Several years ago, I had the opportunity to spend time in Rome. It’s hard to explain how full of history and beauty that city is. In a tour of the Vatican, we walked through the Gallery of the Tapestries — an 800-foot-long room with wall-to-wall tapestries depicting scenes from the life of Jesus. The guide talked a bit about where each tapestry came from and how they were made.
I was shocked to see that behind the beautiful images, the backs were a knotted mess — beauty brought forth from chaos.
That's what Jesus is up to. In Matthew 5:3–10, we see what Jesus is committed to accomplishing.
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Bible News
The latest Bible-related and Bible-adjacent news
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Pope Leo and Abp. Mullally Pray Together at Vatican — Apr. 26: Pope Leo XIV prayed with Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, the first female leader of the Anglican Church, in a historic meeting at the Vatican. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to overcoming divisions between their two churches despite longstanding differences over issues like women’s ordination. They emphasized the importance of ecumenical dialogue to promote their shared mission of spreading the Gospel amid global challenges. (AP)
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Grammy-Winning Artist Ditches Social Media for Bible Reading — Apr. 25: Grammy-winning artist Raye announced that she will step away from social media by turning to a Bible app instead. Speaking out against the negative impact of online platforms on mental health, Raye said she finds stability and truth in God's Word, which offers eternal hope and identity beyond societal trends. Her decision reflects a growing realization that peace often comes from disconnecting from digital noise and reconnecting with God. (Christian Today)
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U.S. Church Attendance Up for First Time in Decades — Apr. 24: A new report reveals that U.S. church attendance has increased for the first time in decades: median in-person attendance rose from 65 in 2020 to 70 in 2025. Post-pandemic, many churches adopted new strategies like hybrid worship and electronic giving to attract and better serve new members. In total, 38% joined their current church after the pandemic. The recovery is uneven, though, as larger congregations grow while smaller ones struggle. (RNS; Religion Unplugged)
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I grew up in a church where nearly all the sermons were from the letters of the apostle Paul. We loved Paul. Those whose heritage lands squarely in the Reformation like ours have a theology very dependent upon the apostle Paul. By more than one he has been described as the greatest theologian ever.
But not everyone likes Paul. Some scholars have argued that he never compromised in debates, that he was insensitive, and that he was therefore nothing short of thick-skinned. He had learned to dodge the darts of criticism with skill.
Yet, that’s not the apostle Paul that I see in his most personally revealing letter, 2 Corinthians.
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Access an additional $5,300 worth of commentaries and resources and go even deeper in your Bible study. Try it free for 7 days
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Some years ago, I noticed how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — the three persons of the Trinity — kept turning up together in the New Testament, sometimes in the same breath. As when, for instance, Jesus told his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 NIV).
Yet the word Trinity itself never shows up in Scripture. Anywhere.
So I’ve also long wondered: For a belief that sits at the center of the Christian faith, what should we make of this big, important word missing from the Bible’s vocabulary? Is the Trinity in the Bible?
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God wants to be known and he wants his word to be understood, so it makes sense that most of the Bible is pretty accessible even for a first-time reader. There are layers upon layers of depth to even the simplest parts of Scripture, but the basics of most passages are pretty straightforward.
That said, there are a few parts of the Bible that are incredibly challenging even for the seasoned student of Scripture. This is certainly a feature, not a bug, because when we run into these hard parts, we're reminded of the magnitude of God, how much we depend on Him, and how much we have to learn from His Word.
It’s great to pause and reflect on such things, but at some point we have to get down to the challenging business of wrestling through those difficult passages. This article is meant to help with that.
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Join New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst as she shares powerful prayers, devotional teachings, and practical ways to draw near to the Lord.
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The King Is Coming Bible Study
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In the six sessions of this video Bible study, you’ll unravel biblical prophecy and discover God’s master plan for His bride and your life.
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Bible Gateway App
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Bible Audio App
Listen to God's word in your favorite narration. Enjoy features such as setting a timer, adjusting the speed, or repeating verses to better absorb the Word of God.
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ChurchSource's Summer Ministry Sale has trusted Bible study resources to help you stay connected to God’s Word.
Save 10% on orders of $80 or more with code 10SUMMER — or if you're stocking up, save 15% on $180 or more with code 15SUMMER.
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*All prices are in USD. Additional sales tax may apply. The free trial is available to new subscribers only.
*FaithGateway sale price ends on 04/30/26 at 11:59 PM. Limited quantities available. Sale pricing excludes ebooks and audiobooks. Free Standard Shipping for U.S. orders over $35 excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
*Offers valid until May 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST or while supplies last. Offer valid online and by phone only. 10SUMMER and 15SUMMER offers cannot be combined with each other or any other offers. Shipping, gift cards, or customization of products does not qualify towards minimum purchase requirements. Receive free standard ground shipping on non-rush orders of $35 or more, valid within the 48 continental United States or to an FPO/APO address; offer does not apply to Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. Territories, rush orders, or expedited shipping methods. Offer only available to customers in the United States age 18 and older. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with any other discount offer. ChurchSource reserves the right to de-activate the offers in the event of fraud or technical issues and limit quantities of individual items eligible for purchase with this discount. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Not valid for resale.
This email was sent to ovemn0.love@blogger.com by Bible Gateway, 501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214, USA. You received this message because you signed up to receive updates and offers from Bible Gateway and its sponsors. If you have questions or comments about
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