We finished chapter 1, where 1 Corinthians stressed that it’s in “weakness” where we see God. Paul contrasted earthly wisdom with God’s wisdom, which may seem foolish and scandalous, most exemplified in the cross of Christ. We begin chapter 2 with Paul still making his personal appeal, by using “I” and recalling his visit with […]
1 Corinthians: Lesson 2: 1:10-31: God’s Contrarian Ways
December 20, 2014 by
Last week, we learned how Paul and Sosthenes (Silas) organized 1 Corinthians, using many elements of Greek rhetoric in that letter. They also wrote an extended greeting, in which they dropped hints to the content within the letter that would follow. Further, although 1 Corinthians has two authors, it also has extended parts where Sosthenes […]
1 Corinthians, Lesson 1: Introduction
December 14, 2014 by
Author and Date 1 Corinthians identifies its writers as the Apostle Paul and Pastor Sosthenes, whose Hebrew name was Silas (1:1). Sosthenes would later become the Bishop of Caesarea. Sothenes assisted Paul and also served as his scribe. At the end of the letter, however, Paul wrote his “goodbye” in his own handwriting (16:21). […]
Jesus Prophesied in the Old Testament
December 6, 2014 by
This lesson came into being from a question asking to see where Jesus was foretold in the Old Testament, but also where we find its fulfillment mentioned in the New. But before we delve directly into what the Scripture writers have foretold, we look at how Jesus Himself understood the Old Testament. This is so […]
Vain Repetition
November 29, 2014 by
This lesson is born from a concern about “vain repetition” in our worship liturgy. In our Divine Services on Sunday, we rotate settings of the Liturgy based on the season. However, during our midweek Advent and Lenten services, we have used the exact same service, Evening Prayer, for the last few years. Thus, are we […]
It’s not a Religion but a Relationship (not quite!)
November 24, 2014 by
This is our pastor’s newsletter article for the December 2014-January 2015 edition of our congregational newsletter: The Shepherd’s Voice. We’ve all heard others say it. Maybe, you’ve even said it: “Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with Christ.” Yes, we live in the age of the sound-bite, where “truths” are distilled into small, […]
How to Discern God’s Will in Your Life
November 22, 2014 by
How to Discern God’s Will in Your Life (Or how I learned to stop worrying and make decisions like a real Christian) By Pr Rich Futrell How does a Christian figure out God’s will in his life? Closer to home, how can you know what life choices God wants you to make? That’s the topic […]
Acts, Lesson 22: The Ugly Intersection of Religion and Money
November 19, 2014 by
Paul is still in Ephesus, preaching, teaching, and being an evangelist. Earlier, after three months of proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah in the synagogue, many of the Jews there became flustered with Paul. Today, we learn that many Gentiles became angry with Paul, but in a way where monetary income was as important (or more […]
The Theology of Suffering
November 15, 2014 by
Today’s lesson comes from a request to explore how to understand suffering in our lives. How are we to view suffering and, then, based on such a view, handle the suffering that comes our way? The Theology of Glory versus the Theology of the Cross Before we look into suffering, we need to look […]
Acts, Lesson 21: Paul Still in Ephesus–Healing through Paul’s Facecloths and Work Aprons
November 13, 2014 by
Paul Still in Ephesus–Healing through Paul’s Facecloths and Work Aprons By Pr Rich Futrell Paul Serving as Evangelist and Pastor Read Acts 19:8 In Ephesus, where does Paul first go? How long does he stay preaching and teaching there? What does this say about the resistance that Paul first experienced there? Read […]
