Sacred Outfitter

How Do I Pray for the Persecuted Five Minutes a Day?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:12:00 +0000

The World Watch List has issued a challenge to Christians. Will you take five minutes a day to pray for persecuted Christians around the world. They have a map, information about the list of countries and you can sign up for a daily prayer reminder. This is very helpful stuff for raising awareness and keeping a prayerful heart on those advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. Let's join them in prayer.

What do you think?

How will you get involved in asking God to advance the Gospel around the world!?

How is Hell Part of the Good News?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:31:00 +0000

Not theological accurate, but worth thinking about!

Where does hell hang in your worldview? Many believers in Jesus are shying away from this firmly rooted biblical doctrine (see here and here). They think it is against the idea of a loving God to "allow" or "send" people to a place called hell, but God’s Word certainly includes the concept of an eternal conscious hell (and heaven). We do not need to move past Jesus' warnings to His hearers of the reality of an eternal punishment for those who reject him as Savior (Matt. 13:40-42; 25:46). This is not reality television, but it is really real. In sharing the good news of Jesus' life, death and resurrection, we might be surprised on the impact if we talk about hell.

The doctrine of hell is not some crazy horror story only found in Hollywood movies. Yes, Hollywood has a false perception of hell, but it is still a real place. Hell is connected to many biblical truths: Sinful Humans, God’s Holiness, and the Cross of Christ.

In a relativistic culture where tolerance rules the day, sin is not popular, but the Christian must defend it at all costs for without sin there is no need for a Savior. C. S. Lewis argued in Mere Christianity that an objective moral law is real. We all have in our DNA the reality of justice. We like justice when it comes to applying it to others, but not for ourselves. We were created with a divine sense of right and wrong. This is not a product of our environment, but our God-given DNA.

Christianity is the only worldview that explains the enormity of human wrong doing. Sin separates us from God. It needs a solution that we can't solve on our own. No number of "good doings" will take away our sin against God. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can take away the guilt of sin against a real God.

We all agree that those who break the law deserve punishment. But many think that an eternal conscious hell separated from God is too extreme. The great American theologian Jonathan Edwards thought about this in an essay called, "The Justice of God in the Damnation of Sinners." Edwards argued that because God is "a Being of infinite greatness, majesty, and glory," He is therefore "infinitely honorable" and worthy of absolute obedience. The key word is "absolute" or "perfection". "Sin against God, being a violation of infinite obligations, must be a crime infinitely heinous, and deserving of infinite punishment."

But, you might be thinking or have others ask, "But I can't be perfect." You are correct. That is why we need help in solving this sin issue.

Edwards preached a thoroughly biblical sermon called, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," that gives us the combination of grace and holiness in a personal God, who is angry with sin and because of his justice could send a sinner to hell in a moment.

Think about what Jesus said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28).

Do we really believe hell is horrific?

Sin is horrible and the holiness of God should cause us all to bow before the cross of Christ. There is nothing we can do to be like Christ. Christ’s sinless perfection is impossible for us to attain, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Jesus is the perfect lamb of God who can take our place through a horrific death on the cross. He is uniquely qualified to be our Savior.

Sin against God is so severe that only the death of the sinless Son of God could atone for it. We see the reality of hell when the crucified Christ calls out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). Paul explained, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21).

Dr. Douglas Groothuis of Denver Seminary has said, "In the cross of Christ the sinfulness of sin, the holiness of God, and the reality of hell are all writ large with the blood of the Lamb. Only through Christ taking on our hell through His death could sinners be reconciled to a holy God. Once this is understood, hell takes on a clarity not otherwise perceived. Apart from the cross, there is no hope for forgiveness or reconciliation. Hell is the only alternative."

He continues,

"Only by understanding hell can we grasp the immensity of God’s love. God’s love took His Son to the hell of the cross for our sake. This is a costly love, a bloody love, that has no parallel in any of the world’s religions. Although other religions (particularly Islam) threaten hell, none offer the sure deliverance from it that Christianity offers through the sacrificial love of God Himself."

We can use the doctrine of hell in sharing the Gospel.

Jesus asked what a person’s life would be worth if he or she were to gain the whole world but forfeit his or her very soul (Matt. 16:26). Hell is the loss of the soul connected with the God of the Universe, a reality so terrible that Scripture uses a variety of ways to describe it. The graphic reports of hell in Scripture — such as the abyss (Rev. 9:1-11), the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14), the blackest darkness (Jude 13), the weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 25:30) — disclose the stark reality of eternal (real forever) separation from God.

We can use these Biblical Truths in many ways:

I adapt some of Groothuis' thoughts here.

First, biblical preaching and teaching on hell is essential. It requires proper theological setting and context while coupled with prayer and compassion. Some have said, the doctrine of hell must be taught "with tears." I agree. It is a horrific reality that must not be taken lightly, but creates a sense of urgency.

Second, we can't present just the love side of God when presenting the good news. We must provide warning too. If the house was on fire, would we share the love of the outdoors and clean air or warn them to run out of the fire? There is a real eternal death for those who do not embrace Jesus as their Savior (John 14:6). Pascal once said, "Between heaven and hell is only this life, which is the most fragile thing in the world." We should strongly encourage people to investigate the claims of Christ and the historical accuracy of the Biblical texts.

Third, we must inspire our fellow believers to the reality of hell. Without this doctrine firmly in place in the hearts of believers, Christians will lose their evangelistic zeal. If the reality hell for those who do know know Jesus as Savrior is not real, why would we want to share the "good news"? We wouldn't thinking that some sort of Universalism exists in the end, but it does not. God would not be just, truthful and holy if it did. So, there is urgency for all believers to share the "good news". The house is on fire and people need a warning. It is that important. Eternity hangs in the balance for everyone. Not all will be saved in the end. We need a healthy view of the holiness of God. This is what makes his grace so good news.

What do you think?

What do Teens, College Students and Parents Need?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:36:00 +0000

I am thrilled to share with you that I have a new book coming out at the beginning of April with Zondervan Publishing. It is an updated and fresh perspective on helping high school students transition into the real world and college life while holding onto their faith in Jesus. This book is for parents, students, youth workers, senior pastors and the average adult wanting to understand how to impact the next generation for Christ. This book is more than a graduation gift (although it could be!). It can be used as a curriculum for youth workers or parents. Take a look at the chapters below.

I am especially excited about the chapters on Grace, Scripture, and Worldview helping the next generation lay a firm foundation for why they believe what they believe. Can the teens and twenty-somethings you know answer this question, "Why do you believe what you believe?" This book will help them on the journey.

Here is the synopsis of The Ultimate Guide to Being Christian in College: Don't Forget to Pack Your Faith.

"Are you fully prepared to enter the “real world” after high school to become an adult? This book will help you get on the right trail, answering the right questions and getting the right gear for the journey.

Are You Ready for the Rest of Your Life? You got the high school diploma, received the college acceptance letter, and have your eye on that dorm fridge. Everything seems new and exciting—but with those positive feelings come huge questions about what awaits you once you're no longer home but sharing a small room with strangers instead. Don't fear! Here is your essential guide for everything you need to know to survive and thrive, with tips on: • Dorm life • Dealing with professors • Selecting classes • Balancing school and fun • Standing firm in your faith • Becoming who you’re meant to be • And more! With godly wisdom and understanding, Dr. Jeff Baxter draws from his experience helping young adults like you build a solid foundation for your life ahead."

Here are the Chapters:

Part One: Identity—–Who Am I?1.—Grace: The Priceless Gift
2.—Scripture: Your Authority
3.—Scripture: The Whole Story
4.—Belief: Faith in Jesus
5.—Doubt: Those Uncertain Moments
6.—God’s Will: His Design for You
7.—Prayer: Talking with God

Part Two:—Choices—Do My Decisions Matter? 8.—Worldview: Owning Your Faith
9.—Responsibility: Getting Wisdom
10.—Morality: Smart Behavior
11.—Your Major: Figuring Out the Right Direction
12.—Classroom: Maximizing Your Learning
13.—Money: Cash and Canned Goods
14.—Stress: Managing the Pressure

Part Three: –Belonging—Where Do I Fit? 15.—Parents: Adjusting Your Relationship
16.—Friends: Finding and Keeping Them
17.—Dorm Life: Bonding with Strangers
18.—Campus: Getting Connected and Involved
19.—Mentoring: Spiritual Growth with Others
20.—Dating and Sex: Searching for a Spouse
21.—Church: Finding and Investing in a Local Family

A Final Word (or Two Thousand): The Next Several Days of Keeping Your Faith

To read more and order the book, go here.

Join the conversation here on facebook.

More to come...

What do you think?

Do You Believe Life is Good? How Good?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:37:00 +0000

Do you believe someone can come back to life?
Think about it? The answer to this question, could change everything for you.

If someone comes back to life after they have literally been dead, we call it a “resurrection.” Where does a resurrection fit into your life? Does it?

This is what Christians believe happened with Jesus Christ. He came back to life after dieing on a Roman cross, and after being buried in a tomb for three days. This is why Christians celebrate Easter. This is why the first (or early) church exploded with growth in the first century, because they believed that their leader rose from the dead.

Do you believe Jesus rose from the dead? How does this connect with the purpose of life today?

Some say miracles are impossible, especially in the average University classroom and text book. They don’t happen. Supernatural things do not exist. Only what you can see and test is what is real. Many, but thankfully not all with PhDs in Philosophy and Science believe that someone coming back to life is impossible so they think the burden of proof is on Christians to prove that Jesus rose from the dead, but that is impossible to prove, they say.

Something dawned on me several years ago. I am not sure why I didn’t think of it in the fullest sense earlier. I had said it before, taught on it and heard it said, but this time it grabbed me. Here it is...If the resurrection of Jesus happened, it literally changes everything.

