Welcome to APSE Ministries
Coming soon: A Periodical Post of a Discussion Topic
APSE Ministries began as my personal study to address, sometimes even answer, question and concerns I had about my faith, my relationship with God, my experiences with church(es), and how I can better live my life as Jesus would want me to live.
Questions, questions, questions. What is Biblical? How should the Bible be interpreted? In what historical context was each Book of the Bible written? Has interpretation changed over the years? Was there an agenda involved? Why didn't the apocryphal texts not make the Bible? Is the Bible supported by history? Archaeology? Who made the decisions? The church? The church has a pretty sketchy past. And it DID have an agenda. But their interpretation led to tradition. Tradition we now accept as "Biblical." And that tradition sends a lot o people fleeing from the church, from Jesus. Good people, People God created. People God loves. People God wants in His Kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven.
Are we sinners if we study the Bible? Are we sinners if we call tradition to task? Dare we question the church? Dare we question "The Book of Order?" Dare we call a man-made rule non-Biblical? For Pete's sake, many believe the Bible, hence God and Jesus, is pro-slavery, pro-racist, pro-misogyny. Would an almighty God create man and woman for such a world?
Hypocrisy. Slavery. Misogyny. Homosexuality. Racism. Who was Jesus? Who was Paul?
All among topics that will be listed in the coming days with appropriate pages referenced to help in your study.
Personal study. Group study. Group discussion. I have my beliefs jaded by my own life experiences, opinions, and prejudices. I am not trying to persuade or convince anyone in their beliefs. But maybe, just maybe we could all get along better if we looked at what other people think and believe out there. That's what Jesus wanted. And that IS Biblical. John 17:20b-21a I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them will be as one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
What is APSE Ministries?
A home for the skeptics. A home for those who question their faith. A home for those who have drifted, been judged, been injured, been rejected, or have left the church or their faith. A home for those who want to study the Bible in truth and spirituality. A home for those who want real answers. A home for those who trust their own ability to understand the scriptures. A home for those who want to explore and ask questions, to challenge their faith, to go beyond SOMEONE ELSE'S INTERPRETATION OF WHAT WE ARE TO BELIEVE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CHRISTIAN!
What is APSE Ministries?
What is APSE MInistries?
Ask - questions
Pray - for guidance
Study - the Bible in its historical context
Embrace - the message of Jesus Christ
Learn More about APSE Ministries
The Life of Jesus Bible Study
Explore the Life of Jesus as presented in the Gospels in the context of 1st Century Greco-Roman and Israeli cultures. What did Jesus say and why did he say it? Understanding Jesus in His lifetime helps us better understand his mission and message to the world, and allows us to better apply His teaching to our world today.
The Apostle Paul
Everything You Wanted to Know
About the Apostle Paul.
Introducing this radical, contentious, respected, loved, hated, disrespected, quoted, misquoted, understood, misunderstood, Jewish servant of Jesus who was missionary to the Gentiles and the world.
Referenced articles
Referenced articles in The Life of Jesus and Apostle Paul Bible Studies can be found by using the respective links below.
Referenced Articles from the APSE
Bible Study:
Referenced Articles
The Life of Jesus
Referenced Articles from the APSE
Bible Study: The Apostle Paul
Referenced Articles
The Apostle Paul
Preparing for Bible Study
Whether a private Bible Study or a group Bible Study, I always begin by reciting The Apostle's Creed. These statements are the basis of my personal faith. Everything else is up for question, debate, and discussion.
Perhaps you are not at this point in your relationship with God. Perhaps you doubt the
miraculous birth of Jesus, or question the resurrection of Christ. I hope you do not use those doubts to completely dismiss the study of Jesus and His message.
In like manner, perhaps you have experienced judgment and/or condemnation by a church.
Maybe you have heard of positions or beliefs of the church that totally turn you off to religion. Your concerns are important. Maybe that position is not really in keeping with the teachings of Jesus. Or Paul.
What does the Bible say - in the context of its time? What has the church interpreted throughout its history - clouded by its prejudices and agendas? And what has each society adopted by interpreting scripture to their own benefit?
If you have questions and concerns you have every right to ask them. I think you will find many others have the same questions and concerns.
My hope is some of those issues will be addressed in these Bible Studies.
If you find something that particularly strikes you, please feel free to share it with me.
The Apostles Creed:
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen
APSE Ministries Disclosures
APSE Ministries is a non-profit mission of Dr. James Spangler. Materials are encouraged to be shared.
I have tried to accurately reference all statements in all APSE Materials. If any article needs additional reference or has been used improperly please contact me and I will add reference, edit, or remove materials. My mission is to reach out to those who have drifted or left their church or their faith. I receive no financial gain from any of these materials. All costs associated with writing, printing, or publishing and maintaining this website are paid by Dr. Spangler.
Many parts of these articles reflect some of my personal experiences. Other thoughts and positions within these articles do not reflect my personal opinions, but may instead reflect statements I have heard or opinions I have read. They are to generate discussion. Discussion that, hopefully, will lead to understanding, perhaps at times to forgiveness, and mostly to love and kindness. Perhaps it is unrealistic to attain a Can't We All Just Get Along world, but certainly we can do better than we are doing now.
Dr. James Spangler can be reached at APSEMinistries@yahoo.com
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