There is a prophesy in Isaiah that foretells one who would be called "Immanuel", or "God with us." But in what way would God be with us? An account in Luke 8 may indicate that the normal Christian assumption about God's presence with us as fully-divine-Jesus might not be the best way of thinking about this phrase. What are the implications for Christians today if we re-evaluate how God is present among us? We'll touch on "Theosis" and propose an alternative viewpoint about the work and authority of Jesus in today's episode. --------- https://apostlesmailbox.com

What exactly IS the gift of God? When Jesus met the woman at the well in John 4, he was seeking to avoid the attention of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. Tired, he sits down and makes and incredible offer to an untouchable woman. That same offer is available to you, as well. Are you in? With references to water baptism, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and another instance of misunderstanding, you won't want to miss this episode! ------- https://apostlesmailbox.com/

Those who highly value the Bible often assume that their years of study mean they have progressed from spiritual infancy to maturity. In today's episode, we discover that often quite the opposite is true--that complex arguments leading to increasing division within the church do not equate to spiritual depth. Join me for a look at 1 Corinthians 3 and come back to the true foundation upon which every church work in history must be based. Books referenced: The Night is Normal, by Alicia Britt Chole, https://amzn.to/483PeP7 * The Walk of the Spirit, the Walk of Power, by Dave Roberson, https://amzn.to/48UaBnf * ---------- https://apostlesmailbox.com/ *I receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through these affiliate links.

In December 2023, the Vatican released a document regarding pastoral blessings, which was promptly weaponized by countless Christians against the Pope, many of whom likely did not bother to read the document itself. News media was filled with headlines of this declaration and reports of dissension within the RCC church herself. I am not a Roman Catholic, but I started to wonder how much truth was found in these accusations, so I decided to read the document itself. It's not even that long. I was sadly not surprised to find that once again a Straw Man had been erected and publicly excoriated. Once again, in an attempt to stay faithful to Jesus, it looks like we have resorted to tactics Jesus never would have used. Christians, we must not wage war as the world does. Here's the document, if you'd like to read it yourself. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20231218_fiducia-supplicans_en.html ------- https://www.apostlesmailbox.com

Some of the red-letter words in your Bible might not have been spoken by Jesus, some of your assumptions about receiving the Holy Spirit might not be completely Biblical, and Jesus' ability to speak the very words of God was a result of the indwelling Spirit. Seriously! Find out how these things can be true despite your inclinations to the contrary. All of this in John 3. Today there are glimmers of why this is important. In the weeks to come, there will be more! #holyspirit #wordofgod #assumptions --------------- https://apostlesmailbox.com

Sometimes, the most important things we need to hear come in the most innocuous of settings. As pastors and ministers and YouTubers strive to gain and keep members and followers, John the Baptist is glad to give up his disciples so they can run after Jesus. Are YOU the friend of the bridegroom, Jesus, or are you trying to usurp his position? Is your favorite church leader or teacher more like John the Baptist, or less? ...and no, Jesus wasn't a Baptist, but he was a baptizer! #followers #discipleship #competition #gospelofjohn ------------ https://www.apostlesmailbox.com/

Long ago, the Jews made a bronze serpent *at Yahweh's command*! God was foreshadowing something great, and the Israelites still managed to make something bad out of it. In today's episode on John 3:11-21, we'll talk about this link between Old Testament and New, with a reminder to look to Jesus Christ for life and a warning against falling into idolatry. ----------- https://www.apostlesmailbox.com/

You might have sang a song in Sunday School that said "I stand alone on the word of God, the B-I-B-L-E!" Is this a great way to think about the Christian faith though? Certainly many of the people in my generation who also grew up singing that song now don't believe the Bible's witness about Jesus Christ. Did Bart Ehrman "do them in," or another bible-doubting expert? Or could some of the blame be found in the system they were taught as children? Today's episode WON'T cover the argument that you can't stand "alone" on the Bible without first standing on the authority of the church councils that canonized the collection of books which defines the composition of the Bible today. It will, however, take a look at an Old Testament expert and religious leader who knew and saw much, but was still lacking a necessary ingredient for understanding. We'll be talking about John 3, Nicodemus, and the weakness inherent in a doctrine of "salvation by information-alone." Stick around for the exhortations at the end, and like and/or share this episode if you've found it helpful. ------------ https://www.apostlesmailbox.com/

Reflections and recap of the 10 days I spent in Iquitos, Peru this November, getting to know Iglesia Genesis and helping with a few of their projects as part of a GoServ Global team. God did some neat work in and through our team, and here's my perspectives on what happened on this trip. If you'd like to donate to Iglesia Genesis to help with their work building the Kingdom of God, or contribute to Vero's mission, you can give at the Genesis Church website: https://genesisunnuevocomenzar.org/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5f4826feda3bcb68abe817a3 If you'd like to join a future GoServ Global missions team, whether in Iquitos or elsewhere around the world, you can find more details at their website: https://goservglobal.org/mission-trip-schedule/ ------------ https://www.apostlesmailbox.com/

We're back in John after an extended break, and once again we'll discover some truth from the Bible alongside some church history and official doctrine. AND, since disagreement with official "orthodox" doctrine makes one technically a "heretic," you might just discover today that you're a heretic. I certainly am on those terms, and you'll see how in today's episode. Thankfully, it's not common for people to get burned at the stake for heresy in our current era, so I'm not going in to hiding. In fact, I hope that by charitably discussing the matter of disagreement, we can learn to be a bit more patient and gracious to other Christians who don't share every last one of our own personal convictions. For futher information on the Catholic teachings regarding Mary's perpetual virginity, see: https://www.catholic.com/tract/mary-ever-virgin If you are interested in reading more of the development of the Christian Church by examining early documents, Henry Bettenson's "Documents of the Christian Church" is a fairly good place to start--he includes selections of letters, statements, and the like, all translated into English.