The last few days have been an amazing time of fellowship with other brothers and sisters.
We have heard stories of the triumph of the Gospel and stories of the evils of Satan.
Through all of these stories one thing is clear:
Our Father is doing amazing things in this place.
Thanks for your prayers.
Please continue to pray for us and our brothers and sisters.
We have arrived in China!
Internet it spotty and video uploads will be more difficult than before, so we'll do what we can.
We landed in China and were basically off and running.
We had dinner with some local friends and leaders and spoke in their fellowship that night.
Dad teaching the small group of believers.
I was given the opportunity to teach as well.
Dad makes an animated point during the morning service at fellowship.
Pastor Peter leads the congregation in worship.
Tomorrow, we start a 2 day pastors conference along with various other meetings along the way.
That's all from here.
Keep us in your prayers.
We've just finished up 1st Peter in a flurry of teaching leaving just about 5 minutes left in our last class.
The students have been amazing and deeply encouraging.
We head to China tomorrow to minister to some leaders there...can't wait to tell you more about it.
Day 7
Day 8
This time we ended up with a 2-2-2 tie.
And like baseball, tie goes to the runner (writer).
I chose:
Expositional Study: Write an exposition on the Book of Haggai. The exposition should include: a statement of the overall message, an outline of the book based on the overall message, and a brief explanation of each paragraph as the message is developed in the argument of the text. Obviously comments cannot be made on every verse in the book but all significant statements should be dealt with in your brief explanations.
You can download it here ---> Download BookofHaggai
The book is a great reminder of how obedience to God brings his presence and with it, his blessings.
Honestly, I knew Fuller trends to a more progressive view of theology and culture than I could align myself with.
This article written by their president shows that progression.
"Those of us who have made the effort to engage Mormons in friendly and sustained give-and-take conversations have come to see them as good citizens whose life of faith often exhibits qualities that are worthy of the Christian label, even as we continue to engage in friendly arguments with them about crucial theological issues."
1. There are plenty of Atheists, "whose life of faith often exhibits qualities that are worthy of the Christian label..." Thankfully, they won't be taking that label, no matter how broad and culturally savvy Mouw wants to make it. They're not taking the label because they don't follow Christ. Neither do Mormons...at least not the same Christ the Bible teaches.
2. One of the biggest problems with this article is that it makes Christ somehow trans-belief, trans-religion figure that can be found in equal amounts of truth in religions other than Orthodox Christianity. For example: Matt 5:17-19. If what Jesus is saying is true of the Bible, then what the Mormons believe about Joseph Smith, their continuing revelation of their elders, and the Book of Mormon being supreme above the Bible isn't compatible with Jesus says about the Bible and what the Bible says about Jesus.
Mormons aren't Christians.
And, it's ok.
It's cheap to score political points at the expense of ones religious beliefs.
And,
It's theologically irresponsible to try and syncretize Christianity and Mormonism for the sake of Evangelicalism.
It only ends up as a disservice to Evangelicalism.
The time has come again to offer you the chance to choose the topic for my next paper.
The choices are:
1.Character/Expositional Study: Read through the Book of Jeremiah and collate all the personal references about the character, conduct, feelings, etc., of Jeremiah the prophet. Organize your material into a researched "character study" of this great prophet of God. Include an appendix in which you have listed each verse that you found in your study that applies in some way to the character of Jeremiah.
2. Exegetical Study: Work through Daniel 9:24-27 and develop an analysis of these verses. Based on this analysis (including Hebrew when available to the student) develop a chart or diagram of the "70 weeks" showing the major events in the prophetic structure. Both the chart and an accompanying textual explanation should be handed in for this assignment.
3. Expositional Study: Write an exposition on the Book of Haggai. The exposition should include: a statement of the overall message, an outline of the book based on the overall message, and a brief explanation of each paragraph as the message is developed in the argument of the text. Obviously comments cannot be made on every verse in the book but all significant statements should be dealt with in your brief explanations.
Post your votes in the comments right here or on facebook .
Voting ends tomorrow morning, so get out the vote!
In an earlier blog I gave you all the ability to choose my next research paper for me.
4 of you obliged and in an overwhelming majority (3-1) the topic was chosen.
" Present several different interpretations of the elder qualification "husband of one wife" (Titus 1:6; 1 Tim. 3:2) pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each view."
It has been finished and turned in.
I offer it to you here -----> Download HusbandOfOneWife
I'd love to hear any thoughts, critiques, additions, subtractions...whatever.
We'll be doing this again pretty soon.
Thanks for all the votes!
