Walk through the Bible "Devotional Thoughts"
Pastor Paul Carter shares some "Devotional Thoughts" as we journey through the bible on our Walk Through the Bible adventure. Check weekly for new posts.
Mon. May. 07, 2012 Summer Intern - Devo 1
Hey family, As part of my summer internship Pastor Paul asked me to send out a weekly devo blast to support the church family in the Walk Through The Bible journey. I have been asked to pick a verse from the weekly readings and provide some helpful application or explanation. The verse that I have selected for this week is Hebrews 5:11: 11About this we have much to say that is hard to explain, since you have become dull in understanding. It had never...keep reading»»
Mon. May. 07, 2012 Hebrews 12
Hi all, Pastor Paul here. This past Sunday's message may have been a hard one for some. I recommend visiting a Going Deeper group this week even if you are not a regular member as each group will be pressing into this topic in small group settings. Call the office if you would like the name and location of a group near you. Did you notice the internal consistency of Hebrews in your morning readings? The author says in chapter 12: 12Therefore strengthen the hands...keep reading»»
Thu. May. 03, 2012 Song of Solomon
Hi all, Pastor Paul here. If you are up to date in your readings you will have finished Song of Songs today - did you have any idea what it was saying? Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon depending on your translation) is notoriously hard to make sense of on the first reading. Part of the difficulty lies in the fact that the voice is constantly changing. Sometimes the Beloved is speaking (the young shepherd/king), sometimes his lover, sometimes her friends and sometimes...keep reading»»
Sun. Apr. 15, 2012 Walk Through the Bible Encouragement
Hi all, Pastor Paul here. I am down in Louisville Kentucky at a Pastors' Conference this week. If you would like to see what we are up to go to http://t4g.org/ The conference is called "Together For The Gospel" and you can listen to messages from the previous year's speakers on the site. It is an absolutely fabulous collection of teaching, highly and unreservedly recommended. I wanted to address two quick issues with you before I leave. The first is to...keep reading»»
Tue. Apr. 10, 2012 Assurance of Salvation
Hi all, Pastor Paul here. Over the last several months the topic of assurance of salvation has been raised from time to time. I think we would all agree that many within the contemporary Evangelical church have been inclined to offer assurance of salvation too early in the process. In the last 25 years we have felt the right to tell every person who raised their hand at a campfire or "walked the sawdust trail" or shed a tear before the benediction that they will...keep reading»»
Mon. Feb. 27, 2012 "Job" like faith
Hey Friends, Pastor Paul here. Just before I left for a few days of writing I received some very sad news. A friend of mine with whom I had worked quite closely as a youth pastor had suffered an unspeakable tragedy. His teenage daughter Justina had succumbed to a brain tumor that she had been diagnosed with several years before. I've been in contact with Curt and have been amazed and encouraged by his faith in this difficult hour. I wanted to share his e-mail with...keep reading»»
Mon. Feb. 27, 2012 1 Corinthians 14:20-25 (Gift of Tongues)
Hi all, Pastor Paul here. Today in your readings you encountered a tricky little teaching by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:20-25. To our ears it rather sounds like Paul gets himself all twisted up in a knot. He begins by saying that tongues are a sign to unbelievers but then goes on to say that tongue speaking in church should be restrained for fear it might offend unbelievers. He says that prophesy is for believers, but then goes on to say how helpful it can be...keep reading»»