This Sunday at Church: Check up on how someone new at college is doing spiritually

For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Check up on how someone new at college is doing spiritually.

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Lesson on Courage: Marine fight off gas station robbery attempt

You might have heard of Marine veteran James Kilcer who stopped a robbery attempt at an Arizona gas station.

Here’s the newstory:

As I watched the clip I thought about how important it is to cultivate the virtue of courage.

Courage is as they say not the absence of fear; but is the ability to do the right and necessary thing despite fear.

Its one of those traits that I think easily came displayed one moment, and the next one can seem to lack courage.

We see that too in the Bible don’t we? I think of Elijah, I think of Jesus’ disciples.

I think one area of cultivating courage that you don’t see in secular self-help book is prayer and also meditating upon one’s identity in Christ:

“For God has not given us a spirit of [a]timidity, but of power and love and [b]discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

This verse shows us (1) God gives to us the Spirit to help us with courage; (2) We can have hope not to be timid, (3) our identity in Christ is a powerful motivation for courage.

How we need to pray; but also work on discipline in doing the right thing with the little things; faithful with little, faithful with much.

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30 Day Quick Bible Devotional from the Gospel of Matthew (Observations from the Greek)

Here’s a compilation of thirty of our blog’s quick devotional with each post on a verse from the first seven chapters on Matthew.  I think they are ideal for daily reading as a project for a month.  Readers might also want to read my post on “The Benefit of Morning and Evening Bible Devotions.”  If you enjoyed what you read you might also consider our Free and Now in Top 5 Languages: 31 Day Quick Bible Devotional from Paul’s Epistles.

I want each to interpret the verse well with observation from the Greek but also to apply it practically well too.

Here’s the listing:

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Apologetics Sermon Illustration #69: Bible Contradiction and Multiple Meaning of “Watch Your Back”

GO TO PART 68

Point: Sometimes when one engage in apologetics the issue of alleged Bible contradiction comes up.  There are times when those who assert that there are contradictory verses in the Bible fail to acknowledge that words can have more than one meaning and thus a word used in one context does not mean the same thing in another context.  But if one fail to recognize there are differences of meaning of the word being used in two separate contexts, a skeptic can easily assume there’s a Bible contradiction when there are none.  Are there any examples of this error to get the point across to a skeptic of their foolish methodology and mistake?

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Review: Athanasius (Christian Biographies for Young Readers Series)

A wee-kid Wednesday book review, this afternoon we look at a Christian Children’s book we recommend for your family!  I’m thankful for Michael Coughlin (Twitter, Blog) for letting me know that this series is cheaper on RHB online store).

Simonetta Carr. Athanasius (Christian Biographies for Young Readers Series).  Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, August 22, 2011. 64 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Reformation Heritage Books | Westminster | Amazon

Interested in learning about the lives and examples of early Christian believers in Church history?  Since I first learned a little about church history and the Church leader Athanasius, I always thought his life was worth studying more in-depth for not just historical knowledge but encouragement as a Christian for today’s contemporary world.  Now with this book written by Simonetta Carr both adults and children can learn about Athanasius and be edified!  This book is part of the Christian Biographies for Young Readers Series and this is the first volume I read aloud to my three daughters. The book impressed me so much that I am thinking about purchasing more books from this series!

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God’s attribute: The Love of God Part 4

This is a series on the attributes of God.

The Love of God Part 4: The Doctrine of Adoption

Establishing the need: Do you know how rich is the term “adoption” that’s found in the Bible? Have you realize how important one’s parent is in people’s lives, whether for good or bad?  There’s something about knowing about God’s work of adopting us as part of our salvation that will impact our lives!  Yet so little is written about it.  This despite the fact that it is mentioned in the Bible more than regeneration and we talk a lot about regeneration.   So, do you know how rich the doctrine of “adoption” is?

Purpose: In this session we shall explore what is the doctrine of adoption with four questions so that we can further appreciate God’s work of saving us.

1. 1. What does adoption means for the original hearers?
   2. Why do we need spiritual adoption?
   3. Who has provided our spiritual adoption?
   4. How does spiritual adoption change our lives?

Definition of adoption: “Adoption, as the term clearly implies, is an act of transfer from an alien family into the family of God Himself” (John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied, 134).

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Bible Contradiction? Did Joshua kill everyone in Gezer?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Did Joshua kill everyone in Gezer?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

Yes

“Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua defeated him and his people until he had left him no survivor.” (Joshua 10:33)

No, they were still there a little later.

“And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer; so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.” (Judges 1:29)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Review: The Son of God and the New Creation

Graeme Goldsworthy. The Son of God and the New Creation.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway, October 31, 2016.  144 pp.

3 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

What is the significant of the theme of the son and the son of God in the Bible?  If you are interested with this theme this book is for you!  The author is Graeme Goldsworthy a retired Old Testament professor and Biblical Theology specialist.

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This Sunday at Church: Talk to someone at Church about opportunity to witness on Halloween

For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Talk to someone at Church about opportunity to witness on Halloween.

