PHall | May 18, 2010
The Gospel is not just words, parables, philosophies, or platitudes; although the gospel is told in all those forms. The gospel is flesh (John 1:14; Titus 2:11-14), lived in the flesh, suffered and triumphed in the flesh; the purpose to be ultimately imitated by us in our flesh. That is the real transforming power of […]
Category: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Titus |
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Tags: Article
PHall | May 2, 2010
First, the world is filled with suffering and the Bible does not deny nor diminish that reality. To do so would be a lie. There is no pretending or idealism with the scriptures. There is no philosophy or theology that suggests suffering is a state of mind caused by sin. Second Jesus loved Lazarus, Martha […]
Category: John |
Comments Off on John 11 – Painful Truths About Pain
Tags: Suffering
PHall | April 24, 2010
When reading John 11 we can empathize with those that hurt because we see them suffering the same pain we do. That pain is not just physical or emotional. There is spiritual pain also. We can see this in what I am calling “the confused conviction” of Martha and Mary. We have all asked, “Does […]
Category: John |
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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 |
Comments Off on John 11 – The Death of a Loved One – The Opportunities of Pain (Sermon)
Tags: Sermon, Suffering
PHall | April 18, 2010
One of the wondrous revelations within John 11 is that the problem of pain is not just a problem for mankind. It is a problem for God. Does that strange at best, or at worst, blasphemous? If so we are missing the reality behind the relationships which are filled with pain not just for the […]
Category: John, Romans, Philosophy, Theology, Ezekiel |
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Tags: Article, Suffering
PHall | April 15, 2010
No one told me about the pain and the suffering, about all the funerals. As a young man focusing on the supposed glories of becoming a preacher, never did I ever think of emotional and spiritual tribulations found at the bedside, in the hospital, at the funeral home, and by the graveside. If I had […]
Category: John |
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Tags: Sermon, Suffering
PHall | March 14, 2010
How can we better handle stress? The answer is at the bottom. Verb tenses bring vitality to language and to life. Verb tenses stress the past, present, and future which converge upon us every day in choosing paths and building relationships. Knowing where we come from, who we are, and where we are going, are […]
Category: John |
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PHall | March 14, 2010
Do you love surprises? For some of us, discovering before we are surprised that someone is trying to surprise us is more fun than being surprised itself. We get to surprise the givers of the surprise. When it comes to God, do we ever think of “surprises?” Undeniably, we worship “The God of Surprises.” The […]
Category: Luke, John, Romans, Genesis, Psalms |
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Tags: Article, Grace
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 | February 25, 2010
What is the most dangerous aspect of being an American Christian? Warning! This might be a trick question! But I’ll be nice and give you a hint. The trick is discovered by asking what is unique to being an American, not what is unique to being a Christian.
Category: John, Acts, I Corinthians, Galatians, I Timothy |
Comments Off on John 17:16-18 – American Christianity
Tags: Article