Bible sales have risen 22% during 2024 and into 2025, even while while Christian affiliation and church attendance have remained low.
This is wonderful news and evidence of the continued great revival that has swept over the US over the past two years among young adults and college students. It's evidence that the spirit of the Lord continues to draw people to him, even when those claiming religious non-affiliation has skyrocketed; and when church attendance has plummeted.
The younger generations (Gen Z and Alpha) are hungry for authentic discipleship, and we are all called to teach and support the things that Jesus taught. In the Great Comission, Jesus’s last instructions to the disciples before He physically left the earth, he told them to make disciples, and then to teach to them all the things that he had commanded them to do.
But how can we do that if we do not fully and deeply know all that is recorded about what Jesus taught?
Are you looking for an individual Study to start off the new year? May I take a minute to share a resource? The Words of Jesus Bible Study: 10 Weeks in the Teachings of Christ covers all Jesus's teachings in Mark and Matthew. I wrote, compiled, and revised this study over the full course of 10 years to get it to it's current edition! You can download a free sample at Amazon, I recommend the paperback version which has extra space for journaling your responses.
I hope this book brings you closer to Jesus and helps you to understand and truly know what he taught. Jesus instructed his followers to make disciples, and then to teach to them all that he had commanded them to do. this (Matt 28:20). It’s this direct instruction - given from Jesus himself - that caused me to study deeply into all that Jesus taught, so that I would clearly know and be able to teach others what he taught. Now I can share this resource with you.
Starting in Fall of 2025, I will begin hosting Online Women's Connection Group cohorts! Sign up below to receive first notification when sign ups for this opportunity begin. We also regularly share free downloadable study resources, free individual and group Bible studies; free online events and online conferences. We may also send monthly updates when a new blog post or blogcast series begins. We do not spam our email our subscribers excessively.
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John chapter 1 starts, “In the beginning (arché) was the
word (logos). Now these words John used are significant, especially
significant to the cultural understanding of the time - and to the philosophers
of the time - and the way that they conceptualized about the beginning of the
world. The word arché was used to refer to origins – the origins of
the universe. This word logos was also a common word and concept used in
ancient Greek philosophy as well.
Listen to this post here and subscribe to the podcast:
The word logos might be one
of the most significant words in the New Testament, and yet, it’s one of these
Greek words that – the way we translate it – we don’t grasp what it meant at
all. We encounter this most notably in John 1:1— where we translate logos
in this way -- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God.” But what does logos mean? Or
what did it mean to the people who lived in Jesus’ time?
I remember, before I studied the
biblical Greek, I would read the passage in John 1, and I would think it’s so
beautifully written – it’s like perfect poetry with perfect rhythm. But the underlying
word for “the Word?”What is that
about? I immediately picture a word on a page in a book—maybe on a page of the
Bible itself—or maybe the spoken words of a teacher or preacher or, yes, from
God maybe like in a word bubble – going out from the one who is speaking? But when John uses logos in his Gospel,
he's pointing to something much deeper than words spoken or words on a page. So,
what exactly did logos mean to the people back then, and how does that
change how we read this verse today? In Greek thought and biblical theology, logos
carried layers of significance in the context in which it is used in the first
chapter of John.
The
Roots of Logos
So here is some background. In Greek
philosophy in the time of Jesus and his disciples, logos when used in
this context with origins (like it is being used here – arche (origins) and logos
–it was referring to a principle - whatever it was - that was the organizing
principle of the universe. Think of it as the force and reasoning behind
creation—that holds everything together. Logos was used in this manner
going back at least to Heraclitus, 500 years BC, who used it to refer to the
order and sustaining of the cosmos. Logos continued to be used in this way
across the centuries and it was present in writings Philo – a Jewish
philosopher – who lived at the same time of Jesus and his disciples. One of the
definitions of logos in a more general sense meant the “expression of
thought,” and it conveys purposeful, active, organizational thinking and
reasoning, and planning.
So clearly, when John was using this
language, he was intentionally using this philosophical language. Then later – in
verse 14 John goes on to explain that the Logos became a person. John
1:14 say, “The Word – the logos -
became flesh and dwelt among us.” The logos put on flesh – became human –
and came to live with us. And this is who Jesus was, and
is.
