The Threads of History series by Deacon/Layleader Joshua Justice explains some of the most basic "habits" of the born-again, committed to Christ believer...

 

 Type and Shadow ~ The Rumblings of the Past, the Whispers of the Future, part 1 ~ Communion   Deacon/Lay Leader Joshua Justice  16  Nov 2014                       (Deacon Josh's teaching notes)

The Scripture is full of suggestions and shadows and clues and threads...a tapestry of colors and times and nations and people... all pointing to one unified story of the nature of God and of His love and mercy towards His creation and the people that follow Him.  In this, perhaps the first of a series, Deacon Josh explores the thread of mercy shown in every church via the sacred act of communion.  From Genesis to Revelation, the tapestry of the nature of God is shown through many similar and sacred acts.  The more we know of him, the more we will understand the rumbling of the past and discern the whispers of the future.      

 Type and Shadow ~ The Rumblings of the Past, the Whispers of the Future, part 2 ~ Baptism   Deacon/Lay Leader Joshua Justice   30 November 2014     (Deacon Josh's teaching notes)

The Scripture is full of suggestions and shadows and clues and threads...a tapestry of colors and times and nations and people... all pointing to one unified story of the nature of God and of His love and mercy towards His creation and the people that follow Him.  In this,  the second of the series, Deacon Josh explores the thread of mercy shown in every church via the sacred act of baptism. 

 

Type and Shadow ~ The Rumblings of the Past, the Whispers of the Future, part 3~ Tithes & Offerings   Deacon/Lay Leader Joshua Justice   17 December 2014

The Scripture is full of suggestions and shadows and clues and threads...a tapestry of colors and times and nations and people... all pointing to one unified story of the nature of God and of His love and mercy towards His creation and the people that follow Him.  In this,  the third of the series, Deacon Josh explores the history, role, laws regarding, and impact of, tithes and offerings.  He  challenges our responsibility to be willing to give, share, and do without the onus of force, and yet points out the commands and expectations of the Lord that we support those who work for Him.  Commands, expectations, support, voluntary and demanded by law, and each is a thread of history throughout both the Old and New Testament and each for which every believer is responsible to both understand and do.   study notes

 

Types and Shadow ~ the Rumblings of the Past, the Whispers of the future, part 4 ~ Why Sundays? And, What's With Sunday School???       Deacon/Lay Leader Joshua Justice  7 January 2015

 Ever wonder why Christians meet on Sunday?  Is there any smidgen of truth to this whole "Lord's Day" thing? and what does that mean anyway?  Oh, and what's up with Sunday School?  Where did that come from??  Deacon Josh uses his knowledge of history to give us a basic understanding of the truth and traditions of meeting on Sundays and on just how important God sees our "assembling of ourselves together".  Then he draws in the reason we also have lessons geared just for the true learners among us... are you one? 

 

Types and Shadow ~ the Rumblings of the Past, the Whispers of the future, part 5 ~ About Prayer...    Deacon/Lay Leader Joshua Justice          21 January 2015                (Deacon Josh's teaching notes)      

Prayer.  Just what is the right way to do this thing we call prayer?  Standing? Sitting? Kneeling?  Eyes closed? Hands folded? Hands lifted?  and just why do we do what we do when we do pray?? Deacon Josh explains some of the history of the art and positions of prayer, and then issues a challenge to realize when you pray to the God of the Universe, you should always remember you are in the audience of the King, and that should mightily affect that communication we call "prayer."     

 

Types and Shadow ~ the Rumblings of the Past, the Whispers of the future, part 6 ~ Fasting, Session One    Deacon/Lay Leader Joshua Justice          28 January 2015                        Deacon Josh's notes on both sessions

Deacon Joshua loves history, and especially loves sharing what he finds with others.  This first, of two parts, on fasting, can give a background to one of the most shared behaviours across religions.  For the Christian,  fasting is a powerful tool and a way to develop a depth and breadth of understanding and closeness to God.

 

Types and Shadow ~ the Rumblings of the Past, the Whispers of the future, part 6 ~ Fasting, Session Two    Deacon/Lay Leader Joshua Justice         4 February 2015

In Part 2, Deacon Josh picks up where he left off on the history of fasting throughout the years of the Christian church. He ends with an admonition to seriously consider this sanctioned-by-the-Lord activity, and to use it as the powerful tool it is for cleansing, focus, penitence, and personal development.

 

Types and Shadow ~ the Rumblings of the Past, the Whispers of the Future, part 7 ~ Ordination, Session One       Deacon/Lay Leader Joshua Justice  8 February 2015

Deacon Josh now tackles the practice of ordaining priests and preachers. It has a background in wanting to maintain the beliefs of the denomination, but is it actually Scriptural? And even more so, has the practice morphed into something that moves the emphasis away from each believer being accountable to the Lord as a "priest and king" by putting the emphasis on institutional training? Follow along, as Deacon Josh explores the history of church ordination.

 

Types and Shadow ~ the Rumblings of the Past, the Whispers of the Future, part 8 ~ Ordination, Session Two, and the series wrap up...    Deacon/Lay Leader Joshua Justice  25 February 2015

In this last of the series, "The Threads of History",  Deacon Josh concludes his two-part discussion on the practice of ordaining clergy, which was a construct that grew out of the church's need to set in place men or women documented by a group which would oversee their training.  That practice originated from a need to organize large groups, but was not in the original structure of the Christian church.  Deacon Josh draws the picture of a local pastor and a minister vs. someone who has had institutional training and is sent in to take the controls of a church.  As this series comes to a conclusion, final comments and thoughts are shared among the folks in the class which touch on the various subjects covered.  Threads of History~ a study in the origination of today's church traditions.