...Introduction: The Bible Among The Myths by John N. Oswalt The author Oswalt spent much time studying the subject of the ANE (Ancient Near East). This book will investigate the Idealism, history, culture and how they related to the relevance of the critical worldview of the Old Testament and the Hebrew belief as compared to the surrounding ANE. Oswalt’s views, thinking and direction have changed completely over his 50 years studying the ANE and the Bible. This book will show the similarities and differences in thought between the Hebrew Old Testament and the ANE. Oswalt will define what a myth is and argue why the Old Testament is not and cannot be considered a myth. The Bible, when compared to ANE literature, has a completely different understanding of creation and how the spiritual and natural realms interact and exist. There is not a continuous existence that just repeats itself over and over, but rather a series of single events that lead to a greater purpose. It is Oswalt’s position that the Bible is an accurate historical account of a people who received their relevance of belief from a single living transcendent God. The historical basis is important as God reveals himself through humans, in non-recurring human-historical events, to impose God’s will and direction to affect the will of humans. Chapter 1: The Bible In Its World In this chapter Oswalt addresses different beliefs on the existence of the world. Specifically how the Israelites and Greeks viewed the...
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...Methods of Evangelism Joshua Fleming Liberty University Online The Roman Roads Summary of Method – The Roman Road is a methodic evangelism approach of presenting the Gospel through various bible verses throughout the book of Romans. From this approach of evangelism, each of the verses are placed in a systematic method to show us who is in need of salvation, why they are in need of salvation, the way in which God will provide salvation, ways in which we can respond to God’s salvation, and finally the results of us responding to God’s gift of salvation. In Romans 3:10-12, and 23 its states “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard”. These verses show us that every single person is in need of salvation. It states boldly that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standards. In Romans 6:23 it states “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” This verse shows us that as sinners and unrighteous people our consequences of our sin is death. Although it does show us that we deserve death it always gives us hope through the gift in which God has given us. In Romans 5:8 it shows us that “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” God gave us the greatest gift anyone could ever...
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...| Methods of Evangelism | | | | | | The Romans Road Summary of Method: The Romans road is a term that was coined by Dr. Jack Hyles in the late 1940’s (www.Jack Hyles.com, 2011), and uses multiple verses from the Book of Romans to easily walk an unbeliever through the steps of salvation. Starting with Romans 3:10-12, 23 “As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”(NKJV) And working your way through seven or eight verses you can get an unbeliever from recognizing that they are a sinner in need of salvation to being saved to one who can be saved through the grace of God. The end being that the person understands and accepts Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (NKJV) Advantages of using this method: There are only a few verses in this method and they are very easy to memorize which allows the person witnessing to stay on track, and avoid the need to thumb through your Bible to look for the appropriate verse. People want to know that you know what you are talking about, and that you are confident and comfortable talking about a topic. Even if the person decides not to take any further action at least you know you have given them a solid Bible based argument for their need of salvation. Disadvantages of using this method: While this is a great method if you are in kind...
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...Methods of Evangelism Nathalie Graham Liberty University Online The Romans Road Summary of Method – The Romans Road is an “intellectual” plan using a collection of verses from the New Testament book of Romans to explain God’s gift of salvation. When these verses are arranged in order they offer a systematic presentation of the plan of salvation (What is Roman’s Road?) Through the presentation of these verses one learns that we are all sinners (Romans 3:10, 23), that the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23), that Jesus paid for our sins on the cross (Romans5:8), that salvation comes through faith, by confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9,10), and the need to call on the Lord for salvation (Romans 10:13) (What Is Roman’s Road?). The sharing of these scriptures opens the door for one to accept salvation. Advantages of Using This Method – There are several advantages to using this method of evangelism. First, for those that are new to witnessing to others the Roman’s Road offers a solid Biblical plan to winning souls. This method is laid out so that even children and the newest Christian would be able to share Christ with others using the scriptures. Secondly, the plan exposes the non-believer to the scriptures. Thirdly, this method is effective in reaching those that accept that the Bible is the Word of God and are willing to accept its teachings. Disadvantages of Using This Method – The Romans Road method of evangelism...
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...How deep are your Roots in Christ Love. Introduction Be rooted, grounded and established in the word of God is our theme for the church. Since the beginning of the year, as a church we have taken time to understand what it means to be rooted, grounded and enlightened in the word of God. The women ministry/Joy fellowship have also derived their theme for their celebration week to go deeper into the theme and take time to examine ourselves how deep are our roots in Christ Love based on Ephesians 3: 17. Paul was praying for the church of Ephesus, that Christ may dwell in their hearts and that they may be rooted in Christ Love. He also prayed for them further, (Vs 18-19) that they may be able to comprehend the depth, the width of Christ love which passes knowledge, and after they comprehend this love they will be filled with fullness of God. As we endeavor to be rooted, grounded and enlightened by the word of God, one of the roots that we ought to develop and let it grow deeper is the root of love. What does it mean to be rooted in Christ Love? To be rooted in Christ Love means that we are established in the Love of Christ. Christ Love make us complete, the foundation of Christianity is based on what Christ did for us on the cross. Unless we have a clear picture of depth, width, length, and height of the kind of Love that Christ had for mankind then we can never understand what love is. After we have comprehended Christ love for mankind, then we can be able to apply...
