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And He said to them, 'Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." - Jesus, (Matthew 17:20 NASB)

Contents

Christian websites

Video

Prayer, Bible reading and Christian conduct

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"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart." - Solomon, (Proverbs 3:3, NASB)

Prayer

Bible reading

Faith without works is dead

Church attendance

Discipleship

Christian thoughtlife, conduct and encouragement

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Philippians 4:8

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." - Colossians 3:2

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." - Isaiah 26:3 ES

"Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." - Proverbs 2:2-5

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." - James 1:19-20

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me" - Philippians 4:13 ESV

"The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." - Exodus 15:2

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." - Ephesians 6:10

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." - Colossians 2:6-8

Self-sacrifice, self-denial and love

Jesus on self-denial/self-sacrifice: "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." (Luke 9:23)

Protestant work ethic

Cost of discipleship

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Saint Stephen was one of the first seven deacons in the Christian Church. The portrait features Stephen holding a Gospel Book in a 1601 painting by Giacomo Cavedone.

St. Stephen was the first martyr of the Christian church.

Christian liberty

Preachers

Famous sermons

John Wesley:

Charles Spurgeon:

F.F. Bosworth:

Jonathon Edwards:

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Futility of life/thinking without God

How Oxford and atheist Peter Singer drove me from atheism to Jesus

Christian apologetics and the Christian life

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And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:3-9)

Christian apologetics/cultural blogs:

Benefits of Christianity upon a culture

Religion and culture blogs

Christian apologetics video series

Sean McDowell

Christian apologetics videos

How to graduate with your faith intact

Christian character

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"How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver, And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast." - Solomon, (Proverbs 3:13-18 NASB)

Forgiveness

Four R's of forgiveness

Christian concepts

1) Remorse • 2 Corinthians 7:8–11

2) Repentance: • Matthew 21:28–31

3) Reformation: • Mt. 3:8; • Jer. 18:11 • Heb. 9:9-12

4) Restoration: • Mt. 27:3; • Lk. 23:34 • Ac. 26:17–18; • Ro. 5:12

See also:

• 2 Co. 2:5–8; 10–11 • Pr. 28:13; • Dan. 9:4–12 • Mt. 14:all; • Mt. 19:22 • Hebrews 12:17

Non-Christian source
  • The 4 R's of forgiveness - Non-Christian source (related for forgiving others or yourself) - Responsibility, Remorse, Restoration, Renewal[1]

Jesus Christ: His sacrificial love

Garden of Gethsemane

Developing good habits and breaking bad habits

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Monastery of St. Nektarios. Aegina, Greece

See also: Developing good habits

Quote: A Christian must be courteous to all

See also: Saint Nektarios of Aegina

“A Christian must be courteous to all. His words and deeds should breathe with the grace of the Holy Spirit, which abides in his soul, so that in this way he might glorify the name of God. He who regulates all of his speech also regulates all of his actions. He who keeps watch over the words he is about say also keeps watch over the deeds he intends to do, and he never goes out of the bounds good and benevolent conduct. The graceful speech of a Christian is characterized by delicateness and politeness. This fact, born of love, produces peace and joy. On the other hand, boorishness gives birth to hatred, enmity, affliction, competitiveness, disorder and wars.” – Saint Nektarios of Aegina

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Greek icon of Saint Nektarios of Aegina

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Quote from Saint Nektarios of Aegina's book Know Thyself

"If you wish to know God you must first know yourself." - Saint Nektarios of Aegina

Christian worldview

Evangelism

Internet evangelism

Christianity articles

History of Christianity

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St. Sophia's Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine.

See also: Famous Cathedrals

Free online book on the history of Christianity:

The History of the Christianity by Philip Schaff was an 8 volume work. Philip Schaff was a Swiss-born, German-educated Protestant theologian and ecclesiastical historian, who spent most of his adult life living and teaching in the United States.

