Bible, theology, culture, etc.
https://youtu.be/E-c3HrlsUqU What should we think about the tragedy going on in the Middle-East? The only other event in modern history where more Jews died was the Holocaust. But, equally tragic, even more Palestinians—many of whom do not support Hamas, and some of whom are our brothers and sisters in Christ—have died in Israel’s retaliatory strikes. Six thousand … Continue reading Such Were Some of You (1 Cor 6:9-11)
Our church has been going through the book of 1 Corinthians for some time now and we are just rounding the corner on 1 Corinthians 12, leading us into a lengthy discussion of spiritual gifts (charismata). Anyone who reads these passages (and other similar ones in the NT) are left with many questions. Should we expect … Continue reading The Best Arguments for Continuationism
https://youtu.be/XFnrysxgr0w Mrs. Turpin, the main character in Flannery O’Connor’s 1964 short story Revelation, may be the most well-written, modern-day Pharisee in all of literature. Mrs. Turpin is a rural, Southern, church-going, landowner who owns a large farm, and believes that God has given her a little bit of everything and the good sense to know … Continue reading God Chose the Foolish (1 Cor 1:26-31)
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better … Continue reading Fighting Sin by Seeing Rightly (Matt. 5:29-30)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM-yNf5no8Y Manuscript: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on … Continue reading Love Your Enemies (Matt. 5:43-48)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y1OKhGYNHA Transcript: During your teen years, you are at this interesting crossroad where you are making decisions about what kind of person you will be, what values you will stand for, and what you want your life to be known for. With the myriad of different options of what kind of identity we will embrace, … Continue reading How to Be Righteous (Matt. 5:20)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtS1InmRo-s Note: This talk was given to High School guys. Transcript “All things were created through Him and for Him.” – Col. 1:16 We host Let’s Talk every quarter because of that verse. If your view of the Bible is that it is only a helpful guide when dealing with “spiritual” things, like church, … Continue reading Let’s Talk: Sex
Here is an email response given to someone who asked me this question awhile ago - it is a question I am asked fairly frequently, so I figured it would be helpful to just put it into a post. If you are unfamiliar with the "Unforgivable Sin", it is found in Mark 3:22-30, Luke 12:8-10, … Continue reading Have I Committed the Unforgivable Sin?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF7w5GGpjDo Transcript: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy,” Let’s turn to the particular beatitude tonight, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy,” (Matt. 5:7). I’d like to look at just two questions tonight, and that is this: What does it mean to be “merciful”? How do I become … Continue reading The Merciful (Matt. 5:7)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvnnqMHMlKQ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Last week we began our series on the Sermon on the Mount with an overview of what the Sermon is about and how we should interpret it. This week we actually begin the sermon with what is famously called the “Beatitudes”, … Continue reading The Poor in Spirit (Matt. 5:3)
Marc Sims 