tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post4040460891020730909..comments2024-03-28T09:52:15.415-04:00Comments on Common Denominator: Ephesians 3Ken Schenckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09745548537303356655noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-39130069976113479182008-12-02T13:57:00.000-05:002008-12-02T13:57:00.000-05:00Paul,I really enjoyed your thoughts about denomina...Paul,<BR/>I really enjoyed your thoughts about denominations. I'm with you, I don't really enjoy the hundreds of denominations. As long as we have the love of God i hearts, what does it matter which denomination? to me, it seems that denominations sometimes are there to spoon-feed those who want relativity.jeremypruetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009897998891347591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-30766132818014694602008-12-02T13:54:00.000-05:002008-12-02T13:54:00.000-05:00derek,Sounds like we're starting to get into a Cal...derek,<BR/>Sounds like we're starting to get into a Calvinsitic thought?!jeremypruetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009897998891347591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-62480819383932858932008-12-02T09:48:00.000-05:002008-12-02T09:48:00.000-05:00I guess you could say that I was somewhere where I...I guess you could say that I was somewhere where I was inspired Dr. Schenck.<BR/><BR/>so does that mean that God will only allow certain people to be a "servant of the gospel"?-Derek Trout-https://www.blogger.com/profile/15580035834908198010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-64410874057732905502008-12-02T00:04:00.000-05:002008-12-02T00:04:00.000-05:00Travis I agree with you that we take for granted o...Travis I agree with you that we take for granted or completely forget about his grace. I think it's something that is told to us so much that we forget about it. Man this book seems to be filled with things that we overlook or that we need to remember alot more then we do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-41493603573704802212008-12-02T00:01:00.001-05:002008-12-02T00:01:00.001-05:00Agreed. God certainly does care for the Gentiles t...Agreed. God certainly does care for the Gentiles too! I would argue even when it looks like God cares very little for people, we can find where he actually does. Like the Egyptians before the Exodus. He hardened Pharaoh's heart and took his miracles out to where common Egyptians could see and some believed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-30734434560641529882008-12-02T00:01:00.000-05:002008-12-02T00:01:00.000-05:00Sarah I really liked those verses too. I think you...Sarah I really liked those verses too. I think you really hit the point when you said we seem to take it for granted. I really think it's those simple things that we need to focus the most on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-88797473441212710372008-12-01T23:59:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:59:00.000-05:00I really liked verses 14-16 when it talks about th...I really liked verses 14-16 when it talks about the inheritance. I think that we get lost in that sometimes. It's because of that forget fullness that we loose track of what our goal really is. Not just the goal but the respect that we need to show God in the process. I know for me I seem to lose track of humbling myself before God and because of that I take for granted the kingdom in which he created me to be in. I don't know I guess these verses are just a good reminder of things for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-38200467293195677782008-12-01T23:58:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:58:00.000-05:00It is easy to take the privilege to approach God w...It is easy to take the privilege to approach God with boldness for granted. Because of Christ’s faithfulness, access to the Father with confidence is made possible. In this context it is likely that Paul (assuming Pauline authorship) was referring to the fact that Gentiles now have access to God and can approach Him boldly. The idea of approaching God with boldness was once explained to me in parallel to Ester: The king’s officials were aware that anyone who approached the king while he was in the inner court without being summoned would be killed. The only exception to this is if the king extends his scepter. When Ester approached the king and he extended his scepter, she was permitted to approach him. So perhaps this is not the original meaning of the story of Ester, but bear with me! Through Christ, we can approach God boldly and without fear of death (yet with reverent fear) in the presence of a holy God. So enjoy the privilege to approach God, you Gentiles! :)Gwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12747883311263417721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-4577390267898034972008-12-01T23:57:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:57:00.000-05:00Derek TroutNice point. To be a "doulos" of the gos...Derek Trout<BR/><BR/>Nice point. To be a "doulos" of the gospel. What an honor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-39057668083624925262008-12-01T23:54:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:54:00.000-05:00All the questions about denominational cooperation...All the questions about denominational cooperation:<BR/><BR/>You might be surprised just how well denominations already interact and cooperate. In relation to centuries past, the kind of cooperation we have now is much better than peasant revolts and religious wars. We have come a long way and have a long way to go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-9398233633623135912008-12-01T23:50:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:50:00.000-05:00BeccaAgreed. The best part of any mystery story i...Becca<BR/>Agreed. The best part of any mystery story is the revelation at the end. Luckily it's just the beginning of a completely new story for Gentiles... and usAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-83287187586387810202008-12-01T23:48:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:48:00.000-05:00RJ and ChrisThe segmentation of the church into de...RJ and Chris<BR/>The segmentation of the church into denominations cannot be particularly blamed for the disunity of the church. Disunity is hard to address in general. I'd like to think that Christ as the head is the one who guides the church towards anything but disunity. I like to think of the head as the part of the body that takes completely unrelated body parts and allows them to work in cooperation to accomplish tasks. Your head orchestrates the cooperation between your hand as it grabs the doorknob and your feet as they take a step back as you pull the door open. Christ is like the conductor of and orchestra. He takes different instruments and sections and makes a beautiful composition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-22240423155953031412008-12-01T23:35:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:35:00.000-05:00I love the inheritance/heir language Paul uses. I...I love the inheritance/heir language Paul uses. In such cultures as the one's the Gentiles lived in, people were defined by where they come from and where their families come from. This is so hard for modern Americans since we live in a culture that places so much pressure on the individual to be an individual. We make things happen for ourselves and define ourselves. The Gentiles were looked down on by Jews and so thought that they would be far from any corporate body or family that came from Judaism. This is great news for the Gentiles that they can be heirs of the best secret Judaism has ever encountered.