The meaning of life changes.

Our origin changes.

Our purpose changes.

Our value changes.

Our interactions with others changes.

Our family changes.

Our time at school, work, home, in the neighborhood and grocery store changes.

They really do.

It is not good enough to just believe it is impossible for someone to come back to life. The person who believes this must explain why the Christian church exploded in growth directly after Jesus died on a wooden cross if he did not rise from the dead. Why else would the message have spread?

Some think it was promoted and written about in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to be sure the false message continued to be circulated. But would the message have spread if the message was a lie?

Did you know that the first mention of the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ resurrection was not found in the Gospels?

It was mentioned in a letter by Paul called First Corinthians, which historians believe was written and passed to the church in Corinth just 15 to 20 years after Jesus was on earth. Do you know what it says? That Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and this is of first importance. It says that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, and that he appeared to over 500 people at the same time (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). So, this is either true or false. If it is not true (he appeared to them), than we have over 500 liars sticking to their story. We have 11 of Jesus closest disciples spreading this myth and they ended up dying for this lie.

Does this make sense?

This letter from Paul is a public document, not a private one. So, anyone would have heard it read out loud keeping with oral tradition. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, multiple people would have lined up to say so, but it didn’t happen. Others would have produced his decaying body, but it didn’t happen. Others would have done all they could to figure out where the body disappeared to, but to no avail. If he had not risen from the dead someone somewhere would have known where his dead body was kept and it would have eventually shown up on Wiki Leaks. Don't you think?

The four Gospels point to the fact that woman were the first to report of the empty tomb. Paul and Peter repeated this later in their sermons in Acts. There is a problem. Woman’s testimony was not even allowed in a court of law during this time in history, so who is going to believe the woman who saw the empty tomb and the living Jesus? Why would God have woman be the first witnesses? This evidence can’t be erased from the record adding even more credibility to history.

To those holding different worldviews of the day, a bodily resurrection was impossible. To Greco-Roman thinking, the spirit or soul was good and the material world and body was bad. Thus, they might be asking why would a soul return to the body? It was true freedom to escape the body. This did not make sense to them. For the Jew, the soul and body were important, so the death of someone was a tragedy. At the same time, the Jew was looking forward to a day when the whole world would be “resurrected” and made right. Resurrection was for all the righteous at the same time. The idea of one person being resurrected in the middle of history was unheard of. This did not make sense to them.

When Jesus rose from the dead, a whole new worldview was born. It was adopted by a new kind of people because they had seen, touched, ate with, talked to and fully experienced a living Jesus. They believed that the resurrection of Jesus was ushering in a different view of the world. It was a promise of things to come and the reality of sins forgiven today. If the Messiah had risen from the dead, we would rise from the dead one day, they thought. There was no debating it with the first followers. The message spread like wildfire across a dry field. The “good news” worldview was on the move because the Messiah had risen from the dead.

Jesus said before his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead that he had come to bring “abundant life” (John 10:10). He had said that he was the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). He said that no one can come to God the Father and spend eternity in heaven without believing in Jesus (John 14:6). This was the message of the early church. It caused followers of Jesus to loose their lives, but caused thousands to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. It launched local churches across the region. Jesus said he would rise from the dead before it happened. It was written about 400 years by the prophets before it took place all fulfilled in one person. The odds are impossible, unless Jesus was actually and Truly God.

Do you believe?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything. It gives us meaning, value and a purpose for living. It is the backbone supporting the reason for serving. It gives us hope that we too will be resurrected from the dead one day. God will renew all things bringing justice and mercy.

Still don't think so, read here.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again? Why not believe and receive him today?

If you do know him as savior, why not renew your worldview embracing today the hope of life found in the resurrection of Jesus? This should compel us to share this “good news” with others just like the first century Christians did causing the church to explode in growth. Shame on us who believe in Jesus if we are not intentionally sharing the Truth of this eternal message.

Have we lost our passion?

Have we lost our purpose?

Have we lost our primary reason for living?

The resurrection changes everything. It compels us to share with those who do not know.

Do you wonder if the Bible is True? Go here.

What do you think?

What was your Favorite Super Bowl Ad?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Here was my favorite ad during the 2012 Super Bowl...

Hidden Message: Bullying is Bad or Don't Mess with Grandma.

What do you think?

Do you Care about Kerygma and Dance with Didache?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:53:00 +0000

Kerygma? Didache? "What are they?" Good question. Let's explore together.

I am studying and teaching the book of Acts in a Sunday Class at Foothills Bible Church and the importance of Kerygma and Didiche keep popping up all over the expansion of the first church and the strategy to establish the believers.
Simply put, Kerygma is the Greek word used in the New Testament for the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (i.e. Preaching). He came and lived on earth, died on a wooden cross and rose again on the third day conquering death for the forgiveness of sins. Those who believe in Him are saved from their sins for eternity. The Kerygma in the book of Acts was all about proclaiming the Gospel.

Didache is the Greek word used for the foundational teaching of doctrine to help the church establish a foundation to grow in Godliness.  For example, Paul spent a year teaching the didache in Acts 11:26 (they began to look like 'little Christs') after the Gospel was proclaimed (Kerygma) to the Gentiles and many were saved in Acts 10:34-48.

So, I am concerned.

I am not sure believers in Jesus Christ put enough weight on the importance of Kerygma and Didache in our daily growth in godliness or our forms of church. First, there is the difference between preaching and teaching. One proclaims or "harolds" the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the other teaches the foundations of our faith (i.e. doctrine). Sometimes the two overlap and they are certainly connected like a chain. Both are important for the local church, but also for every believer to hold tight.

Are you getting good preaching of the Word rooted in good interpretation? Kerygma is necessary in the local church, but some are questioning this today. This concerns me. Also, doctrinal study is questioned too, but it was a critical ingredient in establishing and growing the first local churches. Is your personal doctrine dancing?

Paul's strategy in the book of Acts was to share the Gospel (Kerygma) and disciple the new converts to Christ through sound doctrine (Didache), often times for years.  You see this pattern over and over again in the book of Acts. Paul would return to a new body of believers to encourage and strengthen them or send another leader (i.e. Timothy or Titus). This was the purpose of his letters written back to the churches strengthening and establishing them in the faith while fighting off false teaching.   This is at least half of the New Testament!

Dance with Didache...

Sound Doctrine is not just for pastors, theologians, professors or the paid professionals who are Christians. It is for everyone who followers after Jesus as Savior.

Why?

The Bible tells us that we should take seriously Sound Didache.

Paul said to his young mentoree and church leader, "What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us" (Timothy 1:13-14).

The teaching (Didache) that Paul passed onto Timothy was to be kept "sound" and "guarded" because their were false teachers teaching false doctrine.  Doctrine can apparently be "unsound." The Greek word in 1 Timothy 1:3 for "unsound" or "false" is hugiaino which means to be "unhealthy or corrupt." So, what is Sound Doctrine. It is doctrine in accordance with Paul's letters written to the churches after his missionary journeys to share the Gospel and establish the churches. It is in line with Jesus' purpose, words and the whole fulfillment of the Biblical Scriptures. Paul spoke up against the false, unhealthy and corrupt teachings with the letters back to the churches (i.e. New Testament letters) helping these believers keep sound didache.

Nothing is new today.

All believers of Jesus need to guard, protect and keep sound doctrine so it does not become "watered down," "tainted," "corrupted," and "unhealthy." This requires us to ask questions, speak up and correct others when they are teaching something that is not in line with proper interpretation of the Word of God. Paul did this in his letters back to the churches he had visited. This was Paul's blog back to the believers saying, "Be careful. Be on the lookout for things that do not line up with sound didache. Don't let it enter the body of believers."

On one hand the Biblical Scriptures do not need to be defended, but on the other hand, for those who do not believe the Biblical Scriptures are God's Words to us, we are called to defend it by Kerygma and Didache. Another name for this is Apologetics, defending the faith.

Defend what?

Defend sound doctrine as the book of Titus echoes, "He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it"(Titus 1:9). Also, "You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1).
The leader, elder or pastor of a church must "hold firmly" to that which is True according to the Biblical Scriptures, namely the Gospel of Jesus Christ (i.e. His primary mission was to save sinners). Any distortion of it would be wrong and corrupt the Truth. As a matter of fact, Titus is charging the leaders of the church to "refute those who oppose it." For those with the gift of mercy, this seems like a difficult task, but the calling of the leaders of the church is to "hold the line" of "sound doctrine" and to stand up when it has been crossed. This should happen locally and globally. We are shepherds of the flock and can't let our sheep be drawn away by the wacky words of another. But, in the spirit of the New Testament, I believe all believers in Jesus are called to "hold firmly" to sound doctrine in love and grace, not just the paid professional (Jude tells us to "contend for the faith").

The echo continues across the Scriptures with Paul's words to Thessalonica, "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word or mouth or by letter" (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

The "letters" that Paul passed onto the churches are to be the litmus test for sound didache. This is why it is so important for us to have proper hermeneutics understanding Paul's intended meaning in writing the letters to the churches which were built on Jesus' words and the fulfillment of the Old Testament. It all fits together like pieces of a puzzle. This requires firm footing as we read and study the Biblical Scriptures understanding the context of the passage and properly applying it to our lives today. This requires us to engage our minds. This does not rely on church fathers or the ancient ways that others study the Scriptures, no matter how old the practice might be. It is the way we study any piece of antiquity asking basic questions like, "What is the author's intended meaning?", "Why did He write this?", "Who was he writing to?", "What was the application for the listeners of the day?" and "What is the application for me today?" (and more...). It matters what the purpose of the writing and the genre of Scripture being written. As we engage the text in understanding, the Holy Spirit guides us to discover the answers to these questions.