History of Christianity, BBC documentary by Diarmaid McCullough (English academic and historian, specialising in ecclesiastical history and the history of Christianity):

Miscellaneous history of Christianity resources:

  • Historical Theology for Everyone, YouTube channel by Ryan M. Reeves (PhD Cambridge) is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
  • Council of Chalcedon, Ryan M. Reeves (PhD Cambridge) is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
  • Ambrose and Jerome, Ryan M. Reeves (PhD Cambridge) is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Church services and the early church

Eastern Orthodox Christianity

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the mass/service is called the Divine Liturgy.

"In the Orthodox tradition, the faithful stand up for nearly the entire service."[2]

"The original liturgy lasted something over five hours; those people must have been on fire for God. The Liturgy of St. Basil edited this down to about two and a half, and later (around 400 A.D.) the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom further reduced it to about one and a half. Most Sundays we use the St. John Chrysostom liturgy, although for some services (e.g., Sundays in Lent, Christmas Eve) we use the longer Liturgy of St. Basil."[3]

Christianity timeline

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Books on the history of Christianity

Protestantism

Evangelical Christianity

Evangelical colleges and universities

Francis Schaeffer: How shall we then live video series

God's love

Audio Bibles

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Saint Volodymyr's Cathedral in Ukraine.

2014 Bible reading plan

Christian websites and blogs

Sermons and related material

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"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." - Genesis 1:1

Relying on God's strength:


Heaven and hell:


Heaven:


Hell:

The true Christian:

Other sermons and related material - Classics

John Wesley:

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Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst

Hudson Taylor:

John Knox:


Paul Washer:

Adrian Rogers:

James Orr:


Charles Spurgeon:

Various areas

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Faith:

Motives/thinking before acting:

Overcoming:

God's Total Commitment

Marriage and the Love of Christ

Pastor Tim Conway Preaching on the Love of Christ at a Wedding

Pride

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Men Hate God and Suppress the Truth

Being God Fearing:

Anvil of God's Word:

Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.:

Self-Discipline

Self-discipline Other:

Self-sacrifice:

Good Habits:

Working and sharing:

Christian spiritual growth:

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Some Things I Have Learnt In 50 Years by Zac Poonen:

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Christian character:


Jacob/Joseph and his brothers:


Victory:

Pulling down strongholds:

Sin:

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Christ Church in Shimla, India is the second oldest church in North India.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Divine Hiddenness

Modal arguments for the existence of God:

Comfort zone:

Revivals

Sermons on revival:

Fruits of the Spirit

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Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

Love

"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Joy

Peace

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St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, Ukraine

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-control

Believers life and position in Christ - Romans, Ephesians and other books of the Bible

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Church in Santorini Greece.

Eternal security of salvation doctrine and Calvinism vs. Arminiasm

Eternal security of salvation doctrine:

Calvinism vs. Arminiasm

Debates

A Debate With Trent Horn & Dr. James White

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Kottakkavu Forane Church & Pilgrim Centre, North Paravur, India

Trinity - Coequal nature of the persons of the Godhead

  • Trinity - General article on the trinity

Onological trinity and economic trinity:

Messiah

God's wisdom vs. man's wisdom

Supernatural vs. naturalism

Healing

Divine healing:

Brain health and supernatural healing

Bible inerrancy

Robert Dick Wilson

Quotes

"I have come to the conviction that no man knows enough to attack the veracity of the Old Testament. Every time when anyone has been able to get together enough documentary 'proofs' to undertake an investigation, the biblical facts in the original text have victoriously met the test" - Robert Dick Wilson, quoted in R. Pache, The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture).

"We may take the purely defensive line and endeavor to show that the general and particular attacks upon the truthfulness of the Old Testament narratives are unsupported by facts. Or, we may take the offensive and show that the Old Testament narratives are in harmony with all that is really known of the history of the world in the times described in the Old Testament records, and that these records themselves contain the ineffaceable evidence that the time and place of their origin agree with the facts recorded. The best method, perhaps, will be to make an offensive-defensive, showing not merely that the attacks are futile, but that the events recorded and the persons and things described are true to history,—that is, that they harmonize in general with what we learn from the contemporaneous documents of other nations.

