This powerpoint mirrors an article I wrote about 30 years ago, and which I have made into an important chapter in my book, Graceful Reason. It is important because of the current social climate where atheists, agnostics, and skeptics are extremely vocal and militant. Still further, they have an advantage in most academic environments which are slanted toward liberal ideologies. To counter this, I think that it's time to wake the slumbering church to the need to become personally and … [Read more...]

Genuine Esteem This powerpoint needs some explanation.  First, it is based on the two greatest commandments (found initially in Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18). Then, I attempt to show how intertwined these two great commandments are in the entire Biblical record.  In fact, Matthew says that somehow all the Law and the Prophets (and, I would  add, all NT teaching as well) are rooted in and grow out of these two great commandments.  The few examples I used show how foundational these are for human … [Read more...]

I have some quite detailed and lengthy studies on Bible Translation theory, etc., but I wanted something that would be shorter and could be used as an informative pulpit presentation.  Thanks to the skeleton outline and slide backgrounds provided by Levi Sides, I have put together a lesson of that sort.  It has been significantly modified to reflect my own research and preferences in this area.  Hopefully, the lesson will prove helpful to others. Bible Translations # … [Read more...]

Am I Christ Minded This lesson focuses on the mindset of Christ as exemplified in Phil. 2:1-11.  Do we possess the mind of Christ?  An extremely important question, to be sure. … [Read more...]

Near Death Experiences3 This is the third lesson in the series, but listed as lesson two because it is the second one to actually deal with examples of those who have claimed to have gone to heaven and return.  The three mentioned in this lesson are less well known than the four from the previous lesson, except perhaps for the one from the book, "Heaven and Hell." In this lesson, however, I give some eight responses to those making the claims which accompany NDE's, and these eight points … [Read more...]

Near Death Experiences2 In this particular lesson, I introduce the issues of subjectivity vs. objectivity, and look at some hoaxes that have been passed off as genuine.  Moreover, we examine four of the most popular NDE's being sold in the bookstores, and promoted as being real experiences of heaven.  In one of the books, the individual making the claims was asked what Jesus looked like, and he finally gave a picture drawn by another person making similar claims (of a rather modern European … [Read more...]

NDE--Bible Truth and Error This particular lesson introduces you to the study of "Eschatology" (or, "last things").  Included in such a study is a description of (1) Hades, (2) Judgment, (3) Heaven and (4) Hell. The idea here is help all to see what truly happens to us after death.  Subsequent lessons will explore many of those who have claimed to have gone to heaven, and then returned to describe their experiences to us.  Their problems will become apparent as we proceed, but let me … [Read more...]