The question is about the epistle you yourself favor. This is not about which epistle you think is most important. Many of us would probably say Romans on that score. This is about which is your PERSONAL favorite, the one you enjoy most or the one that speaks to you most.

Some of you may consider Hebrews to have been written by Paul, but our assumption is that it is not. I don’t want to create a dilemma for someone whose favorite epistle is Hebrews but yet does not believe Paul wrote it!

Prophecy. What is it? Is it preaching? Talking about how bad everything is and how angry God is because of it? Receiving and inspired message from God? Perhaps receiving an inspired message from God in raw-thought form (Grudem/D.A. Carson)? Being more sensitive to the Spirit’s leading than perhaps many other believers? Being able to predict the future.

There are several considerations, and we are here speaking about genuine prophecy (if it exists today), not Satanic, frenzy-induced, etc.

Our church has never had a sunrise service, and I don’t think I have ever wanted one. We have an early 8:30 service every Sunday. Many churches do have them. What are the pros and cons? How strong are those pros and cons? Any discussion appreciated.

Poll Results

Does your church have a Sunrise service for Resurrection Sunday (Easter)?

The idea for this survey came to me after seeing a “Filings” article about the Catholic church seeing a rise in requests for exorcisms.

I have been involved in a handful of situations involving ghosts or voices, although I have never felt a need to perform an out-and-out exorcism. I have seen, on one occasion, occult phenomenon.

About a year ago, at age 60, I began playing an instrument. The instrument I chose to play is the concertina. I chose this for a host of reasons — it is light (unlike an accordion), relatively easy to learn, and I like the sound. I like a bellows instrument, and if I were younger, I would have probably taken up the accordion or bandoneon.

Decades ago I tried to play the harmonica, but “I could not control my tongue.” You heard it here first. So I gave up.

The other day on Moody Radio, they advertised a Moody Publishers book about why it is a good thing to celebrate Lent. I was disappointed.

Most of us don’t run around with meters, so we are in the realm of guesswork when it comes to our viewing habits.

According to the New York Times, the average American watches more than 5 hours of TV per day!

Whether we watch on a television, computer, or cell phone doesn’t matter in this survey. They all count.

Let me preclude the most obvious comment we might hear: “It doesn’t really matter what day of the year Jesus was born.” Okay, that is a given, at least theologically.

Yet the idea that Jesus’ birth is celebrated on December 25 to replace Saturnalia does, in some regards, cast dispersion on the church of that era. We certainly know paganism had its inroads, but we want to be fair in our assessments. So it has some bearing historically.

Joel Olsteen. Name it and claim it. The prosperity Gospel is popular on television and building mega-churches.

In your observation, how prevalent is it? How far has the infection spread? Have you heard it preached in unexpected environments?

Your comments about its spread, what the future holds, and how it insidiously creeps in to even good churches is appreciated.

Ideas on combating it also appreciated.

Poll Results

Where do we find the prosperity Gospel?

I once heard a criticism from a godly older man. He said he heard a sermon at a certain church (which was Bible-believing), and never once in the sermon did the preacher ever mention the name Jesus.

Some today believe the Gospel — some mention of the atoning work of Christ at bare minimum — should be part of every sermon.

There is a difference between saying that a good sermon must always mention the Gospel and that good preaching often includes the Gospel.