Archives for December 2009
Introduction to 1 Corinthians
A fallacy of modern days is the perception that the New Testament church, the church in its infancy, was a model of Christian purity and power and largely unaffected by some of the toxic influences and divisiveness that bedevils modern church life. This perception is greatly exaggerated and no New Testament epistle illustrates the same old 'modern' issues like the ancient church at Corinth. It is helpful to see the chinks in their armor, too, and to realize how God can still work with (and correct) serious imperfections in the body life of local congregations. Especially enlightening is to see ...
Introduction to Esther
As an illustration of the marvelous, secret hand of God working through circumstances, events, and human beings to orchestrate His desire and design, the book of Esther is an absolute classic example of God's wonderful providence at work. Some have been troubled that God is never mentioned in this book, strange for a sacred book. But that omission is by design, for the emphasis in Esther is on the work of the hidden hand of God in human affairs, not the miracle-working God of Exodus, say. The fact is, God's regular way of working out His plan is ...
Introduction to "Breaking the Ties that Bind"
Believers are people in process. Though regenerated with renewed minds and hearts for God, the undertow of the flesh is still with us in the mortal body. Some old habits or reflexes give way to grace immediately, but others stubbornly cling to us like mud splatter. These dishonor God, grieve the Spirit, wound our conscience, and can sideline us as effective servants of Christ. I call these "habits from Hell." This brief series addresses some of the more common ties that need to be broken, offering perspectives and practices that by grace will bring about victory.
Introduction to Habakkuk
Habakkuk is like Job in the sense of a perplexity. How could a holy God allow injustice and lawlessness to run rampant without doing anything---a question we all have from time to time. When the Lord revealed to him that judgment was en route through the Chaldeans (Babylonians), the prophet's reaction shifts to another ground: This was a case, it seems, of the worse punishing the bad. The cure is worse than the disease, because the Chaldeans were more wicked than Judah.
The Lord then reveals to Habakkuk his puzzle is beside the point. Really there are only two ...
Recent Posts
- Introduction to Romans
- Introduction to 1 Peter Series
- Introduction to Christian Worldview Series
- Introduction to James
- Introduction to Ephesians
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