Talk of JESUS . com

Tag: Lord

  • Christian Social Witness

    Christian Social Witness

    Christian Readers  Bloggers & Authors TALK of Jesus Christ our Lord:

    A new Christian #social community officially launching as a group of followers of Christ Jesus to SHARE with one another and witness to others.

    http://talkofJesus.com + Christian Social Witness

    Join us: (officially) Monday, 2 September, 2013

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    For your first post:

    Simply copy what you would like to post and paste it into a comment in any appropriate category.

    • One way is to follow this LINK to http://talkofJesus.com/about
    • If you plan to join us regularly, just ask for an appropriate log-in for additional posts.  CLICK REGISTER at the bottom of our site.

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    Here are a few general guidelines, but we want to keep it simple (fellow redeemed sinners) [KISS] and you have much grace with Jesus.

    To choose a category: Scroll over the category list on the right sidebar to see descriptions.CHOOSE THE BEST CATEGORY (only one) 

    • Try to keep your TITLE short & include the KEYWORD that best summarizes your post.
    • Insert an Eye-catching cover photo that visually attracts readers to your post.

     by YOUR Name 

     IN ALL CATAGORIES AND POSTS: It is best if you can have a HEADLINE near the TOP.  It could be separate from the text of your post OR part of it.  (LATER, I intend to make these #Tweetable.)

    HEADLINE examples:

    Your HEADLINE in a Bible Quote of the Day OR for a longer (short to medium) Category post could be the actual Bible verse.  Many have great impact.

    And don’t overlook a picture headline, with or without a Bible verse from another site

    Pinterest and other eye-catching sites, even your blog or an author/reader / publisher book site), may have the visual headline to make your KEY point for you.

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    Christian Social Witness must be brief.  Here are a couple of examples I like:

    PLEASE CONSIDER that anyone wanting to SHARE YOUR POST as Christian witness with their friends, followers, and social circles is looking for ‘a quick fix,’ NOT a sermon.  Be BRIEF.

    • ONE or TWO brief statements on your topic are probably sufficient in MOST cases.

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    IF you have friends from church or work, encourage them to share a comment on your post to http://talkofJesus.com – Christian Social Witness

    Please SHARE this post OR our home page on your ‘OTHER’ online Social pages.

    [jamiesocial]

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    • If your personal witness is important to your choice of a scripture or book, tell us why?
    • “READERS want to know about Authors of blogs or books .

    “Social surfers want to know WHY you chose to write or blog about a Bible verse or topic that resonates in their heart.  SHARE your Christian Social Witness THROUGH your personal story.

    • As an author, writer or regular blogger you may want to include a very BRIEF bio BEFORE what you write.

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    PLEASE include Scripture verse links to your favorite version. (I can help you with this if you do not know how to insert links, but not every time.)  Check the box to have ALL links open in a new window.  You may add links to other helpful and related sites as well; after all, part of our witness is to SHARE Christ-centered real-life help to our family and friends.

    “If you have a powerful closing thought, quote it.

    The conclusion of your post is the best place to promote your own website or blog.  Just give it a mention about your content or bio and provide a link.

    Ex. Please visit [REVIEWER FIRST NAME]’s website about [your main ministry]. [Hyperlinked]

    • PLEASE post as many Scriptural Posts and book reviews as you would like.
    • The mission of our Christian Social Witness is involvement of MANY to read about JESUS CHRIST and the BIBLE and to
    • SHARE through our posts on Scripture (brief or medium length).
    • Christian readers also want more trusted non-author reviews of Christian books by other READERS like them.

    (Most of us read Christian fiction or non-fiction.) IF you are willing to review a book, your shared witness may inspire some of your friends to read what you like. (If you do not have those guidelines, I will be more than happy to email them.)

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    ANY Christian of ANY faith is WELCOME as our brother or sister in Christ Jesus & should want to SHARE their unique personal Christian Social Witness.

    Our Christian community is an online church in the same sense of the house churches of the first century. We MUST be an example of the love of Jesus for each other as witness to those who have NO social or actual community of any who truly care for their souls and struggles.

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    A gentle caution: I will moderate your posts of Christian Social Witness.  Do witness the truth in love. – Ephesians 4:15 

    I oppose any opposed to Jesus Christ. I do NOT agree with much false teaching. Let Christ judge.  NO posts specifically pointed against ANY denomination, church or preacher.  (Yes, I have boldly commented against public statements of prominent ‘christians’ who claim witness in public arenas and media {or refuse to witness Jesus Christ as representatives of their faith or church}).  Take your agendas and controversies elsewhere. Do not misrepresent us or Jesus.

