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The Trinity Part 2: Why the Doctrine of the Trinity Is Important and a Basic Article of our Faith. Delivered Sunday, September 22, 2024, at Central Christian Church, Pocatello, Idaho. The Concept of the Trinity Explains Six Concepts or Questions Regarding  How Jesus Is the Bridge and Conduit by Being Fully Human and Divine A.           Explain the extent of God's Love for Us B.           Why we are to follow Jesus alone as King and example C.           Goes to the heart of us being able to know God and to be at one with God (atonement) D.           Both the How to and Why we maintain in proper  tension our monotheism despite the Biblical portrayal of the spatially distinct appearances of the Father, Son, and the Spirit, e.g., at Jesus' baptism 1.           Monotheism 2.           Texts Mentioning All Three Persons of the Trinity 3.           Text Recording Each Person as Having the Same Divine Attributes or Titles E.           Helps to explain How and Why Jesus Was Morally Able to Forgive Sins by Exercising His Divine Authority F.           Helps to Explain the Pre-human Existence of Jesus as God.

Is the Bible Trustworthy Part 2--How Do I Know If the Bible Was Preserved and Transmitted Correctly and Is Reliable? September 8, 2024, at Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Pocatello, Idaho I. Critical Text and Academic Scholarly Community II. Biblical Text Compared to Other Ancient Texts    A. Sources and Methods Are Used and Weighted Differently    B. Text Transmission and Copying Reliability         1. Number of Manuscripts of the NT versus other Ancient Documents          2. Years between original and earliest copies comparison III. A. Examples of Archaeological Discoveries and Confirmation B. Dead Sea Scrolls and the O.T. IV. Definitions Regarding Inearrancy and Infallibility V. Total Number of Discrepancies Among NT Manuscripts VI. Historical and Scientific Errors     A. 1 Sam 13:5: 3000 or 30000 Chariots     B. Matthew 13: Mustard Seeds or Spores as Smallest Seed     C. Options and Alternative Solutions          1. The Bible is an Ancient--not Modern or Scientific Writing a. Information is given in the appropriate social-historical context and manner for that time and age that was understandable to the original readers. It was historically and contextually appropriate. (See Bible Dictionaries entries under "moderate contextualism," "weak relativism," "weak falsification," and "accommodation."        2. The Bible is focused on Rhetorical and Theological Concerns VII. Making Your Own Informed Decisions

09012024 Is the Bible Trustworthy Part 1 The Divine Authority of the Bible Analytics Edit video 0 Share 1 view Sep 3, 2024 Is the Bible Trustworthy – Part 1: How Do I Know If the Bible Is Inspired and Authoritative? Primary Texts: 2 Tim. 2:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Rom 15:4; Isaiah 8:19-20; Psalms 119; John 10:35-37 What does it mean to affirm or reject the Bible as being trustworthy, inspired, or authoritative? This one statement masks or covers five different underlying questions that have five different genesis or sources for asking the question “Is the Bible Trustworthy.” In this sermon series, “Is the Bible Trustworthy,” will be dealing with only the first two of the five questions below. 1. How Do I Know If the Bible Is Inspired and Authoritative? (Theological/Faith Question) a. What does the Bible say about itself? b. What are the sources and types of authority used? 2. How Do I Know If the Bible Was Preserved and Transmitted Correctly and Is Reliable? (Historical/Social Scientific Question) a. What is the science of and methods for studying the history, sources, and reliability of the texts of the Bible? b. How does the evidence for the reliability and accuracy of the Bible compare with other historical texts? 3. How Do I Know If Jesus Is the Messiah and the Messianic Fulfillment and Hope of the Old Testament? (Theological/Faith) a. What are the methods used for understanding and distinguishing Biblical prophecies and typologies? b. Do prophecies have a single fulfillment or dual- or multiple fulfillment? c. How does Jesus’s life, death, and future return compare with the messianic prophecies and expectations? 4. How Do I Know Whether One Interpretation Is Better Than Another? (Historical/Social Scientific and Theological) a. What are the academic methods used to read and interpret the Bible historically, sociologically, and as an ancient foreign literature? b. What are the various methods and tools and how do they differ? c. When do you use and why do you use one method and tool ((a) historical, (b) social scientific, (c) theological and faith-based, and (d) devotional and personal readings or interpretations of Scriptures) versus one of the other methods or tools? d. One must do one’s due diligence (2 Tim 2:15-26 and Acts 17:11-12) and reject negative and unprofitable rhetoric and logic. i. Rejecting Arguments about Complexity ii. Rejecting Arguments from Silence 5. How Can I Know That God Is Speaking to Me through the Scriptures? This is an individual, personal issue of importance. How does one experience having a personal and relational encounter with divinity? The methods and tools for having an experiential and personal relationship with God are best acquired, learned, and appropriated (1) using a guide, sponsor, coach, or mentor or (2) being enrolled in a small group applying curriculum like: a. Experiencing God: Knowing, Doing, and Experiencing the Will of God by Blackaby, Blackaby, and King b. Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God by Dallas Willard c. The Life You Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People by John Ortberg d. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. Foster e. Lectio Divina Method