Thematic Bible: Afflictions made beneficial


Thematic Bible



But Saul began to devastate the Church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison. Verse ConceptsArrestingIntimidationenemies, of believersChurchPrisonersPulling PeopleDestruction Of The ChurchThe Church UniversalPersecutionjail

Now those who had been scattered in different directions, in consequence of the persecution that followed upon the death of Stephen, went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the Message--but only to Jews. Some of them, however, who were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, on coming to Antioch, addressed themselves also to the Jews of foreign birth, telling them the Good News about that Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, so that a great number who had learned to believe came over to the Lord's side.


in the service of which I am suffering hardships, even to being put in fetters as a criminal. But the Message of God is not fettered; Verse ConceptsChainsPersecution Of The Apostle PaulSufferingThe Word Of GodHardshipjail

At my first trial no one stood by me. They all deserted me. May it never be counted against them! But the Lord came to my help and strengthened me, in order that, through me, the proclamation should be made so widely that all the Gentiles should hear it; and I was rescued 'out of the Lion's mouth.'




















Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; through perplexed, never driven to despair; Though pursued, never abandoned; though struck down, never killed! We always bear on our bodies the marks of the death that Jesus died, so that the Life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our bodies. read more.
Indeed, we who still live are continually being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the Life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our mortal nature.




As Jesus passed by, he saw a man who had been blind from his birth. "Rabbi," asked his disciples, "who was it that sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither the man nor the parents," replied Jesus; "but he was born blind that the work of God should be made plain in him.

The sisters, therefore, sent this message to Jesus--'Master, your friend is ill'; Verse ConceptsSick IndividualsChrist's LoveFriendship And LoveLosing A FriendIllnesslazarus

"In truth I tell you," he continued, "when you were young, you used to put on your own girdle, and walk wherever you wished; but, when you have grown old, you will have to stretch out your hands, while some one else puts on your girdle, and takes you where you do not wish." Jesus said this to show the death by which Peter was to honor God, and then he added: "Follow me."






Our fathers disciplined us for only a short time and as seemed best to them; but God disciplines us for our true good, to enable us to share his holiness. No discipline is pleasant at the time; on the contrary, it is painful. But afterwards its fruit is seen in the peacefulness of a righteous life which is the lot of those who have been trained under it.









'Father,' the son said, 'I sinned against Heaven and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.' Verse ConceptsGuilt, Human Aspects OfRepentance, Examples OfConviction Of SinAfflicted Saints, Examples OfWe Have SinnedBeing A Good Father