Free Republic 1st Qtr 2024 Fundraising Target: $81,000 Receipts & Pledges to-date: $58,647
72%  
Woo hoo!! And we're now over 72%!! Thank you everyone!! God bless.

Worship (Religion)

Brevity: Headers | « Text »
  • A Special Testimony

    04/23/2016 4:51:28 AM PDT · by metmom · 2 replies
    Grace to You.org ^ | 1997 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church
    “And last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also” (1 Corinthians 15:8). The resurrection power of Christ transformed Paul into a preacher of the gospel. Throughout history, reliable eyewitness testimony about a person or event has been one of the most accepted forms of courtroom evidence. The apostle Paul appeals to the eyewitness record as an important confirmation of the Resurrection’s reality. He cites the examples of Peter, the apostles (twice), 500 believers, and James (1 Cor. 15:5-7). And with today’s verse, Paul presents himself as a special eyewitness to the fact of...
  • Hindrances to Peace

    04/23/2016 4:50:18 AM PDT · by metmom · 2 replies
    Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church
    "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matt. 5:9). Sin and falsehood hinder true peace. Just as righteousness and truth are the noble companions of peace, so sin and falsehood are its great hindrances. The prophet Jeremiah said, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately [evil]; who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9). Jesus said, "Out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and...
  • Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 04-23-16, OM, St. George, St. Adalbert, Bishop - Martyrs

    04/22/2016 9:07:14 PM PDT · by Salvation · 37 replies
    USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 04-23-16 | Revised New American Bible
    April 23, 2016 Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 13:44-52 On the following sabbathalmost the whole citygathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousyand with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,but since you reject itand condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us,I have made you a light to the Gentiles,that you...
  • Chalcedonian vs Non-Chalcedonian Orthodoxy (A somewhat meaty exchange)

    04/22/2016 11:08:25 AM PDT · by NRx · 3 replies
    Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy ^ | 04-12-2016 | Nicholas Marinides & Mina Soliman
    The title of this essay may startle many who assume that union of the Orthodox with the Non-Chalcedonians (the historic Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean, West Syrian (Syriac/Jacobite), Armenian, and Indian (Malankara) churches) is imminent. Such an assumption is due to ignorance among many Anglophone Orthodox of the criticism to which eminent Orthodox theologians in other countries have subjected the dialogue between the Orthodox and Non-Chalcedonians. This ignorance is not the fault of the many simple believers and parish clergy who have received the idea of reunion between long-separated brethren with sincere and innocent joy. It is due rather to the dearth...
  • Steve’s Devotional - So What?

    04/22/2016 8:53:51 AM PDT · by metmom · 5 replies
    Key Life ^ | March 22, 2016 | Steve Brown
    Do you ever wonder if the Christian faith is true? Perhaps it’s late at night just before you fall asleep. Maybe you’re going through a tough time or an unbelieving friend questions your faith and you think (but of course, would never say) that all of this might just be some gigantic con game and I’ve believed a bunch of lies. God knew you would wonder. From the very beginning, God knew he would do something so astounding, so wonderful, so unbelievable and so incredible that nobody would believe it without some kind of space and time evidence. The resurrection...
  • Shepherds,Dogs That Can't Bark...Charismatic Post Mortem pt 8

    All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.( Isaiah 56:9-12)Jeremiah...
  • The Church Testifies to the Resurrection

    04/22/2016 8:47:44 AM PDT · by metmom · 193 replies
    Grace to You.org ^ | 1997 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church
    “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand” (1 Corinthians 15:1). The true church has consistently testified to the power of the Resurrection. Kenneth Scott Latourette observed in his History of the Expansion of Christianity: “It was the conviction of the resurrection of Jesus which lifted his followers out of the despair into which his death had cast them and which led to the perpetuation of a movement begun by him.” This statement was true for the church at Corinth, even with its many problems....
  • Risking True Peace

    04/22/2016 8:44:59 AM PDT · by metmom · 3 replies
    Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church
    "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matt. 5:9). True peace exists only where truth reigns. People often define peace as the absence of conflict, but God sees it differently. The absence of conflict is merely a truce, which might end overt hostilities but doesn't resolve the underlying issues. A truce simply introduces a cold war, which often drives the conflict underground, where it smolders until erupting in physical or emotional disaster. James 3:17 says, "The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable." Godly wisdom, purity, and peace go hand- in-hand. Peace is wisdom...
  • Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 04-22-16

    04/21/2016 7:39:57 PM PDT · by Salvation · 32 replies
    USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 04-22-16 | Revised New American Bible
    April 22, 2016 Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 13:26-33 When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue:“My brothers, children of the family of Abraham,and those others among you who are God-fearing,to us this word of salvation has been sent. The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him,and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophetsthat are read sabbath after sabbath. For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence,they asked Pilate to have him put to death,and when they had accomplished all that...
  • Lord Didn't We Do Wonders?...Charismatic Post Mortem pt 7

    Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son...
  • Grace: The Heart of God

    04/21/2016 3:07:18 PM PDT · by metmom · 6 replies
    Key Life ^ | December 16, 2015 | Steve Brown
    Life simply won’t work without the safety net of God’s grace. If you’re like me, what defines you and your life includes your issues, your secrets, your need to achieve, your desire to please people and your ambition. It is therefore important to place grace at the very foundation of such a life to understand God’s unconditional acceptance and love. If you don’t and then fail big time (and we all will), your life will end up meaningless and empty. Grace does more than that though. I hate religion (and I’m a religious professional) because I’ve seen what toxic religion...
  • The Centrality of the Resurrection

    04/21/2016 2:28:45 PM PDT · by metmom · 1 replies
    Grace to You.org ^ | 1997 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church
    “‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said’” (Matthew 28:5-6). The fact of Jesus’ resurrection is the culmination of redemptive history and the essential basis of the Christian faith. Without the Resurrection, our Christian faith would just be a lot of wishful thinking, no better than human philosophies and speculative religions. In fact, the noted seventeenth-century philosopher John Locke, some of whose ideas were incorporated into the Declaration of Independence, wrote, “Our Saviour’s resurrection is truly of great importance...
  • The Cushion of Peace

    04/21/2016 2:27:26 PM PDT · by metmom · 6 replies
    Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church
    "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matt. 5:9). God’s peace cushions the soul during difficult times. I remember reading about what is called "the cushion of the sea." The ocean surface is often greatly agitated, but as you descend, the water becomes increasingly calm. At its greatest depths the ocean is virtually still. Oceanographers dredging ocean bottoms have found animal and plant remains that appear to have been undisturbed for hundreds of years. Similarly, Christians can experience a cushion of peace in their souls regardless of their troubled surroundings. That's because they belong to...
  • Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 04-21-16, OM, St. Anselm, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

    04/20/2016 9:24:59 PM PDT · by Salvation · 36 replies
    USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 04-21-16 | Revised New American Bible
    April 21, 2016 Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 13:13-25 From Paphos, Paul and his companionsset sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats. After the reading of the law and the prophets,the synagogue officials sent word to them,“My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortationfor the people, please speak.” So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,“Fellow children of Israel...
  • Pope Francis: Jesus Is the Only Way to Heaven

    04/20/2016 7:27:09 PM PDT · by Mrs. Don-o · 94 replies
    Christian Post ^ | April 20, 2016 | Katherine Weber
    We should only look to Jesus for Heaven, Pope Francis said during a recent mass. The pontiff made his comments Monday while speaking from Casa Santa Marta at the Vatican, saying that only through Jesus can people go to heaven "The Lord thus clearly says: you cannot enter eternal life by any entryway that is not the door – that is not Jesus," the pontiff said. "He is the door of our life – and not only of eternal life, but also of our daily lives." The pope added that he who attempts to reach heaven by an alternative way...
  • Compassionate Loyalty

    04/20/2016 12:11:34 PM PDT · by metmom · 3 replies
    Grace to You.org ^ | 1997 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church
    “And many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him” (Matthew 27:55). The women who supported Jesus’ ministry all the way to the cross are fine examples of compassionate loyalty. Caring, consistent loyalty is a wonderful characteristic of godly women. This trait is probably more evident in them than it is in godly men. The women by the cross were the main group of believing eyewitnesses to Jesus’ crucifixion. They also showed incredible loyalty in the face of ridicule and danger. This courage contrasted with the disciples who, except for John,...
  • Becoming Pure in Heart

    04/20/2016 12:09:55 PM PDT · by metmom · 10 replies
    Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church
    "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8). You have a part to play in becoming pure in heart. Purifying a heart is the gracious and miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, but there are some things we must do in response to His prompting. First, we must admit we can't purify our own hearts. Proverbs 20:9 says, "Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?'" The implied answer: no one! Next, we must put our faith in Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice on the cross is the basis for...
  • False Prophecy As A Spiritual Test...Charismatic Post Mortem pt 6

    If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.( Deuteronomy 13:1-3)Again he said, Therefore hear the word of...
  • Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 04-20-16

    04/19/2016 9:06:59 PM PDT · by Salvation · 34 replies
    USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 04-20-16 | Revised New American Bible
    April 20, 2016 Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 12:24—13:5a The word of God continued to spread and grow. After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,they returned to Jerusalem,taking with them John, who is called Mark. Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saulfor the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing...
  • The Downward Trajectory...Charismatic Post Mortem pt 5

    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.(Matthew 7:21-23)I was struck one day, while reading this sober passage from the Sermon on the Mount, that these words of...