Here is a rather lengthy quote from R. Thomas Ashbrook's book Mansions of the Heart: Exploring the Seven Stages of Spiritual Growth that I thought was germane to our current study in 2 Peter.
"You and I are being spiritually formed every day. But is it the kind of 'formation' we really want? Our environment works overtime to form us into its image; we're transformed every day, oftentimes, for the worse. You see, everyone is on a spiritual formation journey. We don't live in a neutral world, with church or God as our only spiritual influence. We are bombarded by influences - some good and many bad - constantly seeking to form us into the world's mold. Just turn on the TV and watch it for the worldview being taught, or the values portrayed as normal, or the images of false happiness, meaning, purpose, and so on. This negative spiritual formation is always working on us. Statistics tell us that this negative formation is actually quite successful with many Christians. Unfortunately, we Christians have about the same rates of divorce, addiction, and other problems as the rest of the population" (p. 18).
May 31, 2012
May 26, 2012
2 Peter Outline
I. Greeting (1:1-2)
II. Theme: God’s Promises and a Life of Godliness (1:3-11)
A. Divine Empowerment (1:3-4)
B. Christian Ethical Response
(1:5-7)
C. Eternal Value of Possessing
Virtuous Qualities (1:8-11)
III. Peter’s Reminder (1:12-21)
A. Impetus
for the Reminder: Peter’s Testament (1:13-15)
B. The
Truth Regarding the Power and Coming of Jesus (1:16-21)
1. Personal
Eyewitness Testimony (1:16-18)
2.
Certain Testimony of the Prophets (1:19-21)
IV. Peter’s Prophetic Warning Concerning False Teachers
(2:1-22)
A. A
Fortiori Argument Proving the Fate of False Teachers (2:4-10a)
1. Certain
Judgment for False Teachers
2.
Rescue for the Godly
B.
Denunciation of the False Teachers’ Behavior (2:10b-22)
1.
The Evidence Against the False Teachers (2:10b-16)
2.
The Adverse Implications of Their Depravity (2:17-22)
V. Peter’s Reminder Recapitulated (3:1-2)
VI. Peter’s Prophetic Warning Concerning Scoffers (3:3-4)
A. Arguments Against Doubting the
Power and Coming of Jesus (3:5-7)
1.
Power of Creation (3:5)
2.
Power of the Flood (3:6)
3.
Power of the Coming Judgment (3:7)
B. The Transcendent Timing of the
Lord (3:8-10)
1.
Not Slow, But Patient (3:9)
2.
Surprising (3:10)
VII. Parousia Paraenetic: Ethical Implications of the Coming
of Jesus (3:11-16)
A. Holy and
Godly Living (3:11)
B.
Expectant Living (3:12-13)
C.
Christian Wisdom (3:14-16)
D. Final Warning to Be on Guard
(3:17)
E. Final Exhortation (3:18a)
F. Doxology
(3:18b)
May 11, 2012
Understanding the Missional Church • EFCA Today
Where did the term originate, and why does it matter?
click on the above link for an interesting read from our denomination's website
"The term missional church has become a buzzword
in Christian circles—meaning different things to different people.
When some hear the term they roll their eyes and think, Yet another church-growth fad.
For others, their heart beats a bit faster, envisioning a church
that is more evangelistic or more holistic or more involved in the
community or more outward-focused."
...
"
The missional impact of the church must also go
beyond evangelism alone to intentional kingdom
influence in the larger community,
reflecting the justice and compassion of God."
May 6, 2012
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