Personal Finance and the Christian Life (Book Outline)

PART 1: HOW TO FIGHT POVERTY

1. How to Break the Cycle of Poverty
2. Researching In-Demand Jobs

3. Networking: Talking About Jobs
4. Skills in the Workplace
5. Certified Financial Planners
6. Do Your Kids Need Bachelors Degrees?
7. Give to the Poor!

8. Teaching About Personal Finance
9. Avoid Debt At All Costs
10. FAFSA Grants and Scholarships

PART 2: THE BIBLE AND CAPITALISM

Capitalism is the opposite of Socialism and Communism; it is the opposite of government-controlled business. America is a Capitalist country; and the stock market is an utterly Capitalistic expression: massive investment in privately-owned corporations.

1. Work, Save, and Invest!
2. Deuteronomy 8: Biblical Capitalism
3. Proverbs 31: The Work-at-Home Mom
4. How to Be a Cautious Investor
5. Retirement Planning
6. Biblical Warnings About Wealth
7. Thank God and Kill Your Pride!
8. Be Fruitful and Multiply
9. Do You Need a Dream Home?
10. The Simple Life

PART 3: LAST THOUGHTS

1. Rebukes to the “Prosperity” Gospel
2. Broke?: Government Aid and Charities
3. The Husband-Wife Relationship
4. Parent-Child Relationships
5. Christian Friendships

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Further Reading

P. T. Bauer’s Dissent on Development.
David Chilton’s Productive Christians.
Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover.
David Bach’s The Automatic Millionaire.
Thomas Stanley and William Danko’s The Millionaire Next Door.
Gary North, William Diehl, Art Gish in Wealth and Poverty: Four Christian Views.
Gary North’s An Introduction to Christian Economics.
Craig Blomberg’s Neither Poverty nor Riches.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
John Taylor’s Enough is Enough. (simple life; limited consumerism; anti-materialism).

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Equipping and Training Prophetic Ministry – Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson was the main teacher of prophetic ministry at MorningStar Ministries with Rick Joyner. During this time, he published You May All Prophesy (1999):–a practical manual on how to develop the gift of prophecy and use it to encourage others in the local church. In this video, he is explaining that prophecy in the church is incomplete (this agrees with 1 Corinthians 13-14, where two or three are to judge prophecy; and that prophets see in part, and know in part):–he challenges the concept that some Christians have: that prophets have to be PERFECT or they should never share visions and voices in the church.

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The Word “Gospel”

Preacher PulpitI am really disgusted at this sappy “love” gospel being preached by pastors today. Not only do they preach it in almost all of their sermons, but they “live” it:–they “live” the “gospel.” Of course, the terminology of the word “gospel” is being totally misused by them, just as it was misused by heretics of the early church, Roman Catholic priests, antinomian Protestants, etc. It is not enough that these men say the word or use the word “gospel” or even the more eloquent phrase “the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” because even Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses use these phrases. I think Billy Graham and the ecumenical movement are largely to blame for all of this, but that would require a very in-depth study.

The correct use of the word “gospel” in the New Testament, if you read it closely: especially the Epistle to the Romans, is always understood as the message of God’s forgiveness offered freely to mankind, involving salvation from the eternal wrath of God in Hell, but conditioned on turning away from a sinful life (repentance: initial and evangelical/continual); and faith in the cross (penal substitution; or, substitutionary atonement): that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, bearing our sins in His body on the cross, as a sacrifice of atonement, by shedding His blood, and satisfying the wrath of God at our sins. The Christian life is a response to this amazing grace of God:–and results in progressive improvement and moral transformation through obedience to the moral laws of the Bible, and especially in the New Testament. In theological words: Repentance, Justification by Faith Alone, Regeneration, and Sanctification.

However, the evangelical and Pentecostal churches in America, and the world over, have entered a heretical and apostate phase in which the word “gospel” has been pretty much de-theologized, de-soteriologized, de-Helled, de-repentanced, de-crossed, and has now been redefined in almost universalist terms as the message of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness…with no moral strings attached. This message has been formulated by popular imagination rather than from Biblical revelation; by human visualization, and not from prophetic vision.

