 |
 |
 |
|
Publishing Administrators: |
 |
|
Formed in Christ
Posted under Book Reviews by Margie Miller on Monday April 05 2010 @ 01:42PM PDT |
| “Formed in Christ”
March 21, 2010
Philippians 3:4-14 (New International Version)
4…..though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
It sounds like Paul is bragging here, doesn’t it? But then he goes on to say:
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more; I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
This scripture has a couple of lessons. The primary lesson is “do not look back”. God has initiated a change in our lives or we wouldn’t be here in church and we are challenged by our scripture to be “formed in Christ”. Our Isaiah passage which I did not read is a challenge to the people of Israel to “not look back” but to move forward into new life.
[...]
|
|
|
The Spirit Brings Freedom
Posted under Sermons and Devotions by Margie Miller on Monday February 08 2010 @ 01:28PM PST |
| In this passage of scripture from II Corinthians, Paul contrasts the new life under God with the old life “under the veil.” He refers back to Moses, specifically in Exodus 33, where the people were not permitted to see God because of their sinfulness. These people saw God as an exterior being. …someone only the High Priests could access. Because people’s sinfulness was judged as disobedience to the Law of Moses, this meant they could not see God. However, since Jesus brought his message of acceptance and love, we now know one’s relationship with God is not dependent on obedience to the Mosaic Law or on any other person. Instead, through God’s grace, God’s Spirit lives within each of us and it is possible for us to discern God’s will for ourselves. The “veil” spoken of in this scripture is removed.
[...]
|
|
|
Receive the Kingdom
Posted under Sermons and Devotions by Margie Miller on Thursday October 08 2009 @ 08:20AM PDT |
| In this brief passage of scripture, Mark 10: 2 - 16, Jesus reminds us that the kingdom is inclusive of all persons who are willing to take upon them the characteristics of a child and come expecting to receive God’s blessing of peace.
It is important to recall that Jesus said the kingdom was already there and people simply did not see it. He compared it to salt and to yeast…a small amount permeates the entire mass.
[...]
|
|
|
The Historical James
Posted under Study Papers by Kidron on Friday April 03 2009 @ 05:04PM PDT |
The New Testament contains two books with the designated authors as Jesus brothers. The gospels indicate that the brothers of Jesus did not have much faith in him during his life, but the letters of Paul indicate that James was the leader of the church after Jesus death. This paper is a search for who the brother of James really was.
[...]
|
|
|
Communities of Hope, Love, Joy, Peace, and … gulp… , Skepticism?
Posted under Study Papers by Richard E Gillilan on Friday April 11 2008 @ 04:51AM PDT |
| Steven Jay Gould famously described science and religion as non-overlapping. He was wrong. People are very good at compartmentalization, but religious activism in recent decades has made conflicts painfully obvious. The objection is not just to evolutionary biology, but to the scientific method itself. What is the scientific method and where do conflicts arise? Increasingly, believers are confronted with skeptics and nonbelievers who base their worldview on scientific naturalism. Can a faith community find common ground with persons opposed to faith? Taking on the role of skeptic, I will explore the nature of sacredness, worship, reconciliation, healing, and the transforming experience of divine presence through the eyes of scientific naturalism. In attempting to see through someone else’s eyes we are better able to see ourselves clearly and are better equipped to overcome the linguistic, conceptual, and experiential barriers that separate persons and communities.
[...]
|
|
|
Religion the Queen of Science or its Nemesis?
Posted under Study Papers by Kidron on Monday February 18 2008 @ 08:10AM PST |
We are living at a time unprecedented in the history of mankind. The science of physics has been exploited to allow the manufacture of an enormous array of inventions. These applications of the insights from theoretical studies have led to instruments that let us see into the minute world of atomic structure and into the far reaches of the universe. Daily we live with miracles all around us.
[...]
|
|
|
|
