Next Generation

The Rest of the Hanukkah Story

Dr. Susan Michael
1 Dec 2015
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  The story of Hanukkah takes place during the period in-between the Old and New Testaments, when Antiochus IV Epiphanes became the King of the Hellenistic Seleucid empire. While the Hellenization of the region, including Judea, already threatened the survival of the Jewish religion, Antiochus seemed obsessed with ensuring the demise of the Jewish faith and the future of the Jewish people. He not only murdered the High Priest, Onias III, but he slaughtered 40,000 inhabitants of Jerusalem. All sacrifices, the service of the Temple, and the observance of the Sabbath and feast days were prohibited. The Temple was dedicated […]

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Rescue for the Bitter Heart

Paula Masters
2 Sep 2015
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  Here is the scenario: a person who has been wounded in heart seeks counsel on how to handle bitterness. As an antidote the counselor offers the Scripture Proverbs 10:12: “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” The already emotionally weighed down counselee sets out to perform this spiritual directive. But, now he or she is not simply weighed down with bitterness; guilt and pressure to “love” has been added to the load. The result…fake smiles, fake acts of kindness with a heart still blackened with bitterness. Eventually, the counselee explodes both internally and externally. This comes […]

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Bitter Heart

Student-led First Priority Clubs Bring the Gospel to School

Shelly Pond
1 Sep 2015
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    Despite government limitations on prayer and Bible reading in public schools, the Gospel is still found on campus today through student led clubs supported by First Priority. By connecting the church with students to reach the campus for Christ, First Priority supported more than 5,000 students in 165 schools throughout Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast last year. At these Great Commission Clubs, which meet weekly, students are equipped to share the love of Jesus Christ with their peers who do not know Him. The results are stunning. A reported 3,496 students made professions of faith […]

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When Is A Command A Command?

The Good News
4 Aug 2015
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  There are many, many commands in the Bible, and not all of them are equal. Who of us, for example, has a “parapet” around our roof (Deut. 22:8) or greets other brothers and sisters “with a holy kiss” (1 Cor. 16:20)? On the other hand, who of us would dare to deny that stealing is not only a crime but a sin? This shows us that there are at least two types of commands in the Scripture: cultural and trans-cultural.   Cultural A cultural command is like the one found in the Deuteronomy passage above.  Since our culture does […]

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Hermeneutics

Supernatural Strength Is Not Just For Superheroes Like The Avengers

Dr. Tommy Boland
7 Jul 2015
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Supernatural

A few weeks ago, Katie, Tank and I went to the opening night of the “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” at the movie theater. Now I don’t like to go opening night because of the crowds, but Tank spends much of his play time with the Avengers action figures, so I let them both talk me into it. We had a blast watching these superheroes with their supernatural strength fighting against evil and winning the day. When the movie ended, Tank said, “Papi, I will always remember we went to see the Avengers on opening night!” Well, that certainly made it […]

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Kids flock to Vacation Bible School Programs

The Good News
3 Jun 2015
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Full of hands-on Bible explorations using skits, songs and stories, interactive games, cool crafts and delicious treats, Vacation Bible School (VBS) is designed to give kids a memorable summer experience that conveys a gospel message. A summer tradition for almost a century, VBS was originally begun by a doctor’s wife, Mrs. Walter Aylett Hawes, who wanted to get kids off the street in New York, and it has been adopted by many churches as a way to engage young children with the word of God in a fun and enjoyable way that helps them learn to overcome obstacles with the […]

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Vacation Bible School

Three Churches, One Body

The Good News
1 May 2015
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three churches, one body

For the first time ever, First Baptist Church Piney Grove, Mount Bethel Baptist Church and New Mount Olive Baptist Church gathered together on April 25th in Fort Lauderdale for joint worship and teaching around common subject matter in an effort to build the kingdom of God. “It was our objective to promote solidarity as churches,” said Bishop C. E. Glover, of Mount Bethel Baptist Church. “We are not in competition, but rather see our roles as complementing and helping each other.” The event was birthed out of a gesture of hospitality. “Dr. Hughes and I both came into town at […]

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Over Spiritualizing Every Conversation is “Juking” Others

Paula Masters
2 Apr 2015
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I first came across the word “juking” several years ago when my college-aged daughter brought it to my attention. On a visit home she explained the meaning of this interesting term. I was floored when she defined it as Christians “over spiritualizing” every conversation. In fact, juking is just that, somehow turning every piece of communication into a spiritual principle, direction or cliche. When she expounded on the subject further, I realized I myself had been guilty of juking. After all, that was the Christian culture; everybody juked. It was expected, especially from those in leadership. Adding a fitting spiritual platitude […]

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over spiritualizing

Are Legalism And Lawlessness Opposites?

Tullian Tchividjian
3 Mar 2015
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“Legalism in the church was a huge problem 7-10 years ago, but I honestly feel that the pendulum has swung in the other extreme full force, to a fault on the other side. Legalism and moralism is not the problem today; licentiousness is.” “It’s a mistake to say that every person needs to be rescued from legalism. I didn’t grow up in a legalistic church culture. I grew up in a liberal church culture where anything and everything was permitted. I didn’t need to be saved from legalism. I needed to be saved from lawlessness.” These are a couple of […]

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Artists in Church: An Untapped Resource

Dan Siedell
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Let’s face it. The creative response to creation that we call art doesn’t play a prominent role in the church. As pastors and Christian leaders, we’re just not quite sure what to make of it. But taking art and the artist seriously can be more than organizing art museum visits, hanging paintings in the sanctuary, hosting an artist in residence or talking about beauty. Through my twenty-year career as an art historian, museum curator and art critic, I am convinced that the artist is an untapped resource. One of the most important needs of the artist is in the conversation […]

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