1 Timothy 3:1-7 Godly Leaders THE PROMISE (1 Timothy 3:1) “This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.”” (1 Timothy 3:1, HCSB) The work of a pastor is not an easy work, but it is a noble work. Whether the pastor is full-time or bi-vocational, the work is still considered a noble work. Why is this so? Because the work affects the spiritual development of other people. THE POSITIVE REQUIREMENTS ( 1... Read more
A Christian Survival Guide by Ed Cyzewski A Christian Survival Guide by Ed Cyzewski is a book meant to challenge your faith. In it, Cyzewski challenges everything about the Christian faith. He dislikes the traditional interpretations of the Scriptures. He struggles with the nature of prayer. He cites the experiences of Billy Graham as well as Mother Teresa in showing that prayer works, yet that God does not speak as often as one might think in prayer. Uncertainty and fear... Read more
The Portent by Michael S. Heiser The Portent by Michael S. Heiser is the sequel to The Façade (which I reviewed). The story picks up six months later after the events of The Façade. The plot and characters develop throughout the story. It concludes without ending the story. In essence, this is the second book in a three-book saga. This is unfortunate, because the third book has not been written. However, I do look forward to reading the final... Read more
1 Timothy 2:9-15 Godly Submission Paul instructs Timothy to teach the church about submission. Prayer and submission go hand-in-hand. Prayer is personal devotion to God. I submit to God in prayer. Submission can also happen in public. The reason I need to submit myself is because of the witness that I bring to the public by the way I act in the church. In Ephesus, there were temple prostitutes who were becoming Christians. With the change in their spiritual identify,... Read more
Chameleon Preaching Chameleon Preaching is a simple thought Lectionary reflection from 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 on the need for preaching that people may engage in. February 8, 2015 Year B 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 A chameleon is an animal who changes its color depending upon its environment. It changes its color to blend in with its surroundings and to prevent predators from eating them. Paul describes here about the need for chameleon preaching. He says that he has learned the need to... Read more
1 Timothy 2:1-8 Godly Prayer For the next two weeks, I want to talk about two subjects. Many people take this chapter and divide it between the roles of men and women. That is possible. However, I would rather address the two major themes in this chapter. The two themes which Paul addresses are essential for a proper Christian life. There is the personal devotion made through prayer. There is also the public devotion made through submission. In 1 Timothy... Read more
Haggai 2:1-19 Participating with God Henry Blackaby made the following famous statement about God’s activity: We need to discover what God is doing and then join Him. Unfortunately, instead of looking to God, we look to two false areas where we think our church should go. The first false idea is to just follow the trends that we see in other churches. We look to superstar pastors and the great works that happen elsewhere and compare ourselves. This is dangerous... Read more
1 Timothy 1:18-20 Know Your Mission This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:18-20) What is the mission? To “wage the good warfare.” This implies some sort... Read more
The Most Holy Place As a Symbol for Christ January 28, 2015 “The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing. This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience.” (Hebrews 9:8–9, HCSB) The holy place represents the Old Testament system. As the priests would go in and out everyday,... Read more
Is Sunday School Destroying Our Kids by Samuel C. Williamson Is Sunday School Destroying Our Kids by Samuel C. Williamson is a book with a premise. The church has a problem and it needs to be fixed. The problem that Williamson suggests is that with each generation, the Gospel is accepted, then assumed, then confused and then lost (8). God’s love comes first, then moral behavior. Instead, we have reversed the order. Williamson insists that we have made the people... Read more
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