We begin a new series of studies on prophecy. What are your views on Bible prophecy? Do you think you understand them, while many others do not? Do you think it is a waste of time to study them? The best argument for studying Bible prophecy is the second chapter of Daniel. In that chapter Daniel interprets a dream of King Nebuchadnezzar which lays out the entire course of history on planet earth! While our history is not yet complete, the first 2,000 years following the dream were correctly predicted! The best argument for being skeptical, or at least cautious about Bible prophecy, is that most of our current study is on the Second Coming of Jesus. The Bible scholars got Jesus' first coming wrong, so why should we think we can get His Second Coming right? Whatever your current views on Bible prophecy, come with me as we explore this topic!...
Nothing had ever died. When God warned Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis that they would die if they ate from a certain tree, did they understand death? How could they? Closely tied to understanding death is understanding how the death of a lamb is related to our sin problem. The theory underlying our Bible discussion this week is that the meaning of death and the lamb grow as we follow their development in the Bible. Not only does the understanding grow, but it is never disconnected from the earliest Biblical meanings. Sound a little complex? Let's plunge into our study of the Bible and see what we can understand of God's will!...
Do you love to spend time with those who are loving and warm to you? I do! We would rather not spend time with those who are cold and distant. Of all the things you might expect from a pagan god, being loving and warm is not one of them. I am no expert on the pagan gods, but as I understand it love or warmth is an attribute of the pagan god, and not the emotion it showed to humans. For example, Eros, the god of love, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love, are figures of passion. They might inspire love, but they are not showing love to humans. That is what makes our God so remarkable. The true God of the Universe presents Himself as having the most loving interaction with humans. He is our Father. This week He is our Spouse. How grateful we should be! Let's dive into our study of the Bible and learn more about God as our Spouse!...
If you were going to establish a nation, what kind of government would you give it? Would it be a democracy? Would it be a theocracy? Would it be ruled by a king? What about having a small group of leaders? Or would you have no government at all? Christian friends tell me that they are concerned about having a government that enforces Biblical principles. My question to them is, "What kind of principles do you want for a government?" "Do you want anti-God principles?" The Bible has something to say about government, so let's dive in and see what we can learn!...
