Teacher, desiringGod.org
The Bible is filled with hard sayings, truths that we find difficult to embrace. The doctrine of hell. The exclusivity of Christ. Unconditional election and effectual calling. Sometimes these doctrines can actually be barriers to faith or justifications for unbelief. We stumble over these hard sayings. We grumble over these hard sayings. We quarrel over these hard sayings. So, why are they in the Bible?
Recently when reading through the Gospel of John, I was struck by a new way of looking at hard sayings. Yes, they cause stumbling and grumbling and quarreling. But precisely in doing so, they also offer a surprising invitation.
Have a look – Replacement Theology – Part 2 christiantoday.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from christiantoday.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Loren Houltberg: A Taste Test
Loren Houltberg
Many people outside the church would say Christians are judgmental, intolerant and don’t taste very good.
Luke 6:44 says a tree is known by its fruit. What kind of fruit do others taste from your life? Jesus reminds us that what pleases our Heavenly Father is that we bear much fruit and this fruit will show you are a disciple of Jesus (John 15:8). What should the fruit of a Christian disciple taste like?
I think Galatians 5:22-23 describes best what we as Christians should taste like to those around us. These verses describe the fruit of the Holy Spirit whose task in our lives is to make us taste like Jesus Christ Who lives within us. Jerry Cook, a beloved pastor in the Foursquare denomination wrote much about the fruit of the Spirit, many of the insights in this article were gleaned from him. Are you ready for a taste test?
John 5:1-23
Proverbs 14:28-29
I Samuel 1:2 – In case you think the Bible is endorsing polygamy, see what I Samuel 1:6-7 says about the immediate results in this situation, and consider the social context of Judges (hint: it involves a lot of sins), as well as what we see in the next verse.
I Samuel 1:3 – If we interpret as Barnes suggests, the Israelites were down to one feast as opposed to Exodus 23:14 and Exodus 34:23 that say three times.
I Samuel 1:8 – Like many men today, Elkanah offered his wife advice that did not help.
I Samuel 1:10 – Psalm 113:9 says the LORD will give the barren children. Unlike Sarah (Genesis 16:2), Hannah did not take things into her hands. She knew there were promises she could claim (Exodus 23:26, Deuteronomy 7:14). But like Isaac, she intreated the LORD (Genesis 25:21). She knows what happened to Manoah (Judges 13:5), and was claiming that scenario. However, if her husband had read the Torah, would he have responded like Isaac and intreate
Extraditaron a Santiago del Estero a un detenido por estafar a una jubilada de 88 años lagaceta.com.ar - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lagaceta.com.ar Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.