1st century Christianity in the 21st century
My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother, for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. (Proverbs 1:8-9)
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent … My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. (Proverbs 1:10, 15-16)
Continue reading “Solomon’s Wisdom for Life: The Instruction Of A Father”
Zoe’s team won the President’s Cup in Indiana yesterday! They will go on to St. Louis to compete in the Midwest Regional in a couple weeks. While she played the Saturday game, she missed the championship game on Sunday.
Continue reading “Priorities (guest writer, Josh Welch)”
The opening chapters to the book of Genesis reveal details concerning the creation of the earth and of mankind, as well as many firsts (first man, first woman, first marriage, first command, first sin, first sacrifices, first children, first murder —you get the point). Genesis is the book of beginning after beginning. And yet within those early chapters were are some often forgotten or seldom mentioned tidbits. Let’s note some of them here.
Continue reading “Insight On The Beginning Of Sin And Sacrifice”
The gift of tongues is spoken of multiple times in the New Testament. Mark 16:17 lists it among other miraculous gifts which would follow those who believe. The book of Acts says the apostles spoke with tongues (Acts 2) as well as the house of Cornelius (Acts 10) and the disciples at Ephesus (Acts 19). In writing to the Corinthian church, Paul mentioned the gift of tongues 12x in the three chapter context of 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14. Obviously it is an important Bible topic, and unfortunately one which is often misunderstood in today’s religious world. Let’s note a few things about tongues.
Continue reading “A Look At The Miraculous Gift of Tongues”
OPTIMISM: It has been one of my greatest challenges to see the glass as half-full rather than half-empty, to see the upside of a situation rather than the downside, to see the potentiality for success rather than the predicting failure, to be positive rather than negative, to be encouraging rather than complaining, to be optimistic rather than pessimistic, to look for the good rather than the flaw, to hope in the future rather than dread it, to pick people up rather than nitpick, to patiently endure rather than hastily quit.
Continue reading “Optimism (guest writer, Josh Welch)”
Finding Jesus in the Old Testament #8
2 Samuel 24:16-17
David had sinned against the LORD by numbering the people. The prophet Gad came to David, giving him a choice of three things which would come as a result. That day, the LORD brought a plague upon the land, and seventy thousand men of Israel died (1 Chronicles 21:14). After this great number had died, the LORD restrained the Angel of the LORD, for it was enough. In 1 Chronicles 21:16, we read:
Continue reading “Other References to the Angel of the LORD | Finding Jesus in the Old Testament”Finding Jesus in the Old Testament #7
YOU HAVE NOT OBEYED MY VOICE
After Israel had settled in the promised land, but before the death of Joshua (Judges 2:6), the Angel of the LORD came to the children of Israel. He rebuked them,
Continue reading “Gideon and Samson’s Parents | Finding Jesus in the Old Testament”Finding Jesus in the Old Testament #6
Standing Before Balaam
In Numbers 22, Balak (king of Moab) sent messengers to Balaam (prophet of God) asking him to curse the people of Israel, for they had settled near him and were too mighty for him (v 5-6). Balaam inquired of the LORD and was told that he should not go with Balak’s men, nor should he curse the people, for they were blessed (Numbers 22:12; cf. Genesis 12:3).
Continue reading “Standing Before Balaam and Joshua | Finding Jesus in the Old Testament”Finding Jesus in the Old Testament #5
RECEIVING THE LAW AT SINAI
Having come out of Egypt, the children of Israel arrived at the base of Horeb, the same place where God had appeared to Moses when He sent him to Egypt. Moses recorded,
Continue reading “On Mount Sinai and in the Wilderness | Finding Jesus in the Old Testament”Finding Jesus in the Old Testament #4
The BURNING BUSH
As we have noted already in the course of our study, “…no one has seen God at any time…” (John 1:18; cf. 6:46; 1 John 4:12). Yet there are times in the Old Testament where we read about God appearing to man. This is not the Father, but the Son, who has come to declare the Father to us (John 1:18; 14:9-10).
Continue reading “The Burning Bush and Pillar of Fire | Finding Jesus In The Old Testament”