Tag: Bible

Acts Articles – Church 02

On By BrianIn Book of Acts, Church Life, Habit of Scripture

In Acts 2:42, we find the early church devoted to coming together for the apostles’ teaching.  The apostles of course were teaching about Jesus from our Old Testament and eventually wrote the New Testament about Jesus, so we devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching when we devote ourselves to God’s Word, and especially to the teaching about Jesus from the Bible. 

Like the early church, we should be devoted to coming together to study God’s Word, so we can learn and know more, and ultimately grow.  We should gather to listen attentively and respond appropriately.  We should have a real commitment and a real hunger.  Our attitude should be that we can’t wait to meet together with God’s people to study the Word. 

Is that your attitude?  Are you devoted?  How might you grow in your devotion to gathering together with God’s people to study His Word?

Jesus Predicted in the Old Testament

On By BrianIn PASSION Collections

Throughout the book of Acts, the apostles preach about Jesus from the Old Testament.  Here a helpful list from Ben Falconer of at least many of the ways the Old Testament does indeed point to Jesus:

He is the promised seed of Adam who would crush Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15).

He is the descendent of Abraham through whom every nation on earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3).

He is the son of Judah, who reigns eternally as king, whose garments are washed in the blood of grapes, and whose hand is on the neck of his enemies (Gen. 49:8-12).

He is the Passover Lamb who was slain to protect God’s people from the Angel of Death (Exod. 12).

He is the greater son of Israel who came out of Egypt, and He is the great redeemer who brings his people out of a bondage and slavery that is far worse than anything the Israelites experienced there (Exod. 12-14).

He is the true bread from heaven that actually nourishes and feeds his people (Exod. 16).

He is the Rock from whom the only life-giving water flows (Exod. 17).

He is the fulfillment of the Law, perfectly obeying not only the 10 Commandments, but all 613 from the day of his birth (Exod. 20).

He is the One through whom we enter into our lasting Sabbath rest, not just for one day out of seven, but for every day from now through all eternity (Exod. 23:10-12).

He is our great High Priest who offers his very body as an atonement for the sins of his people (Exod. 28-29).

Continue Reading….

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

4 Results of Christ’s Ascension – R. C. Sproul (via Tim Challies)
Goes well with our focus in Acts this week!

Theological Primers: The Attributes of Scripture – Kevin DeYoung
Four important characteristics of Scripture for our lives.

What Christians Do When They Believe and Feel about the Word of God Rightly – Kevin DeYoung
Seven responses to the Word according to the Psalms.

A Quiet Place, A Quiet Hour, A Quiet Heart – David McIntyre (via Tim Challies)
Three essentials for a powerful prayer life.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day praising our ascended Lord, responding to His Word, and seeking Him in prayer!

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

A few years back I started going book by book through the Old Testament looking for examples of grace.  I only got through I Samuel.  This week I found this post by Dane Ortland who gives us a brief summary of how each book of the Bible shows forth God’s grace.

Mike Bullmore tells us from the Bible what we should expect from the Bible.  Do we come to the Bible with these expectations?

Finally, Tim Chester has been posting a number of Apologetic Sound Bites to help us answer skeptics who ask the following questions:
How can you claim there’s only one true religion?
Why do you want to force your opinion on me?
Why does God allow so much suffering?
Why doesn’t God reveal himself more clearly?

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day hearing the Word preached in your local church!

Scripture Memory Cards

On By BrianIn Habit of Scripture3 Comments

One of my new year’s resolutions is to refocus on Scripture memory.  In the past I made verse cards which can take a bit of time to do.  I recently found a website that makes verse cards for you.  All you do is put the references in, choose your preferences, click the button, and print your cards.  Check it out at http://www.mcscott.org/index.html

Quotes To Ponder

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

A few quotes related to the Scriptures:

Let the man who would hear God speak read Holy Scripture.
– Martin Luther

Reading the Bible is not an obligation to be endured
but a dialogue to be savored and enjoyed.
– T.J. Addington

Bible memorization has the effect of making
our gaze on Jesus steadier and clearer.
– John Piper

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

There are a lot of good posts out there this week, but let me just share four of them – all related to thinking:

First, Stephen Nichols gives us some helpful questions to ask as we read the Bible to help us think about the passage.  I love the focus on God evident in the questions.