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...Tasha Hires BIBL 104 June 24, 2012 Summary of the books of the Old Testament Numbers The Genre's of this book are made up of Law and History due to the sins of disobedience and "god" worshiping. Along Israel's journey they were led away to wandered for 40 years in the wilderness before coming into the promised land. In the first 25 chapters of Numbers we see the experiences of the first generation of the Israelites in the wilderness along with the census of the men for battle. The remaining chapters of Numbers describes the experiences of the second generation. Obedience and rebellion followed by repentance and blessing, are themed throughout the entire book. The experiences Moses encountered in this book included his own siblings turning on him and anger starting to control many of his actions, and even due to his own disobedience Moses was unable to walk into the Promise Land. Numbers describes the walk of the Israelites as well as filling the gap between the Israelites receiving the law and getting them ready to enter the Promise Land . Ruth In this short narrative story, Ruth, a Moabite widow, willingly leaves her homeland to care for her mother-in-law, Naomi, who is also a widow. Being a Moabite, Ruth was not a part of God’s chosen people, Israel, but she chose to follow God anyway. God rewarded her for her faithfulness and her kindness to her mother-in-law. First, He provided for Ruth’s physical needs. As Ruth went out to get food, she came upon a...
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...BIBL 104-D69 LUO 12/7/2013 Summary of the books of the Old Testament Books) Exodus The genre for the book of Exodus is law. Some of the key concepts include God revealing his identity and even some of his expectations. God appoints Moses as a chosen leader. He demonstrates thru Moses and Aaron the power of faith. He also preformed miracles like delivering Moses from leprosy, the destruction of Pharaoh and his army and the splitting of the Red Sea. After settling in Egypt a new king was appointed, killing an entire generation of male children. Moses was spared and brought the Israelites out of Egypt which, the Pharaoh made a very difficult task. As result of his stubbornness he made his consequences worse. But, eventually the Israelites were freed on the Passover. The Ten Commandments were written and tabernacles where built filled with the spirit of God. These tabernacles guarded and guided the Israelites and Moses through their many journeys. Job The genre of this book is wisdom. God described Jobs character to be a strictly honorable and honest man who feared him. Satan negotiated with God, which caused Job to suffer greatly. He lost not most but all of his possessions, including his children and painful sores which covered his body. Despite all of the devastation that was happening in his life, he still chose to believe and serve God even when his wife had given up on him (God). He questioned his purpose in life, wanted answers from God, and wanted a chance to plead...
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...Theme: “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing!” Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2: 9-10 “But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the hearts of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.” Subject: “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing!” (I wish I had two people in the house this morning who would high five somebody and tell them, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing!”) • Yeah, yeah, when the windows of heaven are opened and it’s my time to reap; I don’t want to miss a thing! I. Introduction: 1. Some of you will remember the popular movie, “Armageddon” which arrived in theaters nationwide in 1998, starring Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck. a. The hit song from the sound track for the movie was performed by a group called “Aerosmith” which featured a young man named Steven Tyler, recently well-known for being a judge on American Idol. b. This song was entitled, “I don’t want to miss a thing.” c. The song says, “I don’t want to close my eyes, I don’t want to fall asleep because I’d miss you girl and I don’t want to miss a thing.” 2. Come on saints, stop looking at me like a cow looking at a new gate, you all weren’t born saved! 3. But as I read from our Paulinian text this morning, the words from this song begin to take on new and spiritual meaning. a. For I heard the old preachers say, “serving...
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...prayer have? Click here to listen to this material as a free MP3 audio Bible study message. Introduction: In Luke 11:1 Jesus' disciples asked, "Lord, teach us to pray." Christians today also need to learn to pray. The purpose of this study is to help Christians improve in prayer. People who are new in the faith may have never studied about how to pray. Some members do not pray properly so their prayers are not even answered. All of us can improve in this aspect of worship. We need to learn what to pray about. Should we make requests, be thankful, offer praise, intercede on behalf of others, offer petition? And what power does prayer have? Does God really answer prayer? If so, how should we pray and what conditions must prayer meet in order for God to hear and answer? These and other questions will be considered in this study. What is prayer? Note Acts 4:24,31. Prayer is simply man talking to God, expressing his thoughts to God (Rom. 10:1; Matt. 6:9ff). Hence, it is a form of communication similar in may ways to simply talking to our earthly father, except that we must remember whom we are addressing and must meet conditions of acceptable prayer. I. What Should We Pray About? What should we include in our prayers? Some cannot seem to think of much to say. Others say things that are inappropriate or even unscriptural. Some just repeat memorized phrases they have heard others pray. Let us examine Bible examples of prayer. What did God's people in the Scriptures talk about...
