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Galatians 5:16-23 teaches that at any moment we are either walking by the Holy Spirit or according to the sin nature. Walking by the Spirit, enjoying fellowship with God, walking in the light are virtually synonymous. During these times, the Holy Spirit is working in us to illuminate our minds to the truth of Scripture and to challenge us to apply what we learn. But when we sin, we begin to live based on the sin nature. Our works do not count for eternity. The only way to recover is to confess (admit, acknowledge) our sin to God the Father and we are instantly forgiven, cleansed, and recover our spiritual walk (1 John 1:9). Please make sure you are walking by the Spirit before you begin your Bible study, so it will be spiritually profitable.

Messages with tag - Truth

Sun, Feb 17, 2013
Passage: Proverbs 2:5-8
Duration: 49 mins 28 secs
The prior four verses are the “if you will” verses which highlight volition and challenge commitment. Then what? Are the next verses a formula for predicting deliverance from adversity and ending in wisdom? Deliverance doesn’t precede wisdom. Wisdom precedes God’s protection. Passion of focus on intimacy with God and His Truth is liable to incur intense arrows of distraction to tempt and challenge every decision one makes to follow wisdom. Is this obstacle course ours to negotiate? God is the defender of His Truth. When we are absorbed in His truth He becomes our personal shield. A shield doesn’t prevent arrows. It deflects arrows which seek to diminish God’s Truth with the lies which lead to death and obstruct our path to wisdom.

Click on the notes link below to access the Scripture Memory Plan Dr. Dean mentioned during this class.

Sun, Dec 08, 2013
Duration: 45 mins 14 secs
Introduction to Interpretation

Hendricks, Living By the Book, chapters 27 through 29

Sun, Dec 08, 2013
Duration: 38 mins 8 secs

Problems in Biblical Understanding

Hendricks, Living By the Book, chapters 27 through 29

Assignment:
Read Hendricks, Living By the Book, chapters 30-32.
Read Hendricks, Living By the Book Workbook, chapters 49-51. Work on the assignment in Chapter 49 pertaining to Habakkuk.

Dr. Dean also recommended the following books on Bible interpretation:
Protestant Biblical Interpretation: A Textbook of Hermeneutics by Bernard Ramm
Basic Bible Interpretation by Roy B. Zuck
Expository Hermeneutics: an Introduction by Elliot Johnson
Evangelical Hermeneutics: The New Versus the Old by Robert L. Thomas

Thu, Dec 19, 2013
Passage: Romans 12:2
Duration: 1 hr 2 mins 18 secs
Mission impossible? According to the Apostle Paul, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to submit to the radical surgery of the Word of God to have your thinking completely overhauled from the inside out. Come face to face with the two basic worldviews and explore the "Worldview Mix-Master" to see the four elements that go into it. Engage in the fierce spiritual battle for your mind with its major challenge between evolution and creation. Learn how the garbage in your soul can be ejected and the fantasy castles in your mind torn down. Listen to the life-changing questions that come out of various worldviews and how only the Word of God and the Holy Spirit can completely renovate your thinking.
Wed, Mar 12, 2014
Duration: 1 hr 21 mins 51 secs

Theonomy and Progressive Dispensationalism

Currently, it seems only those who see any religious activity in the public square as evidence of an impending theocracy would link any form of dispensationalism with reconstructionism. Douthat observes,

When the evidence for Rusdoonian infiltration of the Religious Right grows thin for even the most diligent decoder, the subject is usually changed to the Rapture, another supposed pillar of the emerging theocratic edifice. Premillennarian dispensationalism’s emphasis on the imminent collapse of all institutions, foreign and domestic, would seem an odd fit with Reconstructionism’s idea of hastening Christ’s coming by building his (political) kingdom on Earth. But every 1950s conspiracist knew that when Communists seemed to differ—Tito and Stalin, Stalin and Mao—it only concealed a deeper concord. Similarly, everyone on the Christian Right is understood to be on the same side, no matter their superficial disagreements.

While it is certainly true that “everyone…is on the same side” and that some disagreements between dispensationalists and reconstructionists are “superficial,” it must also be stressed that there are vast differences between the two, admittedly Christian and fundamental, camps. Yet recent movements in dispensationalism have made the association of these two groups less alarmist than it first appears. The fundamental shift in underlying assumptions that took place in the formation of progressive dispensationalism has now made such a linkage, not only possible, but logically necessary. Indeed, an examination of the changing relationship between theonomy and progressive dispensationalism is prudent for several reasons.

Thu, Mar 09, 2017
Passage: 1 Peter 3:15
Duration: 1 hr 8 mins 57 secs

Do you become flustered when someone asks about your beliefs, especially someone who is hostile to you? Listen to this lesson to see that we need to be ready to answer everyone who asks us. Find out what apologetics means and the importance of it. Understand that this is a strong stand for the truth of the Scriptures and not an apology for what we believe. Imagine yourself as a missionary trying to tell someone about the gospel who believes in a perverted pagan worldview.

To help clarify some of the terminology used in the study of apologetics, Dr. Dean has begun developing an Apologetics Glossary.

During this class Dr. Dean discussed apologetics and referenced some additional material by Charlie Clough on the subject:

Giving an Answer

Theology and Apologetics

Thu, May 18, 2017
Passage: 1 Peter 3:15 & 1 Kings 18:22-19:2
Duration: 1 hr 12 mins 33 secs
What are you willing to risk to defend what you believe about God? Listen to this lesson to learn how Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal about their beliefs by setting up a test for the them. See how he was pointing out that what they were depending on for their happiness and prosperity was not working. Find out the importance of knowing your own ultimate reality as a believer in order to help others change their minds. Hear eight things to learn from this event in Elijah’s life that will help us in witnessing to unbelievers.

To help clarify some of the terminology used in the study of apologetics, Dr. Dean has begun developing an Apologetics Glossary, which he updated 5/19/17.

Thu, Sep 26, 2019
Passage: 2 Peter 1:2-4
Duration: 1 hr 9 mins 17 secs
When your carefully laid plans fall apart and everything you’ve worked for is cratering around you, do you trust God or do you run around trying to find solutions based on man’s schemes and reasoning? Listen to this lesson to hear the story of Noah who was living in the midst of a wicked, perverse people when God revealed what Noah was to do. Find out the difference between general and special revelation and what it means to suppress the truth. See the only place where absolute, unshakable truth can be found in this world. When faced with problems, follow Noah’s example of trusting in the sufficiency of God.