Part 7J. The Importance of Kindreds
The importance of broad family and kindred groups to God’s work on Earth and my initiative to my own.
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Part 7I. My Personal Experiences With Prophecy, Presented for Review and Comment.
What happened when I prayed for the gift of prophecy in the middle of 2000. How did God answer? The jury is still out. Discussion is invited.
Part 7H: Is God Speaking? Determining Who is Speaking.
God gives us tests to use to determine whether a message we hear came from him or from somewhere else. Most of these tests apply regardless of whether the message comes from an internal voice or through the mouth or writings of another person who claims to speak for God. They start with the overarching test “do I recognize my Shepherd’s voice in what is said?”
God’s Work and Voice in Me, Part 7G: Didn’t the Apostles Say God Was About to Quit Speaking to Us?
The blog post discusses various scriptures in an attempt to address the topic of whether God ceased to speak after the Bible was finished. The author contests teachings that this is the case, arguing that scriptures often thought to support this view require numerous assumptions. The post suggests that the divine dialogue continues, challenging readers to approach scripture with less literal interpretation and more open-minded understanding. The author plans to discuss each scripture in greater detail in subsequent posts and videos.
God’s Work and Voice in Me, Part 7F: To Speak or Not to Speak, that is the Question
If God is still speaking to us, why don’t we hear him more? This presentation reviews the reasons given in Scripture.
A God who Speaks, Conversation with God, God Acts by Speaking, God Never Stopped Speaking, God Speaks to Us, God's purpose for us, God's sovereignty, God's Voice, His Children, His Friends, Language and Speech, Must Trust God to Enter, Parables, Refusing to hear, Rejecting God, Show us the Way of Truth, The Bible, The Kingdom of the Heavens, Through Jesus, Through the church, Trusting sight over God's words, Ultimate reality, What is God's Word, What is sin?
God’s Work and Voice in Me, Part 7E: God’s Voice in the New Testament
The voice of God as found being spoken to various people in the New Testament, both publicly and privately.
God’s Work and Voice in Me, Part 7D: Voices Anyone? An immodest proposal,
As one who has long had the experience of being aware, at times, of God’s voice, I propose to the Church at large that we should 1) treat spiritual “voices,” in general, as real and not as mere symptoms of mental illness, 2) learn to distinguish God’s voice from the other voices in our world, and 3) resolve to follow God’s voice. #3 is the key, because we will not be able to discern God’s voice unless we are his sheep, who hear and follow it.
A God who Speaks, Compulsory Christianity, Conversation with God, God Acts by Speaking, God Never Stopped Speaking, God Speaks to Us, God's purpose for us, God's Voice, Heresy, Language and Speech, Peril of Seeking Power, Peril of Seeking Respectability, Social control and statecraft, The Kingdom is all around us, The Kingdom of the Heavens, To be in his image
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.
Part 7B: What Does a “Relationship” with God Mean?
A strange thing happened in the 1970’s–we learned for the first time that what we need is a “personal relationship” with Christ. But this terminology is not scriptural, and was left largely undefined, with curious results. That “relationship” became self-defined! What does it mean? What should it mean? What are a believer’s relationships with God? Jesus is our shepherd, older brother, King, teacher and friend, but the word “relationship” is not found. We are called God’s children, house, temple and sheep, but never said to be “in a relationship” with him.
A God who Speaks, Conversation with God, God Never Stopped Speaking, God Speaks to Us, God's purpose for us, God's Voice, His Children, His Friends, Language and Speech, Peril of Seeking Power, Peril of Seeking Respectability, Social control and statecraft, The Kingdom is all around us, The Kingdom of the Heavens, Through Jesus, To bear fruit
You Are Not the One to Build, Part 7A: God Uses No Cookie Cutters
God uses our uniqueness and gives unique gifts and roles. He does not make interchangeable, cookie-cutter believers for our administrative convenience. Examples: the first deacons, Stephen, Philip. Paul and the anomalous New Testament prophets.