This is the 4th post in a series about the teachings of the Early Church Fathers (100 A.D. – 300 A.D.). We are using Origen’s summary of the Church’s teaching found in the preface of his book “First Principles.” For the first post in the series click here.
Category: Kingdom Concepts
The Ancient Faith (Part 3)
This is the 3rd post in a series about the teachings of the Early Church Fathers (100 A.D. – 300 A.D.). We are using Origen’s summary of the Church’s teaching found in the preface of his book “First Principles.” For the first post in the series click here.
The Ancient Faith (Part 2)
This is the 2nd post in a series about the teachings of the Early Church Fathers (100 A.D. – 300 A.D.). We are using Origen’s summary of the Church’s teaching found in the preface of his book “First Principles.” For the first post in the series click here.
The Ancient Faith
The Local Church and Pioneer Missions (Part 3)
Such a Time as This
In 1 Corinthians 10:11 we are told that the history of the Old Testament was written as an example for us. When we compare the history of Israel with that of the Church we are given great insight into the times in which we live. We will come to understand that the coming of Christ is near, and that we have a role to play in speeding his return.
Continue reading “The Local Church and Pioneer Missions (Part 3)”
The Local Church and Pioneer Missions (Part 2)
All Nations
I am firmly convinced that local churches who have taken the Lord’s Great Commission (summed up in the words win, build and send) as their daily marching orders are uniquely equipped to bear fruit in the unreached nations of the world. I am also certain that congregations who have seen the wisdom of this simple vision by walking in it will not stray far from it, and that fact will ensure our fruitfulness. It is not in the realm of getting off course that such churches have the potential for missing our destiny, but in not recognizing the scope of the Great Commission. These congregations are firmly rooted in the labor of that commission, but we must pay attention to the territory where that labor is to be spent as well. We are to “go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that He has commanded us.”
Continue reading “The Local Church and Pioneer Missions (Part 2)”
The Local Church and Pioneer Missions (Part 1)
In this three part series of posts we will look at the task and the scope of the Great Commission. Special attention will be paid to the role of local churches in fulfilling that commission. These posts were originally written for the fellowship of churches I am a part of. I have attempted to adjust them in order to make them applicable to all local churches that are involved in radical evangelism, personal discipleship and church planting. I am afraid that I was not able make successfully expand all of the examples, so some of them will only apply to a small percentage of local churches. But I think the posts are food for thought nonetheless, so I have decided to post them anyway. I hope they help spur you and your church towards fulfilling the Great Commission.
Continue reading “The Local Church and Pioneer Missions (Part 1)”
Beware of Antichrists
In the last post we noted that John the Apostle is the only biblical author that uses the term “antichrist.” My conclusion was that the singular form of that term in 1 John 2:18 was synonymous with the “spirit of antichrist” mentioned in 1 John 4:3, which is also defined as the “spirit of error” in 1 John 4:6. And I also concluded that the plural form of the term used in 1 John 2:18 refers to the false teachers/false Christians.
Continue reading “Beware of Antichrists”
Defining “Antichrist” Biblically
The tendency many have when studying end times theology (i.e. eschatology) is to link everything together too quickly. We want a system we can memorize and check off our list of things we know with certainty. The problem in our rush to have a systematic eschatology we often end up with an unbiblical eschatology. Our goal must be to know what the Scriptures say. We must approach each passage and each term in its own Scriptural context. We mustn’t read our theological systems into the individual passages. If we do read into these passages, we will come away with a perfectly consistent eschatology, but we will not have a biblical eschatology.
About the Holy Sacraments
- What is a sacrament?
A sacrament is a ceremony established by Christ that shows us the meaning of the New Covenant.
- Christ established the sacraments to signify the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 11:23)
- Explain to the child that God uses sacraments as a visual symbol to teach us about the meaning of the Christian Faith.
- What are the sacraments of the New Covenant?
The sacraments of the New Covenant are water baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
- The New Covenant sacraments are water baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 11:20 and 26)
- Have you ever seen someone baptized?
- What was most interesting about watching someone be baptized?
- How does baptism represent our union with Christ and our commitment to Him?
In baptism a person is immersed in water showing that he has been buried with Christ and has died to sin, and then he comes up out of the water showing that He has been risen with Christ to live a new and holy life for God.
- Baptism signifies dying with Christ to sin and living with Christ to God (Romans 6:3-4)
- Tell the child about when and why you chose to be baptized.
- Who can be baptized?
Baptism is only for those who have repented of their sins and trusted in Christ for salvation.
- One must repent and believe to be baptized (Acts 2:38 and 8:37)
- Talk with the child about their salvation. Discuss their sin and the judgment of God. Tell them that Jesus died for them and rose again to give them a new life. And tell them that they must turn from their sins and trust in what Christ has done.
- How does the Lord’s Supper show the sacrificial death of Christ?
In the Lord’s Supper the bread is broken representing the body of Christ that was broken for us on the cross, and the wine represents the blood of Christ that was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.
- The bread and wine signify the broken body of Christ and the poured out blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)
- Have you ever seen people eat the Lord’s Supper?
- What was most interesting about watching people eat the Lord’s Supper?
- What does the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine in the Lord’s Supper represent?
When people share in the Lord’s Supper they show that they trust in the sacrifice of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and commit to take up their cross and follow Him.
- When people eat the bread and drink the wine they are declaring their faith in, and commitment to, Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)
- Tell the child why the Lord’s Supper is important to you. And explain how you prepare your heart before eating.
- Who can partake of the Lord’s Supper?
Only those who have repented, believed and been baptized can share in the Lord’s Supper.
- Only those who have been baptized can share the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:41-42)
- Once again share with the child the need to be born again. Describe how Jesus’ body was broken during His crucifixion. Explain that since He died for them, they should live for Him.
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