Disclaimer: I Am A "Bad Southern Baptist" I have technically been a Southern Baptist my whole life, though, that statement needs some clarity. When I say I have been a Southern Baptist my whole life, I mean the only churches I have ever had membership with are...
The perspectives given here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Sylvania Church. I would like to thank Allen Phillips for the general question about infant versus believer's baptism. I would also like to thank Grant Conaway...
Disclaimer: This post is the theological perspective of the author and does not necessarily reflect the formal position of Sylvania Church. This particular issue, concerning eschatology and the interpretation of such events, is not meant to be divisive, but...
*Warning - sensitive material included below. Reader discretion is advised. Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4 Some Disclaimers No one knows for sure what has...
Charlottesville is on everyone's mind. And rightly so. Words have meanings, ideas have consequences, and people should stand up and fight the good fight wherever they see it. Plenty has been written and said about racism, the "alt-right," Christian responsibility, and...
Christian Criticism and Bill Nye A recent "article" was released on the Christian comedy site The Babylonian Bee calling into question Bill Nye's credibility as a scientist. This is the second such article from The Bee, the first playing on a Halloween theme. While...
Children. Fewer topics can stir up more emotion than that of children. How do you raise them? How do you educate them? How do you discipline them? And nothing, I mean nothing, gets people more fired up than if someone tells what they should or shouldn't do with their...
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of...
I love the story of Alice in Wonderland. Animals that speak. Food and drink that make you grow and shrink. Playing cards, odd courtroom drama, and a pig-baby. What's not to love?! The thing I love most about the story is the larger moral it teaches: eventually you...
Getting Started In this post, I want to provide a quick and concise reference guide to the major "end-times" views. There won't be any criticisms given of any of these views at this time. This list will consist of brief definitions with some helpful links for further...
After a significant time of development, the Sylvania U "Monster Course" - Bible Survey is ready for launch. How It Works This course is designed to be done in conjunction with the "Chapter-A-Day" Bible Reading Plan. If you follow the plan and the course lectures, you...
I had some folks recently who wanted a link to the Bible reading plan for the upcoming (still in development) Sylvania U courses that will carry them through the entire Bible. I am including the link to that original post here, which should contain the reading plan....
“On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it,...
The "Why Do We Recite the Apostles' Creed" course is up, running, and off to a strong start. You can still register for that course here. What is next at Sylvania U? It will take a little time, and it might be rolled out in phases, but the next big addition to...
"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Jesus (from Matthew 12:36-37) So, Who Is The Idiot? Actually,...
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going." Ecclesiastes 9:10 The Guilty Burden of the Success Syndrome Most people, but 21st century Americans in particular, are...
Free Online Discipleship Courses I will be test driving this with a few guinea pigs in the late summer. We hope to launch something in the Fall 2014 discipleship rotation. Check out the larger description on the website. Sylvania U
For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, not to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it what He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that...
