Joseph Mattera

Latest

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  Jun 2, 2022

  7 ways true shepherds protect the flock

  Consequently, the context indicates that true shepherds should protect the flock from the misleading influence of both false shepherds and prophets.

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  May 24, 2022

  Racism, abortion and the implications of the sanctity of human life

  I believe that the current conversations regarding mass shootings, sexual harassment, sex trafficking, and slave labor should also lead us to dig down further and reexamine the abortion debate. All these issues are inexplicably connected through the implications of the imago Dei which should frame our view of the sanctity of human life, both pre-birth and post-birth.

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  May 15, 2022

  13 things the Church can learn from the LGBT community

  Whether you agree with their lifestyle, you have to respect how LGBTQ activists have fundamentally transformed American society in one generation. Inversely, during this same time, Bible-believing Christians and their values went from being in the mainstream of society to a shunned minority.

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  May 9, 2022

  Why abortion is a Gospel issue

  I contend that we cannot separate abortion and the pro-life position from the Gospel. God made humans in His image and likeness, and Jesus’ innocent blood was shed to redeem believers (Genesis 1:28). Therefore, the shedding of innocent human blood is an affront to God because His Son’s precious blood was spilled to save the life of fallen humanity.

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  May 7, 2022

  10 things many institutional churches miss

  The following are my general observations to aid the Church in its quest to restore New Testament patterns.

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  Apr 22, 2022

  7 biblical models of Kingdom advancement in adversity

  Noah spent decades building an ark after God warned him concerning events that were not yet possible in his contemporary ecosystem (a deluge of rain causing a universal flood). Consequently, he became a social outcast while constructing a boat to save his household (Hebrews 11:7).

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  Apr 16, 2022

  10 reasons why socialism, Marxism are antithetical to biblical Christianity

  The following are ten reasons why socialism is antithetical to the tenets of biblical Christianity.

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  Apr 11, 2022

  8 lessons learned from the Hillsong scandal

  Many of the Hillsong churches, including NYC, were built upon the mega personalities of their lead pastor. Whenever a church is built upon one person’s charisma and influence, it becomes dangerous because its foundation dissipates if that pastor resigns.

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  Apr 3, 2022

  4 biblical and unbiblical forms of Christian nationalism

  Christian nationalism is biblical if it is based upon influencing one's nation through bottom-up community service, advanced problem solving, along with Gospel permeation that then results in the exaltation of Christ in every sphere of society.

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  Mar 27, 2022

  8 keys to having a global hermeneutic

  Too often, many Americans read the Bible through the lens of American culture. This negatively affects the proper interpretation of Scripture, drowning out the voice of the original meaning of Scripture.