...for utilitarian ware. For more expensive vessels, the potter first refined the clay by treading it out in water. Clay pots found many uses. Items of value could be kept in them, and clay jars were especially popular for storing liquids because the pottery hindered evaporation and kept the contents cool at the same time. Even broken pieces of pottery, or "shards," found a use as writing material for notes, receipts and messages. In verses 7-15 Paul compares the gospel minister to a piece of Palestinian pottery. We have this treasure in jars of clay (v. 7). This treasure is the glorious good news about Christ (vv. 1-6). Jars of clay is actually "earthenware vessels" (ostrakinois skeuesin). The noun skeuosrefers to a vessel serving a specific purpose (such as a jug, cup, pan or pot). When used of people it often carries the sense of "implement" or "instrument" (Maurer 1971:358-67). So to be God's "vessel" is to be his instrument in carrying out a specific service--in this case, the gospel ministry. The marvel of Paul's statement is not to be overlooked. The gospel minister is a vessel made of common,...
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...What are the 25 important things about the New Testament? Address them in relation to society, literature, early Church struggles, Church fathers, and their successes. (1) The New Testament is a collection of twenty seven books about Jesus Christ and the Church by different Authors. The first four books are known as the Gospels. The rest are epistles and letters about self-conduct relationship building, and the operation of the Church. The life of Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels, have a profoundly positive effect on society because of his doctrine of faith, peace, and righteousness. (2) The N.T portrays polarization in society due to the rejection of Christ and his message. . (3) It makes the effort to bridge gaps and heal factionalism between gentiles and Jews through the message of the Gospel. This translates into all facets of societies, from the family system to national and international relations. (4) It depicts the unique relationship between Jesus and His disciples. This has become the model for most management and leadership styles in the world. (5) The miracles of Jesus promoted the early Church, and still holds the candle of hope for today’s Church, as many come to believe in Christ due to the transformational power of the miracles. However, they were pre views of life in the coming kingdom of God that Jesus so eloquently spoke about and died for. (6) The parables of Jesus became an instrument of inclusion to those who understood and complied...
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...global ministry, it came as a surprise to the body of Christ, because it presented all the features of a brand new mission that was birthed out of a stunning historical visitation of God Himself. At a time when modernization and post-modernism has eaten deep into the integrity of salvation, this new move of God bore the features of an uncommon encounter between God and man, in a manner that could only befit the perfect repeat of bible. At the time of His sending, The Lord God Almighty commissioned HIS Servant with a relentless firebrand gospel that essentially began to call the entire human race into repentance, and holy living in Christ Jesus. It is this manner of tight INSTRUCTION from God that caused The Man of God the Prophet to hit the trail and surprise the spiritual landscape like a storm. And because he came preaching repentance and renouncing sin and the present-day apostasy, the Man of God’s ministry translated into the direct message of preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah. This ceaseless mission to rebuke sexual sin, lies, immorality, false prophets, false apostles, false teachers, and the love of money above Christ, did not come out of one single visitation, but as a result of numerous relentless visitations of God Himself, in which He spoke directly to His Servant through non-stop dreams, visions, and also directly by His Fearsome Voice. In one such visitation at His calling, the Lord God took His Servant into His Throneroom and presented unto Him the Ark...
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...in African forests is quite applicable in the case of African theology. It is always advisable to get the guidance of someone who identifies with its paths and the landscape. This essay will, therefore, look into the life of Bediako Kwame as a guide as to understanding African Christian theology. The essay will look into the biographical details and description of historical, social, cultural, economic and political factors within which he lived and worked. Moreover, it will examine the ways in which his work relates to the discussed context and appreciate four of his major themes. Lastly, it will study the contributions of Bediako Kwame to the theology field in general and discuss how his thinking has challenged my understanding of the gospel. Bediako Kwame was born on into a Presbyterian family on 7th July 1945 in the Ghanaian capital Accra. His father...
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...spirituality to make it distinctively Christian? * Live a fully and truly human life What is the relationship between spirituality and theology? * Christian spirituality focuses on living fully and truly human life as most filled lived and seen in the life of Jesus Christ. Revelation (揭示) What are the different types of general and special revelation? * General—creation everything that is not creator. * General—conscience the way to judge wrong and right * Special— word the words in Bible * Special— “ word” Jesus Christ How do general and special revelation differ in terms of content and recipients? What is the purpose of revelation? Why does God give it to humans? * The revelation from God is God’s message to build good relationship between human and God under God’s rules and help people...
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...That same research study concluded that of the adults that do not identify or associate themselves with religious group or sect, “Two- thirds say they believe in God. More than half say they feel a deep connection with nature and the earth and more than a third state they are spiritual but not religious. One in five state that they pray every day.” Knowing this information can prompt two different reactions. One could be that we allow this knowledge to intimidate the church and continue to cripple our efforts to reach these unreached people. The other option is to allow this information to act as a challenge to the church and the believers that congregate under the common thread of Jesus Christ and allow these numbers to propel the church to re-evaluate the evangelistic status quo; go back to the biblical basic of the early church and come up with a new game plan to win these souls for Christ. This paper will discuss how to mobilize the church to evangelize. It will define evangelism and look to the biblical basis for evangelism providing a new lifestyle of the modern day church. It will discuss the importance of intercessory prayer, and the vitality of a bold vision. It will look into the Pastors role in the churches effectiveness to...