So, when John says, “In the
beginning was the Logos,” he’s teaching us that Jesus is the very expression
of God. The living embodiment of who God is. As Hebrews 1:3 puts it, Jesus is
“the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being,
sustaining all things by the power of his word.” (Interestingly – the Greek underlying
“word” in that passage is a different word that means utterance or command).
In closing, this idea of logos
has a profound impact on how we live and think. This idea of Jesus being the Logos compels us to listen to what He teaches. Logos is not just a concept to admire or to analyze – it’s a reality to live by. Just as the concept of the logos was that of the organizing principle of the universe, Jesus – as the logos gives us the instruction and representation of how we are to organize our lives -- not to organize our lives so that He controls us; but to organize our lives in a manner that allows us to flourish while we are here.And yes – I use that word flourish intentionally – so hold on for that; because I will explain more in my next blogpost and cast which should be next week and will also be on more of this passage in John chapter 1.
So, as we think about the meaning of
logos, especially around this Christmas season when we are celebrating
the fact that the Logos came and was born in flesh as a baby – let’s ask
ourselves: If Christ is the reason behind all that exists; how much is he the
reason underlying everything that we do? Are we sharing the truth of the logos
with others? Are we letting His Word shape our thoughts and guide our steps?
For my regular readers
and listeners, you know that my full time job is as a
child and school psychology specialist with over 20 years of experience working
with children, tweens, their teachers and their parents.
Over these two decades, I’ve witnessed both the
incredible resilience of young people, and I am also deeply aware of the
avalanche of challenges they face in today’s world.
Through my work, I’ve seen how simple, evidence-based strategies can quickly transform a child’s confidence and resilience. Currently, there are SO MANY evidenced-based, effective, and simple strategies we can implement to help our kids develop resiliency in spite of these challenges. However, these are typically only learned in a private
therapy room or in counseling sessions with licensed therapists. Even when a family does have the financial resources, it's hard to find a therapist or counselor who specializes in supporting children.
I know the incredible impact these tools can have,
but I also know that many parents and grandparents simply can’t afford them or
don’t have access to counselors with specialized expertise
in preventative and positive child and adolescent development.
This full reality has weighed heavily on my heart. That is why I have created this first course as an affordable resource, blending evidence-based techniques to empower parents, grandparents, and caregivers to help
their children thrive.
The four-step system I
am sharing is rooted in solid psychological research. It is also infused with
faith, designed to uncover your child’s deep strengths, celebrate
their successes, and empower them to build confidence and resilience. It’s also
practical, proven, and easy to implement—perfect for busy families who need
tools that they can readily fit into their busy daily lives. For now - the first two video trainings are available for free, so you can sample first to decide if the course and resources are a good fit for your family at this time.
If you do wish to invest
in the short course, it is now available for $16 through the end of December,
and there is also a 14 day no questions asked money-back guarantee.
If your child is not
currently struggling, then this course will help you lay a firm foundation of
confidence and resiliency. You will be able to "get ahead of the
curve" that comes in the tween or teen years when the barrage of negative
influences most commonly rise up.
If your child is
struggling, this course will re-establish their focus -
rather quickly. I've personally seen significant positive turnarounds in struggling children in as short as 2 to 4 weeks.
Whether you’re a parent
seeking ways to strengthen your bond with your child, a grandparent looking to
nurture your grandchild’s potential, or a teacher, educator, or church minister
longing to equip the next generation with faith and confidence, this resource and the ones that follow will be for you. It’s my prayer that the strategies
you’ll find here lay a strong foundation for children who aren't struggling -
so that they will continue to thrive and develop a strong sense of identity and
resiliency. I also hope that for children who are struggling, real change will
be achieved, not only for the child or children in your care, but to
your family as a whole.
I hope this email finds you well as we continue this beautiful holiday season of gratitude and reflection! For the past few months, I have been quietly busy over here with Gospel Life Learning, and I’m thrilled to share some exciting updates with you. When you subscribed to this email update list, I promised not to spam excessively, and I believe I have kept that promise. In fact, this is my first email of 2024; so therefore - it is a summary of the resources I've created this past year as well as a peek of what is planned next.
1. Gems from the Greek
The latest blog post series and teaching videos began going live this past summer! We’ve been diving deep into some of the “gems” hidden in the original Greek and Hebrew texts of Scripture. These treasures bring richness and clarity to familiar passages and offer new insights into God’s Word. If you enjoy uncovering the deeper meaning behind the words of the Bible this is a series for you! You can find most of these on the blogposts or blogcast audiocast from July, or catch the videos at this playlist at the Gospel Life LearningYouTube channel.
