Mystery and the Mind of Christ

Jim Leffel

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Some people think the Bible is a book of super secret knowledge, a mystery such as in the book The DaVinci Code. Well, the Bible itself does say it is a mystery! But instead of some secret society type of mystery, the Bible says that God's wisdom can be a mystery. God's wisdom and His plan for humanity have been hard for people to see since the very beginning, even though it is actually in plain sight! This passage lays out how you can see the truth of God, and all it takes is a bit of willingness.\r\n

Why Christianity Offends

Jim Leffel

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Paul in this part of his letter to the church in Corinth speaks to one of the biggest questions of Christianity: what is the meaning of the cross? In order to apply the purpose of the cross, human wisdom cannot reveal this. Through God's revealed wisdom, people are able to comprehend the mercy of the cross. By God's grace, the death of Jesus reconciles, regenerates, and redeems human beings to God through a relationship with Him.\r\n

The Flow of History (Part 1)

Jim Leffel

Daniel 8:20-22

Predictive prophecy is God's revelation of His plan for history. This is important for us because God wants us to know what He is doing and has done so that it can be an objective foundation for faith. Biblical prophecy should be interpreted in light of its self-interpretation, its context in the Bible, and by known history. The visions that Daniel receives correspond to a succession of kingdoms in history, and indicate the end of history: that justice and grace will triumph, and that the Son of Man will rule.

The Writing's on the Wall

Jim Leffel

Daniel 5:1-30

King Belshazzar's hubris was able to distort reality to fit his desires even when God himself delivered a supernatural message. The writing on the wall contained three statements: 1) your days are numbered; 2) you've been found wanting; and 3) your kingdom goes to another. We should seek to avoid the hubris of Belshazzar as we live in light of eternity, seek to be made right with God, and realize that only our accomplishments for God will result in a lasting legacy.

A Dream of Future Kingdoms

Jim Leffel

Daniel 2:1-47

Daniel's interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream gives a framework for specific, verifiable visions from God. Through this interpretation, God revealed a succession of human kingdoms from Babylon, Persia, Greece, and finally to Rome and man's final kingdom. This illustrates the difference between human kingdoms, whose fortune is volatile, and God's kingdom that endures forever. The purpose of prophecy in the Bible is to allow for an informed faith and to provide reason to believe what God says in every area.

Back to Jerusalem

Dennis McCallum

Acts 21:1-22:29

Paul makes his way back to Jerusalem, despite the warnings of those closest to him. Convinced that this is the Holy Spirit's leading, Paul comes to Jerusalem, meets with James to hear about God's work among the Gentiles, and foolishly nearly performs a ritual purification before he gets arrested. During his defense, Paul preaches boldly about God's work in his life, before presenting himself to go before trial to argue his innocence. This narrative of Paul's journey reflects the importance of drawing strength from the Body of Christ, and how the leading of the Holy Spirit could draw us into intense trouble.

Speaking About Jesus

Gary DeLashmutt

Colossians 4:2-6

Paul instructs the Colossians on how to effectively tell others about Jesus. His three imperatives include: 1) be prayerful; 2) be wise; and 3) be gracious. When Christians are prayerful, they realize that sharing ones faith begins by talking with God and that He opens up opportunities to speak with others about Jesus. Being wise entails learning to listen and effectively witness in various situations. Lastly, being gracious involves loving speech and communicating respect and acceptance in light of different beliefs and behaviors. Keeping these three things in mind will allow us to effectively communicate about Jesus in an attractive and genuine way with those who don't know God.

A Servant's Wisdom in Controversy

Jim Leffel

2 Timothy 3:6

The apostle Paul encourages the Ephesian church to have tact and discernment in how they met together. Paul wants the Ephesian women to be lights of God in their culture so he asks them to dress conservatively to fit in. He also wants them to be less vocal because they have fallen prey to false teachers. Outside of this passage, Paul talked about other female leaders that he holds in high esteem.

How to Know the Will of God

Dennis McCallum

Acts 11:1-17

Peter's defense of his ministry to the Gentiles with the Gospel highlights the importance of understanding God's Will. When trying to understand God's Will, it's important to distinguish moral versus non-moral decisions, the spiritual significance in our choices and the need for special guidance with an attitude to follow God regardless of the revelation. As Peter recalls his account to the people, several factors are revealed that are important when discerning God's Will: 1) direct divine revelation; 2) providential circumstances; 3) inner spiritual prompting; 4) correlated leading; 5) spiritual fruit borne; and 6) Scripture. Looking to mature counsel is another important factor when trying to figure out what God's Will is, along with our own personal desires.