To Pergamum, Jesus had this criticism: They had allowed themselves to be swayed by teaching of traitors, and committed sexual impurities. They were leading people away from the teachings from Jesus and moving people toward idolatry. The church at Laodicea, Jesus held their exaggerated sense of importance and effectiveness against them. They aren't the Christians that they believe themselves to be, and he urges them to return to him and be clothed again in His righteousness. Lessons to be learned The messages that were passed on to the seven churches can still be understood as advice and warnings to Christians throughout all ages. The relevance of these messages to Christians throughout history becomes obvious with the closing to each
Chapter 4: Roanoke’s Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): “Not the Only Christians, But Christians Only”
Jones is a redshirt senior who transferred from North Carolina Central after earning he’s degree there. Temple also utilizes Jones as a kick and punt returner. That is probably the strongest part of he’s game. He has great vision with the ball when returning kicks to get up field and get yards and put the offense in a good position to succeed. Jones, however, lacks the height and weight to be a successful corner at the next level. He appears shorted than he’s listed height and taller receivers can easily overpower him. I just cannot see Jones being on a 53-man roster next season due to he’s lack of height.
He juxtaposes the high hopes he had held for the church based on its supposedly moral standing with its actual state of hypocrisy in which it worships God but turns a blind eye to racial injustice. King then emphasizes this hypocrisy using parallel structure and rhetorical questions to support his argument. By addressing the clergymen directly and using positive words like “hope”, “justice”, and “moral”, he also appeals to pathos to remind his audience of the values that the church stood for and call it to return to those values. Next, King alludes to the early church to show the church’s “powerful” beginnings. He uses a metaphor comparing the early church to a thermostat instead of a thermometer, emphasizing the active role the church must take in standing up for its beliefs and influencing society. By referring to the early Christians as “disturbers of the peace” and “outside agitators”, King links himself to them, increasing his credibility, and rebukes the clergymen for criticizing him using similar terms. He also explains that the early Christians “pressed on” despite resistance from society because they were “called to obey God rather than men”, further connecting his work with God’s will and implying that anyone who challenged him was challenging God Himself. King then continues to describe the present state of the church. He juxtapositions the strength of the early church with the weakness of the contemporary church and uses negative words like “weak”, “ineffective”, and “uncertain” to show his audience how the church has degraded from its original status. King’s subsequent declaration that the “judgment of God is upon the church as never before” invokes the authority of God to evoke a sense of fear from his audience, thus appealing to pathos. He supports his claim with a cause-and-effect statement that appeals to logos
Christians often disagree about just who Jesus is, they all affirm his standing as a unique figure in sacred history Page 15.
Reading Lohfink was an experience in climbing an inviting ladder of which some of the rungs were missing when you got there. His description of how the community of believers lived their faith and the impact they had is truly inspiring. It leaves me to reflect on the life of our own community: Have we indeed left everything to follow Jesus? Are we living toward each other with the kind of love that is uncommon in the world? Are we a people of peace, light to the world, flavorful salt in how we live? Reading the accounts of how the early church lived among the pagans and loved sacrificially, there is a call for me as a leader to teach, practice and exemplify that kind of love among our people, along with making opportunities for us to practice it together. On the other hand, Lohfink’s polarizing reaction to “individualism” failed to recognize that a contrast-community consists of individuals who have been transformed by the cross of Jesus and the power of His Spirit. Lohfink argues that no missionary effort is needed because the church as contrast-society will gather people to itself by attraction. He quotes Bronx, saying: “…if it is possible at all to speak of the ancient church's missionary theory the most that can be said is this. The twelve apostles preached the
The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Gospel Revisited is a book written by Scot McKnight. McKnight received his PhD from the University of Nottingham in England and currently serves as a professor at Northern Seminary. Before joining the factuality at Northern Seminary, he served as a professor in religious studies at North Park University in Chicago. He has authored many books including The Jesus Creed and the NIV Application Commentary on Galatians and 1 Peter.
This passage is preceded by a warning from Jesus about the Sadducees and Pharisees, and to beware of their false teachings, which is a common theme in Matthew. As usual, he rebukes them for their lack of faith and comprehension of his true mission and identity, and for their constant concern
Some scholars argue that evidence of Jesus of Nazareth 's existence can only be found within the writings of the New Testament. They believe that the New Testament is a biased and unreliable source for the existence of Jesus. They therefore claim that Jesus did not exist. The historical existence of Jesus is necessary to demonstrate the truth of Christianity. While Christian scholars do not discount the reliability of the New Testament as a historical document, they are also able to point to other historical documents and consider non-Christian writings which support the existence of Jesus. In this paper I will argue that Jesus the Nazarene was an actual, historical person and that this can be demonstrated through extra-Biblical resources.
Over the centuries, Christianity has organised its beliefs into a systematic theology that draws from its sacred writing and tradition. While the main beliefs of Christianity are shared by all Christian variants, there are degrees of different in the interpretation of these beliefs and how they are lived out in everyday life. This can be seen in the important of sacred text, principle belief of the concept of salvation in John 3:16, principle belief of divine and humanity in ‘John 1:14’, principle belief of resurrection in ‘Mark 16:1-8’, principle belief of revelation in ‘1 corinthians14:6’, and beliefs through the Trinity in ‘2 Corinthians 13:14’. This essay will explain the important of the sacred text and the principal beliefs of Christianity.
endure to the end of their Christian life. Finally, he taught that Jesus died only for the
Discuss how the title helped to explain some aspect of Jesus’ character or role and why that would be attractive to the audience of the writer.
An angel appeared before a woman named Mary and stated to her that she would give birth to a son. She would name her son Jesus. Mary being a virgin gave birth to a child, conceived by God through his Spirit. Jesus being conceived in a supernatural manner became man and God in one creation. God became incarnate in this child who became known by the name of Jesus (Mathew 1:18-25) . Jesus was a Palestinian Jew, born in a town south of Jerusalem, raised in Nazareth in a small village in Galilee. Jesus was not any ordinary child. Jesus was the son of the living God. Not only was He the son of Mary, He was foremost the Son of God. He was incarnated sent to us for the redemption of all mankind. So how do we handle the incarnation of God?
“Who do people say that I am?” (Mark 8:27) is one of the most fundamental questions that Jesus asked his disciples. It is a question, from my personal viewpoint, that has a simple answer. Jesus is Lord! Needless to say, there is more to the identity of Jesus, but it is my belief that Jesus is the Messiah, the second person of the Holy Trinity. He is the promised Savior foretold in the Old Testament by the prophets. There is an endless list that gives Jesus titles such as Ruler and King, Master and Teacher, Savior and Christ, but in Acts 2:36 Luke writes, “God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Jesus is the one who went to the Cross to bring humankind forgiveness, redemption, and salvation.
"The sin of today's worshipping church is burning incense and genuflecting to it's own preferences, nostalgic interests, and religious conditioning to the detriment of the broad-based mission and unity of the Body of Christ in the world." - Paul E Wells
Although the Roman society questioned Monotheism, the strength of Mark’s community to Jesus had overthrown their past beliefs, whereby their loyalties had met with the many hardships and dangers of Roman hierarchy – just as Jesus’ followers did.