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Did Jesus lead the first youth group?

The Bible can be a complex thing, with many interwoven connections not always immediately apparent, linking topics and themes together across the ages. One such intriguing relationship lies between Exodus 30:14 and Matthew 17:24–27, offering valuable perspectives on the age dynamics among Jesus’ disciples with a hidden clue in the brief encounter about paying temple tax. Exodus 30:14 — The Age of Accountability Exodus 30:14 establishes a significant criterion for temple tax payment: “Everyone who is numbered, from twenty years Old and over, shall give the offering to the Lord.” This biblical guideline sets what might be considered a standard for...

Lent: Day 17 - Justin Martyr: First Apology: Chaps. 60-68

Day Seventeen: St. Justin Martyr: First Apology, Chaps. 60-68 Who: Justin Martyr was a Philosopher who converted to Christianity and became a tireless evangelist and apologist. Justin wrote more Christianity than any other person prior to his time. He is classified herein as Eastern, since he a native of Samaria and his thought patterns were Eastern. However, he spent the last years of his life in Rome, where he was executed as a martyr (c. 165). What: An apologetic (defence) essay to explain what Christians believe and do. Why: Justin is demanding the Emperor to investigate accusations and unjust persecution against Christians so that they at least may fac...

Lent Day 33: Cyril of Jerusalem: Catechetical Lectures: Lecture XXII

...ed in the Old Testament also, called the “show bread”, or “the bread of The Presence” (Exodus 35:13; 39:35), which has now come to an end in Christ who is the Bread of Heaven, broken for us so that we may have true life (Jn 6:33,50-51). Spiritual Presence, not physical Quoting from David in Psalm 23:5, when he says that 'the Lord prepares table before him in the presence of his enemies', Cyril interprets this in light of the Eucharist as meaning that before Christ came, the table was one of demons, polluted with idols and defiled by their nature. But since Jesus, that table which God prepared is that “mystical and spiritual Table” which is now con...

Does Christmas have pagan origins?

...For most people, the question of the origins of Christmas is probably far from their minds. Some may recognise and give a cursory glance towards the Biblical narrative on the birth of Jesus as something to do with it (although a 2017 study showed that almost 1 in 20 Brits thought Easter was the birth of Jesus!);—but in some Christian circles the question (accusation?) that “Christmas is pagan” is at the forefront of their minds. Table of Contents When was December 25th celebrated? The Christian Calendar Concluding Thoughts Bonus Information Further Reading & Sources: As time goes on and we move further and further into the future,...

Exodus: Gods and Kings Review - Action epic loosely based on the Bible

...ck to the Old Testament story you probably know. Moses' character turns out to be quite the opposite of what you may expect and isn't really anything close to a strong leader or confident and bOld man of faith. He's a strong and confident Egyptian army general in the beginning and then becomes an argumentative and stubborn man when God tells him of His intentions with the plagues. Definitely not the man who requested his brother Aaron to speak on his behalf which, incidentally, didn't occur in the film. Aaron always seemed to be lurking in the background when Moses spoke with God, afraid to approach. He also couldn't see God, that was something only Moses had...

Lent Day 35: Ambrose of Milan: Concerning the Mysteries: 1-4

...from the Old Testament, Ambrose makes a comparison to show how baptism was prefigured in various places throughout the Scriptures. On visiting the prophet and being tOld to dip in the river to cure his leprosy, Naaman refused at first until eventually he went ahead with and did it; and on coming up out of the waters cleansed and healed, he “understood that it is not of the waters but of grace that a man is cleansed”, Ambrose points out. And so it is with baptism; it is not the water that is anything special or “magical”, but it is purely by the grace of God alone by which we are cleansed of our sins through baptism, and given a clean conscience, as Pete...