This is true of the very earliest narratives of the Old Testament... From this time downward there is no good reason for doubting that the Biblical narrative is derived from written sources based on contemporaneous documents." - Robert Dick Wilson

“It is the purpose of the present volume to show that intelligent Christians have a reasonable ground forconcluding that the text of the Old Testament which we have is substantially correct, and that, in its true and obvious meaning, it has a right to be considered a part of the ‘infallible rule of faith and practice’ that we have in the Holy Scriptures.” - Robert Dick Wilson, A Scientific Investigation of the Old Testament (1926)

External links

Bible authority - acronym: How Do We Know the Bible Is True?- British theologian Brian Edwards

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Painting: Sermon on the Mount by Carl Bloch (1877)
  • Accuracy demonstrates it
  • Unity supports it
  • Thinking minds endorse it
  • Human nature requires it
  • Our Savior taught it
  • Revelation confirms it
  • Its own claims demands it
  • The character of God confirms it
  • Your personal experience illustrates it

Bible

Bible exegesis

Scripture memorization

Benefits of memorizing Scripture

"Scripture Memorization Works:

Every time we think a thought, including when we memorize and meditate on scripture, our brains are changed. Dr. Amen, a clinical neuroscientist and psychiatrist and author of Making a Good Brain Great, says, “Every time you have a thought your brain releases chemicals. ... Your thoughts ... positive or negative ... make you feel good or they make you feel bad.” What you read and what you say to yourself, changes ever so slightly the neuropathways of your brain and that, in turn, influences your attitudes, behaviors, and emotions. Scripture memorization allows you to choose words and images that shape your mind and heart. It works in us even when we are not conscious of its doing so." For more information please see: SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION by By Pastor Jerry Truex

Bible memorization books based on the phonetic system of mnemonics

How to memorize entire books of the Bible

University studies on Bible memorization

Creating new behaviors to replace habitual thinking

"A saying among scientists who study the human brain is “Use it before you lose it.” We have the power to help keep our brain fit and working well. Dr. Lawrence Katz, a neurologist at Duke University, urges people to perform daily mental exercises such as brushing your teeth with the non-dominant hand or taking a new route to work to help stimulate the brain and keep it healthy. The goal is to replace unthinking routine with fresh awareness and new focus.

There’s a lesson here for us as followers of Jesus Christ. Even the most valuable spiritual disciplines of Bible reading and prayer can become so habitual that our minds are not fully engaged.

To avoid slipping into a spiritual rut, why not add Scripture memory to your daily devotional time? It’s a mental effort designed to produce spiritual change. The psalmist wrote, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Paul said, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Ro 12:2-note).

It’s more than a brain game to memorize and meditate on the powerful Word of God. —David C. McCasland (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)" Source: MEMORIZING AND MEDITATING ON THE WORD OF GOD: INTRODUCTION

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"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." - Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." - Matthew 5:9

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Benefits of learning biblical Greek/Hebrew

Learning Koine Greek

Application of the Bible in our lives

Soldiers of Christ

Bible versions

Proverbs: Chapters 1 to 4

Interesting Facts about the Bible

Christian Inspirational videos and testimonies

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The Kiss of Judas by Giotto di Bondone

Christian Video Sharing Websites and channels


Church leadership

Evangelism

Raising missionary support

Missionary organizations

India and Christian evangelism

Related essays

Child evangelism movement/Ministries to children

Evangelism opportunities related to Western immigrants

Korea's second largest missionary organization

University Bible Fellowship (UBF)—Korea’s second largest missionary sending agency:

"Even in Korea, UBF is seen as unique, though it is a mainstream evangelical group. Kim says repeatedly that its members “are hyper-Korean evangelicals—Korean evangelicals on steroids. They are more theologically conservative, intensively devotional, enthusiastic about evangelism, and more hierarchically organized than most of all the other already conservative, devoted, and hierarchically organized Korean evangelicals.”

This devotion has inspired thousands of missionaries—especially those who were formed by a militarized culture that feared war with North Korea. Without any financial support, they sacrificed a great deal in order to evangelize on American and other Western college campuses. Kim interviews doctors and other professionals who gave up careers in Korea to become janitors in America, all in the hopes of finding converts who could lead America back to Jesus.

UBF maintains high demands for its missionaries. They hold full-time jobs rather than receive support, and missionaries use their off hours, holidays, and vacations to evangelize on college campuses. Their training is military-like, requiring a “soldier spirit.” Missionaries described training as “boot camp,” complete with jogging and pushups, but also intensive Bible study and evangelism. Early missionaries had to report in public meetings the number of students they invited to study the Bible, how many accepted, and how many students were currently studying the Bible with them. Missionaries who had the most “sheep” were raised to leadership positions."[8]

Christian leadership

Asia

Christian website stats

Israel

Christian relief organizations and charities

Church internet evangelism

Religious belief and internet usage


Church Growth modeling and How a church body becomes more liberal in the West

Christian music

Bach:

Christianity stats

Africa, fertility rates and growth of Christianity in Africa

Christianity


Historical:

Christian apologetics:

Global resurgence of religion

Effects on politics

Christianity around the world

China and Christianity

Prayer movement mentioned. And info on China's underground church.

The Chinese communist party is re-writing the bible. The new scripture attempts to portray Jesus in a different light. It's all part of a 10-year plan to force Chinese citizens to have faith in the Chinese communist party rather than a religion. Tina Ramirez is the founder and president of Hardwired - a group that has been a vocal critic of the Chinese communist party and its persecution of religious groups and political minorities. She joined us on The Prayer Link to talk about her mission to educate leaders around the world on the concept of pluralism.

History of Christianity


Amerrican religion/irreligion GSS

Contemporary Christianity history

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Descent from the Cross, depicted by Rubens

Evangelical Protestants

American Christianity

  • 2017: New Harvard Research Says U.S. Christianity Is Not Shrinking, But Growing Stronger.[9] The percentage of church-attending Americans relative to overall population is more than four times greater today than it was in 1776.

Large churches

American Roman Catholicism

Christianity and Global Christianity news

Christianity and the global south

African Christianity

Global Christianity stats

2015
Global Christianity vs. Global Islam

Religious demographics for the 21st century

Christianity, Islam, and Europe

Christian apologetics initiatives

Contacts:

Michael F. Felker

Christian apologetics - Google site

Christian apologetics events

Christian apologetics videos

Christian apologetics books

Christian apologetics and atheism:

Christian apologetics organizations/websites

Christian apologetics related material

  • Alister McGrath: Is faith reasonable? What are the limitations of reason which revelation informs us about? For example, what is the meaning of life? Why are we here? Like coherent and reasonable things to believe based on Christianity having evidence in other areas, but which cannot be proven empirically. Believing in things due to the inference to best explanation (inductive inference and deductive inference). Christianity offers a big picture view of things that makes sense of the world. Atheism is an emaciated and bleak worldview.[10]
  • 'Why God Won't Go Away' by Alister McGrath (Discusses the background and triggers for the New Atheism, the New Atheism, the Christian response and the aftermath of peak period of the New Atheism)

Christian apologetics online articles

Historicity of the New Testament

Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Resurrection of Jesus Christ Videos

Defense of miracles - video

Leonhard Euler

Biblical creationism

Germany has one of the best organized and vocal creationist presence in Europe.[11]

Philosophical/cultural apologetics

Archaeology

Christian apologetics websites

Tyre Bible prophecy

Creation/ID apologetics

Video:

Creationist website stats

Dealing with doubt

Millennials and Christianity

Millennials, therapy vs. faith and rates of depression and psychological/emotional problems

Millennials and rates of depression and psychological/emotional problems

Protestantism vs. Catholicism

Protestant work ethic

Also, this 2011 Telegraph article said: "Either way, not a single Protestant or Germanic EU country has so far needed a bailout."[12]

"Woodberry already had historical proof that missionaries had educated women and the poor, promoted widespread printing, led nationalist movements that empowered ordinary citizens, and fueled other key elements of democracy. Now the statistics were backing it up: Missionaries weren't just part of the picture. They were central to it...

