Bible Archives » Reasons for Hope* Jesus

A Christmas Morning Prayer

On Christmas morning we bow before the cradle. When we do so, we set our eyes on Jesus. May we always remember to look to Him for wisdom in all things and to seek Him for guidance in every situation. Let us also remember the “great cloud of witnesses”...

How Did the Wise Men (Magi) Know This Was the Messiah? How Did They Know to Follow His Star?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

How did the Wise Men know? The Wise Men/Magi were educated and notable men who studied the stars and apparently knew the prophecies well (see also Who Were the Three Wise Men? Why Did Herod Fear Them?). It is thought to have been Daniel the Prophet who first...

What are the 7 “I Am” Statements and 7 “I Will” Statements from Jesus?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

In the Gospel of John are seven well known “I Am” statements, by which Jesus reveals Himself as God, Redeemer, Protector, Hope, and so much more. There’s also a lesser known group of seven statements made by Jesus during His earthly ministry. They...

What is IVDAR? Or IVDARR?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

IVDAR is a word coined by my friend and colleague, Christian apologist Alex McFarland. IVDAR, however, is not really a word. It’s an acronym. Each of the five letters stands for a core doctrine of Christianity that all Christians must believe. I — Inerrancy of...

Does Mark 16:9-20 Belong in the Bible?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

Question A friend recently asked me why different Bible versions have different endings for the last part of Mark 16. Should the chapter end at verse 8? Or should verses 9-20 be included? I couldn’t give an answer that satisfied either myself or my friend. Can you...

Sadness and Despair: The Darkest Days of All Time

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

We ask that you pause and reflect on what happened so many years ago. Take a minute now to remember the prophecy that foretold of the crucifixion of Jesus and the Scripture that proclaimed it’s fulfillment. Three dark and despairing days… from the time...

Do You Get These 7 Things Right or Wrong About the Nativity Story?

by Reasons for Hope* Jesus

Through the centuries people have told and re-told the story of the birth of Jesus and the events that surrounded it. Sadly, some of the common understanding are not biblically supported. Test your knowledge by taking this short quiz. It might just surprise what...

Will You Find Rest This Advent Season?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

The word advent means, a coming or arrival, especially of something or someone extremely important. In biblical terms, Advent is a season. It refers to the four weeks leading up to Christmas day, the day that we celebrate the arrival of our Lord when He came to...

Seven Benefits of Knowing God

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

Psalm 103 is a psalm of remembering, written by King David. The psalm calls us, as God’s children, to remember who He is, what He has done and who we are in Jesus. The following is an excerpt from the book, “Why the Butterfly? A Book About Rightly...

Does Satan Have a Stronger Influence on Halloween?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

Question: I live in an area that is steeped in tradition and religiosity, and people tend to think I’m a bit strange since I believe there is a spiritual element in everything around us, especially Halloween. It seems that a lot of bad things occur around...