Author: David Ellis

In the last few Sabbath’s our discussion has centered on our understanding, our concept, our image of God. We’ve looked at the effects of technology and artificial intelligence, and the effects of education on our picture of God, Donald led us through a brilliant discussion on imagery and music. Last week, David introduced us to…

In the last few Sabbaths our discussion has centered on our understanding, our concept, our image of God. We’ve looked at the effects of technology and artificial intelligence and the effects of education on our picture of God. Donald led us through a brilliant discussion on imagery and music. Last week, David introduced us to…

Don: Does God require signs of our contrition, such as remorse or confession, before He will give us His grace? In 1937, when the Nazi party had reached the peak of its power, the German Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote The Cost of Discipleship, a book which perhaps more than any other work has influenced…

Don: If there were no grace, judgment would seem relatively simple: The good would go to heaven, and the bad would go to hell. But it then begs the question: How good, how bad? In fact, with grace, judgment is easier because there is no need to measure how good or bad. As taught by…

Don: In recent weeks, we seem to have arrived at a conclusion that grace is actionable—that it needs to be passed on, that we have to do something with it if we have the right tools in our toolbox at the needed time and place. Yet the amazing thing about grace is that it operates…

Don: Jesus taught the principle that in judgment, grace triumphs over destruction. That is God’s way. Man’s way is the substitution of his own works, instead of accepting God’s grace; in part because we are suspicious of free gifts and undeserved forgiveness. Is grace really free, unencumbered, and available to all? Jesus said “Yes, but…”…

Don: A 2017 Pew poll of American belief found that 52 percent of Protestants believe that both good deeds and faith are needed for salvation. Two core principles of the 500-year-old Reformation seem to be eroding. Protestants, including Martin Luther, thought that salvation was obtained through faith alone—sola fide—and that Scripture alone had the authority…

Don: In our discussion to date, we seem to have arrived at six principles regarding judgment: There is a judgment, and everyone is subject to it. Judgment is counterintuitive—everyone is surprised by his or her judgment. There can be joy in judgment. Judgment is a divine, not a human, prerogative. Judgment is linked to how…

Jay: The parable of the Wheat and the Tares ends with a statement about judgment: (New King James Version:) Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat…