Culture

SUBTLE WAYS TO ABANDON SCRIPTURE’S AUTHORITY – PART 1

I think most Bible-believing Christians espouse the supreme authority of Scripture in their lives and the world. But, “the devil is in the details” as the cliche goes. Our doctrinal statements on this topic are usually just fine. Where we err is in daily practice. There are subtle ways we functionally abandon Scripture’s authority. I’ll…

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A LONGING TO BE ORDINARY

It seems to me like many of us are in pursuit of “going viral.” Take YouTube videos for instance.  Everybody wants a million views. What is that? Where does that desire come from? Is it a form of approval? or popularity? or power? Or how about “Facebook Likes”? Same thing? Since not many of us will…

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GENDER ROLES: WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE PASTOR/CHURCH?

I believe those who disagree on gender roles in marriage and the church can be true believers in Christ. In other words, this isn’t an issue of “cardinal doctrine.” I would hope all Christians would concur that “complementarians” and “egalitarians” are within the umbrella of orthodox Christianity.  So what are the implications of disagreeing with…

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GENDER ROLES: THE TEXTS

This summer at Alliance Bible Church, we are doing a sermon series entitled “You Asked for it”. People in our congregation have submitted dozens of questions and we’re taking the most frequently asked and/or those questions with broadest appeal and preaching on them. We won’t be able to preach on them all, so I’m going…

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GENDER ROLES: HOW TO DEPICT THE BEAUTY OF COMPLEMENTARITY

This is the third installment in a blog series entitled “Gender Roles.” To read parts 1 and 2, click here and here.  Jackie Hill Perry, Rosaria Butterfield, and Sam Allberry discuss the topic: how to depict the beauty of complementarity.

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GENDER ROLES – MISCONCEPTIONS

Today I want to tackle misconceptions about “complementarianism.” 1. June Cleaver is NOT the definition of complementarianism In discussions about gender roles, complementarianism has been rightly discussed as “traditionalism” because historically it’s what Christians have believed. But complementarians believe biblical teaching supersedes tradition so “traditionalism” as a term for gender roles has been largely nixed….

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GENDER ROLES: WHAT IS COMPLEMENTARIANISM?

This summer at Alliance Bible Church, we are doing a sermon series entitled “You Asked for It!” People in our congregation have submitted dozens of questions and we’re taking the most frequently asked and/or those questions with broadest appeal and preaching on them. We won’t be able to preach on them all, so I’m going…

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THE TRAGEDY OF A GOOD LIFE

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matt. 7:22-23). We often make the grave mistake of evaluating…

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GENEROSITY – PART 4

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.” – Luke 12:32-33 Notice…

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GENEROSITY – PART 3

In the first century people didn’t have savings accounts or retirement accounts. There were no banks or investment groups. Today, this is where our accumulated wealth exists. But people in the first century had money in the form of currency; they had coins. But their accumulated wealth was in their possessions; their homes; their furnishings; their stuff. In Luke…

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