A word from the word Podcast: Recent Episodes
A Word From The Word with Pastor Tom
The mission of A Word From the Word radio program, with your host Pastor Tom, is to unpack the richness and the beauty of the Bible's original languages as they bear on key words and concepts from both Old and New Testaments.
With a natural, engaging and down to earth style, Pastor Tom shares from his heart and desires that our relationship with God will be strengthened and deepened, and that both our understanding and application of God's Word will be enriched, and that we'll be drawn to love it and be transformed by it more and more each day.
BIBLE BASICS: Building Blocks of Belief
Part 9: FAITH: The Substance of Things Hoped For...(Session 2)
In this second session of our two-part segment on "faith," we'll tackle Hebrews 11:1 as well as the chapter at large. While some contend that verse 1 gives us a "definition" of faith, I submit that Scripture's intent is NOT to give us a definition but, rather, a description or demonstration of the behavior of faith. Hebrews 11 has often been called the "heroes of faith" chapter. But this is unfortunate, because it makes us portray them as "super heroes" and untouchable to us regular Christians! Let's scrutinize Hebrews 11 a little closer and see what it's actually trying to teach us! I'll report; you decide! :))
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BIBLE BASICS: Building Blocks of Belief
Part 8: FAITH: Don't Leave Home Without It! (Session 1)
Our goal today is to put some "Bible basics" to work an help us see through the fog and put some genuine handles on the word and concept of "faith." This will be the first of two sessions on this topic, answering the questions, what is biblical faith? And, what is it NOT? Today's session will begin with 1 Timothy 1:1-7 and 12-17. In the second session we'll unpack Hebrews 11. In the Greek language, faith is an action word, both as a noun and as a verb. So let's get to the bottom of "faith" and see just how the Scriptures picture it! I'll report; you decide! :))
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BIBLE BASICS: Building Blocks of Belief
Part 7: Salvation: the Ultimate Search & Rescue Operation!
What if you were asked to sum up the main theme of the entire Bible in ONE word! Could you do it? Well, that one word would be "REDEMPTION." Our concept of salvation is actually best understood as the end result of redemption -- redemption being the means. Redemption and salvation have their fundamental origins in the Old Testament. So let's take a journey through both testaments and see this unfolding drama of redemption before our eyes. I'll report; you decide! :))
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BIBLE BASICS: Building Blocks of Belief
Part 6: "SIN & the Solution: The Big Deal Revisited!"
A key New Testament person who had a personal and dramatic awakening of the solution to his human condition, was the apostle Paul. Previously known as Saul, his resume included being a Pharisee of Pharisees, and in regard to following the Mosaic Law, he bragged he was faultless! Paul's "magnum opus" is the book of Romans and there, in great detail, he articulates this "solution" to the human condition and predicament of sin! In today's second session on this topic we'll take a look at some key terms and expressions such as: love, justification, atonement, propitiation, wrath and being God's enemies! I'll report; you decide! :))
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BIBLE BASICS: Building Blocks of Belief
Part 5: "SIN: What's the Big Deal Anyway?"
The late Phyllis McGinley, American author of children's books and poetry, and surprisingly a Roman Catholic, once defined the human condition this way: "People are no longer sinful. They're only immature, or underprivileged or frightened, or more particularly, sick." Modern-day people are certainly hesitant to identify the human predicament or the human problem as "SIN," aren't they? But McGinley's point sums up the "world's" way of looking at things, doesn't it? It's just not politically correct these days to talk about "sin!" Or admit that the "fall" brought corruption and decay to all creation! I'll report; you decide! :))
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BIBLE BASICS: Building Blocks of Belief
Part 2: The God Who Reveals Himself as One, Yet Three!
Why does it matter that we understand the nature of God, and so hold the conviction known as the doctrine of the Trinity? In our day, the desire to snuff out the doctrine of the nature of god is intense! There's a subtle battle raging! We must be motivated to acquire at least a basic working knowledge of this fundamental doctrine. After all, the Judeo-Christian belief system is unique and distinct from all other world religions, including some aberrant Christian sects. I'll report; you decide! :))
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BIBLE BASICS: Building Blocks of Belief.
Part 1: The God Who Reveals Himself!
When was the last time we heard a sermon or attended a class on a fundamental doctrine of our faith? Can we honestly say we're equipped to always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks us to give an account for the hope that is in us? These will NOT be dry and lifeless lessons! They'll be very much alive and satisfying to the health of your soul! Too many of us cannot explain, communicate nor grasp the significance of many essential doctrines! Let's reverse that trend! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Retracing the Resurrection (mini series)
The Road to the Resurrection of our Redeemer (conclusion)
Part 5: Divine Paradox #5: Success, God's Way! (Good Fri / Rez Sunday)
As you know, I've been dangling two provocative questions over this mini series:The annual celebration is past, but is the LIVING now over? AND, Has this once-a-year celebration propelled us to LIVE OUT the resurrected life? Both the Good Friday and the Resurrection Sunday events are peppered with divine paradoxes. These events must have been a great shock and a surprise to the original Christ-followers until resurrection morning! Let's see what our conclusion holds for us! I"ll report; you decide! :))
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Retracing the Resurrection (mini series)
The Road to the Resurrection of our Redeemer
Part 4: Divine Paradox #4: Triumph, God's Way! (The Palm Sunday Paradox)
If you've been with me during this mini series, you know that I've been dangling two provocative questions over these sessions:The annual celebration is past, but is the LIVING now over? AND, Has this once-a-year celebration propelled us to LIVE OUT the resurrected life? This road to the resurrection of our Redeemer is purposely peppered with divine paradoxes -- paradoxes we must notice and embrace! They represent "reversals" in our thinking patterns, reversals that mark the Kingdom of God's thinking patterns! These reversals should mark us as Christ-followers! Today's "Palm Sunday Paradox" will land us at Matthew 21. I"ll report; you decide! :))
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Retracing the Resurrection (mini series)
The Road to the Resurrection of our Redeemer
Part 3: Divine Paradox #3: Generosity, God's Way!
During this post-resurrection mini series, I've been dangling over our sessions two provocative questions:The annual celebration is now past, but is the LIVING now over? AND, Has this once-a-year celebration propelled us to LIVE OUT the resurrected life? This road to the resurrection of our Redeemer has been purposely peppered with divine paradoxes -- paradoxes we must not only understand, but embrace! These paradoxes represent "reversals" in our thinking patterns, representative of the Kingdom of God's mind set, and responses to life we should be cultivating as Christ-followers. Today's session introduces us to the parable of the workers in the vineyard, in Matthew 20:1-16. I"ll report; you decide! :))
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Retracing the Resurrection (mini series)
The Road to the Resurrection of our Redeemer
Part 2: Divine Paradox #2: Reciprocity, God's Way!
In Part 2 we'll continue to explore this provocative question: The annual celebration is past, but is the LIVING now over? Our umbrella theme, Retracing the Resurrection, drives us to that two+ week period before Jesus' journey down the road to Jerusalem, where He must concentrate on instilling in His disciples' minds the divine paradoxes of the Kingdom of God. The lessons from these paradoxes solidify that the world's value system and the Kingdom of God's value system are kingdoms in conflict! Today's jumping off point will be Matthew 18:21-35, the parable of the unmerciful servant. I"ll report; you decide! :))
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Retracing the Resurrection (mini series)
The Road to the Resurrection of our Redeemer
Part 1: Divine Paradox #1: Greatness, God's Way!
The annual celebration is past, but is the LIVING now over? The paradoxical nature of our walk in Christ is so important that I'm bringing this idea back in this post-resurrection series. The umbrella theme is Retracing the Resurrection. We had our first taste of a paradox back in the pre-Easter "Passion" mini series in Part 1 called, "Salvation, God's Way!" Today's text is Matthew 18:1-4 where the disciples ask Jesus,"Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus is teaching his disciples (and us) that the world's value system is vastly different than the Kingdom of God's value system! I"ll report; you decide! :))
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The Path to the Passion of the Promised Messiah mini series
Part 3: The Path to the Passion Paid Off! (conclusion)
In this concluding session, I have the unenviable task of sharing both Good Friday's grand truth and Sunday's glorious truth in one program! Resurrection weekend proves that our God is not just far above us, seemingly distant from us! (This is the "transcendent" view of God.) But our perception of God remains deficient if we don't perceive the other half of the story! The Christian view of God is that the "transcendent" God became very near or present with us IN Jesus Christ! (This is the "immanent" view of God we must not forget!) The technical term for this is that Jesus became the "God-Man!" So, let's take a fabulous look at this "God-Man" and see what gems await us. I'll report; you decide! :))
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The Path to the Passion of the Promised Messiah mini series
Part 2: Palms, Pomp and Circumstance: Triumph of a Different Kind!
In Part 2 of this lenten 3-part mini series, we find ourselves staring ahead at what's now known as "Palm Sunday," So, we'll zero in on Matthew 21:1-11, but we'll also draw from the parallel accounts in Mark 11, Luke 19 and John 12. This way, we'll get a fuller picture of the Palm Sunday event before us. This is such a significant and pivotal juncture in Jesus' life religiously and politically, and impacts His mission goal, in spite of what His disciples and followers were raised to believe! I'll report; you decide! :))
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The Path to the Passion of the Promised Messiah mini-series
Part 1: Salvation, God's Way!
In Part 1 of this 3-part mini series leading up to the final week of Jesus' life (from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Day), we'll begin by pointing out that Jesus taught His disciples a string of divine paradoxes. These paradoxes are particularly evident in the interval between His Transfiguration in Matthew 17 and His Triumphal Entry in Matthew 21. They're set against the backdrop of the phrases "The kingdom of Heaven," and "The kingdom of God." Session 1 will include dissecting Matthew 19:16-30 under the title,"Salvation, God's Way!" Here we find Jesus' encounter with the rich, young ruler. I'll report; you decide! :))
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New Year Series: 2024: The Bible, What is it Good For?
