Lord of Death

by Peter J. Leithart

 

Jesus’ death does not contradict His sovereignty. It is a revelation of His sovereign Lordship. Jesus’ life and death reveals that God is Lord not only over all things He is Lord in all things.

He is not only Lord over the safe confines of heaven, but Lord in the rough and tumble of Roman and Jewish politics. Not only Lord over galaxies, but Lord in the world of hunger and thirst. Not only the Lord over nations, but the Lord in suffering, injustice, and pain. Not only the Lord over life, but also the Lord and tamer in death.

No human experience is closed to God. We cannot put a sign outside any area of human life that says “God has no business here,” “God may not enter.” We set up obstacles and roadblocks, but the Lord bursts in regardless.

“They crucified the Lord of glory.” This has often been an offense and a scandal. Paul exhorts us instead to make it a boast: Let him who boasts, boast in this Lord, the Lord of glory, the crucified Lord of glory. This is our boast to all the gods of the nations: Our God dies to conquer death. Can yours do that?

Easter did NOT come from a pagan holiday

by Gene Veith

 

You’re probably already hearing the old canards about Easter and its customs being based in pagan festivals.  It’s just not true!  After the jump, links to two documented accounts from Pastor Joseph Abrahamson that gives the historical background and churchly contexts of the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. On the Origins of Easter.  (The connections to the Jewish Passover, the dating of Easter, the lack of any corresponding pagan holidays, etc.)

On the Name and Customs of Easter.  (There was no fertility goddess named “Eostre,” just the Germanic name of a month.  Non-Germanic languages call the holiday some version of “Pascha” for “passover.”  Why Easter eggs [to mark the end of the Lenten fast] and Easter rabbits [a symbol for life widely used in ancient Christian art]

Apologetic Videos

http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2016/03/resource-a-helpful-list-of-short-apologetic-videos.html

Resource: A Helpful List of Short Apologetic Videos

Sunday school teachers, youth workers, small group leaders, pastors, and other church leaders are always on the lookout for good resources to help equip their people. So I thought it might be helpful to collect some of the best short apologetics videos that are online and available for free and put them into a single list. Use these to introduce an argument, spark a small group discussion, or even share with your unbelieving friend. And feel free to add your contribution to the list in the comments section.  

• Faith Refocused (answers “What is faith?” and describes the relationship between faith and reality)
• Truth Refocused

• Kalam Cosmological Argument
• Moral Argument
• Fine Tuning of the Universe
• No Evidence (3 arguments for the existence of God)
• Is God Good? (the problem of evil)
• What Happens After I Die?
• Should marriage be changed to promote same-sex couples?
• The Bible and Homosexuality
• Does the Bible Contain Errors?
• The Logical Problem of Evil – Part 1
• The Logical Problem of Evil – Part 2
• The Logical Problem of Evil – Part 3
• What’s Your Worldview? Quiz
• What Is an Ambassador for Christ?
• Why Abortion Is Unjust Discrimination
• Responding to Same-Sex Marriage
• Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?
• Is It OK to Question the Bible?

Resource: A Helpful List of Short Apologetic Videos

Sunday school teachers, youth workers, small group leaders, pastors, and other church leaders are always on the lookout for good resources to help equip their people. So I thought it might be helpful to collect some of the best short apologetics videos that are online and available for free and put them into a single list. Use these to introduce an argument, spark a small group discussion, or even share with your unbelieving friend. And feel free to add your contribution to the list in the comments section.

• Faith Refocused (answers the question “What is faith?” and describes the relationship between faith and reality)
  
• Truth Refocused
  

• Kalam Cosmological Argument
  
• Moral Argument
  
• Fine Tuning of the Universe
  
• No Evidence (3 arguments for the existence of God)
  
• Is God Good? (the problem of evil)
  
• What Happens After I Die?
  
• Should marriage be changed to promote same-sex couples?
  
• The Bible and Homosexuality
  
• Does the Bible Contain Errors?
  
• The Logical Problem of Evil – Part 1
  
• The Logical Problem of Evil – Part 2
  
• The Logical Problem of Evil – Part 3
  
• What’s Your Worldview? Quiz
  
• What Is an Ambassador for Christ?
  
• Why Abortion Is Unjust Discrimination
  
• Responding to Same-Sex Marriage
  
• Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?
  
• Is It OK to Question the Bible?

- See more at: http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2016/03/resource-a-helpful-list-of-short-apologetic-videos.html#sthash.aU4Z43S3.dpuf