The deception of worship services (and a bonus topic: Does God command genocide???) – 1st Samuel 15, Part 1

Did Jesus ask us to hold worship services?  Did he ask us to build church buildings?  Did he want us to have pews?  Did Jesus teach us to gather here on Sundays for singing and sermons?  In the book Jim & Casper Go To Church, Jim is an evangelical Christian and Casper is Matt Casper,Continue reading “The deception of worship services (and a bonus topic: Does God command genocide???) – 1st Samuel 15, Part 1”

Why we need to look at human bones – Ezekiel 37:1-14, Part 1

This past Sunday a woman in my congregation told us her story about struggling with health and feeling dead inside, disconnected from God.  Have you ever experienced something like that?  This is exactly what Israel was feeling.  Turn to Ezekiel 37, and you’ll see what I mean, as we study verses 1-14 in a five-partContinue reading “Why we need to look at human bones – Ezekiel 37:1-14, Part 1”

Evidence that heretical philosophy might have taken American Christians captive – Colossians 2:8-15, Part 2

How could one man like Adolf Hitler have such sway and influence in German society in the 1930s, to the point where millions of Jews ended up being slaughtered by Germans?  To the point where there was major world war, and nearly the entire German populace supported it, including Christians!  How?  It boggles the mind.Continue reading “Evidence that heretical philosophy might have taken American Christians captive – Colossians 2:8-15, Part 2”

Can an ironic proverb help us make sense of our complex world? – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 1

Are you feeling perplexed?  Confused by the world we live in?  If so, you are not alone.  How many of you are familiar with Veggie Tales?  The creator of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer has been making some fascinating informational videos relating to racial justice in the USA.  One video answers the question why Black ChristiansContinue reading “Can an ironic proverb help us make sense of our complex world? – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 1”

If God told you to kill children, would you do it? (Two Thoughts on those Holy War passages in the Old Testament)

If God told you to kill children would you do it? Quite a question, isn’t it?  The answer should be an obvious “No”, right? We’re studying the biblical book of Deuteronomy on Sunday mornings at Faith Church, and we’ve come to some troubling passages where God commands the armies of Israel to kill children. InContinue reading “If God told you to kill children, would you do it? (Two Thoughts on those Holy War passages in the Old Testament)”