| An Inside Job | Mar-Apr 05 LCN p. 4 | J. Ogwyn |
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Intro: In the New Testament, Jesus seems to have rebuked no group of people more strongly and more frequently than He did the Pharisees. These rebukes and warnings are not recorded merely as a matter of historical interest; they are set down for our benefit. During the Passover season, as we engage in a time of self-examination, it is important that we cometo understand a vital lesson that most Pharisees never understood. Subheads: Blessings and Woes What the Pharisees Failed to Understand God's Power---Key to an Inside Job |
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| Between the Evenings | Mar-Apr 03 LCN p. 8 | R. Reynolds |
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Intro: Over the years, some in God's Church have wondered why we observe the Passover in the evening at the beginning of Abib 14, while today's Jews observe it at the beginning of Abib 15. Have we misunderstood the language, and thus the command, of Scripture? Is there sound biblical and historical evidence for the practice of the Church, or should today's Jewish practice be considered authoritative? Subheads: Morning and Evening Sacrifice Biblical Command Reflected in Samaritan and Sadduceean Tradition Biblical Definitions |
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| Christ's Most Painful Experience | May-June 00 LCN p. 13 | D. Roach |
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Intro: Jesus Christ was a man of suffering, and One who was acquainted with grief. "He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him" (Isaiah 53:3). Subheads: Possibly Christ's Most Painful Experience |
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| Did Jesus Abolish the Law? | Nov-Dec 02 LCN p. 4 | D. Winnail |
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Intro: Many sincere Christians have been told that the laws of God in the Old Testament- about the Sabbath, the Holy Days, clean and unclean foods and tithing- have been abolished and are no longer relevant for New Testament Christians. Supposedly, these ancient laws were "nailed to the cross" by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Subheads: New Testament Warnings Law Before Sinai? The Old Covenant Dietary Laws Abolished? A Matter of Context Jesus, the Apostles and the Law The New Covenant and the Law |
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| Did Jesus Break the Law? | Mar-Apr 00 LCN p. 16 | D. Wakefield |
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Intro: They had figured out the perfect no-win situation for Jesus. In the past the scribes and Pharisees had come up with seemingly fool-proof questions that would trap Jesus in His own words, and repeatedly He had turned the tables on them. But this time it was going to be different. Either way Jesus answered the question, they had Him. Subheads: Magnifying the Law Rules of Evidence Provided Balance Writing on the Ground The Woman's Sin? |
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| Did Jesus Profane the Sabbath? | Sept-Oct 00 LCN p. 14 | D. Wakefield |
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Intro: It seemed that everywhere Jesus went, the religious leaders of His day were watching Him to see if some fault could be found. Because they rejected Jesus' teachings as "unorthodox" they were particularly interested in discrediting Him as an opponent of the law. Subheads: Harvesting? Does Tradition Equal Law? An Incorrect Assumption What Is... The Torah The Mishna The Talmud? Back to David Not Unlawful |
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| Disfellowshipping and Marking | Jan 00 LCN p. 15 | D. Wakefield |
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Intro: In the Church we hear occasionally that someone has been "disfellowshipped" or "marked", but these practices are not always well understood. Can a person who is not a member of the Living Church of God be disfellowshipped? No. Can a person who is not a member of the Living Church of God be "marked"? Yes. So there is a difference in the two. Can you explain what it is? Subheads: "Mark" My Words Disfellowshipping In Summary |
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| Earthquakes and God | Jan-Feb 05 LCN p. 13 | R. Meredith |
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Intro: When will the next massive earthquake strike? And where? The massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake recently experienced off the island of Sumatra—triggering huge tidal waves—has killed tens of thousands and left millions homeless. It is the most powerful earthquake in 40 years. |
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| Faitfulness or Treachery? A Look At the Covenant Relationship | May-June 03 LCN p. 5 | J.Ogwyn |
