Category: Faith

Bible

Moses & Antichrist: An end-times deception?

Chris

End-times prophecy is a powerful “hot button” in the Church. Some people don’t want anything to do with it because it scares them to death. Others surround their entire existence around it. My own approach is mixed. I’m no end-times expert, but I know that it is valuable. Still, I believe that we need to learn to live for Christ according to the Word of God in our current day or we will have little hope in the darker days of mankind.

charlton-heston-as-moses

In those times when I stumble upon something I’ve never heard shared about end-times, I feel like it is a good idea to pass it along. So I wrote a short essay about one of my recent discoveries. When we take the description of the world’s second greatest villain (Satan being the first), and put it next to some verses from the Old Testament, there is the possibility for an incredible deception.

It is best to read the entire article to get a sense of the details as it is longer than what I normally post. You can download it here as an Adobe Acrobat PDF. Please feel free to leave your comments on this page in the “Join the conversation” section.

Bible, Ministry

New Christmas Bible Study: “The Babe is the Lamb”

Chris

BabeIsTheLamb thumb

It’s November, which means that it is time for a new Christmas-themed Bible study. It is written as three sessions, for use leading up to Christmas. This study was originally used for a midweek Bible study. You could also use it as a small group discussion starter or a personal study.

To view the study, you can use the embedded reader below, or download an Adobe PDF file from issuu.com or scribd.com.

About this Study

Why did Jesus have to come? What purpose was there in God taking on flesh? As it is often said, Jesus was born to die. Understanding the coming of Jesus to Earth comes from an understanding of His sacrifice.

Jesus is called “the Lamb of God” at the opening of His ministry and again in the Book of Revelation. Learn why a sacrifice was required and what Jesus accomplished as God’s perfect Lamb.

Bible, Christian Living

New Bible Study: The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Chris

Earlier this year I led our church through a six-week study on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is a highly volatile and misunderstood element of the Christian life.

This weekend is Pentecost Sunday. To help you with your questions about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit our study is now available as a free PDF download. Explore the promise of the Baptism, its arrival on Pentecost and its continual outpouring, tongues as the initial evidence and the roles of tongues as revealed in Paul’s writings, and more.

You can use the reader below, or you can view and download the document on Scribd.com.

Bible, Christian Living

The LIFE Offered by the Resurrection (Audio)

Chris

On Easter Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His resurrection is proof that His word and promise are true, and a seal and guarantee of our eternal life if we believe in Him. Yet Jesus also offered a different way of life for the days we walk on this Earth. He offered us abundant life (John 10:10).

2013-03 Easter t

Jesus offers us this LIFE and makes it possible in the power of God that raised Him from the dead. There are four elements of this LIFE. When one or any combination of these elements is weak or failing, our remains less than abundant.

  • Liberty
  • Intimacy
  • Fellowship
  • Empowerment
[audio http://gatewaycampbellton.com/audio/2013-0331.mp3]

Continue reading “The LIFE Offered by the Resurrection (Audio)” →

Bible, Christian Living

Receive Your Full Portion

Chris

There is one part of Good Friday that I stumbled upon while preparing for the Passion season. It is possible because of Good Friday, but it was revealed through Jesus’ presentation at the Last Supper. Switching to the Book of Luke, let’s look at what Jesus says there, and how it can revolutionize our life in Him.

pouring water

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” (Luke 22:14-18)

What we call Communion or The Lord’s Supper is described in the verses that follow. Jesus took the bread, gave thanks for it, handed it to His Disciples and told them to do this in remembrance of Him. Then He took the cup again and did the same.

Continue reading “Receive Your Full Portion” →

Bible, Christian Living

Understanding the Biblical Blessing (part 2)

Chris

Every good parent wants to see their children do well. They want to see them thrive in their lives, not having to struggle, finding success and being rewarded for every effort. When parents know Christ they want their children to walk in God’s favor and receive God’s blessing.

In an earlier post we talked about when God began blessing those He had chosen to be His people. God blessed Abraham and continued to bless the following generations. A practice that has caught a lot of attention over the years is that of parents giving blessings to their children, asking God to bless that child’s life. Parents are encouraged to bless their children, regardless of their age or stage of life.

But if we take a look at the biblical record for bestowing the blessing of God, we find a different pattern. The timing of the blessing is crucial. It could be that parents are bringing harm on themselves while they are giving blessings to their children.

Continue reading “Understanding the Biblical Blessing (part 2)” →