Devotional Blog

On every trip, decisions are made. Along the road of life, we inevitably face intersections and decisions about which way to go. It is at those moments that we must live by faith, asking God for wisdom and believing that He will never lead in the wrong direction. It is our hope that each article on the blog will encourage you to keep enjoying the journey…and look for Jesus along the way.

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I have the greatest respect for ministry staff members who come alongside the pastor for one purpose: to help the pastor as he leads the church under God.

My Advice for Ministry Staff Members

March 11, 2026

Over the last few years, I have had the privilege of spending time with a number of church staff members in the places where I have been preaching. This is always a great joy for me. More than eighteen years of my life and ministry were spent as a staff member. Tammy and I were…

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A Word for the Year – A Principle for Your Prayer Life

By Scott Pauley | February 29, 2024
Each January, I adopt a Bible word or passage as my Scripture for the new year. Meditating consistently on one truth helps me concentrate on...
winning athletes

Winning Athletes

By Chase Whitten | February 28, 2024
Winning Athletes Champions are not afraid of conflict and labor while giving their best in competition. Very few athletes ever win by accident. Winning in the...
The soft, inviting sand in the bottom of most wadis appears to be an ideal place to pitch a tent for the night. However, the wise camper will instead spend the night on the high ground, despite the rocks and thorn bushes. Wadis, such as this one in Jordan, can be deceptive. Photo by John Buckner

Floods in the Desert

By John Buckner | February 21, 2024
“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded...
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Revival Praying at Noon

By Scott Pauley | February 20, 2024
“And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give...
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A One-Track Mind by Dr. Charles Wetherbee

By Guest Author | February 16, 2024
A One-Track Mind "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8). Just for a silly hypothetical situation, suppose a train decided it didn't...
Ancient millstone in Capernaum, with the Sea of Galilee in the background. It is easy to imagine Jesus pointing and saying “It would be better to have that tied around your neck and be thrown in there!” Photo by John Buckner

Millstones in Capernaum

By John Buckner | February 14, 2024
“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child...
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A Testimony from Pakistan

By Chase Whitten | February 8, 2024
We deeply appreciate people praying and asking God for souls to be saved during this gospel mission to Pakistan. My heart was stirred, challenged, and...
The Brass Serpent

The Brass Serpent

By John Buckner | February 7, 2024
“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any...
Study the Life of Joseph

New Companion Study Guide (with bonus content!)

By Micah Hendry | February 5, 2024
One of the most profitable ways to study the Bible is by its characters. While we know that the main character of Scripture is God...
Learn How to Study the Bible, Why read the Bible, Why study the Bible?

Why Study the Bible?

By Micah Hendry | February 1, 2024
Whether  a new believer or a mature Christian, it is absolutely essential that believers keep growing in their knowledge of God. This is only possible...

The Heath in the Desert 

By John Buckner | January 29, 2024
The Heath in the Desert The prophet Jeremiah grew up in the Judean Wilderness, the large desert on the edge of the Great Rift Valley....
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Would You Help Us?

By Micah Hendry | January 25, 2024
It is a great joy to share Bible study tools and Christian life resources for free through our online platforms. Every day we hear from...
opposition in ministry, roman persecution

God Uses Opposition!

By Micah Hendry | January 23, 2024
God Uses Opposition!Recently, a spirit of great discouragement seems to permeate many churches. It’s as if God’s people believe this is the only time of...
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A Parable for Preachers

By Scott Pauley | January 18, 2024
A Parable for Preachers Christ, the Master Teacher, very often used stories to help His disciples see what He was saying. Recently I came across the...
The Tombs of the Prophets “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.” Zechariah 14:4 One of the most overlooked gems in Jerusalem is the Tombs of the Prophets on the Mount of Olives. Every day, thousands of pilgrims on their way up or down the mountain troop past the weatherbeaten sign pointing toward the tombs. Only a few turn in to see it. Photos by John Buckner The tombs are believed to belong to Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, and their disciples. They are located in an enormous man-made cavern in the side of the Mount of Olives. The ancients carved this place near the summit of the Mount of Olives to bury the prophets because of Zechariah’s prophecy about the coming of the Messiah. Once you descend the stairs into the cavern, there is no electricity or signs of modernity. A little light leaks in from the entrance and illuminates the cathedral-like antechamber where the guard will light a candle, hand it to you, and then show you the map of the tombs. He will smile and exhort you to sing, preach, or pray if you feel like it. Believe me, you will! From there you can wander carefully by candlelight through the corridors and tunnels until you come to the tombs of the great men deep in the mountain. You can find their tombs by the feeble light from a single candle that always burns in front of each of the the three prophet’s graves. A local custom full of symbolism is to kneel, blow out your candle, then relight it from one of theirs. Photos from December, 2020. John Buckner Scholars are not certain if they are the tombs that Jesus mentioned, or if those tombs were elsewhere. Personally, I imagine Him pointing across the Kidron Valley to the tombs, since the entrance to the tombs was visible from the Temple Mount where He was teaching when He said: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,” Matthew 23:29 What is known is that the cavern was built by ancient people to honor some great prophets of the Bible. The Tombs of the Prophets have amazing acoustics. I recommend standing somewhere in the dark, and when your meditations on the prophets, and on Jesus’ teachings, ascension, and second coming overcome you, burst into song! It is overwhelming to be near where Jesus will soon return and sing to Him. Whenever I descend the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem, I always stop and glance back to see if He is there. Every time, I remember that right up there is where He said to “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.” When you go to Jerusalem, and I hope you do, please schedule an hour or two to visit this beautiful memorial to the prophets. Then go forth carrying the light that they preached to a dark world. “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings;” Malachi 4:2 “For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:6-7

The Tombs of the Prophets

By John Buckner | January 17, 2024
“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives...
After David robbed Saul's tent, he returned the spear yet kept his water cruse. This was done because comfortable sin still displeases God... Image of David sparing Saul's life as recorded in 1 Samuel 26

Why Did David Keep Saul’s Water Cruse?

By John Buckner | January 10, 2024
In I Samuel 26, we find a puzzling account from the life of David. He recruited Joab’s brother Abishai to go with him on a...
Ancient Shechem, with the mountains Ebal and Gerizim in the background, as well as modern Nablus in the West Bank. Photo by author.

The Graveyard of the Old Gods in Shechem 

By John Buckner | January 3, 2024
The Graveyard of the Old Gods in Shechem “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will...
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What Is Your Bible Emphasis for the Year?

By Scott Pauley | January 2, 2024
This week someone asked me, "What is your Bible word for the year?" For many years I have adopted a word, a book, or a...
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