Areas where Protestant missionaries had a significant presence in the past are on average more economically developed today, with comparatively better health, lower infant mortality, lower corruption, greater literacy, higher educational attainment (especially for women), and more robust membership in nongovernmental associations.

In short: Want a blossoming democracy today? The solution is simple—if you have a time machine: Send a 19th-century missionary."- Christianity Today, Surprising Discovery About Those Colonialist, Proselytizing Missionaries, January 8, 2014

Catholicism and moral corruption

Protestantism vs. Catholicism and political corruption

Other data related contemporary Catholic corruption

See: The Dakotas, the USA states with the highest percentage of Lutherans, are the most pro-life states in the USA

Michael Voorhees' YouTube channel ChurchMilitant.com (A very staunch Catholic YouTube channel) recently said on multiple occasions that homosexual clergy/leadership is still a significant problem in the Catholic church as can be seen at Pope's Fraternity Fest Flaunts Semi-Nude Gay Dancer | Rome Dispatch (produced 1 month ago) and Top Cardinal: Don't Blame Gay Priests For Sex Abuse | Rome Dispatch (produced 1 month ago) and Catholic — News Report — Priest Taps Jewish Scholar to Defend Homosexuality (Produced 10 months ago) and The Vortex — It's Homosexuality, Stupid! (produced one year ago) and The Vortex — Homosexual Hierarchy (Produced 2 years ago).

Religion statistics

Francis Schaefer

"Every man has built a roof over his head to shield himself at the point of tension...The Christian lovingly, must remove the shelter and allow the truth of the external world and of what man is to beat upon him. When the roof is off, each man must stand naked and wounded before the truth of what is...He must come to know that his roof is a false protection from the storm of what is." - Francis Schaeffer

Quotes relating to the Bible

"I have come to the conviction that no man knows enough to attack the veracity of the Old Testament. Every time when anyone has been able to get together enough documentary 'proofs' to undertake an investigation, the biblical facts in the original text have victoriously met the test" - Robert Dick Wilson (quoted in R. Pache, The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture).

Other religion

Online biblical training

Online biblical training - UK organizations

Theological education trends

English speaking theological seminaries outside of US, Canada, UK and NZ

Philippines:

Free theological degree

Christianity and the rule of law

Christianity to do list

Religious essays

Various Christian websites

Prosperity gospel mega churches with high overhead expenses and building debt

"The depression had a devastating effect on the Churches as well as on the nation. In the optimistic flush of the 1920's many congregations had built new edifices far too large and expensive. When the depression hit, they found themselves unable to pay. Most carried their huge debts; a few rejected their obligation, thus bringing shame on the Christian Church. Colleges and publishing houses, missionary enterprises, and the social work of the Churches were all hard hit by the depression. Many an institution of the Church lost its endowment in the financial crash and had to close or had to drastically cut back its activities."[13]

"Is your church in deep debt and strapped with high overhead related to staff and other expenses? How will this affect some of the megachurches that have such high operating costs? Will churches have to lay ministers off and/or default on construction loans if offerings dip? While the Bible says that the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church, it doesn't mean that individual churches do not get into financial trouble and have to contract their ministries if they were not wise in the past."[14]

Research on Christianity

Research on Christianity videos

Religious demography projections research

Collapse of liberal Christianity

Benedict option

"Are we Rome?... Bureaucratic decay, massive public debt, an overstretched military, a political system seemingly incapable of responding to challenges—the late Roman empire suffered these maladies, and so, some fear, does contemporary America...

Rising hedonism.. ongoing break-up of the family, and a general loss of cultural coherence—to traditionalists, these are signs of a possible Dark Age ahead....

Rome’s collapse meant staggering loss. People forgot how to read, how to farm, how to govern themselves, how to build houses, how to trade, and even what it had once meant to be a human being. Behind monastery walls, though, in their chapels, scriptoriums, and refectories, Benedict’s monks built lives of peace, order, and learning and spread their network throughout Western Europe.

