Misuse of Col. 3:17   Introduction In Colossians 3:17 the apostle Paul wrote, And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. What exactly did he mean by “whatever you do…”? This article will look at what man says versus what the bible says.   Out of Context Taking this statement of Paul’s, at face value, could easily open the flood gates for all kinds of activity. One of the warning signs that people are a denominational fueled individual is when they call for information about your congregation, one of the first questions asked is, “What programs do you offer?” The idea of programs includes activities for children, singles night, couples’ activities, various ‘anonymous’ programs, rehab, soup kitchens, etc. But it doesn’t stop there; pancake breakfasts, car washes, Church softball teams, casino night, etc. In addition to all of this, people look at their God-given talents as reason t...

  Misuse of Phil. 4:13   Introduction In Philippians 4:13, the apostle Paul writes; I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. What did Paul mean when he wrote, “I can do all things?” A lot of people in the religious world cling to this verse as if it’s a lifesaver and that, even when times are tough, this verse will remind them that nothing is too hard.   Out of Context Many people think that they can accomplish anything if God (or Christ) is on their side. For example: Slam dunk a basketball, make the winning play in baseball, bench press more weights than one should, or win the lottery. Given that the last one is a form of gambling, God is not going to approve of that; nor will He take credit if you should win. If this is the case, then what does it mean?   In Context The first thing you need to know is that Paul wrote this letter from prison. Like Ephesians and Colossians, Philippians is what is known as a Prison Epistle . Secondly,...

    Introduction “Okay kids, it’s time for bible study!” “Groan. The bible is too big” “It takes forever to get through it.” Does this sound familiar in your household? I’ll agree that some parts of scripture seem tedious; Leviticus springs instantly to mind. However, when you get right down to it, the bible isn’t nearly as long as you think it is. Let’s face it, if man wrote the bible, it would be so much longer. So much more would have been added to it. Here’s a look at how brief the scriptures actually are.   This article is not to be confused with my other one titled, Who Wrote the Bible?   In the Beginning The creation of the earth, and everything within, only takes one chapter. One separate chapter was given to the creation of Adam and Eve. Had these chapters been written by man, you would see multiple chapters of what transpired during these six literal days. And that’s another point; some would argue that the days of creation are, in actuality...