How rare it is to meet with a man that smarts or bleeds with the Church’s wounds, or sensibly takes them to heart as his own.

—Richard Baxter

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A leader among the English puritans of the mid-1600s, Richard Baxter knew some of the church’s darkest days. When you feel frustration at the church’s deficiencies, remember God’s unconditional love for it and for you.

As people grow closer, friction is bound to occur. Both small and not-so-small offenses are inevitable. Nobody likes to apologize, but Scripture tells us to confess our faults to one another (James 5:16), seek reconciliation when we wrong one another (Matthew 5:23), and forgive each other (Ephesians 4:32).

While a heartfelt apology can mend even the most charred relational bridge, a poorly made apology often accomplishes the opposite. When you find yourself in the wrong, make sure your apology includes the following elements.

Express regret | “I’m sorry.”

If you feel bad, say so. Give voice to your regret. This is a necessary first step.

We’ve muddied the waters by overusing the word “sorry.” We say:

• “I’m sorry your house needs to be fumigated.”
• “I’m sorry you’re feeling under the weather.”
• “I’m sorry someone else hurt your feelings.”

None of these instances warrant an apology, but we use the word “sorry” to express solidarity with less-than-ideal circumstances. When you’re in the wrong, “I’m sorry about the circumstances” just doesn’t cut it. You have to go further.

 Accept guilt | “I was wrong.”

Take ownership of your fault. Don’t worry about properly assigning partial blame to anyone else. That’s not your job (Deuteronomy 32:35). An apology does not seek justice—it seeks forgiveness. (Click to tweet) Don’t bother with an explanation, unless one will help avoid a repeat offense.

Request forgiveness | “Will you forgive me?”

Asking for forgiveness places the offended party in control. It gives them the next move. They can choose to forgive or hold a grudge, and it won’t matter much to you which option they choose. Your business is to express regret, accept guilt, and request forgiveness. Whatever happens beyond that is someone else’s concern.

Never say “but”

If at any point you hear yourself saying “but” or “that being said,” stop. You’re doing something wrong. An apology should never include a defense or an attempt to share the blame. If the offended party chooses to own their contribution, that’s their business. Your objective is to mend a relationship by confessing a fault. Don’t replace the original fault with a new one by mounting a character defense.

If you’re serious about building a community of faith, you’ll need to master the art of apologizing.

We want to hear from you. Is this how you approach apologies? Do you include other elements? Let us know in comments.

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Faithlife.com provides not only the world’s largest study Bible, but also a digital home for your faith community. Bring your youth group, small group, Sunday school class, or family closer to the Lord and to one another with a Faithlife group.

It’s always a delight to read over a favorite passage of Scripture. Familiar words and phrases unfold, conjuring the sense of wonder we felt upon our first understanding. Unfamiliar passages can present more of a challenge, though. Personally, I would love to have the same familiarity with the whole Bible that I have with my favorite passages, like Philippians 2 and Psalm 51. That’s possible only through focused study.

Few things are more damaging than a grudge, and forgiveness is good for the soul. Release grudges. Breathe deep. Trust God to keep his promises to you.

“You have enemies. . . . Take heed to yourselves: love them. In no way can your enemy so hurt you by his violence, as you hurt yourself if you love him not.”

—Augustine of Hippo

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If you like this Quote of the Week, we have good news: there’s a lot more where that came from. 300 Quotations for Preachers will help you find precisely the right words for any occasion.

Visit Blog.Faithlife.com every Tuesday for an inspirational, thought-provoking quote from a Christian leader, historical figure, or scholar.

These verses impress upon us the depth and richness of Scripture. The point is clear: you can think about (meditate on) Scripture all day and still find new things to learn. It’s important to think about the things of God, because you become what you think about. (Click to tweet) Someone put it like this:

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

—author unknown

So what’s the difference between meditation and thinking?

Not much. Thinking carries the implication of a single possible conclusion, that some ultimate answer or idea is being sought after. Meditation has a different endgame. It’s a series of thoughts intended to affect the mind that holds them.

Meditation doesn’t really need any set-aside time or space, though you certainly could set aside time each day if you prefer. Meditation is mobile. It travels with you wherever you go, and slides into the spaces between your day’s major events. Look at all the times and places that God directs us to think about his words in Deuteronomy 6:7.

• And you shall recite them to your children (with your family)
• And you shall talk about them at the time of your living in your house (as you relax)
• And at the time of your going on the road (on your commute)
• And at the time of your lying down (as you get ready for bed)
• And at the time of your rising up (as you get ready for work)

Thankfully, as you go about your day, Faithlife is always with you—the world’s largest study Bible, ready on your phone or tablet. If you need a verse to meditate on, may we recommend our Verse of the Day? And if you’d like to know more about what the verse means, the Faithlife Study Bible has three layers of study notes for you to go as deep as you’d like.

We’d like to know: How do you keep Scripture in the front of your mind each day?

Each summer, students gather in opposite corners of the United States and pay tribute to the Creator at Creation. This year, Faithlife will be there, too.

