Partakers Christian Podcasts

Partakers Bible Thought 30 May 2021 - A New Problem Arises

Partakers Bible Thought

30 May 2021

A New Problem Arises

1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: ‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.’ 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they travelled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.’
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: ‘Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles should hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.’(Acts 15:1-11)

 

The very early church at the time of this event, does not seem to have had any very formal authority structure. Elders don’t appear until Acts 11:30; also the ‘deacons’ of Acts 6:2 were probably not carrying out anything except the specific function of ‘waiting on tables’ or administering the available charity. In Acts 12:17 Peter sends a message to James and the other brothers and sisters, not James and the elders; in Acts 13:1-3 the whole church seem to be acting together, not the leadership.

However they organised themselves discipline was exercised, in which members who had fallen into sin and remained unrepentant were excluded from the church. The church was never individualistic: that is to say, people did not suddenly decide to 'join' or 'leave' the church, as is too often the case in modern churches. The church was a corporate entity, in which pastoral oversight and spiritual authority were exercised by the leadership or somebody. They had a leadership raised up by the Lord and set apart according to a church policy mediated by the divinely inspired guidance of the apostles. This did not mean that there was neither controversy nor the threat of disunity.

From the beginning, problems arose which needed to be resolved with pastoral, spiritual and judicial authority. It is therefore no surprise to find early on in Church history, a question arising about the nature of membership in the church and to see the matter being dealt with through the collective leadership of the church, the apostles and elders, who met together in a deliberative assembly (Acts 15:6) but who also reported back to the whole church (Acts 15:4, 22).

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Pulp Theology Book 06 - Helping the Forgotten Church

PulpTheology Book

Helping the Forgotten Church

 

Welcome to this little book, where together we will explore some details about who I call, the Forgotten Church. Not forgotten by God but generally by the Church itself.

Who are the forgotten Church? In every community, there are people who want to attend Church, be involved in a Church, and yet for what ever reason, they are unable to. The reasons may include the demands of work. debilitating illness, having to care for others or due to geographical isolation. This little book explores how we can help these people to enjoy and participate in an interactive Church worship service. All at a time and place which is convenient for them. After all, you may one day be in need of such help, if indeed you are not already.

This is what we will explore together in this book:

• Who are the Forgotten Church?
• Why help the Forgotten Church?
• Where can you help the Forgotten Church?
• What Can A Sample Church Service for the Forgotten Church look like?
• How Else can you help them use their gifts and talents?
• Some Guidelines

 

Whether you are somebody who is part of what I call the "forgotten Church" or you want to help somebody who is, there is something inside for you to either learn afresh or be reminded of. Come on in!

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Pulp Theology Book 03 - God, Internet Church and You

PulpTheology Book

God, Internet Church & You

Due to lockdown or quarantine due to the CoronaVirus / COVID-19 Pandemic, Church has moved to using the Internet for its services to the world.  In this little book we seek to answer why the Church should be using the Internet as well as exploring together ways in which we can respond.

Here are some of the questions we will explore together:

• What is Digital Space & the Internet?
• Why should the Church be on the Internet and how?
• Isn't Church on the Internet just a modern form of the ancient heresy of gnosticism?
• Is God able to interact there?
• For the Christian, what are some of the liabilities and virtues of the Internet?
• Could an internet based church be part of the historical church?
• What can a Church service on the Internet look like?
• How can this technology be used, so that you as a Christian, can use your talents and serve God on the Internet in the 21st century?

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Pulp Theology 18

PulpTheology Book

Glimpses Into Ezekiel

The book we are exploring this week, is "Glimpses Into Ezekiel"

The nation of Israel was to be God’s representative to the pagan nations and to the world. But, the nation of Israel had disobeyed God and now God’s name was a laughing stock amongst those nations. So now, God was going to act!

Imagine you are a 25 year old and being trained for the family business. Then one day, suddenly your enemies invade your city and take you away to a foreign land. That is what happened to Ezekiel, when the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar in 597BC, took 3000 Jews away to Babylon. This was the first mass deportation of Jews outside of their land. Why had God allowed this to happen, for His people to be taken in exile?

In this book of Ezekiel, we see God communicate to the nation of Israel, through the prophet Ezekiel, using all manner of symbols and visions. What did they mean? What do they tell us about God? What kind of God is this?

Come inside this little book and get just a glimpse of this fascinating piece of Old Testament writing and discuss what relevancy and meaning it possibly has for us today in the 21st century.

"Glimpses Into Ezekiel" available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle with ISBN: 978-1516803002

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Pulp Theology 04

PulpTheology Book

HAHA - Heroes And Heretics Abound

 

I know what you are probably thinking! History is boring! Was I right? I have heard it a million times! I think history can be fascinating, particularly Church history. Why do I think that? Because how can anything with heroes and heretics be boring? More than that, the story of the Christian Church is your story! Yes! You, dear reader! Your story, regardless of where you are from and who you are. Your story, regardless of your belief or non-belief. Perhaps you know very little of it. No worries! This book is written with you in mind.

Before Jesus Christ ascended back to heaven, he commanded his 11 followers to go and tell others about Him and His work. They did, and we stand here today as a product of their obedience. But how did the Church get here today? Together we explore her birth, growth and development. Development to the point where today, she is worldwide and has at least 2 billion people who identify as a Christian, of one kind or another. All the while, striving to avoid the mistakes and embrace the joys of her history.

