Kingdom Ready Blog

I came across an article recently which broke down the 100 most read Bible verses at the online Bible site BibleGateway.com.  I thought it was interesting to note what was being searched for – and on the flip side, what people were not looking for.

This list isn’t actually based on a straight popularity count; simply tallying the most-read verses results in a top 100 list that consists almost entirely of John 3:16and verses from 1 Corinthians 13, Genesis 1, Romans 8, and Psalm 23. Our list instead considers instances in which BibleGateway.com users looked at three or fewer verses at one time.

Last night from 7-9pm we had our first session of the Exploring Scripture class. This class is designed to give a guided tour through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation in eight weeks. The intention is to help people to not only discover the core truths of Christianity but also learn how to read the Scriptures on their own. Themes that will be covered include creation, the call of Abraham, the Davidic covenant, the kingdom of God, what happens after death, how to follow Jesus, and much more. Here is an outline of all the sessions:

In our dialog on the subject of salvation it is important to recognize that there are three tenses used of salvation in the New Testament. The classic text for salvation in the past tense is Eph. 2.8

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

When we approach the Scriptures we have a lot to consider. Obviously this topic intersects directly with worldview and epistemology, how we view the world, and how we know things. Often it is given an entire book, and is still not finished. Let us not be surprised then at just how large it is. Lets set some boundary markers.

For the past two lectures I’ve had in astronomy, my professor has been talking about evolution. It’s tiring to me and it sort of caught me off guard because, well, one would think that in astronomy class, we wouldn’t have lectures that have no relevance to the course. I just can’t get away from it.

I had a mixture of annoyance and fatigue at his “major proofs” he gave for evolution.

1. Similar bone structure

2. Fossils

3. DNA

Today was a strange day, and very thought provoking.  It started by seeing NT Wright deliver a sermon at Park St Church, which is celebrating its 200 year anniversary with guest speakers.  It ended at a wake of a grandmother.

NT Wright’s sermon was about hope.  He started out with a wonderful observation.  At the same time Paul was in prison writing to the people of Colossae another announcement was being sent out.  A young man, with some of the best education of his time, extremely popular with the people took office bringing a new hope to Rome.  This was the emperor Nero.  Although, we could easily change a word in that previous sentance to be much more applicable to our own time here in the United States.  Yet, where does our true hope lie.  Paul tells the people of Colossae not to trust in Nero – but rather Jesus

This topic of exile has, in my opinion, a valuable place in looking at the New Testament from a Christian perspective.  I don’t think it is the singular theme of the New Testament.  I don’t think any theme is particularly singular, if there was one, it could be the vindication of Jesus and those who are his.

I think it is a valuable topic because it ellucidates the historical actions of Jesus and John the Baptist.  Everyone, even those are led by God, acts in ways that are comprehensible to their context.  Understanding ‘exile’ gives a very rich meaning to these actions in the eyes of those who lived in that time. Without this understanding certain actions of Jesus and John become arbitrary in our eyes.

(Heb 1:6) And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

As far as I can remember, I have always viewed this verse as speaking of a future event.

But I have noticed that for some “reason”, some among our ranks have now changed their minds and see this verse as talking about the birth of Christ; and I simply can’t see why!!

The following is my reasons:

Now the context that I speak of is ‘The worship of Christ’ as shown in verses such as
Matt 2:2,8,11; 8:2, 9:18, 14:33, 15:25, 20:20, 28:9,17;
Mark 5:6, John 9:38, etc.

by Mark E. DeYoung

The Isolated Members Ministry (IMM) is a project of the Church of God General Conference that seeks to identify and minister to people with a tie to the Church of God and its teachings who do not live near to any congregation holding to these truths.

Hebrews 3:12 & 13 (NASB)
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.