tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71457428119964329682012-01-28T15:19:27.318-05:00Randynoreply@blogger.comBlogger1701100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-10962541626936741902012-01-08T19:51:00.001-05:002012-01-08T19:51:44.286-05:00

Revelation 6-22 describes in broad strokes events that will happen at the end near the time when Jesus returns to restore the earth as a place where God's rule is fully honored and obeyed. These chapters can be divided in three major sections: the Seal Judgments of the Tribulation Period - Rev 6:1-19:10 Jesus' Second Coming and Millennial Reign - Rev 19:10-20:15 the New Heaven and New Earth -

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-71717402976881743232011-12-14T17:14:00.001-05:002011-12-14T17:14:11.578-05:00

Here is a link to a chart showing the parallels between Luke's accounts of the conceptions, births, and early childhoods of John the Baptist and Jesus. What observations do you make from the chart? The chart

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-39169884247222249832011-12-05T10:43:00.001-05:002011-12-05T10:53:51.402-05:00

There is a scan to the right of the proposed relocation of our church entrance and driveway. The drawing was made by Aspen Group and was part of our early planning for the new children's wing built in 2008. If you click on the image, it will enlarge and you will be able to get a better look at it. The church property in this image is oriented with North down. Notice the new entrance and driveway

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-77623479042915932422011-11-26T15:59:00.001-05:002011-11-26T16:00:34.922-05:00

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Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-47100565609174879242011-09-17T13:44:00.002-04:002011-09-17T13:44:15.484-04:00

(Reposted from 11/14/2008) A few years ago, I compiled a list of reasons why I give to the Lord's work. Here they are, with a prayer that they will challenge all who review them: I give... 1. Because God expects and commands it - "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-45089141622173487772011-08-16T14:04:00.000-04:002011-08-16T14:04:52.875-04:00

"Core competencies" of Christian living are beliefs, practices, and skills central to living out our faith in the real world. They are the beliefs, practices, and skills we can leverage to our practical advantage in a wide variety of contexts and situations. The first of these is "A 5-Finger Grip on the Word of God." The five fingers stand for: reading, memorizing, studying, meditating on, and

Randynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-66651925222404456072011-08-12T17:01:00.003-04:002011-08-12T17:02:59.125-04:00

For the last several months we've been studying the Kingdom of God on Sunday mornings during the worship service teaching time. We've come now to a convenient stopping point before moving on to studying the Kingdom parables Jesus told in the Gospel accounts. The plan is to begin studying those parables on the second Sunday of October. In the meantime, we will be taking a few Sundays to focus on

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-86078123275193104852011-06-30T10:32:00.002-04:002011-06-30T10:49:40.497-04:00

Scripture Reading: Matthew 12:33-37 Review and Explanation: Yesterday I wrote about how Jesus called on people to make a decision about Him with these words in 12:33: "Either make the tree good and its fruit good or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit." Beginning with the next verse, Jesus locates where that decision must take place; namely, in a person's

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-76437386200310740912011-06-29T16:36:00.001-04:002011-06-29T16:43:27.829-04:00

Scripture Reading: Matthew 12:33-37 Review and Explanation: Matthew 12 records the account of the Jews' stubborn rejection of Jesus' offer to establish His Kingdom. The Pharisees, the religious leaders of Israel, made their position clear. They believed Jesus was doing miracles by Beelzebub rather than by the Holy Spirit. Ordinary people must have been standing by, listening intently as the

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-87804889188703398802011-06-15T14:35:00.000-04:002011-06-15T14:35:33.956-04:00

On Friday night last week, I returned from a quick trip to Japan to set up the Nippon Initiative student trip for later this summer. We have 22 (and a baby!) on our team this year. The plan is for us to visit a number of places, including inside the earthquake and tsunami zone, before ending up in Iwatsuki, Saitama Prefecture, to help Joe and Noney Mita with a VBS-type outreach for their church.

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-43383003905875404562011-06-06T09:56:00.000-04:002011-06-06T09:56:09.831-04:00

I want to let everyone know things are going very well with my ministry trip to Japan. We have been busily meeting with numerous people as we get things set up for the Nippon Initiative trip in July. Our team will have 23 people this summer. There are a lot of logistics to care for. The Lord has been good to allow us so far to see everyone we have need to interact with in advance of the group

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-78737294264951265002011-05-25T12:05:00.000-04:002011-05-25T12:05:15.497-04:00

These are the terms that describe how we represent the life of God's Kingdom to the brokenness we encounter in this world: Ambassadors - 2 Corinthians 5:20 Witnesses - Acts 1:8  Foundations - 2 Corinthians 12:9b Knowing that your work fits into God's original design for people to reflect his rule, the question is, are you going to use your profession to confront brokenness and to collaborate

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-11323837666349173582011-05-06T18:51:00.000-04:002011-05-06T18:51:34.461-04:00

Sunday is Mother's Day! I will be teaching on "The Wise Woman of Tekoa" from 2 Samuel 14. If you've never heard of her, you may want to take a peak at the text. She was a remarkable woman with skills that gave her profound influence on a King!

