Nehemiah, Part 1: Restoring Messiah ’s City

Layton Talbert FrontLine • May/June 2007 At a Glance: Ezra Part 1 ♦ Ezra Part 2 This column recently explored the historical and theological significance of the book of Ezra. Ezra’s contemporary and political counterpart was Nehemiah. Persia’s King Artaxerxes commissioned both of these men to return to Jerusalem within a few years of each…

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Ezra, Part 2

Layton Talbert FrontLine • March/April 2007 At A Glance – Ezra Part 1   All history is theological. Human history is the illustrated encyclopedia of the acts of God—a branch of general revelation and applied theology whereby God makes Himself known to any man who has eyes to see it and a Bible by which…

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Ezra, Part 1

At A Glance Layton Talbert FrontLine • January/February 2007 A new year always carries with it the potential for a fresh start, a rededication to building (and in some cases, rebuilding) the work of God in your life. Ezra and Nehemiah are just such books of new beginning and (re)building. God had graciously brought His…

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Don’t Twist the Scriptures

Thomas Overmiller Many claim to be Bible teachers. They claim to teach the Word of God accurately. But before you believe them, ask whether they are twisting the scriptures to their own advantage. That’s what Peter says at the close of his last letter to the churches.

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“Avoiding All Appearance of Evil” 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Kevin Schaal This verse is used commonly to provide a Biblical foundation for condemnation of people and deeds of all kinds. The idea is that this passage forbids not only doing those things that the Bible specifically condemns as sin, but also doing anything that looks like it might be sinful or associated with something…

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Straight Cuts: Just How Friendly Should We Be? (Proverbs 18:24)

Randy Jaeggli Perhaps you have had an experience like mine. I listened as the preacher announced his text and read Proverbs 18:24 from the Authorized Version: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” The ensuing message stressed the necessity of the believer…

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At a Glance: Pauline Paradigms for Prayer

Layton Talbert Prayer is a very personal spiritual exercise. Perhaps “exercise” sounds like something we do out of duty, whether we want to or not, because of perceived benefits. Prayer is conversation with God and, as such, is a vital dimension of our personal relationship to the Lord. Why, then, would the Bible record the…

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What Made Elijah Run: Fear or Frustration? (1 Kings 19:3)

Randy Fox When we look at the story of Elijah’s flight and subsequent prayer for death, we wonder at his sudden reversal from power and boldness to fear and panic. It is startling to think of someone so strong as Elijah frightened away by the threat of Jezebel. Some would translate 1 Kings 19:3, “he…

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Straight Cuts: Good Principle, Wrong Text

Layton Talbert “But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Job 23:10 has traditionally been used to express a Scriptural truth that has comforted and encouraged countless believers: God knows all we are going through and intends it only to strengthen and…

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