Tag: preachers
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Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Daily Devo, John 1:29-34
When I read this passage at face-value, it seems as though John the Baptizer does not know his cousin is the messiah until the Holy Spirit descends in this moment. This was not a premeditated rouse to capture followers for a new religion or cult. Jesus didn’t tell John. John was prepared to testify to…
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I’m No Prophet or Messiah: Daily Devo, John 1:19-34
John the Baptizer begins his public ministry, comprising mostly preaching Old Testament messianic passages and baptizing Jews who come to him. Some leading Jews come out from Jerusalem to question John, but John was not trying to be the next public teaching figure. Unlike others, he was not claiming to be the literal resurrection of…
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Daily Devotional: Ephesians 4:7-16
After describing who God is and, consequently, what we are—one body—he now turns to show us what makes us individually important in the body of Christ. Δε, the first word in verse 7, can be translated “but” or “now.” Now, to each one of us grace was given. Christ determines the measure of grace each…
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Desire Prophecy, Don’t Forbid Speaking in Tongues
Paul is writing to the local church at Corinth in order to admonish the congregation toward unity in the faith—unity through maturity. He is currently addressing the practice of spiritual gifts—particularly those of prophecy and speaking in tongues. He has admonished the local church to prioritize love, which edifies. He has also instructed the congregation…
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The Pastor’s “Right” to a Paycheck
Paul is admonishing the church at Corinth toward unity through maturity. In the previous section, he encouraged the church toward Christian liberty to God’s glory—showing that abstinence from good things may be necessary for a time in order to exhort brothers and sisters in the faith so their consciences may be strengthened in the liberty…
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Why I Determine to Know Nothing
Paul’s goal is to encourage the church at Corinth toward unity through maturity in the knowledge of Christ (1:10). He explicitly mentioned the wisdom of the world as a source of conflict in the Corinthian church (1:22-23). Today, there is much worldly wisdom in our society and in the church that leads to great division.…