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Degrees of Separation

Degrees of Separation

I see it all the time. People tell me they are doing Bible study, but what they are actually doing is watching videos and reading books about the Bible. This, of course, is not Bible study. And it’s terrible for one’s growth and maturity.

The more we separate from God and His word, the more we pick up false doctrines and beliefs. The more we pick up false doctrines and beliefs, the more they become ingrained in our thinking. The more ingrained these bad doctrines and beliefs become in our thinking, the harder it is to break free from them. Taken to its fullest extent, we become not followers of God but followers of a favorite preacher, theologian, or author. It’s their word and will that we meditate on and obey…not God’s. Continue reading Degrees of Separation

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Lessons of Lamentations

Lessons of Lamentations
Repentance begins with sorrow for sin. Humble yourself before God, ask His forgiveness, and receive His mercy.

In my personal experience, the most unpopular book of the Bible is Lamentations. I’ve never seen a pastor preach on Lamentations. I’ve never seen a Bible class focus on Lamentations. I’ve never seen a Sunday-school teacher have children memorize verses from Lamentations. And, I’ve never seen anyone proof-text pieces of Lamentations in arguments to support their doctrines. I’m sure there must be people who study Lamentations; however, my experience is that I’ve never seen it happen. It seems like Lamentations is a pretty unpopular portion of the Bible.

It’s unfortunate that Lamentations is so neglected. The book contains a lot of powerful instruction on personal accountability, making repentance, and God’s capacity to forgive and restore even after He has stricken His people. Continue reading Lessons of Lamentations