The name of the DVD course is NT Survey:Acts and Paul. The instructor is Dr. Kevin Hester. I will be watching four DVDs this week. The name of my book is PAUL: APOSTLE OF THE HEART SET FREE. The author is F.F. Bruce. I will be reading five chapters this week.
Chapter sisteen talked about the spread of the gospel in Paul's first missionary journey. They went from Antioch to Cypress. This is where Bar-jesus was blinded. They then went to Asia Minor where they established churches in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. We can already see that the gospel was being spread rapidly.
Chapter seventeen talks about the problems that the Jewish Christians were worried about with so many Gentiles getting saved. They thought that the gentiles should be circumcised and follow the law of Moses. Paul was against this idea. He thought that we are saved by grace abd nothing else. The Jerusalem Council made the decision against mandatory circumcision. Paul also opposed Peter to his face because Peter would not eat with the Gentiles when the Jewish Christians were around.
The DVD that I watched was about Paul's second missionary journey. He had a new companion in Silas, while Barnabas took John Mark with him to Cypress. Paul and Silas went to visit the churches in Galatia and met Timothy, a third generation Christian, in Lystra. Paul went to Troas where he had a visin of a man from Macedonia asking for help. The Gospel was now spread across the Aegean Sea. They went to Philippi where they met Lydia whom Paul stayed with while he was there. Like also starts using "we" in this section of Acts meaning that Luke must have been with them. This is where they cast out a demon from the girl with the spirit of divination. They then are run out of the city and go to Thessalonica. This is where the leaders go to Jason's house and accuse him. Paul must then go to Berea. This is where the DVD ended.
I've always found Peter to be so great as an example in reminding us how we are. (I'm speaking for myself). He's been with Jesus, before and after the ressurection. but yet he still misses the mark sometimes. He is still learning. I get lifted up when I remember that Jesus said he would build upon this rock. This is an awesome,merciful God.
I'm sure Paul and the other disciples "had their moments" too, but we have most revealed about humanness (if that's a word) in Peter. Peter and Paul were both great and bold men of God. May the Lord give us a courage like theirs.
I like how Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. This is interesting because Peter denied the Lord three times. This was the last thing that Peter did before Jesus was crucified. Jesus then asked Peter if he loved him three times. I believe Jesus did this on purpose to show Peter that Jesus would always be with him no matter what.
Chapter eighteen talks about Paul's belief on grace over law. Paul was totally about grace. He knew that the law could not save us. He even says that the purpose of the law is to show us that we can never fulfill it.
The DVD that I watched was about the book of Phillipians. The main theme of this book is "rejoice". We shoul have joy in all things because of the hope we have in our future. Another theme is suffering of Christians, that we should expect it. Paul makes a statement in this book that I really love, "to live is Christ and to die is gain". I believe that he meant that as long as he was alive, he would preach the Gospel. When he died, he would be going to the place that he was meant to go.
What I think of in that verse is that God thru his Word has shown us that He is good, He is just, and he is merciful. Since i've become aware of Him, and He has become part of my life, life has been fuller. I see things different, I've seen life as a gift. When it ends, God has taken care of that as well. We gain because we still have Him, and in a way I dont believe we can even imagine.
Yes, God set up His plan of salvation in such a way that He could be both "just" in that he displays perfect justice, and the "justifier" in that He is able to proclaim us righteous in his site. Jesus paid the penalty of sin by His death, burial and Resurrection. He also lived the perfect life that we have not lived. God puts these things to our acccount. That is justification! That involves goodness, mercy and grace.
Chapter ninteen talked about flesh and spirit. Paul used the word "flesh" to describe our human weakness. It was a thought on how our flesh is a slave to the law that Paul really tried to push. If we live according to the flesh, we will not make it. He also talked about the Spitit. This meant following the leading of the Holy Spirit. God sent His Spirit to us in order to guide and direct us. Paul talks about the ongoing war between the flesh and the spirit. We must walk according to the Spirit for our lives to be full.
The DVD that I watched was a wrap-up of the letter to the Phillipians and an intro to the 1 & 2 Thessalonians. One of the themes on Phillipians was Paul's apostlicity. He linked it by his message. It was given to him by the guidence of Jesus Christ. The disscussion turned to the letters to the Thessalonians. Most scholars agree that Paul wrote the first letter, but liberal scholars think that Paul did not write the second letter. They say the the eschatology is different in the letters. Paul's views agree throughout his epistles. He believes that Christ will come like a thief in the night, but some things will happen before the Lord comes back. Jesus also said this in the Gospels.
