Jesus claimed He was the Son of God in many different ways, in both words and deeds in the gospels. He did so by fulfilling Old Testament scriptures, performing miracles and signs through His authoritative teaching, and outright saying that He was the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God.
First, ancient slavery was not yoked to racial hierarchy. Hagar was an Egyptian slave to Hebrews; Joseph was a Hebrew slave to Egyptians. Second, it was common for people to sell themselves into slavery, as it represented a form of employment and was preferable to destitution. Third, while many slaves in the ancient world undoubtedly suffered the kind of brutality and exploitation experienced by many enslaved Africans in America, advancement was also possible within the slave status and beyond—even to the point of becoming a senior civil servant.
Homosexuality and the Bible have been a controversial and somewhat complex topic in the recent past. The subject has split families, churches, and entire denominations. Yet, even though the topic in our modern context is difficult, it is addressed in the scriptures. In this message, we look at what they say and how they would instruct us in our thinking, actions, and interactions.
This is the message for Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021.
