Randy Harris on Persecution in Revelation
Often we hear the message of Revelation is, “We win!” That is the end game but it is not where the letter starts. Of the seven churches in chapters 2-3 only two don’t have judgments against them (Smyrna and Philadelphia). The rest are so culturally accommodated that you can’t tell the difference between who is […]
Giving Up on Creating Community
Last week I gave up on creating community. There it is. I said it. I can’t tell you how many books and how to’s I have read and heard on how to get it done. Over the last four years I have spent a whole lot of time trying to figure out how to create […]
How To Study the Bible – Genre
One of the things you have to be aware of when studying the Bible is that all of biblical literature is written from various genres of literature. This was not done haphazardly but very deliberately and so our interpretation of these passages also has to be very deliberate. We are trying to hear the words […]
How to Study the Bible – Learning to Investigate
Investigators come on the scene to learn the truth. When they step onto a crime scene they come with hunches, suspicions, and a whole litany of preconceived ideas about how these things take place. Some of their background, education and experience will help them solve the case and other parts may get in the way. […]
How to Make Bible Study Practical – Perspective Issues 1
It is important, whether young or old, that we continue to tool and equip ourselves to study the Bible. So what I have to offer here on studying the Bible may be old news to some of you but hopefully there will be something for everyone. One of the driving forces in my Bible study […]
The Best Sermon on The Prodigal Son That I Have Ever Heard
If you like good preaching and want to hear the best sermon on the Parable of the Prodigal Son(s) that I have ever heard go to the Tulsa Workshop order page and purchase Rick Atchley’s sermon from the Tulsa Workshop 2010. It is phenomenal. The first few minutes made me think this was going to […]
John Piper on What One Must Believe to Be Saved
Have a look at this video of John Piper telling what he believes one must believe to be saved. To read a transcript click here. He includes the following: Believe and confess his Lordship and his resurrection Recognition that we sin That God exists and that he created a world where sin is a possibility […]
Five Things God Uses – Andy Stanley
Our men’s class is going through Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith by Andy Stanley. It is some really good material. He believes that just about everything God uses fits into at least one of 5 categories. Let’s see if you can think of something that wouldn’t fit into any of these: Practical […]
You Are Special
In case you need some encouragement I wanted to share a few things from the Bible about how special you are. God called his creation of mankind “very good” (Gen 1:31). You are made in God’s image (Gen 1:26). God knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). You are a temple of God’s […]
Did Jesus Break the Sabbath? John 5:18
“So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 17Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.’ 18For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he […]