Hope in God
Faith and the Future
Bill Morehouse – Thursday Morning Men’s Bible Study
June 19, 2025
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Good News
MAINTAINING INFINITE HOPE
We are happy to support the Greater Rochester Martin Luther King Jr. Commission in reflecting this year’s theme:
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Infinite Hope
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:18-25
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Background Resources
ESV Study Bible: Genesis, Isaiah, Daniel, The Gospels of Matthew, John, Romans, Revelation
Three Historic Christian Creeds - Nicene, Apostles’, and Athanasian
Heretics for Armchair Theologians by Justo L. and Catherine Gunsalus González - October 31, 2008
Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008
Replacement Theology: What It Is, Why It Matters – ICEJ September 5, 2024 https://tinyurl.com/57udhkmm
Progressive Supersessionism by Matthew Burdette – October 1, 2024 https://tinyurl.com/yz3u8b8d
The Church Against the State by Andrew Willard Jones – January 2025 https://tinyurl.com/5dabas26
Some New World: Myths of Supernatural Belief in a Secular Age by Peter Harrison – 2025
Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2025 Review: https://short-link.me/10i40
His Kingdom and Us God’s Kingdom from α to Ω by Bill Morehouse www.hiskingdom.us
An introduction to the Modern Age in His Kingdom and Us
Celebrate Salvation! The Joy of Christian Discipleship by Bill Morehouse www.celebratesalvation.org
Cell: (585) 315-1144 Web: https://wmorehouse.com Email: wmorehouse@gmail.com
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Current Resources
Articles, Essays, and Web Links
Traditional African American Spirituals and Early Gospel Songs https://www.negrospirituals.com
Sex After Christianity by Rod Dreyer – 4/2013 tinyurl.com/53hs72xn
How Comparative Religion Took Root in the 19th Century by Livia Gershon – 1/2020 tinyurl.com/4nv7769n
Waking up in Babylon by Kirk Michael Ruch – 12/2020 tinyurl.com/6kzb4h8c
The Pope and Other Religions by Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. , archbishop emeritus – 9/2024 firstthings.com/the-pope-and-other-religions
Tim Keller’s Unshakable Hope by Matt Smethurst – 5/2025 tinyurl.com/m7bhc2ak
Pope Francis’s Muddled Mercy by Leah Libresco Sargeant, First Things – 5/2025 tinyurl.com/3zvwdkx8
Books
The Widening of God’s Mercy by Christopher and Richard Hays – 9/24, plus review of book short-link.me/-bsQ, tinyurl.com/4atbc2zy
Novels by Niall Williams: This is Happiness – 12/19 and The Time of the Child – 11/24 New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1844) translated and annotated by Robin Buss London, UK: Penguin Books, 2003
Ten Connections for the Curious by Kerry Larson Luddy – 5/25 tinyurl.com/2xhs5mde
YouTube
Steve Noblett, Tribute and Prayer – at the 2025 CCHF Conference tinyurl.com/yd85f696
Practitioner, Pioneer, and Champion of Prayer – CCHF interview with Bill Morehouse tinyurl.com/68nehwzz
Seeing Jesus More Clearly – sermon by Timothy Ateek at Watermark Church on 5/4/25 tinyurl.com/5c9z5ztd
The Gift of Prophecy, 2 – sermon by David Domina at Bethel Christian Fellowship on 5/25/25 youtu.be/Zx_7ByUKvdw
Somewhere – from Dream With Me In Concert with Jackie Evancho on March 19, 2019 tinyurl.com/mpamtzmw
Periodicals
“Sound journalism, grounded in facts and Biblical truth” https://wng.org/
First Things “Advancing a religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society” www.firstthings.com
A magazine about the intersection of religion and public life for Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, and Jews
WRM Contact Info Cell: (585) 315-1144 Web: www.wmorehouse.com Email: wmorehouse@gmail.com
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Christine and Niall Williams
Two of the hardest things
I can now say that another version of that happens in old age, when it occurs to you that since you’ve lived this long you must have learned something, so you open your eyes before dawn and think: What is it that I’ve learned, what is it I want to say?
Niall Williams
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Two Ways
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7
Two ways of being oriented to life:
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Light and Life
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. Genesis1:1-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God… John 1:9-13
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Light and Life 2
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life… John 1:9-13, 3:16
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them… having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. Ephesians 4:17; 2 Timothy 3:5
The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:3-4; 27:12
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A bit about me
1 Corinthians 14:1-3
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What is prophetic ministry?
1 Corinthians 14:3 states that when someone prophesies, they speak to people to build them up, encourage them, and comfort them. This verse highlights the purpose of prophetic speaking, emphasizing its role in fostering spiritual growth and providing support within the church community.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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What is eschatology?