2. Theology of Emotions Series Recap
Before the gems of the biblical language, we explored the Emotions, Mental Health, and The Gospel Life, beginning with a teaching on the Theology of Emotions. This series unpacked how to steward our emotions for God’s purposes, turning what we feel into an opportunity for spiritual growth and connection. If you missed it, each segment with blogpost and audio is still available and listed on the blog and there is also the YouTube playlist for the Emotions Series, so be sure to check it out
3. New Book Release: Words of Jesus Bible Study
It’s here! My latest book, Words of Jesus Bible Study: 10 Weeks on Christ's Teachings, is now available on Amazon in paperback and ebook formats. I also wrote a blog post about the background of the writing of the book - it took over 14 slow years to research, write, edit, and put it all together in the time I have around my full time school psychology job. The paperback version includes journaling space to respond to the reflection questions—perfect for those who love to jot down thoughts as they study. This resource is all about spending intentional time in the teachings of our Savior, and I pray it blesses you in your walk with Him.
4. New Short-Course for Parents (or Grandparents, Counselors, Children's Ministers, or Elementary Educators): Struggles to Strength
My new short-course, Struggles to Strength: Unlock Your Child’s Confidence in 28 Days with Strength-Spotting Positive Psychology, is designed to help parents guide your children, ages 6-11, toward a stronger sense of self and confidence rooted in their God-given "deep strengths." I wrote and recorded the course to parents; however, this course would be helpful for grandparents, counselors, children's ministers, or even elementary special or general educators who are working to support a child who may be struggling with their self-esteem or self worth. It is also for those who want to "get ahead of the curve" in their parenting or guidance of their children by helping their child establish a strong self concept and sense of confidence before the struggles occur in later elementary and middle school.
This issue has been heavy on my heart, and about 2 years ago, the Lord put it on my heart to create affordable resources so that all parents and others are able to have access to evidence-based and faith-infused tools to help their kids navigate the current youth mental health crisis. The teachings in the course present from a general Christian worldview, simply because as the instructor - my views are deeply rooted in the Christian worldview when I discuss topics such as God given "deep strengths" and values. With that said, the course is not "overtly religious or Christian," and I believe this resource is one you could confidently recommend to anyone you know who may be looking for a way to help their child, even if the parent does not hold Christian beliefs.
And here’s the exciting part—extending through Dec 2nd, the course is available for just $7 to personal friends and current GLL followers/supporters as part of our post-Thanksgiving sale! After that, it will gradually go up to $12, and eventually to around $27. This is a perfect opportunity to invest in your child’s or grandchild's growth during this special season. Struggles to Strength Course.
5. Coming Soon: Family Bible Study Series
I’m thrilled to announce an upcoming series of books designed for family Bible studies. Did you know that the number 1 activity that parents can do with their children and teens to help them establish a strong faith that continues into young adulthood is to teach them to read the Bible for themselves? It's true. Pew Research did a study of young adults who remained faithful to Christ after reaching adulthood and moving out of their parents' home. They found that the vast majority of those who continued with a strong faith had learned to read and use the Bible for themselves.
We’ll start with the Gospel of Matthew and journey chapter by chapter through the text. This is a project I began several years ago, and for whatever reason, I abandoned the project when it was only half written. Hopefully and prayerfully, the first book in the series will be ready by mid-2025. These studies will be tailored for families who want to deepen their understanding of Scripture together. Stay tuned!
Thank You for Your Support
Your encouragement, prayers, and feedback mean so much to me. Whether you’ve joined me on the blog, YouTube, or through one of my books, I am so grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside you in this journey of faith and learning.
As we wrap up November, let’s keep leaning into God’s goodness and the confidence we have in Christ.
Blessings and gratitude, Sherry Founder, Gospel Life Learning Ministries
I have been silent on the blog, blogcast, and youtube channel for the past month because I had committed to completing, editinga, nd publishing for this big project!
The Words of Jesus Bible Study: 10 Weeks on Christ's Teachings
This is a resource available for anyone who wants to fully understand what Jesus taught in a way that is instructional, personal, and reflective.
It's a daily personal Bible study, or what is sometimes called a "deeper devotional."
I have known that I was called to teach, and specifically to teach through writing.
