Restitutio

This world is not my home I’m just a passing through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore Oh lord you know I have no friend like you If heaven’s not my home then lord what will I do The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore So goes the classic hymn, “This World Is Not My Home.”  However, the bible frequently portrays the final destination of the righteous as occurring on earth.  In this message we’ll take our cue from Daniel’s vision in chapter seven to see what God’s plan is for his people.  Ultimately, he wants a restored world without suffering and sin so that he can enjoy a relationship with his people forever.  This world is your home.  You were born here.  You currently live here.  And your hope is to remain here.   Notes: Vision Daniel 7.1-8: Vision of the four beasts: a lion, a bear, a leapord, a dreadful beast, little horn Daniel 7.9-12: The Ancient of Days passes judgment against the dreadful beast Daniel 7.13-14: The Son of Man rules over all peoples forever Daniel 7.15: Daniel’s response Interpretation Daniel 7.16-18: first clarification – the beasts are kings, but saints will receive a kingdom and rule forever Daniel 7.19-27: second clarification – the fourth kingdom and the little horn who persecutes the saints Daniel 7.28: Daniel’s response The Saints Will Reign Matthew 19.28; 20.21-23; 1 Corinthians 6.2; 2 Timothy 2.12; Revelation 2.26-27; 5.9-10; 20.6 Kingdom Driven Luke 4.43; Matthew 24.14   Links: Check out the kingdom of God class podcasts More posts about conditional immortality (the sleep of the dead) Get the book Heaven Is Not My Home by the late David Burge or listen to my interview of him here Check out these additional audios, videos, articles, and ebooks on conditional immortality Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

John McCave has faithfully served God as a minister for 36 years.  In this interview he shares his story of how God brought him from a hardened tough guy to a humble servant, motivated by love.  McCave also shares key insights he’s gained along the way, especially with regard to his wife, Mary without whose support he could never have succeeded.  Although this interview is chock-full of fascinating first-hand accounts of what God has done in his life, McCave’s humility, more than anything else, shines through as an example for all of us.   Notes and Links: Watch McCave’s recent sermon from KingdomFest called “Yahweh, the Only God“ Visit his ministry website at Christian Outreach Fellowships Order his book, Worship: God’s Desire for All Ages Take a look at our KingdomFest 2017 videos Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Sid Hatch, a former Baptist minister and graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary explains his reasons for questioning the Trinity.  Ultimately he concluded the bible does not teach that Jesus is “God the Son” but that he is “the Son of God.”  In this presentation, he discusses various key texts including John 1.1 and Philippians 2.1-9 among others.   Notes: Watch the video of this lecture More podcasts on monotheism Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.  

Why are there so many divergent beliefs about what the bible teaches?  Partially, this results from mistakes we make when reading scripture.  In this interview, Dr. Jerry Wierwille enumerates seven typical fallacies that bible students commit when reading: Root Fallacy Time-Frame Fallacy Misusing Parallels Fallacy Single Meaning Fallacy Word-Concept Fallacy Disjunctive Fallacy Lexical Fallacy Avoiding these pitfalls will help you engage with scripture better and build solid understandings that can stand up to critical analysis.   Notes and Links: Dig deeper by reading Introduction to Exegetical Fallacies and Overview of Exegetical Fallacies Listen to Wierwille’s earlier interviews, especially the one he did on Hermeneutics (interpreting scripture) Check out these sermons and articles on Wierwille’s website (JerryWierwille.com) To delve deeper, take a look at D. A. Carson’s Exegetical Fallacies Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Are you a missionary? Although we typically think of missionaries as those who travel to foreign lands to share the gospel with people, the simple fact is that we are all called to the work of sharing the gospel.  Furthermore, as HeartCry Missionary Society points out, indigenous missionaries have huge advantages over foreign missionaries since they are more plenteous, less expensive, culturally literate, fluent, and avoid nationalistic biases.  What if you altered your thinking just a little?  Rather than seeing your role as a member of a church or a participant in a community of faith, what if you thought of yourself as an indigenous missionary?  How would that change your life? Please pardon the quality of this recording.  This meeting happened outside in a park in the Albany, NY area.   Notes: Info about KingdomFest 2017 More podcasts on evangelism Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

