Billy Graham Gets Me a Seminary Degree!

I appreciate the help that Billy Graham gave to those seeking evangelical theological education.  Growing up I was aware of the crusades on TV and how people felt about Billy Graham.  But when I learned about his involvement in Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I saw a huge part of his work that some may not know about even today, during the week of his funeral.  I recommend reading about the founding Gordon-Conwell as part of learning the larger history of post WWII evangelicalism in America.  It is truly fascinating stuff, and I thoroughly enjoyed studying under and seeing in person some of those leaders who were involved in it way back then.  I found it to be very helpful in finding theological identity in the postmodern world in which there seems no place for truth.  I believe that all this began for me during those busy years in South Hamilton.  Here are photos I took back then from the 1992 Convocation, and of his printed signature on our degrees. Dr. Graham also spoke at Commencement in 1994, when I received my M.Div.  There are links to the videos of these occasions via Gordon-Conwell.  I hope all this expands your appreciation for Billy Graham, and other leaders like him, who where (and are!) a great help to those seeking the truth through theological education.

Billy Graham 1994 Commencement Gordon College Chapel

Convocation 1992 GCTS Chapel

Happy because of Jesus,
Pastor James

God's Word to You: A Summary of the Bible

From inside the cover of Lifeway's The Gospel Project Chronological: 

God's Word to You: A Summary of the Bible

In the beginning, the all-powerful, personal God created the universe. This God created human beings in His image to live joyfully in His presence, in humble submission to His gracious authority. But all of us have rebelled against God and, in consequence, must suffer the punishment of our rebellion: physical death and the wrath of God.

Thankfully, God initiated a rescue plan, which began with His choosing the nation of Israel to display His glory in a fallen world. The Bible describes how God acted mightily on Israel's behalf, rescuing His people from slavery and then giving them His holy law. But God's people - like all of us - failed to rightly reflect the glory of God.

Then, in the fullness of time, in the Person of Jesus Christ, God Himself came to renew the world and restore His people. Jesus perfectly obeyed the law given to Israel. Though innocent, He suffered the consequences of human rebellion by His death on a cross. But three days later, God raised Him from the dead.

Now the church of Jesus Christ has been commissioned by God to take the news of Christ's work to the world. Empowered by God's Spirit, the church calls all people everywhere to repent of sin and to trust in Christ alone for our forgiveness. Repentance and faith restores our relationship with God and results in a life of ongoing transformation.

The Bible promises that Jesus Christ will return to this earth as the conquering King. Only those who live in repentant faith in Christ will escape God's judgment and live joyfully in God's presence for all eternity. God's message is the same to all of us: repent and believe, before it is too late. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved.

Happy b/c of Jesus,

Pastor James

Pope Glenn Beck

Does anyone remember asking for radio talk show host Glenn Beck's opinion on what the Evangelical churches should be preaching, teaching, doing or thinking? I thought not.  How would a radio talk show host know what is going on within any church except his own? Do we really set the agenda of the Kingdom of God by polls and felt needs? While some of his (rather obvious and predictable) subjects have partial merit, his delivery and automatic assumption of authority are painful to hear. That's one more reason to turn to a more Godly sound.  One Pope is more than enough.

Life of Jesus, as if we were college students

How about some talking points?  This list of facts follows the introductory section of a very well-used introductory religion textbook.  My observation here is that it is reported that very many "professing Christians" don't even accept these points as working presuppositions. So here you go- wrestle with this. 

The Life of Jesus

• Born between 4 and 1 BCE in the Judean city of Bethlehem.
• Spent his youth in the Galilean village of Nazareth.
• When he was 30 he went south to the Judean wilderness, where he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan river.
• John the Baptist appears like an OT prophet in the NT.
• John the Baptist was apocalyptic, warning people of God's imminent judgment.
• John the Baptist called on sinners to repent
• John the Baptist called on them to be Baptized in water as a sign of spiritual cleansing.
• Jesus' preaching agreed with the preaching of John the Baptist, as did much preaching of the early church.
• During his 3 year ministry that followed, Jesus was more or less an itinerant preacher who travelled around with a group of disciples, or students.
• Jesus spoke with authority on the OT scriptures.
• He said the KOG was coming so people should repent, or be sorrowful and willing to change from their sins.
• He said there would be a new era of peace and holiness.
• Jesus companions and followers grew as he travelled.
• These included women, who are prominent in the gospel.
• Jesus was friends with women
• Jesus ate with women in public and in private
• Jesus' women followers stayed with him even in his final days when others abandoned him
• Jesus was on the “cutting edge” rejecting social norms of the day
• Jesus became very popular.
• This caused opposition and resentment from the clergy guild and the religious establishment of his day.
• Jesus seems to have know about this, and that dark days were coming for him and his followers.
• He warned his disciples that rejection, suffering, and death awaited him there.
• Jesus travelled to Jerusalem and arrived just before Passover.
• The gospels described a triumphal entry in where Jesus was greeted.
• Jesus entered Herod's Temple, and “cleansed” the temple by driving out those who had businesses there. This caused a problem.
• Jesus taught in the temple for several days, and then the authorities planned against him.
• Within hours after celebrating a “Last Supper” with his disciples, Jesus was brought before a council of Jewish leaders.
• He was accused of blasphemy
• He was handed over to the Romans
• Pilate thought Jesus was a public threat,
• He ordered Jesus execution.
• Jesus was crucified (hung on a cross) on a Friday, just hours before Passover began and less than a week after he had entered Jerusalem.
• So there is a rough historical outline.
• Matthew and Luke assert that Mary was a virgin.
• All 4 gospels say the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at his Baptism.
  • In Mat, Mark, Luke a theophonic voice is heard, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” So the gospels link Jesus to King David who was described as God's anointed and son.
  • Jesus is also ID'd as the servant of God who would suffer for the sake of humanity.
    So Jesus was understood by Christians, through an interpretation of certain OT scriptures, to be the Son of God who filled with Spirit of God would suffer for the sins of others.
    All Four gospels say that some of the women who followed Jesus found his tomb empty at dawn on the Sunday following his crucifixion.
  • Some post-resurrection appearances are recorded in some Gospels.
  • When Jesus appeared, his followers remembered how he had predicted the whole thing.
  • In Acts, Jesus stayed 40 days after his resurrection.
  • Jesus sent his disciples out as apostles “one who is sent out”
  • They were to preach to the Ancient Palestinian Jews and the Jews in the diaspora.
  • Jesus then ascended into heaven, bodily, in plain site. A miracle story-
  • As the disciples celebrated the Jewish holiday Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on them just as had happened to Jesus at his Baptism.
  • Jesus' followers had power, and so the message about him spread.
• The early Christians were mostly practicing Jews. Christianity was originally a Jewish sect, preaching to Jews.

After his crucifixion by the Roman rulers of Judea (in modern Israel), Jesus’ followers proclaimed his resurrection and identity as God’s messiah.

• As the Book of Acts goes on, we see early Christianity open up to Gentiles or non-Jews.
• Some NT books seem to be written for a Gentile audience, and not primarily Jews.