Part 10: The Bible: Don't Leave Home Without It! (conclusion)
In our conclusion to this new year series, we'll include an over-arching goal for reading and studying the Bible: First and foremost:To know the author (God) better; Second:To hear His voice; and Third:To do His will. While reading and studying the Bible is vital for every one of us who name the name of Jesus Christ, we must not take these steps as a duty, a chore or and end in itself. We must be conscious that our Bible is a love letter from God. As such we should view it in a whole different light. As such we should read it in a whole different way -- expecting to hear from the author, God! After all, it is through this unique book, that God has made Himself known to us! I'll report; you decide! :))
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New Year Series: 2024: The Bible, What is it Good For?
Part 9: The Bible Maze, KJV, NIV, or NLT Anyone?
In Part 9 we highlight segments of Luke 24:13-48, the account of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus. As Luke 23 ends and 24 begins, the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is recorded. In the midst of Luke's resurrection report, he makes us privy to an encounter these two disciples had. Because it's here Jesus enters the equation -- and after He departs they've not only encountered Jesus, they've encountered the Scriptures in a way they didn't expect! I'll report; you decide! :))
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New Year Series: 2024: The Bible, What is it Good For?
Part 8: The Greatest Story Ever Told!
In Part 8 of this series we'll once again highlight the uniqueness of the Bible, the "book of books" as I call it, and how it just continues to astound us! Our jumping off text will be Hebrews 1:1-4, which we should recognize as "history in the making!" Salvation-history, that is! Recall our key word from the last session: heilgeschichte. Underlyingthis term is the notion that God HAS acted and is STILL acting in human history. Today we'll introduce the brief phrase, "The Christ Event." And we'll expand on its meaning and how it substantiates the concept of heilgeschichte -- it becomes the ultimate historical event! The "Christ Event" is the foundation of the Gospel! Let's find out how and why. I'll report; you decide! :))
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New Year Series: 2024: The Bible, What is it Good For?
Part 7: History is HIS Story!
Today in Part 7 we'll be contemplating history from a biblical perspective. I know, history can be boring, right? In High School I actually hated history! It wasn't until I fully yielded my life to Christ that history came alive for me! The mistake many critics and skeptics make is thinking that the Bible's history isn't REAL history! We can fall into that same trap, can't we? The Bible's "history" is history with a purpose; history with a goal! Our Judeo-Christian belief system is actually rooted in, and supported by HISTORY! So, let history come alive for you in this session! I'll report; you decide! :))
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New Year Series: 2024: The Bible, What is it Good For?
Part 6: Lost in Translation? NOT!!!
In today's session, we'll discover that the number of translations of the Bible, when compared to standard printed works of literature, are extremely impressive! From its inception, the Christian belief system as well as the Judeo-Christian Scriptures have been a by-product of a missionary mind set! A mission originally carried out by the first century apostles and missionary-evangelists. We'll present several "scriptural mandates" that have fueled the passion for producing, reproducing and circulating the Bible, as well as translating it into as many language groups as possible! I'll report; you decide! :)
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New Year Series: 2024: The Bible, What is it Good For?
Part 5: The Bible: That Indestructible Book!
A little known fact is that the Bible text is better preserved than the writings of Caesar, Plato, or Aristotle! We have sufficient corroborating evidence that clearly shows that the Bible we have today, particularly the New Testament, is 95.5% true to the original writings! In this session we'll also compare and contrast Shakespeare's writings (1564-1616) to the authorized 1611 King James Bible during ITS translation period! Our jumping off point will be a segment of Jesus' "high-priestly" prayer in the Gospel of John, chapter 17. I'll report; you decide! :))
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New Year Series: 2024: The Bible, What is it Good For?
Part 4: So, How's YOUR Circulation?
It's become increasingly difficult for us Christ-followers to not appear like intolerant bigots when we attempt to defend the Bible and confidently assert that there IS absolute truth. We're also facing fierce competition, as there are other religious systems and world-views abounding in the world, competing for our attention and attempting to capture the minds and hearts of millions! But a person searching for truth should certainly consider a book that has all the qualifications we'll hear in today's session. I'll report; you decide! :))
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New Year Series: 2024: The Bible, What is it Good For?
Part 3: This Book of Books Reveals the Savior of Saviors!
We've been demonstrating that one of the unique aspects of the "Bible" is its continuity from Genesis to Revelation. Our Bible is not simply an anthology, but rather possesses a unity that binds all its writings together. As such, the continuity of the Bible's 66 books make it ONE book! A single book with a single perspective: God's will and plan for fallen humanity. So, today's Part 3 will build on this single perspective. We'll trace some tough Scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments to see that this book of books reveals the Savior of Saviors! I'll report; you decide! :))
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New Year Series: 2024: The Bible, What is it Good For?
Part 2: Wow! God Published a Book?
In today's Part 2 we'll dissect this "book," this "Bible," which is really a single-bound library of 66 books! While each book is different and unique in its own way, they're all remarkably connected by a "scarlet thread of redemption," as one theologian from a prior generation put it. We'll even utilize the model of modern cable-TV station programs to help us understand the Bible's various writing styles and audiences. This all will help us clear away obstacles for others who may have been programmed by unfortunate criticisms against the Bible! I'll report; you decide! :))
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New Year Series: 2024: The Bible, What is it Good For?
Part 1: The Bible: The Ultimate Influencer for Good!
Today's program marks Part 1 in this new series for 2024. I plan to lay to rest some of the unfortunate criticisms that have been leveled against the BIBLE, either out of ignorance, misinformation, or sheer animosity! We'll stroll down "history" lane and rediscover just how the Bible has actually been the ultimate influencer for good, sampling a broad range of historical figures. The ultimate question will be: What is Truth? (the question Pilate asked Jesus in John 18!). I'll report; you decide! :))
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2024: Something New? Or, "Same Ol' Same Ol'!"
2024 is virtually on our horizon, so it's good to take stock of what's ahead for us Christ-followers. Will we be living "Groundhog Day?" (remember that movie?), or will we exclaim, "This is a new year! What are the possibilities? What's God's mission for me this year?" Psalm 90:12 reminds us:"Teach us to number our days that we may present to you [God] a heart of wisdom!" Not as tall an order as we might think! Our starting point will be 2 Corinthians 5:17 and it will guide us through an array of Scriptures to both encourage and challenge us to press on toward the goal...for which God has called us. I'll report; you decide! :))
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December Mini-series: Christmas: Key Terms & Concepts
Part 3: Key Term: Jesus (finale)
This December mini-series leading up to Christmas has some rich and illuminating terms and concepts. These actually enhance our Christian understanding of the 1st coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Hebrew: Yeshua ha Moshiach). Today in Part 3 we'll unpack the third and final key term and concept, JESUS. Our English word has both a rich history and deep meaning, as it goes back to the Old Testament original languages, Hebrew and Aramaic. Just to get to our English term, we'll need to peel back five layers of language to appreciate its meaning! Today's title is: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,There's Just Something About That Name!I'll report; you decide! :))
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December Mini-series: Christmas: Key Terms & Concepts
Part 2: Key Term: Messiah
In this December mini-series leading up to Christmas, there are some rich and illuminating terms and concepts that actually enhance our Christian understanding of the 1st coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Hebrew: Yeshua ha Moshiach). Today in Part 2 we'll unpack a somewhat tricky and volatile term, Messiah. Both "messiah" and "christ" mean anointed, or anointed one. But who or what is anointed? And for what purpose? Plus, what are the implications of Jesus' claim to be the "messiah?" Today's title is: Messiah, Messiah, What's all the Fuss About? I'll report; you decide! :))
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December Mini-series: Christmas: Key Terms & Concepts
Part 1: Key Term: Emmanuel
In this December mini-series leading up to Christmas Day, we'll explore several rich and illuminating terms and concepts that will actually enhance our Christian understanding of the 1st coming of Jesus Christ (Hebrew: Yeshua ha Moshiach, Jesus the Messiah). Today in Part 1 we'll dig into the beautiful term, Emmanuel. In both the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament, this word means,"God with us." Our springboard will be Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:20-25. I'll report; you decide! :))
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"Something New Was Brewing on Planet Earth!"
Prequel to the Advent-Christmas Season
Part E: God's Search & Rescue Operation! (finale)
In Part E, our finale in this November prequel mini-series, we'll briefly review where we've been and where we hope to go! We'll see that God is clearly NOT into "same ol' same ol'! 2 Corinthians 5:17 assures us of this! But the Gospel accounts of the Christmas narrative (or, "drama" as I call it), also clearly establish that the main characters who step onto the stage in our Christmas drama, were either open to "something new" or they were not. This enables us to see where WE stand! Are we're open or closed to God's new things? Just who do we side with in the Christmas accounts? I'll report; you decide! :))
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"Something New Was Brewing on Planet Earth!"
Prequel to the Advent-Christmas Season
Part D: The Ultimate Star Trek!
In Part D of this prequel mini-series, we'll take an inside look at those "wise guys" (as I call them!), the wise men! They come into town on camels and ask Herod the king,"so where's the one who was born king of the Jews?" Naturally this creates a stir. But, via Matthew's scripting and directing, we'll contrast the wise men's responses, along with Herod's and the Jewish Religious Leaders! [I call them the "JRL"]. I'll report; you decide! :))
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"Something New Was Brewing on Planet Earth!"
Prequel to the Advent-Christmas Season
Part C: First Contact
In Part C of this prequel mini-series, we'll profile Zechariah's and Mary's responses to that unique and special announcement that came to them from the angel Gabriel, recorded in Luke, chapter 1. Let's also realize that we're not just replaying a "past" event; re-enacting the first "Christmas Story." God didn't just come to visit us in the person of Jesus Christ, but He came to BRING something! Let's find out what! I'll report; you decide! :))
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"Something New Was Brewing on Planet Earth!"
Prequel to the Advent-Christmas Season
Part B: A Season of Newness!
The claim Christianity makes for Christmas is that at a particular time and place in human history, GOD Himself came to us! In that little town of Bethlehem, a child was born who, beyond the ability of anyone to imagine, was God Himself, now becoming humble and helpless. A variety of actors and actresses step onto the stage of the great and wonderful drama we now call "the Christmas Story." We'll meet some of them today. But there's also an actor that we rarely, if ever, consider how the first "Christmas" impacted and had a profound effect on him! He will actually be the focus of today's study. I'll report; you decide! :))
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"Something New Was Brewing on Planet Earth!"
