strong leaders in the Bible.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Leaders who are pleasing to God are humble. They don’t brag about their abilities, but instead give credit to God, who put them in the leadership position and gave them the skills to succeed. Jesus is our best example because at every turn, he was humble. In the book of John, Jesus said, (John 8:50 Christian Standard Bible) “I do not seek my own glory…” and (John 8:54 Good News Translation) “...If I were to honor myself, that honor would be worth nothing…” <\/p>\r\n\r\n Good leaders rely on God with strong faith, praying and watching for His direction so they can follow His will. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. Joshua continued the work when Moses died, (SEE OUR VIDEO, “WHO WAS JOSHUA?” https:\/\/youtu.be\/qQlWtJZdq_s) leading the people into the promised land of Canaan. Both men looked to the Lord for direction using their powerful faith. Good leaders are focused. The primary focus of the Apostle Paul’s life was telling people about Jesus and following his example of living a life of righteous principals. Leaders like the Apostle Paul often went through many difficult experiences that even threatened their lives, but they never gave up on their primary goal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what makes a good Christian leader? Giving all credit to God, being humble, having strong faith, praying often, watching for God’s direction, being focused and determined, never giving up and always accepting God’s will.<\/p>\r\n\r\n How many more outstanding leaders can you find in the Bible?<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"KKhkvxUqYkw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/christian_leader.jpg","timestamp":"June 22","player":"app","link":"","added":"6,477 views | 02:33 min","info":"6,477 views | 02:33 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":153,"views":"6477","categories":["Character Development","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"69","title":"What was the purpose of the law?","description":" The Law was a list of rules God gave to Moses for the Israelites to follow. It said — among other things — to honor your father and mother and to not steal or kill. And there weren’t just 10 commandments - there were actually hundreds of parts to the Law. Be sure to watch Who was David? (Part 1) found here: https:\/\/youtu.be\/BDVRsUxuCxU<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n David was a shepherd, prophet, musician, songwriter, army commander, and finally, king of Israel. <\/p>\r\n\r\n When David was young, he served King Saul first by playing music for him and then by becoming Saul’s armor bearer, and later a commander in Saul’s army. Over time, though, Saul grew jealous of David and tried to kill him. On more than one occasion, David showed mercy, not wanting to harm God’s chosen leader. For example, one night, David snuck into Saul’s camp while everyone was sleeping. Instead of attacking him, David only took Saul’s water jug and spear, in the hopes of proving to Saul he was not interested in hurting him. David knew he was next in line to be king, so he patiently waited for God’s perfect timing to take over the throne.<\/p>\r\n\r\n After Saul’s death, David became one of Israel’s most loved kings ruling for 40 years, even showing kindness to Saul’s family. He established Jerusalem as the capital of the nation, living there as king. Jerusalem became known as the “city of David,” and is still called that today. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Despite doing many good things, David was not a perfect man, and the Bible doesn't hide his failures. He used bad judgement several times - in some cases hurting other people - and this displeased God. However, once David realized his mistakes, he was extremely sorry, asked God for forgiveness, and God forgave him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n David wrote psalms, or poetic songs - some of them prophesying about Jesus, and some praising God for his love and mercy. One such beautiful poetic song is found in Psalms Chapter 23: “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams...Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me...Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalms 23:1-6, New Living Translation)<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, who was David? A shepherd, prophet, musician, songwriter, army commander, and king. Learn more about him by watching our video, “Who was David? Part 1.” https:\/\/youtu.be\/BDVRsUxuCxU<\/a><\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"F2JIvkWUyEg","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/david_2.jpg","timestamp":"May 26","player":"app","link":"","added":"1,903 views | 02:25 min","info":"1,903 views | 02:25 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":145,"views":"1903","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"67","title":"Who was David? (Part 1)","description":" David was a shepherd, prophet, musician, songwriter, army commander, and finally, king of Israel. He was the youngest son in his family from Bethlehem. The Scriptures say he was a man after God’s own heart, meaning he was loyal to God and wanted most of all to please Him. Also, Jesus came from David’s family line.<\/p>\r\n\r\n When he was young, David took care of his father’s sheep. At that time, Saul was king of Israel and Judah, and David soothed his nerves by playing the harp for him. <\/p>\r\n\r\n When Israel’s enemy, the Philistines, gathered their armies to battle against Israel, they sent a giant man named Goliath to challenge them one-on-one in combat. David heard about the giant’s challenge and volunteered to fight him. David chose 5 smooth stones from a brook along with his slingshot, a weapon that could shoot rocks quickly to hurt an enemy. With God’s help, David defeated Goliath, and David gave all the glory to God for his victory. David became best friends with Saul’s son Jonathan, and Saul appreciated David so much that he chose him to be his armor bearer, which was an important military position. David became a commander of Saul’s army.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Unfortunately, because of Saul’s disobedience, God rejected him as king. Because of David’s loyal heart, God chose David to be the next king once Saul had passed away. <\/p>\r\n\r\n In the meantime, Saul grew jealous of David and tried to kill him several times. Once, while hunting David, Saul walked into a cave, not knowing that David and his men were actually hiding there. Without Saul knowing, David cut off part of Saul’s robe, proving he did not want to harm him, even though Saul had been hunting him! David’s men said he should kill Saul, but in the book of 1 Samuel, David said, “I must not harm him in the least, because he is the king chosen by the LORD!" (1 Samuel 24:6, Good News Translation) Instead of doing things his own way, David trusted that God would remove Saul from the throne in His own perfect time, and that’s exactly what happened.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, who was David? A shepherd, prophet, musician, songwriter, army commander and king. Continue learning more about David’s life in our CQ Kids video, “Who was David? Part 2.” https:\/\/youtu.be\/F2JIvkWUyEg<\/a><\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"BDVRsUxuCxU","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/david_1.jpg","timestamp":"May 26","player":"app","link":"","added":"4,738 views | 02:28 min","info":"4,738 views | 02:28 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":148,"views":"4738","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"66","title":"What is the soul?","description":" The Bible says the soul is made up of two parts. To create the first man Adam, Genesis 2:7 tells us God took dust from the ground to make a body and breathed into man what is called the breath of life. And “...man became a living soul.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n This word “soul” from the original Hebrew can also be translated in English as “living being.” Human life can only exist if these two parts - body and breath of life - are working together. <\/p>\r\n\r\n So, a person does not “have” a soul...they ARE a soul! The soul is not something separate that lives on after a person dies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Ezekiel says, (Ezekiel 18:4, NASB) “The soul who sins will die.” Since all humans are imperfect, all humans sin. This Scripture is saying that all humans eventually die and go into the grave. But once a person is dead, how will they be resurrected in God’s kingdom?<\/p>\r\n\r\n We might imagine a person’s character and personality as files on a computer. Many people currently backup or copy their files to something called “the cloud,” a powerful memory system that keeps files safe. But there is an even MORE powerful cloud that exists, with UNLIMITED storage, and that’s God’s perfect mind, allowing Him to recreate and resurrect the identical character and personality of everyone who has ever died in His future kingdom. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Whether a person is resurrected to live on a perfect earth or in heaven depends on how they live their life now. Faithful Christians who give their lives to God, do their best to serve Him and try to copy the life of His son, Jesus, are promised a heavenly body. Everyone else will receive a new earthly body. The Bible represents mercy as “active compassion.” Compassion is sympathetic concern for those who are suffering. Our two best examples of showing mercy come from God and His son Jesus. Yes, he did, just as we all do. Even though he was perfect, his body still needed rest. The attention from the crowds kept him busy. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Mark (6:31) records: “Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.” (NLT)<\/p>\r\n\r\n When he healed people, it cost him strength and energy. Matthew records him healing many people in need: “Large crowds came and brought many people who were paralyzed or blind or lame or unable to talk. They placed them, and many others, in front of Jesus, and he healed them all.” (Matthew 15:30, CEV) <\/p>\r\n\r\n Another Scripture says, “Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness,” (Matthew 4:23, NLT) <\/p>\r\n\r\n Luke (8:43-48 Contemporary English Version) records an example of his power leaving him because he made someone better: 43 In the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had spent everything she had on doctors, but none of them could make her well. 44 As soon as she came up behind Jesus and barely touched his clothes, her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. While everyone was denying it, Peter said, “Master, people are crowding all around and pushing you from every side.” 46 But Jesus answered, “Someone touched me, because I felt power going out from me.” 47 The woman knew that she could not hide, so she came trembling and knelt down in front of Jesus. She told everyone why she had touched him and that she had been healed right away. 48 Jesus said to the woman, “You are now well because of your faith. May God give you peace!”<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, did Jesus ever get tired? Yes, he did. Sometimes he needed to rest from preaching to the crowds, and in at least one instance of healing, the Bible tells us it cost him strength.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"ZGWHFEYlYmk","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/Jesus_tired.jpg","timestamp":"April 13","player":"app","link":"","added":"1,595 views | 02:06 min","info":"1,595 views | 02:06 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":126,"views":"1595","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"56","title":"What happened after Jesus was arrested?","description":" First, he was taken to Annas, (see John 18:19) the former high priest of Israel. Jesus was mistreated during the questioning, and this was only the beginning of his horrible, unfair trials.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Next, he was brought to Annas’ son-in-law, Caiaphas, the current high priest. He demanded that Jesus say whether he was the Messiah, the Son of God. (Matt 26:64 NLT), “Jesus replied, ‘You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand…’” Caiaphas was angry, saying this answer was blasphemous. Blasphemy is the act of speaking disrespectful things about God, which, of course, Jesus never did. The Jewish leaders shouted that he was guilty and should die. When he was beaten, he did not fight back or defend himself. Next, they took him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea.<\/p>\r\n\r\n When Pilate asked Jesus if he was the King of the Jews (See Matt 27:11) he said yes. The crowd shouted that he should be crucified, but Pilate knew Jesus had done nothing wrong. When Pilate learned Jesus had lived and worked in Galilee (see Luke 23:6), he transferred him to Herod, the governor of Galilee. (See Luke 23:8) <\/p>\r\n\r\n Herod (see Luke 23:8) hoped to see him perform a miracle, but Jesus would not answer any of his questions or respond to the teachers of the Law shouting their accusations (see Luke 23:10 from the Life Application Bible’s version of the NLT). After Herod and his soldiers made fun of Jesus, Herod sent him back to Pilate, believing Jesus had done nothing to deserve death.