Elliott's Muses

Our Church has persevered in this LONG series entitled, "From Garden to Glory".  It was/is an attempt to tell the whole story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  It has been a desire on my part for several years; but I do admit, it's outside of my comfort zone in terms of teaching, and it is almost like remodeling: "It will take longer than you thought, and cost more than you hoped". We are in the Epistles right now...trying to understand the way in which the early church saw the unfolding revelation of God's redemption - which they had just seen up close in Jesus' life, death, resurrection and ascension.  The book of Acts serves as a historical picture of what they went through.  That is one reason I'm including the two videos of Acts at the end of this blog. What is absolutely clear in reading both Acts and the Epistles is that the GOSPEL of Jesus was, and therefore is, the message the Church proclaimed, and therefore must Proclaim today....

The Foundation of Our Faith is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Paul wrote to his young son in the Lord - Timothy and reminded him of this too: 2 Timothy 2:19  But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” "God's firm foundation stands...."  Musing on Spurgeon's words, I rewrote this: The foundation upon which our faith rests is this, that "in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them." (2 cor. 5:19).   The great fact on which genuine faith relies is that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, " (John 1:14) and that " Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God "; (1 Peter 3:18)  " He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree "; (1 Peter 2:24) " Upon him was the chastisemen...

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is from Paul's letter to the Philippians.  I've heard the book of Philippians described as "Paul's happy book".  He loves this fellowship of believers - that is obvious.  The 2nd chapter is especially a beautiful admonition to unity and fellowship in Christ together.  Philippians 2:1-4 1  If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. A church like this is a church that is focused on Christ above all other things.  What is it that Christ Jesus demonstrated in his own life th...

I recently was reading a devotional from Charles Spurgeon.  It was entitled, Christ's Glory With Spurgeon's words as the backdrop, I reworked some of the language to make it my own...It is Spurgeon who brillantly paved the way with his words that I used.   This last Sunday I finished the Gospel's story of Jesus with his Resurrection and Ascension.  The week before we looked at the Cross.  As I said yesterday there is so much that I could have said about Jesus and didn't.  Trying to do an overview of the story of the Bible - a panoramic view - is filled with difficulties...and for the most part I struggle to say it effectively.   Still in my reading Spurgeon said is so well...and with my editing, I repeat it here for you: 1 Timothy 3:16  Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in...