A Study on Miracles

Key verse(s)/quote(s):

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” - Hebrews 2:1-4

Key takeaway(s):

1. Defining “miracle“ is of utmost importance as it leads directly to revealing our view of God
2. In all of Jesus’ miracles there is almost a disengagement from the miracle event so that we can focus on the meaning.
3. Defined as: a miracle is an unusual and significant event (terasa) which requires the working of a supernatural agent (dunamis) and is performed for the purpose of authenticating the message or the messenger (semeion).

Overview:

Defining “miracle” is of utmost importance as it leads directly to revealing our view of God. Why do I say this?

Well, it stems from a discussion we had in fellowship one evening. We were discussing demon possession and if it still happens today and digressed to a discussion on miracles and if they also happened today and why do they seem to happen rarely if at all.

We had an energetic and lengthy discussion on this…

Humility - 12 Step Plan

Key verse(s)/quote(s):

“According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride… Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of Mind.” - C.S. Lewis

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  –  Colossians 3:12

Key takeaway(s):

1. Humility is about having an accurate view of ourselves, not that we are inferior to others
2. False humility is not regarded by God

Overview:

As one of the most significant and oft mentioned themes in Scripture, humility communicated to be a prized virtue for Christians. As prized as it is and simple as it sounds it is always so quickly dismissed as obvious or irrelevant to the individual.

We all seem to think we are humble. I don’t know too many people who will say they aren’t. They may say they are smokers, alcoholics, occasional benders of the law but rarely do I find people ready to admit to a lack of humility. Why is that? Are we all humble people? How do we measure that? How do we become that?

I present that we must regularly do a check on this. An honest examination of our lives, how we relate to others, how we set our priorities, how we interface with God, how we receive correction, how we embrace the cross seem to be very real and probing questions that can often be ignored in a discussion on humility.

Are…

Childlike Faith?

Key verse(s)/quote(s):

“Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” - Mark 10:15

“And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” - Matthew 18:3-5

Key takeaway(s):

1. A very common way people have described the type of faith we should have is “Child-like”, but what does that mean?
2. A child can be naive, troublesome, ignorant, etc. So which metaphorical characteristic is intended to describe the type of faith we should have?
3. Humility is presented as that characteristic

Overview:

Understanding the type of faith we should have is fundamental as it underlies our view of God and our serves as the framework for our relationship with Him.

Those who attend church often have probably heard of the reference to child-like faith and I have always sat there wondering if this was contradictory to the numerous passages that speak to testing with evidence (John 20:19-29), or growing up from infancy in Christ (Ephesians 4:14), or growing up in our salvation (1 Peter 2:13). I wasn’t assuming it was a real contradiction but I wanted to find out how I could understand it correctly. After all, saying to have “Child-like faith” can mean many things can’t…

Desperate Faith - Don’t be afraid, just believe.

Key verse(s)/quote(s):

“Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’” - Mark 5:36

Key takeaway(s):

1. How often do we come to Jesus with a “desperate faith”?
2. Jesus is always concerned and can do all and does not care for the logic of others
3. Jesus responds with peace, freedom, and presence

Overview:

In this business world, where I spend much of my time (at least while I am employed ), is a world that doesn’t show appreciation for “desperation”. In fact, I don’t recall a time I have heard that word used in a positive context.

Dictionary.com defines “desperate” as the below. I have italicized all the negative words or examples included in the definition.

1. reckless or dangerous because of despair or urgency: a desperate killer.
2. having an urgent need, desire, etc.: desperate for attention.
3. leaving little or no hope; very serious or dangerous: a desperate illness.
4. extremely bad; intolerable or shocking: clothes in desperate taste.
5. extreme or excessive.
6. making a final, ultimate effort; giving all: a desperate attempt to save a life.
7. actuated by a feeling of hopelessness.
8. having no hope; giving in to despair.

Did you notice 7 of the 8 definitions have a negative denotation or connotation? Which one didn’t? … That’s right point number 6. I like that one  –  “giving all” stands out to me and ironically the example given is to “save a life”… How nicely set up

So often we come to…

The Lost Tomb of Jesus - Fact or Fiction?

Key verse(s)/quote(s):

“…the documentary should not offend devout Christians, since it does not argue that Jesus did not ascend to heaven, at least spiritually, as told in the Bible.”  –  Simcha (Director, The Lost Tomb of Jesus)

“Let’s suppose for a moment that we could prove there’s a tomb for Jesus somewhere and bones in an ossuary. For some Christians that would be heresy and blasphemy and wrong, and for others I don’t think it’s going to be a big shock. They have a faith that doesn’t necessarily depend on that.” - James Cameron (Executive Producer, The Lost Tomb of Jesus)

“I just think it’s a shame the way this story is being hyped and manipulated. It’s a publicity stunt, and it will make these guys very rich, and it will upset millions of innocent people because they don’t know enough to separate fact from fiction. The fact that it’s been ignored tells you something, It would be amusing if it didn’t mislead so many people.” - William G. Dever, a secular well-credentialed archaeologist who has worked excavating ancient sites in Israel for 50 years and is widely considered the “dean of biblical archaeology among U.S. scholars”

Key takeaway(s):

1. Names in tombs were very common.
2. Why is Matthew in the tomb, he isn’t even part of the family?
3. DNA evidence has been falsely represented and doesn’t show anything but two bodies in the tomb are unrelated in familial way
4. The statistics presented were misrepresented since even the statistician

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