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Pilate ordered Jesus to be beaten with a sharp whip and was about to let him go. However, the crowd continued to cry out for his death. To symbolically show he would not be to blame for sentencing him to death, Pilate washed his hands in front of the crowd. He then turned Jesus over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. According to the book of Mark, (see 15:17) the soldiers made fun of Jesus’ authority by dressing him in a purple robe and making him wear a painful crown of thorns. Beaten and disrespected, Jesus said nothing, willing to die in order to eventually raise all people back to life in God’s future kingdom, which even includes everyone who hurt him. (WATCH OUR VIDEO, “WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE?”)<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what happened after Jesus was arrested? He was questioned and mistreated in a series of trials. First, he was sent to Annas and Caiphas, then to Pilate, then Herod, then back to Pilate. Jesus suffered great pain and humiliation for all of us. How grateful we should be for his willing sacrifice that will restore life to everyone who has ever died.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"LoSSOqUCTrw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/after_jesus_arrested.jpg","timestamp":"March 30","player":"app","link":"","added":"963 views | 02:42 min","info":"963 views | 02:42 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":162,"views":"963","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"55","title":"Did Jesus ever get angry?","description":" Actually, he did! And he was completely right in feeling that way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Every year, Jewish people were required by the Law to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, a special Jewish festival. It was the custom to offer an animal for sacrifice, either to show thankfulness, ask for forgiveness, or show devotion to God. When people traveled from so far away, they didn’t usually bring an animal with them, so they had to buy one at the temple. Merchants purposely sold pigeons, doves, lambs and other animals at very high prices because they knew the people had to buy them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n There was also a special kind of coin called “the shekel of the sanctuary.” This was the only type of money the merchants would accept, so people had to exchange their local money for the special temple money. Moneychangers purposely tricked foreigners who didn’t understand the exchange rates. This means they charged them more than they should have so they could keep extra money for themselves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n To see this cheating in his Father’s house angered Jesus. Matthew (21:12,13 NLT) says, “Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”<\/p>\r\n\r\n In another example, Jesus was often angry at the Scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish leaders at the time. He called them “hypocrites,” which is a person who says one thing but then secretly acts in the opposite way. These so-called leaders pretended to love God and follow the Law, but they were actually more like bullies. Many times they tried to get Jesus in trouble with trick questions so that he would appear as though he didn’t know God’s Law, but Jesus saw through their traps and was never deceived. <\/p>\r\n\r\n So, did Jesus ever get angry? Yes, he did, and his anger was always correct and reasonable. Although we cannot read people's hearts, Jesus can - he knows when people mean to cheat, steal or lie. He also pointed out how the Scribes and Pharisees pretended to live holy lives when inside their hearts were dishonest and greedy.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"yOu0vy02cak","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/Jesus_angry.jpg","timestamp":"March 17","player":"app","link":"","added":"2,195 views | 02:23 min","info":"2,195 views | 02:23 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":143,"views":"2195","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"54","title":"Who were Naomi and Ruth?","description":" Naomi was a Jewish woman living in the land of Moab. She had a husband and two sons. One of her sons was married to Ruth. When both her husband and two sons died, Naomi and her two daughters-in-law left Moab to return to Naomi’s home country of Judah (Ruth 1:6) On the journey, (Ruth 1:8) she told the women they should not go with her, but instead return to their families’ homes in order to possibly marry again. Jesus told us about the person we call the Good Samaritan in a parable. A parable is a fictional story meant to teach a lesson. Joshua was Moses’ trusted assistant and then took over to lead the people when Moses died.<\/p>\r\n\r\n In Exodus (17:8), Moses chose him to lead the battle to fight the Amelekites. Later, he traveled with Moses on the journey toward Mt. Sinai where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. God told Moses to send a group of men to Caanan to spy on the people and check out the land. 10 of the 12 men came back with negative reports, saying that the Caananites were too strong to be defeated. Two men, however, had absolute faith in God: one was Caleb and the other was Joshua.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Numbers (14:8,9) records Joshua saying, “If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us...do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." (NIV)<\/p>\r\n\r\n After Moses died, Joshua led the people across the Jordan River. God caused the river to part and become dry land, just like he did to the Red Sea when the Israelites left Egypt. They attacked the frightened city of Jericho by marching around it once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times with the priests making noise by blowing into rams’ horns. When the people shouted loudly as God had commanded them to, the walls of the city fell down and the people charged right in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Before he died, Joshua urged the people to destroy any idols and serve God alone with all of their hearts. He (24:15) said, “...choose for yourselves today whom you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (NASB)<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, who was Joshua? He was Moses’ assistant, a strong and brave military leader, and with God’s direction he led the Israelites into Caanan. He was faithful to God, always trusting in His promises and His word, just as we should. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"qQlWtJZdq_s","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/joshua.jpg","timestamp":"February 04","player":"app","link":"","added":"1,066 views | 02:23 min","info":"1,066 views | 02:23 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":143,"views":"1066","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"51","title":"What is the fruit of the spirit?","description":" When we think about the fruit we eat, we know that sweet, ripe fruit is the ending part of a journey of growing that starts with a tiny seed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Did you know Christians are supposed to produce “spiritual fruit”?<\/p>\r\n\r\n Galatians (5:22 NASB) says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;”<\/p>\r\n\r\n These are good qualities a Christian spends a lifetime developing. If we try our best to be loving and kind with our thoughts, words, and actions toward others, God will be pleased and these positive qualities can begin to develop in us.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Real fruit trees need pruning, a process of removing branches that are harmful to the growth of the tree. We also need pruning, which means the qualities that are harmful to our spiritual growth must be removed. These “bad branches” can be selfishness, impatience, or jealousy. Christians study God's Word, pray to ask forgiveness through Jesus, and allow God to help them change for the better over time so they can produce good fruit! <\/p>\r\n\r\n Remember the nine qualities that make up the fruit of the Spirit with this handy phrase:<\/p>\r\n\r\n “Love, Joy, Peace, and a package of figs”!<\/p>\r\n\r\n We can shorten the word “package” to PKG. That’s patience, kindness and goodness. If we remove the I from “figs,” we get FGS, which stands for faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Track your progress by keeping a journal about how you’re doing with each one, and also ways you can help them grow. Don’t get discouraged if there isn’t instant improvement - just like real fruit takes time to ripen and develop, so do Christians who are devoted to God, doing their best to follow His instructions to improve their characters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what is the fruit of the Spiritn? It’s a combination of nine good qualities we want to plant within ourselves to become better Christians. To remember them all, think of this phrase: “Love, Joy, Peace, and a package (PKG) of figs (FGS)”!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"KNlMJODZ5Ns","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/fruit_spirit.jpg","timestamp":"January 21","player":"app","link":"","added":"14,428 views | 02:23 min","info":"14,428 views | 02:23 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":143,"views":"14428","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"50","title":"How can we be more like Jesus (Part 2)","description":" Jesus’ character and the way he lived his life is filled with good examples of ways we can copy him! <\/p>\r\n\r\n He had a peaceful nature. John (14:27 NIV) records him saying, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you...Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n He studied and memorized the scriptures. Reading our Bibles and trying to remember our favorite Scriptures is a wonderful way to copy Jesus and please God. <\/p>\r\n\r\n He had complete trust in God at all times, just as we should have. Proverbs (3:5) (Christian Standard Bible) says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Jesus He helped others by performing incredible miracles with his power. Although WE can’t perform miracles like Jesus, we can volunteer to help others using the talents we DO have. Who can you help today?<\/p>\r\n\r\n Satan tried to tempt him three times. Matthew says, (4:10 English Standard Version) “Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Jesus didn’t give Satan any room to continue tempting him to do evil and neither should we. James (4:7 KJV) says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you!”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Lastly, he obeyed God in everything he did. We should have this same daily obedience towards our Heavenly Father. Micah (6:8 NAS) says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you, But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, how can we be more like Jesus? We can do our best to live peacefully with others, study the scriptures, be gentle and humble, trust God, help others, resist Satan’s attacks, and always obey God.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"cp9TwkDGc4o","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/like_jesus-2.jpg","timestamp":"January 07","player":"app","link":"","added":"5,396 views | 02:04 min","info":"5,396 views | 02:04 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":124,"views":"5396","categories":["Character Development","Jesus"]},{"id":"49","title":"How can we be more like Jesus? (Part 1)","description":" Jesus’ character and the way he lived his life is filled with good examples of ways we can copy him! <\/p>\r\n\r\n He loved his enemies. Luke (22:50-51) records that when the Apostle Peter cut off the ear of the soldier who came to arrest Jesus, Jesus healed him. Loving and forgiving our enemies is very hard to do, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Jesus felt sorry for those in need. Matthew tells us that after more than 4000 people followed Jesus him for three days (15:32 NLT) he said to his disciples, "I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way." He then miraculously fed the people with only seven loaves of bread and a few fish. Although we can’t perform miracles like these, we can definitely have a caring and sharing attitude with those in need around us. Jesus was humble as we should be. He didn’t brag about himself or his accomplishments. Matthew (11:29) (NASB) records him as saying, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n Jesus was sympathetic. When his close friend Lazarus died and he saw Lazarus’ friends and family crying, his heart was moved, and he cried too. Our hearts should also be warm and open to feeling the sadness that others feel. <\/p>\r\n\r\n He encouraged his friends. The Apostle Peter felt terrible about denying him Jesus three times, et Jesus forgave him and encouraged him to continue spreading the Gospel message. We can support our friends too, when they make mistakes. Lastly, he prayed to God often. We can go to God in prayer at any time. 1 Thess (5:17 God’s Word Translation) says, “Never stop praying.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, how can we be more like Jesus? We can love our enemies, learn to be forgiving, feel sorry for those in need, be humble and sympathetic, encourage our friends, and pray to God as often as we can.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"8DAcSHXpmfI","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/be_like_jesus.jpg","timestamp":"December 23","player":"app","link":"","added":"12,814 views | 02:18 min","info":"12,814 views | 02:18 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":138,"views":"12814","categories":["Character Development","Jesus"]},{"id":"48","title":"Who were the Magi?","description":" To learn about the Magi, we have to go back to the time of Daniel when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made him chief over a group of wise men - called Magi - who studied the stars.