The Path of Service, Part 1

By James Boice
Theme: Love on Its Knees
 
This week’s lessons remind us that true discipleship is marked by selfless service to others, because that is how Christ treated us.
 
Scripture: John 13:1-17
 
Following the Lord Jesus Christ is an individual matter, but it is not individualistic. Let me explain.
 
When we say that discipleship is an individual matter we are saying that it is something the individual himself must do. No one can follow Jesus for you.
Following the Lord Jesus Christ is an individual matter, but it is not individualistic. Let me explain.
 
When we say that discipleship is an individual matter we are saying that it is something the individual himself must do. No one can follow Jesus for you. Your husband cannot be your proxy. Your children cannot read the Bible for you, pray for you, or obey the Lord for you. You must do these things for yourself, and if you do not do them, you are no true disciple. Individualism is something different.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Sunday School, Teaching, and Church Authority

Posted on Friday, May 20, 2016 by Todd Pruitt on 1517

Is teaching the Bible in the household of God ever not authoritative? 

 
Well, well, well. Carl and Aimee really thought they had me. It was an all-out ambush. And while I did take a few arrows I nevertheless was left unpersuaded by their argument. 
 
If you are wondering what I am referring to then take a listen to the latest Mortification of Spin podcast. In short, our disagreement is over the nature of teaching the Bible in Sunday School.

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Mortification of Spin is a casual conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Mortification of Spin and the mission of the Alliance.

The Path of Obedience, Part 5

By James Boice
Theme: The Liberty of Obedience
 
This week’s lessons stress the necessity of obedience if one is truly a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Scripture: Luke 6:46-49
 
Over the last two days we looked at four Bible study methods.  Today we begin by mentioning one more.
 
5. Study the Bible prayerfully (Dan. 9:1-3).
Over the last two days we looked at four Bible study methods.  Today we begin by mentioning one more.
 
5. Study the Bible prayerfully (Dan. 9:1-3). It is impossible to study the Bible devotionally without praying, since we are coming to God in Scripture and must communicate with Him verbally if we do. But although prayer is a part of a devotional study of Scripture, prayer is worth stressing for its own sake, if only because we so often neglect it.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

The Path of Obedience, Part 4

By James Boice
Theme: Living in the Book: Comprehensive and Devotional Bible Study
 
This week’s lessons stress the necessity of obedience if one is truly a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Scripture: Luke 6:46-49
 
Yesterday we mentioned what systematic Bible study is.  We now need to see how one does it. Certain procedures should be followed during study. First, the book itself should be read through carefully as many as four or five times, perhaps one of these times aloud.
Yesterday we mentioned what systematic Bible study is.  We now need to see how one does it. Certain procedures should be followed during study. First, the book itself should be read through carefully as many as four or five times, perhaps one of these times aloud. Each time something new will strike you. 

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

What is Sunday School? What Does it Appear to Be? And Who Can Teach It?

Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 by Aimee Byrd on Housewife Theologian

Continuing our discussion from today's MoS podcast.

My cohorts and I had a rousing conversation on today’s podcast about women teaching Sunday school. As we were sharing our opinions, I realized we were kind of arguing in circles because we did not share the same view of the function of Sunday school.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Mortification of Spin is a casual conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Mortification of Spin and the mission of the Alliance.

The Path of Obedience, Part 3

By James Boice
Theme: Living in the Book: Daily and Systematic Bible Study
 
This week’s lessons stress the necessity of obedience if one is truly a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Scripture: Luke 6:46-49
 
Everything I have been saying so far leads to a practical conclusion, and it is this.

Everything I have been saying so far leads to a practical conclusion, and it is this. If discipleship involves obedience to Jesus Christ, as it certainly does, and if Jesus exercises His Lordship over us so that we can obey Him through the Bible, as we have seen to be the case, then there can be no real discipleship apart from Bible study. The study of the Bible is no option for Christians. It cannot even be a minor, occasional, or “vacation time” pursuit. It must be the most essential ingredient in the believer’s spiritual life.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

The Path of Obedience, Part 2

By James Boice
Theme: How Does Jesus Speak?
 
This week’s lessons stress the necessity of obedience if one is truly a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Scripture: Luke 6:46-49
 
Several years ago, when I was in northern California, I turned on the radio and heard part of an unusual religious program. It was called “Have You Had a Spiritual Experience?” and was conducted like a call-in talk show.

Several years ago, when I was in northern California, I turned on the radio and heard part of an unusual religious program. It was called “Have You Had a Spiritual Experience?” and was conducted like a call-in talk show. A phone number was given, and listeners were invited to describe their “spiritual experience” over the air.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Persistent Prayer to a Loving Father

by Jason Helopoulos • May 16, 2016

Persistent prayer proves hard for many Christians. We may labor on our knees for years as we pray for our unbelieving child, an empty womb, our spouse to be converted, the friend battling cancer, depression to no longer have a hold, a sin to lose its grip, or the gift of just one good friend. We pray and continue to pray, ever fighting the temptation to give up. The temptation comes because nothing seems to happen.

Persistent prayer proves hard for many Christians. We may labor on our knees for years as we pray for our unbelieving child, an empty womb, our spouse to be converted, the friend battling cancer, depression to no longer have a hold, a sin to lose its grip, or the gift of just one good friend. We pray and continue to pray, ever fighting the temptation to give up. The temptation comes because nothing seems to happen. If we are honest, many times we wonder if our Father in heaven cares. We bow our head, utter our prayer, plead with the Father, and it seems to rise no higher than the ceiling.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Christward Collective is a conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Christward Collective and the mission of the Alliance.

The Path of Obedience, Part 1

By James Boice
Theme: Profession without Practice
 
This week’s lessons stress the necessity of obedience if one is truly a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Scripture: Luke 6:46-49
 
Jesus spoke about obedience toward the end of Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount. He had been followed by people who made verbal profession of discipleship.

Jesus spoke about obedience toward the end of Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount. He had been followed by people who made verbal profession of discipleship. They called him “Lord,” which meant that they were calling Him their master and were putting themselves forward as His servants. But they were disregarding His teaching. Jesus showed the impossibility of this intrinsic contradiction by asking pointedly: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say” (v. 46)? In other words, Jesus cannot be our Lord without obedience; and if He is not our Lord, we do not belong to Him. We are like the man whose house would be swept away by a flood.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Enemies of the State

Posted on Friday, May 13, 2016 by Todd Pruitt on 1517

The new sexual revolution comes to your living room...

 
My mind boggles over both the swiftness and comprehensiveness of the new sexual revolution.

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