PHall | June 21, 2018
There’s an old story of a preacher who, frustratingly for the congregation, somehow managed to turn every text and sermon into one on baptism. So they hatched a plan. Playing to his vanity they challenged him saying, he was so smart he could preach on any topic or scripture without preparation. He accepted. So the […]
Category: Genesis |
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PHall | June 19, 2018
I have often wondered why God chose that peculiar sign of His covenant with Abraham and His descendants. Let me give three possible answers why. First, a covenant by definition means cutting. In biblical times these were often sealed by severing an animal, with the implication that the party who breaks the covenant will suffer […]
Category: Colossians, Genesis |
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PHall | May 25, 2018
(ASV) Anacrusis: 20a) My son, attend to my words A – OUTWARD MAN: (20b) Incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21a) Let them not depart from thine eyes; B – INWARD MAN: (21b) Keep them in the midst of thy heart. 22a) For they are life unto those that find them, C – OUTWARD MAN: […]
Category: Proverbs |
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Tags: Chiasm
PHall | May 23, 2018
Parents: 1) If your children don’t see you busy in the kingdom; how strong and active will your children be in the Lord? 2) If your children don’t see you spending time with Christians in your home, their homes, and elsewhere; how strong will the relationships be that your children have with other believers? 3) […]
Category: Proverbs |
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PHall | May 23, 2018
What was the purpose in building the tower of Babel (Genesis 11)? The text says “to make a name for themselves lest they be scattered.” But what was their intent in making a name for themselves? According to one ANE (Ancient Near East) scholar, the tower, or ziggerrat, wasn’t so they could reach heaven to […]
Category: Genesis |
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PHall | May 21, 2018
What law did Cain break when he murdered Abel? As to what is revealed, God had not yet commanded “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). So for Cain, how was “sin crouching at the door” (Genesis 4:7) when sin is the violation of God’s revealed law (Romans 7:7)? The answer is necessary implication and inference. […]
Category: Genesis |
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Tags: Hermeneutics
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
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 | April 29, 2018
God tells us what is pure and undefiled religion: James 1:27 – Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. The question needing asking is, “Why are these criteria pure and undefiled religion?” I would […]
Category: Matthew, James, Leviticus |
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PHall | February 9, 2018
Would you be surprised if you talked about the best restaurant, someone would ask about their food? Can you discuss the NBA without it being somehow connected to basketball? If someone preaches about Jesus, should it lead to the hearer wanting to be baptized? That is exactly what happened when Phillip taught about Jesus beginning […]
Category: Acts, Isaiah |
Comments Off on Isaiah 53 and Baptism
Tags: Baptism