Creation is an important time of spiritual awakening. Last year, more than 4,700 responded to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives; 450 were baptized. The Word of God is preached at Creation every day, and this year, you can follow along on your Faithlife Study Bible app with signals from the main stage. And before you arrive, you can get inspired by Scripture with Faithlife’s official Creation Reading Plan.

If you’re attending Creation (or wish you were), get your heart ready for what God plans to teach you this year—visit FaithlifeBible.com/Creation to join the Creation Reading Plan!

The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men—men of prayer.

—E. M. Bounds

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If you enjoyed this Quotes of the Week, we have good news: there’s a lot more where that came from. 300 Quotations for Preachers will help you find precisely the right words for any occasion.

Visit Blog.Faithlife.com every Tuesday for an inspirational, thought-provoking quote from a Christian leader, historical figure, or scholar.

How to unlock audio on Faithlife

It’s easy. If you don’t have the app yet, download it. If you do, update through the app store. Then, while you’re at it, tell a friend. They’ll thank you!

How to find the read-along feature

1. Open the Faithlife app.
2. Open the Lexham English Bible.
3. In Read mode, swipe down on the New Testament text to reveal the toolbar.
4. Tap the speaker icon in the top right corner.
5. Lean back and enjoy!

Android users and Logos desktop users should see the same update coming very soon. We’d love to hear from you about how you plan to use the read-along feature. Let us know in comments.

I’ve long been fascinated by the study of history. For a while, I aspired to become a historian myself. While that dream is dead and gone, my admiration for historians remains. They approach their work like surgeons, examining and analyzing every detail of every event. I admire their attention to detail, and I try to study Scripture with the same degree of concern. Here are four study methods I’ve learned from them.

Great Man | character studies

The Great Man theory, a prevailing approach to historical analysis, states that history is made by a select group of extraordinary individuals. By studying people like Alexander the Great and Charlemagne, we can understand past events. Great Man theorists spend a lot of time studying the personal correspondence and journals of influential leaders to understand their thinking and motivation.

Scripture is chock-full of correspondence and personal journals. Exodus records many of Moses’ private thoughts and prayers so that we can understand what leadership feels like, and perhaps extend more grace to our own spiritual leaders. Passages like Psalm 51 give us the cry of David’s repentant heart, articulating some very difficult feelings. The latter half of the New Testament is made up of the Paul’s correspondence with churches across Asia and Greece, showing us a blueprint for spiritual maturity. Study of these passages can help us live vicariously through the great men and women of God, learning from their mistakes and failures as if they were our own.

Trends & Forces | word studies

The Great Man theory of history has plenty of critics. Most of its intellectual opponents subscribe to the Trends & Forces theory, which is sometimes called the “fullness of time” theory—they believe that history is best understood through the study of environmental factors and social conditions. Trends & forces do a better job of explaining events that, like the Renaissance, cannot be tied to a single influential person.

We can study trends and forces in Scripture by tracing the use of a term throughout the canon. Studying words like “justice” rewards us with a clearer understanding of God’s heart when we discover passages like Isaiah 58.

Cyclical theory | type & pattern studies

One of the most ancient theories of history, the cyclical theory, tracks history as a series of revolutions. You’ve probably heard some version of the maxim that summarizes the cyclical theory: “those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.”

Scripture shows us some of the same cyclical patterns. The nation of Israel rebels against God, turns to idols, and experiences God’s judgment; then, repenting, they are delivered. This pattern is repeated time and time again throughout Judges. I have seen this same pattern emerge in my own life, and I can eavesdrop on God’s word to Israel and learn about what he might say to me were he to speak audibly. Scripture also tells us that several Old Testaments characters act as pictures of God himself. Joseph, for example, is called a “type” of Christ because the details of his life foreshadow the life of Christ.

Propaganda theory | a word of caution

We can learn a lot about Scripture when we study it with the same excellence that a historian brings to an archaeological dig. One word of caution: the Propaganda theory of history, which presumes that since history is written by the victors, our understanding is largely distorted, can lead us to some dangerous places when we apply it to our study of Scripture. Many of the scriptural writers share some less-than-flattering details in their own stories, reassuring us that God’s Word is not distorted. It is perfectly true, even when those truths are inconvenient or embarrassing.

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Serious Bible study is easier with serious Bible study software. The Faithlife Study Bible is a great place to start, but if you’d like to study in greater detail, Logos 5 is for you. Its powerful, intuitive tools and vast libraries are the perfect way to expand your understanding of the Scriptures. Visit Logos.com/Logos5 to learn more.

God has some striking things to say about pride and humility throughout the Scriptures. He says he is opposed to and far from the proud, and he says the poor in spirit will be blessed. Antony of Egypt frames the issue in an unexpected way. How does this quote strike you? Does it ring true?

“I saw all the devil’s traps set upon the earth, and I groaned and said: ‘Who do you think can pass through them?’ And I heard a voice saying: ‘Humility.’”

—Antony of Egypt

If you like this Quote of the Week, we have good news. There’s a lot more where that came from. 300 Quotations for Preachers will help you find precisely the right words for any occasion.

Visit Blog.Faithlife.com every Tuesday for an inspirational, thought-provoking quote from a Christian leader, historical figure, or scholar.