Author Archives: salooper57

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About salooper57

Husband, father, pastor, follower. I am a disciple of Jesus, learning how to do life from him. I read, write, walk, play a little guitar, enjoy my family.

The New Humanity (Series: The Church God Wants Us to Be)

Posted on February 19, 2023 by salooper57

(Ephesians 2:13-22) …now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by … Continue reading →

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Deconstructing Faith? Don’t Stop There

Posted on February 18, 2023 by salooper57

(Estimated reading time: four minutes.) There are a number of people in my circle of relationships who are somewhere in the process of deconstructing their faith. Among millennials, particularly educated white millennials, faith deconstruction is so common as to almost … Continue reading →

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Make Disciples (Following Christ Today)

Posted on February 14, 2023 by salooper57

Among Jesus’s commands to his disciples is the command to make other disciples. In this class, we look at what that entails and how the church can carry it out. We start off looking at the background to the commission … Continue reading →

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The Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)

Posted on February 12, 2023 by salooper57

The church of Jesus Christ has repeatedly divided over what we did a few minutes ago when we took the Lord’s Supper. In the Fourth Lateran Council, held in 1215, the Church of Rome officially adopted the view known as … Continue reading →

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How to Avoid End Times Deceptions

Posted on February 11, 2023 by salooper57

Don’t be motivated by fear. False prophets play on people’s fears while Christ’s genuine spokespeople encourage their hope. Fearful people are a charlatan’s best friend. Continue reading →

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Watch! (Following Christ Today)

Posted on February 8, 2023 by salooper57

Jesus told us to always watch for his coming. How do we go about obeying him in this? (Once we start getting practical about it, we see that obedience is not easy!) In this class, we think through the answers … Continue reading →

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Committed to the World (1 Peter 2:9-12)

Posted on February 5, 2023 by salooper57

The Christian’s commitment to the world is multifaceted. It includes a commitment to people’s welfare, to justice, and more, but it is rooted in the commitment to Christ. One aspect of our commitment to the world is our intention to … Continue reading →

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Understanding Jesus: Why He Groaned

Posted on February 4, 2023 by salooper57

A great cast of characters in literature groan. Romeo groans in his love for fair Juliet. Huck Finn’s pap, with enough whiskey for “two drinks and one delirium tremens,” groans and moans and thrashes about. Jack London’s tyrannical Sea Wolf … Continue reading →

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Forgiveness (Following Christ Today)

Posted on January 31, 2023 by salooper57

These classes are all about what it means to follow Christ today, but we are not following Christ when we refuse to forgive; we are standing still. So many of us have trouble with this, but forgiveness – and the … Continue reading →

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Faith: It Is Not to Be Taken Lightly

Posted on January 28, 2023 by salooper57

The Pulitzer Prize winning author Annie Dillard once asked, “Why do people in church seem like cheerful, brainless tourists on a packaged tour of the Absolute? … Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we blithely invoke? … Continue reading →

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