February 18, 2026

What the New Testament Teaches about Fasting

Empty Plate

There are several passages in the Bible that talk about fasting, yet it is a topic that is sometimes ignored or glossed over. Because of this, many people have questions about it. The biggest question that we should be concerned about is this: Are Christians to fast today?

This is a good question, and to answer it, we need to consider what the Bible – particularly the New Testament – has to say on this topic. In this article, we will examine what the New Testament teaches about fasting and how it applies to us.Continue Reading

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November 24, 2025

Add to Your Faith (Part 4): Add Self-Control

Add to Your Faith

After mentioning the need to add moral excellence and knowledge to our faith, Peter listed self-control. These first three characteristics are closely related. As we learn the difference between right and wrong, we must do what is right (display moral excellence) and refrain from doing what is wrong (exercise self-control).

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8).

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October 23, 2024

The Sin of Gluttony

Overeating

The Bible condemns gluttony, yet it is a topic that is largely overlooked in sermons and Bible classes. Because of this, there may be some confusion about what gluttony is. First, let us notice what it is not.

  • One who is overweight is not necessarily a glutton. Other factors are involved in one’s weight, including behavior, lifestyle, medications, genetics, etc. It is also possible for someone to be thin and be guilty of gluttony.
  • One who enjoys food is not necessarily a glutton. After all, God “created [foods] to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3).

While on earth, Jesus was wrongly accused of being a glutton (Luke 7:34). We do not want to make the same mistake that His accusers made by wrongly accusing others of gluttony because we do not understand what it is. We also do not want to ignore this sin if it exists in our life.

In this article, we will address the oft-neglected topic of gluttony and see what the Bible actually says about it.Continue Reading

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September 1, 2021

The Fruit of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

In the passage above, Paul talked about the fruit of the Spirit. He listed several characteristics that would be included in this category. Those traits are what the fruit of the Spirit looks like.

He described this as fruit for a reason. Fruit is what grows on a tree or plant of some sort. It does not grow independently; instead, it is a natural product of the life of the plant. In the same way, these characteristics do not spring up independently in our lives; they are the natural product of the Spirit’s influence on our lives. This influence will affect our conduct as we “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16) and will impact our decisions as we are “led by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:18).Continue Reading

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February 12, 2019

Add Self-Control (Season 12, Episode 5)

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Add Self-Control (Season 12, Episode 5)

In this season, we’re discussing Peter’s admonition to add to your faith (2 Peter 1:5-11).

One of the qualities are are to add to our faith is self-control. In this episode, we discuss what this is, what it looks like with and without faith, and how we go about adding it to our faith.

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February 28, 2018

Willing to Forgive

Forgiveness

“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him” (Luke 17:3-4).

When Jesus taught His disciples about the need to forgive those who had sinned against them, they said, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). They recognized that it is not always easy to forgive, especially when others habitually or consistently sin against us – either “seven times a day” (Luke 17:4) or even “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22).

However, as the Lord’s disciples, we must be willing to forgive others as the Lord has forgiven us. Paul wrote, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

We are to be willing to forgive, but what does this willingness to forgive look like?Continue Reading

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July 4, 2016

Elders in Every Church (Part 3): Character Qualifications for Elders #2

Elders in Every Church (Part 3): Character Qualifications for Elders #2

In the previous lesson, we noticed several of the character qualifications for elders. This lesson will discuss those that remain which are found in the following passage in Paul’s letter to Titus:

“For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict” (Titus 1:7-9).

There are several character qualifications given in these verses. A few of these were discussed in the previous lesson. Let us consider the ones that we have not discussed already.
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