Epistle for July 4, 2003
Posted by: info <info@...>
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Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation July 4, 2003
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In this quarter Dr. Scarborough will be using Esther 1-10 and Habbukuk in the Old Testament and
Galatians 1-6, I Timothy 1-6, and II John in the New Testament
In this Issue:
Esther 1:1-22
Galatians 1:1-24
Counseling Degree Program
A King Dethrones His Queen
(Esther 1:1-22)
I. Concentration: on the events of this chapter
1. Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) of Persia (who succeeded Darius I in 485 B.C. and ruled for
20 years over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia) called a great 6-month celebration
for all his officials and servants, vv. 1-8.
2. During the final week's drunken orgy, Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to appear
in the banquet hall and "show her beauty," but she refused to come, vv. 9-12.
3. The king became angry and conferred with his counselors, who advised him to dethrone
Vashti and to replace her with another woman "who is better than she," vv. 13-20.
4. Ahasuerus did so, and proclaimed that all wives must honor their husbands, acknowledging
them as the master of the house, vv. 21-22.
II. Meditation: on the spiritual implications of these events
1. Pride was at the heart of Ahasuerus' actions: "he showed the riches of his glorious
kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days," v. 4.
2. Drunkenness on wine (being under the influence of alcohol) caused the king to
violate propriety by inviting his wife to display herself before a group of drunken men, v. 10.
3. The influence of a leader can have a great effect upon the conduct of all the followers: the king's
wise men feared that Queen Vashti's behavior would cause all the wives in the kingdom to
despise their husband's authority, v. 17.
4. Although the bible instructs wives to honor their husbands (in fact, there is to be mutual and
reciprocal submission), this principle does not mean that a wife, for example, should violate
God's laws and/or her conscience merely because her husband commands her to do
something, Ephesians 5:21-22; Acts 5:29.
III. Revelation and Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Walk humbly before God, Micah 6:8.
2. Abstain from the use of alcohol and all other mind-altering drugs, but be filled with
and controlled by the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 5:18.
3. Recognize the great impact that my influence can have on others . . . for good or
for bad, Matthew 5:16; Romans 14:7-8, 12-13, 21.
4. Treat my wife with honor and respect . . . loving her as "Christ also loved the church
and gave Himself for her," Ephesians 5:25.
The One and Only Gospel
(Galatians 1:1-24)
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Paul sent greetings to the believers in the region of Galatia, vv. 1-5.
2. Paul emphasized that there is only one true gospel. vv. 6-10.
3. Paul recounted his call and training by God to be an apostle, vv. 11-17.
4. Paul wrote of his contracts with Christian leaders in Jerusalem, vv. 18-24.
Observations: on the gospel of Christ (I Corinthians 15:1-4, 9-10)
1. The gospel includes Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, according to the
Scriptures, vv. 3-4.
2. Believing this gospel (good news) brings personal salvation. vv. 1-2.
3. The gospel also gives a firm foundation upon which a believer may stand
by faith, v. 1.
4. The true gospel is all by grace . . . God's gift, not man' works, v. 10.
III. Meditation: on the one and only true gospel
1. A "different" gospel (without Christ's death, burial, and resurrection) is not
a gospel at all, vv. 6-7.
2. Some persons pervert (corrupt) the gospel by adding the requirement that
believers must do certain good works (such as baptism) to be saved, v. 7.
(See Ephesians 2:8-9)
3. The preaching of another (anti-Christ) "gospel" is Satanic in origin . . .
"an angel from heaven," v. 8.
4, Persons preaching a different gospel (other than salvation by grace through
faith) are accursed . . . under divine judgment of hell, vv. 8-9.
IV. Revelation: on how Paul received the "gospel" he preached
1. He did not receive the gospel truths from other men, vv. 11-12. 16.
2. He spent three years in Arabia and Tarsus in communion with Christ before
even meeting with the apostles, v. 18.
3. He spent only 15 days with the apostles in Jerusalem . . . out of a total of 14
years, vv. 18; 2:1.
4. His gospel came by direct revelation from Jesus Christ, v. 12.
V. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Get "back to the basics" of the gospel . . . for salvation (past, present, and future)
and for spiritual assurance and growth in my daily life.
2. Recognize Satan's hand in the spreading of a false "gospel" . . . by works.
3. Submit to my spiritual leaders, but not as my primary source of truth.
4. Allow Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, to reveal His truths and His purposes to me
directly, as I spend time in Bible study, meditation, and prayer,
Pillsbury Institute Introduces New
M.A., Ph.D. Degree Programs
M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credit hours - $3,000)
Ph.D. in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credit hours - $4,000)
Psy.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling *(42 credit hours - $3,150)
*(Only available for persons who already hold an earned doctoral degree)
Students at Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity (PIAC) now may receive pastoral counseling training using the curriculum and distance learning format developed by the National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA) of Sarasota, Florida. These high quality materials consist of 41 courses in ten academic tracks, and also include advanced studies, clinical supervision (internship), practicum, thesis and examination, plus licensing and certification in eight possible specialty areas.
Important Notice: The successful completion of all academic requirements using NCCA curriculum and the conferring of the MA, PhD, or PsyD degrees by PIAC does not include membership in NCCA, nor does it qualify the graduate to receive any certification or licensing from NCCA.
Upon graduation, the student will be issued a degree diploma (MA, PhD, or PsyD) and a complete transcript of the NCCA studies completed at PIAC. The student has the option of presenting this official transcript to NCCA to show the courses completed at PIAC. The student then may choose to apply for membership in NCCA and to apply for acceptance into an advanced program of study designed to qualify him or her for NCCA certification and licensing as a Christian pastoral counselor. Small fees are charged by NCCA for both of these options.
NCCA has several additional requirements for the licensing process, including:
(1) a supervised practicum plus thesis for MA graduates (dissertation for PhD and PsyD graduates),
(2) the obtaining of ministerial credentials (if the applicant does not have such documentation already),
and
(3) an ethical examination posed by NCCA's National Licensing Board of Examiners.
Each successful candidate receives NCCA Board Certification as a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor (LCPC) or as a Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor (LCCC). More than 1,700 persons in the United States have been trained and certified by NCCA as licensed Christian counselors, making it the largest such credentialing agency in the nation.
(Over 4,000 counselors have been licensed world-wide by NCCA).
The NCCA Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor (LCPC) certification is not the same as a State's Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) designation.