Messages by Dolph Painter

Peter and Paul both followed Jesus, although Peter's ministry had a Hebrew focus and Paul's had a Gentile focus (Gal 2:7-8). Some of Jesus' follow me's were customized and some of His follow me's were unilateral ... a tough pill to swallow for legalists and religionists.

The Parable of the Six Ground Types, often called the Parable of the Sower, is a message about six types of people (three fruit bearing and three non-fruit bearing). But: Is this parable addressing sheep and goats, or Is this parable addressing lost sheep and found sheep?

Can Christianity and Wokeness co-exist? Not if you believe Jesus came to earth to save sinners. If sin isn't sin, then Jesus came to earth for nothing, He died for nothing, and the gospel isn't good news Christians claim it is. Part 3 in this three part series.

The world is tolerant of every doctrine, but Jesus'; however, the church ought to refuse every doctrine, accept Jesus'. Jewish leaders challenged John and Peter with woke on at least three occasions in Acts 4 & 5. The apostles chose God, rather than woke.

There are three kinds of people when it comes to cultural wokeness: 1) those who set the standard, 2) those who comply with the standard, and 3) those who ignore the standard. Jesus always complied with God's standard, as should we.

Recorded in Mark 5 is deliverance from demonic possession, a blood issue, and death. The manner in which Jesus delivered these three individuals was quite diverse. God does not fit in my boxes; but sadly, I find myself continually making new boxes.

Israel asked God, "Lord, when have we ever spoken against thee?" God answered, when you questioned the profitability of obeying My ordinances. In other words, when Israel said, "What's in it for Me?" We shall address this subject from both an earthly and an eternal perspective.

Under the Law, church officers were the vehicle the people used to see and understand the Father. Under the New Covenant, the Son of God became the vehicle the people use to see and understand the Father. Jesus changed everything, and Pharisees were none too happy about the change.

Pastors and Parents seek the middle ground between too severe and too compassionate, between oppressive and passive. Paul found that middle ground, David did not. Paul could say at the end of his life, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, and I have kept the faith. David's last words included regrets over poor parenting. Note: a paraphrased comment taken from Jordan Peterson regarding the rearing of babies 6 months old and younger.

A theme thread through 2nd Corinthians is: Paul's dependence upon the Lord. Paul came to learn that dependence upon God was strength and wisdom, not weakness. This is the fifth and final message in this series.