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-70540348385423569892011-05-03T19:23:00.000-04:002011-05-03T19:23:43.192-04:00

Less than forty-eight hours ago, U.S. Navy Seals confronted and killed Osama Bin Laden, the inspirational head of the al Queda terrorist network and mastermind of the 9-11 attacks.  Bin Laden deserved to die. As they say in Texas, "he needed killing." His resume, after all, over the last twenty years or so, included an excessive number of intentional acts of mayhem and murder. I was surprised

Randynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-7067563134905518902011-04-27T17:10:00.000-04:002011-04-27T17:10:20.410-04:00

Please note: This post builds on earlier posts written on 04/18/2011 and 04/19/2011 Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28-40; John 12:1-50; Zechariah 9:9-17 Review and Explanation: The nation of Israel understood on that first Palm Sunday that Jesus was presenting Himself as King, the One promised by the prophets as the Restorer of the nation, the One through Whom the glory of Solomon's rule would

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-43907900128655639112011-04-21T15:16:00.002-04:002011-04-21T19:00:17.124-04:00

"I Am a Seed" by Randal Gilmore I am a seed. I live inside a shell attached to a leaf of a strong sturdy sycamore. My design reflects the hand of a Wise and Mighty Creator. Full of promise, I fall to the ground and die. I become a tree. I am a tree. I lift my limbs in praise each day as birds joyfully build their nests. My branches refresh those seeking refuge from the noonday sun. Full of

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-41480332811488400532011-04-19T15:03:00.001-04:002011-04-19T15:03:45.404-04:00

Please note: This post builds on an earlier post written on 04/18/11 Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28-40; John 12:1-50; Zechariah 9:9-17 Review and Explanation: The nation of Israel as a whole understood the significance of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem riding on the foal of a donkey. They knew Jesus was presenting Himself as King, the One promised by the prophets as the Restorer of the nation, the

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-26663928063502570002011-04-18T21:25:00.000-04:002011-04-18T21:25:00.410-04:00

Please Note: The remaining teaching for the previous entry about the glory of the prophetic kingdom from Isaiah 60 will be entered soon as a "comment" for that post. The story of the Triumphal Entry is so pivotal, and it's life applications so challenging, I thought it best to use this week's posts to review the teaching from Sunday's worship service.  Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28-40; John 12:

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-6734005155691793962011-04-07T09:38:00.000-04:002011-04-07T09:38:21.864-04:00

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 60 Review and Explanation: This chapter is just one of many OT passages that speak of glorious conditions for Israel during the reign of her Messiah here on the earth. Keep in mind these conditions require the physical presence of the Messiah Himself. In the case of Isaiah 60, the physical presence of the Messiah is promised near the beginning, in verse 2: "the Lord

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-45800327578079294412011-04-06T10:34:00.000-04:002011-04-06T10:34:30.624-04:00

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 60:1-22 Review and Explanation: Isaiah 60 is one example of many OT prophecies about the future restoration of Israel in the kingdom of her Messiah. We understand that the time referred to in this chapter as "the Millennium" or "the Millennial Reign of Christ." The word "millennium" means 1000 years. That's the length of the reign of Christ on the earth, according to

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-2448170245935686672011-04-05T11:34:00.000-04:002011-04-05T11:34:52.156-04:00

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 54:7-8 Review and Explanation: God chose the nation of Israel as the nation through which He would fulfill certain unconditional promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others. However, when God formed the nation in history after the Exodus, He clearly indicated that His blessing on any specific generation of Israelites would be conditioned on their obedience. Over

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-56076294745822813502011-03-29T19:23:00.000-04:002011-03-29T19:23:06.127-04:00

@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Below are 17 elements of a framework for studying and understanding biblical teaching on the Kingdom of God.  1. God is a King, and His Kingdom is Universal. 2. God intended for the earth to be a

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-11606440548146648642011-03-28T09:18:00.009-04:002011-03-28T10:02:19.237-04:00

Several people have asked about how they might be able to support the ministry of The Nippon Initiative, which is our ministry to Japanese people. The aftermath of the recent earthquake and tsunami has put the needs of Japanese people, including their spiritual needs, on all of our hearts and minds. So here is some additional information for you to prayerfully consider as you follow the Lord's

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-54674388924914913832011-03-23T14:59:00.002-04:002011-03-23T15:01:46.277-04:00

On Sunday, I shared that I believe God is about to do something great among people in Japan. God is a redeemer. He binds up the wounds of those who are hurting. Psalm 34:18 says: "He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." God loves the people of Japan, so I am confident He is now at work to show Himself strong to meet their needs. Christians everywhere are

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-810731251073873892011-03-23T09:15:00.000-04:002011-03-23T09:15:06.362-04:00

Pray for Hiromi Takahashi's witness to her neighbors.

