These are two ways of thinking and living 1. Protestant – From Constantine to Augustine to Luther to Calvin to Fundamentalism/Evangelicalism to tolerance in today’s religious culture = tolerance of duplicity and idolatry of heart 2. Biblical Anabaptist – From Bible New Testament to first Church to Benedict to Michael Sattler to Anabaptist to decisions ..read more

The first 270 years of the Church after Christ were times of persecution. Persecution was not constant but intermittent and many believers gave their lives for the sake of Jesus Christ. Would this ever end? In 313 under a new leader, the edict of toleration was issued. Constantine the great saw, in the Church, an ..read more

X. LegacyA. The spirit of Ahab – a weak man, coward, pouty, defend evil wife – no “backbone”This spirit can also infect womenB. The spirit of Jezebel – Revelation 2:20- makes eunuchs out of menThe spirit of Jezebel – rebellion against God and God’s prophets, unteachable, unsubmissive, controllingGathers Ahab types of people around them–people without ..read more

IX. Elijah’s (God’s) prophecy of no rain – I Kings 17:1Not an independent message, but was a warning God had given – Deu.11:17Elijah simply knew and declared and applied the Word of God – See James 5:17Symbolic of rain of God’s blessing in our lives. Elijah the Trouble MakerElijah prayed that it would not rain ..read more

VIII. Lessons from this story of ElijahBeware depression/exhaustion after great Spiritual victorySatan wants to defeat you – even in victoryTake care of your physical needsTake care of your emotional needsTake care of your Spiritual needsIt is good to have zeal for the LordThat zeal is not more important than God’s truth in your lifeGod’s truth ..read more

-God’s answer – “Go, return and anoint: Hazael, Jehu and Elisha”Hazael –King of Syria – I Kings 19:17; II Kings 8,9,12Jehu –King of Israel – II Kings 9:7,10, 22,30Elisha- has a double portion of Elijah’s power – will anoint Hazael and JehuGod is preparing others to carry on His work – to destroy wickedness7000 men ..read more

VI. The Lord meets Elijah in his utter weakness-Physical exhaustion – “I just want to die” – 19:4Sleep-God’s answer- angel -“Arise and eat” – 19:5Touched him, listened to him, Jesus touched people no body else would touchTake some food and drink, more restTake more food and drink – 40 days’s worth!(God has the answers for ..read more

Praise ye the Father for His lovingkindness;Tenderly cares He for His erring children;Praise Him, ye angels, praise Him in the heavens,Praise ye Jehovah! Praise ye the Savior—great is His compassion;Graciously cares He for His chosen people;Young men and maidens, older folks and children,Praise ye the Savior! Praise ye the Spirit, Comforter of Israel,Sent of the ..read more

There are four concepts that are important for teaching and preaching the Holy Scripture. The words are:HermeneuticsExegesisExpositionHomileticsThis does not include many other factors like faithfulness, heart preparation and personal responsibility and integrity. Hermeneutics – is the study of words and language. How are words used? How is language used? What are the relationships between the ..read more

There was a Christian author whose books I had used in classes. He wrote books on Bible and philosophy. One time I had the privilege to hear him speak. It was at a convention for school teachers at Lancaster, PA. He spoke about the need for Christian communities to create an ethical system. He spoke ..read more