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 7:15 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 7:15.  Here is my translation:

“Προσέχετε ἀπὸ τῶν ψευδοπροφητῶν, 
Watch out because of the false prophets, 

 

 οἵτινες ἔρχονται πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν ἐνδύμασιν προβάτων,

who come to you in clothing of sheeps,

 

ἔσωθεν δέ εἰσιν λύκοι ἅρπαγες. ”
but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Here are some observations:

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Presuppostional Apologetics’ Links: Third Week of October 2021

Here are the links related to Presuppositional apologetics gathered between October 15th-21st, 2021.

1.) Cave to the Cross’ Do We Have Free Will? – Ep. 146 – What About Evil? – Guarding The Sacred Treasure Of Free Will – Part 1

2.) Bible Contradiction? Is dancing a sin?

3.) Book Review: Daniel Akande’s The Folly of Unbelief

4.) Rooted In Revelation Podcast: Secular Thought And Where It Leads with Arno Fourie

5.) The Folly of Life Originating from Chemicals

6.) Natural Theology

7.) The System, the Facts, and the Problem with Traditional Apologetics

8.) Apologetics Sermon Illustration #68: All Sugar Diet, Rotten Teeth and “Feel Good” Only Doctrines

9.)The Noetic Effects of Sin & Apologetics

10.) Steve Hays’ Work On Reformation Issues

Missed the last round up?  Check out the re-blogged post from a friend

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Draft Sermon Outline: Be Amaze at Jesus claiming to be the Resurrection and the Life

This is a draft sermon outline for a brother in Christ and friend that I’ve been talking to about preaching John 11:24.

 

Some quick comments: 

• This isn’t a complete outline; there’s part that says “(Insert insight)” or “(Insert more application”) etc are areas to flesh out more.
• I am a big fan of the 4 P of preaching: Point, Proof, Picture and Practice.
• I try to make my outline reflect the passage of God’s Word that I’m preaching on.
• I like to make my points be not just information but we do something even if its being amazed with God.
• I like to have outlines when I preach to respect the time of the church service that I finish the message on time and not be beyond the time limit; so the more details gets indented in so if I need to go faster I can just summarize but I have my argument for my view saved if others ask or if I preach again somewhere else next time the same passage.

Be Amaze at Jesus claiming to be the Resurrection and the Life

(ESV)

John 11:24

Establish the need: Have you thought about the reality of death lately?  There’s no vaccine from facing eternity separated from God or eternity with God.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[a] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Purpose: Today we shall consider three truths to be amazed about concerning Jesus statement that He is the Resurrection and the Life so that we trust in Him and Worship Him today.

1. Be amaze at Jesus being the Resurrection and the Life (v.24a)
2. Be amaze at Jesus being God Himself (v.24a)
3. Be amaze at Jesus gift of eternal life (v.24b)

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Bible Contradiction? Is dancing a sin?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Is dancing a sin?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

Yes

“And it came about, as soon as Moses approached the camp, that he saw the calf and the people dancing; and Moses’ anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 20 Then he took the calf which they had made and completely burned it with fire, and ground it to powder, and scattered it over the surface of the water and made the sons of Israel drink it. 21 Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” 22 And Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil. 23 For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.’ 24 So I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ Then they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” 25 Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to the point of being an object of ridicule among their enemies— 26 Moses then stood at the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him. 27 And he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘Every man of you put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.’” 28 So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day.” (Exodus 32:19-28)

“But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 And after being prompted by her mother, she *said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”” (Matthew 14:6-8)

“An opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday, held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders, and the leading people of Galilee; 22 and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And although the king was very sorry, because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.” (Mark 6:21-28)

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

No

“Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. 21 And Miriam answered them, “Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.”” (Exodus 15:20-21)

“But Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, and behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. And she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter.” (Judges 11:34)

“Now it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with other musical instruments. 7 The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.”” (1 Samuel 18:6-7)

“And David was dancing before the Lord with all his strength, and David was wearing a linen ephod.” (2 Samuel 6:14)

““Hear, Lord, and be gracious to me; Lord, be my helper.” 11 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have untied my sackcloth and encircled me with joy, 12 That my [a]soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” ( Psalm 30:10-12)

“They shall praise His name with dancing; They shall sing praises to Him with tambourine and lyre.” ( Psalm 149:3)

“Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flute.” (Psalm 150:4)

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven— 2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4)

“I will build you again and you will be rebuilt, Virgin of Israel! You will [a]take up your tambourines again, And go out to the dances of the revelers.” (Jeremiah 31:4)

“Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old together; For I will turn their mourning into joy And comfort them, and give them joy for their sorrow.” (Jeremiah 31:13)

“But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and [a]put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.” (Luke 15:22-25)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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God’s attribute: The Love of God Part 3

This is a series on the attributes of God.

Session 40: The Love of God Part 3: God’s Love within the Trinity

Purpose: In this session we shall explore the attribute of the love of God within the Trinity members themselves as taught in the New Testament and also draw implication for the Christian life as a result of our study.

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Apologetics Sermon Illustration #68: All Sugar Diet, Rotten Teeth and “Feel Good” Only Doctrines

GO TO PART 67

 

Point: Sometimes when one engage in apologetics the issue of an unbeliever or alleged believer say they don’t like a Biblical doctrine because it isn’t “nice.”  What they go on to say is they want doctrines that are sweet, “loving” and makes them feel good inside.  How do you respond?

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