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'THillRSIDAY jJLYa,
4B
RELIGION
Life IB
Gifts of the
Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 12
Paiol begins 1 Corinthians
12 with the words, “Now con-
cemii^ spiritual gifts.” This
tells us that he is about to
address another question
that was put to him’ in a letter
that the Corinthian churdi
sent him (see 7; 1, 25; and 8:1).
We have left the idea of run
ning the Christian race to
win, and are looking at the
spiritual gifts that are given
to each Christian by God.
Because all Christians a^-e
runners in this race and do
not stop running xmtil the
race is finished, we were
equipped by God with certain
gifts that will be of benefit to
us and to others over the
course of the race. As today's
.lesson indicates, God’s gifts
ai'e given to us to be used to
His ^ory and for the edifica-
tion-or lifting up, or strepgth-
ening-of His people.
QUESTIONS
L The Need for the Gifts-1
Corinthians 12:1-3.
1. What divine influence
causes someone to confess
Christ?
The Holy Spirit is the One
who convicts an unbeliever to
confess his sin. And it is
through Christians witness
ing to these unbehevers that
this conviction is given its
start. John 16:8 says, ‘When
He (the Helper or Holy Spirit)
has come, He will convict the
world of sin, and of righteous
ness, and of judgment”
(NKJV). The Holy Spirit
demonstrates the truth of
Jesus Christ beyond fear of
contradiction.
n. The Sotirce of the Gifts-1
Corinthians 12:4-6.
2. Where do we see the Trin
ity in this passage?
Paul mentions each of the
Godhead in these verses. In
verse four he says that while
the spiritual gifts vary the
(Holy) Spirit is the same. In
va:^ five he says that there
are different ministries in the
worldly of the gifts, but the
same Lord (Jesus Christ).
And in verse six, Paul says
that even though there is
diversity in the uses of the
spiritual gifts, it is through
God’s power that unification
comes through all gifts to His
people.
ni. The Diversity of the
Gifts-1 Corinthians 12:7-10.
3. What were the gifts of
wisdom and knowledge?
The gift of (the word of)
knowledge appears to refer to
one’s abflity to teach doctrine;
whereas the gift of (the word
of) wisdom refers to one’s abil
ity to practically apply this
knowledge.
4. What kinds of healings
are recorded in the New Tfes-
tament?
Many kinds of healings are
foimd in the New Tfestament.
The ministries of both Christ
(see Matt. 4:23) and His apos
tles were characterized by
healing the sick. Just to
name a few: Acts 3:7 tdls of
the lame man whose “ankle
bones received strength;”
Acts 5:15 tells of how the peo-
Answers
on the
down
low
Charlotte pastor
authors book on
gays, black church
By Chens F. Hodges
cheris.hodges@ltiecharlotteposf.com
A Charlotte minister offers a black
church response to the “down low”
epidemic in a new book.
The Afiican American church has
historically bear silent on the issue
of gays in the church, but Universi
ty City Church Pastor Michael A.
Stevens Sr, author of “Straight Up,”
is speaking up about down low liv
ing. Not just critiedz-
it^ the m^ who par
ticipate in the
hfestjie but offering
spiritual healing
solutions.
“I was prompted
out of a desire and a
burden to address an
epidemic in the
Stevens
Afiican American community, par
ticularly that hadn’t been addressed
by the church,” said Stevens.
Seventy percent of new HIV cases
in the U.S. are Afiican American
women, Stevens said he learned
doing research for the book. More
than half of them are black, accord
ing to the federal Centers for Dis
ease Control and Prevention.
“Straight Up” is an answer to
author J.L. King’s “On the Down
Low,” which Stevens said used the
black church as a punching bag.
“He used the church as such a
backdrop that I felt we had to punch
back,” Stevens said.
Though the topic of his book is
controversial, Stevens said it is writ
ten in a lovii^ way and not conde
scendingly
The book exposes the sins of the
hfestjie and offers help to those who
want out.
