PHall | November 25, 2015
How did Samson, the womanizing, violent, self-serving judge make it into the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11:32)? In some strange way he and Paul are partners in grace. Paul had to learn “power is perfected in weakness” (2 Cor.12:9). Samson, gifted by God with great strength only learned to rely upon God when he “gained […]
Category: Hebrews, Judges |
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Tags: Grace
PHall | November 23, 2015
What did Jesus mean when saying “My kingdom is not of this world.” Did He simply mean otherworldly as in spiritual and not physical? World or kosmos often means “the systems of the world,” and “social constructs of society.” Then Jesus shows how: “or else My servants would be fighting.” I then wondered how many […]
Category: John |
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Tags: Authority, Kingdom
PHall | November 23, 2015
Jesus’ central message was not about how to get to heaven or find happiness; it was about the coming kingdom of God which is God’s rule. Put God first by submitting to His authority, then His holiness will lead you to joy and ultimately heaven. Repent for the kingdom is at hand is living the […]
Category: Mark |
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Tags: Authority, Kingdom, Repentance
PHall | November 18, 2015
1 John is notoriously hard to organize. Some suggest the epistle’s structure is best described as “rambling.” Believing the Holy Spirit to be behind the writing, I have a difficult time describing this letter in way that to me sounds at best disorganized and at worst derogatory. Part of the problem is John does so […]
Category: I John |
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Tags: Chiasm
PHall | November 17, 2015
A – ECHOES OF EDEN (1) “Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: “The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says: B – PRESENT STAND AGAINST FALSE TEACHERS (2) I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you […]
Category: Revelation |
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Tags: Chiasm
PHall | November 17, 2015
Good-hearted people are confused over what should be done with the Syrian refugees. I hope we all use these real-time ethical situations to hone our understanding of God’s demands upon us Christians. Have you noticed Romans 12 ends with an admonition to love and feed our enemies and not take violent revenge? Have you noticed […]
Category: Romans |
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PHall | November 17, 2015
Parent: “You should have said, “Yes mam,” and did what your mother said. Child: “You mean whatever my mother asks me to do I should say ‘Yes mam,’ and do it?” Parent: “Yes.” Child (sarcastically): “So if she says I should jump off a cliff….” There have been many ways in which adults bemoan that […]
Category: Ephesians |
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Tags: Parenting
PHall | November 15, 2015
Revelation 2:8-11 (HCSB) Anacrusis (8) “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: A – JESUS’ DEATH AND LIFE “The First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life, says: B – PHYSICAL OPPOSITE OF SPIRITUAL (9a) I know your affliction and poverty, yet you are rich. C – ADVERSARY […]
Category: Revelation |
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Tags: Chiasm
PHall | November 11, 2015
NASB – They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. HCSB – They went out from us, but they did not […]
Category: I John |
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Tags: Translations
PHall | November 11, 2015
Does John have a sarcastic sense of humor? Does John use a pun to antagonize the antagonists? The opposition who left the orthodox denied the fleshly reality of Jesus. The Docetists could be called “The Seemists” because they taught it only seemed or appeared that Jesus had flesh. Christ was only a spirit. John says, […]
Category: I John |
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