Saturday, May 16, 2009
Something I just found... Written on 10/13/06
I have read a book by D. A. Carson, "Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church." He explains the Emergent Church very well. BTW, this man came to our school to speak the the teachers a while ago... The Emergent Church movement brings a plethora of postmodern ideas. Notice how I said "movement." Not too many Churches will claim to be Emergent Churches, rather it is a movement starting to appear in "regular" Churches. Carson explains how we can deal with the movement. As you have probably already realized, the postmodern culture arisen has a lot to do with the Emergent Church. You will have a spectrum of different Emergent and postmodern supporters. You have some that allorgorize and spiritualize the scriptures so that nothing is authoritative, which brings relative truth. Then you have some Emergent Church idealists who don't look at the Scriptures at all. Carson writes about McLaren who is an Emergent Church writer. Emergent Church (or can I say postmodern) writers are interested in conversation, not truth. They are awfully authoritative for speaking truth relative. Postmodernism has many implications. Some will think that we need to present the Gospel in a way that people can understand. This is a good idea, yet we don't have to change the Scriptures to do this. The Scriptures are not bound by culture, language, or societal differences between the the time it was written and our day. The scriptures are written by a supernatural God, therefore it will take a supernatural Helper to understand the things of God. Men cannot change the meaning of the Bible. The Holy Spirit will guide and illumine the broken who are chosen by God. So as we approach a postmodern society who thinks that even the bible is relative, we cannot bring a relative Gospel to reach them. We need to bring and offer them the one and only Word of God that is able to cut and pierce any soul making them dead to themselves and alive to Christ! The Word does change people. I like to think of the Emergent Church this way: In trying to contextualize the Gospel they have committed syncratism.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Matthew Chapter 7 Study Questions:
Matthew Chapter 7 Study Questions:
SERMON ON THE MOUNT: CONCERNING CRITICISM/PRAYER/DECEPTION/RESULTS OF BELIEF:
Criticism verses (1-6): Is Judging or criticism bad?
It could be sin, but it could be good. He gives yet another warning. It is very easy to judge and find faults in other people. Everyone is good at this. As Christians we must make sure we are not being hypocritical.
What sort of things could happen if you criticize a brother or sister for something they are doing which is sin according to God's law, and yet you are doing the same things?
-Unfruitfulness
-God's judgment
So what are specks?
How do we remove these specks in eyes?
-very carefully
-God's Word
What is verse 6 talking about?
-Who are the swine and the dogs?
-What makes a person unclean?
-What holy things could Jesus be referring to? (Is it possible Jesus is giving another warning within context about the reaction that one will get if they give the Law to an unbeliever?)
-What two things will be destroyed?
Prayer Encouragement (verses 7-11):
What does asking, seeking and knocking refer to?
Are these commands?
What are the reasons Jesus gives to pray?
Why is it so important to pray?
What happens when we don't pray?
- we disobey, these are commands in the Greek- imperatives
- James 4:2 - .... then you don't have
- When we don't pray it hinders and interferes our communication with God which disrupts our effectiveness with glorifying God, preaching the gospel, fellowshipping with other believers, and renders us apathetic to read the scriptures. Our reliance upon God and bring our needs to Him continually is critical in our walk with the Lord. As a regenerated believer, it will make you spiritually handicap and hopefully it will make you depressed. There is great joy in trusting and relying upon God even if you are in a difficult circumstance. It should also bring us joy to know that God the father loves to give good gifts to His children in a more sincere way than any father we have seen on Earth has exercised. Jesus goes so far as to call his followers evil in comparison to the holiness of the heavenly father. Earthly fathers often have limitations to what they can give and the time that they can share in giving to their children. God has no limitations when we bring our requests to Him to open doors for our properly motivated desires, to find things that should be found and to have things that we have asked for. Let us not forget how giving our God is! -- Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all thing?"
Golden rule (verse 12): further instruction about how we should live before humanity
How should we conduct ourselves before other people as Christians?
