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WORSHIP: Some Biblical Terms Related to Worship

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WHAT IS WORSHIP? Worship is the recognition of God’s divine perfection. It can be expressed in many ways—through direct address such as adoration and thanksgiving, or through acts of service such as loving others and engaging in ministry. For believers, every aspect of life can be offered as worship: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Worship may take place in private settings, such as personal devotion and prayer, or in public gatherings, such as corporate worship and ministry. In worship we encounter two essential truths: first, that God can be known and we can have access to Him; and second, that God’s perfection sets Him apart and above us. The Bible uses many Hebrew and Greek terms to describe worship. Exploring these words helps us gain a fuller understanding of how Scripture portrays the act of worship HALAL (hah-LAHL) Hebrew verb Description: To praise, to boast, to shine, to celebrate, to glory. This ...
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WHY YOU ALSO NEED TO READ THE OLD TESTAMENT

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WHY THE OLD TESTAMENT STILL MATTERS This is one of the most common questions I hear from fellow Christians. Why does the Old Testament remain important? With the arrival of the twenty-first century, we have witnessed astonishing advances in science and technology. Communication that once took weeks or months now happens in seconds. For people born into such an age, what value can a collection of writings nearly four thousand years old possibly hold? Is the Old Testament still relevant for Christians today? If you visit many churches and listen to the preaching, chances are you will mostly hear sermons drawn from the New Testament. Messages from the Old Testament are far less frequent. Yet the apostle Paul reminds us that “All Scripture is God-breathed…” (2 Timothy 3:16). When Paul wrote those words, the “Scripture” he referred to was the Old Testament. If the Old Testament is God’s own word, it unquestionably matters and remains relevant. To maintain balance in our teaching and preachi...
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THE PARABLES OF JESUS: Understanding the Stories of Christ

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THE PARABLES OF JESUS Teachers—both ancient and modern—use parables because people connect more easily with stories than with straightforward lectures. The Old Testament also contains parables (see 2 Samuel 12:1–14; 14:1–11; 2 Kings 20:35–40; Isaiah 5:1–7). Jesus understood this well, which is why parables became a central feature of His teaching—so much so that His message cannot be separated from His parables. For us today, these stories continue to instruct and bless just as they did for the first listeners. In this article, we will explore what parables are and how to interpret them correctly, offering practical tips to make the process easier. While the discussion is geared toward readers with some background in biblical interpretation—such as pastors, teachers, and study leaders—it remains accessible to anyone who is eager to learn. Proper interpretation is for everyone who is willing to listen and grow. PARABLE AND ANCIENT LITERATURE The word parable comes from the Greek para...
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GIVE TO CEASAR. GIVE TO GOD. Did Jesus Promote a Dualistic View of Life?

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Some people claim that life is divided into two compartments: the secular and the spiritual. According to this view, secular matters—such as social issues, government, business, and entertainment—must be kept separate from spiritual or religious matters like God, faith, the Bible, church activities, and evangelism. Because these are seen as different “boxes,” they say we cannot mix them—for example, we shouldn’t apply biblical principles to politics. This dualistic outlook is often based on Jesus’ words: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” If Jesus Himself separated what belongs to Caesar (the “secular”) from what belongs to God (the “spiritual”), shouldn’t we do the same? Today, let’s challenge that idea. GIVE TO CAESAR Religious leaders approached Jesus with a loaded question: “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Matt. 22:15–22; also Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:20–26). Everyone knew this was a trap. The Jews despised paying taxes to Rome, their occupyin...
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TRINITY: A CONTRADICTION?

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Two of the most common arguments raised by critics of the Trinity are: (1) the word Trinity never appears in the Bible, and (2) the idea that God is both one and three is logically contradictory. They claim that God must be either one or three—He cannot be both at the same time. The first objection is easy to refute (you can handle that one!), but the second makes you stop and think. So today, let’s focus on the second. Does the doctrine of the Trinity violate the law of non-contradiction? Before we answer, how do we know when two ideas truly contradict each other? Propositions are contradictory when they both affirm and deny the same thing , at the same time , and in the same sense or relationship. Got it? For example, the phrase “married bachelor” is a logical contradiction because a man cannot be married and unmarried (a bachelor) at the same time and in the same sense. Once a man is married, he is no longer a bachelor. The doctrine of the Trinity does not claim that we have “th...
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THE BIBLE AND SLAVERY

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Some critics argue that the Bible supports slavery and is therefore unethical. They often point to the instructions about slavery in the Mosaic Law (found in the first five books of the Bible) as well as in New Testament epistles (Ephesians 6:5–9; Colossians 4:1, and others) to claim that Scripture condones the practice. They also highlight the presence of slaves in biblical narratives as supposed proof that the Bible endorses inhumane teaching. How should we respond to these accusations? This issue has been addressed in many ways, but here are a few key points: 1. DESCRIPTIVE VERSUS PRESCRIPTIVE Yes, the Bible contains passages describing slavery, but it is wrong to assume that God or Scripture approves of it. These passages record (describe) the existence of slavery without ever promoting (prescribing) it. No biblical text endorses the practice. The Bible notes that Hagar was Sarah’s slave (Genesis 16:1), but it never instructs readers to acquire slaves. It recounts how Joseph was so...
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JONAH AND THE BIG FISH: Should We Take It Literally?

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One of the most beloved Bible stories is that of the prophet Jonah, who was swallowed by a great fish—probably a whale, though the text never names it—and released after three days. It’s a fascinating account, but it can also make you wonder if it really happened. The event sounds unusual, which is why some scholars argue that the story should be read allegorically, as if it were written to teach a lesson rather than record literal history. In other words, Jonah may indeed have lived and traveled to Nineveh, but certain details (like the giant fish) might have been exaggerated. Ancient literature often used satire or parody based on real events, so this perspective has some merit. Yet there are strong reasons to believe that Jonah’s experience inside the great fish actually took place. Let’s look at a few of them: 1. HISTORY WITH MORALS Biblical narratives were written not only to report events but also to teach moral truths. It’s undeniable that ancient cultures produced many satiric...
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