Prequel to the Advent-Christmas Season
Part A: The Three A's of Advent
The Advent season is sneaking up on us pretty quickly--whether we realize it, or even whether we're ready for it! In some years the first Sunday in Advent is the last Sunday in November. But this year the first Sunday in Advent is the first Sunday in December! So, November will be devoted to a prequel to the approaching Advent season. We'll take an advanced look at this curious time we call "Advent." This gives us ample time to "prepare" our soul and spirit, so we don't get sucked into the "fake news" version of Christmas. Join me on this journey as we prepare, anticipate, expect ,and reenact the first coming of Jesus! I'll report; you decide! :))
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A Special Edition: Halloween's Comin! So What's a Christian to Do???
A special edition for this Halloween season. So, do you think you know about Halloween? Well, think again. I may surprise you. But you might respond,"Halloween's not in the Bible, pastor Tom!" You may even whip out Deuteronomy 18 or Ephesians 6 to counter that Halloween's linked to the occult and anti-Christian practices; even go to great lengths explaining that our modern-day expressions originated in the magic arts! Well, I'll report; you decide! :))
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Nic at Nite! (Part 53)
Although John 3:5 is a well-known verse of Scripture, it has spawned several theories as to what "...born of water" actually means. Come on an investigative journey with me as we put on our detective's cap, pull out our spiritual magnifying glass, lace up our biblical sandals, and declare,"Oh, that Verse Means that?" Let's leave no stone unturned until we get at the heart of Jesus' words to Nicodemus and uncover just what He said and meant! I'll report; you decide! :))
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So, Are We gods?" (Part 52)
Abounding in segments of the church as well as in certain cult groups, there's a skewed understanding of Jesus' words in John 10:34,"Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods?'" Jesus is here quoting Psalm 82 to the Pharisees, which requires us to unpack Psalm 82! Otherwise we end up spouting out the same interpretation that is wrongly taught or preached! Without both the Old Testament and New Testament contexts we'll fall prey to a serious misinterpretation! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Dead Man Walking! (Part 51)
In today's session we'll unlock the puzzle behind Jesus' words,"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it." Our English translations somewhat mask the meaning behind two key words: "life," and "find." On top of that our English word, life, is a translation of three Greek words! So, unpacking these incredible words and concepts will be our task! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Prayer, the Ultimate Weapon! (Part 50) Warfare Mini-series, Session G (conclusion)
Today's session G is our 7th and final session in the warfare mini-series we inserted into the "Oh,That Verse Means That?" series -- our final text being Ephesians 6:18-20. Oftentimes, prayer is not considered as one of the pieces of armor, but my take on this portion (verses 10-20) is that prayer must be included in a Christian's "warfare wardrobe," as I call it! I propose that prayer is "The Ultimate Weapon!" Valuable truths await us! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Those Gospel Shoes! (Part 49) Warfare Mini-Series, Session F
Within this "Oh,That Verse Means That?" series, we've been inserting a "spiritual warfare mini-series," to investigate 11 carefully-crafted statements in Ephesians 6:10-20. Session F will unpack 6:15 (feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace), as our own order will be a top-down order. We'll also see the value of tethering this portion to one of the primary themes of Ephesians, as well as noting the parallels to our Old Testament. Many valuable truths await us! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Be Well-Shielded! (Part 48) Warfare Mini-Series, Session E
Within this "Oh,That Verse Means That?" series, we're inserting a "spiritual warfare mini-series," to investigate 11 carefully-crafted statements in Ephesians 6:10-20. Session D will unpack 6:16 (the shield of faith), as our own order will be a top-down order. We'll also see the value of tethering this portion to one of the primary themes of Ephesians, as well as noting the parallels to our Old Testament. Many valuable truths await us! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Armor, Shmarmor, What's All the Fuss About? (Part 46, Session C)
Our spiritual journey through Ephesians 6:10-20 continues, focusing on verse 14 again, where the belt of truth is mentioned. Its Old Testament parallel is found in Isaiah 11:5 where we'll expand on the picture Paul is attempting to show us regarding this "belt," and unpack two key Hebrew terms. Remember now, we're viewing the Roman soldier from "head to toe" and arranging the pieces of armor in a top-down order, instead of the order Paul lists. Once again, valuable truths await us! I'll report; you decide! :))
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All the Armor, Really? (Part 45, Session B)
In today's session we'll continue our journey through Ephesians 6:10-20, focusing on verse 14, mentioning the breastplate of righteousness. And, by drawing our attention to its Old Testament parallel in Isaiah 59:14-17 we'll complete the picture Paul is attempting to show us regarding this breastplate. Remember, we are viewing the Roman soldier from "head to toe" and arranging the pieces of armor in this order, versus the order Paul himself lists. Again, valuable truths await us! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Are We Ignorant of satan's Schemes?(Part 44)
In today's session, Ephesians 6:10-20 will be our jumping off point. This portion of Scripture has often been thought of as the "poster-child" text for teaching on spiritual warfare. But in this session we'll also see the value of tethering this text to one of the primary themes of Ephesians, as well as noting the connection Paul makes to his Hebrew Scriptures, and the Old Testament associations to the component parts of the armor a Roman soldier wears. Many valuable truths await us! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Yes, Virginia, There IS a Satan!(Part 42)
Occasionally, our Scripture fits better in the category of discovering it means something quite deeper,and not just quite different.So, in today's session, we'll refer to our "Scripture under surveillance," which will serve as a stepping stone to a journey through some Old Testament AND some New Testament passages! Genesis 3:1 will be our jumping off point. We want to be sure we're not mis-representing,not just a Bible verse or two, but a Bible concept! I'll report;you decide! :))
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Christian, We Have a Problem!(Part 39)
A classic Bible verse, yet one fraught with interpretation challenges, is Matthew 5:48 ("Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."). Here is a classic case where we orphan this text and disconnect it from its immediate context, and propose all kinds of personal interpretations, AND find ourselves mystified by the word "perfect" (like a deer in headlights!). So, once again, let's be "detectives of the divine" and inspect the text more carefully to see what this verse is actually teaching us! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Do All Things Really Work Together for Good? (Part 37)
In today's session, dare I launch my own assault against one of the best-known verses in Romans, and probably one of the best-known verses in the whole Bible? Dare I aim my spiritual searchlight at a chapter that may be the best-known and most comforting chapter in the whole Bible? Today's "Scripture under scrutiny" is none other than the famous and beloved Romans 8:28! Although this may be one of the most-often quoted Bible verses, sadly it happens to be all to easily quoted without truly knowing it!So, let's put on our detective's cap, get out our spiritual magnifying glass, strap on our 1st century sandals, and get to the bottom of this verse! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Can We Really Do ALL Things Through Christ?(Part 36)
The apostle Paul, in his brief letter to the Philippians, certainly has a story to tell, doesn't he? In today's session, our text under scrutiny is Philippians 4:13, one of the best-known verses in all of Scripture! Yet, while many people love this verse, most love it for the wrong reason! When understood in context, the actual meaning and application is far different than most think! Once again, we'll point our spiritual searchlight at a passage we've believed meant one thing, but we'll discover it actually means something quite different! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Precept Upon Precept, Line Upon Line -- Really? (Part 35)
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! The "Oh,That Verse Means That?" series originally aired January to September, 2022 has returned! Once again we'll need to put on our detective's cap, pull out our spiritual magnifying glass, and strap on our biblical sandals! We'll continue scrutinizing Bible passages we believed meant one thing, but quickly discover they mean something quite different. Today we'll scrutinize and analyze Isaiah 23:1-13, where we read,"Precept upon precept, line upon line..." Have we misread, mistaught or misapplied this text? I'll report; you decide!
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Good Friday/Rez Sunday Paradoxes
Conquest, Our Way or God's Way? [Finale] (Paradox #6) Our resurrection season rewind series has had at it's heart recognizing the divine paradoxes of the kingdom of God. We have sliced a brief piece of Jesus' teaching ministry out of the last two or so weeks of His life. Jesus only has a short time left to instill in His disciples' minds the contrast of God's kingdom mind set with the world's kingdom mind set. After all, these are "kingdoms in conflict!" We'll close out our series with a rewind of the Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday truths and paradoxes. I'll report; you decide! :))
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Palms, Pomp & Circumstance: Triumph, God's Way! (Paradox #5) Today's session will reveal that the divine paradoxes along the road to the resurrection of our Redeemer don't end with the Palm Sunday event! You might say,"But Pastor Tom, I've already heard a Palm Sunday message!" And I'd reply,"Not like this one!" Matthew 21:1-11 is our key text, often called,"The Triumphal Entry." We'll inject into Matthew's account bits from Mark 11, Luke 19 and John 12, to get a fuller picture. Along this path we'll see the vast difference between the world's kingdom approach and God's kingdom approach! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Reciprocity, God's Way! (Paradox #2) Today's session will begin with some brief cameos of people who understood the kingdom'sway of reciprocating; like Louie the 12th of France, Sir Winston Churchill, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Corrie Ten Boom. Our subtitle is,"Rolling a Seven -- the Path of Forgiveness!"Our text is Matthew 18:21-35, the parable of the unmerciful servant. We'll see the difference between the world's value system and IT'S reciprocating process, and the kingdom's value system. I'll report; *you decide! :))*
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Greatness, God's Way! (Divine Paradox #1) In this post-resurrection series we want to insure that this once-a-year celebration actually propels us to living outthe resurrection life. We must start out with a consciousness that the road to the resurrection of our Redeemeris paved with divine paradoxes! Each session will unveil and unpack one key paradox that occurs between Matthew chapters 18 and 21, just weeks before the triumphal entry (Palm Sunday), the crucifixion (Good Friday) and the resurrection (we call "Easter"). Jesus must instill into his followers the difference between heaven's value system and the world's value system! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Part 10: Leaping Over Barriers & Equipping Ourselves! (Session A)This session will be the first in a 2-part conclusion to our theme. Recall that in the midst of our everyday lives and routines, our faith has ample opportunities to shine, so that people around us will see Jesus IN US! In this session, we'll elaborate on what it actually means to confront people, because "confront" does not mean what we think! Our text will be Acts 17:16-34, Paul's encounter with the pagan philosophers in Athens. Here we'll observe a masterful missionary-evangelist in action. I'll report; you decide! :))
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Part 9: Learning to Build Bridges! In this session we'll expand on and embellish one particular KEY from the Three Lasting Keys That Pave the Way,taught in our last session. We'll expand on Key #2: Building Bridges.Here we'll be presented with several brief cameos of people from all walks of life who understand what it means to build bridges to people in their various circles of influence. Our text will be Romans 12:15. From this we'll learn contemporary ways we can naturally and creatively make connections to people in our own relationship circles. I'll report; you decide! :))
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Part 8: Three Lasting Keys That Pave the Way!Our session today will elaborate on the "Three Lasting Keys..." But I forewarn you that these keys are not for the faint of heart! The goal of the three lasting keysis to pave the way to spiritual conversations, so that we can become Loving Channels through whom God demonstrates His love to others! The Three Keys are: (1) intercessory prayer; (2) building bridges; and (3) confronting people.BUT "confronting" has a fundamental definition that's not what we commonly think! And we'll define it in this session! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Part 7: Lighting Our World to the Glory of God! In today's session we'll take a closer look at "spiritual motivation"-- in other words, WHY we do the things we do. The word we'll focus on in our ongoing ministry mantra will be "GLORY." Because, Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the GLORY of God! And, in the first half of Ephesians 5 (vv. 8-20), we find incredible truths, admonitions, and exhortations to all of us in the body of Christ: specifically, how we should be living and acting, not only among outsiders, but with each other in the church as well! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Part 3: How Do We Live Out the Savior's Call?
