by Bret Capranica | Sep 12, 2009 | Featured Articles, Prayer
Using the Word Where does the Bible fit into your concentrated time of prayer? For me it must be integral if my prayer life is to remain fresh. Connect the word to your prayer time. While my “quiet time” might appear to be segmented (if I listed what I do) into sections of Bible reading and then intercession, it really isn’t the case. My time in the Word (I currently use the Discipleship Journal plan, reading through 4 sections a day), is the platform for and springboard to all I pray about and for. I generally write down a verse or two into my journal from my reading, and spend a few minutes meditating and praying through it. I often write what I’m praying, which keeps me concrete in my thoughts (and often awake). I may glance over all the verses I have written down and think through how the totality of them tend to address my heart and life and write a response. This is usually a time for confession of sin and pleading for greater insight and application. When it comes to my times of intercession (which I will write about tomorrow), I generally have a few passages assigned to the topics I have arranged around my intercessions (again, more tomorrow). I will read one of these sections and use it as the basis for my time of intercession. D. A. Carson’s book on the prayers of Paul is a real help here and a huge stimulus in my thinking on prayer. Connect what you heard from sermons to your prayer time. I take my sermon notes in...
by Bret Capranica | Aug 18, 2009 | Biblical Studies, Eschatology, Featured Articles
In spite of the hermeneutical difficulties of the recent Obama-Antichrist video, I am still one who believes in a futuristic coming of a man who we could describe as “The Antichrist.” Perhaps in some circles, such a notion is worthy only of matching historical events with a 1st century villian. I still believe the world will see such a person. Let me also state before going any further. The issue of eschatology is not foundational to fellowship with me. In fact, someone could hold a very different view from mine and still be a member of our church, assuming they would be respectful of the position our leadership holds and not divisive. I have good friends (some of whom were in fact members of churches I have pastored) who think the Anti-Christ was a Roman General (Titus) or a Roman Emperor (Nero) of long ago. I disagree – and I still enjoy their company and fellowship over the gospel. Also I do not intend this blog to be a place that hounds others about their eschatological position. I’m currently preaching through a book of the Bible (Zephaniah) that I think has a lot to say in a futuristic way about eschatology, so I’m going to post a few of my own personal positions on the biblical issues surrounding the Antichrist and eschatology. If that doesn’t suit you or you are not interested in any more premillennial perspectives on what others have made millions of dollars fictionalizing, feel free to move along and read something more appealing. 2 Thessalonins 2:3-12 is perhaps one of the best descriptions of the Antichrist in Scripture. I...
