Kingdom Vision

Pastor Mike Leiter MA in Theological Studies, Fuller Seminary Words and phrases can change meanings over time. This is evidenced all over history and is seen in our own modern context. In today's world, if something is "sick" it can mean that they are actually ill or it can mean that it is extraordinary. If someone were to perform a difficult stunt on a skateboard, someone may say, "That move was sick". The spelling and pronunciation of the word remains the same, but the meaning has changed. This is what happened to the New Testament term, "Kingdom of God" or "Kingdom of Heaven." Shortly after the events of the first century, many Christians began to alter the meaning of Kingdom of God due to Greek and Roman philosophical influences and the anti-Jewish sentiments among Gentile Christians and leaders. By stripping away of the Jewish underpinnings behind Jesus' Kingdom teaching, the term was meant to signify something other than what Jesus

  BOOK OF LIFE - a brief study Pastor Mike Leiter MA in Theological Studies, Fuller Seminary I enjoy talking with people who are inquisitive. I was recently asked about my usage of the term “Lamb’s Book of Life” during my evangelistic talks. I will frequently encourage listeners who have come to Christ by telling them that their name is  now written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life”. Another way to say this is that in the final roll call in the age to come, those who believe will be shown to have their names included in God’s kingdom roster. This is meant to give an assurance to the listener that they are indeed saved and are included in God’s eternal family. To dive a bit deeper into the theology of the term “book of life”, I will lean upon the scholarly write-up by F. F. Bruce from the New Bible Dictionary *.  According to the NBD , In the New Testament the “book of life” refers to a metaphorical scroll containing a roster of those who have been granted life of the age to come (usually tr

BEING EQUIPPED AND STAYING ON-MISSION Cessationism is the declining doctrine that mistakenly teaches that God 'ceased' to bless his Church with gifts of the Spirit such as tongues, prophecy, healing, etc. at some point early in Church history. While this doctrine has been thoroughly refuted (dunked on, as the kids say) by nearly every significant and reputable scholar from nearly every Christian tradition, the practical application of this teaching endures in many. One of my favorite seminary professors made this observation in regards to early views on the subject. "Congar [Roman Catholic Scholar] mentions Justin Martyr as an example: this late second-century Apologist claimed that prophecy and charismatic gifts still existed; in fact, it was believed that the charisms [gifts] should accompany the church until the end." (1) Some church leaders have had to invent with reasons why they were not experiencing the gifts during certain segments of Church history. For examp

KEEP LEVELING UP! Today’s Proverb speaks volumes about the value of seeking AND valuing sound and responsible teaching. It also speaks of the dangers of letting our appetites take over.  The verse that hit me the most this morning was verse 23: Proverbs 23:23 (NIV): 23 Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well.  What are we “buying?” What a great question and challenge.  Keep learning - keep growing - keep on leveling up.

TRUTH and GLORY are what matters with worship songs/music. Is it true? Is Christ being magnified? Style and seasons are always secondary. They always have been. A piano and organ were shockingly new at one point in history. Some people act like the disciples held a hymnal in their hand. Others imagine a full rock band in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. Each generation is tempted to idolize the songs and the styles of their upbringing. This need not be. In the United States (a fairly new country compared to the rest of the world) many of the songs that we call "old hymns" are actually very recent. For example, Bernard's "The Old Rugged Cross" was written in 1912. Many in America call this an "old hymn". IN truth, it's not. This is very new when one considers how old the Christian faith is. There is a library of worship music spanning 2000 years. Truthfully, when considering the Psalms it goes back much, much farther. Want to see an example o

Spurgeon's 1857 prophetic word about an upcoming move of God's Spirit: This is the kind of stuff I stumble upon in the 3 AM hour. If I'm wide awake at this hour, it's usually for a good reason. The following quote really moved me so I thought I would share. Taken from his sermon called “The Power of the Holy Spirit,” (Source: vol. 1 of Spurgeon’s Sermons (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1996), 129–30.) "Another great work of the Holy Spirit, which is not accomplished, is the bringing on of the latter-day glory. In a few more years—I know not when, I know not how—the Holy Spirit will be poured out in far different style from the present. There are diversities of operations; and during the last few years it has been the case that the diversified operations have consisted of very little pouring out of the Spirit. Ministers have gone on in dull routine, continually preaching—preaching—preaching, and little good has been done. I do hope that a fresh era has dawned upon us,