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Intro: The Day of Pentecost is intimately connected with the covenant relationship between God and man. Historically, this day has been connected with the establishment of the Old Covenant at Sinai, just seven weeks after the Exodus from Egypt. Then, centuries later, on the first Pentecost after Jesus' final Passover, mankind was offered the better promises of the New Covenant---including the indwelling of the Spirit of God, and the ultimate promise of eternal life in the Family of God. SubHeads: Malachi's Message Disrespecting God Treachery in the Family The Coming Messenger Would You Rob God? Our Attitude in Obedience |
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| God Sits on the Mercy Seat | Jan 00 LCN p. 17 | D. Roach |
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Intro: There are many references in Scripture to God as a God of mercy, such as Psalm 136. But a term which vividly captures this attribute is that of God sitting on a mercy seat. The Hebrew word used to describe God's seat means lid or covering, but is rendered "mercy seat" in the King James and New King James translations. |
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| How Did Jesus Fulfill the Law? | Jul-Aug 04 LCN p. 4 | J. Ogwyn |
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Intro: Jesus declared to His listeners: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17). Amazingly, in spite of Christ's plain statement, many professing Christians assume that Jesus in some way came to get rid of the Old Testament law and our need to actually obey it. Subheads: A Prophecy of God's Servant Not To Destroy, But To Fulfill Filling up the Law What Does God Truly Seek |
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| I Love You | May-Jun 05 LCN p. 7 | D. Roach |
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Intro: Have you ever told God, “I love You?” You certainly express your love to your spouse, children and parents. But what do we do about the command that we are supposed to love God even more than our families (Luke 14:26, Matthew 10:37)? God says that He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). So, what about Him? Does God want to hear “I love You” from you and from me? Subheads: An Emotional Encounter Translations of Psalm 18:1 God's Deep Feeling and Emotion Be Genuine! |
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| Is There a "Plan of God"?- Can you prove it from Scripture? | Nov-Dec 01 LCN p. 4 | D. Winnail |
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Intro: Have you ever stepped back to look at your life and world events and asked: "What is really going on? What does all this mean?" Hundreds of different religious groups teach different ideas, yet claim to believe in the same God. Nations and peoples fight each other, yet most people just want to be left alone in peace. Subheads: Background Issues Old Testament Scriptures Reveal a Plan New Testament Scriptures Reveal a Plan A 7,000 Year Plan? The Holy Days |
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| Is There a Real Place of Safety? | July-Aug 01 LCN p. 4 | J. Ogwyn |
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Intro: As prophecy unfolds over the next few years, what is ahead for the members of God's Church? For decades, we have anticipated the coming together of the Beast power in Europe- coupled with the decline of British and American power and a growing crisis in the Middle East, centered on Jerusalem. Subheads: The Source of Deliverance Taken to a Place Who Will Have God's Protection? |
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| Is Your House in Order? | Mar-Apr 05 LCN p. 10 | D. Crockett III |
| Intro: The sudden loss of a loved one---especially a "breadwinner"---can create genuine hardship and financial uncertainty for a family. To prevent such hardship and uncertainty, familes should plan and prepare. paul was inspired to set the standard for us in his letter to the church at Corinth: "For God is not the author of confusion... Let all things be donce decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:33,40). |
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| Jury Duty: A Christian's Perspective | Sept-Oct 02 LCN p. 7 | J. Ogwyn |
| Intro: My wife and I pulled into our driveway late one Sunday afternoon, coming home from a church trip, and I took our mail from the mailbox and brought it inside. As I quickly sorted through the mail, a large yellow notice leaped out at me. With dismay, I noted that I had been summoned for jury duty. Subheads: We Are Ambassadors for Christ Judging Righteous Judgment Mercy and Judgment |
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| Lessons from September 11, 2001 | Nov-Dec 01 LCN p. 10 | R. Reynolds |
