THE CARBON COPY (Article) by Dr. Abidan Shah (Published in the newspaper Daily Dispatch, Henderson on December 29, 2022) “Clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the... Continue Reading →
The history of the world shows that in every generation there arises someone who wants to create a global government to gain ultimate power. It began first at the Tower of Babel when people rejected God’s command to “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” and decided to come together and build a city and “a tower whose top is in the heavens.” About this time, a man named Nimrod rose in power who was a hunter, not of animals but of men. Some early sources describe him as a dictator who tried to turn people away from God to follow him. God had to come down and scatter humanity so it would not be enslaved.
This weekend, we reach the end of our series “MAN OF PROMISE.” We have seen God’s faithfulness to Abraham and Sarah through his calling them, establishing his covenant, and promising a child. In this message, we will examine Abraham’s infamous test in offering Isaac as a sacrifice. There is a much deeper truth to this narrative than merely a test of obedience. Abraham is able to glimpse the redemptive plan of God and understand better his part in it. The title of this weekend’s message is “MAN OF PROMISE: CONCLUSION.”
This weekend, we are continuing to move through the lives of Abraham and Sarah. They have struggled to understand God’s promise and see the ways he has been working in their lives. God plainly reminds them both that the promise will result in a child, their child, that will usher in blessings for the entire world. Sarah laughs, first in disbelief and later in joy at the birth of her son, Isaac. The title of this weekend’s message is “MAN OF PROMISE: LAUGHTER.”
This weekend, we are focusing on Sarai giving her maidservant, Hagar, to Abram in a mistaken attempt to protect God’s promise. Sarai thought she was helping God but in reality, she had been deceived into thinking God’s plan was in jeopardy. The serpent was again attempting to thwart the arrival of the Man of Promise, but still, God made a way and protected his plan. The title of this weekend’s message is “MAN OF PROMISE: DECEIVED.”
This weekend, we will be looking at a very important interaction between God and Abram. Abram is discouraged and is having difficulty believing in God’s promise to give him a son. In a vision, God reminds Abram that not only will he have a son, but his descendants will outnumber the stars of the sky. Through his lineage, the world will be blessed. The title of this weekend’s message is “HEIR.”
As we dive further into the life of Abraham this weekend, we will learn about his encounter with a man named Melchizedek. In this brief encounter, the Bible describes Melchizedek as a priest of the Most High God. We will learn more about this mysterious man of God and how this encounter became a precursor for our celebration of communion. The title of this weekend’s message is “ORDINANCE.”
In this weekend’s message, we will look at Abraham and Sarah specifically. God’s hand was on them as they began their journey out of Ur. However, Abraham made a critical mistake in taking his wife right into the heart of the kingdom of the Serpent: Egypt. What did this mean for Abraham, Sarah, and God’s plan as a whole? The title of this weekend’s message is “KINGDOM.”
Abraham and Sarah are often depicted as this no-name family moving from Ur to God’s Promised Land. However, they were much more than just wanderers. Abraham, Sarah, and others around them knew something was going on, that God’s plan was in motion. They could see God blessing them and protecting them as they followed His plan in obedience and faith, ultimately leading to the birth of Jesus. The title of this weekend’s message is “MAN OF PROMISE.”
This weekend, we will continue our study of Babel and how it shaped our history. Different languages and people groups developed because of the people’s rebellion against God. It wasn’t just about the prideful building of a tower. It was important that the people scatter across the earth, and, in rebellion, they refused. What was important about that command to scatter and how does it impact us today? The title of this weekend’s message is “TYRANNY: PART 2.”
This weekend, we are turning our attention to the Tower of Babel. This is a very blatant example of disobedience to God’s command to fill the earth. Many of us are familiar with the story and with the consequences of the people’s actions. However, there is a much deeper theological truth to be learned from this account. The title of this weekend’s message is “TYRANNY: PART 1.”
This weekend marks the conclusion of this series on evangelism. We are called by God to be the light of the world. Light is integral in eliminating darkness and drawing attention to something. We are able to shine a light, but not because of anything within ourselves. The title of this weekend’s message is “LAMPSTAND.”
This weekend, we are continuing to examine the pictures for evangelism that Jesus gives his listeners. Jesus refers to himself as a shepherd and extends that metaphor to evangelism by talking about bringing sheep into the fold. What are we doing to reach the lost and bring them to our shepherd, Jesus Christ? The title of this weekend’s message is “SHEEPFOLD.”
This weekend, we are going to expand on this idea of sharing the gospel with others. The Bible compares the world around us to a field ready to harvest. How will the harvest be gathered? How do you know what to harvest? What is the point of the crops that are gathered? We will examine these questions as they relate to our mission as believers and as a church family. The title of this weekend’s message is “HARVEST.”
In this very special message this weekend, we will examine the culture of Clearview itself. This is more than just a service that we attend or a building where ministries meet. Clearview is a family that God brought into our lives. We all have a responsibility in the ministry and impact of our church in reaching people and creating a community here. The title of this weekend’s message is “MULTITUDE.”
This weekend, we will continue examining the original text of the Bible. Not only is the original text important, but it is also available to us through study and an understanding of textual criticism. Many people would have us believe that the original text is lost because we do not have the original documents. However, we will learn this weekend how to recover the original text and its impact on our understanding of the Bible. The title of this weekend’s message is “RELIABLE PART 2.”
This weekend, as we approach the conference, we will begin a short series examining the Bible itself. There are those that say the original text of Scripture is lost to us. Through translation over the years, we have moved away from the original Greek text. Not only is this false, but it is a harmful understanding of God’s Word. The title of this weekend’s message is “RELIABLE: PART 1.”
This weekend, we will continue talking about what we need in order to grow in our faith. Studying the Bible together is crucial for spiritual growth and fellowship. Our Wednesday night Bible studies are a great way to get plugged in at Clearview and to grow closer to God and others. The title of this weekend’s message is “PROGRESSION.”
This weekend, we come to part two of our series on “CONNECTION.” It is our responsibility to be discerning when it comes to the opinions and beliefs of those around us. It can be easy to be swept up into popular thinking, but we must remember that this church family is a blessing and not something to be taken for granted.
This weekend, I will begin a two-part series on the importance of being connected to our church family. This is more than simply attending service and listening to the message. This is serving in a ministry, attending Sunday School, and joining a small group. The title of this series is “CONNECTION.”