Rightly Dividing the Word, part 4: Scripture and the Emerging Church
kirkpatrick-sm2013-handout4.pdf (A basic look at the Emerging Church, focusing especially on Scripture)
If there are two ideas that don't go together, they are the two in this presentation's title: "Scripture," and the "Emerging Church." But our first need is to get a grip on what the Emerging Church is. In the latter portion of this presentation we will focus especially on "Scripture and the Emerging Church."
Read more...Rightly Dividing the Word, part 3: Interpretation and the Current Emergency
kirkpatrick-sm2013-handout3.pdf (Post Historical-critical hermeneutical developments)
Introduction
This presentation traces the key developments in Liberation Theological interpretation we did not address in our first meeting. It also outlines something of the movement to today's postmodern situation. In other words, we look briefly at Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology, Queer Theology, then the shift to Postmodern thought and some theological effects. Most of the first half of this presentation is a condensation of my eight article series "Foundations of Women's Ordination" published last month and available on OrdinationTruth.com. There is, by the way, a morphing, a reshaping of these ideas along the way until many parts of them are embraced in postmodern theology. So this will bear very much on the Emerging Church in our next presentation.
Read more...Rightly Dividing the Word, part 2: Opposing the Historical-critical and Embracing the Historical-grammatical Method
What Is and Is Not Bible Study?
We have significantly lost something which we must recover, or else fail in the Heaven-assigned mission we have embarked upon. It is very important that we understand what is and is not actual Bible study.
Read more...Rightly Dividing the Word, part 1: God Will have a People
kirkpatrick-sm2013-handout1.pdf (Introduction and Survey of the History of Biblical Interpretation )
Introduction
As Seventh-day Adventists, we believe that God has called us. A part of our mission is especially outlined in this statement:
Read more...God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines, and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority--not one or all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain 'Thus saith the Lord' in its support (The Great Controversy, p. 595).
Lessons from Ruth, part 2
Last Time
We continue the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. Last week we began at the first chapter. Elimelech and Naomi, with their two male children, leave parched Bethlehem because of the famine. They travel to Moab. The father dies, the two sons take Moab women for wives, but relatively soon, both young husbands also die. Now there are three dead husbands, three living widows. Word comes that the famine in Israel is over and Naomi departs for Israel. She pleads with her daughters-in-law Moabitesses Ruth and Orpah to leave her, return to Moab, and remarry. Orpah, after Naomi's repeated pleas, complies and returns to Moab. Ruth clings to Naomi, accepting Naomi's God as her God. She joins Israel! But the chapter ended on a bitter note. Naomi says call her name "Bitter' instead of "Pleasant." God has aligned Himself against her and is treating her unfairly. But Naomi has forgotten the blessing standing right beside her: Ruth.
Read more...Lessons from Ruth, part 1
One of the smallest books in the Bible is the story of Ruth the Moabitess. The book of Ruth is very short, and can be hard to find. It is the eighth book of the Bible. After the books of Moses, come Joshua, Judges, then Ruth. This short and sometimes neglected story has no obvious miracles, no mighty and divine interventions. And yet, it offers us a great deal, as we shall see.
Read more...Two Flights
We gather in the church on Sabbath but not to worship not some random idea, or fuzzy, amorphous, impersonal alien being. We gather to worship our Creator/Re-creator. The gospel of John says that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. This "He" was in the beginning with God the Father. Who is "He?" He is Jesus. The Bible says that All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made (John 1:1-3).
Read more...