Category: Uncategorized
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Suffering and Modern Christianity
What would Paul think of these celebrity preachers on TV peddling some soft-soap “gospel”? But, maybe even more challenging is, what would Paul think of modern Christianity. As one reads the NT epistles the subject of suffering for the faith is always lingering on the edge of the discussion. Remember the word that I said…
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Revelation Replays
God rules from on high. I take the position that Revelation is rooted in the history of the original readers, but the points are repeated throughout history. Thus, the Apocalypse was written to the first-century Christians and the oppression, violence, and vitriol, that they were facing. The might, power, influence, and control of the Roman…
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What Is the Standard?
Albert Bell notes, “The results of scholarly investigation cannot be the foundation of faith because the results of scholarship in this field, as in any other, may endure only until the next book on the subject appears. Today’s ‘final’ word on a problem can become a footnote in the next book or article presenting the…
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Hebrews and James for Today
The old traditional hymn rings in my ears when reading epistles like Hebrews and James. “I have decided to follow Jesus… No turning back…” The Christian faith has serious demands placed upon it, demands that cannot be cast aside lightly. There is no turning back, there is no quitting, and there is no room for…
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False Teachers in Peter, John, and Jude
In some circles of modern theology, the topic of false teachers is avoided. Yet, the general epistles of Peter, John, and Jude can’t seem to leave the topic alone. This was a present danger in the first century and the danger has not left. We should be clear about a few things: (1) This is…
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Rooted in the Resurrection
The Corinthian congregation was riddled with problems. Paul had to address numerous things that would be repugnant, even to our morally depraved society. A sectarian spirit permeated this group (chs. 1-4). Sexual immorality “of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles” (1 Cor. 5:1b). Folks were eating with no regard for…
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Lessons from I Corinthians
The gospel calls us to do things that seem ignorant compared to the “enlightened world” around us. This may be more evident in Paul’s first Corinthian epistle than in other places. In chapter one Paul argues, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being…
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Lessons from Acts
God works through His people. One of the greatest truths as a reader passes from Luke’s gospel to Acts is that Jesus started something (Gospel) and His people continue it (Acts). Consider Peter’s comments when he begins his sermon to Cornelius: The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus…
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Lessons from Romans
If every Christian would regularly read chapters one, two, and three and remember they fit in there with everyone else, Christianity would be better for it. Paul seems to write every epistle with a deep awareness of who he once was and who he would still be were it not for the gospel of Jesus…
The Preacher's Desk 