What do you think of when you think of a theif coming in the night? I've had it happen at my house once, and 3 times at work. I know it has caught me by suprise every time. Does it make you prepare, yes, but they still find a way in. So I'm assuming this is the feeling the Bible wants to get across. That it is always a suprise. But if its ever happened to you, there are other feelings that come with it.
We had someone break into our car, and try to steal it one time. We found it down the street in front of a house a couple of houses down from ours. The seat had a slit in it. The officer investigating thought they just got mad because they couldn't get it to drive away for them.
Another time, a boy stole Ralanna's car, took it out in a field and set it on fire.
You are right, these experiences are always unsettling.
We always get prepared for a while. Then things (fears) wear off. I guess we are like that about the possibility of the return of Christ.
I think that we can prepare for the coming by gettng our hearts right with God. I don't know that anyone could be ready "physically", but we have to be ready spiritually. The return of Christ will surprise us all, but it will be "scary surprising" to those who are lost. I don't even want to imagine what that will be like for those who are left behind.
I think that to walk in the Spirit is to live it. We have to learn how to oney the Holy Spirit. I think that as we grow, we slowly learn to lean on Jesus. We sometimes cut the Spirit short in our lives and try to lean on ourselves. I know I do.
You will notice some posts below that relate to various topics of discussion by our online community of preachers.
One of the purposes of Preachers' Meeting is to provide a place for young ministers or those recently called to preach to interact around the principles in a course of study recommended by our local group of preachers in the Southern Illinois area.
We invite you to look in on our conversations. If you would like to add comments as a guest, you are welcome to do so. If this looks interesting to you, you may join us as we start a new session. You can look in the side bar (or sometimes it is moved to right below this post) to see the weekly requirements. We start new courses every 8 or 9 weeks. As already mentioned, you are welcome to comment as a guest before that time.
Below these posts, you will see the word, "comments." Just click on it, and you will see a box on the right side of the screen where you may add your comments.
Look around. Enjoy yourself, and come back often!
Weekly Requirements
Here is a review of the general requirements for each week.
You have three assignments each week
(1) Make at least two initial posts in your posting area. The first one will be the name of the course, and the names (or numbers of the DVD's) of the chapters or lectures you will be covering during the week. The second one will be a comment on one of those chapters. You will receive one point for getting the first post in on Tuesday or Wednesday. You will also get a point for getting at least one more initial post in.
(2) Go to your fellow student's posting areas, and ask them a question or make comments about their intial posts. You will recieve one point for completing this assignment before 12:00 a.m. on Friday morning (that would be before midnight on Thursday).
(3) Answer the questions asked.
(4) On Fridays, I will also give directions for making remaining posts during the week. Be sure and read those, and take them into account when making at least one of your remaining posts.
In all, we want to make at least nine posts during the week. You will receive points for that as follows:
9 or more posts - 12 points
6-8 posts - 10 points
3-5 posts - 6 points
1-2 posts - 3 points
You will have the extra points you had accumulated by getting things in on time. Those are bonus points that will be used only to move your grade closer to 100 if you need them. They will be awarded each week if needed to move your grade up to 12 for the week. If you do not need them for that week, they will be carried over to the next week(s). Remember the posts that count for points will be at least three sentences long.
Thoughts on Application
Roger gave some good thoughts on application:
"Chapter 75, titled: 'Apply Within' is a lesson in application. The writer explains why it is sometimes difficult applying a sermon to real life situations. I will list some of the reasons application is not applied to our lives.
"First it is "hard work", it is hard to find application to every situation in the congregation,
"second, is wrong assumptions, assuming the audience is able to apply any and all biblical truths is totally a wrong assumption,
"third, is fear, fear of being to deep or to simplistic in the text and failing at application, and then there is training or lack thereof,
"many preachers know the text, and the history and the order of things but are totally untrained in application. One gentleman said it this way," how can you be a good football player when you can pass the ball, or when you can kick the ball, or when you can run with the ball but you don't know the rules of the game."
If you live in the souther Illinois area, we would like to invite you to a Couples' Marriage Enrichment Seminar on Saturday, February 27. It starts at 6:00 p.m and will run to 9:00 p.m.
After the welcome, there will be a dinner. Then there will be an opening session, followed by two breakout sessions, then a short closing.
The Keynote Speaker is Dr. Randy Carney (That's me :)!) and Roger and Janet Dutton will be speaking during the breakout sessions (That's Roger, who is commenting on this blog during this term!). Randy and Rhonda (my wife!) Carney will also have a breakout session discussing "Keys to Marital Bliss."
The Keynote Address will be on the topic of "The Way to a Successful Marriage: The Shocking and Surprising Truth."
