Theology Thursday

* Why Were Ananias and Sapphira Killed in the New Testament? A story seemingly out of place, shows the wrath of the God of the Old Testament, but in the New. What is the meaning of the killing of Ananias and Sapphira? Those who assume that its primarily a warning not to lie to God have probably never considered all the substantive reasons why that's not at all the reason that Luke included this account into his story of the advent of the beginning of the Body of Christ. So, tune in to find out the rest of the story. And why you're at it, consider why the Holy Spirit inspired the inclusion into this early church history of three men with the same unusual name, Ananias?

* The Plot: When you realize that the "plot" of the book of Acts helps to illuminate the real meaning in the Ananias and Sapphira story, you'll wonder how much more you can learn if you because proficient in understanding the plot of the entire Bible! Of course, Every story has a plot. And a story's details can be confusing unless you understand its overview. Grasping the big picture will help you reconcile many seemingly contradictory, and controversial Bible passages. Achieve a fuller understanding of God's plan from Genesis to Revelation and equip yourself to share God's Word with friends and family. Consider listening to The Plot series based on Bob's life's work, his book, The Plot.

* Why Jacob's Fraud Paid Off: Crime doesn't pay, except for Isaac's second son. Why? Jacob does all he can to deceive his father and steal his brother's birthright. And rather than getting punished, he is rewarded with the messianic blessing. "The pattern of sibling swaps that pastor Enyart reveals is one of the most important themes of Genesis, though it tends to lie hidden in plain view," says Darrell Birkey, BEL producer and all-around good guy. This startling story is one part of Bob's verse-by-verse Genesis: Abraham & Isaac series. You'll LOVE IT, guaranteed, or your money back! For God pivots the plot of the entire Bible around events in Abraham's life. So in this Bible Study series, Bob Enyart shows that without a clear understanding of Abraham, the believer cannot even "rightly divide the Word of truth" between circumcision and faith, nor works (Gen. 17) and grace (Gen. 15).

* The Plot: Every story has a plot, and a story's details can be confusing unless you understand its overview. Grasping the big picture will help you reconcile many seemingly contradictory, and controversial Bible passages. Achieve a fuller understanding of God's plan from Genesis to Revelation and equip yourself to share God's Word with friends and family. Consider listening to The Plot series based on Bob's life's work, his book, The Plot.

* Why is there a Scroll Nailed to the Cross? In this Bible Study, Bob Enyart goes through Paul's Epistle to the Colossians verse by verse, showing how this Scripture book brings Christians to consider Christ's role in the Godhead, and the very nature of the Trinity. Learn also about God's delegation of authority as indicated by His creation of thrones and dominions, powers, principalities, and authorities. And Paul wrote that God nailed the law to the cross of Christ. Wow! Hear also Paul describe the rules and regulations invented by churches as "self-imposed religion" having "no value against the indulgence of the flesh."

Every story has a plot, and a story's details can be confusing unless you understand its overview. Grasping the big picture will help you reconcile many seemingly contradictory, and controversial Bible passages. Achieve a fuller understanding of God's plan from Genesis to Revelation and equip yourself to share God's Word with friends and family. Consider listening to The Plot series based on Bob's life's work, the book of the same title.

* Consider Subscribing to Bob's Bible Studies: Enjoy any of Bob's Bible Studies, made available by book title or topic, or by subscription as listed below!

* Don't Say Thus Saith the Lord If the Lord Hasn't Spoken: The crash landing in the Hudson river by US Airways pilot "Sully" Sullenberger was called the "Miracle on the Hudson." Last week, many said it was a miracle that 15-month-old Angel was found alive 10 miles from her Indiana home after a tornado. Sadly, yesterday in the hospital baby Angel died. Bob points out that when Christians wrongly allege that something is a miracle, they lost credibility with unbelievers and therefore undermine the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is quite unlike any miracle in the Bible that God would throw a baby across town only to have her die of her injuries. Christians will give on another a lot of slack, but non-Christians will remember our fabrications. When we are so often seen to be obviously wrong, people won't believe us when we defend God's Word on other issues. In his article Miracle Dynamics Bob describes from the Bible the surprising negative effect of miracles on most people, in chapter 10 of The Plot, which is Bob's life's work and an overview of the whole Bible, Bob lists all of the 343 miracles and series of miracles in the Scriptures and what kind of effect all those miracles had on the people who received the miracles, and also on those who witnessed the miracles. This all makes for a stunning Bible study!

* Is the "Law" the Knowledge of Good and Evil? What is

* God Divorced Not the Remnant, but National Israel: And He says it will be a joyous day when, someday, He takes them back again and grafts them back in!

* Who is the Bride of Christ: Israel or the Body? This important Bible topic influences many other beliefs that Christians hold, almost subconsciously.