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Category Archives: Adult Bible Classes
Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan: Misguided Faith, Part 4
Dwayne Phillips asked in a comment to Part 3 of this series, I enjoy reading your blog. This entry, however, sounds much like what I heard years ago from people who refused to say the pledge of allegiance and who … Continue reading
Posted in Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan, Uncategorized
Tagged All, Faith Lessons, Ray Vander Laan
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Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan: Misguided Faith, Part 3
One of the most challenging passages in the New Testament is 1 Cor. 5:9-13. 9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people– 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who … Continue reading
Posted in Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan, Uncategorized
Tagged All, Christian judging, Faith Lessons, immorality, Ray Vander Laan
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Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan: Misguided Faith, Part 2
The scriptures on the powers Recent New Testament scholarship has brought a new focus to Paul’s teachings about the “powers.” When Paul refers to the “powers,” he is sometimes referring to spiritual opponents of Jesus and other times referring to … Continue reading
Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan: Misguided Faith, Part 1
Jesus’ followers should imitate his methods as well as his teachings. Hence, the Crusades were a mistake because the European Christians used violence to spread the gospel of peace. Vander Laan shows us a European fort on Palestinian soil, complete … Continue reading
Posted in Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan, Uncategorized
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Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan: Language of Culture (and the Parable of the Minas)
Sepphoris was a wealthy city about 3 miles from Nazareth, under construction at the time Jesus was working as a carpenter. Nazareth may have had 300 people, while Sepphoris may have had 20,000 or 30,000 residents. Herod the Great’s will … Continue reading
Amazing Grace: A Question About Baptism
I get emails. I love reading your blog and have reached the same conclusions on Acts 2:38, but I will say I don’t know how to work around what one of the commenter’s said: “Jay can conjecture till the Lord … Continue reading
Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan: The Rabbi (with a Blue Parakeet note appended)
The lesson begins at Gamla, a Jewish settlement founded after the return of the Jews from Babylon. The community is on the side of a hill, so steep that one family’s roof is another man’s floor. The opposite side of … Continue reading
Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan: No Greater Love, Part 2 (the Sermon on the Mount)
Jesus ministered in the area of Capernaum and Korazin, an area where Jews and Gentiles were mingled, and along the Via Maris — which would allow his teaching to be spread throughout the world. (Mat 4:13-25) Leaving Nazareth, he went … Continue reading
Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan: No Greater Love, Part 1 (Korazin)
The video begins at the traditional site of the Sermon on the Mount, overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Just to the north are the ruins of Korazin, a city where Jesus often taught. Korazin At Korazin the DVD shows the … Continue reading
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Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan: The Time Had Fully Come (The Essenes)
Christianity did not arise entirely new and unprecedented in history. The Essenes, who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls, had many remarkable similarities with early Christians, showing that God was preparing the soil for the seed he would sow. About 200BC, … Continue reading
