LITMIR.BIZ

All Scripture is God-breathed, but not every portion of it is embraced by Christians with equal vigor. Tribal lists, specific sacrificial obligations, seemingly endless genealogical records, and apparently gratuitous acts of warfare are readily scanned over. But could the minor prophets be added to that list? Should they be? They certainly seem more difficult to locate for many of us than, say, the books of Moses or the Psalms. The writer is clear in his assessment from the start, positing that our relative ignorance of these twelve books, tucked away at the end of the Old Testament, impinges negatively on the Christian believer's walk.
Covering a period of around four hundred years, each book is revealed through two contextual settings: the historical and that which was personal to the individual pensmith, before a brief overview reveals the main points of that author's writing. The bulk of each chapter is concerned with the «Major Key» of the title. Taking a verse or two from each of the minor prophets, Chris Woodall develops a theme to bring practical application with a potentially positive impact to life as a Christian in the twenty-first century from lessons over two-and-a-half thousand years old.

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The premise of this book lies in its title. God makes himself known to us in a number of ways: through the created order, by way of human conscience, the unfolding of world events, the inherent religious need in man, through his written Word, and ultimately, of course, in the Person of Jesus Christ. Why he does so is a mystery, which we can only assign to sovereign choice. The basis upon which he does so, however, is covenant. This being the case, not only is the idea of covenant a valid hermeneutic by which to understand Scripture, but a vital one without which it would be impossible for us to fully appreciate the divine revelation that is available to us in and attainable to us by the Bible. Many Christians will be familiar with the idea that Christ fulfills the Old Testament prophecies and promises concerning God's people in the Old Testament. But when we begin to see this, too, in terms of covenant, then we begin to more fully understand precisely what it was that Christ fulfilled and what the implications of this are for those of us who are what the Bible calls «in Christ.» Not only did Jesus meet all the requirements of the overarching theme of the Old Testament in general terms, but he filled out to their fullest potential all the intricacies of detail of each of the separate divine covenants that we find there. The benefits of this for us are beyond measure, the comprehension of them is mind-blowing, and the treasures they hold simply await our unlocking of them. Take the key and peer inside. You will not be disappointed.

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Theologians are constantly accused of only speaking in theories, positing arguments to be considered by the mind with little bearing on the practicalities of life. This view is both blinkered and generally unjust, but it is also the case that some fit that description without perhaps realizing it. Chris Woodall argues that doctrine is not only a compelling tool but also a critical one, without which we would struggle to understand God's purpose or our place in it.
The atonement is not a subject that lends itself easily to being considered from a merely philosophical perspective. After all, how could you possibly present the atonement as being necessary, real, and beneficial without that presentation impinging on its practical application? In this book, Woodall seeks to treat the subject matter as a valid hermeneutic by which our understanding of the whole of Scripture may be greatly enhanced. Thus, the concept of the atonement must be seen as both a continuous thread in the Bible and a key to unlocking some of its secrets.

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It has been said that history teaches us that history teaches us nothing. However true this may be in general terms, the fact that we so frequently look to the past in an attempt to shape our future by applying its lessons in the present suggests we remain keen to learn. In the context of the subject of this book, though the stalwarts of the faith can serve as tremendous examples, it is to the lessons of Scripture that we must turn if we are to have a better idea of what the kingdom of God is, what that means for us as believers, and how we can be better equipped to extend its values in today's world. Thus, what we understand by the term «kingdom of God» will not only determine whether we believe ourselves to be its citizens, but also how we think we should conduct ourselves in the light of such knowledge. It is the contention of this book that the biblical concept of kingdom as the expression of God's rule requires greater clarity of presentation in order to prevent it from confusion and/or distortion amongst Christians.

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