Last night our church had a great discussion on what the Bible has to say about alcohol. For those of you who want to read more, I'm posting links to some of the papers and articles I've read over the past few weeks.
Alcohol, Abstention & Redemption
Alcohol, Acts 29, & the SBC
Beer and the Bible
Christianity & Alcohol (wikipedia)
Christians & Alcohol - Four Myths (pdf link)
Good Wine and Glad Hearts
Link to Southern Seminary's audio on this (along with some commentary)
SBC Resolution on Alcohol
The Bible and Intoxicating Beverages
Wine in the Bible
What Does the Bible Say about Alcohol - A Systematic Study
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Monday, April 16, 2007
Sunday, November 26, 2006
IVP New Testament Commentary
The IVP New Testament Commentary is online. I've always liked this commentary set.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Psalm 126
The reading from this morning's Celtic Daily Prayer was from Psalm 126. This psalm was most likely written sometime after King Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jewish people to return to their homes after being in exile for seventy years (see Ezra 1)
When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
Psalm 126:1-3
When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
Psalm 126:1-3
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Parable of the Sower
I've always been drawn to the story Jesus told about the farmer who was sowing seed for a crop. The story comes from Matthew 13. Jesus first tells the story in verses 1-9, then explains what it means in verses 18-23. The seed is usually explained as the Gospel or the Scriptures. In verse 23, Jesus refers to the seed as "the word." However, in verse 19 Jesus gives a more specific meaning. The seed refers to "the message of the Kingdom." What exactly is the message of the Kingdom? In my study Bible, I have a reference next to this verse. It points to Matthew 4:23 (Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people). A second reference is Mark 1:15 (The time has come. The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news). Dallas Willard paraphrases this verse from Mark:
All the preliminaries have been taken care of, and the rule of God is now accessible to everyone. Review your plans for living and base your life on this remarkable new opportunity.
The message (of the good news) of the Kingdom is that God's reign is now fully present, and that it's open to everyone.
As the farmer was walking and sowing the seed, some of the seed fell in different places. Each of these places yielded a different result. The first bit of seed fell along the path, and the birds immediately came and ate it. Jesus said that many people hear the message of the Kingdom but do not understand it. Because of that, they are easy targets for the enemy, who comes and snatches what was sown in their hearts.
The second bit of seed fell on rocky places, where the soil was very shallow. The crop sprang up quickly, but once the sun came out, the plants were scoched. They withered because they had no root. Jesus said that many people hear the message and at once receive it with joy. However, when trouble or persecution comes, because there is no root, these people quickly fall away.
The third bit of seed fell among the thorns (and weeds), which choked the plants as soon as they grew up. Jesus said that many people hear the message, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. This goes back to Mark 1. Repentance is required for this type of living. A new type of believing is required, but so also is a new type of living.
The bulk of the seed (I say bulk because I assume this farmer was probably pretty good at farming) fell on good soil. Naturally, it produced a crop - 30 times, 60 times, or even 100 times that which was sown. Jesus said that the key was not just to hear the message, but also to understand it. I would say that this word "understand" is not simply referring to a cognitive understanding, just as the word "believe" in John 3:16 is not just about a mental belief. A person changes the way he or she lives when understanding or believing something new. Jesus was saying that if a person heard and understood the message of the Kingdom, they would produce a crop, which apparently is a sign of usefulness in the Kingdom of God (see also Matthew 5:13). The amazing thing here is that a person like this will produce not just a few apples or ears of corn, but 30 times, 60 times, or even 100 times what was sown!
It brings me back to how simple things really are meant to be. God's plan was that something planted grows naturally under the proper conditions. Last spring my dad gave me a small grape tomato vine. Being that there were no tomatoes on it at the time, I had to take his word for it. (It's important to point out that up to this time, everything that Mandy and I have planted has had an ill-timed death). He told us where to plant it, according to how much sun and water it needed each day. I did what he said, and I'm happy to see that not only is it still alive, but I have a lot of grape tomatoes on it. Should it amaze me that a tomato vine produced tomatoes? It really shouldn't. Perhaps I should think in these terms about our little church.
How awesome would it be to see people we're investing in produce fruit 100 times what we invested? That would mean more church planters. That would mean creativity and goodness like we've never seen. That would mean people making a difference not only in our neighborhood, but all across the world. I think it's a part of seeing God's Kingdom being evident here in our neighborhood just as it is in heaven.
God, may we be faithful to complete the work that you've given us to do, just as you will be faithful to complete the work you've begun in us.
All the preliminaries have been taken care of, and the rule of God is now accessible to everyone. Review your plans for living and base your life on this remarkable new opportunity.
The message (of the good news) of the Kingdom is that God's reign is now fully present, and that it's open to everyone.