There are moments in our modern culture when "false teachers" pop up with "new" and "compelling" ideas questioning orthodox Christian doctrine (didache and sometimes even Kerygma). In these moments, we must be prayerful, humble and a deep student of the Word of God and the long line of doctrinal decisions in church history while saying, "that is wrong." Be careful. Be warned. Do not waver from the Word of God. The key is proper Biblical Interpretation. This is always done in the context of the community of Believers, the local Church.

Read more here on "Faithful Theological Thinkers."

Why else is Sound Didache important?

Again, Paul passed to Timothy this encouragement, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear" (2 Timothy 4:3). Also, "Watch your life and doctrine closely" (1 Timothy 4:16).

In our day, when tolerance, relevance and personal experience (or feelings) are glorified, it is absolutely important for all of us who name the name of Jesus Christ as Savior by grace to stand firm on sound Biblical preaching and sound doctrine and "refute those who oppose it." We can't allow this "good news" and the teachings that follow to be made "unhealthy." This distorts the whole message.

Of course this is done in love, gentleness and respect, but not shrinking back as the writer of Hebrews encouraged (Hebrews 10:39).

I hope you care about Kerygma and dance with Didiche.

What do you think? How important is Kerygma and Didache to you?

What Does a Pretty Pink Tractor Look Like?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:53:00 +0000

More fun. I like Tim Hawkins. He makes me laugh.

What do you think?

What Does Star Wars Sound Like from Dogs? Dog Wars...

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:20:00 +0000

Love this. Can you pick out the SW characters in the video?

What do you think?

How Do I Do Intergenerational Ministry in the Local Church?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:29:00 +0000

Together is the best way to accomplish ministy to the next generation. It requires adults and teenagers working together in the body of Christ to grow in faith.

This requires a different mindset for ministry to the next generation. Brenda Snailum, a doctoral student in Christian Education at Talbot School of Theology summarizes the task of a changing mindset in ministry. This research is pulled from a panel of experts.

Here is the summary:

1. Intergenerational Ministry (IM) must be established as a core value of the church in order to be faithful.
2. IM needs to have balance with age-specific programming.
3. The leadership of the church must be fully vested in IM for it to fly.
4. The congregation must be educated about IM.
5. Churches should begin where they are with IM.
6. Churches must be intentional and strategic in it's planning around IM.
7. For IM to be part of the church it must be include all generations adn ministry venues.

Some of the cautions or hindrances to IM working in the local church:

1. Sometimes there can be a failure to transition to an IM paradigm or new mindset in the local church because of a varity of issues including lack of vision casting and education.
2. Sometimes there is a lack of understanding of the basis or need for IM.
3. Self-centeredness is an enemy to an IM community or living in separate ministry areas or departments.

More research needs to continue, but these findings are true to the reality of many local churches.

I have written about how to embrace and impliment Intergenerational Ministry in my book, Together: Adults and Teenagers Transforming the Church where I set the reader up for a different mindset for ministry arriving at the same conclusions as the findings above. For more information on Together, checkout these places.

Youth Worker Review
Ken Castor's Endorsement for College Classes
Andrew Hedges Review
Mel Walker's Review

Thank you to all of these folks for backing a new mindset for ministry to the next generation and your kind words about Together.

What do you think?

What Do I Do with a New Believer in Jesus?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:55:00 +0000

The New Believer List::

(From Together: Adults and Teenagers Transforming the Church, Dr. Jeff Baxter)

This is a good list of topics and verses to take a new believer through (or someone who has been a believer for a long time!). Certainly, we are all growing in our faith in Jesus, but a “baby” needs the proper “nourishment” for growth. Take a year to meet and talk about each of these 30 Objectives each week leaving a few weeks to discuss whichever topics take a little more time to address.

Assurance of Salvation – Share your confidence in your salvation with one another (John 1:12-13; Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:11-13; Jude 1, 24).
Specific Daily Time with God – Have a daily time of prayer and Bible study (Genesis 19:27; Exodus 34:2,3; Psalm 5:3; Daniel 6:10; Mark 1:35; 1 Corinthians 1:9).
Winning over Sin – Resist sin consistently, so you grow in holiness (Isaiah 41:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 15:57).
Separating Ourselves from Sin – Avoid sin by taking specific steps (Romans 6:12-14; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; James 1:12; 1 John 1:5-2:2; 1 John 2:15-16).
Time with Believers – Be consistent in local church attendance, and other fellowship opportunities with Christians (Psalm 122:1; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24,25; 1 John 1:3).
The Bible – Learn to articulate your belief in the inspiration of Scripture (Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:105, 160; Matthew 22:29; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21)
Hearing the Bible – Meditate on the Scriptures and apply their teachings to your life (Proverbs 28:9; Jeremiah 22:29; Luke 19:48)
Reading the Bible – Intentionally read through the whole Bible (Deuteronomy 17:19; 1 Timothy 4:13; Revelation 1:3).
Bible Study – Study specific sections of the Bible using various resources and tools (Ezra 7:10; Proverbs 2:1-5; Acts 17:11).
Bible Memory – Regularly memorize and internalize portions of Scripture for recall (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Psalm 37:31; Proverbs 7:1-3; Matthew 4:4; Colossians 3:16).
Meditation on the Bible – Reflect on what you are learning about God and yourself because of Bible reading and study (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1; Jeremiah 15:16; Philippians 4:8).
Application of the Bible – Apply the Bible to personal life circumstances (Psalm 119:56-60; Luke 6:46-49; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:22-25).
Taking to God (Prayer) – Pray daily on an ongoing basis (; Matthew 6:6; 7:7; 21:22; John 17; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:17; 1 John 3:22).
Sharing your Story (Testimony) – Learn to share how you came to trust Jesus as Savior (Luke 8:38-39; John 9:25; Acts 26:1-23; 1 John 1:3).
Lordship of Christ – Grow in allowing Jesus to control every area of your life (Luke 6:46; Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 1:2).
Faith – Trust God with specific needs (Romans 4:20-21; Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 5:4).
Love – Show love, concern and compassion toward others in service (John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; 15:13; 1 John 3:17-18; 1 John 4:7-21).
Speaking – Demonstrate control over your tongue so encouragement is consistent (Psalm 71:15; Proverbs 18:6-7; 26:20; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6; James 1:26; 3:1-12).
The Use of Time – Develop the ability to manage time and schedule well (Psalm 90:10,12; Proverbs 31:27; Ecclesiastes 3:1; Romans 13:11; Ephesians 5:15-17; James 4:14).
The Will of God – Seek and follow God’s direction in ones life (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 15:22; John 16:13; Romans 12:1-2).
Obeying God – Submit consistently to God’s direction with a joyful heart (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 119:59-60; Job 17:9; John 14:21,23; John 15:10,14; James 4:17).
The Holy Spirit – Experience the working of the Holy Spirit in one’s life (Zechariah 4:6; John 14:16-17; 15:26-27; 16:7-8,13-15; Romans 8:5-6,16-17,26; 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:13-14; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:18).
Rejecting Satan (our enemy) – Stand against the enemy and help others do the same (Isaiah 14:12-15; Matthew 4:4; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 4:3-4; 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 John 4:4).
Dealing with Sin – Be willing to share areas of sin with other for accountability and develop a plan of action to overcome sin (Mark 14:38; Romans 13:14; Ephesians 6:10-20; Colossians 3:9-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 1:9).
Forgiveness – Accept God’s forgiveness and be willing to forgive others (Psalm 32:1; Matthew 5:23-24; 18:15; 1 John 1:9)
Second Coming of Christ – Be secure in your understanding that Jesus is returning to establish his kingdom (John 14:2-3; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 John 3:2-3; Revelation 19:11-16).
Sharing Our Faith – Initiate sharing the good news with others (Proverbs 28:1; 11:30; John 4; Acts 8:35; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Colossians 1:28-29; 2 Timothy 4:1-2).
Following Up to Sharing Faith – Encourage those with whom you have shared the Gospel (Colossians 1:28; 2 Timothy 1:3; 2:2; 3 John 4).
Giving Financially – Give money regularly to the Lord’s work (Proverbs 3:9-10,27; 11:24-25; Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:6-8; Galatians 6:6).
Becoming a World Christian – Show interest and concern for the whole world coming to know Jesus (Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 9:35-28; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; John 20:21; Acts 1:8).

What do you think?

What Does an Evangelism and Apologetics Chart Look Like?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Here is a handy Pre-Evangelism, Evangelism and Apologetics chart. I developed this chart in coordination with a class I teach at Foothills Bible Church called, "Apologetics 101."
Starting from the top left and moving to the bottom right here is how you can use the chart to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world.

General Revelation is God revealing himself in nature and science. Just look at the world and it points to a designer, creator and infinite being outside of space and time. There are philosophical and logical arguments that point toward a personal designer. For some of them, go here.

Special Revelation is God revealing himself directly to humanity through the written Revelation (i.e. Bible) of God and Jesus Christ.

The biggest questions of life revolve around these areas:

1. Does God exist? Human Reason, Human Experience, and Physical Realities in our World all point to God.

2. What is the Basis of Morality? The Bible's reliability, Jesus Christ being the Son of God and rising from the dead point to the One True God of the Bible being the Basis of Morality. Moral Relativity is not an option.

3. Who Am I? A creation by God! He made you and designed you to worship Him!

4. What is My Purpose? To Love God and Love Others.

5. What Happens When I Die? A very real heaven and hell await everyone. If we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior during this lifetime, we will spend a forever in an eternal heaven with God.

These are good questions to ask folks who do not know Jesus yet.

What do you think?

