Street preaching has been a time-honored tradition for many evangelists seeking to spread the gospel message in public spaces. However, views differ on whether this is the most effective approach in today’s world. Let’s take a comprehensive look at what the Bible says about street preaching and evaluate its usefulness as an evangelism strategy. Biblical Basis for Street Preaching There are several examples in the New Testament of public proclamation of the gospel in open spaces. Jesus frequently preached to the crowds that gathered around him (Matthew 5:1-2, Luke 4:42-44). The apostles continued this tradition after Christ’s ascension, speaking boldly…
Author: Kerry Baysinger
Arnold Murray is the founder and pastor of Shepherd’s Chapel, a Christian church with a worldwide television and radio outreach based in Gravette, Arkansas. He teaches many doctrines that are controversial and considered unbiblical by mainstream Christian churches. This article will examine some of Murray’s core teachings and compare them with what the Bible says. Serpent Seed Doctrine One of the most controversial teachings of Arnold Murray is the “Serpent Seed” doctrine. This is the teaching that Eve had sexual relations with Satan in the Garden of Eden and bore Cain as a result. Murray bases this doctrine on his…
Missionary dating refers to a Christian purposefully dating a non-believer with the intention of converting them to Christianity. This controversial practice has garnered much debate within the Christian community. While some argue it’s an effective form of evangelism, others warn it can lead believers astray and into compromised relationships. So what does the Bible say about missionary dating? Can God use it for good? What does the Bible say about being unequally yoked? A key passage regarding romantic relationships between believers and unbelievers is 2 Corinthians 6:14, which says “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has…
The simple answer is yes, God does hear our prayers. As Christians, we can be confident that when we pray to God, He hears us. The Bible gives us many assurances of this truth. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about God hearing our prayers: God promises to hear our prayers There are many verses in Scripture where God directly promises to hear our prayers when we call upon Him. For example: “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3). “If my…
The statement “I die daily” from Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:31 has profound meaning when looked at in the broader context of his writings and theology. Here is an extensive 9000 word exploration of the possible meanings behind this cryptic phrase. Context of 1 Corinthians 15 Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians addresses several issues that had arisen in the church at Corinth. In chapter 15, Paul responds to some members of the church who were denying the future bodily resurrection of believers (1 Cor 15:12). This theological error was a significant concern for Paul, as it undermined core Christian…
The Holy Roman Empire was a complex political entity in central Europe that existed from the 10th century until 1806. Though it claimed sovereignty over a large territory, the Empire was never a centralized state. Its name derives from the medieval belief that the Empire uniquely represented the Catholic Christian ideals of sacredness and universality. Here is a 9,000 word overview of the history, structure, and legacy of the Holy Roman Empire according to the Bible: Origins The foundations of the Empire lay in the eastern half of the former Carolingian Empire, which had disintegrated in the late 9th century.…
The tribe of Naphtali was one of the twelve tribes of Israel descended from the sons of Jacob. Naphtali was the sixth son of Jacob and was born to Jacob’s wife Bilhah (Genesis 30:8). The tribe of Naphtali played an important role throughout Israel’s history. Here are some key things we can learn from the tribe of Naphtali: Their inheritance in the Promised Land After the Israelites left Egypt and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, they finally entered the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership. The land was divided among the twelve tribes. Naphtali received its inheritance in the…
God has gifted each believer with natural talents and spiritual gifts to be used for His glory and to build up the body of Christ. While there are similarities between talents and spiritual gifts, there are also key differences that are important to understand. Definition of a Talent A talent is a natural ability or skill that someone possesses apart from God’s grace. Talents are often present from birth or developed over time through practice and life experiences. Examples of talents include musical ability, artistic skills, athletic capability, academic aptitude, and more. The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30…
This is an important question that deserves careful examination of the biblical evidence. John 17:3 records Jesus praying to the Father and saying, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” On the surface, this verse seems to indicate that Jesus was denying His own deity and affirming that only the Father is “the only true God.” However, when we look at the totality of Scripture, we see that Jesus made other statements that point to His own divine identity. So how do we reconcile Jesus’ statement in…
Dance is mentioned many times in the Bible, mainly in the Old Testament. The Bible speaks of dancing as an act of worship, praise, thanksgiving, and joy before God. Here is an overview of some of the main biblical passages that reference dance in worship and what we can learn from them. Dancing before the Lord In the Old Testament, we see instances of God’s people dancing before Him in worship. For example, after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and escaped from the Egyptians, Moses and the Israelites sang a song of praise to God. Part of their worship…