Blog – Page 2 – Grace Evangelical Society

In Your Father’s Footsteps: Reflections on 1 Samuel

November 13, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - 1 Samuel, Eli, Jonathan, Samuel, Saul

As I read through 1 Samuel, I notice a pattern, or, better yet, the contrast between fathers and sons. Eli was a godly man, but his sons Hophni and Phinehas did not follow in their father’s footsteps. Unlike Eli, they were “corrupt” and “did not know the Lord” (1 Sam 2:12). They turned God’s sacrifices

The Love of Christ Compels Us (2 Corinthians 5:14)

November 12, 2020 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 2 Corinthians 5:14, the love of Christ

Pastor Allen asks, “In 2 Cor. 5:14, is the ‘love of Christ’ that compels us the love that we have for Christ or the love that Christ has for us?” Super question. Both the options he mentions are possible grammatically. But Paul explains what he means when he adds, “because we judge thus: that if

I Just Do It Because I Love the Lord

November 11, 2020 by Kenneth Yates in Blog

Many times, when I talk to people about rewards in the world to come, they respond that such an idea is selfish. They usually add that we should obey the Lord and be faithful to Him because we love Him. That is motivation enough and is the only pure motive. I wish that I did

Two Motivations for Ministry: A Lesson from Anthony Norris Groves

November 10, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Anthony Norris Groves, Assurance, Missions

There are two very different motivations for ministry. The first motivation begins in doubt, and the second begins in assurance. That was the experience of Anthony Norris Groves, one of the first “Plymouth Brethren,” and often called “the father of faith missions.” In his interesting biography, Robert Dann notes how Groves went through both kinds

The Difference between God’s Acceptance and His Approval

November 9, 2020 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 1 Corinthians 9:27, 2 Timothy 2:15

I grew up in a home where I knew I was loved. I was a surprise, but a good surprise. My mom turned 40 a few months after I was born. My dad was nearly 40 as well. I was the long-awaited son. Both Mom and Dad hugged and kissed me a lot. They showed

Don’t Let Go and Let God (Luke 6:47-48)

November 6, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Christian living, Luke, Sanctification

Each spring, I have the very best intentions of raising a bountiful garden. But by each fall, all I have is a tangled weedy mess and barely a handful of cherry tomatoes to show for it. Any idea why? I recently heard two folksy illustrations comparing the Christian life to farming and gardening that shed

The Word “Death” in the Book of Romans

November 5, 2020 by Kenneth Yates in Blog

The word “death” (thanatos) occurs 22 times in the Book of Romans. (The word “dead” [nekros] occurs 16 times.) Often times, when people hear the word “death” they think the Bible is talking about eternal death or what happens when a person goes to hell. The verse in which this most often is the case

Highlights of the Oct 26-29, 2020, GES National Conference

November 4, 2020 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Christology, Israelology, Pneumatology, Replacement Theology, systematic theology, theology proper

Our conference was originally scheduled for May 18-21. We moved it back five months due to Covid-19. The attendance was down. Normally we have around 200. We had 115 the first three days and 100 on day four. In the coronavirus new normal, that was surprisingly good attendance. Between 30 and 60 people watched the

Is the Lord’s Supper…a Supper? (1 Cor 11:18-25)

November 3, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Bob Bryant, deipnon, dinner church, Lord’s Supper

Despite COVID and nasty weather, our 2020 National Conference was a success. There were many excellent messages given, which you can watch at our YouTube channel here. But the most important message for me was given by Bob Bryant on The Doctrine of the Church (see here). Here’s why it was important. Don’t you get

When Were the Disciples Born Again? A Pentecostal’s Confusing Answer

November 2, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Born Again, John, New covenant, pentecostal

Howard M. Ervin (1915-2009) was a longstanding faculty member at Oral Roberts University (in fact, the second longest-serving faculty member). I have to imagine that his theology impacted generations of ORU pastors, so his views on salvation are worth looking into. For example, in his book, Spirit Baptism: A Biblical Investigation, Ervin asks when the