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...protest anything that needs to be changed, in this case segregation. After reading King’s letter I, and almost anyone, would come to the conclusion that King is deeply motivated to help against any injustice in the US. Who else would go to such lengths if they didn’t? He knows how persuasive he can be by using his knowledge of the English language, and he uses this to speak out against people who doubt him (clergymen) and to incite a different way of thinking into the people in hopes of change. Dr. King’s letter is extremely effective because it provides an enormous amount of evidence to the reader that he and his company are being treated unjustly and also that King truly cares about making a change for the good of the city. It also re-directs attention to the wrongdoings of the city’s government, and then it concludes, peacefully, reminding all readers that King simply desires justice and equal treatment. Also by maintaining a tone that makes him seem calm and collected, using repetition subtly yet forcefully to convey his points, and by humbling himself before his audience, King effectively convinces you that he is right. One of the...
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...persecution by against the Church in Jerusalem, mostly because of rivalry or competition, even though they shared cultural-religious backgrounds. The book of Hebrews is God’s call to Jewish Christians to leave the temple worship and only follow Christ. The Roman Titus destroyed Jerusalem Written to Jewish Christians who were involved in Temple worship. Believer were guilty of sacrificing animals Why Luke probably wrote Hebrews Was written to the Jewish Christians who were going back into Temple practices and Jewish customs Quoted Septuagint version of the Old Testament Not Pauline syntax Use of medical terms because Luke was a doctor No introduction Paul always quoted the Hebrew text What was better? It was a new and better message through Jesus. Better than angels – His son became better than angels Better hope- the law made nothing perfect; there was the bringing of better hope, which helped us draw near to God. Better sacrifice- Jesus became the better surety of a better covenant. Better heavenly home- better position for yourself in heaven. Better future- God...
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...Jacques Maritain Christianity and Democracy December 1949 http://www2.nd.edu/Departments/Maritain/jm604a.htm [From a typewritten manuscript by Jacques Maritain, who gave this address at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association in New York on the 29th of December 1949 and again at Gettysburg College under the auspices of the Adams County Round Table of the National Conference of Christians and Jews on the 19th of February 1950.] The French writer Léon Bloy, who called himself the Pilgrim of the Absolute, and who was a dear friend of mine, took pleasure in telling the following story: Once, in his youth, he was sitting at the table of a café with another poet, Villiers de l'Isle-Adam. A passer-by, who was a practical man, accosted the poet: "Hello, my dear fellow," he said to him with a patronizing smile, "always a poet, a beauty lover, always climbing in the clouds?" "And you." answered Villiers with a malicious smile, "you, my dear fellow, always going your way downwards?" Léon Bloy liked also to comment on the sententious sayings used in the common language. Many people who are good heathens but want to be assisted by religion on their deathbed, are apt to say: "Je ne veux pas mourir comme un chien; I don't want to die like a dog." Léon Bloy commented: "I have never understood why a man who lives like a pig does not want to die like a dog." These stories have no connection with the purpose of our meeting except as concerns the fact...
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...ASSEMBLIES OF GOD NIGERIA Welcome to the General Council website of AG Nigeria. We the AG Web Ministry Team of the General Council are here to humbly serve you and we would love to hear from you. "A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others" (Prov. 12:15 LB). Please send us your candid opinion. 75th Anniversary Celebration The 75th Anniversary Celebrations will kick off at the various Districts and Areas on May 24, 2009. The National Celebration and Grand Finale will come up in Michael Okpara Square, ENUGU on 27th and 28th November. National Choir Competition The National Choir Competition has been full of success stories and nine zones so far visited include: Calabar, Onitsha, Benin, Uyo, Umuahia, PH, Enugu, Abuja and Owerri. Pentecost Week The last week of May is Pentecost Week. The Week is being observed nationally as Week of Spiritual Emphasis on Operation7575! All local Churches will be expected to promote baptism in the Holy Spirit and forward statistical report on the performance of each local Church. 2009 Africa Azusa Conference The next Africa Azusa Conference will be held in Nigeria. Date � August 3-7, 2009. Venue: Youth Camp, Lagos or Evangel Camp (yet to be confirmed) This conference is regional conference of the Africa Assemblies of God Alliance (Central Africa). The last one was held in 2007 at Libreville, Gabon. Peniel 2009 The 2009 Peniel series will be coming up on the third week of June. Date: Arrival Monday 22nd. Departure...