Eschatology: Future oriented. Especially has to do with what will occur at the end – the end of my life and the end of history as we know it.
“From first to last, and not merely in the epilogue, Christianity is eschatology, is hope, forward looking and forward moving, and therefore also revolutionizing and transforming the present.
“The eschatological is not one element of Christianity, but it is the medium of the Christian faith as such, the key in which everything in it is set... Hence eschatology cannot really be only a part of Christian doctrine. Rather, the eschatological outlook is characteristic of all Christian proclamation, and of every Christian existence and of the whole Church.” Jürgen Moltmann
“Eschatology deals with the hope of those in this world for a world beyond their own making or even their own imagining… It is the ultimate human intention. As such, to a large extent, eschatology is best conceived in a phenomenology of human hope.” David Novak
The Oxford Handbook of Eschatology - https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/34387
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The Gospel of the Kingdom
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Hebrews 9:27-28; Matthew 24:14
God’s Kingdom reign is active both now and after Christ’s return.
The gospel of the kingdom is the good news of reconciliation between heaven and earth. It’s the amazing story God’s faithfulness, resolving the rebellion against his kingship. Grace and faith are indeed the keywords defining the two sides of that story: Heaven takes the initiative with Grace to make peace. Earth responds with Faith and allegiance to the king.
Salvation is God rescuing us from the kingdom of darkness, self, sin, and death into the eternal Kingdom of his Son.
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Salvation – Two dimensions of reconciliation and maintaining union with the true God and Creator of our Universe along with some of their benefits:
NOW Rescue from sin and many of its harmful consequences through conviction, repentance, and adoption into God’s family; then rewarded through discipleship with abundant life here.
LATER Saved from eternal separation from God and infinitely rewarded with a new heavens and new earth in the Lord’s Millennial Kingdom and then on into an eternity with Him forever after.
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Beginning End
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Beginning End
Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Death
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Beginning End
Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Adam
In God’s
Image
Heaven
Here and hereafter
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised… Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:12-15, 18-19
Are we so heavenly minded that we’re no good here and now,
or so earthly minded that we’re not advocating for heaven?
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Written in the book
At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12:1-4
Googol (“Google”) means 10 raised to the power of 100, or 1 followed by 100 zeros. That’s increased knowledge …
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Together in the clouds
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers… For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 15-18
I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27
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Between now and the end
Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:18 ESV
Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment… Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. Romans 13:2-4 ESV
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV
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Conversion
Conversion to Christianity involves a personal journey of recognizing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, often culminating in baptism and becoming a disciple. This process can be gradual or sudden, and it typically involves repentance, faith, and a commitment to follow Christ's teachings.
Elaboration:
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Jesus
Moses
Adam
Noah
Abraham
David
Mohammed
Hindu+
Buddha
Shiva
Incas+
Tengri+
Shangdi+
Ra+
Kukulkan+
Zeus+
Renaissance
Enlightenment
Progressivism
Science, Modernity
Comparative religion
UU, Evolution
Marx, Baháʼí
Globalism
Confucius
1000
500
Allah
Ezekiel
Jacob
8+ billion in 2025
Global population less than 190 million prior to Christ
The first god to appear in Greek/Roman mythology is Chaos (or Kaos), who represented the void. Chaos gave birth to two children, the Night (Nyx} and Darkness (Erebus). They in turn gave birth to Light (Aether) and Day (Hemera). They were joined shortly thereafter by Earth (Gaia). Earth (Gaia) soon gave birth to her own primordial children, Sky (Uranus) and Sea (Pontus). Time (Cronus) was identified, who fathered the god Zeus who became known as the “Father of Gods and men” and “King of Olympus.”
Various World Religions and Ideologies
But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time
of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.
,
Daniel
Jesus
Deism, UU, Bahá’í
Evolution, Marx
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Global population less than 190 million prior to Christ
Name of the God of the Bible and the Gospel is Yahweh
Various other false “gods”
and false ideologies have different names.
,
?---
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out
out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
You shall have no other gods before me.
But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time
of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.
Daniel
Jesus
Deism, UU, Bahá’í
Evolution, Marx
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,
?---
Daniel
Jesus
World Civilizations
Egypt Nubia
Babylonian Empire
Mesopotamia
Chinese dynasties
Inca Maya Aztec
Greece Rome Persia
Ottoman West Marx
*
Daniel
Jesus
Deism, UU, Bahá’í
Evolution, Marx
Living in Babylon
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:4-7
Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.
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Babylon overview
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Babylon or God’s Kingdom?
Babylon
God’s Kingdom
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What is salvation?
