Christoa Ministries, Inc.

Christoa Ministries, Inc. Planting church-planting churches that do much more.

It was a pleasure preaching yesterday morning at GABC.
10/14/2024

It was a pleasure preaching yesterday morning at GABC.

James 2:26 Recorded at Green Acres Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GAOctober 13, 2024 Sunday Morning Worship service message from Andrew Cannonwww.greenacr...

Every Christian without exception on this earth has some sinful desires. It is when we try to serve two masters, though,...
10/10/2024

Every Christian without exception on this earth has some sinful desires. It is when we try to serve two masters, though, that we will come to love one and hate the other.

Is a gay Christian a contradiction? Yes, but not for the reason you might think. I recently saw someone post this graphic on social media and want to examine the claim it makes. I am a Christian. I…

I don't think good relationships begin with finding common ground. I think they begin with humility.
06/20/2024

I don't think good relationships begin with finding common ground. I think they begin with humility.

Today, I begin a new series about different types of relationships as they are described in the Bible. Truthfully, the entire Bible is about relationships. I have chosen to look at Proverbs 27 to s…

In these notes, I first show the point of John 3:1-2 by offering a biblical apologetic for Jesus as having the authority...
01/18/2024

In these notes, I first show the point of John 3:1-2 by offering a biblical apologetic for Jesus as having the authority of a prophet to reveal new revelation. Then, I explore the theological environment of First Century Judea to provide historical context for Jesus's conversation with Nicodemus. It is no surprise that a large part of the debate among Jews was the degree or mode of human free will and God's sovereignty. While the Sadducees (akin to Arminians or Fundamental Baptists), who believed righteousness depended on the ability of people to keep the Law, both Pharisees and Essenes believed that God was entirely sovereign in salvation. They believed differently about the way God's sovereignty and human will related. Pharisees believed more like Southern Baptists and classical calvinists--that God regenerates the heart of people who are condemned because of their own sin, thus bringing people to desire and choose him. Essenes believed more like neo or hyper calvinists--that from the foundation of the world God has chosen some for salvation and some for condemnation in like manner. Jesus blatantly affirms the soteriology of the Pharisees but does not argue against the soteriology of the Essenes. Instead, he also calls the Essenes righteous. Though they disagree on the particulars, they agree that God is the one who must save. Jesus spends John 3 informing the Pharisee doctrine of personal salvation.

In these notes, I first show the point of John 3:1-2 by offering a biblical apologetic for Jesus as having the authority of a prophet to reveal new revelation. Then, I explore the theological environment of First Century Judea in order to provide historical context for Jesus's conversation with Nico...

I want to take this semester and approach soteriology from a different angle. We always start with systematic theology o...
01/16/2024

I want to take this semester and approach soteriology from a different angle. We always start with systematic theology or a particular confession of faith. I want to take a biblical theological approach as a foundation for systematic theology. I am starting with an exposition of John 3. In each following post, I will explore biblical theology through the lense of John 3. I want to invite you to join me.

From the debates between Paul and the Gnostics through the ancient dialogue between Augustine and Pelagius to the exchanges between Luther and Erasmus or Calvin’s disciples and those of Arminius to…

I finally had the desire and opportunity to publish my next book, "Slain in the Spirit."
11/28/2023

I finally had the desire and opportunity to publish my next book, "Slain in the Spirit."

Hurt is hard. I realized in the last month that it has been more than a year since I have done any serious writing. I had given up on ministry and started my own business because, frankly, I was do…

Many of our "spiritual gifts" aren't going to seem that spiritual from a worldly perspective. Consider, for instance, wh...
11/27/2023

Many of our "spiritual gifts" aren't going to seem that spiritual from a worldly perspective. Consider, for instance, when God told Moses that He was gifting certain individuals by the power of His Spirit to be great craftsmen. If you wonder what your spiritual gifts are, find what you love to do and are good at. Do it well. Treat others fairly. Do it to the glory of God.

After God instructed Israel to craft all of the specialty, custom items for the tent of meeting, He reveals that He has gifted certain individuals by His Spirit for the purpose of crafting these pi…

I really don't like putting things in terms of "free will" because, theologically, it means something different than wha...
10/30/2023

I really don't like putting things in terms of "free will" because, theologically, it means something different than what people mean in everyday conversation. Using "free will" to frame the idea that people are either incapacitated by their sinful nature or not affected by their sinful nature causes much misunderstanding and too much unnecessary conflict, but it is the framework that has been used for the last 500 or so years. I believe that people can make decisions and follow through with those decisions. I do not believe that any part of the human person is unaffected by his or her sin nature. We are completely fallen and dead in sin. We are in need of a savior.

I am looking at the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism because I have been asked to. From the outset, I want to remind my brothers and sisters in Christ that it is important for us to re…

I spent too much of my Christian life forcing debates that were not necessary or critiquing others by semantic evaluatio...
10/03/2023

I spent too much of my Christian life forcing debates that were not necessary or critiquing others by semantic evaluation rather than trying to understand their intent. I have been asked to do a piece on Calvinism. Before I address the topic, I want to address the heart. There is only one source of conflicts and quarrels in the world, and that is our pride. When we cause division in the body of Christ, it is by our sinful pride. By pride we refuse to understand what others mean. By pride, we set out to prove others wrong categorically. I know because I am a man who has been so full of theological pride in my life. I think it's time we move past such pride; that's how we grow up into mature Christians–not by using the correct theological terms or forwarding semantic arguments.

What is Calvinism, and why should we be worried?  I want to take a few weeks and talk about the doctrines of grace because I have been asked to. I very often hear people looking for ways to di…

So was Jesus.
08/22/2023

So was Jesus.

Betrayal comes in many forms on this earth. Betrayal can come even from people with good intentions. You’ve heard the old adage, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” Betrayal hurts. Pe…

As pastors, it is important for us to realize that pastoring should not be our primary passion. God does not need us to ...
08/14/2023

As pastors, it is important for us to realize that pastoring should not be our primary passion. God does not need us to build His kingdom. He does invite us to rest in Him. It's not about "success." Our motivation is not to get done what needs to be done. Instead, like Paul, we exult in the congregation of God. Remember the source of our joy as pastors.

I have been in full-time ministry for 13 years. Before I started my ministry career (for lack of a better term), I had one instructor notice my goal-oriented zeal and offer a book from his personal…

When I am building something, I want it to keep getting better. I want it to look good. I want it to serve its purpose. ...
06/20/2023

When I am building something, I want it to keep getting better. I want it to look good. I want it to serve its purpose. My intentions are never to build something I would ever want to destroy. How much more must this be true for God and His workmanship? His intentions are good. His promises are good.

In Ephesians 1, Paul writes about the unconditional love of God in Christ. He makes immediate application to himself, saying that he thanks God for the saints because God has unconditionally chosen…

Address

Pearce, AZ

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Christoa Ministries, Inc. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category