In today's installment, we'll look at a handful of brief, but true, cameos that exemplify, in several different life-settings, the influence or lack of influence we can have in other people's lives. Remember, one of our goals is discovering some practical and creative ways we can reach people in our circles of relationships, or our spheres of influence. Being a Christ-follower includes injecting a spiritual element into natural encounters with others! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Our Faith: What Will Others See in 2023?
Part 1: How do God & Jesus See Others?To kick off this new series for 2023, we'll look at Esther 4:14 and Matthew 5:15-16. God redeems a nation and Jesus tells us to let our light shine before others, and be His witnesses to all nations! God has placed each of us in a certain time and in a certain place to accomplish a certain purpose we each have in His redemptive plan! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Christmas Message
Jesus: There's Something About That Name!We sometimes hear, "What's in a name?" don't we? Well, our Christmas "Savior" has a name above all names, doesn't He? "Jesus," the name we say so often, actually has a rich history and deep meaning, because it's origin takes us back to the original Bible languages of Hebrew and Aramaic, the original languages of the Hebrew Scriptures -- our Old Testament. So, let's let our fingers do the walking down a path that unearth's five layers of language just to get to our English rendition, "JESUS." This path will lead us to a treasure trove we won't soon forget! I'll report; you decide!
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Something New Was Brewing on Planet Earth!(Advent Part 1)
Part 1: A Season of Newness! The last Sunday in November traditionally kicks off a 4-week prelude to Christmas, called Advent. This "prelude," for us 21st century Christians, really helps us prepare for what we now call "Christmas." When Jesus (Yeshua) finally makes His entrance in that inconspicuous stable, the sky was filled with singing angels! Clearly, Something New Was Brewing On Planet Earth!Let's preview the actors and actresses who step onto the stage of the great and wonderful drama known as the "Christmas Story!" I'll report; you decide! :))
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Ready, Set...CHRISTMAS!(prequel to Advent)
The Advent-Christmas season is literally just around the corner -- whether we realize it, or even whether we're ready for it! Generally, the last Sunday in November kicks off this 4-week season that's geared to helping us prepare for what we now call "Christmas." Today I'm providing a "prequel" -- an advanced look at this curious time we call Advent.It'll be a way of helping us prepare our soul and spirit so we don't get sucked into the "fake news" version of Christmas! I'll report; you decide!:))
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Special Thanksgiving Message(conclusion)
Part 2: Thanksgiving & Love Have Kissed Each Other!In Part 2 we'll piggy-back off of the biblical description of "love" we began in Part 1, but elaborate on that key Hebrew word that supplied the foundation for our New Testament word. In this process, we'll explore the richness of this word together and see how it both encourages and challenges us, as we might mistakenly think: "I can't possibly live up to that kind of love!" We'll take a deeper look at Micah 6:8 and see what awaits us! I'll report; you decide!
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Special Session: HALLOWEEN is Coming! So, What's a Christian to Do?
Many Christians seem to be in a quandary to discuss or even deal with, yes, HALLOWEEN. In fact, many Christians go to great lengths to show that our modern-day expressions on Halloween have their origins or roots in the occult! But what's the real issue here? In this special session we'll jump-start our discussion taking a look at Ephesians 5:15-16 and Luke 7:31-35. We'll also look at the fact that Christians of all stripes generally tend to respond to Halloween in three ways -- which we'll call "Door #1," "Door #2," and "Door #3." I'll report; you decide! :))
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Re-assessing Our Pursuits(mini series interlude)
Part 4 (conclusion): Are We People of Prayer?Prayer can be a somewhat elusive, sometimes baffling subject. But none-the-less, it's a significant subject. Discussing prayer can often make us feel guilty. But I promise you, today's session will not only NOT make anyone feel guilty, I hope to offer us all some handles on prayer that will be very useful! My approach will not be exhaustive; and my approach will not be the final word. Let's view session 4 as a helpful tutorial. Matthew 6:9-13 will be our guide. I'll report; you decide. :))
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Re-assessing Our Pursuits(mini series interlude)
Part 3: Are We People With Clean Hands & a Pure Heart? It has been rightly said that "Scripture is it's own best interpreter." In this third session we'll dig into Psalm 24 and Psalm 15, a great tag-team of psalms that provide a good example of this principle. We'll discover that Psalm 15 both amplifies Psalm 24 and serves as a built-in commentary that unpacks Psalm 24 for us! Let's not relegate the Psalms to the distant past, because in them there are "cries from the heart!" YOUR cries even! I'll report; you decide! :))
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 30: Growing Up is Hard to Do! The apostle Peter will be our personal tour guide as we extract 1 Peter 2:2, but not from its moorings of all of chapter 2. Here Peter reminds us that 21st century Christ-followers are just as responsible to "grow up" as 1st century Christ-followers had to do. The solid food of the Word of God must be ingested regularly if we are to mature in our faith and be witnesses to the world around us! I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 29: Am I as Admirable as That Ant?Proverbs 6:6-11 is a curious passage, as Solomon advises us to,"Go to the ant, you sluggard..." I wonder if any of us have ever heard a sermon or teaching on ANTS! I certainly haven't! And I don't recall running to Prov. 6:6-11 in a time of need, either! Sometimes we read a passage and discover it means something different; other times we read it and discover it means something deeper. Understanding Scripture in a deeper way sometimes helps us to see it in a different way, and that "different way" ends up helping us to see it in a more accurate way. Ants have a lot to teach us Christ-followers, so I'll report, and you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 27: Immorality in the Church? No Big Deal! 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 have stymied sincere Christians. In some cases, as this, we must really put on our detectives cap, pull out our pocked magnifying glass, and strap on our first-century sandals just to attempt to understand this one sentence! Journey with me on a great ride to grasp what Paul is saying here. I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 26: How Long Did it Really Take God? Let"s take a closer look at Genesis1:5 as it's connected to Genesis 1 through 2:4. Our goal will be to examine the language used in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy as it relates to an agrarian society and their natural use of words such as day, week, month, year, and even seasons! Our journey through parts of the Pentateuch will strip away our pre-conceived notions of creation week! I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 25: What IS the Unpardonable Sin, Anyway? Matthew 12:31-32 will be our text under scrutiny. We'll also glean from the surrounding passages, as well as parallel passages in two other Gospels. Here we'll examine the texts involved to gain a handle on just what Jesus is saying to the religious leaders of His day, who are publicly discrediting the source of His power! I'll report; you decide!
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Oh That Verse Means That? (series)
Part 24: So Happy Together?We'll conclude this 2-session installment in this series, unmasking, unraveling and unpacking that curious biblical word,"blessed," to get a better handle on it ourselves, as 21st century Christians! We'll see that these beatitudes function like a "string of pearls" as one messianic Jewish scholar remarked, and are interlocked, and must not be interpreted in isolation. Otherwise we end up imposing our own ideas on the text of Matthew 5:3-11. I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 23: *Blessed is Who? (Part 1) In part 1 of this 2-part session, we'll take a closer look at Matthew 5:3, the gateway verse to the "beatitudes," and the simple, yet profound word "blessed!"We need a makeover of our understanding of this term, which can be aided by its linguistic context, the historical Jewish context and its New Testament cultural context. How should we as 21st century Christ-followers draw from its 1st century usage? I'll report; you decide!*
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 22: Someone's Knockin at the Door!Revelation 3:20 is a statement we all know but many times misapply because we wrench it from both its immediate context and its broader chapter context. So let's zero in on the church in Laodicea, put our detective's cap on, grab our pocket magnifying glass and look with first century eyes, hear with first century ears, and think with first century minds! We'll be amazed at what we discover! I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 21: What a Difference a Day Makes!2 Peter 3:8 (...with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day...)is another of those verses that has been twisted and warped by many Christians. It is part of a larger context of chapter 3, which the spiritual detective should be able to decipher. In today's session we'll cover the fundamentals of how to scrutinize this seemingly puzzling text and uncover just what the author's intent is, and unpack the meaning both for then and for now. I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 20: Set Free From What!In light of Americal's July 4th holiday, in this session we'll take a closer look at Jesus' statements that include,"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." For Americans, July 4th (or Independence Day) celebrates the freedom (or independence) of our country from British rule. But Let's find out just what "rule" Jesus wanted to set US free from! We may be surprised! I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 19: What Really Happens When 2 or 3 Gather?Once again, let's grab our detective's magnifying glass and hold it over a passage that we've said umteen times! After all, it's Matthew 18:20! We've heard pastors, worship leaders or prayer leaders spout it out during a church service, prayer meeting, or fellowship time in or outside the church! However, Matthew 18:20 is NOT a stand-alone verse. It's linked to a broader context. Let's find out just what is behind this verse. I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 18: His Stripes Have Done Whaaat? A high-powered magnifying glass will be necessary this time if we wish to examine a text of Scripture that has divided the body of Christ into two factions. Because today's text is Isaiah 53:5, a very well-known verse, yet a very poorly understood and very poorly communicated verse! The measuring stick for interpretation must be the contextual usage of these words and phrases by the original writers. Pieces of this text are quoted by two New Testament authors, Matthew and Peter.What do they say? I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 17: Are My Prayers 'Gutsy' Enough? Our text under scrutiny is Matthew 7:7-8, a portion that we may wonder if it even qualifies to ask the question, Oh,That Verse Means That? Once again, let's pull out our detective's magnifying glass and hold it over this text. Jesus' subject is prayer -- a sometimes mysterious or elusive topic, right? But Jesus seems to provide some prerequisites for us even before we consider asking, seeking, or knocking! Let's explore just what these may be, and consult the whole counsel of God to aid us in discovering what Jesus meant. I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 16: If My People Do Whaaat?2 Chronicles 7:14 stands as one Bible verse that is so often quoted! But the real question is, are we quoting it correctly? Do we take its context into consideration? Have we noticed where this single sentence sits in chapter 7 and it's relation to chapter 6, or even how it fits into the puzzle of the first 6 chapters? Let's make a more careful examination of this often quoted, often misunderstood, and ,often misapplied verse of Scripture. I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, that Verse Means That?