They did not keep the fruits of their labors to themselves. Benedictines taught the peasants who gathered around their monasteries the Christian faith, as well as practical skills, like farming."[15]

Related Scriptures

"Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." - 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12

"No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him." - 1 Timothy 2:4

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12: 9-21

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:4-8

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)

Avoid needless contention with fools

"A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly." - Proverbs 17: 10,12

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes." - Proverbs 26: 4-5

"The ministry of apologetics is difficult for many reasons. One such reason is that, by its very nature, apologetics requires us to present answers to people who don’t believe the gospel and who may have strong feelings or opinions against what we are saying. This aspect of apologetics discourages many people from doing it...

In my experience some unbelievers are open to reason and evidence, often because they are in a process of moving from belief to unbelief (though it’s impossible for us to “peg” such people infallibly)...

The book of Proverbs gives us very clear guidance to help us recognize when we are dealing with a fool.

Three characteristics stand out.

1. Fools always think they are right in such a way that they are unwilling to learn from others (Proverbs 12:15; 18:2). Thinking you’re right doesn’t make you a fool; speaking as though no one can possibly teach you anything does make you a fool.

2. Fools are not merely those who don’t understand, but rather are those who are unable to understand because of their distaste for wisdom (Proverbs 23:9). Not all who are ignorant are fools. Ignorance can be cured by imparting knowledge; foolishness cannot. The fool doesn’t merely disagree with the truth?he expresses an inability to understand even elementary truths.

3. Fools respond with hostility and anger or with laughter and ridicule (Proverbs 29:9). When people react emotionally to the truth, either angrily or scornfully, they are fools. A merely ignorant person expresses puzzlement or confusion; the fool, even after misunderstandings have been clearly addressed, continues to mock, scorn, or attack the truth as something he considers stupid or evil or both." - Don't fool with fools by Tracy Bach

Bible difficulties

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"The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him." - Solomon, (Proverbs 18:17 NASB)

General:

2 Samuel 24:9 and 1 Chronicles 21:5

Egypt's 40-Year Desolation - Ezekiel 29:12-13

Fulfilled:

Fulfilled or conditionality depending on repentance:


Future:

Unknown whether past or future:

Christian YouTube channels

Christian humor

Christian satire/humor

Explosive growth of the early Christian church

Origin and growth of the early Christian church

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Jesus Christ and his apostles taught a gospel of love.[1]

Did Jesus rise from the dead?

1. Did Jesus rise from the dead? - Part 1

2. Did Jesus rise from the dead? - Part 2

3. Did Jesus rise from the dead? - Part 3

4. Did Jesus rise from the dead? - Part 4

The Resurrection of Jesus: A Look at the Evidence

Triumph of the Gospel of Love

The Impossible Faith: A Defense of the Resurrection

Shockofgod

The fire at York Minster, July 9th 1984

Church pictures

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Kottakkavu Church of St. Thomas

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North Dakota church

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Steve Samson

Steve Sampson on running the good race

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"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." - The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27


May 2020 Newsletter:

When I was in high school I was on the track team. At the end of one long distance race, I sprinted the last two hundred yards to the finish line. The coach yelled at me, “Sampson, you had too much left.” I knew immediately what he meant. If I had run the race harder, I wouldn’t have had so much remaining energy at the end of the race, and I would have had better results.

If we conserve too much energy during our race here on earth, then we will enter eternity with too much left—energy that could have been used for our race for the kingdom.

While so many people are declaring repentance is needed by the church during this Covid 19 virus, I began to ask the Lord of what I should repent. I’m not living in sin, rebellion and worldliness, so why should I repent? The Lord began to challenge me on these seven areas. I hope these will minister to you. They all start with the letter ‘P’ which makes it easier to remember.

1. Planning and Preparation—Are you guilty of aimless living? Do you aimlessly wander through each day, without a specific purpose? Are you setting goals?

If we live “unplugged” we can waste a year, or five years. Time goes by quickly.

