Good morning on this extra warm 7th day of July. I have enjoyed talking to the college & career-age young people about a variety of topics during the last several weeks. They submitted a series of questions to me and I have been methodically answering them each Sunday in their class. We've discussed the Genesis account of creation vs. evolution based upon scientific fact and some of the latest research in biology and genetics; the age of the earth as represented by four prominent scholastic views as related to geology and quantum physics; denominations, how and why they developed and what their differences are; the ages of the patriarchs compared to life spans today and reasons for the differences; the Biblical explanation for some of the so-called missing link animal fossils; the Biblical explanation of dinosaurs; and the separation of fact from opinion and the laws of logic in relation to Biblical and secular interpretation. Tomorrow we will cover the principles of Biblical interpretation (hermeneutics or how to interpret the Bible correctly). I have been putting together an interpretative guide to use as a handout to go along with the lesson and have enjoyed the interaction with these fine young people who attend the class. Yet to be covered is an overview of the Biblical explanation of the hominids which are fossils which possess characteristics of both apes and men. This series of lessons came about because so many of our young people have had their faith challenged in secular university classrooms where skeptical professors attacked the Bible as being untrustworthy. I have said many times that believers need not fear such questions or attacks because the Bible will stand the test of scrutiny when all the facts are carefully examined. I'm grateful that through the years many Edgewood young people have been saved from the shipwreck of their faith by being provided expert Biblical and scholarly answers from many reliable sources to some of the secular world's greatest questions. Please pray for our young people as their faith is tested in the arena of the secular world that they will stand for Christ with boldness, knowledge and wisdom.
Tomorrow's sermon will focus on the exciting ministry of Philip in the book of Acts. I hope I'll be seeing you there.
Pastor Brown