Through teachers

An important decision about my articles

The most important lesson of the last six months of my life is: to be who I am without reservation, without restraint. I’m a teacher, not a mushroom. And I participate in a Hispanic church. Therefore, I will write in Spanish first.

Una decisión importante sobre mis artículos

La lección más importante de los últimos seis meses de mi vida es: ser quien soy sin reservas, sin contención. Soy maestro, no hongo. Participo en una iglesia hispana y ouedo escribir en español. Por eso, ahora voy a escribir primero en español.

Part 7C: God Speaks to Us–He Never Quit Speaking

This post and the linked video discuss a few New Testament passages in which God tells us that he intends to continue communicating with us. This set of passages have at least plausible interpretations that do not require present-time vocal communication. The next video will cover passages that appear to require current-time spoken communication.

You Are Not the One to Build, Part 6B: Spiritual Gifts: God Works through us for His Purpose

The modern emphasis on first identifying my “gift” so that I may then “help” God develop it gets the matter exactly backwards. The important thing isn’t identifying my gift, it is offering my body as a living sacrifice so that the Spirit may exercise any gift He chooses through me. Then any gift I am observed to be actually exercising can be identified as my gift, and its exercise will be genuine and have God’s power.

You Are Not the One to Build, Part 6A: Persons given to the Church and formal “offices.”

Addresses the subject of the roles of the people said in Ephesians 4 to be “given” to the Church by Christ and the qualifications and roles of church officers mentioned in the New Testament–overseers, officially recognized elders, and church servants (deacons). Also discusses the role of elders–older people in the church–even when not formally recognized as leaders, with application to me, the author of this presentation.

You are not the one to build…

A summary of my calling and life direction. I am becoming comfortable with the idea that most of the positive effect of my life will occur after it is over and that, among humans, I will receive no credit for it.

God Speaks to Us through His Spirit

God speaks to us through his Holy Spirit, who must teach us–by building within us–everything we truly know of God. God also speaks to the world through us, by his Spirit who is building his image within us.

Objective of teaching: Repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, 2 Timothy 2:24-26

The main purpose of Christian teaching is to give all those who follow the words and example of the teacher rescue out of the snare of the devil through repentance–a complete change of life direction–leading to a full knowledge of the truth–Jesus himself.