101 is a slang term that means “basic introduction”. Many in our society use the term, especially in academics, when designing short courses to introduce students to the basics of a given subject.
Eg. “Geometry 101, Physics 101, Chemistry 101, Biology 101, etc…”
Within Christendom, there are many evangelists, preachers and pastors who are trying their very best to present Christianity and the Bible’s primary message to a lost world and to those who have questions and are seeking to know about God. Sadly, many of these ministers have failed to accurately convey, even the simple facts of the faith. The results are half-converts, living without any sense of purpose, lacking vision, ignorant of God’s plans; they live without a spiritual compass in their life.
Read the rest... (2084 words, estimated 8:20 mins reading time)
To understand this term, one must also seek to understand other closely related phrases, like sons of men and children of men. Firstly, all of these terms are applied to mankind in general. These terms indicate the difference between God and the human race. The phrase son of man is the strongest way to distinguish between deity and humanity!
Psalm 115:16 (usage – children of men)
Consider the contrast between God and mankind: God dwells in heaven; man dwells on the earth.
Psalm 145:10 – 13 (usage – sons of men)
Here’s another contrast between God and mankind: God is big, strong, powerful and eternal; man is small, weak and temporal.
Read the rest... (1151 words, estimated 4:36 mins reading time)
I think the title says it all. The world as we know it is battling with hopelessness. Everything in our society these days has become uncertain. Nothing is guaranteed. Hence many are living in fear and misery. All they see is a pitiful life with no end in sight. Sometimes they wish death would take them and be rid of this little existence. How about when this begins to creep into the church? Today, I want to speak on the subject of hope and its importance in our life. Hope is an integral part of Christianity and each of us must learn about it and live it out.
Read the rest... (1521 words, estimated 6:05 mins reading time)
Before the Kingdom comes, a terrible time of darkness, violence, and tribulation will come. Just when it seems that all hope is lost, Jesus will come in the clouds, resurrect his followers, and establish his reign on the earth. For the first thousand years, Jesus will rule the earth from Jerusalem. During this time, many regular people will also be living. Thus, it will be the responsibility of the followers of Christ to function as priests to these people and administer the government. While this new theocracy is proceeding, the earth itself will be restored, like an antique car, to its former state of perfection (the Garden of Eden). After the thousand years, everyone who was not part of the first resurrection will be judged, Satan will be destroyed, and then God Himself will come perpetually to dwell on the earth with His children.
Read the rest... (1387 words, 1 image, estimated 5:33 mins reading time)
This is a phrase that has been heavily thumped to us by churches, ministries, denominations, pastors and the like. The warning and pleading to take hold of truth and discard tradition. You’ve now got books, sermons, documentaries and websites that all use this phrase as their title and label. What does this all mean? What is the message behind this phrase? How are we to respond to it all?
Read the rest... (1456 words, estimated 5:49 mins reading time)
[The following is a new article from my website]
The promise of land was made to Abraham, and confirmed to Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s sons. The land that was promised was a central feature in the identity of Israel as a nation, all throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. The unfolding of God’s plan primarily involved His people and their inheritance of the land. But are the events recorded in the Old Testament the complete fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant?
Read the rest... (3014 words, 3 images, estimated 12:03 mins reading time)
Key to understanding the Bible, is to begin to see that God had a plan for mankind from the beginning. Our all-knowing God, Yahweh, knew before it happened, that man would sin, and man would ultimately need a way to be cleansed from his sins so that he could be found pure, blameless and holy, to be able to dwell in the presence of our holy, righteous God.
God’s plan, all along, was to create a people who would love, praise and glorify Him, of our own free will. His desire is to dwell with mankind, on the fabulous earth that He created.
Read the rest... (1097 words, 1 image, estimated 4:23 mins reading time)
In my last post, Steve Taylor put forth the challenge to examine what Jesus meant by the Kingdom of God in order to unlock a deeper understanding of the Bible. This article, by Anthony Buzzard, presents a foundational look at that crucial subject.
One of the most remarkable phenomena in the history of human thought is the way in which the obvious can be hidden from both scholar and layman. The history of Christian thought demonstrates a signal example. Jesus Himself constantly taught that His Gospel Message would be hidden from the masses, whose minds were blinded by the counter-interests which would preoccupy them and prevent complete devotion to Him (Matt. 13:11-17).
Read the rest... (846 words, estimated 3:23 mins reading time)
Over the years, there has been a trend to remove the “Christ” out of Christmas. I remember when I was a little girl, people writing, “Merry X-Mas” on cards, yet we still went to Christmas programs at our public school, and sang Christmas carols like Joy To the World, Silent Night, The First Noel. Now, our school has a “Holiday Program” and merchants tell their clerks to wish customers, “Happy Holidays” rather than say the words, “Merry Christmas.” You see, the very word “Christ” is offensive to some and they would like to see it completely removed from our vocabulary. If you don’t think so, then you are probably not familiar with the ACLU… The sad thing is, while most Christians know that the “Christ” word is important to defend, few of them realize the importance of its meaning, especially at Christmas time when Christians celebrate the Messiah’s birth.
Read the rest... (1061 words, estimated 4:15 mins reading time)
Written by Pastor Steve Taylor
(Originally posted on the website of Lakeshore Bible Church.) 
“I can’t understand the Bible!” is a common complaint voiced by many who open its pages. Yes, it is hard to understand IF you don’t have the key that unlocks its mysteries. You are about to have in your hand the crucial but much-neglected key that Jesus offers to unlock the mysteries of the Bible:
Read the rest... (613 words, 1 image, estimated 2:27 mins reading time)