This is a synopsis of a chapter in the book, “Hurdling the Barriers” to church health and growth. I am making progress on the writing and hope to be done in a month. “But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.”Continue reading “The Barrier of Insufficient Leadership”
Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.
Removing the Callus (Romans 11:25-26)
“. . . that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved . . .” (Romans 11:25–26, KJV 1900) When I used to play guitar, one of the things that happened was the building of calluses on my left fingertips.Continue reading “Removing the Callus (Romans 11:25-26)”
Lesson from Horticulture (Rom 11:16-24)
“For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.” (Romans 11:24, ESV) I have read about the horticultural art of grafting. It is aContinue reading “Lesson from Horticulture (Rom 11:16-24)”
A Greater Day (Romans 11:11-12, 15)
“Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!” (Romans 11:12, ESV) Often, we have a bad day. In those bad days, we dream of better days ahead. This dreaming is a good thing. I think it helpsContinue reading “A Greater Day (Romans 11:11-12, 15)”
Beneficial Jealousy (Romans 11:11, 13-14)
“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. (Romans 11:11, KJV 1900). When I was a young boy, my dad took my brother and I surf fishing for striped-bass off the Jersey shore. ThatContinue reading “Beneficial Jealousy (Romans 11:11, 13-14)”
Compatibility (Romans 11:7-10)
“What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,” (Romans 11:7, ESV) I had mentioned earlier in Romans regarding the doctrines of sovereign grace, election and predestination that there are certain things that go beyond the ability of finite human intellect to reconcile. Here weContinue reading “Compatibility (Romans 11:7-10)”
Barrier of Lost Love for Others
It has been a while since I sent out a synopsis of some of the chapters in the book I am working on, “Hurdling the Barriers” to church health and growth. As i was going back to see where I left off, I realized that I had missed one of the most important barriers thatContinue reading “Barrier of Lost Love for Others”
The Elect Remnant (Romans 11:1-6)
“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:5–6,Continue reading “The Elect Remnant (Romans 11:1-6)”
Outstretched Arms (Romans 10:18-21)
“But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” (Romans 10:21, KJV 1900) Once I worked for a company in Zurich Switzerland. I set-up and ran their United States office for engineering and field service. A while later, the company decided to have aContinue reading “Outstretched Arms (Romans 10:18-21)”
Hearkening Versus Hearing (Romans 8:16-18)
“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias (Isaiah) saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:16–17, KJV 1900) I am sure many of us have had the experience where someone warned us about a problem, but we didContinue reading “Hearkening Versus Hearing (Romans 8:16-18)”
Renewing the Heart 