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Many years later, descendants of this group are mentioned in the Scriptures. (Matt 2:1,2 NASB) Matthew records, “Now after Jesus was born ... Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’"<\/p>\r\n\r\n The Magi traveled a far distance, following a star directed by God that guided them to a house, probably in Nazareth. They humbly bowed before Jesus with three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. While we aren’t exactly sure why these particular gifts were given, one possibility is that they might symbolize future positions Jesus would have as king, high priest and bridegroom.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Gold is rare and valuable - a perfect gift for a king. (Rev 17:14, English Standard Version) Referring to Jesus, Revelation says, “...for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Frankincense is a nice-smelling “resin,” or gummy substance, from special trees used to make incense and perfumes. The Israelite high priests used it, as God instructed, when they burned incense in the Jewish Tabernacle. Speaking of Jesus, Hebrews (Hebrews 4:15 NLT) says, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Myrrh is also a resin from special trees used in perfume, incense and medicine. In the book of Song of Solomon, myrrh is referred to often as picturing character qualities of Jesus as a Bridegroom and his faithful followers as a Bride, as they are about to be married. Speaking of Jesus as the Lamb, Revelation says, (Rev 19:7, International Standard Version) “Let us rejoice, be glad, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n So, who were the Magi? A group of faithful wise men from the East who were experts in studying the stars. Directed by God, they followed a special star to find the young Jesus, future Savior of the world. They gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"bRYadm26knw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/magi.jpg","timestamp":"December 09","player":"app","link":"","added":"1,857 views | 02:30 min","info":"1,857 views | 02:30 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":150,"views":"1857","categories":["Seasonal","Jesus"]},{"id":"47","title":"How can we be of service to others?","description":" Being of service means having a heart that is ready and willing to help those in need. It’s especially nice if we can help even before being asked.<\/p>\r\n\r\n 2 Corinthians tells us (9:7 NIV) “...God loves a cheerful giver.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n Here are some practical ways we can be of service to others. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Is someone you know feeling sad? If you play an instrument, offer to play some cheerful music for them or sing a song. Write letters or send cards to the sad or sick. Making your own card is even better than a store bought one! Do you know someone in the hospital? Visit them with a smile and happy words of encouragement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Volunteer at a shelter for people less fortunate than you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Read scriptures or recite uplifting poems to older people who might not be able to see so well anymore. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Are you good at making or doing something? Share your skills by teaching or making something beautiful for someone you love and appreciate like a family member, friend, church member or teacher.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Help your parents by cleaning up after yourself. Dry the dishes or help put away the groceries before being asked. Volunteer to help with chores - even the ones you don’t like to do! <\/p>\r\n\r\n Ask your parents to help you donate things you don’t need, like toys you don’t play with anymore or clothes that don’t fit you. Someone less fortunate would love to have a new toy or a warm coat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Pray for others going through difficult experiences. Ask God to give them strength and courage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Help a friend with homework or tutor someone having trouble in your class. Do you see a classmate sitting alone? You can really make a difference just by giving a friendly smile or sitting with them so they don't feel lonely.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Ask your teachers if they need help setting up or cleaning up an activity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Matthew 25:40 tells us that if we do kind things for others, it’s the same as doing it for Jesus! Of course God is also happy when we help each other. Hebrews (6:10 Good News Translation) says, “God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians. <\/p>\r\n\r\n So, how can we be of service to others? By trying to have a heart ready and willing to help, looking for ways to make things easier for those around us. God will be very pleased with this attitude of service! <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"MQTkJS9hkus","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/help-others.jpg","timestamp":"November 25","player":"app","link":"","added":"16,145 views | 02:22 min","info":"16,145 views | 02:22 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":142,"views":"16145","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"46","title":"Did Jesus ever cry?","description":" Yes, he did. We probably think of him as always being joyful as he went about his ministry, but actually, sometimes he felt sad and cried just like we do.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Speaking about Jesus, Isaiah says, (53:3) “He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, ‘He is a nobody!’” (Contemporary English Version)<\/p>\r\n\r\n The Bible records him crying three times.<\/p>\r\n\r\n John (11) wrote about Jesus’ dear friend, Lazarus, dying. When Jesus arrived and found everyone crying, the Scripture (11:33, 35) says, “...he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled...Jesus wept.” (NIV) He had sympathy and cried along with them. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Days before his crucifixion, Luke (19:41) says about Jesus, “But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.” (NLT) The people failed to He also felt sad and cried in the Garden of Gethsemane before the soldiers came to arrest him. Matthew (26:38) records him saying to the apostles, "...My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." (NIV)<\/p>\r\n\r\n He was extremely worried that he did not follow every rule of the Law perfectly. If he had failed in ANY part of the Law, God would not raise him to life again. Speaking of Jesus in the Garden, Hebrews (5:7) says, “In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him out of* death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n So, did Jesus ever cry? Yes, the Bible records him crying three times: when Lazarus died, while looking at Jerusalem, and in the Garden before his death. Just because he was a perfect man did not mean he didn’t experience the same sad feelings we sometimes do.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"kyBby6sBZ_Q","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/jesus_cry.jpg","timestamp":"November 13","player":"app","link":"","added":"2,186 views | 02:16 min","info":"2,186 views | 02:16 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":136,"views":"2186","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"45","title":"How did Gideon defeat his enemies?","description":" With God’s help, of course! <\/p>\r\n\r\n For worshipping fake gods and other evil acts, God had allowed the Midianites to overpower the Israelites for seven years. Things were so terrible that the people cried out to God for help. An angel of the Lord appeared and told Gideon he would be the one to lead the people to victory. Humble Gideon asked the angel how that could be since he was young and from an unimportant family in his tribe.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Even though an angel had assured him, Gideon asked God for more proof. He put a piece of sheep’s wool - called a fleece - on the dry ground. If the fleece was wet by the following morning, it would be a sign that God had chosen him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n God did it, but Gideon was still unsure. He apologized but asked if God on the next day would make the fleece dry but the ground wet. God again performed a miracle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Gideon and his army got up the next morning to make camp, but God said there were too many people - if they won, Israel’s enemies could easily say it was because of how many soldiers they had instead of God’s power. God told Gideon to send home anyone who was afraid. 22,000 people went home, leaving 10,000 to fight, which God said was STILL too many.<\/p>\r\n\r\n He told Gideon to bring the people to a body of water. The ones who got down on their knees and put their faces near the water to drink were dismissed. The 300 who cupped their hands and brought the water to their mouths to drink stayed. The enemy was completely surprised by all of the noise and light, probably thinking there were many more soldiers than just 300. The Scriptures say they were so confused that they started attacking each other! True to his word, God had brought Gideon victory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, how did Gideon defeat his enemies? With God’s help overseeing just 300 men with trumpets, jars and torches. Read more about Gideon in the book of Judges, chapters 6 through 8.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"NLSpXLtHcnQ","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/gideon_enemies.jpg","timestamp":"October 28","player":"app","link":"","added":"1,095 views | 02:30 min","info":"1,095 views | 02:30 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":150,"views":"1095","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"43","title":"Is Halloween a Christian holiday?","description":" Not really. It is believed that Halloween came from an ancient Pagan festival called “Samhain.” Paganism is a type of religion that worships nature. However, the Bible says we should worship God, the Creator, and not the things He created.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Paganism turned several kings of Israel (like Saul and Solomon) away from worshipping God. In the Middle Ages, Christians tried to stop the celebration of Samhain, but instead of completely replacing everything with a strong foundation in Jesus, they kept some of the Pagan traditions like honoring the dead on special days. <\/p>\r\n\r\n In the early 1900s, artists introduced scary images like skeletons, spider webs and bats - the things we associate with Halloween today.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, is Halloween a Christian holiday? Not really. It began as a Pagan celebration, but in the Middle Ages, Christian parts were added which unfortunately did not make the celebrations any less pagan. Later, Halloween became associated with the scary symbols we know today. If we define a ghost as a dead person who has come back to life to communicate with the living, the answer is no. A person is made up of a body and the breath of life - the “spark” that only God can make. These two parts make up what we call a “soul.” If we take either part away, the soul dies - meaning, the person dies...life completely ends. (SEE OUR VIDEO, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?) https:\/\/youtu.be\/6gP6ulUspuM<\/p>\r\n\r\n Think of a computer with a battery. The computer is like the body and the battery is like the spark of life. If the battery runs out, the computer shuts down. Programs, files and apps do not suddenly escape from the computer after the battery has run out. Neither does a person’s soul escape from the body of a deceased person. Nothing is happening when a person is in the grave. Ecclesiates (9:10 NLT) says, “Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n There are, however, evil spirits, or fallen angels, who work with Satan (SEE OUR VIDEO, WHO IS SATAN? https:\/\/youtu.be\/ZeZgRyBUYG8 ) trying to encourage mankind to do evil things. The Bible warns us about trying to communicate with them through mediums, or psychics, who falsely claim they can speak to dead people and invisible spirits.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Deut (18:10-14 NLT) says, “... And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, … or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD…” <\/p>\r\n\r\n People who claim to see or hear ghosts are either being tricked, or worse - fallen angels are pretending to be a person who has died.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, are ghosts real? Not in the sense of a dead person’s soul escaping their body and communicating with humans, because that’s not what the Scriptures teach us happens to a person after they die. However, the Bible does warn us about fallen angels or evil spirits like Satan that may wish to influence us to turn away from God. We can prove we are not interested by keeping close to God and Jesus through prayer, Christian fellowship and Bible study. Remember what James (4:7 NIV) says: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you!”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"iKe5xPEi0Nw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/ghosts_real.jpg","timestamp":"October 01","player":"app","link":"","added":"3,912 views | 02:29 min","info":"3,912 views | 02:29 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":149,"views":"3912","categories":["The Spiritual World","Seasonal"]},{"id":"41","title":"What are some other names for Jesus?","description":" We know that Jesus is God’s son, but did you know he has many other names and responsibilities in the Bible?