Jesus told his disciples, just before he ascended to be with the Father: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Here, Jesus himself told his closest followers what it was that he wanted to be taught to others. Jesus told them, "Teach them to follow what I have taught you." It was a clear and simple instruction. 1) Teach them what I taught you. 2) Teach them to follow what I taught you.
Now, for over a decade, the resources at Gospel Life Learning have been focused on these two main things:
1)Teaching what Jesus taught, and
2) Teaching how to follow what he taught, or in other words, "spiritual formation."
However, I don't like the term "spiritual formation" as it sounds too formal and stiff to me. I like to just call this "simple ways to grow closer to God." Thus, in 2018 was the release of the title Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today.
The Words of Jesus Bible Study is a paperback journal-book, and it became available on Amazon just a few days ago.
This work has been a little over 14 years in the making. For any of you who have followed the blog all along (mostly just my parents, my husband, and my sister!) you may recall the early releases of the 14 Days Bible Studies on the Words of Jesus.
The first one was titled Discovering God's Will: 14 Days in the Words of Jesus.
The second was titled How Do We See God Working Today? 14 Days with the Miracles of Jesus.
The third short title was Why Is There So Much Trouble In Life? 14 Days with the Parables of Jesus....and so on.
In the end there were 5 titles.
The new work is a compilation of all 5 of the books, updated and revised for 2024. At this time, it is only available on Amazon. The Kindle version can still be read for free through Kindle Unlimited. You can also click on the Read a Sample button on the Kindle version Amazon page, and you are able to read the first 20 or so pages.
I have such a testimony to tell outside the pages of this book. However, that is a post for another day.
In the meantime, here are the links and an image from my "proof copy" below:
I started my Fall Break with another weekend within the series of what I am now calling my "Mid Life Theology Weekends." Once again at the nearby Lanier Theological Library and Learning Center, I spent Friday evening and most of Saturday with Dr. Jeannine Hanger from Biola University and Dr. Esau McCaulley from Wheaton College.
I will share today's interview with Esau McCaulley, an interview conducted by Mark Lanier, of biblical-literacy.org. Esau discusses his life background and how he went from a boy growing up in the poor side of Huntsville, Alabama - where families had two options - which in his own words were to grow up "in the church or on the streets." He gives a number of incredible, and humorous, anecdotes explaining how the Lord led him on a path from to eventually studying with N.T. Wright in Scotland for his doctorate.
If you enjoy the interview you may also like his book titled How Far to the Promised Land, a memoir which I was able to purchase the night of the final lecture. I took it home and was up late into the night and nearly finished it the next day. For me, I read Esau's book from the perspective of an educator, (Part 1 of the book is about his experiences during the elementary through high school years) - and how we can better understand the experiences of our students who are like Esau was - kids from underprivileged backgrounds packaged with so much potential, yet also wrapped up with a bit of trouble. He also discusses at least two or three children's books he has written and a children's Bible he has recently authored that will be available within the next year. You can see some of the wonderful illustrations and get a "sneak peak" at some of those books during the video interview too.
When you click on the video below, it should skip over the announcements and start right at the beginning of the interview at the 18:02 mark on the video:
I could write a few pages all that we learned over the weekend, and it was indeed eye-opening and fascinating learning. However, this week I have a few priority to-dos - and the first thing on that to do list is to complete the final edits on the updated and expanded Words of Jesus Bible Study: 10 Weeks in Christ's Teachings. The updated book will be available for order through Amazon sometime on or before next weekend, October 19th. This book is an updated and expanded version of the former book He Called: 56 Daily Studies with the Words of Christ published in 2016. The new version is an 8x10, journal-text in paperback format, with space for the reader to write their own responses to the reflection prompts.
Enjoy the video interview with Esau McCaulley, and check back later this week for a new post and blogcast within the "Gems from the Greek and Hebrew" playlist and blogroll - as well as the release of the revised and updated Words of Jesus Bible Study.
I will write more later about my amazing mid-life theology weekend. For now, I want to share the video of the interview I attended this morning via Biblical Literacy class with Mark Lanier.
Amy Orr-Ewing tells how she went from a young girl growing up within a fiercely anti-God, anti-Christian home, to how Jesus extraordinarily revealed himself to her family, to how she compassionately and intelligently addresses societal concerns today in a way that lovingly and logically shows that Christ alone is the only truth that makes any sense in our world.
