July 1, 2014. “If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:17) Is it possible for us to stand in God’s way? This question might seem ridiculous to us, but…
Tag: Paul
Repentance and baptism.
June 16, 2014. I received word this morning that one of the boys we were studying with in Nicaragua decided to get baptized into Christ! His good friend, who was studying with us too, is also considering making the decision to follow Christ. This was wonderful news. It’s great to actually see the fruit of…
To sin is to be human.
June 12, 2014. “Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but…
Times of trial.
June 10, 2014. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) I have some trouble with this verse. Intellectually I…
Nicaragua.
May 15, 2014. I am about to head out of the country for a little less than four weeks on a mission trip to Nicaragua. I’ve very excited to get this opportunity again to travel to around around the world and visit with fellow Christians who have a different language and a different culture, but…
Ephesians Part 3: Roles in Unity.
April 30, 2014. Today we will complete our study on the book of Ephesians, focusing on the last half of chapter five and chapter six. If you have been following over the past few days, you will remember that the central theme of Paul’s epistle to the church at Ephesus is unity. Unity between Jew…
Ephesians Part 2: Mature Unity.
April 29, 2014. If you have been following along the past few days, we are in the middle of a discussion of the book of Ephesians. Paul is writing to the church of Ephesus that is made up of both Jewish and Gentile Christians, a mixture that would seem to be causing a bit of…
Ephesians Part 1: Jews and Gentiles.
April 28, 2014. Today we will discuss what I see as the fist section of Ephesians, the first three chapters. Remembering what we discussed yesterday, the central theme of the epistle seems to be unity. The first three chapters deals heavily with the unity between the Jews and Gentiles. Before Christ, there was two distinct…
Ephesians overview.
April 27, 2014. I have decided to do a overview and study of Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians for the next few posts because I have not spent all that much time in the book recently and I would like to refresh and show the over arching themes of the letter, as well as some…
Traditions.
April 25, 2014. Are traditions good? Are they bad? I have heard people be vehemently against traditions and others be dead set on them. Today I would like to take a closer look at traditions, their pros and cons, and let you decide what is biblically taught about them. I am a proponent that many…
“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?”
April 22, 2014. “Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn…
Final instructions.
February 16, 2014. The apostle Paul writes two letters to the disiples in Thesslonica, both of which are short and a good read. He does something that I find very interesting and unique at the end of the first letter, however. He gives some final instructions, but they seem rushed and compacted. It’s almost like…
Twenty Eight Eighteen 