<\/p>\r\n\r\n Before God created the earth, animals and humans, He created a very special spirit being called the “Word,” also known in Greek as the “Logos.” This was Jesus’ name when he was in heaven with God before the world was created.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Isaiah prophesied about his birth, giving him beautiful titles (Isaiah 9:6) like “Wonderful Counselor” and “Prince of Peace.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n John records two other names for him: (1:41 NIV) “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).” <\/p>\r\n\r\n In the Bible, he is represented by many pictures, including a shepherd, the lamb of God, a lion, a door and the light of the world. John says (15:12-15 ESV) Jesus is called our friend if we follow his teachings of living a life of sacrifice and love.<\/p>\r\n\r\n He also has the title “Lord of lords” and “King of kings.” Revelation says, (17:14 NIV) “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Acts says, (10:36 NIV) “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Eventually, everyone will acknowledge that Jesus is our Lord. Phillipians (2:9-11 NIV) says, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, ... and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what are some other names for Jesus? Just to name a few, we have the Word, the Logos, a lamb, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, King of kings, Lord of lords and Lord of all. How many more can you find in the Bible?<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"W-Ie6ML39AA","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/jesus_names.jpg","timestamp":"September 18","player":"app","link":"","added":"13,255 views | 02:02 min","info":"13,255 views | 02:02 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":122,"views":"13255","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"40","title":"What`s the best way to study the Bible?","description":" The Bible is like a study guide from God to help us follow Him and His son, Jesus. <\/p>\r\n\r\n 2 Tim 3:16 (NLT) says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” First, choose a Bible translation that is easy to understand, like the New American Standard, which uses words that are more familiar to us. Some Bibles have interesting maps and pictures, as well as helpful backgrounds of the location, time period and people involved. Choose a Bible that has the type style and size that’s easy to read.<\/p>\r\n\r\n In order to quickly look up Scriptures, try to memorize all 66 books in order. Also memorizing your favorite Scriptures will make it easier to call them to mind when you need them later.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Learn the stories of the people of the Bible. Moses, Daniel, Esther, Paul, and Elijah lived very interesting lives! Choose your favorite person and start reading, both from the Bible and books for your age group for extra information.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The Bible doesn't always follow a clear “beginning to end” order. While it’s possible to read it in its arranged order, some find it helpful to study by topic. Choose a topic you want to study and then read all of the Scriptures related to it. For example, you could start by searching online to find every Scripture about “prayer,” or “forgiveness.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Translation errors can sometimes lead to misunderstanding and confusion. Use a helpful study book - like a concordance - to discover the original meanings of the Hebrew and Greek words.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what’s the best way to study the Bible? Find a translation and style you like best, memorize your favorite Scriptures and the books in order, and learn about the people of the Bible and their lives. Study topically by gathering every Scripture about a subject you’re interested in. Start searching God’s word today and discover His beautiful promises! <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"y9Vwh1MQAI8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/bets_way_study_bible.jpg","timestamp":"September 14","player":"app","link":"","added":"4,151 views | 02:17 min","info":"4,151 views | 02:17 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":137,"views":"4151","categories":["Bible"]},{"id":"39","title":"Who is Jesus?","description":" Jesus is God’s son. In the very beginning, God’s son was called “The Word of God.” We’re told in John (1:3 NLT) “God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.” This means under God’s direction, his son created the entire universe including the first humans, Adam and Eve. God rewarded Jesus because of his faith and perfect obedience by resurrecting him - bringing him back from the dead - but this time to an even higher position in heaven. Praying is a very special privilege. When we speak to the Creator of the universe, we should show deep respect.<\/p>\r\n\r\n We can begin our prayer with something respectful like, “Dear God,” or “Dear Lord,” or “Dear Heavenly Father.” We should always end our prayer with, “...in Jesus’ name, amen.” This shows God that we understand that we can only come to Him because of His son Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. In John (14:6 NIV) Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Many Christians pray before meals, when they wake in the morning or before bedtime. However, we can pray anywhere at any time. Even if you pray silently in your mind, God can still hear you!<\/p>\r\n\r\n What should we pray for? We shouldn’t pray for “things” like toys, money, or a bigger house. A main reason for prayers is to show our thankfulness to God for our lives, His son who died for us, our food, our beautiful earth, and so much more! We should always pray with sincere, honest hearts and tell God freely what is on our minds. 1 Thess (5:17) (New Living Translation) says, “Never stop praying!” That’s great advice!<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, how should we pray? With great respect, and anywhere at any time - even silently in our minds. We can open with a simple, “Dear God,” and always end with, “...in Jesus’ name, amen.” Instead of praying for “things,” we should ask for positive qualities that will help us follow God’s word and His son Jesus in our daily lives. We should also pray for others to find strength in God’s many promises, as well as for God’s perfect will to be done in all situations. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"JoqWGY2N90s","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/how_pray.jpg","timestamp":"July 31","player":"app","link":"","added":"19,986 views | 02:22 min","info":"19,986 views | 02:22 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":142,"views":"19986","categories":["Prayer"]},{"id":"37","title":"Why is the Bible so hard to read?","description":" Most books take us from beginning to end in an easy-to-understand order. But the Bible does not always follow an order that we are used to. Instead, it shows us history by telling us about the past, reports on what’s happening in our present day, and also tells the future - what events, blessings and promises God says we can expect to happen.<\/p>\r\n\r\n This special book contains many types of writings: personal letters, laws, songs, prophecies, family background information, and picture-language that sometimes represents other things. Studying so many different subjects can be a challenge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n It was written in Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek, so it had to be translated into our language. Sometimes the translators used incorrect words, causing misunderstandings and confusion. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Most importantly, the Bible is challenging because right now, it’s meant to be that way. At this time, God is looking for faithful followers who want to know more about Him and His son, Jesus. In Isaiah (1:18 NASB) God says, “Come now, and let us reason together…” He wants us to dig deeper, so serious students of the Bible ask questions, discuss the Scriptures with other Christians, and use helpful study guides to learn the meanings of the ancient Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek words. <\/p>\r\n\r\n So, why is the Bible so hard to read? It contains different types of writings that don’t always follow an easy, “beginning-to-end” order, as well as picture language that can represent other things. Translation mistakes can add to misunderstanding and confusion. Lastly, the Bible was meant to be difficult because right now God is looking for those who will put in the effort to study His wonderful plan for all people who have ever lived. Someday God's plan found in the Bible will be made clear for everyone to understand. Hebrews 8:11 tells us that one day all people will know the Lord.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"cPHJFIkQNis","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/bible_hard.jpg","timestamp":"July 21","player":"app","link":"","added":"1,392 views | 02:16 min","info":"1,392 views | 02:16 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":136,"views":"1392","categories":["Bible"]},{"id":"36","title":"What was Jesus like as a child?","description":" We know about Jesus’ birth, and we have lots of information about his ministry. We don’t know a lot about Jesus’ childhood, but Luke records one interesting story when Jesus was 12 years old.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Every year, Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, a special Jewish festival. When the Passover was finished, they returned home, not realizing that Jesus had stayed behind in Jerusalem. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Imagine traveling with a large group of people, with many wagons and horses. You would probably want to travel with your friend’s family for part of the way, and return to your parents around dinnertime. This might be what Jesus’ parents were thinking that Jesus had done, so they traveled on for a day before they realized he was missing. <\/p>\r\n\r\n They went back to Jerusalem to look for him. Luke records that after three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting with the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Jesus was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were surprised. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Luke (2:48) records Mary telling Jesus they had been searching for him. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Jesus answered. (Luke 2:49) (English Standard Version) And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Jesus was talking about God, His heavenly Father, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to his parents. His mother thought about all of these things carefully in her heart.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Luke (2:52 Contemporary English Version) says, “Jesus became wise, and he grew strong. God was pleased with him and so were the people.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what was Jesus like as a child? When he was 12, he was interested in asking questions, studying the scriptures, and learning more about God, his father. He also obeyed his parents. Jesus grew up to be wise and strong, pleasing to God and those around him. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"30oy_Lwfghk","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/jesus_child.jpg","timestamp":"June 26","player":"app","link":"","added":"5,430 views | 02:13 min","info":"5,430 views | 02:13 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":133,"views":"5430","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"35","title":"Why should we obey our parents?","description":" God is very pleased when you obey the people who take care of you, whether it’s a mom, dad, grandparent, or someone else who looks after you. For two reasons: because the Bible tells us to, and it’s good for our well-being. Forgiving others releases us from having bad feelings that can affect our attitude, as well as the health of our bodies and minds. Carrying bitterness and anger around only hurts us; not the other person.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Forgiveness is a very important part of being a Christian and following Jesus’ example.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Matthew says, (18:21,22 NLT) “Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!’”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Jesus didn’t mean we should actually count and forgive a person 490 times. He was saying that there should be no limit to our forgiveness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The Bible is full of good examples where individuals were mistreated, yet they still forgave.<\/p>\r\n\r\n A beautiful example of forgiveness is shown in Acts (7:60 Christian Standard Bible) when the faithful Christian Stephen was being stoned to death by an angry mob. “He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them!’ And after saying this, he died.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Another important lesson is humbly asking for forgiveness when WE make mistakes. King David made serious mistakes in his life. Once he realized them, he asked God for forgiveness in the book of Psalms and God forgave him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Jesus reminds us in Matthew, (6:15 NLV) “If you do not forgive people their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Just because we have a forgiving attitude does not mean we should sit back and allow others to mistreat us. If someone is bullying you at school or on social media, you should tell your parents and your teachers. We should never hurt the person back and make them our enemy. The Bible records Jesus performing many miracles and we can read specific details for approximately 35 of these. To help us remember them, we can break them down into four categories:<\/p>\r\n\r\n HEALING: He made people well or whole 17 times. Let’s look at a few of Jesus’ amazing miracles in detail. In John (11), we read about one of Jesus’ dear friends named Lazarus who became sick and died. Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days when Jesus arrived to awaken him from the sleep of death. This miracle gives us a small glimpse of what God’s future Kingdom will be like, when every person who has ever died will be raised to life again. So, what were the miracles of Jesus? The Bible records approximately 35 miracles that fit into four categories: healing, raising the dead, using nature, and casting out demons. Study the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to learn more about his miracles!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"RCzjp_8Fp9M","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/miracles_jesus.jpg","timestamp":"May 31","player":"app","link":"","added":"20,593 views | 02:20 min","info":"20,593 views | 02:20 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":140,"views":"20593","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"32","title":"What is baptism?","description":" Baptism is an outward symbol of a Christian’s lifelong devotion to God and following His word. With the help of someone else, a person is first safely lowered backward underwater, symbolizing giving up their own ways, or will, to follow God’s ways, or His will. The person is then immediately lifted back up out of the water, symbolizing their new life of serving God from that point on.<\/p>\r\n\r\n When Christians study God’s word, they may feel like God is calling or inviting them to take a serious step - to give up sin, follow His word the best they can, copy the life of His son Jesus, and live a righteous life devoted to serving God.<\/p>\r\n\r\n When Christians decide to answer God’s invitation to serve Him, they are baptized to outwardly show that they have made this serious and important decision in their heart. It should not be done just because others expect them to do it or tell them to do it. It’s a personal decision that should be made after a lot of thought and prayer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n When he was 30 years old, Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan by his cousin, John the Baptist. Jesus’ baptism symbolized that he was ready and willing to follow His father’s will forever.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, what is baptism? It’s an outward symbol showing a life-changing decision to no longer follow our own wills, but to try to follow God’s will for the rest of our lives.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"67e-GRedBeQ","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_is_baptism.jpg","timestamp":"May 22","player":"app","link":"","added":"4,273 views | 01:48 min","info":"4,273 views | 01:48 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":108,"views":"4273","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"31","title":"What did angels do in the Bible?","description":" The Bible tells us about different kinds of angels and what they did. <\/p>\r\n\r\n In Genesis (3:24), after Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Eden, an angel called a “cherubim” with a fiery sword prevented them from reentering the Garden. <\/p>\r\n\r\n In Isaiah (6:1, 2) a vision is described with another type of angel called a “seraphim.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n In Genesis (22:10-11), right before Abraham was about to offer his son Isaac, an angel stopped him just in time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The Bible also tells us about a very special angel named Gabriel who brought important messages. In Luke (1:19, 26-27), he visited Zacharias, the future father of John the Baptist, and also Mary, the future mother of Jesus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n In Jude (1:8-9), we read about Michael the Archangel, who was the chief messenger of God who had more power and higher authority than all other angels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Angels strengthened Elijah and Daniel in the Old Testament. <\/p>\r\n\r\n In Acts (5:17-21), an angel released the apostles from prison so they could continue preaching.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Those who follow Jesus have “guardian angels” to protect against Satan’s attacks. Psalms says, (91:11-13, 37:7) “For He will give his angels charge concerning you, to guard in all your ways.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n How many angels are there? Revelation (5:11) (KJV) says, “...and I heard the voice of many angels...and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands and thousands,” so that’s definitely a lot! So, what did angels do in the Bible? They performed the specific job that God wanted them to do and then they left. They were always sent to ONLY do the will of God, not to make friends with humans. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"YrVcrNbZRZk","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_agend_do.jpg","timestamp":"May 08","player":"app","link":"","added":"11,665 views | 02:19 min","info":"11,665 views | 02:19 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":139,"views":"11665","categories":["The Spiritual World"]},{"id":"30","title":"Why should we share with others?","description":" Sometimes when we receive something nice, our first thought might be to selfishly keep it all for ourselves. But God is not pleased with this attitude.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Hebrews (13:16) says, “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n In Luke (3:11), we read, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n There are many beautiful examples of sharing in the Bible. In Acts (4:32-35), the early Christians all joyfully shared their belongings with each other. Everyone had enough and no one was left out. <\/p>\r\n\r\n In the book of John, (6:1-13) we read about how over 5000 people came to hear Jesus speak. By evening, everyone was hungry, but it was too late for so many to go and buy food. A little boy in the crowd shared with Jesus what he had brought with him - just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Using the power God gave him, Jesus performed a miracle by turning that small amount into more than enough to share with everyone, and there were even leftovers!<\/p>\r\n\r\n God also wants us to share with people who aren’t so nice to us. In Romans (12:20), the apostle Paul says, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Sharing isn’t just about physical things we can touch. We can also share our time if someone needs our help, or share our love and support if someone is going through a difficult time. We can also share our faith by telling others about God’s love. <\/p>\r\n\r\n So, why should we share with others? Because it pleases God and shows Him that we appreciate the people in our lives. We also want to copy good examples from the Bible. Do you have something you can share today with someone? It could be your time, a toy, a scripture, or even your favorite snack or dessert. Let’s try to always have a sharing attitude! <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"pZReGxml5k8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/share_others.jpg","timestamp":"April 30","player":"app","link":"","added":"3,321 views | 02:19 min","info":"3,321 views | 02:19 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":139,"views":"3321","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"29","title":"Why did Jesus have to die?","description":" The answer begins with the story of creation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n God created the first man, Adam, who sinned by disobeying God. The book of Romans says, “The payment for sin is death.” (Rom 6:23) (God’s Word Translation) Therefore, Adam eventually had to die because he disobeyed God. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Sadly, Adam’s disobedience started a terrible “chain reaction” of sin that has been passed down to every generation. Romans (5:12) also says, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone...” We all die because we inherited this sin that came from Adam.<\/p>\r\n\r\n To free Adam (and all of us) from the death penalty, God’s justice required that another perfect man had to die in Adam’s place. Since all people are imperfect sinners - being children of Adam - Jesus offered to give his perfect life as an equal substitute for perfect Adam.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The Bible refers to Jesus dying as a substitute for Adam as the RANSOM. 1 Timothy (2:5-6) (NKJV) says, “...the Man Christ Jesus...gave Himself a ransom for all…”<\/p>\r\n\r\n Jesus giving his life as a ransom for Adam will take away the death penalty upon Adam and all of his children in God’s future Kingdom. <\/p>\r\n\r\n But how does that work and when will it happen?<\/p>\r\n\r\n Because Jesus was faithful, God rewarded him by bringing him back to life as a divine spirit being in heaven. In God’s future kingdom, Jesus will use his power to bring back to life everyone who has ever died. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Faithful Christians go to heaven. The rest of mankind will have an opportunity to live a happy life on earth, serving God forever if they agree to obey him and gradually overcome their sinful ways. Everyone will receive a lot of help in learning to always do what is right.<\/p>\r\n\r\n So, why did Jesus have to die? To be a “RANSOM” for Adam, so that everyone who has ever died will have the opportunity to come back to life in God’s future kingdom. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Do you have a question you want us to answer? Visit www.christianquestions.com to submit a question of your own and listen to hundreds of podcasts on relevant biblical topics. Be sure to subscribe to our channel, Christian Questions, for updates on new videos.<\/p>\r\n\r\n For more on Jesus' life and impact on humanity listen to one of our podcasts: "Jesus' Resurrection- What Changed?" <\/span>https:\/\/christianquestions.com\/charac...<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\nYou could even say that you have “faith” that the sun will rise in the morning. That’s because faith is a confident belief in things unseen based on evidence that CAN be seen. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nWe can increase our faith by studying the Bible and learning more about God and His son, Jesus. We can read about God’s promises and see how they always come true. We can fellowship with other Christians to find out how God is working in their lives. We can open a direct line of communication to God through prayer. We can ask Him to help increase our faith. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\nJesus never bragged about himself or his accomplishments even though he was a perfect man who never sinned! Listen to his humble words in the book of John (8:50, Good News Translation): “I am not seeking honor for myself,” and (John 8:54, Good News Translation)
\r\n"If I were to honor myself, that honor would be worth nothing.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nLucifer (later named Satan) had free will to choose good, but he chose evil. He tempted Eve, who gave the fruit to Adam and then HE sinned too, causing a “chain reaction of sin” that affects all of us!
\r\nGod’s wisdom permitted Satan’s sin, even though it has resulted in temporary pain, sickness, and death. This permission of evil for a time is providing an everlasting learning experience that will never be forgotten.
\r\nGod is allowing us to experience the painful effects of what the sin of disobedience brought. However, it’s important to remember God promised a future earthly kingdom, in which everyone will be raised from the sleep of death and given an opportunity to live a righteous, everlasting life without sin.
\r\nWhen everyone is raised from death and begins obeying the kingdom rules, they will gradually receive blessings better than they could ever imagine. Everyone will remember the powerful lesson that choosing sin produces terrible consequences that lead to death. Because they experienced first-hand the damaging effects of sin, we believe most people will choose to live good, righteous lives on a perfect earth.
\r\nRevelation (21:4, NLT) says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
\r\nSo, why didn’t God stop Satan from tempting Eve? Because His plan was best for everyone to learn an everlasting lesson: sin and disobedience brings sadness and death, while obedience to God and His rules brings happiness and blessings.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"JyUjpX1akCU","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/god_stop_satan.jpg","timestamp":"April 25","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-didnt-god-stop-satan-from-tempting-eve\/","added":"1,741 views | 02:09 min","info":"1,741 views | 02:09 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":129,"views":"1741","categories":["God","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"91","title":"Why should we honor our mothers?","description":"
\r\ncommanded you.” We honor God when we honor our parents!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\nIn a deeper sense, the word “gospel” describes what Jesus called the “good news” in Luke: (4:43, Contemporary English Version) “...‘People in other towns must hear the good news about God's kingdom. This is why I was sent.’”
