The Greek word προστάτις (prostatis) is used in Rom. 16:2 to describe Phoebe as a “help”—probably following Jerome’s influential Latin Vulgate translation,“astiti”meaning one who “assists.” Rom. 16:1, 2 says,“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any helpshe may need from you, for she has been a great helpto many people, including me”[emphasis added]……

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Jesus was intentional . . . and shocking . . . when He taught His followers to love their neighbors and made the hero of His story a SAMARITAN. The Samaritans were despised by Jesus’ fellow citizens even as many people today despise those who are different from them. The Samaritans were different in their ethnicity and religious. So powerful was Jesus’ story that 2000 years later those who help strangers are often called “Good Samaritans” even by many who…..

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To the Rich Young Ruler Jesus said, “sell EVERYTHING, give to the poor, and follow Me” (Luke 18:22). Jesus commended Zacchaeus for his commitment to “give HALF of all he possessed to the poor” (Luke 19:8, 9). Jesus commanded ALL His followers to “sell their possessions and give to the poor” (Luke 12:33). What do we conclude from these three stories from Jesus’ life and teachings? Limiting one’s wealth and possessions to enable giving to the poor is a mandate…..

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In Romans 16, there are two shocking illustrations of possible gender bias in the translation of many English Bibles which potentially have hidden the truth that God intended for women to serve as elders and deacons in His church. In Romans 16:1, Paul writes a strong commendation of Phoebe, his ministry colleague in the Cenchrean Church. In that verse, diakonon is translated “servant” rather than “minister” or “deacon” thus failing to identify her apparent official leadership role in the Cenchrean church……

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While in a few parts of the world, some churches and denominations are in decline, globally, Jesus’ church is exploding with growth. In China more people worship Jesus than in America. In Africa, the number of Christians has grown to 500 million. In Asia, Christianity is growing at twice the rate of population growth. More Muslims have come to Christ in the last 15 years than in the previous 15 centuries. Every day the average number added to the body…..

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This was an interesting news item: A Minnesota man was eating a hot dog at a hockey game last month. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and tossed the remains in the trash. Authorities then used DNA on the napkin to tie him to an unsolved murder from 1993. The takeaway lessons are: Don’t go to hockey games. Finish your hot dog. If you don’t finish the dog, do not throw your leftovers in the trash. Right? Oops, I…..

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That’s right, sometimes I hear voices inside me that nobody else can hear. Before you conclude that I’m even more weird than you thought, let me quickly tell you that the voices are messages from my conscience. You’ve got one of those too. It’s factory equipment from our Creator. The Bible tells us that God gave all of us a conscience (Romans 2) – an internal sense of right and wrong which warns us when we are contemplating or doing…..

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WHAT IS THE BIBLE and HOW CAN I MAKE SENSE OF IT? The Bible is a collection of ancient stories, poems, sermons, and letters. It includes 66 books gathered into two parts: the much longer Old Testament (before Jesus) and the much shorter New Testament (Jesus and after). Christians believe that the Bible was written by imperfect humans who were guided by God’s Holy Spirit. Depending on where and how you read, the Bible can be: Amazing and mystifying, Confusing…..

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In the ongoing debate about whether the Bible permits or forbids women from being pastors and leaders in church, 1 Timothy 2:12 is THE key text. Within that text, one word, “authority” (Greek authentic) is GROUND ZERO in the debate. In a sense one’s interpretation of this text strongly influences how they interpret nearly every other relevant passage in Scripture either pro or con. This week I prepared a 10+ minute teaching video about the meaning of “authority” in 1…..

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Based on 1 Timothy 2:12, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet,” many churches and Christians believe that Paul mandated that women not be allowed to be pastors or to teach or lead men in church.  On the surface that seems indisputable. But when one realizes that Paul assumed women would lead in prayer and prophecy (preach) in church with men present (1 Corinthians 11) and how many…..

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