    We will not allow our Social Witness for Jesus Christ to be diminished in the watching eyes of the social circles of the world.  Do not be the ‘mis-guided preacher’ or wayward ‘christian’ church-goer with much bad fruit to witness against Christ Jesus as our Lord.

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    “Jesus IS either our Lord or He is NOT. Our Christian Social Witness must SHARE: Jesus IS Lord. 

    http://talkofJesus.com + Christian Social Witness is an additional ministry for me, in addition to working on my book manuscript for a 2014 release.  I’m trying to make it easy and quick for YOU to post & keep everything about our site simple (KISS).

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    I would prefer (for now), until http://talkofJesus.com + Christian Social Witness has more posts in all categories:

    • To post only one book per author (exception, books of deceased Christian authors)
    • Post only brief headline-type of teasers, with a link to the reviewer website like Goodreads with the full review.

    Thank you.

    May our Lord Christ Jesus bless you.  Please do not hesitate to email me any questions or drafts about which you have questions.

    Roger Harned http://talkofJesus.com + Christian Social Witness

    [Last revised: 20130830]

    © 2013 Roger Harned – All rights reserved by the authors of this site.
    Christian Social Witness – Share without cost for Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  • YOU are a VIP in our community of Christian Readers

    YOU are a VIP in our community of Christian Readers

    Readers SHARE a brief comment about your favorite Christian book.

    • Do you read Christian fiction?
    • Do you read Christian non-fiction?
    • Do you spend online time browsing Goodreads or writing brief reviews?

    If so, YOU are a VIP in our community for Christian Social Witness of READERS.  Therefore, we want to hear from you.

    Simply comment here in the short time you would discuss a BOOK over coffee (perhaps tea and a cookie) while your wireless wanders though your social circles where you hardly mention Jesus.

    Take a moment to SHARE your reader review of a Christian book as a relaxing treat of the day for your mind, spirit, & taste buds:

    • PLEASE contribute to one of our conversations. (Keep it short.)
    • TELL someone what you think about their thought. (The truth spoken in love.)
    • COME BACK and READ what others say to you.

    SOME of us have answers.  LET’S SHARE our thoughts with others.

    Do you have a favorite Christian book you want to tell your friends all about as witness to Jesus?

    •  BRING your FRIENDS into our community relationship of READERS who LOVE BOOKS & want to ASK about GOD.
    • Or SHARE something about your witness to the BIBLE.
    • SHARE your http://talkofJesus.com comments on your favorite Christian books as Christian Social Witness to your ‘friends, followers and circles.’

    ALL of us have questions.  LET’S ASK our questions here about Jesus.

    “ASK and it shall be given to you. SEEK and you shall find.

    – Luke 11:9-10

    MOST of us spend TOO LITTLE TIME with those of like mind (other Christians — especially online).

    Let’s stay connected to one another through real conversation with our brothers, sisters, and neighbors we love most.

    SHARE your Christian Social Witness + http://talkofJesus.com

     

    Make yourself at HOME.  Please BOOKMARK our Christian READER COMMUNITY.

    Thank you for asking.  Come back soon. Just knock.

    PS – A Picture of Heaven begins NEXT Monday 2 September, 2013 as a daily serial post FREE, only on http://talkofJesus.com + Christian Social Witness.

    “The door of Christ’s love is always open for you at talkofJesus.com – Christian Social Witness for all Christian faiths.

  • Many Witnesses, One Lord – William Barclay

    Many Witnesses, One Lord – William Barclay

    http://talkofJesus.com READER reviews – Please add your COMMENT to this post.

    Do you READ Christian books?  We need your thoughts on other Christian fiction & Non-fiction.  Just add the name of the book you would like to review to a COMMENT. – Roger Harned

    NOTE: This is my first REVIEW of a book for talkofJesus.com  As site administrator I’ll begin with some guidance for you NOT related to this book.

