(Dual Chinese & English) sermon presentation slides in Powerpoint or PDF There are two parables by Jesus – The Parable of the Ten Minas in Luke 19:11-26 and the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 – that are truly unique among the parables of Jesus. They are obviously different in their details, and yet … [Read more…]
What factors would make a religion popular? For a moment, try not to put in your Christian knowledge but use what you know about the human nature to design one based on common sense. If you are someone who wants to start a religion, either for your own fame or to achieve some sociopolitical goals, … [Read more…]
The Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are not just four separate publications about the life of Jesus; they are accounts that focus on different aspects of Jesus. Scholars see different emphases in the four Gospels: Matthew – The kingship of Jesus Mark – The servanthood of Jesus Luke – The humanity of Jesus … [Read more…]
Sometimes when someone asks about water baptism, he would be told: Jesus did it and so should we. The Bible says, “Those who believe and be baptized shall be saved.” And therefore he should get baptized. While both of these statements are true, they do not explain the meaning and reason for water baptism. Most … [Read more…]
Note: I was told this story verbally. If you know the origin of this story, please let me know. —————– Joshua and Paul have been the best of friends since kindergarten. They attended the same grammar school, junior high school, high school, and even college. Even though they ended up pursuing different careers after college … [Read more…]
Main Idea: In a courtroom setting, one side will try to convince the judge and a jury of the truthfulness of a Biblical event such as the resurrection, and the other side will try to refute it. This is a good introduction to apologetics. Example: Did resurrection really happen? Witnesses for the “Yes” side: The … [Read more…]
Luke 5:27-32 Tax collectors during the time of Jesus collect taxes from people on behalf of the Romans. They often collect more than required and keep the extras for themselves. The Romans didn’t care much about it as long as they get the required amount themselves. So tax collectors are considered as traitors by the … [Read more…]
Does the Christian faith seem like a natural religion1 developed by our ancestors to satisfy their desire for spiritual beliefs? What does it imply if it doesn’t seem like a natural religion? What is a “Natural Religion?” A natural religion is a spiritual system created by people and gradually evolved over a long period of … [Read more…]