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There is an inseparable link between our faith and how we live our lives. In his letter to his coworker, Titus, Paul gives us practical instruction on godly living as well as qualifications for Church leaders. While Paul paints a picture of what a healthy Church looks like, he also emphasizes the Gospel as the source of godliness: "...he saved us not because of works done by us in righteousness but according to his own mercy...."

David is dead, and Solomon takes the throne. First Kings begins with a united kingdom and ends with division. This is a story of a monarchy's breakdown, but it is also a story of God's tireless desire to maintain a relationship with his people.

A plumb line and a basket of ripe fruit: two things the prophet Amos sees in visions. But what could these things symbolize? Listen to Amos, a lowly shepherd, as he warns the wealthy and religious Israelites about their idolatry and injustice to the poor. Could God be giving this prophet signs of the coming judgment?

Idolatry, rebellion, disobedience, pride. Second Kings illustrates the collapse of a divided nation that turned its back on God. This, however, does not change the fact that God is faithful. Like any good father, he does not allow his children's sinfulness to carry on without discipline.

Imagine marching hundreds of miles across the wilderness in order to get to a land flowing with abundance, filled with lush meadows and beautiful flowers. In Numbers, the Israelites are headed to the "promised land” of Canaan. This journey may take longer than expected. Will they remain faithful to the God who brought them out of Egypt?

The apostle Peter writes to churches pertaining to the false teachers and opposition among them. His letter is a reminder that God's grace is not only pardon but also power to live righteously in the face of opposition. Because we have the Holy Spirit, we can pursue holiness, bear fruit, and deny false teachers. Peter's exhortations are an encouragement to remain steadfast and firm in the faith.

Like many of us, the Thessalonians need to be reminded of the reality of Christ's second coming. In this book Paul encourages believers to look forward to the second coming as the final accomplishment of God's promise to save his people. In light of the Thessalonians' false sense of security, Paul addresses the timing of the second coming only by saying, "...the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night" (1 Thes. 5:2).

As Christians we have a hope that withstands all trouble. In fact while many strive to avoid suffering, believers can actually rejoice in it. Why? Because God will vindicate his people. We can rest in God's salvation now and look forward to the day he will bring full redemption. This letter, written by the Apostle Peter, points us to Christ in times of tribulation and encourages us to persevere in the midst of suffering.

Beginning with a magnificent prologue, Shakespearean actor Nigel Gore's beautiful narration of the Gospel According to St. John makes this famous story wholly accessible as possible to the modern ear.

In this timely and important new recording, The Gospel According to Matthew sparkles with new light in the hands of award-winning narrator Alison Larkin. Matthew is the first of the four gospels in the New Testament. Held in high esteem by the church, no other text was so frequently quoted in the noncanonical literature of earliest Christianity.

Salvation from the Lord has no barriers. The prophet Zechariah teaches God’s people that the invitation of salvation goes out to all people, regardless of their nationalities. In this book the prophet foresees people from all over the world worshipping God. Listen to Zechariah as he scolds the people for their disobedience and tells of the future restoration of the faithful.

While there is suffering, evil, sickness, and death in this world, the book of Joel reminds us that we have an everlasting hope through it all. Joel warns the people of Judah as a horrifying locust plague has come upon them. He urges the people to repent and return to God, predicting that this is just the beginning of their judgment. Thankfully Joel's prophecies do not end there.

As Christians we often face opposition while doing kingdom work. It is sometimes easy for us to forget about God's sovereignty and become discouraged. The prophet Haggai challenges God's people to trust in God's power as they face local opposition while building the Temple. He encourages them to repent and look to God for strength. Listen to Haggai as he draws attention to common struggles we face today.

While it is not known when or where exactly The Book of Chronicles was written, it is speculated that it was written around 537 BC. The second Book of Chronicles details the reign of King Solomon, who was the son of King David. He ruled over Jerusalem as a just and prosperous king. Solomon built the temple as instructed by his father. After a 40-year rule, King Solomon died and thus began the reign of his son, Rehoboam. During the rule of King Rehoboam, the key tribes of Jews in Jerusalem rebelled against him, resulting in the division of the kingdom, except the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

In light of Jesus' second coming, we should not be compelled to hide out until his return; rather, we should be actively participating in his restoration plan for the world as we wait in anticipation. Paul teaches the Thessalonians that the second coming should not paralyze believers from doing work for the kingdom. Instead it should motivate them to live in a way that is pleasing to God. We all have duties to complete before Jesus' return, so we should "...not grow weary in doing good" (2 Thes. 3:13).

After admonishing believers in Corinth for their sinful ways and abuse of grace, Paul writes a second letter, commending them for their positive response to his first letter. He expresses his joy in hearing that they've repented and embraced his teachings. Paul then goes on to encourage believers to "...take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Listen as he reminds the church at Corinth that God has made them a new creation in Christ.

Giving practical advice for showing hospitality and having a charitable heart toward others, the Apostle John focuses on living life in a way that displays one's love for God. Another vital aspect of this book is John's warnings about false teachers. These individuals "have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist" (2 John 7).

The Gospel does not discriminate. We see this in Paul’s letter to Philemon as he asks him to take back his runaway slave, Onesimus, not as a slave but rather as a beloved brother in Christ. Onesimus ran away from his master, Philemon, and escaped to Rome. On his journey he ran into the Apostle Paul and became a Christian. In Paul’s letter to Philemon, it becomes evident that the Gospel can transform lives and unite two unexpected people as brothers.

We do not know when the Book of Ezra was written or by whom. Parts of it were written in the first-person narrative. Also, it was written in both Hebrew and Aramaic (the language used by Persians). It narrates the story of the return of exiled Jews from Babylon back to Jerusalem ordered by King Cyrus, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, who is appointed governor. Upon his return, he builds an altar and starts to build a temple. His team’s efforts are cut short as the descendants of the Jews who were not exiled to Babylon lodge a complaint with King Cyrus

The Books of Samuel, 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, form part of the narrative history of Israel in the Nevi'im or "prophets" section of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, called the Deuteronomistic history, a series of books (Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings) that constitute a theological history of the Israelites and aim to explain God's law for Israel under the guidance of the prophets. According to Jewish tradition, the book was written by Samuel, with additions by the prophets Gad and Nathan.