Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.
Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.
Continue reading “Teaching Notes: On Searching For The Knowledge Of God”
In our last article about Christian Unity, we looked at one of the founders of the Emergent/Emerging Church – Tony Jones. In fact, the E/EC movement had its beginnings at his family’s cabin in the north woods of Minnesota at the turn of the 21st century. Jones is a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary and United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and the theologian-in-residence at Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis.
Prior to Tony Jones we learned about Brian McLaren, a man Time Magazine named as one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America in 2005.
We move now to a third founder and leader of the E/EC movement – Doug Pagitt.
Continue reading “Christian Unity … Think About It (Part 6)”
In our last article about Christian Unity, we looked at a leader of the Emergent/Emerging Church who Time Magazine named “one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America.” His name is Brian McLaren.
We also saw definitions of “emergent Christianity, the emergent church, the emergents, and Emergent” by another leader in the movement – Tony Jones.
Continue reading “Christian Unity … Think About It (Part 5)”
I have never endorsed a candidate for public office, whether it was for district attorney, mayor, city councilor, state representative, U.S. Senator or President of the United States. That was both necessary and demanded of journalists 50 years ago. Audiences and readers were able to trust that the news they saw on TV, heard on radio and read in newspapers was objective and fair because most journalists were objective and fair.
The first national election I covered as a journalist was Richard Nixon vs Hubert Humphrey vs George Wallace in 1968. It was a difficult election year for many reasons. It was the first presidential election after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. George Wallace led a strong third party effort based on the idea of racial segregation. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in April of ’68, which led to riots across the country. Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June of ’68, just two months before the Democratic National Convention. The Democratic Convention in Chicago was the scene of violent protests between young people who were against the Vietnam War and police and national guardsmen. I mention that as a reminder that this year’s presidential election is not the first time electing a President has been a challenge for the country.
Our nation is made up of tens of millions of voting-age people who have a wide range of political viewpoints. Who can bring us together? Who can best lead us into our country’s future? As I mentioned earlier, I have never endorsed a candidate for public office and won’t begin now. However, I do have some great advice for you.
Continue reading “How To Choose The Best Leader For A Nation”
In our last article about Christian Unity, we began looking at what’s known as the Emerging/Emergent Church (E/EC). One of the leaders of the E/EC, Tony Jones (Princeton Theological Seminary, Fuller Seminary, United Theological Seminary), defined the terms like this:
Continue reading “Christian Unity … Think About It (Part 4)”
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“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8
A literal translation of this verse reads: “Look you lest anyone you there shall be robbing through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world and not according to Christ.”
Paul is warning Christians against following a dangerous way of thinking. He knew that would lead to dangerous actions.
“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh.’ But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Children from Christian homes will generally agree with their parents about sexual standards until they reach the early to middle teen years. If they are part of a strong youth group or other Christian influence (like Christian martial arts), their commitment to Christian standards about sex may continue through their teen years and into adulthood. However, the combination of peer pressure, hormones and what the world tells our young people about sex may lead some Christian young people to experiment with sex.