Roger and Janet will be talking about "Hope for Restoring your marriage."
The cost is $15.00 per couple and that includes a dinner and all seminar materials. A nursery and childcare will be available. (Please indicate that you need these services when you register.) A book table with resources from Handfuls on Purpose Christian Bookstore will be available.
The seminar is for couples of all ages, ranging from newlyweds to marriage veterans!
To register, call 618-627-2228 to let the church know how may will be attending. Payment can be made at the event. (Make checks to TFBC.) For more information, call the church at 618-627-2228.
The Greatest Love
Since Valentine's Day falls on Sunday this year, I imagine there will be a ton of sermons going out on the topic of love.
Paul talked about love and respect in marriage (Ephesians 5), but he was really saying that that was an illustration of the relationship between Christ and the church.
Christ
Left Heaven to come to this earth.
He
Overcame adversity while here. He even conquered death!
He
Valued mankind so much that He gave Himself on the cross.
He desires fellowship with us. He reconciled the world to Himself, so that people could have an
Intimate realtionship with Him.
He meets all of our
Needs.
He is the supreme example of
Giving.
Do you see the word, LOVING, there? That is what He is--our LOVING Savior! Because of that, we should love one another.
Course 11 Week 4
Scroll down to the week 4 area to begin commenting.
Dealing with the Closed American Mind
One of the chapters Roger is reading is entitled, (something like) "Dealing with the Closed American Mind." I don't know if it is mentioned in the chapter, but I suspect that if you tak about something where a person has a felt need, you can gain their hearing somewhat.
What are your thoughts?
You may scroll down and comment in the week 3 comments area. Visitors are welcome to comment also.
Connecting with Postmoderns
This is something most preachers do every Sunday. If you have young unchurched visitors in your church, you will be trying to reach postmoderns. Even some of your church youth are more influenced by postmodernism than by their previous Sunday school teaching.
Here is my reply to one of Roger's posts:
"Roger, what tips stand out to you for commecting with postmoderns? I think the term modern referred to an age in history that related to new thoughts in science, etc. (If I am off base, refresh my memory.) Post modern refers to the time following that era. Connecting with postmoderns is something you have to do, whether you realize it or not, almost every time you preach."
I will post some of his answers here if he sees the question in time.
Preaching--Proclamation of God's Word
Preaching, by one definition, is the proclamation of God's Word. As such, a person, can take the Scriptural passage and find some of its main points and emphasize those points.
While I believe we should learn all we can about the grammatical construction of the words of Scripture, and that we should learn all we can about the historical setting for when those words were originally spoken; the nice thing about proclaiming the Word is that you can just take what the text says and emphasize it. Then the Word will not return void.
People with all different types of backgrounds have been called to preach throughout the centuries. Some very "unlearned" (as the world would put it) men have had great results by simply taking the main ideas of Scripture and simply emphasizing them. As long as we do not twist the meaning, this simply shows the amazing power of the Word of God.
New Format
I am going to try putting my comments for each day in this left sidebar. The comments areas for the remaining weeks are displayed to the right. That is where you will place your comments for each week.
19 comments:
The name of the DVD course is NT Survey:Acts and Paul. The instructor is Dr. Kevin Hester. I will be watching four DVDs this week. The name of my book is PAUL: APOSTLE OF THE HEART SET FREE. The author is F.F. Bruce. I will be reading five chapters this week.
16. Church Extension in Cypress and Asia Minor
17. The Gentile Problem
18. "What the Law could not do"
19. Flesh and Spirit
20. Antioch to Philippi
Chapter sisteen talked about the spread of the gospel in Paul's first missionary journey. They went from Antioch to Cypress. This is where Bar-jesus was blinded. They then went to Asia Minor where they established churches in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. We can already see that the gospel was being spread rapidly.
Tyler
Chapter seventeen talks about the problems that the Jewish Christians were worried about with so many Gentiles getting saved. They thought that the gentiles should be circumcised and follow the law of Moses. Paul was against this idea. He thought that we are saved by grace abd nothing else. The Jerusalem Council made the decision against mandatory circumcision. Paul also opposed Peter to his face because Peter would not eat with the Gentiles when the Jewish Christians were around.
Tyler
The DVD that I watched was about Paul's second missionary journey. He had a new companion in Silas, while Barnabas took John Mark with him to Cypress. Paul and Silas went to visit the churches in Galatia and met Timothy, a third generation Christian, in Lystra. Paul went to Troas where he had a visin of a man from Macedonia asking for help. The Gospel was now spread across the Aegean Sea. They went to Philippi where they met Lydia whom Paul stayed with while he was there. Like also starts using "we" in this section of Acts meaning that Luke must have been with them. This is where they cast out a demon from the girl with the spirit of divination. They then are run out of the city and go to Thessalonica. This is where the leaders go to Jason's house and accuse him. Paul must then go to Berea. This is where the DVD ended.
