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The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

What is The Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit? Introduction The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, sometimes called “the unforgivable sin,” is a subject that often produces insecurity and fear in the hearts of a number of people.  Their underlying question is this one: ...

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Christianity and Psychology

Introduction by Gordon I want to take this opportunity to introduce the co-author of this article (the longer and most important part) and to say a few things about the subject myself.  Gary and his wife, Gail, have recently moved from Connecticut to Phoenix to assume...

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What Do We Now Believe?

Introduction  This article is a written form of a spoken message delivered on February 29, 2004 to the Phoenix Valley Church of Christ.  Due to the subject matter and its broad nature, I wanted to enable our members to be able to study out this material in more depth,...

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Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage

Introduction This article represents the findings of a study conducted a group of Bible teachers in the ICOC fellowship of churches. The group was called at that time, "Kingdom Teachers." It consisted of the following members: Steve Kinnard, Douglas Jacoby, Marty...

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The Problem of Evil and The Existence of God

The Problem Stated The problem of why God allows evil to exist is a major hurdle to developing faith in God in the first place.  Even after we come to faith, Satan will use this problem to try to trip us during difficult periods in our lives.  Years ago, I read a...

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Where Was God on September 11?

Some days we never forget, for they are indelibly imprinted on our hearts and minds. I remember exactly where I was when I learned of the death of President Kennedy nearly 40 years ago. Such shocking historical events are etched deeply in our memory banks. September...

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What Happens When We Die?

Introduction Probably all religious people have questions about what happens when we die.  Many of them believe that we cease to exist at death until the resurrection at the end of time.  Some of the people in this category believe this doctrine simply through a basic...

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Motivation—A Deeper Look

Part 1 -- Guilt or Grace? Part 2 -- Correction or Inspiration? Introduction to Part 1 In Christianity, motivation is everything! If this statement is an example of hyperbole (an overstatement to make a point), it is only slightly so. God is not nearly as interested in...

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Give Yourselves First to the Lord

INTRODUCTION: 1.   Today we want to have somewhat of an in-depth study on the subject of giving financial to God’s work. 2.   Our special contribution opportunity is coming up soon, and this seems a very good time to study a very important subject. 3.   Frankly, the...

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Spirituality and Money—A Vital Connection

INTRODUCTION: 1.   As your elders and ministry staff, we are thankful for every member of the congregation, and want to do our best to help you grow more and more into the image of Christ − for that is the will of God for all of us. 2.   At our last all-church service...

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Do You Want to Get Well?

Introduction This article is a written form of a spoken message delivered on March 28, 2004 to the Phoenix Valley Church of Christ.  As with the previous sermon, “What Do We Now Believe?,” I wanted our members to be able to study out this material in more depth, and...

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Appreciating Our History

NOTE:  This article was written back in 2002, prior to the startling changes in what we have called in ICOC.  In some ways, therefore, it is somewhat dated.  However, the biblical and practical lessons found in it are worth sharing in our present day.  In some ways,...

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Beatitudes of Parenting

In this present age, any well-meaning parent is more than a little concerned about how their children are going to turn out as adults. Parenting has not been easy in any age, but in our current setting, the challenge can seem insurmountable. Thank God for the...

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A Balance of Power—Or a Team?

Several years following 2003 ushered in a time of unsettledness, upheaval, re-examination and uncertainty within most churches of the ICOC movement. Some things connected with this time have been good, and some have been bad. Without going into the reasons for the...

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Self-Starters and the Rest of Mankind

I recently had an experience and an insight from it that may be very significant to the way we are leading the church.  The recent experience was going through the Dynamic Marriage facilitator training program.  Although the purpose of this brief article is not to...

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Golden Rule ‘Followership’

Co-authoring a book like Golden Rule Leadership has been a daunting task. Which of us thinks we have perfected Jesus’ style of leading? Certainly not Wyndham or I. Our primary goal in writing this book was to give insight and input as peers seeking to imitate Jesus,...

