Category Archives: Adult Bible Classes

Creation 2.0: God’s Cosmic Plan, Part 1

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Jay F Guin

Ephesians is perhaps Paul’s most global, cosmic epistle — although Colossians gives it a run for its money. If you want the big picture, flip to Ephesians. (Eph 1:3-6 ESV)  3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord … Continue reading →

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Creation 2.0: The New Creation, Part 2

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Jay F Guin

Paul gives a lesson on how to be new creations in Colossians. (A very interesting and rewarding epistle we rarely cover in Bible class. I have no idea why.) (Col 3:8-10 ESV)  8 But now you must put them all … Continue reading →

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Creation 2.0: The New Creation, Part 1

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Jay F Guin

There’s this strand of thought in the New Testament that we rarely talk about (well, several such strands are out there, actually). You see, Paul likes to talk about Christians as being a “new creation.” (2Co 5:17 ESV) Therefore, if … Continue reading →

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Creation 2.0: Shepherding 2.0, Part 5

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Jay F Guin

We need to turn to Ezekiel 34, which lies behind most of the “shepherd” passages in the New Testament (along with, of course, Psalm 23) It’s not easily applied directly to church elders, because Ezekiel is speaking of a nation, … Continue reading →

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Creation 2.0: Shepherding 2.0, Part 4

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Jay F Guin

We need to continue with Jesus’ teaching in John 10 — (John 10:11-13 ESV)  11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  12 He who is a hired hand and not a … Continue reading →

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Creation 2.0: Shepherding 2.0, Part 3

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Jay F Guin

Now, obviously, the scriptures don’t require all elders to have doctorates in theology, but clearly they are required to know the gospel well enough to teach its basics to the members. (Tit 1:9 ESV) 9 He must hold firm to the … Continue reading →

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Creation 2.0: Shepherding 2.0, Part 2

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Jay F Guin

There are, of course, many other passages that speak to the role of elders/overseers/shepherds. I want to focus here on the “shepherd” passages, but I want to approach them from a somewhat unconventional direction. We begin with — (Deu 8:2-3 … Continue reading →

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Creation 2.0: Shepherding 2.0, Part 1

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Jay F Guin

We Americans are free-enterprise, consumers deep in our bones. Therefore, we drink deeply from the well of retail. “The customer is always right.” “Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.” “Thirty days free trial!” We sell Christianity by trying to make … Continue reading →

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Creation 2.0: Spiritual Formation, Part 2

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Jay F Guin

This is a pet peeve, but an important one. Nearly all the spiritual disciplines advocated for in Christian literature are individual disciplines — prayer, meditation, solitude, Bible study, etc. Indeed, most of these are the sorts of things that can only be … Continue reading →

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Creation 2.0: Spiritual Formation, Part 1

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Jay F Guin

(Gal 4:18-19 ESV)  18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you,  19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth … Continue reading →

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