Abundant Life: October 2008

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I am Bill’s Faith

[Editor’s note: over the last several years we’ve learned about Bill’s heart, conscience, eyes, hands, and much more. All credit for these articles goes to Dee Bowman, who generously let me “piggyback” on his idea and even gave permission to use some of his original articles. This is the last in the series. We say good-bye to Bill today by focusing on the most important part of Bill: his faith. Thanks for reading and for your encouragement. -mdr]

I get Bill up and get him to worship services. I change how he acts when tempted. I am strong but always wish I was stronger. I am so important that sometimes Bill’s entire salvation is ascribed to me. Yet as valuable as I am, I am temporary. Someday I will be dissolved in the presence of the Lord. I am Bill’s faith.

The church of Christ at Ephesus

The first mention of Ephesus in the New Testament is in Acts 18:19. Paul reasoned there in the synagogue for a time before leaving to go to Caesarea. Then Apollos came to Ephesus and began to teach about Jesus - “though he knew only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25). Priscilla and Aquila heard him, and “explained to him the way of God more accurately”. Subsequently he went to Achaia with the blessing of the brothers in Ephesus, and “powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus” (Acts 18:27-28).

Is the book of Ezra just History?

Is the book of Ezra “just history?”

Although Ezra is often considered to be “an interesting history book,” much more can be found therein. This article begins to explore valuable lessons for our times from the book of Ezra. First, consider the people of Ezra’s day. Their history contained the giving of the Law by Moses about 1000 years earlier, the appointment of a king as ruler instead of God, and apostasy to the worship of idols that resulted in loss of the northern tribes, and Babylonian captivity for the southern tribes. In Ezra’s day the captives had just been allowed to return to the homeland to restore correct worship of God.