PHall | May 21, 2018
What does it mean to be human? While this sounds esoteric, it is very practical. This plays out in how people should determine decisions dealing with the value of life and death: in abortion, the mentally and physically handicapped, and euthanasia for the terminally ill. Does the Bible answer this question? As is the case […]
Category: Genesis, Psalms |
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PHall | May 21, 2018
There is a vintage Chase and Sanborn coffee advertisement that says, “If your husband ever finds out you’re not “store-testing” for fresher coffee.if he discovers you’re still taking chances…” which is followed by the husband putting his wife over his knee and spanking her! This is not how husbands help their wives submit! “Wives submit […]
Category: Ephesians |
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Tags: Marriage
PHall | May 21, 2018
Almost every prophet in the OT pointed out the errors of God’s people. If you don’t believe me, believe Jesus, Stephen (Acts 7), and even the Pharisees who claimed, “If we have lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood” (Matthew 23:30). A week […]
Category: Matthew, I Corinthians |
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PHall | May 21, 2018
I am always looking for different and deeper ways to teach on baptism: Jesus died on the cross and three days later was resurrected while still hanging on the cross. While everyone knows that is not accurate history, it is an accurate description of how many preach the gospel. But it has not always been […]
Category: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, I Corinthians |
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PHall | May 21, 2018
It is understandable why the book of Esther is read during Purim, a story of deliverance (and why Hitler banned its reading). It makes sense why Ruth is read at Pentecost, the feast of the harvest ingathering (which foreshadows God’s gospel harvest in Acts 2). But why is the Song of Solomon, a love story, […]
Category: Acts, Esther, Song of Solomon |
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PHall | May 21, 2018
If we ever think we have “arrived”, notice what Paul writes to Christians (I will enumerate the points): HCSB Ephesians 1:18-19: “I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know 1) what is the hope of His calling, 2) what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the […]
Category: Ephesians |
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PHall | May 21, 2018
Don’t Forget The Burial (#2). When the gospel is preached, don’t forget the burial. While Jesus’ burial is reenacted in baptism as an immersion, as an apologetic, and our point of salvation, it is more. Read Paul’s words: HCSB Ephesians 4:8-10: “For it says: When He ascended on high, He took prisoners into captivity; He […]
Category: Bible |
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PHall | May 21, 2018
In John 2, Jesus turns the water into wine. While most of the time the discussion turns to whether the wine was alcoholic or not, we miss a truly beautiful lesson. The water was used for purification (2:6). The jars which had contained water were used for purification. When refilled this is what was turned […]
Category: John |
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PHall | May 21, 2018
You have seen it many times on bumpers, but what does it mean? I am referring to the fish sign symbolizing Christ and Christianity. It was a well-known fish acrostic that considers each letter of the Greek word (ichthys) to signify one word of the title Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior (Iēsous Christos Theou […]
Category: Bible |
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Tags: Baptism
PHall | May 7, 2018
How we answer these two questions determines everything as to how to view our status with God: 1) Do you believe God resurrected Jesus from the dead?; 2) Do you believe God uses that same power currently in your life? The first question is easier to believe for some, maybe most, of us who are […]
Category: Ephesians |
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