10 Minute Teaching on the Greek Word for Holy and Meaning in 1 Peter 1:15-16
You may experience this teaching now by videocast, podcast, or by reading the traditional blogpost transcript below. Be sure to check out the author's books and ebooks on Amazon. Many of the ebooks are available for free for those with Kindle Unlimited subscriptions.
Transcript:
What is the Greek word for holy in the New Testament? What does the word holy mean? The word holy seems to be used a whole lot in reference to people, places, and things related to religion and faith. Now, the Greek word for "holy" is hagios.
When I first think of something being holy, I kind of envision a picture or a vision of something glowing and radiating out golden rays of light—pure, undefiled, and sinless. Or, if it's in reference to a human, then those few holy people among us. But what does it mean when, in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 1 (where I was reading this week), we are taught that we, as believers and as followers of Christ, are to be holy? Not just that one day we’re going to be perfected and holy and pure in God’s kingdom, but that we are to be holy now? And not just when times are good, but even when times are really bad. The letter in 1 Peter is written to Christians in exile who are being persecuted, and he’s saying, "Remember, be holy!"
Welcome to the blog of Sherry Elaine, online since 2014! You may now listen to the podcast audio below of the article read by the author. You may also subscribe and follow/watch all blog teachings on YouTube. Or, scroll on down and continue to read the transcript as a traditional blog post.
The Greek Word for Faith In the Bible | Teaching on Pistis/Pisteuo for Faith, Belief, Trust, but Best Translated as "Belief with Trust"
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If there was just one word that we could choose to represent or to encompass all of Christianity, or all of the Christian life, it might be the word faith. Faith is critical to understanding God, following Jesus, and living the Christian life. Furthermore, faith, we are told in the Bible, is what gives us assurance of salvation. But what is faith? Or what did Jesus mean, or specifically what did the disciples and Paul mean, when they wrote "pistis," the Greek word that is usually translated as faith? Have we actually been taught or do we truly know what biblical faith is, and do we know what the word pistis is? It is in the New Testament over 240 times and guess what? In all its forms, it's translated three different ways. Most of the time, it's translated as faith; sometimes, it's translated as belief; and a few times, it's translated as trust. In actuality, biblical faith, pistis, is both belief with trust. We need a short phrase to really understand what pistis, the underlying Greek word for faith that's used 240 times, means—belief with trust.
I'm going to show you some examples here in the Greek grammar books. You can see here belief assuming trust, with trust - belief, assuming trust, - and faith in God is belief with trust. It's something that builds and gets stronger throughout the Christian life as we walk with God, as we release our prayers to Him and anticipate His response. Let's look at a few times when Jesus was recorded as teaching on pistis, on faith, in the Book of John, and let's see how the word was translated into English. Let's start with John 14:1, where Jesus is telling His disciples that He's about to be turned over and put to death by the Romans. He says to them, "Let not your hearts be troubled; 'pisteuete' in God and also in me." Most translations, such as the NIV, the ESV, and the NASV, translate this as "believe in God and also believe in me," but the NLT translates it as "trust in God and also trust in me." Which one is best? Well, based on the Greek lexicons and dictionaries, the idea of "pistis" contains both. It is belief with trust. Jesus is saying, "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe and trust in God and also believe and trust in me." When we understand it that way, it's clearer and it's a stronger understanding of what faith is, what pistis is.
Now in Mark 5:34, the woman who had been bleeding internally for years was healed after she went into the crowd and touched Jesus's cloak. Jesus spoke with her, and He ended His statement with, "Daughter, the 'pistis' of you has healed you." In every major translation we have in English, this is translated as, "Daughter, your faith has healed you." Of course, this does not mean, "Daughter, your unreasonable faith, your blind faith has healed you." The best thought-for-thought translation would be, "Jesus said, 'Daughter, your belief with trust has healed you.'" Not just belief, because the woman could have heard about how Jesus healed others and believed that He was a healer— and not just blind faith because she had evidence that He had healed others. She went to Jesus with belief and trust that He could heal and that He could heal her too.
Let's look at John 3:16, which says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who 'pisteuōn' in Him should not perish but have eternal life." It is the underlying "pistis," that same underlying word for faith. "Pistis" could be faith, could be trust, could be belief, but this verse fully means that everyone who has belief and trust in God will not perish but will have eternal life. (By the way, in one of my next episode, I'm going to expand on the word "life" from the Greek, so look forward to that!)
