Where do you turn when you are despondent and in despair? If you are in need of encouragement, 2 Corinthians 1 provides comfort in the face of adversity
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Handbook to Scripture
1 Samuel 1: Presenting Our Prayers to God
First Samuel is a book of new beginnings, a transition from the old ways of the judges to the new ways of the kings. It begins with a story of prayer in which one childless woman, Hannah, begs God for a son. Her example teaches us key principles about presenting our prayers to God.
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1 Corinthians 15: Resurrection of the Dead
Age conspires with God to take away our temporal hope. As disciples of Jesus, we want to have a growing and eager sense of anticipation of what we’re going to be like in the new heaven and earth.
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Ruth 4: The Backstory of a King
“Does God have my best interests at heart?” Naomi learned that the answer to this question is always “yes”—God is working out His plan in all circumstances.
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1 Corinthians 13: The Love of Christ in Us
Christianity is not so much a religion as it is a romance. It is the story of a God who woos us to Himself and calls us His bride. It is the story of our lives becoming more and more like the life of Christ, learning to love like He loves us.
Read MoreRuth 3: Behind the Scenes
Appearances can be deceiving. A man and a woman meeting in a secluded location after dark—an outsider may jump to immediate conclusions. But the story of Ruth shows the virtuous character of Ruth and Boaz as they seek to honor the Lord with their obedience, coming to know Him as they recognize Him at work behind the scenes.
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1 Corinthians 9: Surrendering Our Rights
During Paul’s ministry, he worked as a tentmaker so that the churches he ministered to would not be burdened by him financially. He uses this as an example of how believers should forfeit their rights for the spiritual benefit of others.
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Ruth 2: A Cameo of Grace and Goodness
Ruth 2 is a cameo of God’s grace and goodness. In the midst of the wicked period of the judges, Boaz stood out as a shining light, showing God’s grace to the least, last, and lost. We too are called to be agents of light in this present darkness. We are called to have a different vision and not to be defined by the things of this world.
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1 Corinthians 8–10: Tempering Knowledge with Love
Spiritual knowledge by itself will make us arrogant. Truth and love must go together so that truth leads to edification and not stumbling.
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Ruth 1: A Faithful Remnant
The story of Ruth and Boaz takes place during the days of the judges and is a shining light amidst the darkness. It is a beautiful cameo of character, courage, and commitment, in which two people—Ruth and Boaz—sought what was right in the Lord’s eyes rather than their own.
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