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Intro: Many have awakened to a realization that America has determined enemies who hate the nation passionately, and who have the capability of inflicting enormous suffering. People in the U.S. and elsewhere have expressed unbelief, sorrow, anger and vengeance. What are some of the spiritual lessons we can and should learn from this horrible tragedy? Subheads: In God's sight hate toward others is tantamount to murder We must purge hatred toward other human beings from our hearts God allows tragedies for a purpose Repentance is required for continued blessings God will solve these problems and put an end to such evils |
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| Lessons from the Parables of the Kingdom | Sep-Oct 04 LCN p. 8 | J. Ogwyn |
| Intro: Most people believe that Jesus used parables to make His teachings understandable to the masses, but Scripture says the very opposite (Matthew 13:13). Only for Jesus' disciples, to whom He gave clear explanations, did the parables make plain His various lessons about the Kingdom (vv. 10-11). Subheads: The Parable of the Sower and the Seed Six More Parables of the Kingdom Prophets of Judgment and Joy The Kingdom Is Coming |
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| Military Service, the Draft and Christianity | Jan-Feb 01 LCN p. 12 | D. Haney |
| Intro: One of a parent's worst nightmares is the thought of losing a child in war. Many have made the sacrifice. But should Christian men be sacrificed in that way, for this world's armies and this world's wars? Our understanding of prophecy---current events and coming wars in the Middle East and around the world---makes of special concern the possibility of the draft being resumed. I do not wish to see you or any of your friends in the Church caught unawares. |
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| Philadelphia---Laodicea | July-Aug 98 GCN p. 11 | R. Thiel |
| Intro: Are some of god's people actually going to flee right before the Great Tribulation? According to Jesus the answer is yes. He said, "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matt. 24:20-21). SubHeads: Future Shock! Riding Other's Coattails? |
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| Refined Gold | Mar-Apr 04 LCN p. 8 | M. Mendiola |
| Intro: Many people in God's Church are going through severe trials. Some might wonder why God allows such trials, and what possible good could come from them.. |
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| Samaritans: Old and New | May-June 02 LCN p. 19 | R. Thiel |
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Intro: Both the Old and New Testaments mention the Samaritans. While the world in general likes to focus on the parable concerning "the good Samaritan", it usually fails to focus on what the Samaritans (and even those Israelites who shared their wrong values) represented. Do the Samaritans represent goodness, or faithfulness to God? Or do they represent something else? The Bible- the basis for doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16)- gives us the answer. Subheads: Old Testament Samaritans New Testament Samaritans Modern Samaritans |
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| Samson and Samuel- A Tale of Two Nazarites | Feb 00 LCN p. 7 | J. Ogwyn |
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Intro: The twelfth century BC was a bleak one for ancient Israel. The nation had been on a veritable roller-coaster ride of ups and downs in relation to neighboring nations since Joshua's death. Now, in the aftermath of Gideon's death, the unity of the nation seemed to fracture. Subheads: The Life of Samson The Life of Samuel |
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| So You Are Being Called for Jury Duty | Jan-Feb 01 LCN p. 22 | T. Turner |
| Intro: In recent months, increasing numbers of those affiliated with Living Church of God have been called for jury duty. Many courts have begun to use driver's license data to locate potential jurors instead of voter registration information. |
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| The Big Picture: What Is Your Religion Preparing You For? | Jul-Aug 03 LCN p. 17 | D. Winnail |
| Intro: Have you ever paused to look back over your life, and asked yourself: "What am I doing with my life? Will what I am doing now really matter after I am gone?" Is there a greater purpose for life? Does your life fit into a bigger picture Subheads: The Story Begins The Story Continues Important Details Getting the Picture Avoiding Pitfalls |
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| The Blessings of Church Government | Nov-Dec 04 LCN p. 4 | C. Bryce |
| Intro: What is the right approach to Church government? Some in God's Church do not want any Church government, or want very little. you can read through the book of Judges and you will see what happens when there is no real leadership and no government among God's people. |
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| The Blessings of the Third Tithe | Nov-Dec 99 LCN p. 10 | G. Ehman |