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-61686561236563325222011-03-15T20:12:00.004-04:002011-03-16T13:25:10.811-04:00

By now everyone knows that a 9.0 earthquake rumbled through Japan last Friday afternoon (just after Midnight EST). Centered off the east coast of Honshu Island near Sendai, the quake generated a massive tsunami, destroying billions of dollars worth of property and turning the sea into a graveyard for thousands. Meanwhile, in nearby Fukushima Prefecture (State), four of six reactors in two

Randynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-17291502566223823132011-03-02T13:05:00.000-05:002011-03-02T13:05:47.793-05:00

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-17 Review and Explanation: The Lord promised David, "When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom." The word "offspring" is literally "seed". We've already seen the word "seed" in relation to other promises made by the Lord in association

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-71858946908609063382011-03-01T19:42:00.000-05:002011-03-01T19:42:51.758-05:00

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-16 Review and Explanation: The glory and blessing of God's direct rule over Israel reached an historical high during the reign of Solomon (see 1 Kings 10:14-29). As great as the conditions were, they were only a foretaste of something greater, something that will come when the Lord Jesus begins His reign here on the earth. Jesus referred to this when He told the

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-46942701890200806192011-02-22T17:57:00.000-05:002011-02-22T17:57:40.074-05:00

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 19:9-10; 25:8-17; 25:35-43 Review and Explanation: An array of physical and material blessings became available to Israel as the only nation in history organized by God directly under His rule. God used only 613 laws to create a life for the people that was as close to Utopia as possible on this side of Christ's Millennial Kingdom. Some of those laws were designed to

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-35125574737113246532011-02-21T10:05:00.000-05:002011-02-21T10:05:52.239-05:00

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Review: When God formed Israel into a nation, an array of physical and material blessings became available to the people. These blessings stand as a small foretaste of the far more vast array of physical and material blessings associated with Christ's Kingdom being established here on earth at some point in the future. God used just 613 laws to govern the

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-8329721323506436922011-02-18T15:27:00.000-05:002011-02-18T15:27:08.597-05:00

Scripture Reading: The Gospel of John Explanation: In John's Gospel, we find numerous references to Jesus' role as the Prophet in fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18:15-22. The references either (1) explicitly mention the role using the word "prophet"; or (2) use language that is clearly linked to the descriptions of the Prophet from Deuteronomy 18. There are also in John several occasions where we

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-18298095718036453842011-02-17T14:36:00.000-05:002011-02-17T14:36:12.493-05:00

Scripture Reading: Gospel of John Review and Explanation: Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to provide a Virgin-born Deliverer as part of His plan to restore the earth as a place where His rule is fully honored and obeyed. In addition to Deliverer, Jesus is also prophesied to be King and Priest and Prophet. See earlier posts from this week for brief explanations of each of these.

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-77156665498495941452011-02-16T11:13:00.000-05:002011-02-16T11:13:11.328-05:00

Scripture Reading: Exodus 19:16-20; 20:18-19; and Deuteronomy 18:15-22 Review and Explanation: In addition to His role as King and Priest, the Virgin-born Deliverer God promised at the center of His plan to restore the earth as a place where His rule is fully honored and obeyed will also be a Prophet. He will not be just any prophet, but the Prophet, raised up in fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18:15

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-81021635406723413692011-02-14T11:43:00.000-05:002011-02-14T11:43:01.910-05:00

Scripture Reading: Exodus 19:5-6, Hebrews 4-10 Review: The verses in today's Scripture Reading provide additional information about the Virgin-born deliverer God promised in Genesis 3:15 as part of His plan to restore the earth as a place where His rule is fully honored and obeyed. Because the Deliverer will come to the earth through the agency of God rather than man, we understand Him to be a

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-43080610555690521402011-02-10T10:07:00.000-05:002011-02-10T10:07:30.985-05:00

Scripture Reading; Exodus 19:4 Explanation: When God formed Israel into a nation, He placed them directly under His rule. God was still ruling over all other nations through His Providence in association with His Universal Kingdom. In other words, God was still guiding the development of all other nations, and He made available to them certain baseline truths regarding Himself and baseline

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-15420033383952723692011-02-09T11:22:00.000-05:002011-02-09T11:22:09.862-05:00

Scripture Reading: Exodus 19-24, especially 19:1-6; Psalm 114 Review: The Book of Genesis ends with God having narrowed the line through which He would deliver the blessings associated with restoring the earth as a place where His rule is fully honored and obeyed. The blessings, including the promised Virgin-born, Deliverer-King, will come through Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, a

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-77216935480065278932011-02-05T20:55:00.000-05:002011-02-05T20:55:15.891-05:00

Scripture Reading: Genesis 9:25; 11:1-9 Explanation: After Ham sinned against his father, Noah announced a curse on Ham's son, Canaan: "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers." These words clearly indicated to all that Ham's line would not be the line of the promised Virgin-born, Deliverer King, nor would it be the line through which other blessings associated with

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-15776587552255616702011-02-04T09:16:00.001-05:002011-02-04T09:19:04.969-05:00

Scripture Reading: Genesis 9 Explanation and Review: As time moves along in the early history of the world, by the time Noah comes on the scene, several key elements of God's plan to restore the earth as a place where His rule is fully honored and obeyed become clear: His provision of a Virgin-born, Deliverer-King Faith in Him and cooperation with His plan as the means of securing the blessings

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-26872733863350767742011-02-02T13:05:00.001-05:002011-02-02T13:06:00.328-05:00