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper [Holy Spirit] will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:7-11
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Who is going to heaven?
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The presentation ended after the preceding slide was displayed without being discussed.
The following slides were available if additional time opened up.
India’s world
Religions
Population
Land Mass
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~4.3x
~1/3
A Hindu parable
The fable of the "Blind Men and the Elephant" originated in the ancient Indian subcontinent and appears in various forms within Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Sufi texts.
It's a parable about a group of blind men encountering an elephant for the first time and each touching a different part of the animal. Based on their limited tactile experience, they all describe the elephant differently, highlighting the concept of truth being subjective and dependent on individual perception.
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Some Worldly Ideas
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Renaissance Hindu
Humanists Polytheists
Happy Alfred
Deist Empire Dreamers
Key Enlightenment Beliefs and Ideas
Although Enlightenment philosophers and luminaries (if we may use that term) presented a veritable smorgasbord of ideas about human “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” of which there are five (all derived from the first, the “light” that supposedly comes from unfettered human reason) that may serve to summarize the intellectual and social movement that resulted, a movement which is very active to this very day:
Source: https://hiskingdom.us/kingdom-ad/modern/enlightenment/
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C. S. Lewis on Progressivism
At the root of Enlightenment Progressivism, or what C. S. Lewis called “universal evolutionism”, is the view that science and human ingenuity and effort will “progressively” solve all our problems and things will inevitably keep getting better and better until we arrive at a utopia on earth. Lewis described it this way:
The very formula of universal progress is from imperfect to perfect, from small beginnings to great endings, from the rudimentary to the elaborate, the belief which makes people find it natural to think that morality springs from savage taboos, adult sentiment from infantile sexual maladjustments, thought from instinct, mind from matter, organic from inorganic, cosmos from chaos. This is perhaps the deepest habit of mind in the contemporary world.
But there’s a fatal flaw in this ideology: without a king or theocratic ruler greater than ourselves, and with a government that’s “of the people, by the people, for the people,” we have no authority or power greater than ourselves to trust when confronting challenges greater than ourselves. This fact can draw us closer to the One who alone can sustain, protect, and bless us, as it did for so many of our Founders. Or it can encourage an intensified but misguided faith in humanity.
Source: article by Jim Denison, PhD
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Modern vs. Traditional
Modern World
Traditional West
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How many ways/paths?
Progressivism – man will continue to evolve in positive ways against resistance
Conservatism – try and test new ways, keep those that work and discard others
Reincarnation – endless cycles of incarnation and reincarnation
Materialism – matter is all that matters other than black lives
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Judging insiders?
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler – not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:32
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Wisdom and foolishness
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth… Claiming to be wise, they became fools… Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error… Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:18, 22, 24-27, 32
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Sexual immorality
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything… The body is not meant for sexual immorality [porneia], but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body… But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:12-13, 17-20
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Counterfeits
Truth
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5:13-15
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Garrison on faith and politics
“And so the good Christian people of the Heartland went ahead and elected the most corrupt and contemptuous president in our 250-year history. Unlike Nixon, he does it openly and boasts about it. He’s the man who never told a joke or made fun of himself or petted a dog or put his arm around a friend who wasn’t bought and paid for.
“Having been brought up evangelical, I thought maybe this was payment for some transgression but couldn’t think of one… Ecclesiastes says, “Whoever increases knowledge increases sorrow” and that certainly has been true of the Times front page this year. With a very active adolescent president, it’s good to take a break to restore one’s belief in human progress. ”
Garrison Keillor
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Garrison’s sociopolitical way
“May is here and we only get one a year and a person needs to go outdoors and take a deep breath, walk away from the news, which rubs our faces in the angry arrogant pointless presidency of a bonehead, and walk in the park. I grew up among solemn fundamentalist men and their dutiful wives, and though Scripture mentions joy they avoided it themselves. Whatsoever things are lovely, think on those things, said the apostle Paul and so I put away the paper and go for a walk in the park and look for little kids. This was a couple days after Pope Francis, the “people’s pope” who brought the Church to accept the blessing of gay couples, was upstaged at his own funeral by a convicted felon who is busy cutting billions and billions from medical research and humanitarian aid to desperate people. God did not put us here to be insulted and tormented, and live under malign corrupt leadership.”
Garrison Keillor
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Garrison’s theological way
“I assume that we Episcopalians will go to heaven – we are very, very nice people and not the sort you can imagine God hurling into the lake of fire – but what little we know about heaven from Scripture, the praising and rejoicing, doesn’t sound like something I care to do endlessly. For years, okay, but after half a million years it’d be heavenly to have a day of complaint and lamentation. My Unitarian friends will refuse to go to heaven because it discriminates against atheists. And heaven is authoritarian and Unitarians would demand to have seats on the planning committee. I’ll miss them.”
