1. Jesus Christ showed a range of proper emotions.
"Jesus wept" (John 11:35; see also Mark 3:5, anger; Mark 1:41, compassion; John 15:11, joy).

2. Our emotions can be an important part of needed changes.
"For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter" (2 Corinthians 7:11).

3. But our emotions must be under control.
"A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back" (Proverbs 29:11).

For more about emotions, see "God's Feelings About Emotions."

1. God will save the world from total self-destruction for "the elect's sake."
"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:21-22).

2. The elect of God should act with love as God does.
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" (Colossians 3:12-13).

3. God wants Christians to diligently do His will to make their election sure.
"Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10-11).

For more about our calling and election, see "Called, Chosen and Faithful."

These "3 Bible Tips" and the Bible study lessons are posted at the Bible Study Guides website.

1. A vital part of starting a new congregation included appointing elders to serve the congregation.
"So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed" (Acts 14:23).

2. Paul listed qualifications for elders.
"For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict" (Titus 1:5-9; see also 1 Timothy 3:1-7).

3. Peter encouraged the elders to lovingly care for the Church and be good examples.
"The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away" (1 Peter 5:1-4).

For more about elders, see "Leadership: A Biblical Perspective."

1. Hardships can lead to discouragement and complaining.
"Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread'" (Numbers 21:4-5).

2. But remembering that God is with us can help us avoid discouragement.
"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6).

3. We should avoid discouraging others, including those in our own family.
"Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged" (Colossians 3:21).

For more on dealing with discouragement, see "Vision: A Key to Combating Discouragement."

What Bible passages would you add?

These “3 Bible Tips” and the Bible study lessons are posted at the Bible Study Guides website.

1. It is not wise to get into debt.
"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender" (Proverbs 22:7).

2. It is not wise to become security for another's debts, especially if you can't afford to pay.
"Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, one of those who is surety for debts; if you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?" (Proverbs 22:26-27).

3. Spiritually, we should remember how much we have been forgiven and forgive others.
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:12, 14-15).

For more about debt, see “Are You a Slave to Debt?” For more about forgiveness, see “God’s Forgiveness: What Does He Require From You?”

What Bible passages would you add?

These “3 Bible Tips” and the Bible study lessons are posted at the Bible Study Guides website.

1. Dancing can be used to praise God.
"Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them: ‘Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!’" (Exodus 15:20-21).

2. Dancing can be used for wrong purposes.
"So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain" (Exodus 32:19).

3. God promises a time of joy and dancing in the Kingdom of God.
"Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old, together; for I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow" (Jeremiah 31:13).

For more about dancing, see "Why do some religious groups teach that dancing is not appropriate for unmarried people? What does the Bible say?"

What Bible passages would you add?

These "3 Bible Tips" and the Bible study lessons are posted at the Bible Study Guides website.

1. God created all things through the Word, the One who became Jesus Christ.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:1-3).

2. The invisible God reveals Himself through the creation.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:20-21).

3. Our Creator is now working in us to create His spiritual character.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

For more about creation, see Creation or Evolution: Does It Really Matter What You Believe?

What Bible passages would you add?

These "3 Bible Tips" and the Bible study lessons are posted at the Bible Study Guides website.

1. God encourages us to take courage.

“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7; see also 1 Corinthians 16:13; Hebrews 13:5-6).

2. Church brethren can encourage each other, as the Church members from Rome encouraged Paul.

“And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage” (Acts 28:15).

3. We can be encouraged by stories of the courage of God’s people.

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up’” (Daniel 3:16-18; read the rest of the story about how God miraculously saved them in verses 19-30).

For more about courage, see “Take Courage.”

What Bible passages would you add?

These “3 Bible Tips” and the Bible study lessons are posted at the Bible Study Guides website.

1. Some advice we should avoid—the counsel of the ungodly.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful” (Psalm 1:1).

2. Seek a multitude of wise counselors.

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14; see also Proverbs 1:5).

3. Most of all, we should seek God’s counsel.

“You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:24; see also Proverbs 3:5-7).

For more about counsel, see “Got a Decision to Make? Read This First.”

What Bible passages would you add?

These “3 Bible Tips” and the Bible study lessons are posted at the Bible Study Guides website.

1. Doing wrong brings automatic penalties that eventually correct us.

“‘Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the Lord your God, and the fear of Me is not in you,’ says the Lord God of hosts” (Jeremiah 2:19; see also Galatians 6:7-8).

2. God corrects us out of love for our eternal benefit.

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3:11-12; see also Hebrews 12:5-11).

3. The goal is for us to examine ourselves in the light of the Bible and become self-correcting.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17; see also 2 Corinthians 7:11; 13:5).

For more about correction, see “Gaining From Godly Correction.”

What Bible passages would you add?

These “3 Bible Tips” and the Bible study lessons are posted at the Bible Study Guides website.