Surprise Title.Here in part 15 in our series, Oh, That Verse Means That? we'll take a more detailed look at John 1:1-18, a portion of Scripture very well known and taught, but perhaps not understood as much as it should be. Who is the Word? will be our operative question. I'll report; you decide! [PS I'll reveal today's session title at the end! :)) ]
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 14: Hallow or Hollow Pursuits? Philippians 3:12-14, is a very well-known portion of Scripture, but a portion not known very well! Just what do the Scriptures say about our pursuits? Using Philippians 3:12-14 as a base text, we'll let these verses act as a stepping stone to lead us to some other texts that describe what our pursuits should be as Christ-followers. I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 13: Under Armor or Under Armored? Let's take a look at 2 Corinthians 16:13-14 and see what's there for us to digest. When we think of spiritual warfare, we tend to run to Ephesians 6:10-18, which seems to be our "go to" text. But the two short verses that close out Paul's second letter to the Corinthians holds plenty of food for thought. There's more to unpack than meets the eye! I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 12: Train Up a Child For What**? Proverbs 22:6, traditionally translated as,"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it," is one of the most often misquoted and misapplied verses in the Bible! So, let's put on our detective's cap and pull out our pocket magnifying glass, and let's both uncover and discoverjust what this proverb is trying to tell us! I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 11: So, What Were We Thinkin'? Proverbs 23:7 is verse that is misrepresented and misused quite a lot! This single sentence verse simply says,"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."Let's wrap our minds and hearts around this verse and unpack it's linguistic and cultural context, so we stop dishonoring God's Word and "rightly divide it!" We will likely be quite surprised! I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 10: A Lesson In Ironing! A passage of Scripture we don't often give it it's due is Proverbs 27:17, which we many times cavalierly quote! So let's scour this seemingly single sentence and see what it holds in store for us. We may be surprised at what the chapter context reveals, so let's buckle our seat belts and embark upon a spiritual journey we thought we'd never have to make! I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 9: Being Steadfast: A Tall Order From a Short verse!As our series continues, after the Passion Week / Resurrection Sunday break, we'll take a closer look at 1 Corinthians 15:58. At first, it appears to be a seemingly innocuous passage, but digging a little deeper reveals a broader and contextually significant meaning. It's a meaning we can't ignore and we should be motivated to carry out it's directive. I'll report; you decide!
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GOOD FRIDAY & REZ SUNDAY!
Tetelestai: "Paid In Full!"We are still in the resurrection season! I love to call it, "Rez Day!" But I have the challenging task of sharing Good Friday's grand truth together with the glorious truth of REZ DAY in one program! We'll set the Good Friday stage with Luke 24, the account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and their encounter with Jesus. And, we'll set the stage for REZ DAY with Matthew 28 and 1 Corinthians 15. The operative phrases for this season are: "It is Finished!" AND "Christos Anesti!" (Christ is risen!), together with "Anesti Alethos" (He is risen indeed!).
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PALM SUNDAY
Palms, Pomp & Circumstances: Triumph of a Different Kind! Palm Sunday has also been nick-named "The Triumphal Entry," and is recorded in all four Gospels. We'll take a fresh look at Matthew 21:1-11, and highlight two very charged 1st century terms: "hosanna," and "messiah." Sadly, the crowd as well as Jesus' disciples had a skewed view of the day's proceedings! Let's find out why!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 8: What's a Paraclete, and Why Should I Even Care? Our jumping off point will be John 14:16-17, as we navigate through several passages in John's Gospel and one passage in Galatians chapter one. John uniquely uses a word for the Holy Spirit that no other New Testament writer uses. So let's strap on first-century sandals and unwrap this rich, revealing and informative term, and see what it holds for us as twenty-first century Christ-followers. I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 7: Who ARE the Weary & Heavy-laden Anyway? We likely all have an idea as to the meaning of Matthew 11:28-30, which begins with, "Come unto Me..." But there's more here than meets the eye! So once again let's be "Bereans," and search the Scriptures to see if our ideas actually match up with the scriptural revelation. I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 6: Ok, Set Free From What? In this session we'll tackle the truth behind Jesus' words in John 8:31, 32 & 36 -- because all is not what it seems. Both statements by Jesus, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free," and "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed"have been assumed to mean one thing, when they actually mean something different! By scrutinizing the historical, cultural, and religious contexts, we'll discover that Jesus meant something far more significant for His day AND for our modern-day as well! I'll report; you decide!
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SPECIAL PROGRAM
Pay Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain!The annual Jewish celebration of PURIM occurs this month on Wednesday &Thursday, March 16th and 17th. The celebration and the reason for it is found in our Old Testament book of Esther. It's chock full of drama! Power! Romance! and Intrigue! The story of Esther portrays a profound interplay between the sometimes enigmatic sovereignty of God and human will. Have you ever, all of a sudden, to your own surprise or shock, found yourself in the midst of circumstances beyond your control? Then the book of Esther is for you!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 5: Study? What's Study in 2 Tim. 2:15?2 Timothy 2:15 has often been understood to motivate pastors and preachers to "do their homework"-- in other words, commit to studying God's Word. But there's more here than meets the eye! Let's honor and respect the Holy Spirit as the inspirer of Scripture, and be "Bereans," searching the Scriptures to see whether our current take on 2 Timothy 2:15 is really the biblical one! (Acts 17:11) I'll report; you decide!
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SPECIAL PROGRAM!
Mission Impossible? NOT!We interrupt our series called, Oh, That Verse Means That?" to bring you this special edition program, from Pastor Tom.
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 4: Be Still & Still Be Wrong?Psalm 46:10 may be sacred ground to some, but today's provocative title seeks to uncover why one commentator calls it, "one of the most-often-quoted-out-of-context verses of all time!"Instead of telling the Bible's story, how often do we tell our own story? I propose that, for Psalm 46:10, we love quoting the first half, and abandon the second half, which makes all the difference in the world! Let's honor and respect the Holy Spirit as the inspirer of Scripture, and be "Bereans," searching the Scriptures to see whether our current take on Psalm 46:10 is really the biblical one (Acts 17:11)! I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 3: To Judge, Or Not To Judge; That is the Question!In session 3 we'll look more closely at Matthew 7:1, likely one of the most misunderstood and misused verses in the Bible, and a mantra of many! Sadly, it has become the blight of our relationships in the body of Christ, and the killer of our mutual accountability to one another. Let's be "Bereans" and search the scriptures to see if our current take on Matthew 7:1 is really the biblical one! I'll report; you decide! (Acts 17:11)
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 2: Unmasking the Thief! In session 2 we'll take a deeper look at John 10:10, a verse that has been cavalierly and thoughtlessly interpreted as the "thief" representing satan, or the devil. But contextually, this turns out to NOT be the case. In fact, we rob the teaching moment that is intended here when we make that correlation. Let's be "Bereans" and search the scriptures to see if these things are so! I'll report; you decide!
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Oh, That Verse Means That?
Part 1: Upon Who's Rock?In this series, we'll take a deeper look at some popular or well-known Bible passages that we've understood a certain way, or that we've been taught mean one thing, when in reality, they mean something very different! We'll be kicking off this series with a closer look at Matthew 16:18. We'll weigh the evidence and see if Jesus is talking about Peter, or if Jesus is actually referring to HIMSELF. I'll report; you decide!
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Truth, Lies, & Love In Action! (mini series)
Part 3: Wandering From the Truth!(3rd John)Concluding this 3-part mini series on the three letters of John (1st, 2nd, & 3rd John), we discover that 3rd John continues the theme of Truth, Lies, & Love In Action!Today's session 3 is titled, Wandering From the Truth!Here we discover the first century emphasis on hospitality and how important its expression in the local church is, particularly toward traveling, itinerant missionaries. John calls out a trouble-maker in one of these church fellowships who is hampering the hospitality ministry to these travelers. John provides a litmus test for his 1st century churches that are equally relevant for our 21st century churches!
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Truth, Lies, & Love In Action! (mini series)
Part 2: Walking In the Truth!(2 John) Truth is the guiding principle on which Christianity and our sacred book, the Bible, is based! Here, John continues his connection to his previous thoughts in 1 John --Truth, Lies, and Love in Action! In the opening verses of 2 John, truth and love are mentioned five times! In verses 4-6 John clearly implies that walking in truth and walking in love mean that we are walking in obedience to Jesus' commands. We're also seeing that love and combat, although sounding like an oxymoron, must go hand in hand, because we love the lost and, therefore, must be willing to engage our enemy in spiritual combat to win them back.