Blacks have lor^ bear at odds
whether gay rights is equivalent to
civil rights of minorities. According
to Baptist Press.org., at the 2004
National Afiican American Fellow
ship meeting in Indianapolis, Cali
fornia pastor E.W, McCall said, ‘I
am intensely offended. Tb place
homosexuality’s sin rights move
ment on the same platform as the
Please see MINISTER/5B
Riverboat cruise offers non-secular entertainment
By Erica Singleton
THE CHARLOTTE POST
Tbny Rushing and Nfldd
Harper felt Charlotte was
missing something for “God’s
people.”
“In Charlotte, there is plen
ty of secular entertainment,”
Harper said. “We, as Chris
tians, are sometimes limited
in the activities wh«:e we did
n’t feel we were sacrifidi^ our
principles.”
During an album release
party on Lake Normaix, Harp
er, her longtime fiiend Rush
ing, and a few other Chris
tians, fovmd themselves try
ing to come up with an alter
native.
About 25 minutes up Hi^-
way 25, the two found an 80-
foot yacht to house their
vision, and begin pouring
their money into making it a
reality Under T-Rush Enter
tainment they ofier more than
just a two and a half hour
cruise with, food and local
information. The Gospel
Cruise provides 3 R’s; relax
ation, renewal, and restora
tion.
• “Gospel Cruise offers an
atmosphere where adults can
have an evening out wi1h.out
their cell phones, children or
the chaos of daily activities,”
said Haiper. “And being on
Lake Norman is sgothir^.”
‘It’s fi*ee-spirited,” said
Rushing. ‘You have already
been in service in the early
part of the day The Gospel
Cruise is an opportunity to let
your hair dovm and reflect on
God’s goodness.”
Hceted by A,C and Tanya
Rivens of Praise 100,9 FM,
the Gospel Cruise features
dinner, giveaways, Bible triv
ia, dance ministry inspira
tional songs, and information
on lakefi-ont houses. The
yacht can fit about 110 people,
but thus far the aniises have
av^aged about 50.
“It hasn’t come full circle
yet,” explained Rushing.
‘We’re not creating a buzz
yet.”
The partners say the expm-
ence is open to anyone who
see GOSPEL/6B
Moderates: Don’t be bashful on religious issues
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Please see GIFTS/5B
DENVER—Rather than
being bashful. Democrats
shoifld openly talk about
their religious beliefs and
moral values, say moderates
urging the party to court vot
ers beyond the traditional
Democratic base to win con
trol of the Republican-run
Cor^ess this fall and the
presidency in 2008.
“If we continue to have this
perception in the Democratic
Party that faith can’t be dis
cussed, we’ll continue to lose
elections based on wedge
issues,” saidlferrance Carroll,
a Colorado state representa
tive.
The view, espoiosed by
Democrats attending the cen
trist Democratic Leadership
Council’s annual meeting,
could irritate liberals who
advocate a strict separation of
church and state.
But moderates claim that
invoking religion will help
Democrats connect with
churchgoing voters — includ
ing Republicans and indepen
dents—who polls show are
more apt to vote with the
Repubhean Party
“Democrats have run finm
the values issues. We now
have to deal with those issu^
of faith,” said Randal Mang-
ham, a state representative
in Georgia.
Little more than three
months before midterm con-
gressicoial elections, Democ
rats see an opportunity to
wrest control of the House
and Senate fi*om Repubh-
cans. A recent AP-Ipsos poll
showed Americans more
inclined to vote for Democ
rats.
Moderates fear the Democ
ratic Party could squander its
chance to be the party in
power if it only focuses on
energizing voters in urban
Democratic strongholds.
Rather, moderates say the
party must reach out to vot
ers—including rehgious
Americans—in fast-growing,
Repubhcan-leanmg regions.
“Our goal is to broaden the
Democratic Party” said A1
From, the DLC’s founder.
On religion, he and other
moderates said Democrats
must strike a careful balance
—talking about their faith
without shifting positions on
“values issues” to score politi
cal points.
“There is a downside if ifs
not authentic,” Karen Hale, a
state senator finrn Utah, said.
Repubheans, for their part,
more easily talk about faith,
perhaps an influmce of the
Republican Party’s close
alliance with highly visible
reli^ous-right conservatives.