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-74102183182033409932008-12-01T23:26:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:26:00.000-05:00I think it would be really cool to do a study on t...I think it would be really cool to do a study on the Holy Spirit before and after pentecost Joel. The thing is the Holy Spirit is all over the place in the Gospels, yet was received after the ascension.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-53241242287798183712008-12-01T23:24:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:24:00.000-05:00Jeff, I think praying things scripturally is extre...Jeff, I think praying things scripturally is extremely important. Sometimes when I sit down to pray, I can't find a way to express what is on my heart-- I find that in the Scriptures, what I need to say is already verbalized for me in the first place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-22633917367586256412008-12-01T23:20:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:20:00.000-05:00Derek i agree with you totally on the importance o...Derek i agree with you totally on the importance of becoming a servant for the gospel. If each person was willing to become a true servant and that means do whatever God wanted them to, what a world we would live in! The thing is its scary to say to God that you will do whatever he asks you to, he might send you to china... But we do all need to be servant of the Gospel, willing to risk everything for the sake of Christ. sorry i posted my first thing twice, my internet messed up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-17325302381042516062008-12-01T23:19:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:19:00.000-05:00I agree with Gwen in her response to Joel's connec...I agree with Gwen in her response to Joel's connection with the book of Jonah. I have always had trouble with the overwhelming view of Gentioles being looked down upon. Surely, God DOES care for the Gentiles as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-23181809090633499502008-12-01T23:10:00.001-05:002008-12-01T23:10:00.001-05:00One things i love so much about this passage is th...One things i love so much about this passage is the prayer at the end and the doxology. As a junior in H.S. i went on a mission trip to Jamaica. My youth group went down with like 60 other kids from across the nation, but anyway the only guys to go from my youth group were me and my youth pastor. One thing that i will never forget is the one on one time that pastor Chelo spent with me. One of those things was to pray scripture. Every morning while we were doing our devotional together we would pray for each member of our team using a different prayer of scripture as a guideline. That was one of the most life changing things i have ever done. I need to actually start doing that more often, thanks Schenck for reminding me of such practices. and this is cool...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-83594629991208670632008-12-01T23:10:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:10:00.000-05:00One things i love so much about this passage is th...One things i love so much about this passage is the prayer at the end and the doxology. As a junior in H.S. i went on a mission trip to Jamaica. My youth group went down with like 60 other kids from across the nation, but anyway the only guys to go from my youth group were me and my youth pastor. One thing that i will never forget is the one on one time that pastor Chelo spent with me. One of those things was to pray scripture. Every morning while we were doing our devotional together we would pray for each member of our team using a different prayer of scripture as a guideline. That was one of the most life changing things i have ever done. I need to actually start doing that more often, thanks Schenck for reminding me of such practices. and this is cool...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-86153940174763547082008-12-01T23:08:00.000-05:002008-12-01T23:08:00.000-05:00The thought of the foundation of the church being ...The thought of the foundation of the church being built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets intrigues me. I agree that Paul isn’t referring to the 12 apostles of Jesus. In fact, I agree wholeheartedly that he is referring to those involved in apostolic work. What serves as a road block for me is the idea that the apostles are no longer here to bring the gospel directly. Is this in reference to the early Doctors and Fathers of the church? Is the New Testament the only embodiment of the revelation of the Spirit? <BR/><BR/>I am amazed at the complete mind change and attitude change of Paul from what I know of his life as a persecutor of the Christian Church. In verses 8-9, Paul boasts about being the least of all the saints, and also of his privilege to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul regarded himself as the most Zealous, a Pharisee of Pharisees. And now he is working with people who were regarded by Jews as outside the faith? God does some pretty amazing things, that’s for sure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-10978220613510105952008-12-01T22:39:00.000-05:002008-12-01T22:39:00.000-05:00Dr. Schenck, Joel, etc.:Interesting connection to ...Dr. Schenck, Joel, etc.:<BR/><BR/>Interesting connection to Jonah, Joel! How would an ancient reader interpret this potential foreshadowing of God's message being being proclaimed to the whole world (Gentiles)?Gwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12747883311263417721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-90544662918539961562008-12-01T22:24:00.000-05:002008-12-01T22:24:00.000-05:00Dr. Schenck, Katy, Angela, etc.:In response to you...Dr. Schenck, Katy, Angela, etc.:<BR/><BR/>In response to your comments about fostering interdenominational relationships:<BR/>A church I attended promoted and publicized activities (Vacation Bible School, family fun night, etc.) of other “sister” churches in the area. Groups from one church would attend, and of course, actually interact with attendees of the other church. So there are some practical suggestions for you! :)Gwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12747883311263417721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-15640176716166431702008-12-01T22:14:00.000-05:002008-12-01T22:14:00.000-05:00[testing, testing, 1, 2, 3][testing, testing, 1, 2, 3]Gwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12747883311263417721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-33586412140700439402008-12-01T22:00:00.000-05:002008-12-01T22:00:00.000-05:00I like where this conversation is heading. But i ...I like where this conversation is heading. But i think that we need to have denominations (paul) i think that is what helps us be unique and what sets us apart. I think that we just need to make sure that we are on the same page dogmatically. Sarah i'm glad that you ended by saying its up to God and when he chooses to reveal things to us. I couldn't agree with you more.Travi706https://www.blogger.com/profile/14995397279290270041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-88730598373273532422008-12-01T21:58:00.000-05:002008-12-01T21:58:00.000-05:00I like what RJ had to say about how often times we...I like what RJ had to say about how often times we forget that God is in control and that we have commonality "in Christ". I agree with RJ in the fact that we need to get back to being on the same page with each other as the church universal, but i agree that differences are what make us unique and differnt.Travi706https://www.blogger.com/profile/14995397279290270041noreply@blogger.com