Olive Tree Blog
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Brad Hoffman

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The Cross and the Bronze Serpent

What does the cross have to do with a snake on a pole? Jesus alludes to this event in Israel’s history during his discussion with Nicodemus in John 3. He says, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that…

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Preaching the Word

Paul concludes his final letter to his protégé Timothy with a clarion call for preaching the word. This solemn charge has served as a clear and inspiring call for generations of preachers. Let’s learn what some of these preachers have said about this passage with the ESV Church History Study…

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Wisdom and Fear in Proverbs

The two primary themes of Proverbs are introduced at the very beginning of the book. Let’s look at how the themes of wisdom and the fear of the Lord set the stage for the rest of the book. We’ll be using introductory and study notes from the Reformation Study Bible…

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Salvation Comes to the House of Zacchaeus

One of the simple signs that shows a person’s heart has been transformed by God’s grace is rejoicing in the salvation of the most despised sinners. We see this in Jesus’ encounter with the despised tax collector, Zacchaeus. When Jesus eats with Zacchaeus, the crowds grumble, exposing their ungrateful and…

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Echoes of Eden in Exodus

The story of the Bible is one of creation and re-creation. As amazing as it is to think of the future new creation, we would be mistaken if we didn’t see this theme repeated throughout the Scriptures. In fact, we discover this theme in the second book of the Bible,…

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Believe in Jesus

In the final chapter of his first epistle, the apostle John describes some of the privileges of those who believe in Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus have been born of God. Those who believe in Jesus has overcome the world. Everyone who believes in Jesus receives God’s testimony about…

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Repentance, Reformation, and Renewal Under Josiah

The Chronological Life Application Study Bible (CLASB) weaves the story of the Bible together in chronological order, which differs significantly from canonical order. One example of this is the repentance, reformation, and renewal led by Josiah in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Let’s take a look at how the CLASB…

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Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians

Halfway through his letter to the Ephesians, Paul pauses to pray for the church. He asks the Father for strengthening power, an ability to grasp the love of Christ, and that they may be filled with the fullness of God. Let’s take a brief glimpse at this profound prayer with…

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A Light Shining in a Dark Place

In Peter’s second epistle, he likens the message of the prophets to a “light shining in a dark place.” His readers are to remain fixated on the light as a true and trustworthy guide as they await the coming of Christ. Let’s learn more about the light in this passage…

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Five Christ-Like Characteristics

Enduring suffering is a challenge regardless of the situation. When the suffering is inflicted by another human being, then it is much more difficult to endure and not retaliate. That may be why Peter begins his exhortation to endure suffering with five characteristics embodied by our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s…

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