The Jewish crowd buzzes, a hornet’s nest of heated discussion. Some of the men, visibly upset after the debate, can’t seem to beat the visiting Alexandrian’s arguments proving Jesus is the Christ. One man stands off to the side, stroking his beard thoughtfully. He heard the Alexandrian teach from the Scriptures before, when he took a trip to Ephesus a few months ago. Apollos’ words flowed with compelling eloquence even then. But something is different today. A new authority rings in Apollos’ tone. Somehow, he’s gained greater understanding about this Jesus, tying in elements he Continue Reading
How to be Discerning About People Who Say They are Prophets
Some time ago, I was given a suggestion to check out a certain minister with a large social media audience who regularly posts prophetic messages online. The person ardently following this (self-proclaimed) prophet considers him a major source of spiritual input for personal growth. I clicked on a couple of links and quickly decided not to trust this "prophet" for any kind of spiritual guidance. These days, anyone with a bit of Bible knowledge and familiarity with prophetic terminology can build a platform and attract followers. It’s pretty simple to convince lots of folks you Continue Reading
Why Prophetic Words Must Pass the Test of Evaluation
I struggled off and on with bouts of depression as a young woman, so when the blues hit me three months after Scott and I got married, it wasn’t a new experience. I decided to ask for prayer at church. We had recently joined a small start-up fellowship which numbered perhaps twenty and met in a tiny, rented building. Most of us were in our twenties or thirties. What we lacked in wisdom and experience, we made up for with zeal. When I asked for prayer about my depression, more than one individual chimed in with a prophetic word. I was told the depression happened because I was Continue Reading
What Phoebe’s Story Tells Us about How Paul Saw Women
Rolling the scroll back together carefully, the woman tucks it into a smooth leather satchel. She wriggles into her sandals and secures them, slips the satchel over her head onto her shoulder, and grabs her favorite traveling cloak. As a businesswoman, this is not the first time she’s made the trip from Cenchreae to Rome, nor will it be the last. But this trip is special. At the door, she takes a deep breath and pauses for a moment, her hand on the satchel. A smile plays across her lips. She’s tasked with carrying her dear friend Paul’s letter to the believers who gather in Rome. Continue Reading