    1. I am a reader of many books, especially Christian non-fiction.  I am also a writer and dedicate most of my time to writing. When I read a book that interests me I tend to highlight for teaching, writing, or preaching. I also tend to go on to the next book, rather than having any interest in reviewing it for others. Therefore we need your reviews.  (I know & read some book reviewers who are very good at this. IF you are one of these, please SHARE your reviews with us.)
    2. As an editor, I typically add helpful links for the reader behind some references (especially Bible verses). You do not have to do that; just send us your brief review.
    3.  IF you can tell us why you buy the particular book you review, it will probably help us as much as the brief summary of the book.
    4. Don’t get caught-up in thinking that because I chose Barclay for my first review (OR that you post a review of a certain author) that my beliefs are the same as the author or that other authors have not influenced me even more.  (I could name several.)
    5. I chose this book because it is short & I highlighted a great deal of text & he is an authoritative scholar of the New Testament.

     William Barclay (1907-1978)) is of the generation of my grandparents.  He was a Scottish theologian and authority on the Greek of the New Testament. I have heard him quoted in many sermons. Many Witnesses, OneLord, published in 2001 was originally published in 1963 and remains relevant to thoughtful followers of Christ Jesus.

    This small Christian NON-FICTION book is only 116 pages. The Title references the varied writers of the New Testament as the ‘many witnesses’ to our One Lord.

    When one of our Bible studies is focused on a particular book of the Bible, I find Barclay’s insight very helpful to my own understanding. In addition to MANY WITNESSES, ONE LORD, you should find many of these New Testament studies in your local Christian bookstore.

    Here is just a taste from the book:

    The Gospel of the Kingdom: “… the God who is Father does not cease to be the God who is Judge and King… Sin,therefore, matters intensely.” {p.10}

    Paul –  “… the Law drives us to complete despair. It shows us the good; it leaves us helpless to do it: it even awakes the desire to sin. Life is defeated and frustrated, and there is nothing left to do but come to Jesus Christ, and accept what he has to give. The Law can take us so far, but only Jesus Christ can take us the whole way to God.” {p.27}

    James – “… works are love in action, works are caring for our fellow men. For James works are very nearly exactly what Paul meant by the fruit of the Spirit.”

    “All the world must see a Christian’s good deeds and give glory to God (Matthew 5:16). Men are know, like trees, by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-21). ” {p. 53}

    Barclay’s commentary above so affected me that I wrote the following note at the bottom of the page:

    “The fruit of the seed of righteousness glorifies the Lord, while the fruit of the seed of sinfulness will rot and die!

    First Peter –  “In the Apostles’ Creed it is said of Jesus, ‘He descended into hell” …” {pp. 65-66}

    Barclay references the two scriptural passages that are some of the basis for this section of a Creed committed to memory by many committed Christians. 1 Peter 3:18-20 and 4:6.  A more in-depth study of his additional commentary and scriptural references would be a challenge to the most astute of theologians.

    The Letter of John : The Gospel of Right Belief and True Love – “Although 1 John is called a letter, it neither begins or ends as such. And yet no work was ever more clearly addressed to a definite community by an author who know intimate and loved passionately those to whom he wrote.” {p.70} {below: p.71}

    “John is waging a holy war on falsehood which could wreck the faith. – William Barclay

    2 Peter and Jude – Speaking of their confrontation against Gnostic beliefs, Barclay writes: “(1:20-21) Instead of going to scripture to find their true belief,  they took their own twisted beliefs to scripture, and by the misuse of scripture extracted from its justifications for their private beliefs. Instead of submitting to Scripture they made Scripture submit to them.” {p. 82 – bold, my emphasis}

    Preaching of the New Testament Today – Clearly this, and the previous chapter, The Kerugma, fall into the category of conclusion and application. Barclay offers several additional insights (probably of more use to preachers and church leadership than the lay reader of the Bible and books about the Bible).  Here is just a concluding sampling:

    “… What has gone wrong? Why is it that Christian preaching in so many cases is no longer effective?  …somewhere the balance has gone wrong.” {p. 113}

    “The first thing that is needed from all pulpits is systematic exposition of scripture and systemic explanation of Christian doctrine, with application of both to the human situation of the particular sphere of the hearers in the twentieth century.” {p.115}

    I couldn’t agree more.  As hearers of preaching, Scripture, doctrine and application to our 21st c. sphere of little Christian influence on a world even more fallen than just two generations past; Barclay’s call to Truth applies even more.

    Maybe you can share just a thought or two with the preachers of your church.  As you can see from the depth of Barclay’s research, preaching is NOT an easy task; but faithful preaching is an important one.

    As is your preacher, so are you: we are Many Witnesses (from differing perspectives). Yet all of us witness One Lord.

    “That’s my opinion,” as one commentator used to put it. What’s yours?

    Why not share a comment with us.  http://talkofJesus.com