Four different Greek words are translated "world" in the New Testament, but Jesus and the New Testament writers only use one word, kosmos, when employing the phrase, "the foundation of the world."

Before closing this three-part study on the phrase, "written from the foundation of the world," we still need to understand two prepositions: "from" and "before." One or the other appears in each of the ten Scripture references to "the foundation of the world." And the placement of the prepositions is key.

There doesn't appear to be any scriptural support for a reversal of fortune in hell. Once there, Satan, demons, and the unrepentant wicked spend eternity without a chance for redemption. Nevertheless, some in the early church held a different view.

In this month's guest column, Ed Croteau writes, "One of several proof texts for God's everlasting covenant with Israel is found in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, where God clearly states that He will keep His promise. He has a future plan for His ethnic people Israel - even the promise to provide an atonement for their sins one day!

In Exodus 32, While Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the stone tablets on which God has inscribed his law (Exod. 31:18), the Israelites below worry about the delay in their leader's return. So, they gather around Aaron and say to him, "Come, make gods for us who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt -- we don't know what has happened to him!" (Exod. 32:1). What happens next introduces us to the book of life.

Whether you’re the mother of a toddler or an angsty teenager, one thing we all have in common is the need for regular prayer. Hillary Ferrer and Julie Loos (of the Mo. Baptist Apologetics Network) developed a habit of journaling prayers early in their lives, which became the foundation for their prayer habit with their families. They share how raw, honest prayer is essential to navigating the ups and downs of the parenting journey.

When Southern Baptists gathered in Memphis in 1925 for their annual meeting, they made two historic decisions. First, they established the Cooperative Program, the SBC's funding mechanism for missions at home and abroad. And, they affirmed a new statement of faith called The Baptist Faith & Message. Both CP and the BF&M celebrate their 100th anniversaries this year. Missouri Baptists, through High Street Press, have created a guide for personal or group study for the BF&M.

The Book of Life: What the Bible Says About God's Registry of the Redeemed addresses key questions about this fascinating book: What is the book of life? Why does it exist? Whose names are written there? Once entered, can names be erased? And how can I know if my name is recorded there? Written for pastors and laypersons alike, this resource is designed for personal or group study.