False Christian teachings, trends….
This post contains a 6-minute reading from The City of God by Saint Augustine about the Christ’s mediator-ship. The video is informative and comforting to hear: the reader’s voice and the imagery are soothing. I like this site for that reason. Below the video is a bio of Augustine for those who know nothing of him.
This post used an Answers in Genesis video: In discussing Babylon as it is revealed in scripture, he talked about the term Babylon also being a metaphor for the godless systems of mankind that reveal his pride and rebellion against God. These anti-God systems of power are shameless and corrupting; they applaud debauchery, mock virtue, cancel truth… and are obsessed with power. …As the following 10-minute excerpt begins, he is talking about mankind’s rebellion at Babel and showing parallels with the pride and rebellion of our own day….
The video in this post is about witnessing Christ; the speaker explains his book which approaches witnessing according to Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, IF HE HAS LOST ONE of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and GO AFTER THE ONE that is lost, until he finds it? …seeking “the one” allows you to experience the refreshment that comes from doing God’s will. Rather than feeling overwhelmed or exhausted [from working in your own strength] you will be energized by the knowledge that Jesus is working through you. By revealing the glory of God and making Him known to others, you become an instrument of His divine purpose. [In the video, he explains that one must surrender to Jesus in prayer, and ask to be used of Him for that purpose….]
Pastor Hines opened by reading the following passages: Titus 2:11-14; Romans 5:17-21; Romans 3:20-26; Genesis 3:22-24; and Genesis 2:16, 17. Afterwards, he shared a 2 minute quotation from a book on justification written by Michael Horton which conveyed misunderstandings that he and his wife had about justification even though they had been instructed in a biblical church. Part of the quotation from Michael Horton’s book is as follows: Many people have told me “I feel like there was grace for me at the beginning sufficient to be saved; I was totally forgiven, slate wiped clean…;” but now it seems like, “do more, be more… and I wonder if there is still enough grace for me after blowing it so many times.” Pastor Hines is preaching on this doctrine so people do not have to go around wondering such things, but can be more secure via a biblical understanding….
I had never heard of Susan Heck until last week when I found a Justin Peters’ interview wherein he interviewed her about the teachings of Beth Moore. I agreed with Susan Hecks critique of Beth Moore; and gathered, from listening to Justin’s interview, that she is a sound teacher of the Bible. When Justin Peters introduced Susan Heck, he noted that during her past 30 years of ministering the Bible to Women, she has memorized the entire New Testament. I was greatly impressed and wanted to hear what she had to say about her process. Hence, this post. In the following video, Susan Heck, answers 5 questions, the last of which is ‘how to’ memorize scripture. 1) Who should memorize scripture? Is it necessary for everyone? 2) Why should we memorize scripture? 12 reasons provided from the Bible 3) What scripture should we memorize? 4) When should we memorize scripture? 5) How do we memorize scripture?
This post contains two very brief devotionals, one from the writings of Jonathan Edwards and one from C H Spurgeon. They speak of the excellent wisdom found in Christ; the blessings found in meditating upon Him and in knowledge of Him…. Such are wonderful things to contemplate in the midst of the turmoil all around us
This post contains a 58-minute video of a Justin Peters’ interview. He was speaking with woman’s Bible teacher, Susan Heck about Beth Moore. Peters asked specific questions to Susan Heck via which she critiqued Beth Moore. The initial part of the interview covered errors in Moore’s content, then about complementarianism vs egalitarianism; then miscellaneous questions about husbands and wives…. Below the video are links to various credible women’s Bible teachers and authors, resources for a variety of topics mentioned during the interview. I was very moved to learn, during Justin’s introduction, that Susan Heck has memorized the entire New Testament during her 30 years of ministering to women; her husband is a preacher who has done the same.
This post contains a 23-minute personal testimony of a homosexual who was led to Jesus. His testimony occurred over several years and is still going on, which seems to be typical. That is, I think that most who are converted from a long-life of sin go through a process something like he described. He now works for First Stone Ministries, which helps the sexually broken. I hope his story is a source of hope for others who are helplessly stuck in sin, sexual and other varieties of sin. Jesus saves sinners, if you are a sinner, then you are qualified to be one of His saved ones.
This post is the part two of a critique on The Nearness. If you have not read post one, then you should before reading this post. Below are 4 very brief videos; 3 are one-minute in length and the 4th is 25 minutes long. Video one: a video short of John MacArthur explaining the difference between ‘religion’ and biblical Christianity. Video two: explains The Nearness, from their YouTube site. Video three: talks about a session that will occur at The Nearness; and Video four: R C Sproul explaining what it is to encounter the God of the Bible. He uses scripture and personal experience to explain that. In the process, he discusses the realms of ‘the secular/profane’ and the sacred. He explains these ideas in a very understandable manner…. These are the very ideas that were being discussed in the part one of this mini-series, though they were not identified in those terms.
This post contains an article from Religious News Service on a new spiritual coop called, The Nearness. I am NOT recommending this coop, but am critiquing it from a biblical perspective. This is part 1 of 2 ; the second part contains three one-minute videos and a 25-minute video: one by MacArthur on the difference between religion and biblical Christianity; one that describes The Nearness, from their YouTube site; one on a new course they are offering; and a video by R C Sproul that explains encounters with God. Therein, he uses scripture and personal testimony of his conversion. Part 2 will be posted tomorrow