God have mercy on us! Send us pastors who preach the Romans Gospel!

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Scrooge (1970) – Cinema Center Films

In my opinion, this is the best movie version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

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Billy Graham: An Evangelical Universalist

Originally from here.

See also this link; and the reference in Iain Murray’s Evangelicalism Divided.

I have always sought to be charitable regarding those who preach in the name of Christ. This has been especially true in the case of Billy Graham. However in the last year I have seen and heard several things regarding his beliefs and ministry that have led me to withdraw any recommendation of his person and preaching. I regret my past positive statements regarding the man and his ministry. It saddens me, but I would have to now agree with [the] conclusions: He is either suffering from some sort of dementia or he has denied Christ as the only Way, Truth, and Life.                                                   –Paul Washer

The 39 Articles

XVIII. Of obtaining eternal Salvation only by the Name of Christ.

They also are to be had accursed that presume to say, That every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that Law, and the light of Nature. For Holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved.

Jesus answered, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”                                                                                                       –John 14:6

Jesus is “‘the Stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name under Heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”                                                                                                    –Acts 4:11-12

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Abstain From Sexual Immorality – Paul Washer

1 Thessalonians 4:1-3: “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.”

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Man of God

Man of God
In a world of evil;
Mental prayer all day long
Righteousness within.

A love for all mankind
Seeking justice;
And salvation from Hell
Ascending to Christ in Heaven.

Man of God
Now in hiding;
Suddenly to appear
Preaching the Gospel of Holiness.

Echoes of ear-itching Scriptures
He rightly divides the Word of Truth;
His voice declares wisdom–
Conscience boldly blasting forth.

Abiding in the presence of God
Demons plague his dreams;
Sometimes they win
But sometimes they lose.

He’s always fighting temptation
The ever persevering saint;
Not the last of his kind
The saints will be until the end.

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The Gift of Prophecy – Wayne Grudem

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A Simple Test For Truth – Vic Bilson

Originally from here.

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  –Jesus, John 14:6

There it is…Christ is the way and the truth and the life. When testing for truth, what does the teaching say about Christ? What does the teaching say about salvation? If it is anything that denies the saving power of Christ or that there is another way to the Father besides Christ, you can rest assured the teaching and any miracle, signs and wonders accompanying it is a DECEPTION.

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. –1 John 4:3

This doctrine is essential to the Christian system; and he who does not hold it cannot be regarded either as a Christian, or recognized as a Christian teacher. I believe the words of Christ in the Gospels are the primary source material for discerning truth. The teachings found in the “epistles” or “letters” written by Peter, Paul, James and other followers of Jesus along with the Revelation of Christ should not be seen as adding new truth, rather they are instructional material for applying what Christ taught in the Gospels. Not only do they NOT contradict John 14:6 but instead point us back to Christ as the truth and the life.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. –Colossians 2:8

love churchThe average American Christian defines God as Love, a word which is understood from a “feelings” humanistic and temporal viewpoint. This definition does not cause any problems to a sinful lifestyle, for the concept of tolerant love does not include the reality of a HOLY God, a JUST God, and a TRUE God.

The Love of God is also Just, which is not concerned with our comfort and feelings, but with what is Right. The Love of God is HOLY, which is destructive to sinful living and the carnal nature and is not tolerant toward rebellion and willful ignorance.

The question is, do you KNOW God in Christ Jesus…as He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures? Have you read His Book? Have you studied it? How can you be sure you know the real God in Christ Jesus if you have not studied what He has said about Himself?

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s Word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. —Hebrews 5:12-6:3

If what you believe to be true turned out not to be true, when would you like to know about it? When Christ appears with His angels to take His Church home, I pray that you know the Truth.

Because thou hast kept the Word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. –Revelation 3:10-11

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If We Hold On Together – Diana Ross

I was watching The Land Before Time (1988) with my daughter and I found this awesome song tagged onto the end.

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