President George W. Bush,
arguably one of the most
devout presidents, regularly
references his Christian
beliefs. His approach and the
Republican Party’s efforts on
“values issues” helped propel
Bush to a second term in 2004
over Democratic nominee
John Kerry, who appeared
uncomfortable talking about
his Roman Catholic affilia
tion.
Protestants, Catholics and
Americans who said they
attended religious services
we^y sided with Bush in
larger numbers than Kerry
Scott steps
up for
gospel’s
tradition
Bishop Leonard Scott
Live: Hymns &
Church Songs
Prince Yelder, producer
Tyscott Records
V.
Traditional gospel music
has nearly gone the way of
the Dodo. Most of today’s
church music sounds as if it
were plucked fi’om mban
radio.
There are a few folks trying
to keep the genre alive. Bish
op Leonard Scott is one of
them. “Hymns & Church
Sor^” is filled with songs of
the old diurch and a few new
Scott opais the CD with a
high-spirited “Pentecostal
Praise Medley” that includes
‘T Don’t ^find Giving God The
Praise” and “Praise The Lord
Everybody” It’s a good indica
tion as to where Scott is tak
ing this CD. The arrange
ments are on the traditional
side in a modOT^etting.
This wfll be more than per
formance. Iliere’s some
church going on!
That’s pretty much what
you expect fiom a live record
ing in a Baptist church. Birm
ingham, Ala.’s New Hope
Baptist Church was the site
of the recording and its con
gregation seemed to be enjoy
ing the concert as much as
Ihe performers.
Scott does a lot of singing,
but shares the wealth with a
number of fine vocalists. Lil
lian Lilly makes a powerful
guest paformance on “Jesus
Keep Me Near The Cross.”
The arrangement has a few
elements fium the Mssissip-
pi Mass Choir’s version fium
years ago, but with a lot of
twists. Elder Jamel Strong
wrings all the emotion possi
ble fix)m “He Is Lord.” Belin
da George-Peoples rocks the
congregation with “He
Arose.”
Elder has ^ moments as
well. He’s especially good on
“Sing Unto The King” and
“My Body Belongs Tb God.”
This is treiditional gospel
done right. Elder is helping to
keep a tradition alive. Praise
& Womhip is fine, but the
real meat and potatoes in
Afiican American worship is
still firmly rooted in tradition.
Church News
The deadline for announcements is noon on Fri
days. Fax to (704) 342-2160 or e-tnaii your
announcement to
cheris.hodges@thecharlotlepostrom. Please put
"church news" in the subject line.
July 27
Gospel Ttuth Ministries International-East
Gate Chinch, located at 11100 Monroe Road
Suite F Matthews, wfll host a “United Front
Day of Prayer” at the Charlotte Conv^tion
Center, room 212-A.
The event begins at 9 a.m.
July 30
Dear Musical Department:
Go to war in the army of the Lord. Report to
service on July 30 at 16:00 hours (4 p.m.) at
4700 Willard St. This invitation is commis
sioned by the KJ STAT youi^ adult division of
Bethany Baptist Church. Call Jonathan King
(704) 449-5125 Karin Tbrrence (704)548-3919
or Zanita Robinson (704) 995-0876.
August 4
The Overflow Nfinistries will host a two night
revival at the Church Rock of the Kingdom,
located at 6640 Suite-A, Hickory Grove Busi
ness Park, W.T. Harris Blvd.
Services begin at 7 p.m. For more informa
tion, call (704) 605-7022.
August 5
The Metrolina Baptist Association wfll host a
Women Reachir^ Women Confereaice, spon
sored by LifeWay The event wfll be held at
Carmel Baptist Church, 1145 Pinevflle-
Matthews Road. For more information, call
(704) 847-8575.
August 12
Comdius Parks and Recreation Department
will host its third annual gospel fest at
Smithvflle Park. Tbnya Rivens of Praise 100.9
wfll host the event. For more information, call
(704) 892-6031 extension 160. The event runs
fixim 1-7:30 p.m.
August 13
see MORNING/5B