Thursday, December 15, 2011
Divorce
A question that arose elsewhere but would be a good thing to contemplate here: In Matthew 19:9, Jesus taught on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. was the focus of that verse the divorce being sinful or the remarriage being sinful?
Fellowship
Christians cannot "withdraw fellowship" if we are speaking in Bible terms. Fellowship is determined by our faithfulness to God (I John 1:7). We can withdraw company, but company and fellowship are NOT the same thing. I realize what we MEAN by saying "withdraw fellowship," but we ought to speak of Bible things in Bible ways, and the Bible says we withdraw "company" (1 Corinthians 5:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:14), which is a result of fellowship already being broken.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Instrumental Music in the time of writing the New Testament
New Testament Church used only vocal music
Ephesians 5:19
Colossians 3:16
Matthew 26:30
It is sinful to add to or take from God's word
Revelation 22:18-19
Deuteronomy 4:2
Vain worship
Matthew 15:9
Acappella Music
http://www.acappella.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_cappella
Ephesians 5:19
Colossians 3:16
Matthew 26:30
It is sinful to add to or take from God's word
Revelation 22:18-19
Deuteronomy 4:2
Vain worship
Matthew 15:9
Acappella Music
http://www.acappella.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_cappella
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Too Good to Be True?
Too Good to be True?
by Rubel Shelly
June, 1993
http://www.wineskins.org/filter.asp?SID=2&co_key=1699
What’s the most astounding, sensational, eye-popping thing you’ve heard lately?
Here’s my real-life, serious candidate for life’s most implausible fact: God loves me, has saved me in Jesus Christ, and will soon welcome me to live with him in heaven!
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Astonishing! Incredible! Too good to be true?
Here is the way teachers who are not led by the Spirit of God teach forgiveness and security: “Well, you need to realize that you can lose your salvation, that it is possible to fall from grace. So there won’t be any condemnation for those who remain faithful, continue to grow in spiritual things, stay away from the old sins you used to commit, and show the fruit of continual transformation.”
Can Christians fall from grace? Absolutely. Are we obligated to put off the old man and put on the new? Of course. But Paul announces God’s merciful verdict on Christians before the trial starts. No condemnation!
“Rubel, you just can’t put such strong emphasis on grace. People will take it as permission to sin!”
Both Paul and I know that grace is subject to abuse. Does grace mean that Christians can just go ahead and sin deliberately? God forbid! (Romans 6:1).
Grace is not God’s permission to sin. We already have that! No, not his advice or consent. But God made us to be radically free people and will not treat us as puppets. If we want to sin, he will not stop us. But the notion that it helps people to avoid sin by filling them with guilt, terror, and neurotic insecurity is an overrated theory of holiness.
God’s answer to sin is not “Stop it, scumbag!” but “Look at my son on the cross, and see how much I love you!” Where sin increased, grace increased all the more. His one righteous act brings life for all men. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Unthinkable! But true!
So believe it and weep. Weep for joy. And out of a spirit of gratitude for his stunning love, honor him in obedience born of gratitude rather than guilt, of security rather than shame.
by Rubel Shelly
June, 1993
http://www.wineskins.org/filter.asp?SID=2&co_key=1699
What’s the most astounding, sensational, eye-popping thing you’ve heard lately?
Here’s my real-life, serious candidate for life’s most implausible fact: God loves me, has saved me in Jesus Christ, and will soon welcome me to live with him in heaven!
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Astonishing! Incredible! Too good to be true?
Here is the way teachers who are not led by the Spirit of God teach forgiveness and security: “Well, you need to realize that you can lose your salvation, that it is possible to fall from grace. So there won’t be any condemnation for those who remain faithful, continue to grow in spiritual things, stay away from the old sins you used to commit, and show the fruit of continual transformation.”
Can Christians fall from grace? Absolutely. Are we obligated to put off the old man and put on the new? Of course. But Paul announces God’s merciful verdict on Christians before the trial starts. No condemnation!
“Rubel, you just can’t put such strong emphasis on grace. People will take it as permission to sin!”
Both Paul and I know that grace is subject to abuse. Does grace mean that Christians can just go ahead and sin deliberately? God forbid! (Romans 6:1).
Grace is not God’s permission to sin. We already have that! No, not his advice or consent. But God made us to be radically free people and will not treat us as puppets. If we want to sin, he will not stop us. But the notion that it helps people to avoid sin by filling them with guilt, terror, and neurotic insecurity is an overrated theory of holiness.
God’s answer to sin is not “Stop it, scumbag!” but “Look at my son on the cross, and see how much I love you!” Where sin increased, grace increased all the more. His one righteous act brings life for all men. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Unthinkable! But true!
So believe it and weep. Weep for joy. And out of a spirit of gratitude for his stunning love, honor him in obedience born of gratitude rather than guilt, of security rather than shame.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
DISCIPLESHIP
•Read Luke 14:25-33
•According to theses verses, what characterizes a disciple?
•vs.26:
•vs.27:
•vs.28:
•Do you think these characteristics in Luke 14 are external actions, internal attitudes, or both? Explain your answer.
•From the following verses what action does Jesus say characterize the lives of His disciples?
•John 8:31
•John 13:34-35
•John 15:18
•Using the scriptures in questions 1 & 2 write a brief definition of a disciple?
•Jesus standards for His disciples are high.
Why do you think so?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Jesus Is The Answer
While a man was swimming at a popular swimming hole in a river, he noticed that people starting to get out of the water. Not wanting to get out the water but concerned that an alligator might have found his way down river, he hollered to someone on the shore. "Are there any alligators in this river?"
"No not a single one," assured a man who was standing on the shore nearby.
The swimmer was still disturbed. Again he asked: "If there are no alligators, what are those gray forms I see? Are you sure there are no alligators?"
Certainly," replied this newly-made friend who was standing on the shore. "Those gray forms you see are sharks that have chased the alligators away."
There is the tendency for persons nowadays to think technology, education, psychology, or medicine can solve all of our problems. So often, though, all we do is swap alligators for sharks. There are a lot of things out there that claim to be the solution to our problems, but there is only one thing that is guaranteed to work—that is the words and wisdom given to us from God our father. So next time you are trying to handle a problem, turn to him first and don't swap alligators for sharks.
"No not a single one," assured a man who was standing on the shore nearby.
The swimmer was still disturbed. Again he asked: "If there are no alligators, what are those gray forms I see? Are you sure there are no alligators?"
Certainly," replied this newly-made friend who was standing on the shore. "Those gray forms you see are sharks that have chased the alligators away."
There is the tendency for persons nowadays to think technology, education, psychology, or medicine can solve all of our problems. So often, though, all we do is swap alligators for sharks. There are a lot of things out there that claim to be the solution to our problems, but there is only one thing that is guaranteed to work—that is the words and wisdom given to us from God our father. So next time you are trying to handle a problem, turn to him first and don't swap alligators for sharks.
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