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The Difference Between Knowing God and Knowing ABOUT God
I am preparing for my Acts class this week and find myself in Acts 19, one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. The sons of Sceva always intrigue me. They are the picture of spiritual formulas. This is the picture we get when we are so caught up in the design of a program rather than the power of…
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Speaking the Truth Doesn’t Always Work Out
25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers…
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Paul, Calling, Servanthood, and Apostleship
Our journey through the New Testament takes us through Romans, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon. Just starting with Romans 1:1, I am struck by how Paul describes himself. A Slave Many translations say “servant” or “bondservant.” The word can also mean “slave.” He is shackled to his Savior in service. “Slave” isn’t a very safe word in our modern world, but…
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So You Think YOU Have Problems?
Over the past several months I have taken part in two blog tours for the Common English Bible. This has been an incredibly rewarding experience because it allowed me to really dig into a new translation. I am a translation junkie, so this was a great exercise for me. I have found the CEB to be really refreshing to read…
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Verses that blow me away
We are working through memorizing Scripture as a church. The set we are on right now covers some of the attributes of God. Today our passage is Rom. 11:33-36. I am blown away by the depth of this passage. Paul is so overwhelmed with the majesty and wisdom of God and I can almost feel it when he writes these…
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Love for the Church
I am working through Acts 20 for the class I am teaching. As usual, I am so humbled by Paul’s incredible heart for the church. He pours out his heart to the Ephesian elders and lets them know the high price of pastoring. My question is this: In today’s church environment are we training church leaders or pastors? Have we…
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Paul and the Athenian Experience
As I have prepared for the college class I teach on the Book of Acts, I am re-examining Paul’s ministry in Athens. I have never been comfortable with Paul in Athens. I personally think it didn’t go well. However, when I was in college the huge thing in that day was “apologetics.” The insistence was on learning how to debate…
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Too heavenly minded?
Can we be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good?
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Contending
“I want you to know how hard I am contending for you…” (Col. 2:1). Paul is referring to a great struggle. This has been brought home more to me this week and I need to wake up even more in my prayer life. There is a generation to contend for in our lives. My two younger sons are in high…
Tag: Paul