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Intro: God pronounces a blessing on those who care for the poor and the needy. He also emphasizes throughout the Bible that it is the duty of the individual to closely guard, protect and support those who are afflicted within society by events and circumstances not of their choice. |
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| The Purpose of Speaking in Tongues | May-June 99 LCN p. 11 | P. Sena |
| Intro: Do we believe that God always acts with a purpose? When we see something in the Bible that we don't understand, do we dig deeper to find the purpose? Consider, for example, the phenomenon of "speaking in tongues" as recorded in Acts 2. Is it just a bizarre phenomenon irrelevant to our present day, or does it, upon further analysis, reveal the mind of God? Subheads: The Tongues Were Understood Paul's Instruction to the Corinthians Necessary Today? |
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| The Writings of John- Their Timing and Purpose | May-June 01 LCN p. 4 | J. Ogwyn |
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Intro: The rest of the New Testament had been completed for more than two decades. Peter and Paul were both dead and the Jerusalem temple had long since been destroyed. Nearly all of the first generation of Christians had died. In the final decade of the first century, the last surviving eyewitness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ took his pen in hand to write the last books of the New Testament. Subheads: Themes in the Gospel of John Signs of the Messiah Holy Days and the Gospel John's Epistles |
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| Thy Kingdom Come | May-June 04 LCN p. 4 | D. Winnail |
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Intro: If you take the time to step outside of the privileged lifestyle that you may enjoy, and consider the needs of the billions of human beings who struggle daily to survive, you will be able to pray with more fervency and with a greater sense of urgency, "Thy Kingdom come." Subheads: The Real Gospel A Different Gospel! An Irrelevant Prayer? Back to Reality Redeeming the Time |
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| Understanding Mankind's Suffering | Nov-Dec 03 LCN p. 7 | D. Wakefield |
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Intro: Theologians and philosophers cannot figure it out. If God is merciful and good—but also omnipotent—why is there so much suffering? Subheads: The Short Answer Satan's "Little Shop of Deceptions" Deal With It "The Real Thing" Is God Uninvolved? |
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| We Are Not All the Same | Sep-Oct 04 LCN p. 14 | L. Greer |
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Intro: Does it make a difference which Church of God you attend? Today, there are more than 300 Church of God groups that acknowlege the Sabbath and the Holy Days. Only a few are organized bodies; most are very small and may represent only a family or a very few individuals. Subheads: Church Government Correct Government Teaches Us "The Way" Doing the Work The Ezekiel Warning Being an Overcomer Brethren in Other Groups? |
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| What Defines Your Life? | May-Jun 04 LCN p. 7 | J. Ogwyn |
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Intro: We are all powerfully affected by the world around us. Clearly, we have all been greatly shaped by our families, our communities, and our culture. In addition to that, our day-to-day lives are often a series of responses to the people and events that we encounter each day. Subheads: Defined by the "Around"? Trying to Protect the Self Handling Life Properly |
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| What Does God Like to be Called? | May-June 01 LCN p. 14 | D. Roach |
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Intro: God had many names and titles revealed in Scripture: God (Genesis 4:6), I Am (Exodus 3:14) and Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9, 13, 22), among others. But does He especially cherish one term that we may use when addressing Him? Does Scripture show the very special importance of one of His names? |
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| What Does It Mean to Be God's Chosen People? | July-Aug 01 LCN p. 7 | D. Winnail |
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Intro: What comes into your mind when you hear the phrase: "God's chosen people"? Do you think of the Jews, or the nation of Israel or some exclusivist group with a better-than-thou attitude? When you hear someone say "I am one of God's elect" or "We are God's people," how do you react? Subheads: Origin of the Idea Chosen for a Reason More People Chosen Chosen People Today |
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| What Does It Really Mean to Hallow God's Name? -The Truth About Sacred Names | July-Aug 00 LCN p. 4 | J. Ogwyn |
