How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life

Category Archives: commentary

The very best book written about heaven is….

May 26th, 2011
There have been so many books written about heaven, the afterlife, what's it going to be like after I die? and everything in between. In the fiction and non-fiction categories. Heaven Is For Real, The Shack, Love Wins, you name it; I have read most of them.

But, I'll bet you haven't. At least I will guess most of you have not read by far the best book I have read so far on the topic of "what's heaven like?" It is a fictional account about a father grieving after the death of his best friend, his daughter, and his mother; all within two years.

I could continue with a deep insightful review, but before you spend another dime on another "heaven" book- Read this!

what does “gospel” mean?

May 25th, 2011

The word “gospel” comes from the Old English, god+spell, or “good” “word” (think of the word, “spelling”). Now you know where they got the title for the 70′s musical, “Godspell.”

There are many different ways of expressing the good news. The four main books that record the story of Jesus in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are all called “Gospels,” as in “The Gospel according to …” What each of these Gsopel writers say about the “gospel” is helpful.

Matthew

Matthew doesn’t specifically say what he is writing. He starts his book off with a geneology to show the legitimate connection between “Jesus the Messiah,” Abraham and King David. Jesus is the one of whom the Jewish people are waiting.

Mark

Mark starts his gospel by specifically stating it is a gospel, or “good words (news).”

“Here begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.” (New Living Translation)

Luke

Luke is probably writing to a benefactor and/or friend, “Theophilus” (“Lover of God”). Luke gives his reason for writing at the beginning.

“Most honorable Theophilus:

Many people have written accounts about the events that took place among us. They used as their source material the reports circulating among us from the early disciples and other eyewitnesses of what God has done in fullfillment of his promises. Having carefully investigated all of these accounts from the beginning, I have decided to write a careful summmary for you, to reassure you of the truth of all you were taught.” (NLT)

John

With John, what is most interesting is how he ends his gospel. 

“This is that disciple who saw these events and recorded them here. And we all know that his account of these things is accurate. And I suppose that if all the other things Jesus did were written down, the whole world could not contain the books.” (NLT)

what does “evangelism” mean?

May 24th, 2011

“Evangelism” comes from the Greek word, euangelion (εὐαγγέλιον),  which translates, “good message,” or “good news.” In the Christian faith, we speak of the good news as the message of Jesus that is recorded in the Bible. We say this is a message sent from God. You can see a clue to this meaning in the very word, “evangelism.”

EVANGELISM…

Get it?

How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life