In this study, we find the spiritual and physical are not as separated as many of us assume. So it comes as no surprise that God uses physical aspects in our lives to streghten us to say no to our spiritual “bullies.” Dealing with Our Spiritual Bullies Feb 6, 2011 The Link between the Spiritual […]
Epiphany 4: Jonah 1:1-17
January 30, 2011 by
God called Jonah to go and preach to the wicked city of Nineveh, to preach repentance into the forgiveness of sins. The book of Tobit tells us that Nineveh was part of the Assyrian Empire, and so was Israel’s enemy (Tobit 14:15). That’s why Jonah didn’t want Nineveh to repent. He would rather see the […]
Multisensory Worship, Pt 2
January 25, 2011 by
Continued Thoughts on Multisensory Worship By Pr. Rich Futrell Last month we began to look at how God has always used all of our senses during worship. This month, we continue in this exploration. Anything that engages one or more of our five senses during worship has one primary purpose: to proclaim the Gospel in […]
Multisensory Worship, Part 1
January 25, 2011 by
This is the first of two articles I wrote for the congregational newsletter on the multisensoryness of worship. Multisensory Worship, Part 1 By Pr. Rich Futrell In Matthew 15:8, Jesus said, “These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” When Jesus said that, He wasn’t setting up an either-or […]
How to Use the Apocrypha and the Its Contents: A Re-education
January 24, 2011 by
Lesson 5: How to Use the Apocrypha and the Its Contents: A Re-education By Pr. Rich Futrell Jan 30, 2011 The Protestant Churches’ Rejection of the Apocrypha When some claim the Apocrypha is not biblical, they often cite many “proof texts” showing why we should reject the Apocrypha, such as, it teaches false doctrine. Ironically, […]
Epiphany 3
January 23, 2011 by
Intro Naaman, the Syrian, was the Commander in Chief of the armies of Aram. He was a decorated war hero with many victories under his belt. But he had a serious problem: he had an appalling skin disease, for which the Syrian doctors had no cure. So what happens? Naaman pays a house call on […]
The Apocrypha and Change within the Lutheran and Roman Churches
January 18, 2011 by
The Apocrypha and Change within the Lutheran and Roman Churches Lesson 4 By Pr. Rich Futrell Jan 23, 2011 Recap Last week, we learned how the early Church responded to three traditions on the Apocrypha and affirmed the Anagignoskomena and Deuterocanonical views as legitimate. The Church rejected the view that allowed someone to reject the […]
Epiphany 2: Wedding at Cana
January 16, 2011 by
Intro You never get a second chance to make a first impression. It’s the first minute that’s critical. That’s why we put on false fronts. That’s why we try to say the right words, so we won’t have to undo what we think cannot later be undone. We bring out the good wine first, because […]
The Apocrypha, Early Church Councils, and Martin Luther
January 13, 2011 by
The Apocrypha, Early Church Fathers and Councils, and Martin Luther Lesson 3 By Pr. Rich Futrell Jan 16, 2011 Recap Last week, we learned that the Apostolic Fathers quoted and referenced the Apocrypha, without distinction, in the same way they did the others part of the Old Testament. Hagiographa/Kethuvim To understand the distinction in […]
Epiphany
January 9, 2011 by
Intro Epiphany is God showing us His Son, Jesus–not just for the Jews–but as the Savior of the whole world. And so Epiphany becomes the Gentiles’ Christmas. Epiphany is God further revealing, unfolding, and unwrapping His earlier Christmas gift for all people. In God’s Christmas gift of His Son to us, we have received […]
