The Epic Life - Bob Hallman

Matthew 16:1-17 True Confessions - Part 1

Introduction
What do you think of when you hear the phrase, “True Confessions”?
Some might be reminded of Catholic confession.
Others might think of finally coming clean with someone we have deceived or betrayed.
True Confessions Magazine, a cherished classic first published in 1922, looks into women's souls and reveals their deepest secrets. It deals with family problems, relationship issues, romances, single moms, abuse, and any other realistic issue women face in our society.
But today, I want to suggest that we consider the meaning of these two words:
True: To be in congruence with fact or reality
Confession: To be in agreement
I  Seeking a Sign by the Pharisees and Sadducees
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus:
The Pharisees and Sadducees were the principal religious and political parties among the Jews and together they represent official Judaism in its entirety.
Fast facts about Pharisees and Sadducees:
Pharisees: They embraced the Law, the prophets and the oral tradition. They were the fundamentalists of their day, opposed to Roman rule and concerned about preserving historic Judaism. They codified the Scriptures into 365 negative commandments and 248 positive commandments (613 in total), which became the basis of one’s salvation.
Sadducees: They accepted only the Torah as the authority. They were theologically liberal, politically powerful and social ladder climbers. While the Pharisees believed in angels, spirits, and the resurrection of the dead, the Sadducees did not (Acts 23:8).
These two opposing groups found temporary unity in their mutual opposition to Jesus Christ.
(2014)
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Matthew 15:21-39 - The Loving Provision of God - Part 2

Introduction Allude
We left off in Matthew 15, where Jesus was up in Gennesaret, being confronted by the Pharisees and Scribes for not requiring His disciples to practice ritualistic hand washing – an extra-biblical tradition of the elders not found in the Bible!
If that weren’t enough to upset Israel’s religious leaders, now Jesus redirects His ministry and attention toward the surrounding pagan Gentiles!
(2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
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Matthew 15:21-39 - The Loving Provision of God - Part 1

Introduction Allude
We left off in Matthew 15, where Jesus was up in Gennesaret, being confronted by the Pharisees and Scribes for not requiring His disciples to practice ritualistic hand washing – an extra-biblical tradition of the elders not found in the Bible!
If that weren’t enough to upset Israel’s religious leaders, now Jesus redirects His ministry and attention toward the surrounding pagan Gentiles!
(2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
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Matthew 15:1-20 - Truth or Tradition, Part 2

Introduction
 Virtually every religion outside of Christianity has extra-biblical traditions and teachings (sources that accompany and, many times, supersede the authority of the Bible) that guide and instruct their beliefs:
The Mormons have the Bible PLUS the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.
The Jehovah Witnesses have their own translation of the Bible called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures PLUS the Watchtower and Awake Magazines.
Islam has the Bible PLUS the Quran (God’s final and complete revelation to man) along with half a dozen other books they believe to be of divine origin.
The Catholic Church has the Bible PLUS the Vatican Councils, Papal Encyclicals and Catholic traditions:
"It is an article of faith from a decree of the Vatican Council that Tradition is a source of theological teaching distinct from Scripture, and that it is infallible. It is therefore to be received with the same internal assent of Scripture, for it is the word of God." - Catholic Dictionary, p. 41-42
"Do you have to believe in Tradition? Yes, because it is the Word of God and has equal authority with the Bible." - Catholic Catechism For Adults, p. 11
The Jews have the Tanakh (the Torah and prophets) PLUS the Midrash, Mishnah and the Talmud. Unlike, these other religions, which place their writing on par with the Bible, Judaism’s supplemental books were considered commentaries, non-holy interpretations that were supplemental to their only divinely authoritative writings – the Old Testament scriptures. But over time, these supplemental books took on an authoritative role in Judaism that many times superseded even the OT scriptures.
In contrast, Christians believethe Bible to be the inspired and only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
“We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates and is the basis for which this church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures.” (Is 28:13; Neh 8:8; Jn 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb 4:12; 1 Pet 1:23-25; 2 Pet 1:21)
(2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
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Matthew 15:1-20 - Truth or Tradition, Part 1

Introduction
 Virtually every religion outside of Christianity has extra-biblical traditions and teachings (sources that accompany and, many times, supersede the authority of the Bible) that guide and instruct their beliefs:
The Mormons have the Bible PLUS the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.
The Jehovah Witnesses have their own translation of the Bible called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures PLUS the Watchtower and Awake Magazines.
Islam has the Bible PLUS the Quran (God’s final and complete revelation to man) along with half a dozen other books they believe to be of divine origin.
The Catholic Church has the Bible PLUS the Vatican Councils, Papal Encyclicals and Catholic traditions:
"It is an article of faith from a decree of the Vatican Council that Tradition is a source of theological teaching distinct from Scripture, and that it is infallible. It is therefore to be received with the same internal assent of Scripture, for it is the word of God." - Catholic Dictionary, p. 41-42
"Do you have to believe in Tradition? Yes, because it is the Word of God and has equal authority with the Bible." - Catholic Catechism For Adults, p. 11
The Jews have the Tanakh (the Torah and prophets) PLUS the Midrash, Mishnah and the Talmud. Unlike, these other religions, which place their writing on par with the Bible, Judaism’s supplemental books were considered commentaries, non-holy interpretations that were supplemental to their only divinely authoritative writings – the Old Testament scriptures. But over time, these supplemental books took on an authoritative role in Judaism that many times superseded even the OT scriptures.
In contrast, Christians believethe Bible to be the inspired and only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
“We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates and is the basis for which this church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures.” (Is 28:13; Neh 8:8; Jn 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb 4:12; 1 Pet 1:23-25; 2 Pet 1:21)
(2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
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Matthew 14:22-36 - Walking on Water - Part 2

