PHall | July 23, 2011
Paul claiming that he is, “an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will” is not simply a throw-away line in introducing himself to the Colossians who he has never met (1.4). Neither is it simply a title of superior rank. There is no rising in ranks in Christianity, just becoming what we are not by […]
Category: Colossians |
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PHall | July 25, 2010
Detained by the authorities from the Bureau of Religious Affairs. Interrogated by the same. Warned that if what occurred in 2008 happens again, the warning will turn into something not so kind. Six officials from the Communist regime of China sitting in front, behind and to the side, all are speaking Chinese. None of us […]
Category: Matthew, Luke, Acts, II Corinthians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, Hebrews |
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PHall | April 18, 2010
The below account is courtesy of Robert Turner: This story came right out of the heart of my native Kentucky, and I may have scooped Joe Creason with it. A well-known preacher of the past generation was hurriedly called to preach the funeral of one of two brothers. He had known the two men well […]
Category: John, Romans, Colossians, II Timothy, Ecclesiastes |
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Tags: Sermon, Suffering
PHall | March 8, 2010
When reading the period of the Judges and Kings, one sad fact overwhelmingly – and even numbingly – is present: the draw of idolatry. How could God’s people, a nation dedicated to monotheism, not only falter and fall into idolatry, but repeatedly falter and fall?
Category: Matthew, Colossians, I Peter, Judges, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles |
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Tags: Article, Marriage, Money, Parenting
PHall | February 26, 2010
The “Christian” religious world is divided. The “Christian” religious world is united. No, that is not a contradiction, but rather a contradistinction. There is no denying that churches across the spiritual spectrum disagree on a host of important, indispensable and defining issues; yet if we truly want to fulfill Jesus’ prayer of unity (John 17), […]
Category: John, Acts, I Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, Ecclesiastes |
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Tags: Article, Denominationalism
PHall | January 8, 2010
When arguing against the necessity of baptism, people classify it as equal to circumcision and then cite: Romans 2:25-29 NASB For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. (26) So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of […]
Category: Romans, Colossians, Exodus, Joshua |
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Tags: Baptism, Denominationalism
PHall | January 2, 2010
My ancestors were slaves. Taken from their home country, they were delivered to their new master. Their children became slaves, and their children’s children became slaves. I am white. No, the few words above are not about white slavery, or black slavery, or any other kind of racial or nationalistic slavery. The few words above […]
Category: John, Romans, I Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, II Peter |
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PHall | November 28, 2009
There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Every year it is the same. It happened this year and will happen in the year to come, and those following. People move out, and people move in. Proximity to friends and family will be gained and lost. Ties will be tested. Friendships will begin, and […]
Category: Matthew, Acts, II Corinthians, Colossians, I Timothy, Ecclesiastes |
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Tags: Article, Church Growth
PHall | October 15, 2009
“The evolution of God” is both a modern and ancient blasphemy. Both primitive societies and those supposedly intellectually advanced and therefore superior, share in common the flaw where they “suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18) and become “futile in their speculations” (Romans 1:21). Both ancients and moderns professing to be wise, … became fools (Romans 1:22). […]
Category: Acts, Romans, Colossians, Philosophy, Theology, Genesis, I Kings |
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Tags: Article, Evolution, Idolatry
PHall | October 12, 2009
Let’s go back to an uncomfortable time to an uncomfortable setting. For some, this might have happened this past week; for others, years or decades ago. The scene is a familiar one. Everyone one of us has probably experienced it from one side or the other. The game might have been kickball or dodge ball, […]
Category: Acts, Colossians |
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Tags: Article, Discipleship