Scripture Reading: Genesis 5:21-24  Explanation: Today's reading tells the story of Enoch, who "walked with God. and he was not, for God took him." Enoch represented the seventh generation of descendants from Adam through Seth. We read about his counterpart, Lamech, through the line of Cain back at the end of Genesis 4. The fact that both men were the "seventh" from Adam points to their lives as

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-49166360079033114162011-02-01T11:02:00.000-05:002011-02-01T11:02:21.485-05:00

Scripture Reference: Genesis 4-5 Explanation: Much can be gained from a careful study of every detail of Genesis 4. By way of overview, we see in Genesis 4 several illustrations of the principles offered in yesterday's blog entry: The promises and blessings of God's Kingdom come to us only by faith and by cooperating with His plan. We cannot secure for ourselves the promises and blessings of

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-56122141063399879412011-01-31T09:16:00.001-05:002011-01-31T09:17:14.645-05:00

Blog entries this week are intended to continue building the framework for our understanding of the historical development of God's Kingdom here on earth. This framework is essential to understanding the promises God has made in relation to the future reality of Christ's kingdom here on earth. Scripture Reading: Genesis 3 and 4 Review and Explanation: By now we know that the first announcement

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-45629177946892342902011-01-27T07:44:00.000-05:002011-01-27T07:44:01.379-05:00

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 32:7-8; Acts 17:24-28 Explanation: Soon we will begin studying the early stages of God's Kingdom coming to the earth physically through the nation of Israel. But first I need to underscore something about all nations I mentioned a few weeks ago in passing. God holds all nations accountable for their response to Him as King and the values associated with His rule.

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-26597805167417397942011-01-26T13:47:00.000-05:002011-01-26T13:47:21.226-05:00

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139 Explanation: Sunday was national "Sanctity of Human Life Sunday." As Pastor Doug shared in his sermon, human life is sacred because God made us in His image. Psalm 139 expands this truth by celebrating how much God thinks about us, acts toward us, and cares for us. It is a Psalm worth meditating on whenever any doubt creeps into our minds about our own worth or the

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-27338288121836625712011-01-20T09:58:00.000-05:002011-01-20T09:58:46.147-05:00

Scripture Reading: "And how are they to hear without someone preaching? - Romans 10:14 Many Christians and Christian organizations seem to be walking away from proclaiming the Gospel verbally as they practice various ministries of compassion and Kingdom justice. This alarming trend not only runs counter to the teaching and models of New Testament ministry, it is also counter-intuitive. No one

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-50358574889256035582011-01-19T10:49:00.001-05:002011-01-19T10:55:42.469-05:00

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5 Testimony: The emphasis of our study this week has been on the importance of sharing the truth of the Gospel verbally as we practice compassion and other forms of Kingdom justice. Today I want to share a personal testimony of how maintaining this balance affects lives both here and now and for eternity. One day in 1929, or perhaps in 1930, my maternal

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-56759444310355762572011-01-18T15:11:00.000-05:002011-01-18T15:11:58.011-05:00

Scripture Reading: John 14:18-24 Review and Explanation: The promised kingdom of Christ has not yet been fully established here on the earth. We are not yet living in the Kingdom age. So the promised blessings of the Kingdom, in their fullest expression, are yet to be poured out on the earth. Since they require the physical presence of Jesus, they will not be poured out on the earth until He

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-61291668195621092622011-01-17T10:43:00.000-05:002011-01-17T10:43:55.729-05:00

Scripture Reading: Romans 10:9-15 Review: We are beginning to see large numbers of Christians and Christian organizations practicing kingdom justice and engaged in compassion-based ministries. Unfortunately, many of these Christians and Christians organizations at the same time are turning their backs on sharing the Gospel verbally. Many are also showing disdain for any suggestion that we should

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-88098321624467476112011-01-14T08:13:00.000-05:002011-01-14T08:13:23.661-05:00

Devotions written each day this week will focus on the theme of Kingdom justice and will build on one another. If by chance you miss a day, click on "older posts" to read a previous entry. Scripture Reading: Micah 6:8 Explanation: This fallen world we live in affords us numerous opportunities to practice kingdom justice. Notice I keep writing about "kingdom justice." I do not have in mind

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-20360412490217872812011-01-13T08:02:00.002-05:002011-01-14T07:54:50.093-05:00

Devotions written each day this week will focus on the theme of Kingdom justice and will build on one another. If by chance you miss a day, click on "older posts" to read a previous entry. Scripture Reading: Genesis 9:5-6, Exodus 22; Micah 6:8 Explanation: God's words to Noah after the Flood laid the foundation for the practice of human justice. God made it clear that He would hold people

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-16430224868609503302011-01-12T11:08:00.002-05:002011-01-13T07:14:23.448-05:00

I'm taking a break today from writing a devotional for The Kingdom of God series. Ironically, the reason I'm doing so involves me practicing one of the applications I recommended at the end of Sunday's sermon. I encouraged everyone to become aware of the issue of Kingdom justice as we read the news or otherwise engage the media. I said, "when you see injustice, speak up." That's exactly what I am

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-37397065619440837122011-01-11T09:51:00.000-05:002011-01-11T09:51:40.837-05:00

