Character Matters

Annie Brown, Apologetics, character, Christian Ethics, Christianity, Gospel, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, morality, SES, Southern Evangelical Seminary, Virtue
Character and morality often intersect in their definitions. Even for the non-Christians, all people are given a moral compass from the time of our birth. As image bearers of God, a person is able to recognize right from wrong. Though these matters have been declared more subjective over time, murder is still deemed hateful by the large majority. Stealing is considered a crime by most law-abiding citizens. There are obvious signs that either positively or negatively allude to one’s character. Character Defined Character, defined by the world, is commonly based on what is done rather than what is believed. A person is considered morally good by the things that they do for themselves or someone else. For instance, donating to multiple charities and volunteering at a homeless shelter may lead…
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Church Matters

Annie Brown, Apologetics, Christian Living, Christianity, Church growth, Church Life, discipleship, Evangelism, Gospel, SES, Southern Evangelical Seminary, Theology and Christian Apologetics, Unity
Gospel-centered churches are as important as ever, with powerful worldly forces at work actively competing with Christ for the souls of men.[1] The world buys our attention and convinces us that purpose exists in tangibles, accolades, relationships, drugs, fame, and money. In the Bible, the book of Romans tells us that all of mankind has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). There is no one exempt from this reality. At the root, we have a soul problem. The world and all that is within it will never fill the deep void that every human being is born with. Romans goes on to say that the wages for sin is death, but the free gift is eternal life in Christ (Rom 6:23). The only way ultimately…
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Hope Matters

Annie Brown, Apologetics, Christianity, Gospel, hardship, hope, problem of pain, SES, Southern Evangelical Seminary, Suffering, Theology and Christian Apologetics
Hope in the Promise Throughout Scripture, we acknowledge God as a promise-keeper. What he says will happen will always comes to pass in his perfect timing. Because of this truth about God’s heart, believers are drawn to extravagant hope in all circumstances. Upon sin entering the world in Genesis chapter three, God initiated hope by clothing Adam and Eve immediately following humanity’s downfall. After leading Noah to navigate a worldwide flood, God provided a dove from heaven as hope for a brighter future ahead. In calling Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, God promised the hope of a land flowing with milk and honey on the other side of their trivial journey. Through the prophet Isaiah, God foretold the coming of Christ who alone would provide eternal hope.…
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Truth Matters

1. Does Truth Exist?, Annie Brown, Apologetics, Biblical Inerrancy, Christianity, Gospel, relativism, Religious Pluralism, SES, Southern Evangelical Seminary, truth
The world defines truth as relative and subjective: “You have your truth, I have my truth.” It is customizable to one’s preferences and lifestyle. Definitive or absolute truth is considered offensive to the culture at large. This confusion over truth is further fueled by social media. Liking, sharing, retweeting, and posting happen with the click of a button. To promote and defend “your truth,” all you have to do is open an app on your phone. Though some may suggest that our culture is more unified based on the controversial matters of our day, I would argue that we are walking in greater disunity than ever before. Can’t We All Just Coexist? The Coexist bumper stickers often seen on the back of vehicles advertise that all religions are equal with…
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Can We Know Anything for Sure?

1. Does Truth Exist?, Apologetics, Can we know anything for sure, Christianity, Does truth exist?, Doug Potter, God, Gospel, reason, SES, Southern Evangelical Seminary, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Doug Potter The following is an excerpt for our Why Trust the God of the Bible? Ebook. Many today fail to see the importance of grounding their reasoning process in reality in spite of the fact that whatever is not based on reality is un-reality, in other words, unreal. The slippery slope of subjectivism and relativism is the result of such “reasoning” manufactured in the imaginations of the mind rather than in reality, on Truth. This distinction is especially important for Christians who desire to share their reasonable faith. Sadly, subjectivism has crept its way into the church with the assumption that we do not need to defend our faith with reason; we only need the Bible. Despite the claims of subjectivism and “blind” faith, one of the most fundamental observations…
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