Evangelist Temple's Pastor and Wife Appreciation 2009

We held our 15th Annual Appreciation for Pastor Frederick J. Stewart and his wife Melody Stewart! We held one service on Friday night March 13, 2009 at 7 pm and another service at March 15, 2009 at 4 pm. Both services were awesome. The children of the church sang "This Little Light of Mine" on Friday night. Here is a clip:



On Sunday, our speaker was Pastor Alfred Smith of Resurrection Power Evangelistic Center. Here is what I could get recorded:



Pastor Alfred Smith really preached a real good message. The main point I got was that we must do all we can to honor everyone...even if they have not done anything per se to deserve honor. We need to obey God. He says we need honor other people in each every relationship we find ourselves in. We need to pray and ask God to teach us how to honor other people. You have to see this sermon. I'm going to be doing a new series of blog entries where I post some of the sermons I have the honor of hearing.

Licona vs Barker Debate

A debate between Mike Licona and Dan Barker on April 14, 2003 at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Very interesting! I found out about this debate from Apologetics 315. They're debating the Resurrection.

Video


Audio

debate-barker.mp3

I can't believe that Barker argued the way he did! I am amazed how silly he sounds. I've got to admit that he's playing fast and loose. I don't think agree with all his timelines and stuff but I will skip those. There is one part of his presentation that I have to write about. He claims that early Christians did not believe that Jesus was resurrected spiritually from the dead. I think he's wrong because he tries to use the information from Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 to say that Paul did not see Jesus' resurrection as physical. But in verses 12-34, Paul is making it clear that he believes that one day all believers will one day be raised bodily from the dead like our Lord and Master. Mike Licona answered his claims really well! I loved how he defended Peter by pointing out that yes, Peter denied Christ but Barker denied Christ and has yet to repent. Barker seems like the bigger liar.

Here are the verses I cited.

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
"Let us eat and drink,for tomorrow we die." Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.