Excommunication is the formal process of removing or suspending a member from a religious body or organization. In the Christian context, it refers specifically to removing someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the church. The New Testament provides several examples of church discipline, which formed the basis for later practices of excommunication. Scriptural Basis for Excommunication Several passages in the New Testament refer to corrective discipline within the early Christian community. Jesus taught that unrepentant sin should be addressed first individually, then with witnesses, and finally brought before the whole church (Matthew 18:15-17). The apostle Paul instructed…
Author: Matt Primack
Corpus Christi is a Latin phrase that means “Body of Christ.” It refers to the Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper, which is one of the most important sacraments in the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations. The feast of Corpus Christi celebrates and commemorates the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The basis for the Corpus Christi feast day and Eucharistic devotion comes from the Bible, specifically the accounts of the Last Supper found in the Gospels (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-23). At the Last Supper, Jesus gathered with his twelve apostles…
Crispus was an important figure in the early Christian church mentioned a few times in the New Testament. He was a leader of the synagogue in Corinth who converted to Christianity and became a follower of the apostle Paul. The name Crispus appears four times in the Bible, providing us with some key details about who this man was and the role he played in the early church: 1. Crispus was the chief ruler of the synagogue in Corinth The first mention of Crispus is in Acts 18 during Paul’s second missionary journey. Verse 8 tells us, “Crispus, the ruler…
The Ragamuffin Gospel is a view of God’s grace and salvation that emphasizes God’s unconditional love and acceptance of people despite their failures and shortcomings. The term was popularized by Brennan Manning in his 1990 book The Ragamuffin Gospel. At the heart of the Ragamuffin Gospel is the idea that God does not love us because we are good, but rather God loves us because He is good. No matter how much we mess up, make mistakes, or drift from God, His love and acceptance of us does not waver or change. We don’t have to clean up our lives…
John Calvin was one of the most influential figures of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. He was a French theologian, pastor and reformer who is best known for his theological teachings and work in systematizing Reformed theology. Some key facts about John Calvin: He was born Jean Cauvin in 1509 in Noyon, France. He studied law and humanism at the University of Paris and University of Orleans before converting to Protestantism around 1533. He was forced to flee France due to persecution of Protestants and settled in Basel, Switzerland in 1535. In 1536 he published the first edition…
The story of David and Bathsheba is found in 2 Samuel 11-12. Here’s a brief summary: David saw Bathsheba bathing on her roof and was attracted to her beauty. He inquired about her and found out she was married to Uriah the Hittite, one of David’s mighty men. David sent for Bathsheba and slept with her, resulting in her pregnancy (2 Samuel 11:2-5). To cover up his sin, David brought Uriah back from battle and tried to get him to sleep with Bathsheba. But Uriah refused out of loyalty to his fellow soldiers (2 Samuel 11:6-13). So David arranged to…
Racism is a significant issue that the Bible speaks to directly and indirectly. At its core, racism elevates one group of people over another based on external characteristics like skin color. It leads to prejudice, discrimination, and injustice against people who are made in God’s image. The Bible makes it clear that all humans have equal dignity and worth in God’s eyes, and Jesus’ ministry demonstrated love and concern for those marginalized by society. Genesis 1 states that God created all humans in His image and gave them authority to rule over creation. There is no distinction made between races…
2 Peter 1:4 states that through God’s glory and excellence, He has granted believers “exceedingly great and precious promises” so that through them, we can share in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires. Let’s explore some of these amazing promises that God has given us. The Promise of Eternal Life One of the most precious promises mentioned in the Bible is the promise of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever…
The question of whether all people are God’s children or only Christians is an important one that the Bible addresses. At the core of this issue is how we understand God’s fatherhood and human kinship. A survey of key biblical passages provides insight into the nature of God’s fatherhood and how we become part of God’s family. In one sense, all people are God’s children in that He created everyone. The Bible teaches that God formed humans from the dust of the ground and breathed into them the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). As the Creator of all, God has…
The issue of euthanasia and assisted suicide is emotionally charged and controversial. There are strong opinions both for and against these practices from a biblical point of view. Euthanasia involves intentionally taking the life of another person to relieve their suffering. Assisted suicide is when someone aids in providing the means for a person to end their own life. The sanctity of human life The Bible teaches that human life is sacred because we are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Human life has inherent dignity and worth, regardless of its quality. As a result, many Christians believe we do…