Devotions written each day this week will focus on the theme of Kingdom justice and will build on one another. If by chance you miss a day, click on "older posts" to read a previous entry. Scripture Reading: Genesis 4, 6:1-13  Explanation: God's announcement in Genesis 9:5-6 regarding the foundation of human justice came about because of what happened in Genesis chapters 4 and 6. The first

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-65758950082501572852011-01-10T09:35:00.000-05:002011-01-10T09:35:42.589-05:00

Devotions written each day this week will focus on the theme of Kingdom justice and will build on one another. If by chance you miss a day, click on "older posts" to read a previous entry. Scripture Reading: Genesis 9:5-6 Explanation: As we read through the Bible, the Old Testament especially, we often see God pronouncing judgment on Gentile nations for their failure to live by the values

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-86589402005060049382011-01-08T13:03:00.000-05:002011-01-08T13:03:46.619-05:00

Over the last few weeks, I've introduced the subject of God's Kingdom and begun to build a framework for future study. Here are some key parts of that framework: 1. God is a King, and His Kingdom is Universal. 2. God intended for the earth to be a place where His rule would be fully honored and obeyed. 3. Through the Fall, the earth became a place of rebellion against the rule of God. 4. God

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-83311714933193051382011-01-05T15:04:00.001-05:002011-01-06T06:18:55.444-05:00

Scripture Reading: Genesis 28:10-22; John 1:51 Review: There is a very thin veil between the realm of the Universal Kingdom of God and the realm in which we live here on earth. Jesus is the gateway between the two realms (John 1:51). Through Him we are able to gain a foretaste now of our future life with Him someday in His Kingdom when He establishes it here on earth. At times it may be

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-20761725089887419262011-01-02T13:28:00.003-05:002011-01-03T18:10:50.092-05:00

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 20-22 Review: Jesus will return to the earth someday to establish His kingdom physically here on earth. The goal of His Kingdom is to restore the earth as a place where God's rule is fully honored and obeyed. At the end of His Millennial Reign on the earth, Jesus will hand over His Kingdom here on the earth to merge with God's Universal Kingdom.

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-84183430181154954712010-12-28T09:54:00.000-05:002010-12-28T09:54:30.712-05:00

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25; Genesis 3:15 Review: One final element of God's plan to restore the earth as a place where His rule is fully honored and obeyed concerns the vulnerability of the offspring of the woman to the consequences of the Fall. After God tells the serpent that the offspring of the woman will ultimately crush his head, He states: "and you shall bruise his heel." In other

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-48793257014913177822010-12-27T11:09:00.000-05:002010-12-27T11:09:17.333-05:00

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25; Genesis 3:15 Review: One very intriguing feature of God's announcement in Genesis 3:15 in His reference to the promised Savior as "the offspring of the woman". The word "offspring" is more literally translated "seed". Normally, the word "seed" in contexts like this is associated with males. In this case, calling the promised Savior "the seed of the woman"

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-17306359349526296322010-12-24T09:06:00.000-05:002010-12-24T09:06:37.790-05:00

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25, Genesis 3:15 Review: In Genesis 3:15, God revealed that there would be some type of ultimate conflict between the serpent (representing Satan) and the promised offspring of the woman: "he (meaning, the offspring of the woman) shall crush your head, and you (meaning, the serpent) shall bruise his heel." When the head of a serpent is crushed, the serpent dies.

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-80902029296066909252010-12-23T08:15:00.000-05:002010-12-23T08:15:44.886-05:00

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25 and Genesis 3:15 Review: Yet another element of God's announcement in Genesis 3:15 to restore the earth as a place where His rule is fully honored and obeyed through a virgin-born King is the conflict between the serpent and the woman and between the offspring of the serpent and the offspring of the woman. The angel's announcement to Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-29063080589138696002010-12-22T11:19:00.000-05:002010-12-22T11:19:39.710-05:00

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25; Genesis 3:15 Review: Part 2 - Genesis 3:15 is the first announcement of God's plan to send a virgin-born King to restore the earth as a place where His rule is fully honored and obeyed. The elements of God's original announcement show up in the account Matthew gives of the exchange between Joseph and an angel of the Lord regarding the birth of a son to

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-27975768297546563662010-12-20T22:07:00.000-05:002010-12-20T22:07:28.398-05:00

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25 and Genesis 3:15 Review: Genesis 3:15 is the first announcement of God's plan to send a virgin-born King to restore the earth as a place where His rule is fully honored and obeyed. The elements of God's original announcement show up in the account Matthew gives of the exchange between Joseph and an angel of the Lord regarding the birth of a son to Mary. For

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-2647176352321143382010-12-16T10:44:00.000-05:002010-12-16T10:44:19.123-05:00

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1-11 Explanation: These chapters from the Book of Isaiah contain numerous prophecies about God's conspiracy to restore the earth as a place where His rule is fully honored and obeyed. Two prophecies in particular are very closely associated with celebrations of Christ's birth: Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6. In the context surrounding these prophecies, as well as throughout the

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-50064539749379829562010-12-14T16:01:00.000-05:002010-12-14T16:01:36.462-05:00

Scripture Reading: Psalm 2 Review: Part of God's conspiracy to restore the earth as a place where His rule is honored and fully obeyed involves a confrontation with "the kings of the earth." Psalm 2 warns the kings of the earth of this coming confrontation and cautions them to be "wise". It seems that the kings will foolishly "take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed...."