The two types of ways that people can take (verses 13 & 14):
We are now near the end of Jesus' sermon on the mount and He has been giving instructions, encouragements, and commands. If it were not obvious to the reader yet, we see the great difference between living as the hypocritical world and following Jesus. One way is easy, and one way is difficult. One way is popular and one is notorious to the world. One leads to life and one leads to death.
What do the two gates represent?
What do the two ways represent?
Warning of deceivers and deception (verses 15-23):
What things should we watch out for?
-That we don't get fooled by “holy” appearances
-The actions of men
Why does Jesus mention these things?
How has this warning played out in the early Church?
Is this meant to be a hidden parable or is this plane language?
John 15:5
Does doing good works and even calling upon the name of the Lord make one a follower of Jesus Christ? Do these things make one right with God?
-NO! Men can do these things but can still not be known by God. People can do great deeds for other people but still be practicers of lawlessness in God's sight. This information is for our edification and to warn others as well. This isn't necessarily marching orders to look for lawlessness in people.
When we move to new places or attend other meetings with believers, do we assume the best or look for wickedness? Can looking for wickedness hinder or goals of sharing the Gospel?
What attitude should we have when meeting new believers? Should we be intently looking for faults?
What should we do when we hear clear teaching against the knowledge of God written in the Bible?
Result of listening and doing the things Jesus has taught on the mount (verses 24-27):
Is it enough to hear these sayings of Jesus?
The power of His word (verses 28 & 29):
What was the Effect of Jesus' words and the way in which He presented them?
What is the effect of Jesus’ words today?
Isaiah 55:11
Hebrews 1:3, 4:12
What will be the effects of Jesus words in the future?
SERMON ON THE MOUNT: CONCERNING CRITICISM/PRAYER/DECEPTION/RESULTS OF BELIEF:
Criticism verses (1-6): Is Judging or criticism bad?
It could be sin, but it could be good. He gives yet another warning. It is very easy to judge and find faults in other people. Everyone is good at this. As Christians we must make sure we are not being hypocritical.
What sort of things could happen if you criticize a brother or sister for something they are doing which is sin according to God's law, and yet you are doing the same things?
-Unfruitfulness
-God's judgment
So what are specks?
How do we remove these specks in eyes?
-very carefully
-God's Word
What is verse 6 talking about?
-Who are the swine and the dogs?
-What makes a person unclean?
-What holy things could Jesus be referring to? (Is it possible Jesus is giving another warning within context about the reaction that one will get if they give the Law to an unbeliever?)
-What two things will be destroyed?
Prayer Encouragement (verses 7-11):
What does asking, seeking and knocking refer to?
Are these commands?
What are the reasons Jesus gives to pray?
Why is it so important to pray?
What happens when we don't pray?
- we disobey, these are commands in the Greek- imperatives
- James 4:2 - .... then you don't have
- When we don't pray it hinders and interferes our communication with God which disrupts our effectiveness with glorifying God, preaching the gospel, fellowshipping with other believers, and renders us apathetic to read the scriptures. Our reliance upon God and bring our needs to Him continually is critical in our walk with the Lord. As a regenerated believer, it will make you spiritually handicap and hopefully it will make you depressed. There is great joy in trusting and relying upon God even if you are in a difficult circumstance. It should also bring us joy to know that God the father loves to give good gifts to His children in a more sincere way than any father we have seen on Earth has exercised. Jesus goes so far as to call his followers evil in comparison to the holiness of the heavenly father. Earthly fathers often have limitations to what they can give and the time that they can share in giving to their children. God has no limitations when we bring our requests to Him to open doors for our properly motivated desires, to find things that should be found and to have things that we have asked for. Let us not forget how giving our God is! -- Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all thing?"
Golden rule (verse 12): further instruction about how we should live before humanity
How should we conduct ourselves before other people as Christians?
The two types of ways that people can take (verses 13 & 14):
We are now near the end of Jesus' sermon on the mount and He has been giving instructions, encouragements, and commands. If it were not obvious to the reader yet, we see the great difference between living as the hypocritical world and following Jesus. One way is easy, and one way is difficult. One way is popular and one is notorious to the world. One leads to life and one leads to death.
What do the two gates represent?