\r\n
\r\nThe “good news” is God’s plan for humankind outlined in the Bible where EVERYONE is included. This plan is made up of many parts - here are just a few of them.
\r\n
\r\nThe first piece of good news is that Jesus will eventually destroy Satan. In Genesis, God said to Satan, (Genesis 3:15, NLT) “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
\r\n
\r\nThis Scripture is saying that Jesus will destroy Satan, and Revelation 20:10 confirms it - more good news!
\r\n
\r\nThe earth’s future restoration is another part of the gospel. Isaiah (35:1, Berean Study Bible) says, “The wilderness and the land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.”
\r\n
\r\nThe gospel message continues with the angel announcing the birth of Jesus in Luke (2:10?, NLT): “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”
\r\n
\r\nBecause of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, every person will be able to live again in God’s future kingdom. Revelation (21:4, NLT) promises what God will do: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain…”
\r\n
\r\nThe gospel message also includes two special paths, or “salvations” for humankind: those who dedicate their lives to do God’s will now, if faithful until death, will receive a heavenly salvation. Additional good news is that everyone else will have an opportunity to live forever in God's earthly kingdom. Because Jesus died for ALL people, ALL people will be blessed. God promised this to Abraham in Genesis (Genesis 28:14, NLT): “And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.”
\r\n
\r\nSo, what is the gospel? Sometimes it simply refers to the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. More deeply, it means the “good news” that Jesus preached - a beautiful message about God’s plan for ALL people, which has many parts. Just a few of them are Satan’s destruction, the earth’s restoration, Jesus’ sacrifice, and God’s future kingdom that will bless all of creation. You can comfort and cheer others by sharing the good news, too!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"YR5cKGj7wJI","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_is_Gospel.jpg","timestamp":"March 22","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/what-is-the-gospel\/","added":"8,533 views | 02:33 min","info":"8,533 views | 02:33 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":153,"views":"8533","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"89","title":"Why did Judas betray Jesus?","description":"
\r\n
\r\nBut first, some important background: as an apostle, Judas was in the closest inner circle of our Lord’s friendship and love. For three years, he watched as Jesus performed miracles, healing the sick and raising the dead. He heard Jesus’ teachings, witnessed his compassion and saw firsthand his incredible knowledge of the Scriptures. They talked, ate and traveled together. Jesus was loving and kind to his apostles. He protected them and cared for them like a shepherd tends to his flock of sheep.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\nSo, why did Judas betray Jesus? The Bible doesn’t explicitly say, but the Scriptures imply Satan had an evil influence over him, and he was greedy for money. It’s also possible he was trying to bring about God’s kingdom sooner.
\r\n
\r\nLet’s remember that trust is precious and we should be loyal to those we love, especially Jesus.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"zfMV4DCOsR8","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/judas_betray.jpg","timestamp":"March 08","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-did-judas-betray-jesus\/","added":"25,938 views | 02:24 min","info":"25,938 views | 02:24 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":144,"views":"25938","categories":["Jesus","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"88","title":"How do Christians receive the Holy Spirit?","description":"
\r\n
\r\nThere are various steps involved for a Christian to receive the holy spirit. James (4:8 English Standard Version) says, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."
\r\n
\r\nDrawing nearer to God means trying to live a life that would be pleasing to God...being teachable, humble, and honest, as well as having faith in the Bible, studying it to learn His will for their lives.
\r\n
\r\nChristians striving to live closer to God may be further drawn by God to learn about Jesus. In the book of John (6:44 English Standard Version), Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”
\r\n
\r\nAfter God draws a person to Jesus, and they accept Jesus as their savior, they MAY receive a higher calling: to “make a consecration” - which means dedicating themselves to doing God’s will instead of their own. They strive to transform their lives, following the example of Jesus in making every decision of life pleasing to God. If God accepts their consecration, they are “spirit begotten,” beginning a new spiritual life guided by the holy spirit. They are assured God will overrule every experience of their faithful consecrated life to work out for their best spiritual interest. (see Romans 8:28).
\r\n
\r\nThe Apostle Paul says in Romans (12:1,2 NLT) “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.”
\r\n
\r\nThis Scripture is saying that consecrated Christians live a sacrificial life, which means denying the things THEY want to do, in favor of following the things that GOD wants them to do.
\r\n
\r\nGod’s holy spirit helps them with many things, like understanding the Bible, knowing God’s will for their lives, and learning how they should treat others. The holy spirit can help a consecrated Christian with difficult character-building commands like when Jesus says in Matthew (5:44 NLV), “But I tell you, love those who hate you…Respect and give thanks for those who say bad things to you. Do good to those who hate you...Pray for those who do bad things to you...”
\r\n
\r\nSo, how do Christians receive the holy spirit? It’s not easy - Matthew (7:14 NLT) says, “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” But, those who do, and are faithful unto death, will be blessed beyond their imaginations forever in heaven. Most people will awaken on a perfect earth.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"yfMYYuLj2t0","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/receive_spirit.jpg","timestamp":"February 22","player":"app","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/how-do-christians-receive-the-holy-spirit\/","added":"1,129 views | 02:41 min","info":"1,129 views | 02:41 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":161,"views":"1129","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"87","title":"What are the `little foxes that spoil the vine`?","description":"
\r\n
\r\nWe learn the names of Jesus’ brothers because Matthew (Matt 13:55, 56, NIV) records someone saying, "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?...”
\r\n
\r\nThis common Greek name, Judas, when translated into English can be either Jude or Judah. We should note that the Judas mentioned in this Scripture was not Judas Iscariot who betrayed our Lord. This Scripture instead refers to Jesus’ half-brother who wrote the book of Jude in the Bible.
\r\n
\r\nAlso, Jesus’ brother, James, is not one of the two Apostles named James, but instead, he is one of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem mentioned in Acts, Chapter 15. He also wrote the book of James in the Bible.
\r\n
\r\nThere are more Scriptures to indicate Jesus had brothers: Mark (3:31, NIV) tells us, “Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.”
\r\n
\r\nActs (1:14 NIV) says, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
\r\n
\r\nThere is an interesting prophetic Scripture in Psalms that refers to how Jesus was at first rejected by his brothers...it says, (Psalm 69:8, New Heart English Bible) “I (referring to Jesus) have become a stranger to my brothers, a foreigner to my mother's children.”
\r\n
\r\nLater, however, James and Jude became active church leaders, writing very important letters in the New Testament.
\r\n
\r\nWith Jesus’ perfect, loving character, we believe he was always kind to his siblings, never jealous and always willing to share whatever he had with them. This is how we want to treat everyone, but especially family members!
\r\n
\r\nSo, did Jesus have any brothers or sisters? By reading the Scriptures and reasoning on how they fit together, we believe that Mary and Joseph had more children after Jesus was born. The Scriptures mention the names of at least four half-brothers, and Matthew refers to “all his sisters,” meaning more than one, although they are not named. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"s63yZxOXGZw","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/jesus_brothers.jpg","timestamp":"December 14","player":"app","link":"","added":"4,616 views | 02:30 min","info":"4,616 views | 02:30 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":150,"views":"4616","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"82","title":"Why did Jesus come to earth?","description":"
\r\nThe first man in the story was Adam, who disobeyed God, represented by the king. The second man who willingly offered his life for the first man was Jesus. The man’s children are us, since we all came from Adam, which means we all inherited the penalty for his sin: a prison house of death. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\nWe find information about Mary’s beautiful character (Luke 1:26-56) in the book of Luke, when she responds to the news from the angel Gabriel that Mary would give birth to the most important child in the world.
\r\n
\r\nMary had humility - she was not full of pride. When Gabriel told her that she was highly favored by God, she was troubled and confused. If she was prideful, she may have immediately rejoiced and wonder how she might benefit from being told she was in favor.
\r\n
\r\nAfter the shock of this surprising news, she thoughtfully and intelligently asked how it would occur. Once told, she said in Luke (1:38, Life Application Bible), “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to accept whatever He wants.”
\r\n
\r\nWhat a humble and appropriate response to this unusual but wonderful experience!
\r\n
\r\nSince Mary loved and respected God, she quickly decided to accept God's plan for her life no matter how it might look to others. She had faith in God and trusted Him to work things out even though she did not have all of the information.
\r\n
\r\nMary’s cousin, Elizabeth, was also going to have a son who would grow up to be John the Baptist. Elizabeth recognized Mary’s strong faith when she told her in Luke, (Luke 1:45, Life Application Bible), “You are blessed because you believed the Lord would do what he said.”
\r\n
\r\nMary went on to rejoice in God, calling him mighty and merciful, while acknowledging her low status. She then discussed some of Israel’s history, showing she was an intelligent and careful student.
\r\n
\r\nSo, why was Mary chosen to be the mother of God’s son, Jesus? Because of her strong faith, humility, trust in God, and extraordinary character. She submitted to God’s will even under seemingly impossible circumstances and readily agreed to follow God’s will for her life, whatever it would be.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"lq4iy9CDtLs","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/mary_mother.jpg","timestamp":"November 16","player":"external","link":"https:\/\/bibleresources.info\/why-did-god-choose-mary-to-be-the-mother-of-jesus\/","added":"6,568 views | 02:06 min","info":"6,568 views | 02:06 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":126,"views":"6568","categories":["Jesus","People of the Bible"]},{"id":"80","title":"Will sin and death ever end?","description":"
\r\n
\r\nJesus was born in Bethlehem. He and his parents fled to Egypt for a time to escape King Herod’s wicked decree that all baby boys should be killed. Once Herod had died, they could safely go to Nazareth, where Jesus probably spent his childhood.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTo covet means to want something very strongly that someone else has. Our “neighbor” means everyone around us.
