NEWS, ARTICLES, DEVOTIONS AND MORE FROM BttB...

As a Christian, are you mentoring someone, or being mentored by by an older believer? Passing along what we know and supporting others is a major part of sharing the Gospel. Paul will talk to us more in his letter to the Ephesians about the gifts God has given us, and the importance of living a life that honors God.

As you walk with Christ, you'll begin to look more and more like Him in the way you act and respond to other people, believers included. At least, that's how it should be. Paul reminds us today of these characteristics and explains why unity among the believers is so vital in this world that so often seeks to divide.

Ephesians chapter 2 stands as one of the most important passages of the Bible. Here we see exactly the method and the purpose behind our salvation. As we examine these verses, we can praise God that he hasn't left so important a message to be guessed at--it's there plainly for all to read.

After Galatians, we find Paul's letter to the Ephesians--a letter written while in prison. So it may seem strange that Paul begins his letter by talking about the blessing he--and all believers--enjoy in Christ! Find out more as we begin our look at this important letter.

The Christian will always face opposition. Whether others just passively ignore us, or are outwardly hostile to our message, we as believers will constantly find our perseverance tested. That's why Paul closes his letter to the Galatians with some encouraging words and some motivation to never grow tired of doing good.

When rain falls on a field, soon, new life begins sprouting. And a similar thing happens when we put our faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts. Find out more about this new life that the Holy Spirit brings and learn what distinguishes it from those who choose to try to follow the law instead.

A question one has to consider when understanding the grace of Jesus Christ is, why did the ancient Israelites have such a strict law then? If that law can't save us, what was its purpose? Paul takes some time to answer that question as he continues his letter to the Galatian believers.

From the very beginning, people have been trying to add on to the Gospel of Salvation--usually for their own benefit. But as we begin our study of Galatians, we'll be reminded that salvation is free for anyone who simply believes the truth about Jesus and His great love for us.

There are lots of things in the Bible that are up for interpretation. But we can praise God that one thing that is crystal clear in His Word is the plan of salvation. Not only can we know how to be made right with God, we can be assured that His love will never fail us. As Paul concludes his letter to the Corinthians, he share encouragement as we grow in maturity.

The more we walk with Christ, the more distinct our lives become. And so it's all the more problematic when we team up with other believers. But what does this mean on a practical level? As we continue our series we'll consider what partnership with unbelievers actually means and learn how to be an ambassador without compromising our beliefs.

The Christian life is not lived in isolation. As Paul reminds his readers in his letter to the Corinthians, as people watch us, they make judgments about the God we serve. We are called to live as ambassadors of Christ, urging others to be reconciled with Christ. Find out more about how to live this life in today's message.

What happens after we die? Do we lie unconscious in the grave till Christ returns at some point in the future? Or do we immediately go to be in the presence of Jesus? Many people believe in one or the other, but in his letter to the Corinthians, Paul clearly points to the latter option. Find out more about this as we continue our study.

The Great Commission would be a lot easier to carry out if people always believed the Good News. But, there are other forces at work in the world conspiring to keep people in the darkness. As Paul continues his letter, he'll talk about the trials he has faced and give us encouragement to never give up.

Experience is one of the greatest teachers there is, especially when it can lead us to be sympathetic to others going through situations we're familiar with. This is Paul's focus as he begins his second letter to the Corinthians. As we begin our look at this epistle, we'll also see how our love for each other should be what motivates disciple in the church when it is needed.

Christianity is built on the miracle of Christ's resurrection. But miracles don't just happen every day. That's why Paul takes time in his letter to the Corinthians to establish the presence of many eyewitnesses to that historic event. After that, Paul concludes his letter reminding us of the need to support the ministries that matter to us.

Just like an orchestra can create beautiful music when all musicians work together under the guidance of the conductor, so Christians have their greatest impact when working together under the leading of God. Paul talks more about love and how to use our gifts in service of the body of Christ rather than ourselves.

Do you know what spiritual gifts are? Paul discusses these in his letter to the Corinthians. As we discuss where these gifts come from, we'll also learn how they are to be used. Paul will show us that we are all part of one part, working together for the benefit of the whole body of Christ.

The celebration of Communion is an important part of the Christian service. And one that has been practiced from the very beginning. But what is it about? Paul takes some time in his letter to the Corinthians to explain the importance of this special ritual.

How should the believer live? In Pauls' day, as in our own, plenty of Christians don't give much thought to this question. They live however they want. But Paul had a better way. Join us as we continue to study 1 Corinthians and learn Paul's motivation for honoring God through his lifestyle.

Our works will never save us, but that doesn't mean they aren't important. As Paul continues his letter to the Corinthians he addresses those who wanted to continue living in sin and immorality. Join us as we dive into why it's important that the Christian life looks different.

The places where Paul preached were never far from his mind. And we see that clearly in his many epistles, or letters, preserved for us in the Bible. As we begin our look at his first letter to the church in Corinth we'll see his greeting to these fellow believers before he turns his attention to more weighty matters.

Paul ends his letter to the Romans with a series of greetings to be passed on to the people he knew and cared about there in Rome. From his words and exhortations we'll understand more of Paul's heart and be reminded again of the great grace shown to us by Jesus. Are you sharing this grace with anyone else?

As big as the Bible is, it simply cannot offer guidance on every situation we as believers might face. So, how do we know how to act when it comes to matters not mentioned in the Bible? As Paul neared the end of his letter to the Romans, he gives some advice on how to behave within the community of believers.

"What now?" That's a question many answer after coming to know Christ. Is salvation only about the afterlife? Not at all! As Paul continues his letter he describes the life of the Christian, lived in gratitude for the sacrifice God has made. We'll learn a little about our responsibility to earthly authorities and to other believers as well.