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-51431819249573032212010-12-13T12:13:00.000-05:002010-12-13T12:13:55.086-05:00

Scripture Reading: Daniel 7:1-28 Review: Everyone loves a good conspiracy theory, even though most of them prove to be unfounded. There is one conspiracy theory, however, that turns out to be absolutely true. It's the conspiracy of the Kingdom of God, and God Himself is the one behind it. Ever since the Fall, God has been moving human history toward the goal of restoring the earth as a place

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-19391185615145094682010-12-10T04:56:00.000-05:002010-12-10T04:56:13.013-05:00

Scripture Reading: Daniel 2 Review and Explanation: God has a plan for restoring the earth as a place where His rule is fully honored and obeyed, as it is everywhere else in the universe. His plan centers on the establishment of an earthly kingdom ruled by the Savior/King promised in Genesis 3:15. This general character of this earthly kingdom was framed for Noah after the Flood (see Genesis 8:

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-68214529202933892542010-12-09T08:19:00.000-05:002010-12-09T08:19:36.700-05:00

Scripture Reading: Genesis 3:15 and 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 Review and Explanation: When God created the earth and humankind, He intended for the earth to be a place where His rule was honored and obeyed without fail. But then the rebellion occurred, involving Satan, one-third of the angels, and all of humankind. The earth then became a place in God's universe where rebellion against His rule was

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-82360741053818490222010-12-07T21:04:00.000-05:002010-12-07T21:04:29.039-05:00

Scripture Reading: Psalm 103 Review: Psalm 103:19 declares: "The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. This verse illustrates the three key ingredients of any kingdom: (1) a ruler or king; (2) authority and power to rule; and (3) a realm over which the king exercises his authority and power. Psalm 103:19 identifies The Lord as the King. His "throne"

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-37106610279268033652010-12-06T19:09:00.000-05:002010-12-06T19:09:36.722-05:00

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 10:1-16 Review: OT David was the human author of Psalm 29, the psalm we studied this past Sunday morning on the Universal Kingdom of God. David is not the only OT writer/prophet to acknowledge how everyone and everything exists ultimately under the rule of God. In Ephesians 1:11, Paul wrote that God "works all things after the counsel of his own will". In Proverbs 21

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-77122009437574275512010-12-05T14:54:00.000-05:002010-12-05T14:54:35.166-05:00

Scripture Reading: Psalm 29 Review: The Kingdom of God is spoken of in two ways throughout the Scriptures: (1) the rule of God over all He has created everywhere in the Universe; and (2) the literal rule of Christ here on the earth in a literal, physical kingdom. We might refer to these respectively as "The Universal Kingdom of God" and "Christ's Kingdom". Reflection Questions: What in Psalm 29

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-90544388375908215862010-09-09T15:31:00.004-04:002010-09-10T17:39:44.279-04:00

By now you know that Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, FL, plans to lead his 50-member church in burning copies of the Koran to mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11 this Saturday. News of Pastor Jones' plan has gone viral, as have outcries and condemnation from everyone, including our own President and Secretary of State. So what do I think? For starters, I think

Randynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-87099905914114439832010-05-02T06:23:00.000-04:002010-05-02T06:23:07.683-04:00

The term spiritual warfare refers to the spiritual battle being waged against us by the devil and his spiritual army. This battle involves the reality that certain things that happen in this world may be "caused, controlled, or instigated" by spiritual beings aligned against us and against our Lord.* The spiritual beings aligned against us and against our Lord are led by none other than Satan

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-26898884644994491652010-04-04T07:04:00.000-04:002010-04-04T07:04:06.591-04:00

            We’re gathered here this morning because of our hope in the resurrection of the dead. The possibility of someone who has died rising again to life is the bedrock of our faith.  Even though the idea is highly dubious to many, at the same time, it is engaging and intriguing. If you wonder about the words engaging and intriguing, take a minute to recall all the movies and television

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-55871031205388606192010-03-02T16:35:00.000-05:002010-03-02T16:35:03.561-05:00

OT Joseph's passionate ambition to please the Lord sustained him through temptation and unjust suffering. It also set the stage for him to discover the higher purpose God had in mind for him--"the saving of many lives."Here is a list of 12 advantages of pleasing God rather than men, written by Richard Baxter, a puritan preacher from the 1600's:1. If you seek first to please God and are

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-74738252081601341812010-02-22T08:42:00.000-05:002010-02-22T08:42:16.406-05:00

A summary from Sunday's sermon (Genesis 39:1-23): The future Joseph envisioned for himself was not the plan God had in mind for him. Joseph saw himself as lording over his family. But God had an altogether different destination in mind: servant-leadership not overlord-leadership. God also had a path of His choosing and design to take Joseph to that destination. Even though the path God had for

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-31950784763019053662010-02-08T11:04:00.001-05:002010-02-08T11:04:50.813-05:00