As the farmer was walking and sowing the seed, some of the seed fell in different places. Each of these places yielded a different result. The first bit of seed fell along the path, and the birds immediately came and ate it. Jesus said that many people hear the message of the Kingdom but do not understand it. Because of that, they are easy targets for the enemy, who comes and snatches what was sown in their hearts.
The second bit of seed fell on rocky places, where the soil was very shallow. The crop sprang up quickly, but once the sun came out, the plants were scoched. They withered because they had no root. Jesus said that many people hear the message and at once receive it with joy. However, when trouble or persecution comes, because there is no root, these people quickly fall away.
The third bit of seed fell among the thorns (and weeds), which choked the plants as soon as they grew up. Jesus said that many people hear the message, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. This goes back to Mark 1. Repentance is required for this type of living. A new type of believing is required, but so also is a new type of living.
The bulk of the seed (I say bulk because I assume this farmer was probably pretty good at farming) fell on good soil. Naturally, it produced a crop - 30 times, 60 times, or even 100 times that which was sown. Jesus said that the key was not just to hear the message, but also to understand it. I would say that this word "understand" is not simply referring to a cognitive understanding, just as the word "believe" in John 3:16 is not just about a mental belief. A person changes the way he or she lives when understanding or believing something new. Jesus was saying that if a person heard and understood the message of the Kingdom, they would produce a crop, which apparently is a sign of usefulness in the Kingdom of God (see also Matthew 5:13). The amazing thing here is that a person like this will produce not just a few apples or ears of corn, but 30 times, 60 times, or even 100 times what was sown!
It brings me back to how simple things really are meant to be. God's plan was that something planted grows naturally under the proper conditions. Last spring my dad gave me a small grape tomato vine. Being that there were no tomatoes on it at the time, I had to take his word for it. (It's important to point out that up to this time, everything that Mandy and I have planted has had an ill-timed death). He told us where to plant it, according to how much sun and water it needed each day. I did what he said, and I'm happy to see that not only is it still alive, but I have a lot of grape tomatoes on it. Should it amaze me that a tomato vine produced tomatoes? It really shouldn't. Perhaps I should think in these terms about our little church.
How awesome would it be to see people we're investing in produce fruit 100 times what we invested? That would mean more church planters. That would mean creativity and goodness like we've never seen. That would mean people making a difference not only in our neighborhood, but all across the world. I think it's a part of seeing God's Kingdom being evident here in our neighborhood just as it is in heaven.
God, may we be faithful to complete the work that you've given us to do, just as you will be faithful to complete the work you've begun in us.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
His true identity
When Jesus was twelve, his parents went to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus did not return with them, and instead went to the temple, where he sat among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. The teachers were "amazed at his understanding and his answers." When his parents finally found him, a day later, they were no doubt a little frustrated. His response to them was that it should have been obvious to them that he would be in his Father's house.
Aside from being a bit sarcastic, this shows that even at this time, Jesus knew his true identity. Did he figure it out on his own? Did Mary or Joseph sit down with him at some point and tell him? Can you imagine what they conversation was like?
Aside from being a bit sarcastic, this shows that even at this time, Jesus knew his true identity. Did he figure it out on his own? Did Mary or Joseph sit down with him at some point and tell him? Can you imagine what they conversation was like?
Friday, October 20, 2006
Reflections on Mary
I have just started working my way through the New Testament. I'm using The Daily Bible. The New Testament begins on October 15 and goes through the end of the year. Today's reading was on the birth of John and Jesus. I've heard this story all of my life, and at times I've glazed over it because it's been too familiar. Rather than waiting until December, I've been excited to begin meditating on it now, in October.
Mary's story blows me away. Here is this young teenager who obviously is a follower of God. She is engaged to a man named Joseph. One day an angel named Gabriel shows up and tells her that she is going to have a baby, and that baby will be named Jesus. Not only that, but this baby will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High...and his kingdom will never end.
She then asks the obvious question: "How will this happen since I am a virgin?" Good question, right? Crazy response!
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."
What do you do with a response like that?
Here's what Mary does with a response like that:
"I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."
That is nothing short of amazing. She has such faith in God, and that faith leads to obedience.
Mary's story blows me away. Here is this young teenager who obviously is a follower of God. She is engaged to a man named Joseph. One day an angel named Gabriel shows up and tells her that she is going to have a baby, and that baby will be named Jesus. Not only that, but this baby will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High...and his kingdom will never end.
She then asks the obvious question: "How will this happen since I am a virgin?" Good question, right? Crazy response!
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."
What do you do with a response like that?
Here's what Mary does with a response like that:
"I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."
That is nothing short of amazing. She has such faith in God, and that faith leads to obedience.
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