If you go to church regularly, you will likely be regularly exposed to teachings on major Christian topics such as grace, faith, gifts of the Holy Spirit, and salvation. You might spend weeks or months studying one of those topics.
There are probably many times you have heard a Scripture and said to yourself, “I wish someone would give me a short lesson on a particular word or topic. Not a long treatise, but enough to get a better understanding.” The purpose of this series is to do that for a wide variety of topics. For that reason, some of these videos are shorter than the typical Eyewitness episodes.
As we often caution, we are not trying to add to what the Bible says, we are trying to add context that will help you understand the Bible better. So, please read the applicable Scriptures in the study guides for these stories so you will know exactly what the Bible says.
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It has long been popular for people to find a motto or a rule to live by. Solomon coined the phrase, “Eat, drink and be merry.” Horace, the Roman poet, coined the phrase “Carpe Diem” or “seize the day.” In early American history, many people lived by “Live free or die.” In the early 1900’s and again in the 1990’s, it was popular for Christians to say, “WWJD” or “What would Jesus do?”
One problem with mottos is that they can be misleading. It’s as if you accomplish the motto then all will be well. Mottos may also be true in limited situations or times of life, but not for all situations.
The appeal of mottos and life rules is their simplicity. Jesus illustrated that with his very first sermon in Mark 1:15, “Repent and believe the good news.” This saying was easy to understand, remember, and implement. But it was not meant to be a recommendation or command for an all-encompassing way of life.
John 3:2 says Nicodemus, Israel’s teacher, came to Jesus at night. He seemingly was desperate to find answers to his own questions. Perhaps he had found that his own teachings were deficient in teaching people how to truly live as God wanted them to live. We don’t really know, because Jesus doesn’t let him express what is on his mind.
