“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an elder must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” 1 Timothy 3:1-3 (ESV) This … Continue reading Lists & Qualifications (Women in Ministry pt. 5)
Tough Questions
“I Do Not Permit a Woman to Teach…She Must Be Quiet.” (Women in Ministry pt. 4)
“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue … Continue reading “I Do Not Permit a Woman to Teach…She Must Be Quiet.” (Women in Ministry pt. 4)
The Origins of the Debate (Women in Ministry pt. 3)
“To the woman he said: “I will make your pangs in childbirth exceedingly great; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” Genesis 3:16 (NRSV) This blog post is the third of a few entries on the topic of women in ministry … Continue reading The Origins of the Debate (Women in Ministry pt. 3)
A Few Preliminary Points (Women in Ministry pt. 2)
“In a lawsuit, the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.” Proverbs 18:17 Proverbs 18:17 is convicting. It’s a court room maxim reminding those listening to the witnesses of a crime to not always believe the first things they hear. The first side of a story is always going to sound … Continue reading A Few Preliminary Points (Women in Ministry pt. 2)
What About Junia? (Women in Ministry pt. 1)
“Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Israelites who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.” Romans 16:7 (NRSV) This blog post is the first of a few entries on the topic of women in ministry leadership. In this first one, I want to … Continue reading What About Junia? (Women in Ministry pt. 1)
Trust God & Live in Fear
“Have faith not fear.” “God’s got this.” “I’m just choosing to trust God and not live in fear.” These are three examples of slogans that many believers are using in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic and America’s current political climate. Not all who say these slogans are Christians. But it does seem like the vast … Continue reading Trust God & Live in Fear
Demons – What Are They? (Halloween Edition)
As a culture, we are fascinated with the unknown. Monster and horror movies are all the rage. Exorcism has become a popular genre of film, and it seems like there’s a never-ending catalogue of tv shows about people trying to catch ghosts. This fascination with the unknown is not foreign in Biblical study either. For … Continue reading Demons – What Are They? (Halloween Edition)
Practical Ways to Fight Individualism
Within my first blog on Isaiah,[1] I posted that individualism is often one of the major forces behind our lackluster response to injustice. After posting that blog, as well as after many conversations with others about this topic, some good questions arose. For example: “Why is individualism so bad?” “Isn’t salvation, ultimately, between an individual … Continue reading Practical Ways to Fight Individualism
Sabbath Law and COVID-19
The Sabbath laws were critical in ancient Israelite worship. God rested on the seventh day of Creation, and His example set a precedent for how the entire nation was to conduct its business. Remembering the Sabbath made it into the Ten Commandments. Several chapters of Torah are devoted to explaining its inner workings. When Sabbath … Continue reading Sabbath Law and COVID-19
Embodying Repentance
Let us return to our look at biblical repentance. If you haven’t checked out the previous two blogs on this subject, I would highly recommend that you do so. This one is a continuation of those other two. Specifically, I would like to further explore what it might mean for us to live-out the concept … Continue reading Embodying Repentance
Scripture Simplified 