Here is the sample forgiveness prayer I mentioned yesterday at the end of our study for morning worship. Keep in mind this is not some kind of magical formula. It's an example of a prayer that takes into account the major points we studied about forgiveness. The idea is to pray a prayer like this whenever you feel yourself welling up with anger over an offense, real or imagined, committed against

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-70433932368092674242010-02-02T20:22:00.003-05:002010-02-05T06:15:37.258-05:00

According to Genesis 37:2, Joseph "brought a bad report" to his father about his brothers. We don't know exactly what Joseph's brothers did to provoke such a report. They probably grew tired of always hearing how special Joseph was, leading to some form of blameworthy conduct. Joseph seized the opportunity to widen the gap between Jacob and other sons even further, all the while reinforcing his

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-57175547540455261902010-01-11T12:17:00.000-05:002010-01-11T12:17:48.933-05:00

The Old Testament story of Joseph is the story of how God grew the promised line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It's the story of how God took the line of Jacob from Canaan to Egypt, which ultimately sets up the account of the exodus and eventual conquest of the promised land. But there's also a backstory contained in the biblical material. The backstory is one of relational conflict and

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-88327882219678319532010-01-07T12:58:00.002-05:002010-01-08T07:47:20.210-05:00

Here at the start of 2010, I'd like to challenge everyone to take time to read or listen through the entire Bible in one year. Many in our church family are accepting this challenge by using the month of January to listen through the New Testament on CD or mp3's. Listening just 45 minutes per day will take you through the New Testament. Most of us can find that kind of time when we're driving, or

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-52357130482168738552009-10-30T11:42:00.000-04:002009-10-30T11:42:16.764-04:00

The story of Israel's rebirth as a nation on May 14, 1948, should amaze even the most cynical skeptic. Israel has been the apple of God's eye since the time God chose them as the means of fulfilling the promises He made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. Unfortunately, the history of Israel has included many highs and lows due to their cycles of faithlessness, disobedience, and idolatry. One such low

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-78839093186938667232009-10-19T12:42:00.000-04:002009-10-19T12:42:15.328-04:00

One of the signs indicating the impending return of Jesus centers on the role of Jerusalem in endtime events. Luke 21:20 tells us: "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near." We believe this verse refers primarily to the time just before Jesus' return. According to Revelation 19:11-21, Jesus will return with "the armies of heaven following him"

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-50939508792415846102009-10-14T09:26:00.002-04:002009-10-14T10:05:23.997-04:00

On Sunday, October 11, we began a study on biblical signs of Jesus' return. We believe the return of our Lord is imminent, meaning it could happen at any moment. Technically, the doctrine of imminence allows for the possibility of the Lord's coming occurring some time in the distant future. In other words, ever since the Ascension nearly 2000 years ago, the return of Christ has always been

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-21547512358864283822009-06-17T08:54:00.004-04:002009-06-17T09:50:39.768-04:00

In 2007, we launched the Nippon Initiative as part of our church's Something Greater Project. The Nippon Initiative came into existence as the result of a trip Dale and I made there, along with Elliott, in the fall of 2006. Our hearts were overwhelmed with the obvious lack of a response to the Gospel visible there at every turn. We launched the Nippon Initiative with three purposes in mind: (1)

Randynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-39402589292959707872009-05-26T12:29:00.003-04:002009-05-26T13:15:27.717-04:00

Your decisions on how to use the liberty you have in Christ affect more than just yourself. That's why "Love your neighbor as yourself" is so valuable as a life-organizing principle. "Love your neighbor as yourself" oozes with relational and social implications. But so does any lifestyle choice based on the values of the flesh.How you interact with popular culture or with the values of the world

Randynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-91800616527222111052009-05-20T09:18:00.005-04:002009-05-20T10:01:36.383-04:00

Poet John Donne wrote the well known words, "No man is an island...." Donne intended to focus attention on the realities of community and human interconnectedness in death, but his words also apply to how we live and to the choices we make about right and wrong. In 5:13, the Apostle Paul tells us: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-47938238882981484922009-05-12T14:34:00.003-04:002009-05-12T15:11:36.325-04:00

Sunday's Mother's Day study focused on Paul's description of Phoebe in Romans 16:1-2 as a saint, sister, servant, and helper. Though each of these are important, sister is the one that caught my attention, especially because of all the fascination with Venus, the pagan Roman goddess, in Phoebe's hometown of Cenchrea.The pagan Roman goddess, Venus, was known for her beauty and physical charms.

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-19278338837674939022009-03-19T13:34:00.002-04:002009-03-19T13:46:38.377-04:00

In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Apostle Paul wrote: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." In the previous chapter, Paul wrote something similar in verse 30: "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."So how do we know if, like Paul, we too are boasting in our weaknesses in order to experience Christ's power?