Introduction  -  Context:
Jesus has been presented and authenticated as the Messiah of God
The Jews have rejected Jesus and have demonized Him
But Jesus never stopped teaching and healing the crowds
He discovered that Herod has brutally beheaded his cousin and forerunner, John the Baptist and is devastated by the news
His first attempt to be alone was interrupted by the physical needs for food by 5,000 men – plus women and children!
In this passage, we find the disciples in the grip of a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee.  A storm similar to the one they encountered in Matthew chapter 8.  A storm so violent that it left these weathered and experienced seamen in fear for their lives.
It’s a very strange and sometimes confusing place to be – in the will of God and in the midst of a storm, all at the same time!!
Have you ever found yourself in that place?
- Doing what you understand to be the will of God
- Facing the headwinds of a threatening crisis
I don’t know what kind of storm you might be facing today, but I do know that the Lord has a purpose in allowing that storm to rage in your life.
(Jan 2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
You can support this ministry: Donate
The Epic Lifehttps://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life

Matthew 14:22-36 - Walking on Water - Part 1

Introduction  -  Context:
Jesus has been presented and authenticated as the Messiah of God
The Jews have rejected Jesus and have demonized Him
But Jesus never stopped teaching and healing the crowds
He discovered that Herod has brutally beheaded his cousin and forerunner, John the Baptist and is devastated by the news
His first attempt to be alone was interrupted by the physical needs for food by 5,000 men – plus women and children!
In this passage, we find the disciples in the grip of a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee.  A storm similar to the one they encountered in Matthew chapter 8.  A storm so violent that it left these weathered and experienced seamen in fear for their lives.
It’s a very strange and sometimes confusing place to be – in the will of God and in the midst of a storm, all at the same time!!
Have you ever found yourself in that place?
- Doing what you understand to be the will of God
- Facing the headwinds of a threatening crisis
I don’t know what kind of storm you might be facing today, but I do know that the Lord has a purpose in allowing that storm to rage in your life.
(Jan 2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
You can support this ministry: Donate
The Epic Lifehttps://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life

Matthew 14:1-21 - Sowing in Tears - Part 2

Introduction
In Matthew 14:1-21, we find Jesus facing the very personal, senseless, painful and brutal death of His cousin and Messianic forerunner, John the Baptist! 
No one would blame Jesus for being consumed with grief, taking some time off from ministry, meeting His own needs for a while and turning the ministry over to someone else!  But He doesn’t do that.  Instead, He continues to serve!!
In truth, this passage teaches us a great deal about how to respond when faced with life’s inevitable challenges, injustices, losses and disappointments!
(2013)
May God bless you through this message! 
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Matthew 14:1-21 Sowing in Tears - Part 1

Introduction
In Matthew 14:1-21, we find Jesus facing the very personal, senseless, painful and brutal death of His cousin and Messianic forerunner, John the Baptist! 
No one would blame Jesus for being consumed with grief, taking some time off from ministry, meeting His own needs for a while and turning the ministry over to someone else!  But He doesn’t do that.  Instead, He continues to serve!!
In truth, this passage teaches us a great deal about how to respond when faced with life’s inevitable challenges, injustices, losses and disappointments!
(2013)
May God bless you through this message! 
You can support this ministry: Donate
The Epic Lifehttps://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life

Matthew 13:44-58 - The Treasure of the Kingdom - Part 2

I  The Hidden Treasure
The kingdom of heaven is like …: [Verse 44a]
Treasure hidden in a field, which a man found
Treasure =  Thesauros = “A deposit, i.e. wealth”
Hidden = Krupto = “To conceal by covering”
The man’s joyful response: [Verse 44b]
He hid it
He sold all that he had
He bought that field
Interpretation and application
A common interpretation is that the man who finds the treasure/pearl is an unbeliever who finds Christ and sells all he has in order to obtain salvation. 
Here are the problems with this interpretation:
It violates the principle of “Expositional Constancy”. In the previous parables, Jesus has already informed us that the “field” is symbolic of the world (Matt 13:38) – a rather unlikely place to find spiritual treasure.
It violates a biblical understanding of salvation by faith:
The treasure (Christ and salvation by faith) isn’t for sale nor can it be purchased.
Even if it were possible, an unbeliever has no resources from which to make such a purchase.
A new believer has no reason to hide his newfound faith in Christ, but rather, is expected to make it public through the proclamation of “Believer’s Baptism”.
(2013)
May God bless you through this message! 
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