Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Has this binding of Satan already taken place? If so, when did it take place and what does it mean that he has been bound in this way?

Poll Results

“Augustine’s statement is comparable to Lewis’ own signature declaration of faith: ‘I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else.’” - Ref21

“I recognize that the stated motive for the megachurch ministers will be evangelism, trying to make the unchurched think that by wearing cool clothing, they are creating the impression that Christianity is cool. But…” - Cranach

“The decline in church membership appears to be primarily a result of more Americans expressing no religious preference….Most of the rest of the drop can be attributed to a decline in formal church membership among Americans who do have a religious preference…. Those in older generations who were likely to be church members are being replaced in the U.S. adult population by younger people less likely to join institutions.” - TGC

“Though we don’t have a precise picture of what churches will look like two years from now, we are at least getting some early indicators as the congregations regather.” - Thom Rainer

“Tertullian, Roger Williams, and John MacArthur debate the perils of freedom.” - C.Today

Intelligent Design advocate Stephen Meyer on his new book: Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries That Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe. - WORLD

“Church members are in the minority for the first time in at least eight decades, with just 47 percent identifying with a congregation, Gallup said in a poll released [March 29]. The number was 70 percent in 1999.” - BPNews

“The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal in a lawsuit surrounding whether or not Kentucky’s attorney general can defend a law against dismemberment abortions that the state’s Democrat Gov. refused to defend.” - C.Post

“We can learn from how [Frederick] Douglass understood both his Christian faith and the abuses inflicted on enslaved people in the name of Christianity.” - TGC

“Brett McCracken has written a helpful, short book on managing our information-overload world. He rightly notes that though we live in a world of exponentially increasing knowledge, such knowledge has not done much to make us wise.” - DBTS

There are certain tasks I do not enjoy having to do on a regular basis. One that immediately comes to mind is garbage night. Every Tuesday night, the garbage cans and recyclables go out to the curb. Rain or shine, hot or cold, it still must be done. Even though I just did it seven days ago, they sit on the driveway waiting to be taken on their weekly walk. I stress this point in the hopes that you, the reader, will sympathize with me as you read my verse of lament and will join with me in singing the chorus of gripe: “O garbage night, O garbage night, I loathe you deeply, garbage night!”

“Eleven years later, an investigation by David and Nancy French plus a site for victims try to grasp the extent of predatory behavior by a longtime camp director.” - C.Today

Related, by David French: ‘They Aren’t Who You Think They Are’

“A three-judge federal appeals court panel has ruled in favor of an evangelical professor who was punished by Shawnee State University in Ohio for refusing to address a transgender student by the preferred pronoun.” - C.Post

“We love, not in a sentimental sense, but in the gutsy, costly sense, because He first loved us. We do not have the resources in ourselves to extend such selfless love. We are resourced by another, by Jesus Himself.” - Sauls

“Accusing his former religious group of fraud and “corporate greed,” a member of a prominent Mormon family now seeks the return of more than $5 million in tithes.” - C.Leaders

Pastors, Churchgoers Tired but Hopeful for Easter 2021

“…only 10 percent of British adults said their faith grew stronger as a result of the pandemic. In Japan, only 5 percent say religion came to play a stronger role in their lives…. Nearly three-in-ten Americans (28 percent) report stronger personal faith because of the pandemic” - The Hill

I first encountered T. Desmond Alexander at seminary, years ago, via his tome From Paradise to the Promised Land. It was then I first encountered the theory of “Eden as cosmic temple.” His work From Eden to the New Jerusalem features that same theme.

Jesus and The Apostles materially demonstrated all they taught. Should Preachers today be exempt from doing so as well?

Or, are today’s Professional Church Talkers accountable to a standard different than what they graciously promote into their laity? Recall how words and intentions are not material deeds. Formulate a useful response without first trying to establish some wordy and needless context.

Blessings.

Poll Results

Should Professional Church Talkers Personally Demonstrate Their Given Advice?

Gaining Relevance. Votes: 0
Authentic Leadership. Votes: 1

“There is no evidence that Bryan Loritts discouraged anyone from reporting sexual abuse when he was pastor at a Memphis church, according to an independent review launched by his current employer, The Summit Church.” - BPNews

“The truthfulness of the resurrection is not as controversial today as many Christians may assume. The bigger issue, however, may be helping Americans recognize the relevance of Jesus rising from the dead.” - LifeWay

“Karen Swallow Prior, a professor of English and Christianity and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary…wrote a passionate article in February explaining why she remains Southern Baptist. Yet she is among a number of SBC women publicly sharing their dismay about sex abuse and the vitriol directed at Moore.” - C.Leaders

“Any Christian book on this subject faces a challenge: it must deal with both timeless principles and contemporary applications—issues that transcend time and context and those that are inexorably bound to a particular time and a particular context. Money, Debt, and Finances strikes just the right balance.” - Challies

“Ronnie was instrumental in launching Radical Mentoring at Southeast Christian, and he’s co-mentored two groups with their Senior Pastor…. I asked Ronnie why he thinks it’s essential for Senior Pastors to mentor, and he shared the following six reasons” - Kevin Harris

“Read the article denying that the Aztecs committed human sacrifice, and then read the Wikipedia article that surveys the research. Then read the article about Tezcatlipoca. Doesn’t the denial article seem rather thin in its evidence (to put it kindly)?” - Veith

“In your counseling or supporting role, how do you offer help without becoming a part of the war or simply throwing up your hands in despair?” - The Exchange

“The broader faith-and-work movement has long stressed a believer’s royal role in the creation mandate (Gen. 1:28), bringing order and goodness to the world through work. Kaemingk (assistant professor of Christian ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary) and Willson (professor of missiology and missional ministry at Calvin Theological Seminary) build on this while also emphasizing the priestly function of believers.” - TGC

Nelson Knode was supposed to be teaching me trumpet. He did that, and he did it well. But Nelson did so much more than teach me trumpet. He was my undercover mentor.

My Undercover Mentor

“I want to walk with Jesus,” Nelson told the ten-year-old me, his blue eyes a bit overly intense. I never knew the professional trumpeter without snow-white hair. In my mind, wrinkles had always creased his face. And his mantra never changed, “I want to walk with Jesus.”

“…avoid the hot take. Christians especially should be slow to speak. People are complicated. Explanations that focus only on external factors of race, gender, ethnicity, or legal requirements may miss the motivations that animate individual human beings…. ‘out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.’” - WORLD