Connecting Comedy and Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:25:00 +0000

I think he was. In fact, Jesus invented Funny because he was in on creating the whole world (Colossians 1) which you have to admit includes some funny stuff.

Come connect with comedy at an opportunity to put Comedy with Christ at Foothills Bible Church. Invite an unbelieving friend to this great event. Take them to coffee afterwards to talk. Use this as a great way to build relationship and connect with your lost world.

"Husband and Wife Comedy Team – Barnes & Miner Appearing January 27th at Foothills Bible Church, Littleton, CO, December 19, 2011: Barnes & Miner will be appearing for one night only at Foothills Bible Church, located at 6100 S. Devinney Way Littleton, CO. For more information contact: Sharon West – sharonk.west@yahoo.com, 303-523-1584 OR 303-697-4450. To preview a video please visit www.barnesandminer.com.

Click Picture for Larger Format

Bio:

Think it is difficult sharing a bathroom with your spouse? Try sharing a stage! The husband and wife comedy team of Amy Barnes and Jerry Miner make it easy to laugh about the little things as they successfully carry over 20 years of comedy experience on stage. Barnes & Miner are a throwback to the classic husband and wife comedy duos of the past. In the spirit of Burns/Allen and Stiller/Mehra, they take on everything from competitive parenting and in-laws to staying on a budget and not blowing your 401k.

They have written for such familiar faces as Ellen DeGeneres, Jay Leno, Jack Black, Bonnie Hunt, Bill Cosby and Morgan Freeman. Together their credits include over 25 national television appearances (Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Fox, NBC, ESPN, HBO, A&E, National Lampoon…), 4 extended run theater shows with multiple sold out performances, 1 marriage, and 2 children.

What do you think?

What are Some Bible Summaries of the Gospel?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:56:00 +0000

Do you need a summary of the Gospel from the Bible?

Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus came to be a servant by giving his life as a payment for sin.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” God gave his Son to die for you, me, your neighbor, co-worker, friend, family member.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5 says, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received; that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared.” Jesus lived, died and rose again conquering death.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him (Jesus).” Jesus became sin to take away our sins.

1 John 4:10 says, “This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Jesus atoned for our sins so we could be in right relationship with God the Father.

What verse(s) would you add to this very short list?

What do you think?

How Do We Know God Exists?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:55:00 +0000

Here are some thoughts regarding why I think God exists without using the Bible (until the end!). Take a look.

1. A Complex Earth Points to a Deliberate Designer.

Many examples showing God's design could be given, possibly with no end. But here are a few:

The Earth...its size is perfect. The Earth's size and corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles above the Earth's surface. If Earth were smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter. Earth is the only known planet equipped with an atmosphere of the right mixture of gases to sustain plant, animal and human life.

The Earth is located the right distance from the sun. Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly -30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance in the Earth's position to the sun would make life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day.

And our moon is the perfect size and distance from the Earth for its gravitational pull. The moon creates important ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do not stagnate, and yet our massive oceans are restrained from spilling over across the continents.

Water...colorless, odorless and without taste, and yet no living thing can survive without it. Plants, animals and human beings consist mostly of water (about two-thirds of the human body is water). You'll see why the characteristics of water are uniquely suited to life:

It has an unusually high boiling point and freezing point. Water allows us to live in an environment of fluctuating temperature changes, while keeping our bodies a steady 98.6 degrees.

Water is a universal solvent. This property of water means that thousands of chemicals, minerals and nutrients can be carried throughout our bodies and into the smallest blood vessels.

Water is also chemically neutral. Without affecting the makeup of the substances it carries, water enables food, medicines and minerals to be absorbed and used by the body.

Water has a unique surface tension. Water in plants can therefore flow upward against gravity, bringing life-giving water and nutrients to the top of even the tallest trees.

Water freezes from the top down and floats, so fish can live in the winter.

Ninety-seven percent of the Earth's water is in the oceans. But on our Earth, there is a system designed which removes salt from the water and then distributes that water throughout the globe. Evaporation takes the ocean waters, leaving the salt, and forms clouds which are easily moved by the wind to disperse water over the land, for vegetation, animals and people. It is a system of purification and supply that sustains life on this planet, a system of recycled and reused water.

The human brain...simultaneously processes an amazing amount of information. Your brain takes in all the colors and objects you see, the temperature around you, the pressure of your feet against the floor, the sounds around you, the dryness of your mouth, even the texture of your keyboard. Your brain holds and processes all your emotions, thoughts and memories. At the same time your brain keeps track of the ongoing functions of your body like your breathing pattern, eyelid movement, hunger and movement of the muscles in your hands.

The human brain processes more than a million messages a second. Your brain weighs the importance of all this data, filtering out the relatively unimportant. This screening function is what allows you to focus and operate effectively in your world. The brain functions differently than other organs. There is intelligence to it, the ability to reason, to produce feelings, to dream and plan, to take action, and relate to other people.

The eye...can distinguish among seven million colors. It has automatic focusing and handles an astounding 1.5 million messages -- simultaneously. Evolution focuses on mutations and changes from and within existing organisms. Yet evolution alone does not fully explain the initial source of the eye or the brain -- the start of living organisms from nonliving matter.

2. There is a Starting Line for the Universe:

Scientists are convinced that our universe began with one enormous explosion of energy and light, which we now call the Big Bang. This was the singular start to everything that exists: the beginning of the universe, the start of space, and even the initial start of time itself.

Astrophysicist Robert Jastrow, a self-described agnostic, stated, "The seed of everything that has happened in the Universe was planted in that first instant; every star, every planet and every living creature in the Universe came into being as a result of events that were set in motion in the moment of the cosmic explosion...The Universe flashed into being, and we cannot find out what caused that to happen."

Steven Weinberg, a Nobel prize winner in Physics, said at the moment of this explosion, "the universe was about a hundred thousand million degrees Centigrade...and the universe was filled with light."

The universe has not always existed. It had a start...what caused that? Scientists have no explanation for the sudden explosion of light and matter.

3. There is an Organized Universe:

Much of life may seem uncertain, but look at what we can count on day after day: gravity remains consistent, a hot cup of coffee left on a counter will get cold, the earth rotates in the same 24 hours, and the speed of light doesn't change -- on earth or in galaxies far from us.

How is it that we can identify laws of nature that never change? Why is the universe so orderly, so reliable?

The greatest scientists have been struck by how strange this is. There is no logical necessity for a universe that obeys rules, let alone one that abides by the rules of mathematics. This astonishment springs from the recognition that the universe doesn't have to behave this way. It is easy to imagine a universe in which conditions change unpredictably from instant to instant, or even a universe in which things pop in and out of existence.

Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize winner for quantum electrodynamics, said, "Why nature is mathematical is a mystery...The fact that there are rules at all is a kind of miracle."

4. The DNA Code is Beyond Us.

All instruction, all teaching, all training comes with intent. Someone who writes an instruction manual does so with purpose.

Did you know that in every cell of our bodies there exists a very detailed instruction code, much like a miniature computer program? As you may know, a computer program is made up of ones and zeros, like this: 110010101011000.

The way they are arranged tell the computer program what to do. The DNA code in each of our cells is very similar. It's made up of four chemicals that scientists abbreviate as A, T, G, and C. These are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on.

There are three billion of these letters in every human cell! (Read that a few times!)

Well, just like you can program your phone to beep for specific reasons, DNA instructs the cell. DNA is a three-billion-lettered program telling the cell to act in a certain way. It is a full instruction manual.

Why is this so amazing? One has to ask....how did this information program wind up in each human cell? These are not just chemicals. These are chemicals that instruct, that code in a very detailed way exactly how the person's body should develop.

Natural, biological causes are completely lacking as an explanation when programmed information is involved. You cannot find instruction, precise information like this, without someone intentionally constructing it.

5. God Pursues People:

God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. He has surrounded us with evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his existence squarely before us. God presses on people. We can’t escape his reality.

Malcolm Muggeridge, socialist and philosophical author, wrote, "I had a notion that somehow, besides questing, I was being pursued."

C.S. Lewis said he remembered, "...night after night, feeling whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all of England."

Lewis went on to write a book titled, "Surprised by Joy" as a result of knowing God.

From the first words of God (“Where are You?”) after Adam and Eve sinned against him in the Garden to the end of the book of Revelation, the theme of the Biblical Scriptures is that God pursues people to worship Him.

What do you think? Does this point toward a personal God?

Quoted and Adapted from Source.

John 3:16 Commercial During the NFL Playoffs!

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:15:00 +0000

The best part of the Broncos and Patriots game last night was the John 3:16 Commercial from Focus on the Family. I was cheering!

Thank you Focus on the Family!

What do you think? Why not pass it on to a friend...

Who is the Holy Spirit?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:20:00 +0000

A few words on the Holy Spirit. Here is a quick guide to who the Holy Spirit (H.S.) is and does. Use is as a devotional and look up the verses to gain a better understanding of the Holy Spirit.

The H.S. is a person, not a distant thing or power (John 14:17, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14).

The H.S. is God. He is co-equal with Father and Son as One God (Acts 5:3-4).

The H.S. is eternal and holy. This makes our bodies holy sanctuaries for the Lord (John 14:16, Hebrews 9:14, Romans 1:4, 5:5).

The H.S. has his own mind and he prays for us (Romans 8:27).

The H.S. has emotions. We are not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30).

The H.S. has his own desires and will (1 Corinthians 12:11)

The H.S. drives an Omni car (He is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient) (Zechariah 4:6, Psalm 139:7-8, 1 Corinthians 2:10, Isaiah 40:13).

Working with the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of you as a believer in Jesus Christ:

The H.S. helps us speak (Mark 13:11, Luke 12:12).

