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Skeptic's Challenge

Doug Pollock

1 Peter 3:15

After showing a video clip of an atheist questioning a Christian, Christian speaker Doug Pollock invites members of the audience to provide their own feedback of the discussion. Following this, several proclaimed atheist guests take the stage to act as a panel. Pollock invites them to explain some of their backgrounds, issues with faith, and insights into their world views. After the panel presentation, members of the audience are invited to ask questions of them as well.

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What is the Blessing of Faith?

Jeff Gordon

Galatians 3:23-4:7

Many Christians fall into a legalistic paradigm, where they believe that they earn God's blessings by living faithfully. While a good life of blessings can be reached by living a faithful life, submission to this linear arrangement actually adds pressure and guarantees failure. The blessing of faith, as opposed to legalism, is a growing relationship with God through faith. In light of this, we should live as children of God, developing closeness with our Father in heaven.

Keywords

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Abraham's Life of Faith

Jeff Gordon

Genesis 12:1-4

In the book of Galatians, Paul continues to defend a life of faith as opposed to the Law. He reminds the believers in Galatia that both their salvation and sanctification never had to do with the Law, but were a result of the Spirit's work in them. No one can be made right with God through trying to keep the Law, and even Abraham was blessed solely because of his faith. As Abraham received a blessing for his faith, so now believers can receive the Holy Spirit through faith.

Keywords

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The Healing of the Blind Man

Conrad Hilario

John 9:1-41

Jesus is with his disciples on the Sabbath. They encounter a man who was blind from birth. The disciples' question Jesus on why the man was born blind. Through Jesus' healing of the blind man and the Pharisees response, many theological issues are addressed such as sin, the Sabbath, and humanity's true spiritual condition.

Keywords

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Faith vs. Law

Jeff Gordon

Galatians 2:16-20

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul argues the case that the Christian life is about faith rather than following the Law. He argues that we are justified by faith, and that because of this we are sanctified on the same basis: the work of Christ.

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The Light of Life

Dennis McCallum

John 8:12-59

Jesus interacts with the Pharisees again and compares himself to the Light of the World, as opposed to the darkness and confusion that the Pharisees were living in. Jesus warns the Pharisees clearly while also trying to communicate with the multitudes of people gathered around them. They argue back and forth, with the Pharisees and some of the people listening still missing the point that apart from Jesus, they are in complete darkness and alienation before God the Father. Others, on the other hand, come to believe in Jesus, who instructs them to continue on in his word. Jesus came to offer real freedom for those enslaved to sin through his work on the cross.

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Foundations of Faith

Jim Leffel

1 Thessalonians 2:13

The Bible presents the Word of God as distinct from the ideas of people. God's Word has the unique capacity both to answer fundamental questions about life and to transform our lives. All of us should become truth-seekers who dwell and act on truth.

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The Woman Caught in Adultery

Dennis McCallum

John 8:1-11

This instance in Jesus' ministry has not been found in earlier manuscripts, calling into question the validity of this part of John and why it is in Scripture. The best manuscripts for the Book of John are from the 4th century, but don't include this interaction. However, other early witnesses corroborate what we see in this chapter of John, including: the Didascalia; Apostolic Constitutions; Papias; Didymus the Blind; Ambrose; and Jerome. When the Pharisees brought this woman before Jesus for punishment according to the Old Testament Law, they were trying to trick Jesus so they would have grounds to accuse him. Jesus does not condemn the woman, but uses this as an illustration of his grace to contrast the legalistic and hypocritical attitudes of the Pharisees. His call to the woman is similar to us, that because of the forgiveness he offers, we should live under his grace and live a life of love as opposed to sin. Even when we do sin, we have the freedom to move forward under his grace.

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Three Distinctives of Biblical Christianity

Gary DeLashmutt

Philemon 1:1-25

The letter of Philemon was written by the Apostle Paul to Philemon, another Christian worker who is fairly wealthy and is a slave owner. Onesimus, a slave owned by Philemon, ran away, met Paul in Rome, and came to faith in Jesus Christ. Paul is writing to Philemon, urging him to forgive Onesimus and allow him to be sent back to Paul for help with God's work. Within this letter, we see three distinctive elements of Christianity: 1) coming to faith in Christ and the positive effects on one's life; 2) the outcome of faith of Christ being others-centered love towards other Christians; and 3) the importance of reconciliation and maintaining peace among believers.

Keywords

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