Do you see how learning about the underlying word in the Greek text helps to bring clarity? For example, some Bible teachers say John 3:16 means that all someone has to do is believe and they are saved, meaning just having basic belief, basic agreement, basic assent. But it's not just an acknowledgment of, "I know who Jesus is, and sure, I believe He is the Son of God and died for my sins." It is more than just agreeing with the facts of who Jesus is and what He did. It's whoever believes strongly enough that they also trust in Jesus. This is why Jesus can say to those in the Book of Luke who say, "Hey, you know Jesus, we know you, we talked about you in the streets," and Jesus unfortunately replied, "Depart from me, I never knew you." They maybe believed about who He was, but they didn't have "pistis." They didn't have belief with trust.
It's much more clear when we understand not just faith in the English sense, but "pistis" in the Greek and the way it was used. In Romans 10:9, Paul teaches that if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and "pisteuēs" in our heart that God raised Him up from the dead, we will be saved." Actually, in the Greek, the pattern of the language for Romans 10:9 reads more like this: "If you assent in your speech with the saying that Jesus is Lord and 'pisteuēs,' (believe and trust) that God raised Him out from the dead, you will be saved."
To sum up, take from this teaching and apply it when reading in the New Testament. When you see the English word faith, believe, or trust, know that the underlying Greek word is the word pistis, which means having belief with trust. Read the verses you come across that way, and you will have a better understanding of the message that was intended.
Let's close with a few more that are translated as faith in the New Testament. When we look at James 2:17, where it says "faith without works is dead," - that verse has thrown scholars and theologians into debates for centuries due to the English translation. Let me share with you how this reads in the Greek: the language is patterned more like this, "and in this manner, 'pistis,' if it does not have action, is dead by itself." So when you read it knowing the underlying word is "pistis" and knowing that the original structure of the language is written with an ending emphasis on the phrase by itself, it suddenly becomes much less debatable. We understand that the intent of the verse is to be understood as this: "and in this manner, in this way, belief with trust, if it does not have action, is dead by itself." It brings more clarity because we better understand that a belief alone doesn't necessarily imply that action be taken. However, belief with trust implies that one will be acting on that belief because they trust it. Without any action on what God tells us to do or prompts us to do, it is a dead faith or a belief that doesn't represent trust. So how can it be a living faith if it is only just a thought, just a belief, or just general assent?
Finally, in 1st Corinthians, we are told that faith, "pistis," is one of three great things that will remain forever. Paul meant that belief with trust will be what we will have forever in heaven with God and with the other believers.
The words faith, belief, and trust in the New Testament are all rooted in the word "pistis," and you are recommended to read those words as belief with trust when you come across them in the New Testament. As you do so, the debates, peculiarities, and any confusion start to melt away as we understand that faith in God and faith in Christ mean that we both believe and trust in Him. We believe and trust in His teachings, and we believe and trust in His promises.
As usual, you may listen on the "blogcast" or watch and listen at YouTube, or scroll down to read the traditional blog post below:
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Have you ever noticed that when you ask God for insight, or
for wisdom about a situation, that he often gives it to you fairly quickly?
What are some problems or situations that you could use some of God’s insight to
help resolve or manage?
In numerous situations, I’ve found that insight or an answer from God
has been given pretty quickly after asking Him for it – not always – but most
of the time.I learned something this
week about the underlying Greek in a verse in James 1, which caused me to have
some, “Yeah, that’s true!” moments.
In James 1:5, it says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let
him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be
given him.” Then the next part sounds difficult. It says, in James 1:6, “But
let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave
of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
Now, today, we sometimes use the words wisdom and knowledge
interchangeably; but in the Bible, there are two words -sophia for wisdom
and gnosis for knowledge - and they were not interchangeable. Sophia,
or wisdom, always meant having specific knowledge or insight for the purpose of
good decision making.So here, the verse
is saying – “If anyone needs insight, or needs good advice or direction based
on insight - then let him ask of God.”
Now the phrase “ask of God,” is unique because there
is more than one word in the Greek that can be translated as ask, and in
this verse, the underlying word for ask is aiteo (eye-tah’-oe).Aiteo
is used when someone is asking for something that they know they are supposed
to get because they need it, and the person they are asking has what is needed.