The H.S. teaches and reminds us what we need to know (Psalm 143:10, John 14-16, Acts 9:31, 13:2, 15:28, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 1 John 5:6-8).

The H.S. gives us power to be his witnesses. He draws unbelievers to himself and believers closer to Jesus (Acts 1:8, Romans 8:26, Ephesians 3:16-19).

The H.S. sets us free from sin (Romans 8:2).

The H.S. helps us grow in intimacy with the Father. We have been adopted (Romans 8:15-16).

The H.S. convicts people of sin (John 16:7-11, 1 Thessalonians 1:5).

The H.S. gives us life and freedom, not slavery and bondage (Romans 8:10-11, 2 Corinthians 3:17).

The H.S. gives us hope, peace and joy (Romans 15:13).

The H.S. gives us gifts to use in the church or body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7).

The H.S. bears fruit in our lives that others should see and experience (2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 5:22-23).

What do you think?

Who are the Best Christian Apologists Today?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:30:00 +0000

From Apologetics315, here is a good list of Christian Apologists (i.e. tools) and their links to learn more about them and their webpages.

Get to know 100 Christian apologists. Most are current. Some are dead. A couple are very old. Some are not popular. They range from world-class philosophers and thinkers to internet and radio apologists. But all have made an impact with their works and ministries. They are in alphabetical order. (This is not a top 100, and theologians and church fathers have been left out.)

1. Kerby Anderson - VP of International Society of Christian Apologetics.
2. John Ankerberg - Founder of Ankerberg Theological Research Institute; Great podcast.
3. Greg Bahnsen - the late great presuppositional apologist. Debated Gordon Stein.
4. Andy Bannister - London School of Theology / Oxford Centre for Christian apologetics.
5. Francis Beckwith - noted philosopher and apologist, especially in the area of ethics.
6. Ken Boa - relational evangelism, discipleship, apologetics.
7. Darrell Bock - Research Professor of NT Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary.
8. Joe Boot - apologist, educator, author and pastor.
9. Robert Bowman - noted apologetics and theology teacher (Biola)
10. Justin Brierley - host of Unbelievable? on Premier Christian Radio, UK.
11. Kyle Butt - staff at Apologetics Press and editor of Discovery magazine. DebatedBarker.
12. Ted Cabal - general editor of The Apologetics Study Bible.
13. Charlie Campbell - itinerant apologist and head of AlwaysBeReady.com.
14. Ergun Caner - provost Arlington Baptist College; author.
15. Edward John Carnell - was a prominent and influential Christian theologian and apologist.
16. G.K. Chesterton - famous author, philosopher, theologian, apologist.
17. David K. Clark - apologist with notable books; teaches at Bethel Seminary
18. Gordon Clark - Christian philosopher, apologist, and theologian. Contemporary of Van Til.
19. Kelly James Clark - notable philosopher of religion, author; Calvin College.
20. Gene Cook - host of UnchainedRadio; reformed pastor and apologist. Owns a pit bull.
21. Paul Copan - Philosophy and ethics; noted apologist and author.
22. Winfried Corduan - Christian philosopher of religion; noted author.
23. Steven B. Cowan - Associate director of Apologetics Resource Center; Areopagus Journal
24. William Lane Craig - philosopher, theologian, apologist; Debater par excellence.
25. Dinesh D’Souza - writer, speaker, debater. Various notable debates.
26. William Dembski - philosopher of science and mathematician; ID theorist.
27. William Edgar - Professor of Apologetics Westminster Theological Seminary; jazz pianist.
28. Lenny Esposito - founder of ComeReason apologetics ministry.
29. C. Stephen Evans - philosophy of religion; apologetics; great author. Baylor.
30. Paul D. Feinberg - the late philosopher of religion and apologist; author.
31. Harold Felder - founder of GivingAnAnswer apologetics ministry.
32. Phil Fernandes - Christian philosopher, apologist, debater. Tremendous audio resources.
33. John Frame - Reformed Theological Seminary; reformed apologist; Van Til expert.
34. Norman Geisler - prolific author of over 70 books; Classical apologist.
35. R. Douglas Geivett - Professor of Philosophy Talbot Department of Philosophy / Biola
36. Simon Greenleaf - legal scholar famous for his book Testimony of the Evangelists.
37. Douglas Groothuis - Christian philosopher, author, teacher.
38. Shandon L. Guthrie - philosophy, apologetics, atheism, comparative religions, ethics.
39. Gary Habermas - the world's foremost expert on the resurrection of Jesus.
40. Hank Hanegraaff - today's Bible Answer Man.
41. Craig Hazen - director of Biola's Christian Apologetics program.
42. J.P. Holding - founded Tektonics apologetics website; author.
43. Anthony Horvath - Athanatos Christian Ministries and online Apologetics Academy.
44. Phillip E. Johnson - one of the key leaders of the Intelligent Design movement.
45. Walter Kaiser - scholar, writer, educator, and distinguished Professor of Old Testament.
46. Timothy Keller - urban pastor and apologist noted for his clear communication.
47. Greg Koukl - apologist and president of Stand to Reason; excellent radio program.
48. Peter Kreeft - professor of philosophy at Boston College, noted apologist.
49. John Lennox - philosopher of science, mathematician, Oxford debater of Dawkins.
50. C.S. Lewis - famous author, lecturer, apologist; Narnia books, Mere Christianity.
51. Gordon Lewis - philosopher and theologian; author of Testing Christianity's Truth Claims.
52. Mike Licona - historian and apologist; authority on the resurrection of Jesus.
53. Bruce Little - philosopher noted for work on the problem of evil and theodicy.
54. Paul Little - late apologist and author noted for his simple style and easy communication.
55. David Marshall - world cultures, outspoken against new atheism.
56. Walter Martin - most famous for his Kingdom of the Cults book; the original Answer Man.
57. Stuart McAllister - Scottish itinerant cultural apologist with RZIM.
58. Josh McDowell - famous for Evidence that Demands a Verdict.
59. Sean McDowell - worldview youth minister / itinerant apologist.
60. Alex McFarland - itinerant apologist targeting young people, teens.
61. Alister McGrath - Oxford professor of theology, author and opponent of new atheism.
62. Chad Meister - philosopher of religion, ethics, logic; apologist, author; Bethel College.
63. Angus Menuge - Concordia University professor of philosophy.
64. Stephen Meyer -philosopher of science, intelligent design theorist, author.
65. Albert Mohler - president of SBTS, worldview cultural commentator, author, radio host.
66. John Warwick Montgomery - perhaps the most famous evidentialist apologist.
67. J.P. Moreland - Christian philosopher, noted author, apologist.
68. Ronald Nash - Professor Philosophy and Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary
69. Randall Niles - itinerant and multimedia apologist.
70. David Noebel - founder of Summit Ministries and worldview apologist.
71. Scott Oliphint - Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology WTS72. Amy Orr-Ewing - Director of Training of the Zacharias Trust.
73. Craig Parton - trial lawyer and noted Lutheran apologist.
74. Alvin Plantinga - world-class philosopher; reformed epistemology, philosophy of religion.
75. Doug Powell - excellent multimedia apologist at SelflessDefense.
76. Michael Ramsden - European Director of Zacharias Trust, speaker for RZIM.
77. Fazale Rana - PhD biochemist with Reasons to Believe.
78. Ron Rhodes - author and apologist founder of Reasoning from the Scriptures.
79. John W. Robbins - reformed apologist, founder of Trinity Foundation.
80. Mark D. Roberts - pastor, author, speaker, blogger. Emphasis in NT / Gospels.
81. David Robertson - Scottish pastor famous/notorious for his Dawkins Letters.
82. Hugh Ross - astrophysicist apologist and old Earth creationist; founder Reasons to Believe.
83. Kenneth Samples - reformed philosopher, theologian, apologist with Reasons to Believe.
84. Francis Schaeffer - famous late cultural apologist, author, philosopher; founder ofL'Abri.
85. Mary Jo Sharp - author, apologist, debater; founder of Confident Christianity.
86. James Sire - influential worldview author, apologist, and speaker.
87. Matt Slick - founder of CARM.org, one of the best apologetics encyclopedias on the web.
88. R.C. Sproul - notable theologian, author, and classical apologist.
89. Don Stewart - prolific author, apologist, and host of the Bible Explorer.
90. Lee Strobel - journalist famous for his Case for Christ series of books; popular apologist.
91. Richard Swinburne - world-class Oxford philosopher of religion; author.
92. Frank Turek - itinerant apologist and founder of CrossExamined; debated Hitchens.
93. Cornelius Van Til - the most famous presuppositional reformed apologist.
94. Jim Wallace - cold case detective, pastor, and apologist; excellent podcast.
95. James White - theologian, author, prolific debater, and reformed apologist.
96. Dallas Willard - Christian philosopher; notable works in philosophy, discipleship,
97. Peter S. Williams - Christian philosopher; notable works countering Dawkins
98. Douglas Wilson - presuppositional apologist; number of atheist debates (Hitchens, Barker)
99. N.T. Wright - Bishop of Durham; notable work on the resurrection.
100. Ravi Zacharias -perhaps today's most notable international cultural apologist.

Who would you add to the list? Why?

What are Some Good Apologetics Podcasts?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:32:00 +0000

From Apologetics315.com.

Worth tuning in and listening!