Tyler
I've always found Peter to be so great as an example in reminding us how we are. (I'm speaking for myself). He's been with Jesus, before and after the ressurection. but yet he still misses the mark sometimes. He is still learning. I get lifted up when I remember that Jesus said he would build upon this rock. This is an awesome,merciful God.
I'm sure Paul and the other disciples "had their moments" too, but we have most revealed about humanness (if that's a word) in Peter. Peter and Paul were both great and bold men of God. May the Lord give us a courage like theirs.
I like how Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. This is interesting because Peter denied the Lord three times. This was the last thing that Peter did before Jesus was crucified. Jesus then asked Peter if he loved him three times. I believe Jesus did this on purpose to show Peter that Jesus would always be with him no matter what.
Tyler
Chapter eighteen talks about Paul's belief on grace over law. Paul was totally about grace. He knew that the law could not save us. He even says that the purpose of the law is to show us that we can never fulfill it.
Tyler
The DVD that I watched was about the book of Phillipians. The main theme of this book is "rejoice". We shoul have joy in all things because of the hope we have in our future. Another theme is suffering of Christians, that we should expect it. Paul makes a statement in this book that I really love, "to live is Christ and to die is gain". I believe that he meant that as long as he was alive, he would preach the Gospel. When he died, he would be going to the place that he was meant to go.
Tyler
What I think of in that verse is that God thru his Word has shown us that He is good, He is just, and he is merciful. Since i've become aware of Him, and He has become part of my life, life has been fuller. I see things different, I've seen life as a gift. When it ends, God has taken care of that as well. We gain because we still have Him, and in a way I dont believe we can even imagine.
Yes, God set up His plan of salvation in such a way that He could be both "just" in that he displays perfect justice, and the "justifier" in that He is able to proclaim us righteous in his site. Jesus paid the penalty of sin by His death, burial and Resurrection. He also lived the perfect life that we have not lived. God puts these things to our acccount. That is justification! That involves goodness, mercy and grace.
Chapter ninteen talked about flesh and spirit. Paul used the word "flesh" to describe our human weakness. It was a thought on how our flesh is a slave to the law that Paul really tried to push. If we live according to the flesh, we will not make it. He also talked about the Spitit. This meant following the leading of the Holy Spirit. God sent His Spirit to us in order to guide and direct us. Paul talks about the ongoing war between the flesh and the spirit. We must walk according to the Spirit for our lives to be full.
Tyler
The DVD that I watched was a wrap-up of the letter to the Phillipians and an intro to the 1 & 2 Thessalonians. One of the themes on Phillipians was Paul's apostlicity. He linked it by his message. It was given to him by the guidence of Jesus Christ. The disscussion turned to the letters to the Thessalonians. Most scholars agree that Paul wrote the first letter, but liberal scholars think that Paul did not write the second letter. They say the the eschatology is different in the letters. Paul's views agree throughout his epistles. He believes that Christ will come like a thief in the night, but some things will happen before the Lord comes back. Jesus also said this in the Gospels.
Tyler
What do you think of when you think of a theif coming in the night? I've had it happen at my house once, and 3 times at work. I know it has caught me by suprise every time. Does it make you prepare, yes, but they still find a way in. So I'm assuming this is the feeling the Bible wants to get across. That it is always a suprise. But if its ever happened to you, there are other feelings that come with it.
We had someone break into our car, and try to steal it one time. We found it down the street in front of a house a couple of houses down from ours. The seat had a slit in it. The officer investigating thought they just got mad because they couldn't get it to drive away for them.
Another time, a boy stole Ralanna's car, took it out in a field and set it on fire.
You are right, these experiences are always unsettling.
We always get prepared for a while. Then things (fears) wear off. I guess we are like that about the possibility of the return of Christ.
I think that we can prepare for the coming by gettng our hearts right with God. I don't know that anyone could be ready "physically", but we have to be ready spiritually. The return of Christ will surprise us all, but it will be "scary surprising" to those who are lost. I don't even want to imagine what that will be like for those who are left behind.
Tyler
In this book, is there something you learned of Paul that you wasn't aware of?
Did you get some help for the "how" of being able to walk in the Spirit?
I think that to walk in the Spirit is to live it. We have to learn how to oney the Holy Spirit. I think that as we grow, we slowly learn to lean on Jesus. We sometimes cut the Spirit short in our lives and try to lean on ourselves. I know I do.
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