A Proper Foundation

Foundation

Shortly after I had posted the last message on this blog I noticed the ad for The Reorganized Church (Which is Mormon) was taken down. That is good.
 A person still has to be very careful when it comes to proper correct orthodoxy.
 I therefore have come to the conclusion what is needed as the next subject to be handled in this blog is the subject of  Doctrine.
 That is not a dirty word
 To properly understand Bible Study you must properly understand Doctrine.
 If you don't properly understand Doctrine you end up accepting untruth and from there you end up not having a solid foundation to work with.
 A Mormon has the wrong idea of what a church is.  The church is a group of people, not a building, who all have a relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is recorded to have said, in the Gospel of John, I am The Way, The Truth, The Life. No one comes to the Father but through me. -John 14:6
  He has called Himself  I AM. That is the name of God who met Moses in the burning bush.
  Enough said. Please comment back to me if you need further discussion.
   So now you have helped me set the direction we need to go. Or I should say, who ever handles the ads did so.
 

Not recommended

You may have noticed an ad on the side of this blog for the Restored Church of God. This book is not recommended. It is not the view of the writer of this post. I have offered to my readers an  orthodox presentation of truth.  I am ready to handle any comments. If you wish an answer, please leave with your comment a way I can get back to you. A real email address will do.
 The thing is I must monetize the postings so I allow ads. I don't own the ad agency.
  Until next time.
 

Deacons and Ordination

Recently, on a Sunday, since that is the day my church holds services, we had in addition to the full service of songs, announcements, more songs, sermon-- we had an ordination service for a new minister to the office of Pastor/Teacher-- and to also ordain a few Deacons.
 The sermon was on the leadership obligations, both for the Pastor, who is also a Teacher, and of the Deacons. It was pointed out, and I have mentioned this earlier in this blog, the deacon is not the head leader in the fellowship. He is only to help the pastor care for the congregation. It was pointed out the Pastor is like a doctor who sets a broken bone. The Deacon then is the nurse who changes the dressing and sets the splint.
  As for the question of ordination--I firmly believe the ordination sets the person apart for the office.
   The deacon should not be a warm body who fills a hole. I had been called to the Deacon board of a fellowship who treated the office that way. I served my three years as a missions person and so I was stuffed in the Deacon office after my three years was up. On that board I only dispensed money without any investigation on the part of the board and discussion.
   Now in the new fellowship I help in the Lord's table, I can investigate stated needs, and bring to the attention of the Deacons the suggestion of financial help, I can visit shut-ins, and so on. And this one is an ordained office. And I report to the Pastor.
   Yes, 1Timothy talks about the Deacon and what to look for before placing the man in the office. Deacons are spoken of in Acts six. Table waiters and not church leaders. At least not the Pastor but the one who make it possible for the man called to be Pastor to preach and study the Word.

You Are Important

  Okay. There has been no response to my earlier posts. There has been no feedback so I don't know just what it is you people out there want.
   Let me say that I need feedback. Since I feel this blog is worth pursuing., I will pick up my computer and start again.
   You--every one of you-- are of worth. I believe that or else I wouldn't have started this blog. But you are puzzling. I need to get some feedback so I can better meet your needs.
   I have other blogs for marketing purposes. My blog for vitamins is for the purpose of getting some money to be able to blog subjects such as this.
   You are of worth. You were created by God with worth. Even now you have worth. God loves you and has been seeking you. I have explained this in my earlier posts. He sent Jesus, God in the flesh, to die for your sins since the payment for sin is separation from God. God does not wish for anyone to be separated from Him but to have fellowship with Him. This is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
   Please give me feedback. I will read and respond.

Paul Still Roman-Part Seven

 
Now let's use the Book of Romans to answer- Can God be known  and How?
  Since you have been reading the book a few time already in preparation for this study method. you have a general idea of the answer. Since you are doing this Bible study method for application and for a tool in helping others, you need to get somewhat of a grip on the answer.
  We are still using a pencil and a notepad alongside our translation of the Epistle to the Romans
   From our reading we conclude that Paul says we are able to know God in a general way.. In general means that since God can be seen in a general way, all are guilty before God. We will find how as we read and study this book.
    He has revealed Himself. By carefully reading chapter one verses 18 to the end we should be able to answer..Use the notepad to chart the use of the phrase  "God let them over to.... Because they did not acknowledge Him."
    Note what happens when man suppress that truth.
    This is a deep study and your shouldn't expect  to dig out all the gold out of it in one study. You will only be doing a surface study at the moment. You can go back and dig more later. Note questions your reading gives you in your notebook.   
    Go back and search for the answers at a later time. I hold that the Bible explains itself.
     Comment back to me with how you are doing, please.

Romaning With Paul- Part Six

Now another way to do a word study is to take a portion of scripture and trace the words within that passage.
  I am looking at Chapter 0ne verses 18 through 20:
   For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. NASB
   You ask questions of this. How is God known? What is evident? What is the unrighteousness talked about? 
   Use the book. You have been reading through Romans a few times and by now have an idea of that is in it.
   Dig. Use a concordence which will give you each time the word is used.Jot down what you are finding in your journal or that notebook you are keeping for this study.
   This takes time. I am not talking about a short devotional time. This is work. But it is worth it.
   Please feel free to leave comments so I will know how I am doing.

Every Church Should Have Some Deacons

 

Table Servers

   Let me slow down and talk about a group of men that each church should have. They aren't the pastor but they are very important people. I am talking about the group of people known as Deacons.
   In scripture they show up in the book of Acts when there is a need of table waiters The church was made up of Hebrews and Hellenists- those who spoke Greek. It was over the feeding of the widows. The apostles decided that seven men full of the Holy Spirit were to be chosen for this task.
   Today the  Deacons are there to help the pastor of the church in areas of service such as serving communion, handling the money used for meeting needs of the people.
    Paul thought this so important that he tells Timothy, a pastor of a church in Ephesus, the things to look for in  choosing a man to be a Deacon. This is recorded in 1Timothy 3. Trustworthy, above reproach, not a drunk. The husband of one wife-- gentle not quarrelsome. not in it for the money, You can read it for yourself
    They are very important people.   Pastors work with deacons. Deacons serve the people. Pastors preach the word. Deacons free them up to do so.
    In fact, you can do a study of deacons using a concordance and a Bible dictionary. Doing a word study on the term Deacon should be an interesting Bible Study for you.