Category Archives: Index

Ministers: Why We Should Do Background Checks on Ministers Before We Hire Them

The Christian Chronicle just ran this astonishing story. The full story is from the Washington Post, and it’s a fascinating, disturbing read. It seems that a Virginia Church of Christ hired a minister who had been convicted of beating his … Continue reading

Posted in Ministers, Uncategorized | 38 Comments

Baptism, an Exploration: Baptism in the Spirit, Pentecost

Yes, I know, I’ve skipped John, but we have to cover Acts first, because Acts is also by Luke, who is part of the Synoptic tradition. We need to see how Luke puts it all together. Baptism in the Spirit … Continue reading

Posted in Baptism, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

Baptism, an Exploration: Part 5 (Baptism by Jesus; Baptism in the Synoptic Gospels)

Pre-Pentecost baptisms by the apostles (John 3:22-26 ESV) 22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water … Continue reading

Posted in Baptism, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Wiki-Lessons: Abigail, Nabal, and Saul: Vengeance is Mine

Wednesday night’s teacher prep class was thinly attended. Most of the teachers had another meeting to attend. But we came across a very interesting parallel in the text. (1Sa 25:2-3 ESV) 2 And there was a man in Maon whose … Continue reading

Posted in 1 Samuel, 1 Samuel, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Baptism, an Exploration: Part 4 (The Baptism of Jesus)

The baptism of Jesus (Mat 3:13-17 ESV) 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you … Continue reading

Posted in Baptism, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Baptism, an Exploration: Part 3 (John the Baptist)

John the Baptist John is truly an enigmatic figure in the scriptures. Jesus praises him, and he was widely received as a prophet, and yet he did no miracles, and very few of his prophecies are preserved. He prepared the … Continue reading

Posted in Baptism, Uncategorized | 34 Comments

Ministers Guilty of Sexual Sin: Christian Chronicle Editorial

From the January 2011 edition of the Christian Chronicle — The automatic reaction of some is to attribute the recent cases [of sex between a minister and a teen] to young, single ministers. In the cases referenced, though, the ministers … Continue reading

Posted in Sexual Ethics, Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Baptism, an Exploration: Part 2 (Non-biblical Roots)

The Qumran community Beginning around 200 BC, a group of Jews, later known as the Essenes, likely arising from among the priests, made frequent ceremonial washings sacramental. While they emphasized the necessity of a changed heart, they insisted on evidencing … Continue reading

Posted in Baptism, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Baptism: Thomas Campbell on Baptism

“Prospectus of a Religious Reformation” I stumbled across an 1829 tract by Thomas Campbell called “Prospectus of a Religious Reformation” buried in The Memoirs of Thomas Campbell. It was evidently  published only as a tract until The Memoirs of Thomas … Continue reading

Posted in Baptism, Restoration Movement, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Instrumental Music: The Regulative Principle of Worship

HistoryGuy wrote, Sometimes it seems that you are torn between two hermeneutics, which is my observation and not an attack. The normative principle of worship (NPW) teaches that worship must consist of that which is commanded by God and may … Continue reading

Posted in Instrumental Music, Uncategorized | 22 Comments