For example, it is used when a subordinate asks their supervisor for something
they need for the job, and they are aware that the supervisor has it and will
give it.For example, as an educator, if
I know that I need a certain textbook but I don’t have it, and I know my principal
has the books in the book closet; I know that if I ask my principal for the
book, that the principal is going to give it to me. In this situation – I lack something
I need; I know where to get it; I do have to ask for it, but I know that I will
get what I ask for because - it’s just a given. It would make no sense that my
principal wouldn’t give me the book I need in such a case. That is the type of ask that aiteo
is.We don’t have any word like aiteo
for ask in English.
What James is telling us is this: When we have any problem
or situation in which we need insight from God in how to solve, how to
navigate, or how to handle - we are told
to go to God, ask for it, and know that we will receive the insight we ask
for.God has all the wisdom, and he
knows we need it, and yes – it’s a given that God will provide the needed
insight or wisdom. The verse in James
then goes on to say that God will give “generously and without reproach.”The underlying word for generously is the
word haplos, and it means that God is ready and willing to give us the
requested wisdom, or insight, without holding anything back. The word haplos,
also can mean that God will give it readily, simply, or clearly.Finally, “without reproach” means that God, of
course, is not going to criticize us or find any fault with us or be exasperated
with us for asking for His wisdom.
Isn’t that amazing and fantastic?So understanding about that word aiteo
helps us to understand the next sentence in which James says, “one must ask
and not doubt. “ It’s not so hard to ask without doubt now, with the understanding
that we are asking in an aiteo way, in a way where we know the insight
we are asking for will be given readily, generously, and clearly.
So what problem or situation do you have right now, today,
that you need wisdom or insight from God?Ask Him! I mentioned before that one of the “ah-ha’s” that I had - when
I was studying the underlying language in this passage - is that I know, based
on my own experience, that all of this is true.When I have gone to God in close prayer, and asked God for wisdom, for insight, in a number
of different situations, I have nearly always received the insight I requested readily. It usually
has not taken long for the answer or the insight to be given.
Do any of you have similar
experiences?Some of the things I have
asked for insight on include:
What does a very
difficult passage of scripture really mean?
I’ve asked for
insight on how to best get bills paid on those months when there is more going
out than coming in.
I’ve asked for insight on relationships with others –
including co-workers, acquaintances, and even extended family members.Do you know how much heartache we might save
ourselves if we ask God to give us insight into our relationships?When you start making a new friend or maybe
start dating someone new if you are single – you can pray, and you should pray early on -
for God to give you insight on to whether or not it is going to be a good and
beneficial relationship or friendship for you.If you are in a relationship with someone who is not right for you, or
who is trying to take advantage of you – God will give you insight if you ask
Him for it.You do have to ask Him for
it; just like I had to ask for the book I needed that I knew I was going to
get.
And remember, when you ask for God's wisdom or insight, He will give it to you readily, generously, clearly, and simply. In other words, God is not going to respond with a cryptic or mysterious response that we have to figure out or decode what He gives us.
Some other areas I’ve asked for God for insight include how
to best feed myself or exercise when I have needed to lose a lot of weight for
health reasons. There were so many options and diets and exercise plans – and asking
Him for insight made a difference. In fact, my first book published was about my
experience with asking God for help with my health and my weight.The book is still available at Amazon and can
still be read for free with Kindle Unlimited. It’s simply titled Weight Loss
for Christians, and I’m the author, Sherry Elaine Evans.
When you understand more fully James 1:5; then James 1:6
also falls into place. Here it saysthat we need to ask without doubting,
otherwise we are like are just being thrown around by waves. And this is understandable
now, that if we are asking in an aiteo way, there is no doubt, because we
understand our position with God, and we understand his nature and promise in
that He will always give us His wisdom or insight when we need it and ask Him
for it.
So what is something you need God's wisdom or insight in on now, today? I encourage you to go pray about it. Go to him in prayer, to your room, or to wherever you go to be alone with God. Ask him to give you insight, direction - to give you His good advice on the situation. I do believe as the Scripture says in James that He is ready and willing and will give that to you without holding back and without criticizing you. He will give you His wisdom.
Starting in Fall of 2025, Sherry will begin hosting Online Women's Connection Group cohorts! Sign up below to receive first notification when sign ups for this opportunity begin. We also regularly share free downloadable study resources, free individual and group Bible studies; free online events and online conferences. We may also send monthly updates when a new blog post or blogcast series begins. We do not spam our email our subscribers excessively.
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