Today, I updated my teaching page on the Babel dispersion. If you get a chance take a look. The link is below.
http://thefaithfulfamily.com/bible-lessons/test-page/lesson-7-babel-dispersion/
Happy New Year!!!
George
Youth Groups – A Biblical Pattern?
Below is a portion of an email I sent to my friend Scott Brown who is a pastor from NC and also the leader of the National Center for Family Integrated Churches, www.ncfic.org. The issue that I wrote about was those claim that the Rabbis of Jesus time had youth groups and so should we. Continue reading
Posted in Making Disciples
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Lively Stones
We are painting our front hall and walls next to our stairway a color called Oyster Bay. We saw this color at the house of a pastor friend of mine in NC. This is a neat color and I sent a message to him about the different deep theological truths I have thought about using this paint. This is what happens to a former preacher who doesn’t have a regular message to give each week. I am getting a good laugh at myself and also driving my family a little crazy at the same time. Anyway, here are a few quick thoughts about pearls which are the precious stones that come from oysters.
The phrase “lively stones” which is used in 1 Peter 2:5 is another way of describing pearls. Pearls are the only precious gems which are formed in the natural process of a living organism, the oyster. “Lively stones” also describes each member of the body of Christ who is being fitted into a living temple of God. Look at the description of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 and how each of the 12 gates is a pearl. Continue reading
Calvary
The name “Calvary” is found one time in the Bible in Luke 23:33 if you have a KJV or NKJV. It is not found in any of the new versions of the English bible. Here is a sample so you can see for yourself.
ESV
33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
MSG
33 When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.
NASB
33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
NIV
33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Continue reading
Posted in Bible Translations
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The Gospel in Two Names
Here is a short post today about two names in the Bible that are almost always overlooked. The two names are Theophilus and Barabbas.
Theophilus was the man to whom Luke wrote his Gospel account and also the book of Acts. Luke’s purpose in writing to Theophilus was that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. The name Theophilus means beloved of God or friend of God. Theophilus is a type of every Christian who should know that the reason for the writing of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts is to build their confidence in their faith to the level of absolute certainty (a rock on which to stand). The emotional motivation for these two books is that believers in Jesus Christ are beloved of God. We are Theophilus.
Barabbas was the criminal who was released when Christ was crucified. He was a murderer, an insurrectionist, and a robber as the Gospels describe him. His name means son of the father. We are Barabbas. We are the sinful sons of our father, Adam. The Gospel message is that the Son of the Father is crucified in our place. We were pardoned and released while Christ was crucified in our place. How great is this salvation, how overwhelming His mercy, how free His grace.
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Matthew 25 Unpacked – Part 3
The last section of Matthew 25 is verses 31 – 46. This passage of scripture is the judgement of the nations or the judgement of the sheep and the goats. This judgement happens after Christ has returned to earth to reign. Christ, the King, will judge from his throne.
This judgement of nations seems to be all those who have survived the seven year tribulation period on the earth. Those who have died during the tribulation and were believers in Christ are described in Revelation 7:9-17. Those who died and were not believers in Christ are judged after the 1000 year reign of Christ (see Revelation 20). Continue reading
Posted in Difficult Passages
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Matthew 25 Unpacked – part 2
In this post I am going to discuss the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30. In verse 14, Jesus is the man travelling into a far country. He will travel to a far country (heaven) in less than 50 days from when he is saying this to his disciples.
Before the travelling man leaves, he delivers his goods unto his servants according to their ability. He gives one 5 talents, one 2 talents, and to another 1 talent and then goes on his journey. The talents that he is giving are not abilities or skills. Talents are a Jewish form of money or weight most often associated with gold in the Bible. One talent of gold today would have a value of over $1,000,000.00. Jesus is going to leave some things of immense value with his servants and the message in this parable is there will be a day of reckoning. Continue reading
Posted in Difficult Passages
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Matthew 25 unpacked
One of the more difficult chapters of scripture to interpret correctly is Matthew 25. I thought I would take some time this week in 3 posts to unpack this chapter verse by verse. The first passage of scripture that I will discuss tonight is verses 1 through 13, the parable of the virgins.
The chapter begins with the word, “then.” This word lets us begin with the proper time application. The when of Matthew 25 is immediately after the second coming of Christ. What you will see if you read the entire chapter is that this entire chapter is about Christ judging. A few of the elements of verse 1 need to be examined. There are ten virgins who have lamps and they went forth to meet the bridegroom. Continue reading
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The Deity of Christ Diminished
As I am finishing the week, I want to add one last post this week about English versions of the Bible. In my two previous posts this week, I showed different scripture verses in the KJV and then compared them to popular modern English translations of the Bible. Today’s post concerns the deity of Jesus Christ and how that central doctrine in Christianity is diminished in newer versions of the Bible.
The first scripture passage that I will show for comparison today is 1 Timothy 3:16. Continue reading
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The Clearest Teaching on the Trinity Removed
The clearest verse in the Bible on the doctrine of the trinity is 1 John 5:7. Below is the verse from the KJV.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Below are 4 of the more popular new versions of 1 John 5:7 for comparison. Continue reading
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