1. Reasonable Faith - William Lane Craig - iTunes | Feed
2. Defenders - William Lane Craig - iTunes | Feed
3. Unbelievable? - Justin Brierley - iTunes | Feed
4. Straight Thinking - Kenneth Samples - iTunes | Feed
5. Stand to Reason - Greg Koukl - iTunes | Feed
6. Please Convince Me - J. Warner Wallace - iTunes | Feed
7. I Didn't Know That - Reasons to Believe - iTunes | Feed
8. Issues, Etc. - iTunes | Feed
9. Cross Examined - Frank Turek - iTunes | Feed
10. Hope's Reason - iTunes | Feed
11. Peter S Williams - iTunes | Feed
12. Come Let Us Reason - Lenny Esposito - iTunes | Feed
13. Just Thinking - Ravi Zacharias - iTunes | Feed
14. Let My People Think - Ravi Zacharias - iTunes | Feed
15. Christian Persuaders - iTunes | Feed
16. Apologetics.com Radio Show - iTunes | Feed

What would you add?

What do you think?

Why Did Jesus Perform Miracle Healings?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Here is an opening question for you to think about as we jump back into the Gospel of Matthew; Why do you think Jesus performed miracle healings? The answer to this question will set the stage for Jesus’ healing ministry.

Matthew leaves off with some summary verses at the end of the Sermon on the Mount saying, “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (7:28-29). This leads into Matthew thematic (not necessarily chronological) approach giving examples of Jesus’ works being authoritative just like his words (i.e. Sermon on the Mount). This was done to authenticate the messenger who was the long awaited Messiah.

Matthew illustrates Jesus authority as Messiah, the Son of God by supernatural healings in the man with Leprosy, a servant of the Centurion, Peter’s Mother in Law and others. The emphasis of these miraculous healings is on Jesus, the King of the Kingdom, not on those healed. This is illustrated by Matthew’s ending quote from Isaiah 53:4, the fulfillment of another prophesy in Jesus.

I. A Leper (vs.1-4).

¹ When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. ² A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Jesus came down from where the Sermon on the Mount was preached and lots of people where still following him. (I would too after hearing that teaching!) The Jews despised Leprosy. Anyone who came in contact was considered ceremonially unclean, so they used to throw stones to keep Lepers away and the Leper was required to yell “Unclean, Unclean” as they came near people (Leviticus 13-14). To be a leper was considered a curse from God (Numbers 12:10). Healings for Lepers was rare (Numbers 12:10-15). Healing leprosy was considered as difficult as raising the dead to the Jew (2 Kings 5:7, 14).

In verse 2, the man knelt or worshipped Jesus, saying “If you are willing…” The Leper did not question is Jesus was able, but if he would pass him by. By touching a Leper, Jesus would make himself ceremonially unclean (Lev. 13-14), but at Jesus’ touch, nothing remains defiled. Jesus makes the Unclean, now clean. But touching the Leper, Jesus did not become Leprous himself. Both Jesus word and touch are effective – his authority is in the Message and Himself.

In verse 4, Jesus tells him “not tell anyone” is a sign of him not being ready for this Messiah Message to go fully public. “Show to priest” is Jesus is doing more than just obeying the Law. The law is being fulfilled in Him!

Jesus is not just a Miracle Worker or a man with the gift of healing. That is not the point. He is Messiah. His authority comes from God alone. The crowds would want him to go public, but they just had a Materialist and Political view of the Kingdom.

II. The Centurion’s Servant (vs.5-13).

⁵ When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. ¹¹ I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. ¹² But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

This is the second miraculous healing event and Matthew’s second mention of Capernaum (4:13). Now, Centurions were the military backbone throughout the Roman Empire. Centurions maintained discipline and exercised orders to be carried out to the people.

In verses 6-7, Jewish Rabbis are often invited to pray for the sick, but the Centurion is asking for healing not prayers in this case. Jesus’ question, “Shall I come and heal him?” was a test for the Centurion to find out what degree of faith he had.

The centurion believed that Jesus’ word was sufficient to heal his servant. Up to this point we have no recorded “distance healing” by Jesus or just “by his word alone.”

The statement by the Centurion is interesting. He is attributing Jesus’ authority as from God alone and thus when Jesus spoke, it was God speaking. To defy Jesus was to defy God. As much as Jesus being God has taken on human emotions, he is astonished at the Centurion’s faith. The surprising characteristic here is that the Centurion is a Gentile without the Jewish background to understand Messiah has come.

In verses 12-13, Jesus is referring to the “Messianic Banquet” – imagery from Isaiah 25:6-9, but the difference is that Gentiles will be present at the table. This was a sign that the Kingdom is coming and will consummate soon! This is a sign that the Jews are set aside and the Gentiles are taking their place. This is not a permanent issue, as the Patriarchs were Jews themselves. The hearers of Jesus would have seen that again the mission is to the whole world, not just the Jews, but Gentiles too.

It is important to understand that Jesus did not perform a miracle based on the proportion of the Centurion’s faith or because of the Centurion’s faith, but in content what was expected by the Centurion’s Faith. Jesus’ performed the miracle healings to authenticate himself as Messiah by grace.

III. Peter’s Mom in Law (vs. 14-15).

¹⁴ When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

Quick. Was Peter married? Peter was married (1 Cor. 9:5) and had moved from Bethsaida to Capernaum with his brother Andrew (John 1:44). She had a fever and Jews were prohibited to touch someone with a fever. It would defile the healer. Jesus’ authority instantly accomplishes what he wills to take place.

IV. Many More Healings (vs. 16-17).

¹⁶ When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“He took up our infirmities
and bore our diseases.”

More healings occurred to authenticate Jesus as Messiah. Verse 17 is more fulfillment of prophesy in Jesus (Isaiah 53:4). Ultimately the fulfillment comes in the Atonement of Christ on the cross. But, there is still future fulfillment in our Resurrected bodies and heavenly glorification. This is not a text for “living your best life now” getting all of your blessings today, but there is forgiveness and spiritual healing for those whose sins are forgiven and guaranteed fulfillment when Jesus returns to take us home.

Conclusion/Questions/Comments:

Jesus heals the Outcasts in these verses.
He shows Messianic Compassion and Cures Problems Immediately which makes him Special.
Summary Statement links him to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53:4.
Healing and Atonement:

Some suggest that we should expect full healing today because of the Atonement of Christ on the Cross.
The Christian and Missionary Alliance Denomination holds that we are to expect this benefit now, although it is not always God’s will to heal.
The Pentecostal Denomination holds that healing is part of the Church’s three-fold mission: Teaching, Preaching and Healing.
The Non-healing position holds that God heals through the physician’s knowledge and at times through supernatural agency, but that healing was not directly in the atonement.

i. Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 53:4 in his earthly ministry.

ii. Paul was not healed of his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:8-10).

iii. Believers must await the final resurrection to experience the physical benefits of Christ’s redemptive work.

Final Observations:

There is provision within the work of Christ for the complete redemption of the body.

We are to pray for those who are sick (James 5:14-16).

Certain Scriptures support the concept that there are times when it is not God’s will for someone to be healed (2 Kings 13:14; 2 Cor. 12:7-9; 1 Tim. 5:23)

Questions to Contemplate:

What comes to mind when you think of miraculous healing?

What makes the healings by Jesus in these verses special?

What do these verses teach us about the ministry of Jesus?

How can the authority Jesus demonstrated in these verses help you this week in your daily walk with him?

What do these passages teach us about God?

What do you think?

Need a Fresh Start this New Year?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:51:00 +0000

Why not think about something new this New Year?

Think about this question with me.

Are You Good Enough to Go To Heaven?

I know. It is a big question isn’t it? Maybe you have never thought about this before. I think it would be worth thinking about today! The key two words in this question are "good" and "enough". Many people think they are pretty good. We do a "good" job comparing ourselves to other people to make ourselves feel better about ourselves, but let's be honest. How good are you?

There was a man in the Bible who was wrestling with this same question. He had an appointment with Jesus on the road. The story is recorded in Luke 18:18-27. It says,

¹⁸ A certain ruler asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁹ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” ²¹ “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. ²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²³ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. ²⁴ Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁷ Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

The real question the man was asking is “What do I do to inherit eternal life?” This is an important question, but the man should have been asking another question. Apparently, according to Jesus, some will get eternal life and some will not get it.

Do you want to get eternal life? That is in part to spend forever in heaven without pain, suffering, full of peace, love, joy? There will be no more "drama", tension, miscommunication with relationships in perfect harmony again (like the Garden of Eden in Genesis 1-2). And God is there.

This is what this story in Luke 18 is all about. The man says, “What must I do to get Eternal Life?” Or what must I DO to get heaven? This man does not come to Jesus with humility or open handed, but with pride and arrogance. He thought he needed to DO something.

Jesus gives this man a little review of the Ten Commandments. Do you know the Ten Commandments? Have you heard of the BIG TEN? They come from a book in the Bible called Exodus in Chapter 20. It says, “And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

Here are the Big Ten on the heart of God with some questions for all of us to contemplate.

1. You shall have no other gods before me.(Have you made God First in your life? Do you love God with all of your heart?)

2. You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. (Have you ever kind of made a god to suit your own desires? Make god into who you want him to be rather than who he really is)

3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.(Have you ever used God’s name as a swear word?)

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Do you take a day of the week and set it aside for worshipping God?)

5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Have you always honored your mom and dad? Would they say you are always respectful and loving toward them?)

6. You shall not murder. (Have you ever murdered someone? Jesus said that if we hate someone in our heart, God calls us a murderer?)

7. You shall not commit adultery.(Anyone cheated on their spouse here? Jesus said if you look at a boy or girl lustfully, you have committed adultery in your heart)

8. You shall not steal.(Have you ever stolen something…even a small something?)

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Have you ever lied?)

