New Post: The Prodigal Son
The next part of my series on Jesus’ parables is now available. This is on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This series is based on messages I’ve given at Beatty Baptist Church.
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New Page: Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
The next part of my series on Jesus’ parables is now available. This is on the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. This series is based on messages I’ve given at Beatty Baptist Church. Eventually I’ll have them all listed on their own page.
Continue reading →New Page: Parable of the Sower
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted regularly. I’d like to get back into it, beginning with a series of posts on the parables of Jesus. These will be based on messages I’ve given in the past at Beatty Baptist Church. The first of these is complete and it’s on the first of the parables, the Parable of the Sower. My eventual goal is to get the whole series online, and then work them into a new book with the working title “The Story Teller, and Other Analogies.” This book would contain, as the centerpiece, an expanded version of my “God the Author” analogy, and some other smaller articles that use good analogies. Don’t know if I’ll ever complete … Continue reading →
The Wrong Miracle
(Reposted from fadingman.dtjsoft.com) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. … – Luke 4:16ff (ESV) “I suppose some will call it a miracle. I don’t know if I’d go that far, but I can’t explain it.” “Soon after Joseph and Mary’s son moved out of town, we heard things about him. You know, news of what he did in Cana, Capernaum – those places. Amazing things! Marvelous things! But funny… it sure didn’t sound like stories of our Jesus. He hadn’t done any miracles for us when he lived here. At least, none that we could verify with our own eyes. But we hoped the next time he came to town, he’d do for us what … Continue reading →
Part 2 of The Story Writer
It took some time, (the brain wouldn’t cooperate), but the second part of the Story Writer is now available. It’s called ‘The Story‘, and its about recognizing the clues that we are in a story written by God. It’s when we see discover the clues ourselves that our confidence in God’s control grows. I have one more part to write which will cover various topics such as the purpose God has for His story, the purpose of suffering, and more. Hopefully it won’t take as long.
Continue reading →New page: The Story Writer
I’m working on a powerful analogy to help explain many of the attributes of God’s nature in a way that can foster greater love for Him, trust in Him, and obedience to Him. It can also help us explain God to non-believers, young and old. I just finished the first part and it’s available for your perusal here. I have two more parts to organize and write, which may take some time as I don’t write fast. If this analogy has helped you, let me know!
Continue reading →The Gift Of Faith
He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” – Luke 23:42 Here is a thief with great faith. This sinner admitted he deserved what he suffered. At the same time, he knew Jesus, suffering next to him, was innocent. He also recognized the Lordship of Jesus. He recognized Jesus had the compassion and authority to overlook his sins. And he knew that this death would not stop Jesus from returning in power and great glory to reward those who trust in Him. What a contrast with the disciples, whose hope died when their Lord died (Luke 24:21). They didn’t believe when told He was risen from the dead. They didn’t remember what He had told … Continue reading →
On Being Saved
I believe God at times grants the temporal requests of unbelievers, just as Jesus healed all those who came to Him. But just because God helps unbelievers does not mean they have a close, saving relationship with God. They are still spiritually dead, lost in sin, and condemned before God. They may feel they have a spiritual connection with God, but that connection is a lie. (See Matthew 7:22-23.) A true spiritual relationship with God requires two prerequisite things on our part, and two saving things on God’s part: Our part consists of: Repentance: We must repent of our sin. This is not a requirement to live a perfectly sinless life, for that is impossible. It is a heart thing: … Continue reading →
“Why did Noah curse Canaan?”
And Noah began to be a husbandman, and planted a vineyard. And he drank of the wine, and was drunken, and he uncovered himself in his tent. And Ham the father of Canaan saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren outside. And Shem and Japheth took the upper garment and both laid it upon their shoulders, and went backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. And their faces were turned away, that they saw not their father’s nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and learned what his youngest son had done to him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; Let him be a bondman of bondmen to his brethren. – Genesis 9:20-25 On reading … Continue reading →
Who Is The Israel Of God? – Part 2
One of the most important foundations of Bible interpretation is: No scripture contradicts other scripture. If it’s all inspired by God, it must all agree with itself. This means you cannot set one set of verses against another set of verses to see which wins out because all of the Bible agrees with itself. If one passage seems to contradict another passage, you can be sure you have a wrong understanding of one or both passages. If something does not make sense, you must be open to the possibility that a doctrine you believe in may be wrong. It’s not enough to have select proof-texts to support what you believe. You must look at all of scripture to determine if … Continue reading →