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...Week One – It all starts with God Romans 8:6: 5 -8Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored. Matthew 16:25 Colossians 1:16 speculation vs. revelation We should ask GOD what our lives purpose is. He is the only one (the creator) who can tell us what He has purposed us to do and to achieve. 1 Cor. 2:7 GOD is the source of our lives – not just the start of our lives. Ephesians 1:11 You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ, God was thinking about us long before we were thinking about HIM We don't get to choose our purpose! Without God, life makes no sense! Life is about living for GOD, not myself! ___________________________________________________________________________________ Week two – You are not an accident! Isaiah 44:2 Psalms 138:8 ephesians 1:4 James 1:16-18 Passage James 1:18: 16 -18So, my very dear friends, don't...
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...EVAN101-B12 October 10, 2011 Methods of Evangelism Part ONE – Evangelistic Method #1 – The Romans Road. The Romans Road lays out the plan of salvation through a series of Bible verses from the book of Romans. When arranged in order, these verses form an easy, systematic way of explaining the message of salvation. There are many different versions of Romans Road with slight variations in Scriptures, but the basic message and method is the same. Many evangelical missionaries, evangelists, and lay people memorize and use Romans Road when sharing the good news. Some of the Scriptures generally used in Romans Road include: Romans 3:10, 3:23, 5:8, 5:12, 6:23, 10:9-11, and 10:13. Romans 3:10 states: “As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:23 states: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 5:8 states: “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:12 states: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 6:23 states: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 10:9-11 states: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth salvation is made...
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...The Lord lifteth up the meek: He casteth the wicked down to the ground. Psalms 147:6 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4a For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalms 48:14 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:11 Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee. Isaiah 41:9 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Matthew 16:27 You have armed me with strength for the battle. Psalm 18:39 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me. Psalm 138:8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:7 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:11 Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12 ...
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...Emergency Telephone Numbers These are more effective than 911 When - You are sad, phone John 14 You have sinned, phone Psalm 51 You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91 People have failed you, phone Psalm 27 It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139 Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11 You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23 You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34 You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13 You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18 You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39 You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30 It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90 You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30 You are leaving home for a trip , phone Psalm 121 You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87 You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1 Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31 You are depressive, phone Psalm 27 Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37 You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13 It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15 You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126 You feel the world is small comp ared to you, phone Psalm 19 You want to carry fruit, phone John 15 Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17 With big opportunity/ discovery, phone Isaiah 55 To get along with other people, phone Romans 12 ALTERNATE NUMBERS For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47 For security, call Psalm...
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...Challenges for the Church in the 21st Century The 21st Century Church will face challenges never dreamed possible. It is imperative that we look ahead to better prepare for the conflict. After combining prayer and research with years of pastoral experience, let me focus on the following 12 issues that loom as some of our greatest challenges in the next 15 years: 1. The church will face the "Graying of America," with an expected 70 million older persons (20% of the population) by 2030. This will necessitate the nearly impossible mandate upon the church to blend together the four generational groups often found in churches: BUILDERS (born prior to 1945), BOOMERS (1945-64), BUSTERS and GEN X (1965-1983), and BRIDGERS/MILLENNIALS (born since1984). Discontent over worship styles and music will intensify. The church must address the needs of all people God places in its care. Remember, love the brotherhood regardless of age or gender. 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 2. Spirit-filled (Pentecostal) churches will come under tremendous pressure from clergy and church members, to silence the Gifts of the Spirit in public meetings, and to further compromise Pentecostal teachings. The Full Gospel church must take a stand for freedom of the Spirit in all of its ministries. 1 Corinthians 14:37-39 3. Churches will be pressured to adopt unscriptural tactics of the corporate business world into key areas of their structure. This may lead to stale, impersonalized, or ineffective religious procedures...
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...HEAVEN’S CULTURE As Kingdom Citizens living on Earth, we have Dual Citizenship, or maybe something like an Earth Visa (green card). Scripture says our citizenship is (not will be) in Heaven, present tense, not futuristic! Two realms, coexisting concurrently, rather than sequentially. The predominant view of Earth now and Heaven later, has handicapped our understanding of the ways in which Heaven impacts Earth and us today. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10). The realm of Heaven has a Culture, it own culture: language, currency, economy and politics. We need to become familiar with and embrace Heaven’s culture and allow it to influence and shape and help us to establish Heaven’s culture in the Earth. In the Culture of Heaven: * The small gift is made large * The weak are strong * The rejected are chosen * The cast down are lifted up * The broken are made whole * The last are first CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KINGDOM What are the predominant characteristics of God’s Kingdom that set it apart from all the other kingdoms of this world? God clearly shows us the primary characteristics of His Kingdom in His Word. 1) A LIVING KINGDOM – John 10:10b, Luke 17:21 2) A RIGHTEOUS KINGDOM – Romans 14:17, Romans 3:21-22, 1 John 3:7 3) A POWERFUL KINGDOM – Luke 10:1, 8-9, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 4) A PRECIOUS AND VALUABLE KINGDOM – Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 6:33 A KINGDOM JESUS WAS WILLING...
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