We also interact with some people of today, who tell about their relationship with the Church. Finally, we also interact with some of the great minds of Church history, looking at some of the prayers of the Church. As the Church of today and tomorrow, we can all learn something from this exciting story. Come on in!

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Pulp Theology 22

PulpTheology Book

Life Under Grace (What’s It All About, Alphy? Book 2)

In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul is logically stating his case about God and humanity.

Paul argues is that a people can choose to be in a dynamic and intimate relationship with Almighty God. there is no need to be separated from God any longer. It is by God's amazing grace alone that people ca be declared right before God and able to stand in His presence.

Come inside with Alphy, the WOWChurch Cat and investigate the blessings of living life under Grace, as explained by the Apostle Paul in Romans 5.

"Life Under Grace (What’s It All About, Alphy? Book 2)" available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle with ISBN: 978-1793018007

 

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Pulp Theology 19

PulpTheology Book

Intimacy with God

One of the words that scares a lot of people today, particularly in the Church, is the word "intimacy". Yet, the Christian is in an intimate relationship with God. It is going on in life, developing that relationship and refining the unique bond between God and the Christian. To know that God desires for the person to know Him more and more, should be of great encouragement to the Christian, as they develop their intimacy with God. This intimacy with God is not something to be taken for granted. It is for the Christian to work upon and develop.

What do we mean by intimacy with God? Intimacy with God, is where a person, a Christian, is in a dynamic relationship with Him. We can enter into this intimacy only because of the intimacy that Jesus Christ has with God the Father. We can enter into this intimacy because as Christians, we are covered and sheltered by Jesus' robe of righteousness. No other religion can claim this. It is a feature unique to Christianity. This relationship is developed through a devotional life, where the Christian is being transformed to the glory of God, evidenced by their living their life in direct obedient submission to God, in all facets of life. That means the use of time, money, energy along with prayer, worship, Bible Study, and other activities that are done in private rather than with other people.

Inside we look together at an intimate God who has spoken, the Christian developing skills of intimacy in listening to God, talking to Him and the outworking of that intimacy in all aspects of the Christian life. There is also an opportunity for you to creatively "give it a go" for 40 days, putting into practise what you have learnt afresh or been reminded of. Come on in!

"Intimacy with God" available on Amazon and all good bookshops in paperback or Kindle with ISBN: 978-1721939794

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Thanking God for the Reformation 01

Thanking God for the Reformation

Part 1

 

The Church before the Reformation G’day and welcome to our series, Thanking God for the Reformation, where we are looking at and celebrating that momentous event in history, and including in that, Church history. These are extracts from the book “Heroes And Heretics Abound” available on Amazon sites.

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We start, however, in the 14th and 15th centuries where there was a great European revival of interest in the values of classical Greek and Roman literature, art, philosophy and politics. It started in Italy and spread throughout Europe. Scholars were called humanists as they moulded their life on the teachings of the great Greek and Roman classical literature. Scholastic freedom grew exponentially. There was also an increase in other areas of life: Roman morality, paganism, the Greek New Testament and the study thereof. Many new universities throughout Europe were started.

We look together at three men, albeit briefly, at what they had to do with the Church at that time:

• Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498)
• John Colet (1466-1519)
• Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (1467-1536)

Erasmus is described as the one who laid the egg which was hatched my Martin Luther...

We then conclude today with a look at the Devotional Movement and the prime architect, Thomas à Kempis...

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Partakers - Book 1 - Alphy & the Lord's Prayer

What's It All About, Alphy?

Alphy the WOWChurch Cat has a new book out! Alphy the WOWChurch Cat is on an adventure! In this book, his adventures take Alphy to explore the Lord's Prayer - perhaps the most misunderstood prayer of all!! What will he find? You will have to read to find out! Come and discover with him!Check the preview video out and the Amazon links...

• 40 pages.
  
• Full colour illustrations.
  
• UK Price is £5
  
• USA price is $9.99!
  

Every purchase helps me out and I also put a percentage to good causes close to my heart !
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Let me know what you think!
 
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Book Catalogue

Here are a list of my current books on Amazon! A great Christmas present for somebody and when you buy from me, you are giving me a Christmas present! Come on over to Pulp Theology on Amazon! 

A full catalogue in PDF is available by downloading here

Current books available and more to be added shortly...

• 40 Days of Color: Coloring-In Devotional studies for adults (and maybe kids too!)
• AGOG: A Glimpse of God: A straight look at the man who splits history...
• Exploring Islam with David Combes
• Glimpses into Acts: A Book of Action
• Glimpses into Leviticus: A Book of Joy
• Glimpses into Psalms: A Book of Life
• Glimpses into Romans: A Book of Freedom
• God's WOW Words For You: Straight talk about Jesus and the Bible
• Living Life Right: Studies in Romans 12 - Practical Living and Loving
• Scriptural Delights: Exploring Psalm 119
• The Big Story with Roger Kirby
• What's It All About, Alphy: The Lord's Prayer
• WOW Disciple Book 01: God and Life
• WOW Disciple Book 02: Living Life
• WOW Disciple Book 03: Body Life
• WOW Disciple Book 04: Developing Life
• WOW Disciple Book 05: Devotional Life
• WOW Disciple Book 06: Inner Life