Bronx Bible Church » Blog http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com Understanding the spiritual side of life Sat, 24 Dec 2011 04:17:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Real Bronx Bible Church Choir http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/the-real-bronx-bible-church-choir/ http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/the-real-bronx-bible-church-choir/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:19:07 +0000 Gail http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/?p=555 Check out our newest video in our series of “The Real Bronx Bible Church Choir”. See what happens when our Pastor plays the race card in “Angie the Tyrant”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fATrrpmcj

]]> http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/the-real-bronx-bible-church-choir/feed/ 0 New Campus http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/new-campus/ http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/new-campus/#comments Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:49:49 +0000 Gail http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/?p=550 We are very excited about extending our ministry to the Bronxdale Community.  To celebrate this special occasion we are having a kick-off on  Saturday, September 17 from 6:00-9:00 pm in the gymnasium at the  Sotomayor Community Center at 1000 Rosedale Avenue in the Bronx.   This special night features live jazz music, choir performances, raffles, pizza, children’s activities, and a chance for the community to get to know us better.  All are welcome to the FREE event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are very thankful to the NYCHA for allowing us this opportunity.  We plan on continuing our tradition of community service in this new location.  Our services will be held every Sunday at 11:00 am.  We already have plans to conduct a support group for those who are recovering from all types of addictions, as well as a dance class.  We will still continue our services and community outreach at our Morrison Avenue Campus.

]]> http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/new-campus/feed/ 0 White Men Can’t Sway http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/white-men-cant-sway/ http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/white-men-cant-sway/#comments Fri, 14 Jan 2011 01:09:57 +0000 Gail http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/?p=523 VictoryI guess we could have called it “Do the Bunny Hop”  either way check out this Youtube video of our choir.  It’s hilarious!

White Men Can’t Sway

]]> http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/white-men-cant-sway/feed/ 0 The Master’s Hand http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/the-masters-hand/ http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/the-masters-hand/#comments Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:29:51 +0000 Pastor Joe http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/?p=456
When my wife was at Word of Life with the ladies she purchased a book for me by Jim George entitled Remarkable Prayers of the Bible.  He writes the following account on pages 77 and 78:
Hundreds of years ago, the leaders of Florence, Italy, commissioned a sculptor to create a magnificent work of art for their city square.  To ensure the beauty of the statue, they purchased the most expensive marble available.  Demanding privacy, the sculptor hammered and chiseled away.  Finally the day arrived for the unveiling.  The citizens were shocked and disgusted with the hideous creation.  The disappointing piece of marble was hauled off to the city dump, and the sculptor slipped out of town and was quickly forgotten.
Years later, another artist, young and unknown, came to Florence.  He was hired to work on the discarded stone.  After months of painstaking work, the resurrected piece of stone was again placed in the city square.  The unknown artist was Michelangelo, and the work of art that was re-created is his statue of the old Testament hero, David, considered to be one of the most exquisite and priceless figures in all the fields of sculpture and art.
In God’s eyes no one is too hopeless or messed up.   Never stop believing that God has the power to transform a life–any life!  Remember, it isn’t about what the marble looks like.  It is about who the Master is!
]]> http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/the-masters-hand/feed/ 0 Chillin with my peeps! http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/chillin-with-my-peeps/ http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/chillin-with-my-peeps/#comments Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:39:31 +0000 Pastor Joe http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/?p=407 I am currently reading C. S. Lewis’s book The Four Loves.  One of the loves he talks about is friendship love.  He writes,
“Friendship (as the ancients saw) can be a school of virtue; but also (as they did not see) a school of vice.  It is ambivalent.  It makes good men better and bad men worse.”
Had C. S. Lewis lived in the Bronx, he would have said:
Be careful who you hang with.  The right friends can raise you up.  The wrong friends can bring you down.
Let’s choose our friends carefully–especially our close friends.  We should also realize that it is entirely possible to have the right kind of friends who do not attend our church, and the wrong kind of friends who do attend our church!
Have a great week in the Lord.  And, as I always say, “STAY OUT OF TROUBLE!:
YFP
]]> http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/chillin-with-my-peeps/feed/ 0 False Teachers: The Defense http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-the-defense/ http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-the-defense/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:49:08 +0000 Gail http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/?p=343 It has been said that the best defense is a good offense and that definitely holds true when dealing with false teachers.  We need to be on the attack.  Jude lists all of the following as part of our battle plan:

