Category Archives: Uncategorized

Aug 15 2022

The Lord’s Prayer – Part 1 – Introduction: 'Monday Morning Musings - August 7, 2022'

 

The profound and provocative essence of this prayer is lost by the insipid familiarity in which it is so often encrusted. Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing some cultural background and translational nuggets regarding this familiar prayer. I hope to make it “pop” in ways that perhaps you may have never heard before. The essence of Jesus’s message and mission are contained in this brief but potent prayer.

 

Photo by Jamie Haughton on Unsplash

 

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Copyright 2022. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.

Jun 13 2022

I am the Bread of Life: 'Monday Morning Musing - June 6, 2022'

 

For the next few weeks we will be looking at the I Am statements of Jesus as an existential threat to the Jewish religious establishment. Their deep convictions regarding themselves, their calling as individuals and as a people, their function as priests and teachers, the Torah, the Temple and their national identity were all challenged by the I Am statements. The aggregated effect of them was instrumental in their desire, even need to have Jesus killed. According to their understanding of Torah, He deserved it. In this first episode we will briefly look at the “bread of life” claim Jesus made.

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Copyright 2022. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.

May 17 2022

Spirit, Soul and Body: ONE INTEGRATED Being: 'May 16, 2022'

In some Evangelical churches and in many Charismatic churches, Paul’s use of spirit, soul and body in 1 Thess. 5:23 is understood as a hierarchy of being and a hierarchy of value. This is essentially a Gnostic interpretation that seriously misunderstands Paul’s fluid and interchangeable use of those terms.

Photo by Nick Page on Unsplash

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Copyright 2022. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.

Feb 8 2022

Spiritual Abuse: Culture of Honor: 'Monday Morning Musing - January 31, 2022'

In some churches leadership talks about “creating a culture of honor.” How honor is defined, and how it is expressed, makes all the difference between an authority-intoxicated cult and something truly wonderful and beneficial to all.

 

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Copyright 2022. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.

Feb 8 2022

Spiritual Abuse: Inauthentic Identity: 'Monday Morning Musing - January 24, 2022'

 

 

I am of Apollos. I am of Peter. I am of Paul. All these are false identity statements. Who am I and where do I fit in/belong? are two questions common to humanity. Predatory spiritual abusers take advantage of this human desire. This is especially so in those who are young, still being developed in their psychology, or those who because of trauma and abandonment may struggle in this area.

 

Copyright 2022. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.

Dec 30 2021

Life in the New Covenant -Episode 5: 'Loving the Differing Other'

What we say we believe about Christ, the Gospel and the New Covenant, gets put to the test when we interact with those with whom we disagree. This includes within the Church in terms of unity and in our culture in terms of our politics and values.
Loren Rosser and I are pleased to release this final installment of our Telly Award-winning video series. Three of my most esteemed colleagues–John Armstrong, Vince Coakley and Lisa Koons– share about what it really means to love one another when we deeply and strongly disagree on important issues.
If our “love” only “works” in the insulated and isolated bubble of church-world, or among those who are just like ourselves, we do not know the love of God and therefore, according to First John, do not know God.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
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Copyright 2022. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.
Oct 24 2021

Glorious Reconciliation: 'Monday Morning Musings - October 26, 2021'

Jesus became the judge who was judged. Rather than meeting injustice with violence and retribution, He released forgiveness to his persecutors and His Father gave the Spirit of the Son as a gift! He makes enemies friends! The Gospel begins and ends with: “Peace, don’t be afraid.”

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Copyright 2021. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.

Oct 4 2021

Behold How They Love One Another: 'Monday Morning Musings - October 4, 2021'

There is more to “witnessing” than haranguing unbelievers with propositional truth from the Bible. Doing so is one of the least effective, and often most offensive, means of “sharing the gospel.”

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Copyright 2021. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.

Aug 9 2021

The Just Shall Live by Relational Trust: 'Monday Morning Musings August 9, 2021'

 

Faith is more than a private intellectual posture of assent toward biblical propositions of truth. Faith, defined as a first-century Jew would define it, is relational trust. It is social. By definition it speaks of relationship with another be they God or human beings.

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Copyright 2021. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.

 

 

 

Photo by Simon Moog on Unsplash

Jun 28 2021

Love’s Price Tag: 'Monday Morning Musings - June 28, 2021'

The rhetoric of love is cheap. The living of love is costly.

 

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Copyright 2021. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.