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The Deity of Christ

First, consider the Old Testament references to the eternal nature of Christ.  Isaiah 9:6-7 alone should establish the point beyond any doubt. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called...

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Struggling With Faith in God

Just about all human beings struggle with faith in God at one point or another.  Some struggle nearly all the time and some struggle very seldom.  Others have ceased to struggle and just have tried to forget God, or quit believing in him.  Regardless of where you find...

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Adverse Publicity!!

(This article was written in about 1981 while I was still a member of mainline Churches of Christ—soon after I first encountered the discipling type churches.) Churches of Christ are receiving adverse publicity in the mass media of our nation.  Shocking! Recently, I...

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A Helpful Concept: Cooperation With God

A concept is a general idea that encompasses a set of specifics.  Another way of describing it is to say it involves getting the big picture of a topic by looking at many of its individual parts.  Describing concepts often produces a set of terminologies that are used...

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FACEBOOK FEED

Facebook Posts

Yesterday, a good friend whom I have not seen in many years texted me, and among other things, she asked how I was feeling about the family of churches she and I share in common. Although I have many wonderful friends whom I believe to be wonderful disciples of Jesus, I also believe that many of our churches, like most churches, have far too many members who are quite comfortable with belonging to a nice little church on the corner. As I thought about my friend’s question, an old illustration came to mind that I haven’t thought of in years. Upon looking it up, the properties tab indicated that I had entered it into my computer in January of 1997, almost 30 years ago. Here it is. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough of Him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper bag. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please. ... See MoreSee Less
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I taught a class this morning via Zoom to students in the Asia Pacific Leadership Academy, a program I had the privilege of helping start nearly twenty years ago. Rolan Monje is now the very capable leader of the APLA program. He is an outstanding teacher and author, and a very special friend. The class began at 8pm Manila time, which meant I started teaching at 7am my time in Texas. Rolan said that 105 were engaged on Zoom for the teaching and over 1700 on Facebook live. Thankful. Every time I teach now, in person or on the internet, I start off with a question in my mind about whether my age (83) is catching up with me. It is physically for sure, with balance issues and weakness in my legs. I can stand and teach one regular length class for an hour, but anything longer than that would require a stool to sit on. When we started APLA almost two decades ago, I could stand and teach all day for many days in a row. Time marches on, with consequences. I worry most about how I am doing mentally, whether I have memory issues. I do have more trouble remembering names and terms at times, but thankfully nothing has evidently affected my teaching. Rolan summed up my teaching today with this comment: “all vintage Gordon.” Encouraging. My prayer list contains a growing number of friends who have some type of dementia. We older folks worry about that malady, trust me. Regarding my physical health, my recent annual cancer scan, four years after my cancer went into remission, was clear. So thankful. My prayer list includes over thirty who are presently fighting cancer. As I pray for many people with many maladies, I often wonder why I’ve lived this long and this well. I know all of the pat answers to that question, but only one answer is certain – OGK (only God knows). I just felt like rambling a bit today after having such a wonderful beginning to my day, spent in the cyberspace presence of my old and precious friends in Asia. God has been good to me. So thankful. ... See MoreSee Less
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Toney Mulhollan, owner of Illumination Publishers, asked me to post this reminder again. He especially was concerned that my book on Paul, one of my longest, has not sold well -- and yet he considers it one of my best!Seven days left on the 50% off of selected Gordon Ferguson Books and all his Kindle titlesAll of Gordon's Kindle versions are 50% for the next seven days! As well as the six books below. That is 16 KINDLE titles and they are $4.99 each. Now is the time to get all his books on KINDLE. Click here to go straight to the KINDLE VERSIONS.Don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions or request (And yes I will answer the phone). Toney Mulhollan, (toneyipibooks@mac.com or call me at 832-512-8235). ... See MoreSee Less
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