\r\n
\r\nWhat we covet does not always have to be a physical thing: we might covet someone’s talent, social status, or even their life. Coveting opens the door to jealousy because we are so focused on having what others have that we forget the blessings that God has given us.
\r\n
\r\nTo fight against coveting, we need a solid action plan. First, we have to realize what we might covet: do your friends have the latest technology? Are others “liked” more on social media? Do they have better clothes than you? Only you know what you secretly wish you had of someone else’s. Second, we need to channel our desire into a different direction - one that is humble and pleasing to God, like counting our blessings and learning to be content with what God has provided for us. In 1 Timothy, (6:8 NJB) Paul says, “As long as we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.”
\r\n
\r\nIs all coveting bad? Not when we strongly desire something that is spiritually attractive! Here’s how we can make coveting godly: Maybe we want to be more forgiving or sympathetic towards others because we are inspired by a godly person we respect and admire. We think about these good qualities and picture ourselves working hard to improve our characters. Then we turn our inward thinking into outward actions - we aren’t so quick to be angry if someone mistreats us, or we feel sad and want to help if someone is hurting. In this way, coveting spiritual things can be positive, because it motivates us to redirect our thoughts and actions.
\r\n
\r\nSo, what does it mean to covet? To desire something very strongly that someone else has. This type of attitude means we are not content or happy with God’s blessings towards us, so it’s very disrespectful to the Lord. If we catch ourselves wanting what others have, we should redirect our thinking and focus on spiritually-attractive qualities we want to develop within ourselves. We should count our many blessings and pray for help to be content with what we have.
\r\n
\r\n1 Timothy (6:11,12 NASB) has good advice to help us avoid coveting: “But flee from these things, ... and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness...” We also read in Hebrews (13:5 NKJ) “Let your conduct be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have.”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"eBJtsKuW29k","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/covet.jpg","timestamp":"October 05","player":"app","link":"","added":"4,475 views | 02:41 min","info":"4,475 views | 02:41 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":161,"views":"4475","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"77","title":"What happened on the road to Damascus?","description":"
\r\n
\r\nHow can WE be wise?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\nWe can be wise by not thinking too highly of our abilities. Proverbs (3:5 Holman Christian Standard Bible) says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;” <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTrue friends support each other, even if it means one person taking second place. As the king’s son, Jonathan would normally have been the next king. But God had chosen David for that position. Instead of being jealous or angry, Jonathan accepted God’s will with grace and love, supporting his friend. 1 Samuel (18:3 NASB) says, “Then Jonathan made a covenant (or promise) with David because he loved him as himself.” Similarly, in the book of Mark (12:31 NIV), Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Our “neighbor” means everyone around us, so we should be sincerely happy - not jealous - when good things happen to other people.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRevelation gives us a very clear and comforting description, full of hope, describing what the kingdom work will have accomplished (Rev 21:4, NLT): “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” This means there will be no more physical and emotional pain. No one will cry, because no one will die or hurt each other. Another promise is in the book of Isaiah (2:4, God’s Word Translation): “They will hammer their swords into plow blades and their spears into pruning shears. Nations will never fight against each other, and they will never train for war again.” This means people will turn their weapons into gardening t ools, never fighting again.
\r\n
\r\nIsaiah gives us beautiful promises about people with physical difficulties being healed: (Good News Translation, Isaiah 35:5) “The blind will be able to see, and the deaf will hear.” (International Standard Version, Isaiah 35:6), “Then the lame will leap like deer, and the tongues of speechless people will sing for joy....”
\r\n
\r\nThe earth is already beautiful, but some parts have difficult living conditions, like deserts. But Isaiah (35:1, Berean Study Bible) promises: “The wilderness and the land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.” Also, (Contemporary English Version, Isiah 35:7) “Scorching sand will turn into a lake, and thirsty ground will flow with fountains...” In other words, the earth will be restored to perfection and all parts will be clean, lovely and livable.
\r\n
\r\nRight now, most of us would never dream of having a wild animal as a pet, but Isaiah (11:6, International Standard Version) says, “The wolf will live with the lamb; the leopard will lie down with the young goat. The calf and the lion will graze together, and a little child will lead them.” None of us will ever have to be afraid of wild animals like grizzly bears and lions because they will be gentle and tame.
\r\n
\r\nSo, what will God’s kingdom be like? The Bible says there will be no death, crying or pain. The desert will blossom like a rose, and people who have physical or mental issues will be healed. Countries will not attack each other and all people will live in peace. God promises this is how His kingdom will be, and we can have faith in His promises because they always come true.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"pUqK3p_uHxk","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/god_kindgom_like.jpg","timestamp":"August 10","player":"app","link":"","added":"6,682 views | 02:29 min","info":"6,682 views | 02:29 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":149,"views":"6682","categories":["Bible","God"]},{"id":"73","title":"Who was King Saul? (Part 2)","description":"
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\r\nObedience is loyally following God’s wishes and instructions rather than our own.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\nGood leaders put their absolute trust in God. When the Jews were in danger of being killed in the kingdom of Susa, Queen Esther bravely approached the king to speak with him. The rule was if you came to the king without an invitation and he did not accept you, you could be put to death. Esther said, (Esther 4:16 Good News Translation) “...I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. If I must die for doing it, I will die." To save her people, she was willing to accept God’s will, whatever it was.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBut because everyone is imperfect and sinful, no one could actually follow every single rule perfectly except for Jesus, who WAS perfect and would live much later. God gave the Law to help the people realize they were sinful and imperfect and therefore needed a Savior - Jesus. (SEE OUR VIDEO, WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE?) In fact, the Law is spoken of in Galatians (3:24 NASB) as, “...our tutor to lead us to Christ.”
\r\n
\r\nHis ministry showed everyone a new way to live. He shortened the meaning of the Law when he was asked, “Teacher, which command in the Law is the most important?” Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. And the second command is like the first: Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself. All of the Law and the writings of the prophets take their meanings from these two commands.” (Matt 22:37-40 ERT)
\r\n
\r\nJesus kept the Law perfectly, proving that he was the Savior everyone had been waiting for. As for us, we become more humble and teachable when we realize how much we need Jesus to help us overcome sin and become closer to God. We know the only way to God is through Jesus. John records Jesus saying, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (14:6 NIV)
\r\n
\r\nAnother reason for the Law was to keep the people of Israel separate and pure from other nations because the promised Messiah, Jesus, would come from their family line, generations later. The Law made them different on purpose. It helped the people focus on God and living a righteous life.
\r\n
\r\nSo, what was the purpose of the Law? To show the Israelites they were sinners and to lead them to Jesus. Only he could keep the Law perfectly, proving that he was the promised Messiah. Eventually, some Jewish people realized this and followed Jesus’ teachings based on love. The Law also kept the people separate from other nations, helping them focus on God and living a godly life.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"0pURs3HAm0Q","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/purpose_law.jpg","timestamp":"June 08","player":"app","link":"","added":"2,062 views | 02:31 min","info":"2,062 views | 02:31 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":151,"views":"2062","categories":["Bible"]},{"id":"68","title":"Who was David? (Part 2)","description":"
\r\nA person can do nothing in the grave. Ecclesiates (9:10 NLT) says, “Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.” In other words, death is likened to a deep sleep until the resurrection.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nSo, what is the soul? A living being made up of two parts that can’t work without the other: a body and the breath of life. A person does not HAVE a soul - they ARE a soul. The soul is not something separate that lives on after a person dies. God remembers everything about every soul who has ever died, so that in His future kingdom, they can be brought back to life with their same personalities, either on a perfect earth or in heaven.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"dwTTsWvuymU","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/what_is_soul.jpg","timestamp":"May 11","player":"app","link":"","added":"10,431 views | 02:34 min","info":"10,431 views | 02:34 min","featured":"yes","length_seconds":154,"views":"10431","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"58","title":"What is Mercy?","description":"
\r\n
\r\nJesus’ life was filled with active compassion - teaching, healing the sick, and raising the dead. The Scriptures say he lost energy and strength when he healed. In Luke (6:19) we’re told “Everyone was trying to touch Jesus, because power was going out from him and healing them all.” This means that there was a cost to his mercy - he allowed his power to be drained out of him because he cared so much for the people who were suffering.
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\r\nBut we shouldn’t just be merciful to only those in trouble or just to the people we love. In Luke, (6:35,36 NIV) Jesus says, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back...Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
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\r\nThis means we want to have love, mercy and compassion even for those who are mean to us or bully us. We also should not ignore those in trouble, but instead do all we can to help them, as it says in Galatians (6:10 NIV) “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
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\r\nAs Christians, we should be working hard to improve our characters every day. Mercy is just one of the qualities God wants us to develop. Jesus says in Matthew, (Matthew 5:5-8 NIV) “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
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\r\nGod is extremely merciful. He gave his son Jesus as a ransom for Adam (WATCH OUR VIDEO, WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE?) so that every person who has ever died will live again in His future kingdom. We are thankful that His entire plan of salvation for the whole world is so loving and merciful.
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\r\nSo, what is mercy? We show mercy when we are “actively compassionate,” helping others and being kind even to people who mistreat us. Let’s look for opportunities to be merciful to others today so we can develop characters that are pleasing to God.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"4YgcaNMaFFk","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/mercy.jpg","timestamp":"April 27","player":"app","link":"","added":"30,541 views | 02:31 min","info":"30,541 views | 02:31 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":151,"views":"30541","categories":["What is...?"]},{"id":"57","title":"Did Jesus ever get tired?","description":"
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\r\nOne daughter-in-law said goodbye, but Ruth loved Naomi and wanted to stay with her and worship God. (Ruth 1:16 NLT) “...Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.’”
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\r\nThey traveled to Bethlehem where Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s husband, lived. Hardworking Ruth gathered grain in his barley fields. Back then, a system called “gleaning” helped poor people survive, because by Israelite law, they were allowed to pick up and take whatever the harvesters dropped. Boaz had heard about Ruth’s kindness towards Naomi, and how she had left her home country to stay in Judah. He was a kind man and told his workers not to bother Ruth while she was gleaning, and to purposely let good grain fall from their bundles for her to take.
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\r\nBoaz eventually married Ruth and they had a son named Obed. Obed had a son named Jesse, and Jesse was the father of King David. So Ruth was David’s great-grandmother! This is very important because Jesus was born from David’s lineage, or family line.
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\r\nRuth was not Jewish, so on the surface, people might have only seen a poor widow living in a strange land away from her family. Others may have looked down on her, but God overruled her life’s events that resulted in His son Jesus coming from her ancestry.
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\r\nGod often includes people in His plans who are considered to be unimportant by human standards. We shouldn’t look down on others no matter where they come from or their life’s circumstances.
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\r\nSo, who were Naomi and Ruth? Naomi was the mother-in-law of Ruth, who was a kind Moabite widow who left her home to care for Naomi and worship God. Ruth gleaned in Boaz’s fields and they eventually married and had a son. Our Lord Jesus was a descendant from their family line. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"xBkUBNyeh7I","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/naomi.jpg","timestamp":"March 08","player":"app","link":"","added":"1,184 views | 02:37 min","info":"1,184 views | 02:37 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":157,"views":"1184","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"53","title":"Who was the Good Samaritan?","description":"
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\r\nIn the 10th chapter of Luke, an expert in the Jewish Law wanted to test Jesus’ knowledge of the Scriptures. The expert asked Jesus what he had to do in order to live forever. Jesus asked how the man understood the Law. (Luke 10:27 NIV) The man answered, "...'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
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\r\nHoping to get Jesus to make a mistake in interpreting the Scriptures, the expert asked Jesus who his neighbor was.
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\r\nJesus’ answer was to tell a parable about a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who was attacked by robbers, who beat him and left him to die on the road. A priest happened to be on that same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side, ignoring him. A Levite came along and saw the beaten man but also passed on the other side. But then a Samaritan man came by and felt sorry for the man and helped him. He bandaged his wounds and put him on his own donkey and brought him to an inn. He paid for the man to stay there until he got better, and even offered to pay extra if more care was needed.
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\r\nWe should note that the first two men (who did nothing) were so-called spiritual leaders who were supposed to teach others how to follow God’s principles. On the other hand, the Samaritan, who came from a group looked down upon by Jewish people, chose to help the man.
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\r\nAt the end of the story, Jesus asked the expert, (Luke 10:36, NIV) "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" (Luke 10:37, NLT)
\r\n“The man replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same.’”
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\r\nThe lesson for us is that everyone is our neighbor - not just those living near us. We should be kind to everyone.
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\r\nSo, who was the Good Samaritan? A character in a parable told by Jesus to show us how we should treat others with kindness no matter who they are.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"qX8y1v94etM","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/good_samaritan.jpg","timestamp":"February 18","player":"app","link":"","added":"1,983 views | 02:32 min","info":"1,983 views | 02:32 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":152,"views":"1983","categories":["People of the Bible"]},{"id":"52","title":"Who was Joshua?","description":"
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\r\nThe Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because they had refused to obey God and enter Caanan, a land God promised would be theirs. They were too afraid of the Caananites and did not trust that God would lead them to victory. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nrecognize and appreciate that HE was the Savior they had been expecting for so long. Because their hearts were closed, he knew that the city would suffer greatly in the future. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nThe 300 men were divided into three groups, surrounding the enemy. Each man had a trumpet and an empty jar with a torch inside. At Gideon’s signal, everyone broke their jars, held their torches in their left hands and blew their trumpets in their right hands. The book of Judges (7:20) says they shouted, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nSamhain was a fire festival. Bonfires were lit on hilltops to honor their Pagan gods. The townspeople would take an ember (or, little burning flame) from the bonfire to their home and relight the fire in their fireplace. The ember would usually be carried in a holder, like a turnip or gourd, which is similar to a pumpkin. People felt nervous about walking home in the dark because they were afraid of evil spirits, so in the hopes of frightening them away, they dressed up in costumes and carved scary faces in their ember holders. It kind of sounds like today with our costumes and Jack-o-Lanterns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nDressing up in costumes and receiving candy is fun, but it’s important to understand the history so we can be on guard against anything that would distract us from worshiping the one true God and following His son Jesus. Proverbs (4:23 NIV) says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"llzm3RADaRk","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/halloween.jpg","timestamp":"October 16","player":"app","link":"","added":"50,492 views | 02:21 min","info":"50,492 views | 02:21 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":141,"views":"50492","categories":["Seasonal"]},{"id":"42","title":"Are ghosts real?","description":"
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\r\nHere are some useful tips to learn as much as we can!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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\r\nAfter Adam and Eve were created, we're told they sinned against God, causing a death penalty to be passed down to the entire human race. It was God’s son “The Word” who offered to leave his heavenly home to be born as a perfect human baby named Jesus, so when he reached manhood he could give his perfect life as a ransom for Adam to save mankind from sin and death. 1 Timothy (2:5-6 NKJV) says, “...the Man Christ Jesus...gave Himself a ransom for all…”
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\r\nBefore he died, Jesus preached a new, loving way to live to both Jewish and non-Jewish people. Mark (12:30,31 NIV) records him teaching to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” and to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He also said, (Luke 6:27 NIV) “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
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\r\nJesus’ teachings made the Jewish leaders angry. They believed he would take away their power so they looked for a way to kill him. When he was 33 years old, he was arrested and nailed to a cross in a very painful death, but this was part of God’s plan to restore mankind in His future kingdom. Find out how by watching our video, “Why did Jesus have to die?” https:\/\/youtu.be\/wLo5QMO0ViY<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n
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\r\nSo, who is Jesus? God’s son, who left his heavenly home with God to come to earth to be born as a perfect human being to give his life as a ransom for Adam. His death on the cross and resurrection was the key to eventually bringing back to life every person who has ever died as well as helping all who are willing back into a happy relationship with God forever.<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"jJkb2fM_j6I","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/who_is_Jesus.jpg","timestamp":"August 12","player":"app","link":"","added":"3,301 views | 02:26 min","info":"3,301 views | 02:26 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":146,"views":"3301","categories":["Jesus"]},{"id":"38","title":"How should we pray?","description":"
\r\nWe can pray if we are feeling scared or pray for someone we know who is going through a difficult time. We can pray for our enemies, forgiveness for our sins, guidance to do good each day, strength and courage to be faithful, or for a better understanding of the scriptures. Since God always knows best, we should pray for his perfect will to be done in all situations, whether it be for us or others.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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\r\nExodus (20:12) tells us to honor our father and mother, so we know it pleases God when we listen to and respect our parents. When they ask us to do something (like chores around the house for example), we should think about the chores that THEY do for US. Maybe your dad prepares meals or fixes broken things for you; maybe your mom keeps your clothes clean or helps you with your homework. Everybody needs to work hard and do their best to keep a household running smoothly. Cleaning your room, doing your homework or helping with yard work are ways to do your part.
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\r\nIn Acts, (4:32-37) we read about the early Christians who worked together like a family. Everyone shared what they had and took care of each other. You can be sure there was a lot of listening and respect. This is how it should be when you honor your father and mother, especially since they have more wisdom and experience then you do.
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\r\nIn fact, Proverbs (1:8, 9) tells us “My child, obey the teachings of your parents, and wear their teachings as you would a pretty hat or a lovely necklace.” (Contemporary English Translation) In other words, the lessons that God and our parents teach us are valuable, and we should treasure them all our lives.
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\r\nSo, why should we obey our parents? Because God told us to honor our father and mother, so we know that listening, respecting, and obeying pleases Him very much. If we are happy to obey our Father in heaven, then we should also be happy to listen to and obey our earthly parents. God loves you and knows what’s best for you, just like the people who take care of you every day!<\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"e-gdN__-K-A","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/obey_parents.jpg","timestamp":"June 12","player":"app","link":"","added":"85,834 views | 02:08 min","info":"85,834 views | 02:08 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":128,"views":"85834","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"34","title":"Why should we forgive others?","description":"
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\r\nSo, why should we forgive others? Because we want to follow Jesus’ advice and the examples of the Bible. It’s also good for our health and well-being to release those bad feelings we have towards others. <\/p>\r\n","youtube_id":"fiFonMIBmAY","image":"http:\/\/m.bibleresources.info\/webservices\/cr\/resources\/video_children_img\/why_forgive.jpg","timestamp":"June 04","player":"app","link":"","added":"37,329 views | 02:14 min","info":"37,329 views | 02:14 min","featured":"no","length_seconds":134,"views":"37329","categories":["Character Development"]},{"id":"33","title":"What were the miracles of Jesus?","description":"
\r\nRAISING THE DEAD: He brought 3 people back to life.
\r\nNATURE: He used some form of nature (like fish or water) 9 times.
\r\nCASTING OUT DEMONS: He cast evil spirits out of people 6 times.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nThe night of Jesus’ crucifixion, officers came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke (22:49-51) records how Peter tried to defend Jesus by cutting off the ear of a soldier named Malchus. Jesus healed his ear on the spot, showing us how Jesus loved his enemies, just as we should, too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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\r\nMatthew (14:13-21) tells us about Jesus feeding over 5000 people with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, with 12 baskets of pieces left over. This miracle shows us that Jesus has the power to provide for all of mankind’s needs in God’s future Kingdom!
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\r\nIn Mark (1:21-27), Jesus cast an unclean spirit out of a man in the synagogue, the building where the Jews met to worship. This miracle shows us that Jesus has authority over demonic spirits. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
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\r\nThe Bible does NOT tell us to worship angels, nor should we try to contact them or ask them for help. In fact, Colossians (2:18) (Contemporary English Version CEV) says, “Don’t be cheated by people who make a show of acting humble and who worship angels. They brag about seeing visions. But it is all nonsense, because their minds are filled with selfish desires.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n