10. You shall not covet. (Have you ever wanted someone elses stuff – iPod, Car, Video Game, House, Outfit)?

This man was saying, “I am not perfect Jesus, but I am pretty good. I have kept these pretty well!” Jesus was deeply concerned that the man had broken just one of these commandments. I think I have broken all of these commandments many times! That's right. I am guilty! The Bible says that if anyone has broken these commandments one time than they can’t go to heaven! Did you see that? If you are guilty of one commandment, one time, you are fully guilty and can't go to heaven having eternal life. We can't compare ourselves to others on the imaginary "good scale", but we must compare ourselves to God and his standard (i.e. the Ten Commandments).

Have you kept the Ten Commandments perfectly?

Paul says in Romans 3:23 that, “All have sinned and fallen short of the Kingdom of God.” We all fall short of God's glory of perfection. He is Holy.

Have you ever lied? Stolen? Used God’s Name as a cuss word? That makes you (and I) a lying, blaspheming thief. Strong words, but true. If you and I have done these things, does that make us innocent or guilty before God?

Guilty!

If I ran a red light, got pulled over by a police officer and given a ticket, am I innocent or guilty?

Guilty!

God came up with this list of Ten Commandments to show us that we need help, that we fall short, that we are in trouble.

God requires that we be perfect (or righteous) to have a relationship with Him! None of us is perfect. Right? So, we ask the same question the disciples asked Jesus when they said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus answers, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

The Bible says that if we are guilty before God, we will not get to go to heaven and we will not get eternal life with God forever. This puts us outside of heaven and inside a very real hell because we are guilty before God.

Let me ask you another question, "Do you like justice?"

If a person who murdered someone came before a Judge and the Judge decided to let him go free, no jail time, no community service you would say, that is crazy! That is not justice. That is right. There needs to be justice. We tend to like justice when it is for others, but have trouble when we are the one who is guilty and this time we are guilty before God.

In the same way, we can’t be declared innocent, not guilty of our mistakes against God. He can’t set us free just because. Love can't just set us free because we are still guilty of our sin against Him. There needs to be justice! Don’t you think?

Maybe you would say, but I am not as bad as that person over there. You should hear what they have done. Okay, maybe I am not perfect, but I am not as bad as that.

When I was in high school, my friend figured out how to get all the answers for the English Final Exam. The Teacher gave us the test ahead of time to study in class. We were to turn the test back in at the end of the class and come back next week for the test. My friend took one of the tests, dropped it out of the window on the second floor, after school picked it up, took it home to study and aced the test. He stole and cheated.

I had another friend and before he came to know Jesus, he murdered someone. That's right. He took someone else's life and was in deep darkness. He had to go to jail for his crime.

Now, which is worse stealing, cheating or murder? The answer is...they are all the same in God’s site. They all broke God’s law (the Ten Commandments) and fall short of God’s perfection. There are no little and big sins to God. Did you know there was a man in the Bible named Paul who was a serial murderer before he came to know Jesus as his Savior.

If you were honest in your heart, you would say that you have sinned against God. Does that concern you?

If God is just, he has to punish our sin.
If God were loving, he would have to help us out of this predicament.

AND THAT IS WHAT GOD DID BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR YOU!

His Son, Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died as a perfect sacrifice for our sins on a cross as your substitute. He took your place. You deserved to die for your sins, but Jesus paid the ransom for you. He did not sin, but he took our sins on him offering forgiveness to us.

This is free! You don't need to clean up your act, get a little better, and become good before accepting this free gift of grace. Come as you are.

If we Believe in Jesus and Receive His forgiveness for your sins as your substitute, you will know for sure that you are saved going to heaven for all of eternity. Now you are in a right relationship with God and that makes you righteous!

God has to punish our sins against Him. God had to have a perfect person take our place. Jesus did it. It is like God the Judge asked for a payment and Jesus paid our price for us – FOR FREE.

Unfortunately, the Rich Young Man in our story did not believe and receive Jesus, but turned and walked away. Don’t do that! Humble your heart and come to God!

All we need to do is Believe and Receive this Free Gift of Jesus to have your mistakes against God forgiven! If you have never believed Jesus as your Savior, would you like to now as this New Year starts!

Just tell him you believe in Him, you want to receive him as your Savior so your sins against God are forgiven.

Grab this great grace and run into the New Year.

If you have believed and received Jesus as your Savior, now keep coming back to this blog for spiritual help and growth. Do a search for topics you would like to learn about on this blog and keep growing. Join a healthy Bible believing and teaching church like Foothills Bible Church. Blessings on your journey with him.

As always, if you have comments or questions, just let me know. I would love to talk with you.

Happy New Year!

What do you think?

Live in the Denver Area? Would You Like to Support a Ministry Connecting with the Colorado Rapids?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:13:00 +0000

Do you live in the Denver Area?

Do you like Food and Futbol?

Come on by the Highlands Ranch Chick-fil-A (see below) to support the ministry of CrossTraining, a ministry coming alongside the Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers MLS Professional Soccer Teams. For more information and how to support CrossTraining go here.

I would love your support, as I am one of the Associate Chaplains for the Colorado, Rapids.

SEE YOU ON DECEMBER 31!

Live in the Denver Area? Need Apologetics Training?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:53:00 +0000

Coming to Foothills Bible Church is "Apologetics 101", a three week crash course in defending the faith. We will cover the three biggest objections to Christianity and how to present a reasonable defense. Much more will be covered too.

If you are interested, EMAIL Pastor Jeff Baxter to register for this FREE class on Sunday nights, January 15, 22, and 29 from 6:30-8pm!

Bring a friend to this exciting class!

Register quickly, space is limited, and there is no childcare.

Questions? Email Pastor Jeff. Take a look here for more details.

Another "Fearless Evangelism Class" will be coming in February 2012!

Blessings on the journey to Defending the Gospel!

Need Evangelism and Apologetics Help Online? Go Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:34:00 +0000

Ten Great Evangelism and Apologetic websites heading into 2012.

They originally were posted over here at Come Reason. Thanks for posting Lenny Esposito.

If you need some training, resources, encouragement to share the good news of Jesus Christ and defend the faith to those who are wondering about the things that matter most, go checkout these sites.

Reasonable Faith Reasonable Faith is the nonprofit ministry of philosopher and theologian Dr. William Lane Craig, who is simply one of the most active defenders of the faith today. Craig's many debates against the most stalwart of atheists have become legendary, so much so that after debating the recently deceased Christopher Hitchens, an atheist web site remarked "Craig spanked Hitchens like a foolish child." Not content to rest only in the US, Bill's traveled the world over, recently getting back from a very successful tour of the UK where in the space of ten days he presented five debates and at least eight more lectures and interviews to a largely secular public. His clear thinking and scholastic ability are unmatched.
Support Reasonable Faith here
JP Moreland/Eidos Christian Center Another well-known figure in philosophy and Christian apologetics is Dr. J.P. Moreland, who authored the phenomenal Philosophical Foundations of a Christian Worldview (with Craig), Scaling the Secular City, and many other popular books. However, most people don't know that Moreland, as an in-demand speaker, also has his own nonprofit ministry, Eidos Christian Center. The main goal of the organization is to help support selected speakers and authors who are doing great work in promoting the Christian worldview. There are many churches and groups who may not be able to afford a speaker the caliber of Moreland, but Eidos seeks to stand in that gap, providing the funds necessary to get solid Christian thought into the minds of the larger culture. JP's been a huge influence on me in my growth as an apologist and his organization needs to be more recognized.
Support JP Moreland/Eidos Christian Center here.
Stand to Reason's Brett Kunkle & Alan Shlemon Stand to Reason is one of the flagship apologetics ministries in the country. Led by Greg Koukl, the team there is always providing top-notch teaching and material, whether on the radio, on the web, or in person. While STR is pretty well known, less so is its powerful student impact leader, Brett Kunkle and speaker Alan Shlemon. Kunkle has been doing a remarkable job with junior high and high school students, preparing them for the absolute war of worldviews they will face when heading off to college. He is the originator of the Apologetics Missions Trip concept; taking kids "in the field" to talk with atheists, Mormons, and others hostile to Christianity. Shlemon has been cutting his own path in focusing on cultural issues such as abortion, homosexual marriage, and Islam. Both gentlemen do not get paid by STR, but must raise their own support - so your gifts can mean quite a lot!
Support Brett Kunkle Support Alan Shlemon
Mike Licona/Risen JesusMike Licona has gained a rather elevated profile lately. In his monumental work, The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach, Licona delivers over 700 pages of support for the contention that the resurrection of Christ is as strong a fact of ancient history as there ever can be. However, because he also honestly included a few paragraphs that explain his struggle with the best way to approach Matthew 27:52, he's been let go from his previous ministry position and is now creating his own apologetics nonprofit. Licona's scholarship is outstanding, with many talking about his book replacing N.T. Wright's The Resurrection of the Son of God as the new standard work on the topic. As a new organization, Licona really needs your support.
Support Mike Licona/Risen Jesus
Evangelical Philosophical Society If all your favorite apologists could be considered superheroes in battling worldviews, the Evangelical Philosophical Society would be the Hall of Justice where they all congregate. The EPS has done a stellar job putting out one of the top-ranked scholarly journals on the philosophy of religion (Philosophia Christi) as well as the annual EPS Meeting where scholars can meet and discuss the latest issues in the field of apologetics. Beyond the academic arena, they host the annual EPS Apologetics Conference, where each of the over 30 speakers present for free in order to keep the costs down for the general public. The EPS basically covers their costs with memberships and subscriptions, so any donations provide a bit of a cushion to the great work they do.
Support the EPS
Illustra Media We live in a visual age and if you want to get your message across, you will need to do so visually. Concepts such as the irreducible complexity of the bacterial flagellum or the origin of life are especially difficult to discuss without a model. Luckily, apologists have Illustra Media to handle the tough task of making compelling DVDs on such intricate topics - and they do so with beauty and finesse. Using computer animation along with interviews from high-visibility personalities such as Lee Strobel and Dr. Stephen Meyer, Illustra makes a compelling case for the Creator that is as faith affirming as it is awe inspiring. All this even though the two founders operate basically out of their house!
Support Illustra Media here
International Society for Women in Apologetics I know a lot of people think that the geeky ideas of textual criticism or the biological challenges to life's origin are not going to resonate with women, but there is a definite need for female apologists, and the ISWA is seeking to make that happen. When you think about it, who is the first person to hear questions from kids about what their teachers just taught them in school? It's going to be Mom, so Christian women better be trained in how to understand and effectively answer these issues. Sarah Ankenman has put together an organization seeking to speak the language of 52% of the population (that's ladies, friends) and provide insights that men simply don't have. We need more of these!
Support ISWA here
Mary Jo Sharp/Confident Christianity Speaking of women in apologetics, Mary Jo Sharp has not only embraced her calling, but she's running with full gusto. From conference speaker to author to a couple of very stimulating debates against Islamic scholars, Mary Jo and Confident Christianity are showing what an apologetics ministry with focus and purpose can accomplish - even with a miniscule budget. Her clear style resonates well with both students and women's groups. A donation here could help Confident Christianity cover travel expenses so she can reach even more people with a smart and winsome Christian faith.
Support Confident Christianity here
Ratio Christi Ratio Christi is a unique organization reaching out to college students. Rather than creating a whole new ministry, they leverage existing Christian clubs and study groups on college campuses and universities across the country, and pair them up with a trained apologist who can help answer the tough questions that students or their professors will invariably raise. The idea of meeting people where they are is practical and I love the idea of empowering apologists to come out of the study (or away from the computer screen) and meet real students with real needs.
Support Ratio Christi here.
Apologetics 315 Ever since Brian Auten got the itch to blog his apologetics homework back around 2007, Apologetics 315 has been one of the top resource sites for gathering and disseminating apologetics information. The weekly apologist interviews along with the Top 16 Apologetics podcasts and the growing list of apologetics ministries and materials put Brian at the forefront of internet resources for both apologists and lay people. The site doesn't yet have a donation function as it isn't a fully qualified nonprofit, but you may want to contribute anyway.
Contact Apologetics 315 here

