And they Searched the Scriptures…..

(Acts 17:10 [KJV])

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:12
Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Acts 17:13
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
Acts 17:14
And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
Acts 17:15
And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
Acts 17:16
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Acts 17:17
Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
Acts 17:18
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
Acts 17:19
And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
Acts 17:20
For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.


It has always been my goal to encourage the reader of this blog to, stop, research, and rethink of how they understand the written word.

So often we go through life believing something that was taught through our spiritual leaders without taking the time to really sit down and search out whether what we have heard is really what the scripture is saying.

One way to make sure you can quickly know if something is kind of off, is to memorize the Word.  This is hard for some to do, but it can be done. The scripture tells us to write the Word to our heart.

While I was active I would study a subject, but my drawback was writing out notes about it.  I was trained by my grand-father to memorize songs. So that is what I did with my preaching.  I would put it to memory, and recall it when I needed it.  Maybe, it would very from time to time, but the main body was always the same.

I encourage you the next time you attend your local congregation when you get back home take the time to sit down and actually study the message you had just heard.  Use all the tools you have at your reach to see if the scripture bears it to be true.

 




 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Evangelicals where are you!

Technorati Tags: Camping,rapture,May 21,Koran burning,evangelicals,study to show,2 Timothy 2:15,Luke 6:37

In the past several months there have been several incidents that have caught my attention which made me question asking what are pastors teaching behind their pulpits.  While pondering this my thought was, someone needs to go back to Sunday School and re-learn the basics and essentials of the Scripture.

During these events I watched and listen to the news media and how they were handling and presenting the stories behind the events.  I watched intently to see if there would be a spokesperson from the field of evangelicals, and to my dismay there was absolute silence from the evangelicals of North America.  I was to the point that I if asked what faith I belonged to I would consider lying about being raised in a Pentecostal, Evangelical background.  So here I am drawing attention to the one Bible verse that most seem ignore.

2 Timothy 2:15 -Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

In this 21st century it is not enough just to graduate from grade twelve because employers want is an employee who are well educated and always finding ways of keeping up with the trends that are changing not only the home but the workplace.  No matter what field you choose, it is going to be expected of you that you are on top of everything so you can stay ahead of the curve, so that you are not left behind while someone else are out there just waiting to take your position.

The verse I have used since started this blog really is relevant today.  When countries like the United States find themselves looking at an education system that needs to reform the system and getting the students the best education.

I live in Canada and the education system is also crumbling.

Now lets look at two events that should have raised red flags for all those who claim they are evangelical.

A so called pastor goes before the press and announces that he is going to burn a Koran and urges others to join with him. Now if this had been a leader in the Muslim community announcing he was going to burn a Bible evangelicals and others would have been in a complete stage of rage.

Christ gave us the correct answer of how we are to handle a person who we disagree with strongly.

Luke 6:37 - “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”

In the end only Koran was set on fire but that was still one too many.

The next event started in May 2011 when a pastor/radio host declared that the rapture would take place on May 21, 2011 beginning around 6 p.m.

For those who have studied scripture know that this pastor, Camping, was way off the mark.

Christ in the scriptures gave us several warnings about this type of person and this type of prophecy.  Mr. Camping was declaring that at a very certain time an event would take place. Now, either Mr. Camping didn’t read the scripture in its entirety or was deceived himself trying to deceive others. Christ himself declared that He the Son of God didn’t even know the timing of when He would return to earth, but did tell of what it would look like on earth around that time.

Mark 13:22  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Mark 13:23  But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Mark 13:24  But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

Mark 13:25  And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

Mark 13:26  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Mark 13:27  And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Mark 13:28  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

Mark 13:29  So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

Mark 13:30  Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Mark 13:31  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Mark 13:32  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

May 21, 2011 came and left with no event happening where there was a rapture and people disappearing from earth.

There was a group of believers in scriptures called the ‘Bereans’.  They used every wakened moment studying the scriptures to see whether certain things we true or false.

Acts 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Acts 17:12  Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

So once again I encourage everyone to study and get to know the scriptures so that it would be very difficult for those to come around wanting to deceive people.

As someone said, ‘if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for everything.’

Please find your Bible, dust it off, and use it everyday not just on Sundays.

p.s.  - you can know reach me with questions, thoughts at: rethinkingscripture@gmail.com

The Empty Vessel of a preacher

Several days ago I heard a story concerning a preacher and those around him. Those around the man told the story that they had never seen the preacher reading God's word.
How would you feel if you are a parent and it was found out that the teacher never studied the subject the teacher was to teach the students under the teacher's care.
When a person neglects to study the neglect shows up eventually when nothing comes out.
Jesus told us in His' teachings that what defiles a person is what comes out of the person, not what goes in.
"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." (Matthew 15:11 KJV)
Doctors tell us that a person can go about four days without water.
When it comes to the spiritual man, it cannot go without a routine of the 'Word'.
Paul writes to the church in Ephesus that our inner man needs the 'water of the word' to keep us cleansed.
"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," (Ephesians 5:26 KJV)
The adage that says, 'what goes in, is that which comes out'
Paul and Peter were in trouble in the city they were in and when night came people helped them sneak out of town and into a place called Berea. As they spoke to the Bereans, the Bereans did not just accept what the apostles told them, but they went and studied daily to see if Paul and Peter were correct with how they taught the Word of God.
"And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews." (Acts 17:10 KJV)
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11 KJV)
Do you have a daily routine of searching the scriptures to see if what your spiritual leader was speaking correctly and was a workman that didn't need to be ashamed.
So, to the leaders, whether you are a pastor, Sunday School teacher,or any ministry that you are in a place of teaching, are you taking in enough 'water of the word', or are you dehydrated for a lack of searching the scriptures.
If you are a person who is under a ministry and the ministry is empty, I would suggest to you to seek out a ministry who can give out richly because he has a steady in-flow of the scriptures.