What do the two ways represent?
Warning of deceivers and deception (verses 15-23):
What things should we watch out for?
-That we don't get fooled by “holy” appearances
-The actions of men
Why does Jesus mention these things?
How has this warning played out in the early Church?
Is this meant to be a hidden parable or is this plane language?
John 15:5
Does doing good works and even calling upon the name of the Lord make one a follower of Jesus Christ? Do these things make one right with God?
-NO! Men can do these things but can still not be known by God. People can do great deeds for other people but still be practicers of lawlessness in God's sight. This information is for our edification and to warn others as well. This isn't necessarily marching orders to look for lawlessness in people.
When we move to new places or attend other meetings with believers, do we assume the best or look for wickedness? Can looking for wickedness hinder or goals of sharing the Gospel?
What attitude should we have when meeting new believers? Should we be intently looking for faults?
What should we do when we hear clear teaching against the knowledge of God written in the Bible?
Result of listening and doing the things Jesus has taught on the mount (verses 24-27):
Is it enough to hear these sayings of Jesus?
The power of His word (verses 28 & 29):
What was the Effect of Jesus' words and the way in which He presented them?
What is the effect of Jesus’ words today?
Isaiah 55:11
Hebrews 1:3, 4:12
What will be the effects of Jesus words in the future?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Matthew Chapter 6 Study Questions
Matthew Chapter 6 Study Questions:
SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
CONCERNING FASTING/PRAYING/GIVING:
How to Give (verses 1-4}:
What are "acts of righteousness"?
How did the Pharisees give?
Should we never do acts of righteousness before men?
Are we immune to doing acts of righteousness before men?
When is it appropriate to tell or show our good works before men? - Matthew 5:16
Hebrews 4:12 -- God knows our motives...
What are we to give?
Why are we to give?
It is more blessed to give than to receive...
Not out of debt for sin, but because of thankfulness that our debt for sin has been wiped out by Jesus.
Any good thing. Time, goods, service, money, and our life.
Who is a good example of what we should give?
Jesus: time- He stayed up all night praying for others, service: he preached all day after staying up. He went around teaching and doing good for other people. He devoted Himself to others by His life and by His death. He became a servant in coming to this Earth for the purpose of finding and meeting the needs/interests of others.
How to Pray (verses 5-15):
Have the right motive. If you find yourself in a difficult situation in prayer. Ask yourself: Why am I praying? Who am I trying to communicate with?
-Without interruption and secretly
As Christians we do not proclaim our own righteousness, but we preach against it, we preach that only Christ is good and only the work of God through the Holy Spirit can bring good works. Romans 8:1-2 If we do a right work, that right work is because of the Holy Spirit!!!
Where do we pray? Can we pray publicly?
What does the "Lord's Prayer" teach us about prayer?
-About who we are praying to
-Infers our daily need for him in direction and survival... but not just survival but shows us how to conquer and thrive!
Fasting (verses 16-18):
What is the purpose?
How is it different from Almsgiving and doing Righteous works?
Fasting and Prayer are toward God, giving and doing good is for others because of thankfulness for God.
Wealth WARNING (verses 19-24):
How is a person affected who is consumed with gaining wealth?
Can wealth change the effectiveness of a believer?
Anxiety WARNING (verses 25-34):
It can cloud our knowledge and trust of the promises that we have in God- the unfailing, all seeing, all-good, all-powerful, all-knowing and caring God.
SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
CONCERNING FASTING/PRAYING/GIVING:
How to Give (verses 1-4}:
What are "acts of righteousness"?
How did the Pharisees give?
Should we never do acts of righteousness before men?
Are we immune to doing acts of righteousness before men?
When is it appropriate to tell or show our good works before men? - Matthew 5:16
Hebrews 4:12 -- God knows our motives...
What are we to give?
Why are we to give?
It is more blessed to give than to receive...
Not out of debt for sin, but because of thankfulness that our debt for sin has been wiped out by Jesus.
Any good thing. Time, goods, service, money, and our life.
Who is a good example of what we should give?
