Daily Devotional

Leaning into Hope

Romans 8:21–25|Thursday, December 5, 2024

Emily Dickinson called hope “the thing with feathers.” Hope, said the poet, is like a tiny bird that sings despite the storm. In Romans 8, Paul described the groaning of creation. It is not a cry of despair but an expression of longing for transformation.

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Author Video

A Conversation with This Month's Author

Dr. John Koessler is Professor Emeritus of Applied Theology and Church Ministries at Moody Bible Institute. John authors the "Practical Theology" column for Today in the Word of which he is also a contributing writer and theological editor.

Hope Is Born

Living Between Two Advents

John Koessler

Monthly Study

Today with the President

Make Room for Jesus

When my daughter and her husband moved, they asked if they could store a few things in our garage. But their furniture and boxes took up so much space, our car was forced onto the driveway. My garage became a clutter zone. I believe all of us struggle at times, especially at Christmas, with the clutter zone of our spiritual lives. Our lives get overtaken with presents, parties, and planning.

Practical Theology

Days and Seasons

While Advent is an important part of the Christmas season for many, others seem to ignore it. How should we treat these differences? Paul describes such matters as “disputable” (see Rom. 14:1). Here, the Greek term expresses the idea of something that is doubtful or argued about. It can be something we do or something we avoid doing. In Paul’s day, disputes within the church often revolved around food and religious days (Rom. 14:2, 5).

Discussion Starters

Hope is Born | Discussion Starters

What does it mean when we say there are the two Advents? How do both Advents bring us hope?

John Koessler

Author

Family Studies

The whole family can read, understand, and imagine God's word together with Family Studies, a free, printable companion devotional from Today in the Word.

Page

Daily Devotional Bible verse: Luke 1:17 He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah.

December 2024

Were the Disciples Illiterate?

Some skeptics say that almost everyone in Jesus’ ministry context was illiterate, including His disciples. This misconception fuels the suspicion that the New Testament must contain forgeries. After all, Matthew couldn’t have written the Gospel that bears his name if he couldn’t read or write at all (let alone compose a literary work in Greek).

Whether one should be involved with a church whose doctrinal views differ from one’s own has divided many Christians. The answer depends upon a combination of factors, including how we define involvement, the nature of doctrinal differences, and the conviction of our conscience. The apostle Paul seems to have applied a flexible standard on some matters, keeping certain fundamental beliefs as his benchmark.

John Koessler

Q & A

Let’s Bring Light to the Darkness!

Drawing from the Scriptures and the life of Jesus, Dr. Joseph M. Stowell, friend and former president of Moody Bible Institute, provides a hope-filled, courageous response that empowers us to light up the darkness by living like Jesus in a non-Jesus world. Make a special year-end gift by December 31 to ensure the world knows Hope is Born, and we will send you this book as a thank you for your gift!

Request your copy today!