Garrison Keillor
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An ever more inclusive god?
Is our god becoming more inclusive and “widening His mercy” in our age to welcome more people?
Isn’t there a Bible verse that says, “Enter by the wide gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to life, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to destruction, and those who fall into it are few”?
Or are the following exclusive concepts more true to Scripture?
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. John 14:6: Hebrews 13:8
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14
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Amazing Grace
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Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost (a slave), but now am found (free), was blind, but now I see.
2
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!
3
The Lord hath promised good to me; His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.
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When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.
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Who are/were they?
1
Moses
Lawgiver, Liberator, Leader under Yahweh of Israel.
2
Buddha (Siddhartha)
Awakened One or Enlightened One, the Middle Way, Nirvana, Hindu incarnation, cycles of becoming and rebirth.
3
Jesus (Yeshua)
The only begotten Son of Yahweh, Savior and Lord of mankind, Redeemer, Word of God, Light of the world…
4
Muhammed
Prophet of Allah, founder of Islam, author of the Koran.
5
Renaissance humanism, Age of Enlightenment, Reason, Progressivism, Comparative religion, Deism, UU, Bahá’í, Evolution, Critical Theory.
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Baháʼu'lláh (Glory of God)
Most recent Manifestation of God, founder of the Baháʼí religion, author of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, etc.
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What is the Church?
A spiritual movement
• Initiated and carried out by God
• Bringing conviction and repentance
• Shining His light into the darkness
• With salvation and healing in its wings
Not a political movement
• Initiated and carried out by Man
• Bringing reform and revolution
• Swapping out different shades of grey
• With rearrangement in its wake
Not a social movement
• Initiated by the world’s zeitgeist
• Bringing cultural and social upheaval
• Replacing one set of falsehoods with another
• With unfulfilled hope and promises in the windfall
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Revealing God’s
transformational
Kingdom paradigm
in the world
CCHF Vision and Mission workshop 2021 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvxIy_flSbA
In Him we live and
move and have
our being.
Acts 17:28
What is Cultural Christianity?
Cultural Christianity refers to the cultural and societal origin and influence of Christianity, rather than a personal faith. It involves identifying with aspects of Christianity, such as its values, traditions, or ethical teachings, while spiritual Christianity emphasizes a personal relationship with God and Jesus.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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What about infant baptism?
1st century Christian baptism primarily involved adult believers, with no definitive New Testament evidence for infant baptism, which emerged gradually in the late 2nd century and became widespread by the 3rd century. By the 4th-5th centuries, it was a universal practice within the Christian church, coexisting with adult believers’ baptism. Early debates focused on the appropriateness of baptizing infants, but by the mid-3rd century the practice became common. By the 4th-5th centuries infant baptism was a universal practice within the Catholic Church.
Background:
During the early 4th century Christianity gained legal status within the Roman Empire with the Edict of Milan in 313 CE. Emperor Constantine the Great, who had converted to Christianity, played a key role in this shift. While Christianity was not immediately made the state religion, its legalization paved the way for its eventual dominance. Early on, some Romans saw Christianity as compatible with their existing religious beliefs, as they could add Jesus to their pantheon of gods without abandoning their other practices. This syncretism facilitated the spread of Christianity. By 380 CE, it had become the official religion of the Roman Empire.
See Wikipedia for a fuller explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_baptism
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Is this the same foundation?
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Exiles, sojourners, and pilgrims
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Hebrews 11:13
All Christians are pilgrims heading to the celestial city, and the Christian life is a road trip, a journey of the most exhilarating kind. It has a starting point and a terminus. It is a metaphor of movement. Derek Thomas
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God’s Word on Calling
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all…
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them…
Ephesians 4:1-6, 17
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Hope in God
Hope in God is a confident expectation and assurance of His faithfulness and goodness, rooted in belief in His character and power. It's not a mere wish but a strong faith-based assurance that God will fulfill His promises and work out His good plans. This hope provides strength, comfort, and perseverance through life's challenges.
Elaboration:
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Biblical Hope
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:12-13
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Biblical Hope
He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
1 Peter 1:3-4
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? Romans 8:24
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
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Building on a foundation
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings [βαπτισμός, baptismos or “baptisms”], the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:1-6
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The Final Judgment?
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:31-32
“And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:7-8
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The Source of Hope
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:1-5, 9-13
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
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Hope and Discipline
If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:17-19
I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27
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The Final Judgment ↑
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:31-40 ἀδελφῶν (adelphōn)
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The Final Judgment ↓
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
“Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:41-46
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Coming Home
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