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Truth, Lies & Love In Action! (mini series)
Part 1: Warring For the Truth(1 John)In 2022 the battle's still raging between Truth and Lies, and we must continue warring for the truth.In this first of three sessions, using 1st John, we'll look at the six false teachings that were invading the apostle John's Christian communities, and see their relevance for us 21st century Christians. In 2022 let's resolve to be loving the truth, let's be loyal to the truth, and let's be warring for the truth! Amen?
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2022: Year of "Fear?" Or Year of "Faith?"
Year of Fear or Year of Faith? This upcoming year, 2022, will be a year filled with many new things: chances, challenges, relationships, goals, paths to travel, opportunities, accomplishments, and affections.But I dare say, in all honesty, we're probably also wondering what new FEARS await us? We'll examine the natural human "flight or fight" response mechanism, as well as unpack an appropriate and extraordinary Bible text, Acts 17:28. Commit this verse to memory! Make it your "New Year" verse!
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2021 The Christmas Sessions
Part 2: Jesus: Who Do People Say He Is?Inspired by Matthew 16:13-16, Jesus asked this very question to his disciples, this way: "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" This question has become the question of the ages -- every generation since Jesus lived can ask this same question. For in each century down to our own 21st century, this question has remained relevant. The richness and beauty of our English name, "Jesus," has its origins in the Hebrew Scriptures. Together let's unpack this name, and discover the depths it brings to our lives in the here and now.
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2021 The Christmas Sessions
Part 1: Messiah! Messiah! What's All the Fuss About? Our common term, "messiah," is a somewhat tricky term. We should not only use it correctly, but understand its 1st-century implications, AND 1st-century expectations, from the Jews of Jesus' day and, believe it or not, even from Jesus' own disciples! Part of unpacking this full-orbed term will include realizing the "dual-messiah" theory, which was already in place for a long time in the Judaism of the 1st century.
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Don't Lose Your Head! (a study of Colossians)
Part 8 (Conclusion): Lone Rangers or Team Players? We'll finish tracing the idea of the supremacy of Christ in all things,as we survey the closing twelve verses, Colossians 4:7-18. Paul's custom was to include greetings at the close of his letters, to fellow believers with whom he was associated in one way or another -- ten people here! One thing Paul could never be accused of having, is "the Lone Ranger Syndrome!" Aside from being a great evangelist, a "soul-winner," Paul was a great "friend-maker!"
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Don't Lose Your Head!(a study of Colossians)
Part 7: Carpe Diem: Seize the Opportunity!What can we learn from the 1989 movie, The Dead Poets Society? Do the apostle Paul's words in Colossians 4:2-6 bear any resemblance? Perhaps the apostle Paul originated "carpe diem!" Let's find out -- but to do this we must uncover the meanings behind a New Testament Greek word and its implications for us Christ-followers in the here and now. Because what it reveals may startle us...or inspire us...or both!
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Don't Lose Your Head!(a study of Colossians)
Part 6: Ralph Kramden Invades the Church! Colossians 3:18 through 4:1 at first glance seem out of place in this letter. After all, the letter's primarily focus is on challenging false teachings that have crept into the church. But a closer investigation reveals that the "supremacy of Christ in all things" has sway in ALL relationships, including Wives, Husbands, Children, Parents, Slaves and Masters. The gospel transforms how people treat each other in the context of these pagan societal norms. And Christ upsets the apple cart!
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Don't Lose Your Head!(a study of Colossians)
Part 5: Are You Putting Me On?The apostle Paul sets up a contrast between the "basic principles of this world"and "the person of Christ." Here the Colossian Christians are being urged to not let anyone or anything shift their focus from Christ,or take their focus off Christ! False teachings that infiltrated this church were attempting to dethrone Christ, and add other gods and angelic beings into the mix. But our focus must remain on Christ! For He is the creator of all other beings, visible and invisible. We've been raised up with Christ and now have new affections! New directions!
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Don't Lose Your Head!(a study of Colossians)
Part 4: It's Not What You Know, It's WHO You Know! Like the mainstream world, we Christians are constantly tempted to think that we must do something to gain favor or acceptance with God. And forget what God did for us! The original fall (of Adam & Eve) brought self-sovereigntyand self-sufficiency into the mix! Our religious systems have even adopted these characteristics, requiring burdensome weights of rules and regulations, false humility and dietary restrictions. The bottom line is that Christ is Sovereign and Sufficient! Christianity doesn't need "add-ons!" We are now ruled and regulated by the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him to serve and please God!
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Don't Lose Your Head!(a study of Colossians)
Part 3: "Listen, Do You Want to Know a Secret? As our journey through Colossians continues, and as we trace the supremacy of Christ in all things, we'll unveil in the first 23 verses of chapter 1 Paul's unique way of answering the "Big 5" questions in life: (1) Who Am I? (2) What is Life All About? (3) When Did Things Begin? (4) Where Am I Headed? and (5) Why Am I Here? We'll also examine some more terms in the cultic vocabulary used by the first century false teachers, and recognize that sharing the gospel is like letting others in on a secret!Disclosing to others a mystery!
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Don't Lose Your Head! (a study of Colossians)
Part 2: Jesus: The Head of the Class! We continue our journey tracing the supremacy of Christin the incredible letter of Colossians. In Col. 1:9-23 we'll see that Paul understands the big picture. The big picture begins with the over-arching theme of redemption. God the Father rescued us from the domain of darkness through the shedding of His Son Jesus' blood. And, the fringe benefit of redemption is the forgiveness of our sins! Jesus' nail-scarred hands settled the issue!
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Don't Lose Your Head!(a study of Colossians)
Part 1: First Things First!In this first session we'll begin a journey tracing the idea of the supremacy of Christin this incredible letter to the Colossian congregation of Christ-followers. The 1st-century city of Colosse turns out to be the perfect breeding ground for what we, in our day, would call "cults!" We'll learn how the potpourri of religious beliefs swirling around impacted and challenged the church, even infecting it to some degree! What took place in 1st-century Colosse is unfortunately reappearing in our 21st century church, and many churches are embracing error and false teachings, not even realizing it!
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This Means War!
Part 10 (conclusion): The Invisible Weapon: Prayer!In Ephesians 6:18-20 Paul suits Christian soldiers up with probably the most important garment in the warfare wardrobe: PRAYER! A valuable quote I discovered says: Without prayer, all the armor in the world will be of no use!While a bevy of Bible teachers and students end the warfare wardrobe at verse 17 with the "sword of the Spirit," I believe they all err by not including PRAYER in the Christian's warfare wardrobe! Let's investigate just how "prayer" fits in with the list of weapons in the Christian soldier's clothes closet, and discover that we're not "dressed to kill" without it!
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This Means War!
Part 9: Read the Manual!As our journey taking a sober look at spiritual warfare begins to wind down, our next to last stop is Ephesians 6:17b, "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God!"The sword is the only offensive weapon in the believing soldier's warfare wardrobe! Have we mastered how to wield it yet? Here, we'll also distinguish between the "logos" of God and the "rhema" of God --- important distinctions for the soldier in Christ's army! Unsheath your "sword" and let's learn how to wield it properly, particularly against our enemy, the devil, and his foot-soldiers!
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This Means War!
Part 8: Set Your Mind on Things Above! This journey taking a sober look at our "warfare wardrobe," brings us to Ephesians 6:17, "...Take the helmet of salvation..." Curiously, "salvation" in the New Testament is pictured in three phases simultaneously: as a pastexperience, a present experience and as a future experience! The Reader's Digest version from Scripture is that, we have been saved; we are being saved; and we will be saved, as odd as that sounds! Let's see just how this pertains to the spiritual helmet we are to be wearing as Christ-followers!
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This Means War!
Part 7: Wield Your Shield! A sober look at our "warfare wardrobe" includes unpacking Ephesians 6:16,"...take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Let's observe how Paul translates a well-known first-century Roman military practice into a spiritual principle that is timeless. How are we Christ-followers today supposed to "wield our shield?"
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This Means War!
Part 6: How Lovely are YOUR Feet? As we continue taking a sober look at our "warfare wardrobe," we come to Ephesians 6:15, and the "feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace."While this may sound like a peculiar way to express it, our "feet" are a very necessary part of how we spiritually dress! So, let's strap on our "shoes" and dig our heels a little deeper into this part of our spiritual "outfit," so we can stand our ground!
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This Means War!
Part 5: The Heart of the Matter...We'll continue our expansion of the believer's weaponry on our journey of taking a sober look at spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:14 enlightens us to "the breastplate of righteousness."Perhaps we've heard the cliche, "the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart."Let's uncover how the 1st-century Roman soldiers protected their vital organs, including their heart, and the spiritual connection the Holy Spirit makes for Paul, as he unveils the spiritual truth behind this important part of our "warfare wardrobe!"
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This Means War!
Part 4: Truth or Consequences!Our sober look at spiritual warfare brings us to evaluate the Christ-follower's "warfare wardrobe," as elaborated on by the apostle Paul in Eph. 6:10-20. In this installment we'll take a look at the Belt of Truth (v. 14). Is the 1st century presentation of the "warfare wardrobe" relevant to us today? What application does the belt of truth hold for us as 21st century Christians?
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This Means War!
Part 3: Are We Dressed to Kill? Once again, we're taking a sober look at spiritual warfare and, in the process, creating a spiritual warfare primer. When it comes to the human realm and earthly professions, it seems very important to know about andto use the right tools for the job! Well, the same goes for the supernatural realm! But it seems we Christ-followers often fail to think that it's important to know about and use the right tools for the job!In this installment we'll see the importance of "knowing our weaponry!" And here we'll begin unpacking Ephesians 6:10-20.
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This Means War!