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-89909888945314134002009-02-11T11:20:00.003-05:002009-02-11T11:32:08.703-05:00

For those who are attending our study of the Book of Romans, here is a map of of Paul's 3rd missionary journey. Study the map while reading Acts 18:23-20:38. Paul wrote Romans while staying in Corinth for three months (Acts 20:3). The geography combined with an understanding of the sequence of events will help with the historical setting for Paul's letter to Roman believers.If you wish to see a

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-6288804633430440562008-12-23T09:22:00.002-05:002008-12-23T09:25:03.783-05:00

I recently read an article from Answers in Genesis on the origin of Christmas as a holiday. It is a balanced presentation of several views on the exact timing of Jesus' birth. To read the article, follow the link below:The Origin of Christmas

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-43483308322581048752008-12-08T06:07:00.002-05:002008-12-08T07:05:56.946-05:00

When I was a teenager, bell-bottomed pants and hair "over the ears" on men were among a list of things considered worldly by many pastors and Christian leaders. There and other similar infractions received frequent mentions in sermons and Sunday School lessons. Now, of course, they're never mentioned. And most people laugh at the idea that such things ever had anything to do with the biblical

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-23292773208586365902008-12-03T10:27:00.001-05:002008-12-03T10:31:17.863-05:00

Prior to observing communion on Sunday, we looked in the Scriptures (Genesis 13-19) and noted the downward spiral of Lot’s decisions as he became increasingly more identified with Sodom than with God. Lot began by entertaining thoughts/nurturing attraction to life in Sodom. Next he chose to head in that direction. Then he moved closer and closer, until he eventually settled down and began living

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-14934091044921645622008-11-24T08:51:00.003-05:002008-11-24T09:56:02.385-05:00

One of the dilemmas the patriarch Abraham had to balance was the matter of his patiently waiting on God versus taking initiative in a fleshly manner to make things happen. Since taking initiative should not always be considered a fleshly response, how can someone know whether it's right to move ahead and make something happen (seemingly on their own initiative) or simply to continue patiently

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-3826942194223852482008-11-14T12:08:00.002-05:002008-11-14T12:40:21.450-05:00

During times of financial crisis, it's tempting to give less or even to stop giving altogether. Meanwhile the needs of ministries like our go. In our case at Hamilton Hills, we have every reason not to diminish what we are doing for the Lord, but to expand it and even to envision doing more to minister effectively here where the Lord has planted us.A few years ago, I compiled a list of reasons

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-23599435452358026362008-11-02T15:46:00.002-05:002008-11-02T15:50:04.944-05:00

These are my notes for today's sermon.Voting Our Values2 Timothy 3:1-5Main IdeaChristians have every reason to be informed and engaged in the coming electionIntroduction We’re are only two days from our country’s next presidential election, so I thought it would be appropriate for me to step away from our study of Abraham and talk with you instead about the subject that is on all of our hearts

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-27502361357298608802008-09-29T11:03:00.003-04:002008-09-29T11:35:29.645-04:00

For more on what parents can do either to prevent or to respond to rebellion in their children, check out my last few posts.There is one other valuable technique Dale and I picked up from Lessin's book, "How to be the Parents of Happy and Obedient Children." That is sustained eye contact. We found that establishing eye contact individually with our children and then sustaining it for about 30

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-7599932611671991982008-09-23T16:58:00.003-04:002008-09-23T17:21:13.117-04:00

See the previous post for more information on Dealing with Rebellion in Children.One of the tools Dale and I found very useful when our sons were younger is a book entitled, "How To Be the Parents of Happy and Obedient Children" by Roy Lessin. There were a couple of especially helpful takeaways from this book. First, we learned the value of aiming for repentance when we disciplined our sons. We

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-71461825379082986822008-09-14T09:42:00.005-04:002008-09-14T16:35:17.994-04:00

Strategies for dealing with rebellion in children:1. Pray for your children.2. Proactively teach and model biblical wisdom. 3. Understand what rebellion looks like (hurt, bitterness, chronic anger, insubordination, full-blown rebellion, sarcastic speech, disobedience) and call it what it is.4. Examine your child’s environment for potential co-conspirators (friends, music, media,

Randynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-77096510521685493772008-09-14T09:39:00.001-04:002008-09-14T09:42:26.003-04:00

Elements of a biblical worldview in the time of Abraham and Nimrod, against which Nimrod rebelled: • There was a beginning to this world and there will be an end. • God, who has no beginning or end, created everything and when he was finished, he declared it very good. (Therefore, apart from God, creation has no meaning. The lives of individual people will not have meaning apart from God.)•

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-55107622328320985622008-07-04T12:37:00.003-04:002008-07-04T12:41:30.367-04:00

Here are 14 principles we learned in our study of Ephesians 1:1-4:16 regarding our service for Christ. I invite you to join me in printing these off and in implementing these with intention and purpose as we serve Christ together here at Hamilton Hills.We learned: 1. That our service for Christ is built on a foundation of Christ blessing us from the heavens with “every spiritual blessing.”2.

Randynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145742811996432968.post-3863454133962143912008-07-01T15:39:00.002-04:002008-07-01T15:44:10.888-04:00

A couple Sundays ago, I taught on the word translated "become mature" in Ephesians 4:13. I mentioned how the word is related to "tetelestai", which is the Greek standing behind one of Christ's utterances on the cross: "It is finished" (John 19:30). Well, I found a digital copy of the sermon on "tetelestai" by Dr. Kevin Bauder that I referenced that Sunday. You can listen to it by clicking on the

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