What do you know about the book of Proverbs?  It can be quite difficult to understand what’s going on without some knowledge of how Hebrew poetry works.  In this episode Jerry Wierwille, serves as our guide to get a better grip on what Proverbs is all about.  He explains the poetic structures, general approach, and theological content of this incredibly important book so you can get more out of it.   Notes and Links: Listen to Wierwille’s earlier interviews: Caring Enough to Confront, Hermeneutics, and Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Check out these sermons and articles by Jerry Wierwille on his website (JerryWierwille.com) Read the recently completed Revised English Version of Proverbs To delve deeper, take a look at Robert Alter’s The Art of Biblical Poetry Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Service is an important part of Christian living.  We are not spectators waiting to be entertained, but participants looking for ways to help out.  In this sermon, John Cortright shows what Jesus taught us about service at the last supper as well as what sort of attitude we should have.  So often we either critique from the sidelines or remain oblivious to the needs around us.  Instead, we can take the initiative and jump in where there’s a need.  This is a call to action! Notes: At the last supper, Jesus shared many important truths with his disciples that they would need to know after his departure. John 13:1-17 Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and then explained why. Foot washing was an Eastern/biblical custom of service towards others (Gen 18:1-4; 19:1-2; 24:30-32; 43:16-24; 1 Samuel 25:40-41; Luke 7:44; 1 Tim 5:10). Jesus was their Teacher (Master) and Lord. If we are Christ’s disciples, he should be also our Lord and Master (Roman 10:9). If he is our Lord, then we ought to wash one another’s feet. The slave (the servant) is not greater than his master. Neither is the one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. Blessed are you if you “do” these things. Luke 22:24-27 This account also took place during the last supper. The greatest should become the servant. Romans 12:1 We are urged to present our bodies a living sacrifice, a spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:2-11 We are individually members of the body of Christ, “each” having a function to perform. Ephesians 4:7, 14-16 — “Each one” of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 — There are a variety of gifts, ministries, and effects, but it is one spirit, one Lord, and one God that works all things in all persons! 1 Corinthians 12:11 — One and the same spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually. 1 Corinthians 12:27 — Now you are Christ’s body and individually members of it. 1 Peter 4:7-11 The end of all things is near! So serve!!! As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another. Philippians 2:1-13 Be intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. Do not look out for your own interests but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude which was also in Christ Jesus! It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Links: More Restitutio podcasts featuring John Cortright include 45 Talking with Jesus and 77 God Is Enough Check out dozens of more sermons by Cortright at the Living Hope International Ministries archive Take Cortright’s classes, including Isaiah and The Twelve (aka the ‘minor’ prophets) Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

What is faith?  To some it is believing in something without evidence.  To others it is a means by which to attain God’s blessings like prosperity and health.  John Schoenheit explains how neither of these definitions best encapsulates the biblical understanding.  Instead, he shows how faith is really just trust in what God says, whether in scripture or by revelation.  In this fascinating interview you’ll learn about how the meaning of the word faith has changed throughout Christian history as well as how the “Word of Faith” approach could ruin your life. Notes and Links: Read the full article “Faith is Trust” or check out his ongoing by translation project, the Revised English Version (REV) More resources by John Schoenheit are available at Spirit and Truth Fellowship and at Truth or Tradition and at Biblical Unitarian More information about KingdomFest here (Sept 8-10, 2017) Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Find out what the most commonly misunderstood texts about the kingdom are as well as how to interpret them within their own contexts.  In this final session of the kingdom of God class, we’ll look at these important verses: Matthew 16.28 “Some…will not taste death until they see…the kingdom” Luke 17.21 “The kingdom of God is in your midst” Matthew 24.34 “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place” Luke 23.43 “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” John 18.36 “My kingdom is not of this world” John 14.3 “I go and prepare a place for you” 2 Corinthians 5.8 “to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” Philippians 1.23 “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” Ecclesiastes 12.7 “The dust returns to the earth…and the spirit returns to God” This is lecture 15 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade. Notes: Some will not taste death until kingdom comes Matthew 16.28-17:9 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”  1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.  3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.  4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.  7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”  8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.  9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” they received a vision of the kingdom; this fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy that they wouldn’t die before “seeing” the son of man coming in his kingdom   Kingdom is within you Luke 17.20-31 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,  21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”  22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them.  24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.  25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.  26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.  27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah en

Sean Holbrook was attending a typical evangelical church when he heard a series of sermons teaching the Trinity.  Ironically, these very messages, designed to bolster faith in the doctrine, ended up inspiring Holbrook to question the age old dogma.  As a result, he set out to study the topic more and watched James White debates and read his book The Forgotten Trinity.  Once again, what was meant to convince Holbrook of the Trinity opened his eyes to more flaws and shaky logic that spurred him on to study the subject even further.  After much investigation and careful consideration, he concluded the bible teaches that the Father of Jesus is the only true God. Early in 2017, Sean Holbrook debated Joshua Lovell on the question: Is God a Trinity? Here’s another link to the debate with better audio quality. Notes and Links: Check out Sean Holbrook’s blog: droptozro Follow him on Twitter @titus2_11_14 Listen to more episodes about biblical unitarianism Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.