  1. Build yourselves up:  This means we need to be ready to go into battle.  The best way to recognize error is to know truth.  Banks prepare their tellers to recognize counterfeit money by studying real money.  If we expect to hold our own against false teachers we better know God’s Word.
  2. Pray:  The real battle is spiritual.  We are going to need all the help we can get.
  3. Stay connected:  The best way to stay in God’s love is to surround ourselves with believers.  There is strength in numbers.
  4. Patience:  Sometimes the battle is very rough and it is easy to give up.  It can be very disheartening to see the devil win and souls lost.  But God will return one day and set everything straight.  We need to be patient and not give up.
  5. Show mercy:  It is an easy thing to be led astray by false teachers.  Sometimes all it takes is a little guidance, and a lot of love to bring someone into the light.  Many people respond well by emphasizing the positive.
  6. Snatch them from the fire:  Some are in so deep, that their clothes are on fire.  They need to be shaken up.  They need to see the danger, so they can turn around and flee.  Fear is the motivating factor.
  7. Hate sin:  It is important that we keep focus during the battle, and never let our guard down.  We can be defeated as easily as those we seek to rescue.
  8. Praise: There is healing, and strength, and encouragement in praise.  To God be the glory always and forever.
]]> http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-the-defense/feed/ 0 False Teachers: Their Tactics http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-their-tactics/ http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-their-tactics/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:47:18 +0000 Gail http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/?p=341 Other scriptures described False teachers as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” They would sneak into the fold, pretending to be one of us but having their own agenda – sowing discord.  They knew that the dissatisfied would be easier prey.  Jude describes them with these words:

  • Grumblers
  • Fault Finders
  • Boast
  • Flatter
  • Scoffers
  • Dividers
  • Followers of natural instincts
]]> http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-their-tactics/feed/ 0 False Teachers: Empty Promises http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-empty-promises/ http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-empty-promises/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:42:57 +0000 Gail http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/?p=338 In these verses Jude uses several graphic comparisons to emphasize the enticing allure, and often hidden deceit of false teachers who in the end can never truly deliver.

  1. Blemishes at your love feasts: Early Christians would often gather together for fellowship over food.  These feasts could become very hypocritical by showing bias to the rich.  False teachers would capitalize on this situation by sowing discord.  The word “blemishes” in the Greek actually means “hidden reef” A hidden reef was very dangerous to sailors and symbolizes deceit.
  2. Shepherds who feed themselves: A shepherd is expected to give priority to the safety and well being of the sheep.  But false teachers take advantage of their flock, and really only care for themselves.
  3. Clouds without rain: It must be very frustrating to a farmer who needs rain for his crops to get all excited about the promise of rain from a dark cloud that just passes on by.  This is a good description of the emptiness and disappointment that comes from following false teachers.
  4. Uprooted fruit trees: Again one would expect a fruit tree to yield tasty treats but an empty tree that is uprooted not only brings immediate disappointment but gives no hope of future fulfillment.
  5. Wild waves: Waves are strong, but uncontrollable and destructive.  Their power is wasted and brings no real benefit.
  6. Wandering stars: In the past sailors were able to find their way by using the unmoving positions of certain stars as a reference point. A wandering star is totally useless for this type of navigation.  A sailor who tried to use a wandering star would only end up lost.
]]> http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-empty-promises/feed/ 0 False Teachers: Their Motives http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-their-motives/ http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-their-motives/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:38:02 +0000 Gail http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/?p=334 Again Jude uses examples from the Old Testament, but this time to explain the motives of false teachers.

  • JEALOUSY:  Cain was so jealous of his brother that he ended up killing him.  Like Cain many cults and false teachers refuse to follow the truth, but they still desire attention and praise.  Often they will emphasize good works, or demand respect, or worship.
  • GREED:  Baalam knew that Israel was God’s chosen people and He desired to bless them.  Still he really wished that he could curse them so he could receive huge sums of money from their enemy.  This same type of greed motivates false teachers to exploit their followers.
  • REBELLION:  Korah rebelled against Moses caused he resented that God had put him in authority.  Many false teachers are motivated by nothing more than pure rebellion against the truth.
]]> http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-their-motives/feed/ 1 False Teachers: Their Fate http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-their-fate/ http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/blog/false-teachers-their-fate/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:26:58 +0000 Gail http://www.bronxbiblechurch.com/?p=331 Anyone who follows false teachers will also share in their fate.  When describing their judgment Jude lists three examples from the Old Testament.

  1. DESTRUCTION for unbelievers:  Not all of the Israelites who escaped from slavery in Egypt were true believers.  Many were faithless, rebellious complaining idolaters. They faced judgment through fire, plagues, and wandering in the desert.
  2. IMPRISONMENT for disobedience:  God has imprisoned angels in everlasting darkness for their disobedience during the days of Noah.
  3. ETERNAL FIRE for immorality:  Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone for the sin of homosexuality.

All of these judgments describe HELL itself.  That is the fate of false teachers and anyone who follows them.  This is a very stern warning from God.  This is serious business, and not to be taken lightly.

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