scharf

theology July 22, 2024

Signs of the Times: Part 3 – No Signs of the Rapture :: By Paul J. Scharf

In our culture, it’s become the proverbial fifth wheel of holidays. Really, we don’t even celebrate it anymore. It used to be that we would pause for much of the day—to feast, spend time with our families, and, yes, to watch football … but, most importantly, to worship and give thanks. But sadly, those days […]

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FEATURED, theology July 13, 2024

Two Years Later: Where Are We Now? Part 7 :: By Paul J. Scharf

Are you and your ministry prepared for the next crisis that will inevitably flow from these “perilous times” in which we live, “in the last days” (2 Tim. 3:1)? SermonAudio is preparing—which will allow all of its broadcasters to be better suited for the next cultural calamity, whatever that may be. The company is building […]

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theology July 8, 2024

Without Faith :: By Paul J. Scharf

During my time as a student at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary, I learned that there was an old youth pastor’s joke, built on a misuse of Heb. 11:6. The verse states: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently […]

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FEATURED, theology July 2, 2024

An Honest Evaluation of a Year :: By Paul J. Scharf

If I had it to do over again…. How many times have we thought that way? If you’re like me, probably more than you would like to count. If we had it to do over again—with an assurance that we’d do at least as well as we did—what efficient and artful users of time we […]

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theology June 23, 2024

Making Thanksgiving Real, Part 1:: By Paul J. Scharf

In these strange new “perilous times” (2 Tim. 3:1), it takes an awful lot to shock us. An unexpected trend has emerged, however, that is so unthinkably disturbing that we hate to even fathom it. It involves pushing a random stranger down onto subway tracks or even in front of an oncoming train. If more […]

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theology June 10, 2024

What Makes a Ministry Appealing? Part 2 :: By Paul J. Scharf

In the previous installment, I began building upon a statement by my professor of systematic theology at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Myron J. Houghton. Basing his thoughts on 2 Cor. 2:15-16, Dr. Houghton stated: “Your ministry is like a fragrance. It will attract some, and it will repel others.” We are considering here some […]

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theology April 21, 2024

Making Thanksgiving Real, Part 2 :: By Paul J. Scharf

In our quest to make Thanksgiving real, we left off by thinking about ways to ground our Thanksgiving in Scripture, following the example of the very Pilgrims who left this treasure as a heritage to our entire nation. The next challenge I would offer is to ground our Thanksgiving in history—primarily the history of these […]

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FEATURED, theology April 1, 2024

Some Thoughts on Easter Monday By Paul J. Scharf

Another Easter season has come and gone. It’s Easter Monday (yes, that’s really a thing) as I write this, and I thought it might be a good time to share a few thoughts about the meaning and significance of the season as I understand it. These ideas really crystallized in my mind as I was […]

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FEATURED, theology December 26, 2023

Little-Known Prophecies of Christmas, Pt 3: Genesis 17:19 :: By Paul J. Scharf

The Messiah was a descendant of Abraham. More than that, we considered last time how He was, in fact, promised within the covenant that God made with Abram (Gen. 12:1-3). According to the Apostle Paul in Gal. 3:16 and 19, He is the ultimate recipient of that covenant! Our Savior Jesus Christ is finally the […]

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FEATURED, theology December 26, 2023

Little-Known Prophecies of Christmas, Pt 2: Genesis 12:7 :: By Paul J. Scharf

Last time, we saw how the very first promise of the Messiah proclaimed Him to be the “Seed” of the woman (Gen. 3:15). But before we can go any further into understanding the characteristics of this coming Savior, we certainly must realize that He was also to be the “Seed” of “Abraham” (Gal. 3:16). During […]

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theology November 3, 2023

Daniel: Revealer of Secrets, Part 1 :: By Paul J. Scharf

I have a friend and counselor in ancient Babylon. I have turned to him countless times for wisdom, strength and direction. In fact, he has foreseen the future and has instructed me carefully regarding “days yet to come” (Dan. 10:14). I am always amazed at his dedication, courage, faithfulness and prayerfulness. What an example he […]

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theology August 6, 2023

‘Written for Our Learning’ :: By Paul J. Scharf

I wish I could say that I was one of those smart kids who always loved history. Yet, in one sense, I guess that I did—although perhaps without realizing it. I was always enthralled with old black-and-white television shows that whisked me to an earlier time that seemed both simpler and, yet, exhilarating. I found […]

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