Equipping curious minds to think critically about religion.
Jim mentioned to me recently that he’s been looking into Bible study software to aid in the efficiency of his ministry. Logos Bible Software seems to be the superior tool for his needs. I know the cost of that resource would be a burden to him and his wife, both of whom are retired. I want to heed the Apostle Paul’s admonish in his letter to the Galatians that “The one who is taught the Word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.”
Happiness is what happens based on our circumstances in this world. In contrast, joy is knowing God is in control. There is not necessarily happiness in all circumstances, but there can be joy within all circumstances. Christ taught that we would experience persecution, but whatever happens, God has made you to meet the challenge.
The apostle Paul commands his readers to “be anxious for nothing”. Whoa. Is that what he really means? The topic of this sermon is hermeneutics, which is a fancy word for “how to understand and apply a text”. The term is most often used in the context of the Christian Bible; however, you can apply hermeneutics to any text. There are LOTS of commands (in other words, direct instructions) in scripture. How can Christians know which commands apply to them and which don’t?
How do Christians live in and respond to the world they live in but aren’t a part of spiritually? It’s God who puts governments and rulers in power, right? Does this mean President Joe Biden is in power because God gave him that power? If we disagree with the way our government is doing things, what should the Christian response be?
In this interview I ask my long-time friend and mentor, Jim Shaul (whose sermons have been posted regularly on this site) to give his advice to someone who realizes they should give religion more serious consideration. For those folks, my hope is for them to stumble across this interview and come away with some options for next steps.
Name the Unknown 