Second, Nichols shares suggestions for those who need to start reading (and thinking) their way through the Bible.

Third, Tim Challies reminds us of the importance of clearly and biblically thinking through the creation/evolution question.  I think I will need to look into the book he discusses.

Finally, Randy Alcorn asks whether the word “evangelical” means anything anymore.  Going beyond mere labels, he calls us to think about the clear teachings of Scripture that many who call themselves evangelical are dismissing.

I hope you enjoy thinking through the posts above.  Even more, I hope you have a great Lord’s Day thinking about the words you sing and the preached Word you hear.

Fill Your Head With Scripture

On By BrianIn Habit of Scripture1 Comment

Many of the last sayings of Jesus on the cross come straight from Scripture, which leads James Montgomery Boice to write:

This means that Jesus was filling his mind and strengthening his spirit not by trying to keep a stiff upper lip or look for a silver lining, as we might say, but by an act of deliberately remembering and consciously clinging to the great prophecies and promises of God.  If Jesus did that, don’t you think you should do it too?  And not only when you come to die.

You need to fill your head with Scripture and think of your life in terms of the promises of Scripture now.  If you do not do it now, how will you ever find strength to do it when you come to die?  You must live by Scripture, committing your spirit into the hands of God day by day if you are to yield your spirit into God’s loving hands trustingly at the last.

For further thoughts on filling your head with Scripture, I encourage you to look at this article about memorizing Scripture.  John Wilson interacts with Joshua Choonmin Kang’s book, Scripture By Heart.  It is a book on my reading list, and Wilson shares one challenge from the book – spend 15 minutes a day memorizing Scripture.  How might our thoughts and indeed our entire lives change if we did this?  Perhaps we could live and die like Jesus….

Creation, Fall, Redemption

On By BrianIn Uncategorized

Last week my family went to Kentucky on vacation.  I planned to blog, but then didn’t find the time.  Oh well.  Anyway, as I thought about our vacation, it seemed to me that it reflected the Biblical paradigm of Creation, Fall, and Redemption.

Creation

In the beginning, God created this world.  I was reminded of this as we started our vacation at the Creation Museum.  The theme continued as we enjoyed various parts of God’s creation – Mammoth Cave, Cumberland Falls, Cumberland Gap, and numerous rock formations around Red River Gorge.  God made a beautiful creation that reflects his own greater beauty.

Near Cumberland Gap

Fall

Adam and Eve sinned against God plunging our world into sin, violence, suffering, and death.  I was reminded of this at the Creation Museum, and then as we toured a Civil War museum.  I was reminded of the Fall as I watched the news during breakfast each morning at the various hotels – whether it was stories about fighting in Libya, or a recent murder, or the perverted shows of popular pop singers.  We have truly made a wreck of our world.

The Serpent tempting Adam and Eve at the Creation Museum

Redemption

Christ came to redeem our fallen world and save a fallen people.  I was reminded of this too as we toured the Creation Museum, and as we listen to the Gospel of Mark on our way home.  God has not left us to perish, but came to save us.  This is good news indeed!

Greek New Testament that speaks of our redemption in Christ

Creation, Fall, Redemption.  This is the Biblical story.  And I saw various shades of it last week as we wandered around Kentucky.  In some following posts, I want to illustrate various Scriptures related to these themes using more pictures from our vacation.

KJV 400th Anniversary

On By BrianIn Uncategorized

The King James Version of the Bible turns 400 this year.  It has had a huge impact on the English language and the English world.  It has also had a large impact on many newer English translations including the New King James Version, the New American Standard Bible, and the English Standard Version.  Want to learn more?  You can sign up to receive a free copy of Christian History magazine’s upcoming issue on the KJV.  I’m looking forward to reading it.  Deadline to reserve your free copy is February 14.