Consider using their resources, books, lectures to get yourself up to speed in sharing the Gospel and Defending the Faith this coming year.

Who would you add to the list?

What do you think?

Merry Theological Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 17:23:00 +0000

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said,

"No priest, no theologian stood at the manger of Bethlehem. And yet all Christian theology has its origin in the wonder of all wonders: that God became human. Holy theology arises from knees bent before the mystery of the divine child in the stable.

Without the holy night, there is no theology. “God is revealed in flesh,” the God-human Jesus Christ—that is the holy mystery that theology came into being to protect and preserve.

How we fail to understand when we think that the task of theology is to solve the mystery of God, to drag it down to the flat, ordinary wisdom of human experience and reason! Its sole office is to preserve the miracle as miracle, to comprehend, defend, and glorify God’s mystery precisely as mystery. This and nothing else, therefore, is what the early church meant when, with never flagging zeal, it dealt with the mystery of the Trinity and the person of Jesus Christ…

If Christmas time cannot ignite within us again something like a love for holy theology, so that we—captured and compelled by the wonder of the manger of the Son of God—must reverently reflect on the mysteries of God, then it must be that the glow of the divine mysteries has also been extinguished in our heart and has died out."

Thanks for posting Digital Evangelism.

What Do You Think?

What's Better than Gift Cards for Christmas?

noreply@blogger.com (Sacred Outfitter) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:49:00 +0000

What is better than gift cards this Christmas?

A different kind of gift.
A gift that lasts forever.
A gift that is free and frees you.
A gift that gets you off the hook.
A gift that keeps on giving.
A gift connected with the one who Created you and has a purpose for your life.

It is a free gift from God.

First, what gift are we talking about? A real man named Jesus Christ came to earth and died on a cross for the sins of the world so the wrath of God would not be against mankind. The problem is that we have all sinned and have God's anger against us.  Jesus' coming to earth and dieing on the cross for you and me was the best gift anyone could receive this Christmas and it came from the heart of God.

God's Gift is Free. Well, it really isn't free. Jesus Christ paid for the gift with his life when he died on that cross 2,000 years ago under Roman rule. The gift to us was not free to him. It was costly! It cost him his life. Jesus looked forward to going to the cross for our sins. The book of Hebrews says, "For the joy set before him, he endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). And he conquered death, by literally rising from the dead.

If we believe and receive this costly gift, Jesus Christ, you will be saved from your sin and receive forgiveness. That is good news!

Some would say you need to do something to get the gift. Maybe you have felt like you are not good enough now, but need to get a little better before finally coming to God. No! You don't need to do anything but believe in his Son Jesus. Some want to add works or "doing" to getting this prize, but that is not the case at all. It is free! It is by grace through faith you are saved, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-10). This does not make this "easy believism" or just "intellectual accent."

It is not easy to believe and receive Jesus as your Savior.
You need to know what he has done for you.
You need to understand what receiving him by faith means.
You need to be introduced to the Son of God.

That is what I am doing right now.

For some today (and for some in Biblical days), this is a hard calling by God, but God is the one drawing people to himself. You don't need to "clean up your act" before coming to faith in him as your savior. He has open arms, just asking you to embrace him.

Are you sensitive to his love for you?

Where in the Bible does it say, you don't need to do anything but believe Jesus to receive eternal life? Good question. Here are a few places to read and let sink into your soul (from the King James Version of the Bible). These are not "proof-texts", but the theme of the whole Bible using a few verses to illustrate the point. There are between 200-250 places in the Bible that specifically tell us to just "believe" in Jesus and you will be saved! It is amazing!

As you read, consider believing and receiving Jesus as your Savior today.

In the Gospel of John, you will never read the word, "repent". John, as the beloved of Jesus understood this free offer of eternal life. This is why he wrote the Gospel, so people would place their faith (trust or belief) in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Read John 20:31).

· John 1:12. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name;"

· John 1:17. "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

· John 3:6. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

· John 3:16. "...That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

· John 3:18. "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

· John 3:27. "John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven."

· John 3:33. "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true."

· John 3:36. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

· John 4:10. "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."

· John 4:14. "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

· John 4:36. "And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."

· John 5:24. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

· John 5:39-40. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."

· John 6:29. "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."

· John 6:35. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

· John 6:37. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

· John 6:40. "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

· John 6:47-51. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

· John 6:54-58. "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever."

· John 6:63. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

· John 7:38-39. "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

· John 8:24. "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

· John 11:25-26. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

· John 11:40. "Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"

· John 12:46. "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."

· John 14:1. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."

· John 14:27. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

· John 17:3. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

· John 17:20. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;"

· John 20:29. "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

· John 20:31. "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

The Gospel of Matthew was primarly written to a Jewish audience. Matthew stressed that our righteousness is a gift from God, not from us, but by the cross of Christ. We just need to believe and receive it. It is by faith.

· Matthew 5:19-20. "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

· Matthew 9:2. "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."

· Matthew 9:22. "But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour."

· Matthew 11:28. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

· Matthew 12:7-8. "But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day."

· Matthew 17:25-26. "He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free."

· Matthew 20:14-15. "Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?"

· Matthew 20:28. "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

· Matthew 21:22. "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

The Gospel of Mark is a fast-paced eyewitness account of Jesus' life and highlighting the faith of many.

· Mark 2:5. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."

· Mark 5:34. "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."

· Mark 5:36. "As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe."

· Mark 9:23-24. "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

· Mark 10:45. "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

· Mark 10:52. "And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."

· Mark 11:24. "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

· Mark 16:16. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

The Gospel of Luke is another eyewitness account of Jesus works and words written by a doctor who has an eye for details. Again, faith is highlighted.

· Luke 7:50. "And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

· Luke 8:48. "And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace."

· Luke 8:50. "But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole."

· Luke 10:40-42. "But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

· Luke 11:13. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

· Luke 17:19: "And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."

· Luke 23:42-43. "And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

Paul wrote Romans in hope of going to Rome to share the good news of JEsus Christ with them. He provides a deeply theological book here.

· Romans 3:20-26. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

· Romans 3:27-28. "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

· Romans 3:30. "Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith."

· Romans 4:5-6. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,"

· Romans 4:11-16. "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,"

· Romans 4:23-25. "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

· Romans 5:1-2. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

· Romans 5:9. "Much more than, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

· Romans 5:19-21. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

· Romans 9:30-32. "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;"

· Romans 10:4. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

· Romans 10:9-11. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

· Romans 10:13. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

· Romans 10:17. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

· Romans 11:5-6. "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."

Paul has the same theme of "faith" to the church in Galatia.

· Galatians 2:4. "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:"

· Galatians 2:16. "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

· Galatians 2:21. "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

· Galatians 3:2-3. "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"

· Galatians 3:11-14. "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

· Galatians 3:22-26. "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

· Galatians 4:30-31. "Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."

· Galatians 5:1. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

· Galatians 5:4-6. "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."

Again, Paul has the same theme of grace and faith in Ephesians.

· Ephesians 1:7. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

· Ephesians 2:8-9. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

· Ephesians 3:12. "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him."

Paul does it again in Colossians. It is not anything we do, but by God's grace. We just receive by faith.

· Colossians 2:20-23. "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."

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This is an overwhelming list of verses that point to the free gift of salvation. Just believe in Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross and receive his gift of forgiveness. That's it. Free of charge this holiday season. That is much better than gift cards and you would loose this free gift. If you believe in faith in Jesus Christ, God will keep it safe (Jude 1).

Blessings to you and Merry Christmas from Sacred Outfitter!

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