Image credit: RAH
How Christ’s Toil Made Light Work
The condition of Israel's affliction & redemption from Egypt
In the end, the LORD made affliction to become a servant to Israel’s flourishing. This, in fact, predicts the gospel: The curse would not prevent God’s promise.
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Reading the Old Testament by the New (& the New by the Old)
The Christian reads as did the prophets, by the Spirt and in search of Jesus Christ
The Pentecost feast found its expected celebration in the usual sequence of Jewish festival days that became part of the Jewish calendar in connection with the Exodus. Pentecost was, accordingly, an annual Jewish festival; but this particular Pentecost found a unique situation and expression because it succeeded Jesus’ recent resurrection.
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A Brief Note on the Jewish Feasts
The formal recognition of the life of men & the presence of God
Each of the feasts were to be annually observed as a reminder of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt to the land of promise. One feast, though, was never to be celebrated without the others, for, together, they recited a single narrative and history.
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When Facts are Crowned with Meaning
A short introduction to the second chapter of Acts
The meaning of scripture, in this way, is the gift of God to the questions that he, himself, excites in man. This is illustrated on Pentecost day, in the litany of strange phenomena that overtakes the crowd that is gathered in Jerusalem.
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Temptation, Patience & the Gift of God’s Time
Temptation as the ground of triumph
Only faith may so work in the presence of temptation to produce what temptation sought to destroy—virtue. This is the irony of James’ admonition.
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The Power of God Conceived in his Revelation to Man
The gospel, God's rule, and righteousness
Accordingly, human notions of both power and purity were challenged, toppled, and then turned right-side-up by the gospel. Rome imposed its power by a sword; the church found its increase by a word that invited believers of every tribe and people.
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Mood, Medium, & Message
The character of the biblical revelation informs the content of the sermon
Paul first makes his readers to understand the facts upon which their faith depends, for faith must understand the works of God before it gives answer to the will of God.
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