If you subscribe to the blog and received an email yesterday with a link to a Mailbag article you couldn’t open, that’s because WordPress goofed. One of the hamsters fell off the wheel, I guess. :0)
The article you saw but couldn’t access is Monday morning’s (March 1) article. It will post properly at that time. Sorry for any confusion.
Wednesday is Bible study day here on the blog. Over the years, we’ve made our way through five Old Testament books, seven New Testament books, three topical studies, and various miscellaneous studies and lessons. (As always, all of my studies are suitable for individuals and groups, they’re available to you for free at the Bible Studies tab in the blue menu bar at the top of this page, and you’re welcome to print them out.)
My plan is to get our next Bible study kicked off before the end of January, but I’m having a tough time deciding which one of the two studies I’ve been considering would be the right one for right now.
That’s where you come in. I would greatly appreciate your input as I make this decision. So let me tell you a little bit about the two studies I have in mind, and then you can let me know what you think. Whichever one of these studies we don’t do at this time, we will most likely do at some point in the future.
Countless women have been deeply hurt by the church…a loved one…an abuser. Sadly, culture, and even most contemporary “Bible” studies, teach women to rehearse their hurts and wallow in a state of perpetual victimhood and bitterness rather than to pursue the ability to extend biblical forgiveness, and, consequently, true healing and freedom.
Forgiven to Forgive would be a topical study on forgiveness, similar in format to Imperishable Beauty and Sweet Hour of Prayer. We would examine the forgiveness we receive in Christ and how His forgiveness should fuel our zeal to forgive others who have hurt us. We’ll study both Old and New Testament stories of forgiveness and didactic passages on forgiveness. I anticipate that this study would be roughly 10-15 lessons in length.
What does God’s Word teach us about thinking biblically and developing Christian character? Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew starts off with a list of character traits God blesses (the Beatitudes), then fleshes out how to submit to Scripture in real life scenarios in order for the Holy Spirit to grow us in those godly character traits.
The Sermon on the Mount would be an “expositorially topical” (an expository deep dive into a short segment of Scripture) study of Matthew 5-7, similar in format to The Ten. We would examine the character traits God blesses in Christians and how God develops those traits in us as we walk with Him through the practical circumstances of life and as we develop a biblical worldview. I’m hoping to rein this study in to about 12-16 lessons.
So, how about it? Prayerfully consider how God is shaping you (or the ladies in your class) right now, and which of these studies might be of greater help to you in that regard. Comment below or on social media and let me know what you think. I’ll be praying about it and giving it lots of thought, too, and I’ll let you know when I’ve reached a decision.
If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you know that, from time to time, I post biblically edifying, informative movies, videos, or documentaries on Tuesdays – ergo, “Movie Tuesday.”
Recently, my friend, Pastor Travis McNeely, released a six video series on Critical Race Theory featuring LSU law professor, Randy Trahan. In this series, Randy, a former proponent of CRT, describes his journey into – and out of – critical theory, explains what CRT is, and why it’s a danger to the church, particularly to Southern Baptists.
So, for the next six weeks, every Tuesday will be Movie Tuesday as we make our way through this video series. I would urge you to carefully watch each episode – especially if you’re Southern Baptist (if we actually have an SBC annual meeting this year, this issue is sure to come up) – so you’ll be informed and able to develop a biblical position on this egregious false teaching that is quickly spreading through the church.
Travis has developed a discussion guide to go with the videos, so as you watch, consider whether this might be a good series for your pastor to guide your church through, and pass it along to him.
Without further ado, here is part 1 of the series, in which Randy gives a bit of his personal testimony and experience in the world of CRT.
Here’s an interview with Travis and Randy on Jon Harris’ podcast, Conversations that Matter:
Thanks so much for your prayers. It looks like Hurricane Sally has shifted way off to the east of my area. We are getting a nice breeze, but that’s about it. Please be in prayer for those on the Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida Gulf coast who will be most affected by Sally.
Looks like Hurricane Sally is heading my direction. (I’m in Baton Rouge, if you can see it right next to “Wed. 1 AM”.)
So far, it doesn’t look extremely serious for my particular area, but there’s always the possibility of a power outage. So, if at any point this week, the blog is unexpectedly quiet, that’s probably why. I should still be able to post on social media, so if the power’s out and there’s any important news to share, that’s where I’ll update rather than here on the blog.
Your prayers are appreciated.
Looks like Hurricane Sally is heading my direction. (I’m in Baton Rouge, if you can see it right next to “Wed. 1 AM”.)
So far, it doesn’t look extremely serious for my particular area, but there’s always the possibility of a power outage. So, if at any point this week, the blog is unexpectedly quiet, that’s probably why. I should still be able to post on social media, so if the power’s out and there’s any important news to share, that’s where I’ll update rather than here on the blog.
Your prayers are appreciated.