Part 2: Satan Had a Great Fall!As we continue our sober look at spiritual warfare, we'll uncover an uncanny link between "Christmas" and spiritual warfare! Our jumping off point will be 1 John 3:8. It may be time for us to rethink our understanding of the Christmas themes and the Gospel birth narratives we cherish so much at a favored season of the year! Our journey begins by unpacking the word "appeared" that the apostle John uses in his first letter.
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This Means War!
Part 1: Yes, Virginia, There IS a Satan!In this series we'll take a sober look at spiritual warfare; in effect, offering a spiritual warfare primer. After Pentecost, when the first apostles went on the offensive with the gospel, the gospel became offensive to the pagan world, the religious world, and to the underworld! To non-Christians in the Greco-Roman world, to the Jewish religious elite, and to the devil and his minions. But the Bible supplies us with our own sword to yield -- the Word of God!
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Acts of the Resurrection Life (Conclusion)
Part 18: There's No Place Like Rome!(Conclusion) Our selective and thematic journey through Acts ends with unpacking chapters 27 and 28. Paul is finally shipped off to Rome and placed under house arrest. Yet he gave himself unreservedly to God's plan and appropriated the powerof the Holy Spirit to faithfully "witness" to the Gospel to the end. Paul stands as an example of a man who never lost his vision! The goal he was pressing on toward, and the race he was running that had been marked out for him, motivated him to never give up!
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 17: "Taking the Witness Stand." In this installment we actually explore Acts 21-26! We'll trace some unique manifestations of the power of the Holy Spirit in the apostle Paul's life, as he witnessesto the Gospel, and to the resurrected Christ. Just as Jesus "testified" before Pilate that, "...for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth..."so we see how the Holy Spirit leads and guides Paul to be a "witness" or "testify" to his hope in the resurrection of Jesus, despite the opposition and persecution he faces in the process.
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 16: "Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow."As Acts 20 unfolds we're introduced to the apostle Paul's "adversaries" in a new way -- one Bible teacher calls them "catfish!" When we're faced with particular and inescapable circumstances,it's helpful to view them as God's appointed "catfish," that bring sufficient tension to keep us alive, alert, fresh and growing! This is one way to look at God's projectto shape our character, so we'll be more like Jesus. Here we'll also see a side of Paul that is not often revealed.
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 15: Led Astray By the Gospel!Here in Acts 19, as the gospel is advancing deeper into non-Jewish territory in the Empire, we come to learn just what it means to receive the Holy Spirit. And since the prevailing religious belief system in the 1st century Greco-Roman world was the pantheon of many gods, to THEM, the gospel was leading people astray! This is certainly a twist from our modern perspective of the Gospel leading people to the truth!
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 14: Thinking Outside the Box!Our story begins in Acts 17:16. We become keenly aware of how the providential direction of the Holy Spirit leads Paul to communicate the gospel in a particularly way--a way different from how he traditionally communicated with Jews and proselytes. Paul intelligently and subtly challenges the pagan Greek polytheistic, pantheistic and dualistic world views of the day! What does this teach us?
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 13: Paul & Silas' Excellent Adventure! Acts 16:11-34 provide our setting for a familiar story: The Philippian Jailer. We also see another spiritual power struggle in the mix with Paul encountering the demon-possessed slave girl. Once again we witness the power and boldness of these Christ followers as the Holy Spirit enables them to face opposition and persecution. In this segment we'll witness four things: the power of providence; the power of prayer; the power of praise; and the power to rise above persecution.
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 12: Shooting Some Hoops!Acts chapter 15 reveals a rather unique manifestation of the Holy Spirit's power. We watch it surface during a critical time of decision-making for the early church. The Holy Spirit is not only willing, but able to direct our paths as we, in self-denial, humbly submit to HIS unerring supervision! We'll witness the deliberations it took to finally hammer out what the Holy Spirit was nudging the Jerusalem council to conclude and then put into practice.
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 11: The Divine Combo: Inspiration & Perspiration!There are terms in Scripture that we should remember on a regular basis: perseverance, endurance, patience and steadfastness.In spite of persecution and opposition, the early Christ-followers had the drive to continue on and faithfully deliver their message. They did this because they were "inspired" with the power of the Holy Spirit. Because of this inspiration they were willing to give out perspiration for the cause of Christ. Acts 14 becomes our stepping stone to some great truths.
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 10: If There's a Will, There's a Work!"We'll observe the mind set the early Christ-followers adopted, as the gospel moves from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria to the "uttermost part of the earth" (i.e. Gentile territory). Instead of being completely overwhelmed by Jesus' parting words in Acts 1:8, they envisioned the known world in geographically-manageable portions! Our text will be Acts 13, where we watch the Holy Spirit dole out "marching orders" to Saul (Paul) and Barnabas.
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 9: Is There Really Only One Way?We're up to Acts 11:19-12:19, and now observe the intensifying efforts of Barnabas and Peter, as well as the intensifying efforts of the opposition! Another power struggle emerges -- Herod arrests some Christians and has John's brother, James, executed. He also seizes Peter, arrests him, and throws him in prison. But the power of God pushes back, and an angel frees Peter. At times, the opposition is fierce, but Christ-followers were motivated by and knew that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only unique Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life!
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 8: Pride and Prejudice!Our thematic journey through Acts, this session being Acts 10:1-48, draws us to watch the Holy Spirit break down the apostle Peter's personal religious pride and prejudice! We'll illuminate the visions of both Peter and Cornelius, and see the lengths God goes to to reach them with a special invitation. We'll also discover that some people respond to the light of Christ in stages. Here we'll also learn that the Holy Spirit carried the church over its single, most important threshold: the racial barrier.
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 7: The Terror From Tarsus--A Transformation Story! The account of Saul's conversion experience in Acts 9 is certainly a wonder to behold! We may even log his transformation as, "From Saul to Paul!"While some may chalk this up as a "unique," "special," even "spectacular" event, we must be careful this doesn't prevent us from making a vital connection to it. That would be tragic! As we unpack Acts 9:1-31, we'll discover 3 significant truths that Saul's conversion teaches us!
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The Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 6: The Holy Spirit Made Me Do It!We begin this session by setting the stage from John 3 on Jesus' description of the working of the Holy Spirit. Then we continue our thematic journey in the second half of Acts 8 (vv. 26-40). Here we observe Philip and the Spirit's leading him to engage the Ethiopian eunuch. Through this encounter, we acknowledge the role of the Scriptures in bringing someone to a knowledge of the truth.
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Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 5: Simon Says, "Do This!"The early church Christ-followers were people who thought of their immediate lives as being lived to contribute to the overall eternal plan of God. Acts 1:8 was a daily reality for them. In the first half of Acts 8, we meet Philip and observe how he responds to Simon the sorcerer, a Samaritan. We'll watch the power struggle between sorcery and the power of the Holy Spirit.
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The Acts of the Resurrection Life
Part 4: The Magnificent Seven.In our selective journey through Acts, we'll be zeroing in on Acts 6, and the choosing of the seven to oversee the distribution of food to the widows. This undertaking is unique in that the qualifications for these seven people, who seem to be taking charge of menial tasks, are surprisingly pretty high. We'll observe this particular ministry and how the "power" of the Holy Spirit fits in!
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The Acts of the Resurrection Life!
Part 3: Resistance is Futile!On our thematic journey through the book of Acts, we'll continue to track the live of the apostles and Christ-followers as they manifest resurrection power.Remember, Acts is an "alive" book--- The Holy Spirit is alive and well and living, or "acting" powerfully through the post-resurrection followers of Jesus. Today's journey finds us in Acts 5:12-42. We'll unpack the use of 3 key terms: power, signs,and wonders,as well as elaborate on the meaning and use of "power."
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The Acts of the Resurrection Life!
Part 2: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Temple!In our "thematic journey" through the book of Acts, we're tracing the lives of the apostles and Christ-followers as they display resurrection power.In Part 2 we'll look at Acts 3:1-16 and observe Peter and John on their way to the Temple for the hour of prayer, and their impromptu (yet Spirit led) meeting with the man lame from birth.
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The Acts of the Resurrection Life!
Part 1: Close Encounters of a Different Kind! Our journey through the book of Acts will be a "thematic" journey -- tracing the lives of the apostles and followers of Jesus as they exhibit resurrection power in all that they do. Understanding and appreciating the resurrection should have powerful and lasting implications for our lives in the here and now! Luke 24:33-49 and Acts 1:1-8 will be our starting point.
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Scrutinizing Scripture: Can We Believe Our Bible?
Part 10: The Bible: Don't Leave Home Without It!(Conclusion) In our conclusion to this series, we'll learn the over-arching goal for reading and studying the Bible, which is three-pronged: (1) To know Him(the author, God); (2) To hear His voice,and (3) To do His will.To appreciate the great value and beauty of the Bible, we must see the importance of investing time reading and studying this "book of books!" 2 Tim. 2:15 will be our guide.
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Scrutinizing Scripture: Can We Believe Our Bible?
Part 9: The Bible Maze: KJV, NIV, or NLT?There's a great benefit to learning the translation history of our English Bible. It has has a long and rocky history, yet a few key people spearheaded a movement to bring God's Word to the common people. It began over 200 years before the "authorized version" was finished in 1611. In Luke 24:13-48 we see two disciples whose hearts burned within them while Jesus talked to them and opened the Scriptures to them!
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Scrutinizing Scripture: Can We Believe Our Bible?
Part 8: The Greatest Story Ever Told!Expanding on "salvation-history," we'll focus on the New Testament revelation. Hebrews 1:1-4 is our starting point, underscoring that the New Testament writers understood that biblical history records history with a purpose...history with a goal,a Divine goal! Especially the apostle Paul, who realized the significance and value of his own Jewish historical writings, as well as their spiritual significance to all humanity!
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Scrutinizing Scripture: Can We Believe Our Bible?
Part 7: History Is HIS Story!It has been said, History teaches us that man learns nothing from history.But contemplating history from a biblical perspective is a game-changer. We Christ-followers, unfortunately, are sorely ignorant of the Bible's record of history. The New Testament authors & writers were all well aware of the significance of their own historical writings (our Old Testament) and how they recorded many "mighty acts" of God as He intervened in their history. 2 Tim. 3:14-16 will kick off our appreciation for biblical history!
