God is not an idea or a concept but is rather a Personal Being of infinite power, beauty, and goodness. He is a Being who desires to be known and reveals himself to us. He makes himself known to us through the works of his creation and through direct experience of his Holy Spirit. … Continue reading Pastor Note #39: A Statement of Faith
Tag: Bible
Bible Note #15 — Exodus 34:29-35
Exodus 34:29-35 There is, in this passage, an interesting small but important detail that I have never really noticed before. It lies behind the widely recognized, though certainly bizarre, fact that Moses' face acquired an intense radiance as a result of close time spent in the physical presence of God. The people were quite terrified … Continue reading Bible Note #15 — Exodus 34:29-35
Bible Note #14 — Luke 1:13: Of Prayer, Patience, and a Sovereign God
Luke 1:11-13 The archangel Gabriel says something strange to Zechariah here -- something I've never really recognized as strange until I just read this passage again for the two-hundred-eighty-third time. Gabriel tells Zechariah that his prayer has been heard and, as a result, Elizabeth is going to have a child. I say this is strange, … Continue reading Bible Note #14 — Luke 1:13: Of Prayer, Patience, and a Sovereign God
Bible Note #13 — 1 Peter 1:23-25
"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, 'All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.' (Isaiah 40:6-8)" 1 … Continue reading Bible Note #13 — 1 Peter 1:23-25
Bible Note #12 — Exodus 25:1-9
In this passage (Exodus 25:1-9), God calls on Moses to receive an offering from the people for the purpose of building and furnishing the tabernacle. He emphasizes that the offering is to be strictly voluntary -- "from everyone whose heart stirs him to give." (v. 2; HCSB) What follows then is a list of the … Continue reading Bible Note #12 — Exodus 25:1-9
Bible Note #11 — Exodus 3: The Call of Moses
God routinely goes out of his way to incorporate human partnership in the accomplishing of his purposes in the world. The fact is so plain that it is regularly overlooked by most of us as we read Bible stories about God's dealing with human beings. Here in Exodus 3 in the story of God's calling … Continue reading Bible Note #11 — Exodus 3: The Call of Moses
Bible Note #8–Genesis 3:7–Loin Cloths, the Fall, & Sex
Genesis 3:7--"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves." [HCSB] Maybe it's because I'm preaching about sex these days, but today as I read this verse during my devotions, I was struck by the fact that … Continue reading Bible Note #8–Genesis 3:7–Loin Cloths, the Fall, & Sex
Pastor Note #29 — Looking Around the Corner
So, we’ve come to the beginning of a new year, and those seem lately to come flying around more often than once a year. The idea that time seems to move more quickly as we get older is not a novel idea. Conventional wisdom says it's true. And who am I to argue with conventional … Continue reading Pastor Note #29 — Looking Around the Corner
Pastor Note #28 — The Marks of Everyday Life
Bringing the Marks of Everyday Life into the Presence of the Lord Finally, I had a decent black suit. I was very pleased with that fact on this particular morning as I drove to conduct a funeral. Until a recent, successful trip to the Bargain Hut, I had been without a good black suit. I … Continue reading Pastor Note #28 — The Marks of Everyday Life
Sermon #2 — Exodus 16:1-35
This is now the second sermon in a series on the manna and quail of the wilderness journey. In this sermon, I explore how the values and priorities of ancient paganism aren't all that far away from the modern, westerner's wrestling with faith. Here's a link to the text of Exodus 16:1-35. Here's the link … Continue reading Sermon #2 — Exodus 16:1-35
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 