Jesus: time- He stayed up all night praying for others, service: he preached all day after staying up. He went around teaching and doing good for other people. He devoted Himself to others by His life and by His death. He became a servant in coming to this Earth for the purpose of finding and meeting the needs/interests of others.
How to Pray (verses 5-15):
Have the right motive. If you find yourself in a difficult situation in prayer. Ask yourself: Why am I praying? Who am I trying to communicate with?
-Without interruption and secretly
As Christians we do not proclaim our own righteousness, but we preach against it, we preach that only Christ is good and only the work of God through the Holy Spirit can bring good works. Romans 8:1-2 If we do a right work, that right work is because of the Holy Spirit!!!
Where do we pray? Can we pray publicly?
What does the "Lord's Prayer" teach us about prayer?
-About who we are praying to
-Infers our daily need for him in direction and survival... but not just survival but shows us how to conquer and thrive!
Fasting (verses 16-18):
What is the purpose?
How is it different from Almsgiving and doing Righteous works?
Fasting and Prayer are toward God, giving and doing good is for others because of thankfulness for God.
Wealth WARNING (verses 19-24):
How is a person affected who is consumed with gaining wealth?
Can wealth change the effectiveness of a believer?
Anxiety WARNING (verses 25-34):
It can cloud our knowledge and trust of the promises that we have in God- the unfailing, all seeing, all-good, all-powerful, all-knowing and caring God.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Matthew 5: Beattitudes
Matthew Chapter 5 study questions:
-What are the similarities and differences between the 10 commandments and the be-attitudes?
-Why did Jesus say these words?
-What was the condition of Israel at the time and how were they doing at keeping the commandments?
-What sort of righteousness is required to enter into God's kingdom as a son of the kingdom?
-What do we learn from these instructions, how are they useful for today?
-Is it easy to observe and do the things that Jesus demands from the sons of the kingdom? Who can keep these instructions?
-What kind of life is a successful life in the World's eyes, what kind of life is successful in God's eyes?
-How does one see the power and strength of God? Who does God show Himself to?
-If the sanhedrin will judge people for saying raca, what do you think God, who sees even the heart, does when he hears that people call their brothers fools?
-What is the benefit of judging others ourself instead of allowing God to handle the situation?
-After reading these beattitudes, what sort of things should we pray for concerning our own walk with Jesus and others?
-What are the similarities and differences between the 10 commandments and the be-attitudes?
-Why did Jesus say these words?
-What was the condition of Israel at the time and how were they doing at keeping the commandments?
-What sort of righteousness is required to enter into God's kingdom as a son of the kingdom?
-What do we learn from these instructions, how are they useful for today?
-Is it easy to observe and do the things that Jesus demands from the sons of the kingdom? Who can keep these instructions?
-What kind of life is a successful life in the World's eyes, what kind of life is successful in God's eyes?
-How does one see the power and strength of God? Who does God show Himself to?
-If the sanhedrin will judge people for saying raca, what do you think God, who sees even the heart, does when he hears that people call their brothers fools?
-What is the benefit of judging others ourself instead of allowing God to handle the situation?
-After reading these beattitudes, what sort of things should we pray for concerning our own walk with Jesus and others?
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Things I really want to write about:
Prayer Hindrances and Prayer Hindering Sin: The Christian's Continuous Battle
His mouthpiece- What do we speak and how do we do it?
Revelation: When will Christ come?- (what should we be looking for?)
Revelation: An Overview
Sovereign Election of Grace and the Depravity of Man
The Body, Soul and Spirit- Trichotomy of Man
Order in the Church
Note: I am going to have to do a lot of reading....
His mouthpiece- What do we speak and how do we do it?
Revelation: When will Christ come?- (what should we be looking for?)
Revelation: An Overview
Sovereign Election of Grace and the Depravity of Man
The Body, Soul and Spirit- Trichotomy of Man
Order in the Church
Note: I am going to have to do a lot of reading....
Violation of terms of service
For some reason after reopening my blog after nearly 6 months there are some technical difficulties with google... They locked it, and I don't know why. An unlock request has been sent....
Monday, October 6, 2008
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