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Pay Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain!
Purim is Here! Purim is Here! This week, February 25 & 26 signal a key Jewish event: the holiday and celebration of PURIM! So, we're taking a one week break from our Scrutinizing Scripture series. The book of Esther portrays a profound interplay between God's sovereignty and human will. God prepared the place and the opportunity; and two people of God step up and respond to a set of circumstances. Let's journey through the drama, power and intrigue that unfolds in the book of Esther.
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Scrutinizing Scripture: Can We Believe Our Bible?
Part 6: Lost In Translation? NOT!It helps to be aware of the Bible's uniqueness in the area of translation history. Most books are never translated into another language. Among those that are, most are published in just two or three languages. Few books see translations in the teens (that is, 13 or more). Yet the Bible's statistics in this area are positively staggering! Matthew 28:19-20 and other verses provide the incentive for translating the Bible into as many languages as possible!
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Scrutinizing Scripture: Can We Believe Our Bible?
Part 5: That Indestructible Book!We'll zero in on two of the six reasons for referring to God's Word as "God's Miracle Book:" the Bible's preservation and durability. We'll analyze Jesus' prayer in John 17:12-17. Here Jesus declares 3 key things about the Word of God, that impact how the Bible has been preserved and remains durable, never to be destroyed, or done away with, ever. These declarations place the burden on God to preserve and guarantee accurate transmission of His Word down through the ages!
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Scrutinizing Scripture: Can We Believe Our Bible?
Part 4: So, How's Your Circulation?Our generation has seen the advent of such disciplines as Higher Criticism and Liberal Theology.In fact, we're hammered by them to such an extent that they've infiltrated our thinking patterns and subtly eroded our confidence in our Bible -- the "Book of Books." And they've chiseled away at the degree of authority the Bible holds in our lives. 2 Tim. 3:10-17 is our springboard to continuing our study of the uniqueness of the Bible as compared to other literature, religious and non-religious alike.
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Scrutinizing Scripture: Can We Believe Our Bible?
Part 3: The Book of Books Reveals the Savior of Saviors! A provocative look at some Old & New Testament statements that reveal a startling fact: God is Savior; but so is Jesus! We'll pair up Isaiah 43:10-13 with Luke 2:11 and Matthew 1:20-23. We'll also unpack the phrase,The Scandal of Particularity,which informs us that, It's a scandal to the human mind that God would choose to reveal or manifest Himself at one particular time in history, and in only one particular person -- Jesus Christ.
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Scrutinizing Scripture: Can We Believe Our Bible?
Part 2: Imagine That, God Published a Book! Starting with 1 Peter 3:15-16, we'll examine the role of "apologetics" in helping clear away obstacles for others, who have been programmed by unfortunate criticisms against the Bible. We'll ask the question, What makes the Bible unique and, therefore, defendable? We'll zero in on the Bible's continuity from Genesis to Revelation, and show that there's an uncanny unified voice calling out from all 66 books!
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Scrutinizing Scripture: Can We Believe Our Bible?
Part 1: The Bible: The Ultimate Influencer For Good!In this series that starts off 2021, it is my hope to lay to rest some of the unfortunate criticisms against the Bible that have been leveled at it either out of ignorance, misinformation or sheer animosity. Using John 18:28-38 as a jumping off point, we'll examine "truth" and its significance to the conversation between Jesus and Pilate, and its implication in the world at large. Truth in our world has been eroded, resulting in "moral relativism" and "situation ethics."
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2021 New Year Challenge
What Will We Present to God in 2021?I suspect many of us are happy to say good-by to 2020. It's certainly been a year to remember, hasn't it? What does God have in store for us personally in 2021? What does God have in store for us collectively (as the body of Christ) in 2021? Using Psalm 90:10-12 as a springboard, let's see what God's word is challenging us to be and do as a new year gets underway. What new things await us?
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Christmas: Something New Was Brewing On Planet Earth!
Part 4: Christmas: God's Search & Rescue Mission!In Part 4, our conclusion, let's peer through the eyes of the apostle John and view the Christmas drama from his vantage point. John helps us see that the Christmas drama is not merely a historical truth. The historicity of Christmas is only half of the equation! The other half is that the Christmas drama is also a theological truth! Let's look at John chapters 1 and 3 and see what we can uncover.
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Christmas: Something New Was Brewing On Planet Earth!
Part 3: The Ultimate Star Trek! Let's continue our contrast of key actors who have stepped onto the stage of the great and wonderful drama we've come to know as "the Christmas Story." Today we'll scrutinize the Scriptural account in Matthew 1:18-2:23 and observe the Wise Men, King Herod, and the Jewish Religious Leaders and how they respond to the news that a newborn "king" has arrived!
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Christmas: Something New Was Brewing On Planet Earth!
Part 2: First Contact!In this second installment of our Advent-Christmas series, we'll be drawn in to the drama of Zechariah's and Mary's responses to a special announcement that was delivered to them. Our playbill will direct us to Luke 1:5-38. In both Part 2 and Part 3 we'll compare and contrast some of the responses of the actors and actresses who have stepped onto the stage of the great and wonderful drama we now call "The Christmas Story."
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Christmas: Something New Was Brewing On Planet Earth!
Part 1: A Season of Newness.The Advent-Christmas season is upon us! And I dare say that we rarely, if ever, consider how the first Christmas impacted a person who also deserves to be on the stage of the great and wonderful drama we now know as the "Christmas Story!" Join me as we surprisingly turn to Galatians 4:4 and hear the Christmas story in one sentence!
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Faith's Fundamentals: Building a Solid Belief System
Part 13: Prayer: A GPS to Our Relationship With God.In this conclusion to our series, we'll take a "guilt-free" look at a somewhat elusive, sometimes baffling, and even sometimes mysterious subject for some -- the subject of prayer. Today's finale will offer us some handles on prayer that'll be very useful...handles that we can grab onto, to help shape our prayer life and give it the backbone we've actually longed for it to have!
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Faith's Fundamentals: Building a Solid Belief System
Part 12: Jesus' Kingdom: Will You Pass the Entrance Exam?In this study, we'll take a look at the account of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-31. Here this young man inquires of Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life -- In other words, what must he do to pass the entrance exam for the kingdom of God! A surprise awaits him, and perhaps a surprise awaits us as well! Let's see what lies behind Jesus' answer.
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Faith's Fundamentals: Building a Solid Belief System
Part 11: Angels: God's Secret Agents!In this second of our two-part look at the fundamental nature of the spirit world, let's see what we can glean from these "secret agents" of God, or "ministering spirits" as the writer of Hebrews, in 1:14, describes them. Let's take a look at Elijah's successor, the man Elisha, in 2 Kings 6:8-17. Here we'll discover that there's more strength in the unseen reality of the hosts of heaven, than in the visible reality of the military forces of Aram. And, in the process, we'll find the lesson for us, and see what angels teach us!
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Faith's Fundamentals: Building a Solid Belief System
Part 10: Satan: Our Ultimate Arch-Enemy!In this first of a two-part look at the fundamental nature of the spirit world, we'll take a sober look at the prime enemy of our faith and relationship with God. This would be satan, our spiritual nemesis, our ultimate arch-enemy! We'll take a look at 1 Peter, chapters 1 and 5 to kick off this study. And we'll include a convicting reversal on Jesus' beatitudes, known as "The Devil's Beatitudes," the first one being, "Blessed are they who are too tired and too busy to attend church on Sunday, for they are my best workers!"
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Faith's Fundamentals: Building a Solid Belief System
Part 8: Faith: Don't Leave Home Without it! Beginning the first of two discussions on "Faith," our jumping off point will be 1 Tim. 1:1-7 and then verses 12-17. Here we discover not only how many times faith is mentioned, but how many facets of faith are touched on! We'll zero in on verse 5 and the reference to "sincere faith." We'll unpack sincere and determine just what sincere faith is from a biblical perspective.
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Faith's Fundamentals: Building a Solid Belief System
Part 7: Salvation: the Ultimate Search & Rescue Operation!From the nature of Man, we transition to the nature of salvation for Man. The Bible tells us that our God was compelled by His love for us, to undertake and set in motion a plan to liberate us from the consequences of our rebellion against Him -- our SIN,if you will. This plan is typified in the Old Testament and fully realized in the New Testament. Our starting point will be Exodus, chapters 14 & 15.
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Faith's Fundamentals: Building a Solid Belief System
Part 6: Sin & the Solution: The Big Deal Revisited!"Let's take a second look at the politically incorrect subject of SIN. Ultimately, we must entertain the question: Why does it matter that we understand the nature of MAN, and seek to defend our belief in the doctrine of SIN? This time we'll zero in on Romans 5:8-12 and see just what reconciliation is, and how it's available to reunite sinful humans to a holy God.
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Faith's Fundamentals: Building a Solid Belief System
Part 5: Sin: What's the Big Deal Anyway?These days, the most politically incorrect subject to talk about is SIN! But the Bible forces us to address it. Sadly, even in the church today, it seems that sin is not touched with a 10-foot pole! One contemporary author once said: "People are no longer sinful. They're only immature, or underprivileged or frightened or, more particularly, sick."Let's see just what the Bible says. Our starting point will be Romans 8:18-23 and 1 John 2:1-2.
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Faith's Fundamentals: Building a Solid Belief System
Part 4: The Holy Spirit: A "What" or a "Who?"Continuing in the track of the triune nature of God, this installment brings an understanding of The Holy Spirit -- is "it" an "it?" Or, is "he" a "person?" In line with our goal, we'll illuminate the Holy Spirit's connection to the triune Godhead, as well as uncover key aspects of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Luke 3:2-22 will be our starting point.
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Faith's Fundamentals: Building a Solid Belief System
Part 3: The God Who Reveals Himself in Jesus Christ.In this session we'll peel back the language layers of the onion to uncover the biblical meaning of the most powerful 2-word statement ever conceived: Jesus Christ.We'll also reveal the meanings behind Jesus' two significant names: Yeshua and Immanuel,one announcing his mission, and the other announcing his nature. Matthew 1:18-32 will be our starting point.
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