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...THE MASTER’S SEMINARY THE LEGITIMACY OF THE OFFER OF THE DAVIDIC KINGDOM A PAPER SUBMITTED TO DOCTOR LARRY PETTEGREW IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COURSE TH706 THEOLOGY III BY ROGER DALEY SUN VALLEY, CA APRIL 1997 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION WHAT IS THE KINGDOM 3 THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM 5 THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST 6 REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND 9 PROPHECY DECLARES THE SUFFERING MESSAIH 12 SUMMARY 15 The Legitimacy of the Offer of the Davidic Kingdom In the gospel of John the Lord Jesus Christ is talking to Nicodemus. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”(3:14-15, NKJ). This conversation occurred before Jesus had even begun His public ministry. Jesus was telling Nicodemus that the Messiah was to be crucified. Also Nicodemus must believe in Him, if he would have eternal life. Jesus also refers to being born again in order to see the kingdom of God. He also equates believing in Christ and eternal life and all four of these terms (kingdom of God, eternal life, born again, believing) are used in a very short passage referring to the same question, “how can a man be born again?” Essentially, Christ is equating eternal life with entering the kingdom of God...
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...expression, images, writing, formal, explanation, and discussion. • Recognise truth in sacred scripture. Scientific: People who wrote the bible had little knowledge about science, like they thought the world was flat. Biblical account of how the world was created differs from the scientific version. Writers were concerned with religious truth not science. When looking behind the inaccurate scientific theories you find it expresses a truth about God, people and their relationship. Historical: The bible contains some historical truth, but the information is not like the recounts in textbooks. The stories from the bible were passed on by generations, they were told so the listener heard the religious truth, not necessarily the facts. The gospels are reliable historical records, but they are presented in different ways. It is religious history, not accurate recounts of dates and events. The Bible is not to be read as a history book. Symbolic: The religious truth in the bible is told in symbols. We have to read behind the symbols to find the meaning. Example eve and the talking snake, it’s not that a snake could talk but a symbol for the devil trying to worm its way into the human heart. The garden is a symbol for all that God gives us. The symbolic meaning behind this story is about the struggle of good and evil in a person that tempts them to sin. Proverbial: found in the Old Testament, it is everyday wisdom and advice about life that is...
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...Abstract This paper begins by going in depth into the lives on historical account of Jesus Christ and the Prophet Mohammed. It continues by discussing the impact of their deaths had upon their followers and worshippers. A continuation is made by detailing how each figure is worshipped and how their words are kept alive in present times. The Life of Jesus The religion of Christianity has a foundation that is based around the teachings of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whose life story is told in the New Testament in the Bible. Jesus of Nazareth also widely known as Jesus Christ is the son of God according to Christians. The exact date of his birth is not known, however he was born to a virgin named Mary who had a fiancée, a carpenter names Joseph. Before her pregnancy an angel named Gabriel appeared before Mary is a dream and prophesized she would give birth to a male child, upon her pregnancy the angel reappeared to Joseph and instructed him to Mary the pregnant virgin. “About 2000 years ago God sent an angel to Israel, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter. The angel told Mary that by God's power, she would conceive and bear a son.” (Palmer, 2008, para. 1) . Word of the Messiah’s birth soon traveled and got the attention of Three Wise Men who traveled from the Far East, the men wanted to worship Jesus and in an attempt to find him they visited a King named Herod who led Judea. In an effort to find Jesus and kill him, Herod tricked the Wise Men...
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...state of humiliation to that of exaltation, may be called in a true sense the corner stone of Christianity (compare 1Co 15:14,17). It was on the preaching of Christ crucified and risen that the Christian church was founded (e.g. Ac 2:32-36; 1Co 15:3,4). Professor Harnack would distinguish between "the Easter faith" (that Jesus lives with God) and "the Easter message," but the church never had any Easter faith apart from the Easter message. The subversion of the fact of the resurrection is therefore a first task to which unbelief addresses itself. The modern spirit rules it out a priori as miraculous. The historical fact is denied, and innumerable theories (imposture, theories of swoon, of hallucination, mythical theories, spiritualistic theories, etc.) are invented to explain the belief. None of these theories can stand calm examination (see the writer’s work, The Resurrection of Jesus). The objections are but small dust of the balance compared with the strength of the evidence for the fact. From the standpoint of faith, the resurrection of Jesus is the most credible of events. If Jesus was indeed such an One as the gospel history declares Him to be, it was impossible that death should hold Him (Ac 2:24). The resurrection, in turn, confirms His claim to be the Son of God (Ro 1:4). The Resurrection (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20; 21; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8) With the narratives of the resurrection are here included as inseparably connected, those of the appearances...
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...and quite common, scenarios and incorporated her ideas of faith into these stories. Her stories express that we live in a broken world that is in need of hope, faith, and love. In You Can’t Be Any Poorer Than Dead, Flannery O’Connor puts forth her intention, which I believe is trying to spread the message of God through her stories, but subtly. In her prayer journal, O’Connor makes it evident that she wants a better relationship with God. She writes about her struggles of maintaining her relationship with God and what she wants God to do for her. One of my favorite quotes from her journal is “[d]on’t let me ever think, dear God, that I was anything but the instrument for Your story–just like the typewriter was mine.” Not only is it a well written petition, but it accurately represents the intention of her stories. In the story You Can’t Be Any Poorer Than Dead, O’Connor tells about a boy named...
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