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Intro: The man sitting across the table seemed very sincere. "I believe that it is just as important to keep the third commandment as it is to keep the fourth one, " he said. Of course, he was absolutely right. It is vital to keep the third commandment. The Apostle James reminds us that if we break one point in the law, we have broken the entire law (James 2:10). Subheads: What is a Name? What is the Creator's Name? |
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| What is a Philadelphian? | July-Aug 01 LCN p. 10 | R. Thiel |
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Intro: What is a Philadelphian? This article will review the biblical passages about the Philadelphian Church and examine when it began, what its traits were, why a remnant still exists, how to determine who that remnant is- and why this is important to know. Subheads: When the Philadelphia Era Began What Are the Traits of a Philadelphian? Why Is There a Philadelphian Remnant? How to Determine Who the Remnant Is (or Is Not) Why Is This Important to Know? |
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| What Is Christ Doing Now? | May-Jun 05 LCN p. 9 | J. Ogwyn |
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Intro: As Christians living near the end of the age, we often focus our attention on what Jesus Christ will be doing in a few years. With anticipation, we look toward the future reign of the Messiah from Jerusalem. Understanding that within a few years Christ will return to this earth as King of kings to establish His government over the nations, we eagerly await this turning point in history. It is exciting to think about this glorious time, and to look forward to our role in administering God’s government under Jesus Christ. Subheads: It Is Profitable That I Go Away The Priesthood of Melchizedek |
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| What Is The Savior's Name? | Jul-Aug 05 LCN p. 6 | J. Ogwyn |
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Intro: In Acts 4:12, the Apostle Peter declared that there is only one name “under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” On the evening before His arrest and subsequent crucifixion, the Savior told His disciples that whatever they asked the Father “in My name,” would be done (John 16:23). Clearly, the use of the Savior’s name is very important. But what is that name? Subheads: The Language of the New Testament The Origin of the Name "Jesus" The Letter "J" Knowing Your Savior |
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| When Tragedy Strikes: How Will You React? | May-Jun 05 LCN p. 4 | D. Winnail |
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Intro: In recent years, terrible tragedies have again and again struck suddenly and without warning around the world. Terrorist attacks in the Middle East, the United States, Kenya and Tanzania, the Sumatra earthquake and tsunami, hurricanes in Florida and the Caribbean, earthquakes in Turkey, massacres and civil wars in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Central Asia—all have killed or injured hundreds and thousands and have left trails of destruction. Shootings in public places—schoolyards, churches, quiet suburbs and noisy streets—have shocked and stunned communities and left many dazed with sorrow Subheads: Basic Guidelines A Specific Example Christ's Instructions Apostolic Advice |
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| Why Did Jesus Christ Come? | May-June 02 LCN p. 12 | J. Ogwyn |
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Intro: In the early 90s AD, the aged Apostle John wrote his personal account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. He wrote between two and three decades after the other gospel accounts were written. When he wrote, he chose to begin the story in quite a different manner than the three earlier writers. While Mark began with Jesus' ministry and Matthew and Luke started with the events surrounding His birth, John started at a different point entirely. Subheads: Christ Came to Condemn Sin in the Flesh Christ Came as the Lamb of God Christ Came as the Second Adam Christ Came to Reveal the Father Christ Came as the messenger of the Covenant Christ Came to Build His Church Christ Came to Lead Captivity Captive |
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| Why Do Christians Suffer? | July-Aug 02 LCN p. 12 | R. Wheeler |
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Intro: Suffering, by definition, is painful. So why would God allow it in the life of a Christian- and even praise its benefits? The subject of suffering is very serious, and often misunderstood. Thankfully, God has given us information vital to understanding the subject of suffering, and how it relates to what He is doing here on Earth. When we look at this information, we should be able to acknowledge that we are willing- indeed that we need- to suffer. Suffering can be a blessing, and is a vital part of our Christian growth. Subheads: Called to Suffer Trial and Temptation What is God Doing? |
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