Seven Minute Seminary

The Gospel of John includes seven signs that testify to the identity and vocation of Jesus as the Messiah. The first one, which occurs at the wedding at Cana, happens in the midst of desperation. In today's Seven Minute Seminary, Jessica LaGrone shows us how miracles in the Gospels are preceded by desperate situations, which points to the care and sufficiency of our Lord Jesus.

When God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt with "a mighty hand and an outstretched arm," that deliverance from slavery to freedom became a central orienting event in the minds and hearts of God's people. What happened next, with the giving of the Law, especially as it finds expression in the book of Deuteronomy, was meant to formalize the covenant between God and his people as he brought them into the promised land.

The Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth that depicts the image of a buried man and is believed by some to be the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth. Its existence has been known from at least the 14th century, and has been treated by some as a religious relic. The shroud has been the subject of ongoing controversy and its authenticity is disputed. But a handful of biblical historians and scientists point out that evidence suggests it is not a medieval work of art nor a clever forgery. For a perspect

The practice of confession is the discipline of bearing ourselves before God and others for the sake of release from the power of sin. As a discipline it takes seriously the effects of sin and helps us guard against its destructive consequences. Often times in spite of our confession to God, we still carry the weight of sin on our souls until we tell another person and that person embodies the promise of forgiveness to us. By entering into a covenant of trust with someone, we can break the bonds

Learn more about some unique challenges in supporting women who are called to the leadership role of church planting.

What is Christian humanism, and should Christians adopt this perspective? In today's Seven Minute Seminary video, Dr. David Grubbs shares a compelling vision for human flourishing that is grounded in the gospel.

The Bible is a gift from God that announces the good news of Jesus Christ to all of creation. It is also a remarkable book that collects diverse pieces of literature spanning thousands of years and numerous genres. In light of these truths, the church should read the Bible as more than literature but never less than literature.

Work is one of those things that pervades life and yet we do so little reflection on it, both theologically and spiritually. We invest so much time and money in education and self-reflection in order to get the career we want, and yet, we spend so little time preparing ourselves for the day to day task of honoring God in our work. This is due partly to our sharp distinction between sacred and secular, long encouraged in our culture by divisions like "church and state." Does the Bible have anythi

The Bible reminds us that God is good, that He created a good world, that he loves us - and that pain and suffering are a pervasive part of the human experience. Beyond this, pain and suffering largely remains a mystery. Therefore, one of the most unhelpful words of consolation to someone facing adversity is, "Everything happens for a reason." Sure, everything happens for a reason, but often the reasons are evil and have nothing to do with God.

Lent, which begins roughly 40 days before Easter, can be a time of spiritual sojourn and reorientation to Christ. Watch this Seven Minute Seminary video from Dr. Winfield Bevins for an introduction to the spiritual disciplines commonly practiced during Lent.

In the 10th century BC, and just four rulers into the kingdom of Israel, the 10 northern tribes of Israel rebelled and broke away from the coalition of tribes. Watch this Seven Minute Seminary with Dr. Sandra Ricther to find out the particular sins and historical context that led to the split between Israel in the north and Judah in the south.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously said, "Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ." According to Jesus' own words before he ascended to the Father, the central task of the church throughout the ages has been to make disciples in the pattern of Jesus. Somewhere along the road, the church got distracted by other programs and agendas. Much of the western decline, both as a culture and as the church, has its roots in this failure to follow through on the basic premise and p

What is the unforgivable sin in the Bible? Jesus warned the Pharisees of this danger when they challenged his authority after exorcising a demon. How does this blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus calls it, relate to the apostasy related to us in Hebrews 6, and the "sin unto death" in 1 John 5? In today's Seven Minute Seminary video, Dr. Ben Witherington compares and contrasts these three points of dire warning from Scripture.

The Bible is the primary means of grace which God uses to form us into the character of Jesus Christ. It claims this for itself, and the history of the church confirms this marvelous reality. What's so special about the Bible? It reveals to us the character of God and the good news of how we can be reconciled to him. For this reason, it is critical that we dig deep into Scripture to train ourselves in the ways of God, but also so that we may share this good news with others.

Ever since the period known as the Enlightenment, many groups that self-identify as Christian have abandoned the notion of doctrine, creeds, or specific beliefs altogether. In their place, they have elevated "deeds" and certain acts of piety. But can behavior really be separated from belief that easily? For the early church, creeds were central to worship, unity, public profession, and it shaped their life as a community. Evidence of early creeds are even present throughout the Bible itself.

The Gospel of John is celebrated for its accessibility and often used as an entryway for new Christians to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In comparison to the other Gospels, it refers less to the kingdom of God/heaven and more to eternal life. It has a remarkably high and easily recognizable divine identity of Jesus. It also contains several unique literary and theological elements based on the Jewish perfect number seven-seven signs and seven "I AM" sayings. In today's Seven Minute Semi

The church's earliest and simplest creed was, "Jesus is Lord." Against the backdrop of the Roman empire, this had immense political implications, not least because one of Caesars' title was lord as well. But is this what the gospels and Paul are getting at when they make bold claims about Jesus and the kingdom of God?

The parable of the Good Samaritan continues to be one of the most well-known stories of Scripture. There remain, however, treasures to be gleaned by reading it with fresh eyes and from insights of different people groups. In this Seven Minute Seminary video, Dr. Mark Allen Powell shows the surprising results of simply empathizing with an unsuspecting character in the story.

In 1 Timothy 2:11, Paul writes Timothy, "A woman must learn in quietness and submission." Paul also instructs women on how to dress and what to avoid. Is this just another expression of ancient, patriarchal culture that sought to suppress women? What might this cryptic text mean, and how does it relate to the historical situation of the people he was writing? In today's Seven Minute Seminary, Dr. Gary Hoag explains how ancient context illuminates this passage of Scripture for us, and the result