Daily Mana
By Chad Daugherty
Philosophy and religion have a long and intertwined history. From the ancient Greeks to the present day, philosophers and theologians have been engaging in a dialogue about the nature of reality, the meaning of life, and the relationship between humanity and the divine.
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by Chad Daugherty
After the ascension of Jesus Christ, the early church began to thrive and many were coming to faith in Jesus (Acts 2:47). Things began to change after the death of Alexander the Great. His death ushered in the Hellenistic period in which Greek culture and beliefs began to influence the church.
False teaching began to arise about the divinity of Christ and His two natures (Divine and Human). Several councils, such as the Council of Nicaea, the Council of Constantinople, and the Council of Chalcedon, were held to clarify the church’s stance on these issues. The creeds passed in these councils helped establish doctrine on Christ’s divinity and two natures. However, the Hellenistic influence had already taken root.
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by Chad Daugherty
Wisdom literature in the Bible has provided guidance, encouragement, and moral and ethical lessons for many generations. Proverbs is one book that stands out in the collection of wisdom literature. For more than 3,000 years, humankind has looked to the wisest man who ever lived, Israel’s King Solomon, and his life-changing words of wisdom contained in the book of Proverbs. The word “Proverbs” comes from the Hebrew word “Mahal,” which means to compare or be like. Scott Ellington tells us:
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By Chad Daugherty
The Bible is the most amazing book ever written! Although many sources have tried to destroy it, it is the only book that has survived the ages. It is a collection of poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, letters, songs, proverbs, and parables. It is a light that has guided humanity through history, and nations have been rooted in its truth. The Bible is a book that continues to be a source of God’s voice to humankind today. The issue is that many claim to hear different voices when they read the Bible. Therefore, what one person believes a scripture means may be vastly different from what another person thinks it means. Why is this the case, and how can we resolve the differences and come to the truth God intended?
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By Chad Daugherty
While there are many interesting people mentioned in the Bible, there are also some who are somewhat mysterious. One of those people is Melchizedek. He is first mentioned in Genesis 14:18 where he is described as “King” and “Priest of The Most High God.” He has an interaction with Abraham who is returning from victory in battle over Kedorlaomer and other kings who had aligned with him. Scripture tells us that Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had, then Melchizedek fades from the scripture not to be seen again until the New Testament.
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By Chad Daugherty
In the book of Matthew Jesus Christ gave His followers a command known as, “The Great Commission” (Matt. 28:18-20). This command instructs everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior to share the gospel message of Christ with the lost and to disciple them. This command challenges many Christians because they feel uncomfortable approaching strangers or even people they know to start a conversation about God. Many are afraid that if they present the message of Christ to someone, they may be confronted with anger or possibly lose a friend. Therefore, many Christians never lead people to Christ for salvation.
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By Chad Daugherty
The prophet Joel spoke about the power of God in believer’s lives in the last days:
28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men, and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. (Joel 2:28–29)
God gave this prophetic word because He knows that our spiritual battle against Satan is real. The only way we can have victory is through Jesus Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We see God’s power through the Holy Spirit at work through the disciples. As the disciples preached the gospel message of Jesus Christ, we read in scripture where they healed the sick (Acts 19:11-12), healed the lame (Acts 3:6-8), cast out demons (Acts 10:17), and even raised the dead (Acts 9:32-43). Many question whether God’s power through the Holy Spirit is still available to believers today. However, Joel’s prophecy makes clear that it is. Even the Apostle Peter confirmed it on the day of Pentecost:
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By Chad Daugherty
Many people dismiss the Bible as an unreliable history book at best. They say the interpretation of the scriptures throughout the years have corrupted in the interpretation process and therefore they cannot be relied upon. Some say the Bible is made up of stories by ancient mankind who needed something to believe in and to worship because true enlightenment had not yet come. There are many other arguments given as well. These arguments can be addressed by answering two questions: Are the Bible documents reliable? Can scripture be verified? In this article I will address these two questions and investigate the overwhelming evidence that proves the Bible to be the accurate and inspired word of God to mankind.
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By Chad Daugherty
For many people Islam and conversion from Islam is a mystery. An opinion held by many is that getting a Muslim to turn away from Islam and convert to Christianity is almost impossible, so why even try? The truth is Muslims are like everyone else. They are lost and need Jesus in their life. Muslims are very open to receiving Jesus as their savior, but it all depends on understanding their beliefs and culture. You can reach Muslims for Christ when you take time to prepare. I am going to cover three areas where Muslims face social pressures if they convert from Islam to Christianity. Understanding these challenges will take some of the mystery out of Islam and help you take the next step to better understand their culture so you can evangelize Muslims with more confidence.
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By Chad Daugherty
Other than Jesus’s death and resurrection, the Jewish people and nation are the most important aspect of history. Jesus Himself said, “salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). God chose the Jewish people to bring redemption to the world through His son Jesus Christ, and yet the Jewish religious system is misunderstood by most people. What is the difference between the temple and the synagogue? What is the difference between the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the scribes? Let us look at these questions.
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Calvary's Light 