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” II Corinthians 5:9 NKJV

2. Priorities—How are you spending your time? Are you taking the path of least resistance? Do you take time to sort out what is of most importance? Busyness is not fruitfulness. Prioritizing is living with responsibility and purpose.

3. Prayer—Is prayer a priority in your life? How much time to you spend in the presence of God? Have you prayed for people who have requested prayer? Have you sought the Lord about who and what to pray? Prayerlessness has to be challenged.

4. Procrastination—Have you put off doing things God told you to do. Have you made the effort to organize? Have you put off completing a project or finishing a goal you set in the past?

5. Pushing through—Do you discipline yourself? Do you study? Do you exercise? Do you make good food choices? Do you push through to complete a project? Do you resist the devil? Do you resist negative thoughts? Jesus said,

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV

6. Passivity or Laziness—Are you passive about setting goals? Are you lazy regarding confronting a person, dealing with a situation, or finishing a project? Are you lazy about making yourself available to the Holy Spirit?

“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.” Matthew 25:26 NKJV

7. Pressures or Distractions—Are you caught up in distractions and consumed with activities that aren’t that important?

“And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled(distracted) about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”” Luke 10:41-42 NKJV

Maybe like me, you don’t want to enter eternity with “too much left,” and you long to hear the words, “Well done you good and faithful servant.” Let’s take this time to seek the Lord on what areas of our life need repentance.

Steve Sampson Ministries May 2020 newsletter

May 2020 Newsletter:

When I was in high school I was on the track team. At the end of one long distance race, I sprinted the last two hundred yards to the finish line. The coach yelled at me, “Sampson, you had too much left.” I knew immediately what he meant. If I had run the race harder, I wouldn’t have had so much remaining energy at the end of the race, and I would have had better results.

If we conserve too much energy during our race here on earth, then we will enter eternity with too much left—energy that could have been used for our race for the kingdom.

While so many people are declaring repentance is needed by the church during this Covid 19 virus, I began to ask the Lord of what I should repent. I’m not living in sin, rebellion and worldliness, so why should I repent? The Lord began to challenge me on these seven areas. I hope these will minister to you. They all start with the letter ‘P’ which makes it easier to remember.

1. Planning and Preparation —Are you guilty of aimless living? Do you aimlessly wander through each day, without a specific purpose? Are you setting goals?

If we live “unplugged” we can waste a year, or five years. Time goes by quickly.

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” II Corinthians 5:9 NKJV

2. Priorities —How are you spending your time? Are you taking the path of least resistance? Do you take time to sort out what is of most importance? Busyness is not fruitfulness. Prioritizing is living with responsibility and purpose.

3. Prayer —Is prayer a priority in your life? How much time to you spend in the presence of God? Have you prayed for people who have requested prayer? Have you sought the Lord about who and what to pray? Prayerlessness has to be challenged.

4. Procrastination — Have you put off doing things God told you to do. Have you made the effort to organize? Have you put off completing a project or finishing a goal you set in the past?

5. Pushing through —Do you discipline yourself? Do you study? Do you exercise? Do you make good food choices? Do you push through to complete a project? Do you resist the devil? Do you resist negative thoughts? Jesus said,

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV

6. Passivity or Laziness —Are you passive about setting goals? Are you lazy regarding confronting a person, dealing with a situation, or finishing a project? Are you lazy about making yourself available to the Holy Spirit?

“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.” Matthew 25:26 NKJV

7. Pressures or Distractions — Are you caught up in distractions and consumed with activities that aren’t that important?

“And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled(distracted) about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”” Luke 10:41-42 NKJV

Maybe like me, you don’t want to enter eternity with “too much left,” and you long to hear the words, “Well done you good and faithful servant.” Let’s take this time to seek the Lord on what areas of our life need repentance.

ReaL Presence theology

Eucharist is not merely symbolic graphics

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St. Clement of Alexandria on the Eucharist.

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The Eucharist is not merely symbolic graphic

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Eastern Orthodox countries, and their history (Under the Mongols, etc.), statism, capitalism and the West

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Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia

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Israel/Christian relations

Notes

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