Category Archives: Christian Living and Practice

Matthew 5:17-48 – Jesus Speaks About The Hot Topics Of His Day – Part 1

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sermon on the mount

I read an article in the online edition of the Evening Leader, which is the local St. Marys daily newspaper.  This article was talking about the history of the “hobo” in the St. Marys, Ohio area.  Now some of you might not know what a hobo is/was.  Back in the 1930’s through about the 1950’s in this area there was a traveling group of men that moved from place to place seeking work.  Their main mode of transportation was the railroad that ran through the heart of town.

They would hop on the trains and go from place to place to work and earn a little money to go to the next place.  They would establish hobo villages if you could call them that.  They were more accurately places they would congregate for protection from the weather and to share their stories with one another.  It was quite an interesting article.

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TMR 129 : Dr. Mike Spaulding : Isn’t It Obvious How You Read The Bible?

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Julian Charles

I recently had the blessing to join Julian Charles on his show, The Mind Renewed. It was a wonderful conversation. I hope you will be encouraged by it. Below is the show notes from Julian’s site.

For TMR’s final programme of 2015 we are joined by Dr. Mike Spaulding, Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel, Lima and host of Soaring Eagle Radio, for a discussion on the subject of Biblical Hermeneutics.

Isn’t it obvious how we should read the Bible? After all, if it says such-and-such, surely it means such-and-such, and that’s the end of the matter? Or is it really always quite so straightforward? Drawing upon his many years of study, grounded in the context of pastoral ministry, Dr. Spaulding guides us through the maze of biblical hermeneutics – observation, interpretation and application – and shares with us some invaluable tools that can help us unlock the plain meaning of the Scriptures.

Click here to listen.

Scripture and the Authority of God in the 21st Century – Part 2

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Scripture - it is finished in red letters

Part Two – The Authority of God Historically in American Culture

As late as 1873 God’s authority and the supremacy of the Bible was raised as an unassailable tower of strength. In that year retired President of Yale, Reverend Theodore Woosley, in a speech to the Evangelical Alliance proclaimed, “In what sense can this country be called a Christian country?  In this sense certainly, that the vast majority of the people believe in Christ and the Gospel, that Christian influences are universal, that our civilization and intellectual culture are built on that foundation . . .”[1]  John Warrick Montgomery paints a very accurate picture of the influence of Christianity on life in America that supports Woosley’s contention.[2]  He suggests that because American culture was influenced from its very inception by Christian theism there existed a depository of values from which Americans drew.  Through the early 20th century America utilized this “inherited capital” of Christianity as a vanguard of sorts to draw upon when answering the questions of life that resulted from societal turmoil.  Eventually however, the forces unleashed in the Enlightenment, most notably empiricism coupled with scientific inquiry informed by naturalism managed to shake off what was viewed as religious constraints.

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Scripture and the Authority of God in the 21st Century

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Scripture - it is finished in red letters

This article explores the subject of Scripture and the Authority of God in the 21st Century.  Part one will discuss the authority of God understood within Christian theism generally and historically.  Part two will discuss the authority of God historically within American culture.   Part three will consider God’s authority within 21st century postmodern America as that philosophical system increasingly dominates most scholarly activities today.  Part four will be a Christian theistic response to the conditions discussed in part three.

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Love Lifted Me

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Jesus saves from drowning

I am in my study preparing for tomorrow’s sermon in which I will be teaching through Psalm 38.  I began this chapter last week and laid the groundwork for what I will cover tomorrow. Meditating on 38:4 created a word picture for me. Here is the verse:

“For my iniquities are gone over my head;
As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me” (NASB)

What do you picture? I picture a person lost at sea and becoming overwhelmed by the waves and slowly but inevitably losing the fight against the power of the ocean and sinking into death.

The Psalmist is describing sin in this passage. Sin is devastating to our physical and spiritual man. It will if left unchecked slowly swallow us up by shear force. What a picture this is of the person who refuses to cry out to Jesus in saving faith and instead slowly sinks into death.

Jesus casts a wide net to rescue all who are perishing in the sea of sin; all who cry out, “save me Jesus for I am a sinner.” Friends Jesus lifts us up out of our sin and puts our feet on the solid ground of trust, hope, faith, and love.

This picture reminded me of an old hymn I enjoy singing. Be blessed today friends in the hope and asurance that Christ brings to every soul who by faith belongs to Him.

Love Lifted Me

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Refrain:
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me!

All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling,
In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service, too, to Him belongs.

Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves;
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.

Words and music by James Rowe, 1912

Copyright: Public Domain