“And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. ” (Acts 15:41, EMTV) What does “strengthening the churches” mean? The Greek word is ἐπιστηρίζω B1 This means to make stronger. B2 It is used 4 times in the Bible. B3 The trees in the Biosphere 2 fell under their own weight from etiolation and no stress wood. The…
Why is it that our prayers are not answered? Consider these verses: Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24 EMTV) “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to…
“Judge not, lest you be judged.” (Matthew 7:1 EMTV) “But test all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21 EMTV) There is a difference between making a decision and making judgment. A decision is to choose between two preferences. Do I eat ham and eggs or biscuits and gravy? A judgment deals with…
Some Bible teachers/preachers teach that God has to/must answer our prayers. This is false, because even the Lord Jesus himself had unanswered prayers. “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will,…
A1 Theme—God uses people to accomplish His plans. A2 Objectives B1 Describe why the apostles were persecuted. B2 Describe how the apostles responded to persecution. A3 Scripture B1 Acts 4:1-31—Peter and John before the Sanhedrin B2 Acts 6:8-15—Stephan accused of blasphemy B3 Acts 7:51-60—Stephan finishes his speech and then is stoned to death A4 Notes B1 As…
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33, EMTV) What is the most important thing in your life? Serious, when no one is around, you are by yourself, what is the most important thing in your life? Is it your family?…
Doublethink is the acceptance of two contradictory ideas or beliefs at the same time. (doublethink. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved April 27, 2015, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/doublethink) Nancy Pearcey authors an article in Evolution News entitled Darwin’s Robots: When Evolutionary Materialists Admit that Their Own Worldview Fails. A couple of quotes from her article are telling B1 In What…
B1 Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. (Colossians 3:18, EMTV) B2 A controversial subject B3 Submit (Colossians 3:18) C1 Not as a slave with no rights. C2 But a yielding to the higher authority. C3 Someone must have the last word. C4 The word means “under another”.…
All of us sometimes play the hypocrite. We criticize someone when we ourselves are doing the same, or we allow for ourselves something that we would not allow for others. In this article, “Catholics shouldn’t sue one another: Cardinal Burke comments on Fr. Rosica’s lawsuit against blogger, a certain priest, Father Thomas Rosica, has threatened…
What are we to do about our anger? What are the rules about anger for the Christian? A1 What is anger? B1 A response of displeasure C1 Many understand anger to be a response to a threat. C2 But in reality, seems to be more a response to one’s standard of life—their own personal…