The Open Word

One of the common arguments for an old-earth view is radioactive dating techniques. In this session we look at the top three: Uranium-Lead, Potassium-Argon, and Carbon-14. We examine the presuppositions of each of the models to show their respective weaknesses, and make the case that they are not reliable indicators of age.

For those who hold to a creationist viewpoint, one of the arguments is whether the earth is as old as evolutionary models believe, or if the earth is only about 6,000 years old, as a clear reading of the Bible would indicate. In this session we look at this debate to make the case that the biblical record of 6,000 years is congruent with the teachings of Scripture. 

In the second session on the book of Genesis we explore various theories on the origin of the universe, including the Big Bang, Steady State, and Supernaturalistic views.

We begin a new series looking at the book of Genesis. In this session, we introduce the book, explore its background and importance in the canon of Scripture, and take a quick tour through it topics.

Paul finishes his conclusion to the book of Romans with some final exhortations regarding false teachers and those who cause division, followed by some final greetings to individual believers in Rome.

Paul continues his lengthy conclusion in Romans 16:1–16 by naming many of the people with whom he ministered and asks for greetings to be sent to them. Of note is Phoebe, whom Paul describes as a servant of the church in Cenchrea, the sister city of Corinth and the location that many think Paul wrote the letter of Romans from. Two other co-workers are noted, Priscilla and Aquila, who were fellow tent-makers and companions of Paul in Corinth.

Paul ends his letter to the Romans with an extended discussion of his plans to visit Rome along with personal greetings and a final exhortation. In this section of Scripture, he focuses on the first theme, that of his desire to visit Rome after taking aid to the saints in Jerusalem as the result of a famine in the late 50's AD (see 2 Corinthians regarding the collection he took for this relief effort). He then relates his desire to pass through Rome on his way to Spain, and closes with a request for prayer to be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea.

Paul continues his defense of his ministry to the Gentiles, proclaiming that he had faithfully carried out God's commission to him as the Apostle to the Gentiles, of which the church in Rome was a recipient.

In this short section of Romans, Paul speaks of his ministry to the Gentiles by quoting several passages in the Old Testament that speaks of God's blessings being poured out on Gentiles, not just the Jewish nation. The Jewish nation had assumed, wrongly, that they were the only recipients of God's blessings, however, God had never intended His blessings to end with Israel, but to encompass all people.

Paul encourages those who are strong in the faith to bear with the failings of the weak, not too see them as a burden. Christ did not come to please Himself, but to minister to others, and in the same way those who are strong believers are to help those weaker or more immature in their faith as an act of love to them so that together both the strong and weak may glorify God.