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TOPIC: The Power of the Holy Spirit

SUGGESTED ARTICLES: Below is a list of article ideas. The topics crossed out have already been taken. If you would like to write an article, contact Noni McVey at noni@cgi.org and specify which article you will be writing. If you have an idea for an article not listed here, please still contact Noni McVey to inform her. By doing so, duplicate article submissions will be prevented.

1. The most fundamental need facing mankind is to recognize the existence of God and to understand His character, personality and master plan. Tell who God is and give examples of His existence.
2. Who is Jesus? Who does the Bible say He is? (John 10:30). Jesus asked His disciples “who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13). Why did Jesus ask the question? Was Jesus asking this question to get the disciples to examine the perceptions of the culture around Him? Jesus then asked the most piercing question of all to Peter, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15-16). How do we answer these questions today?
3. Why believe in Jesus? What good did He do for mankind and me personally? What does it mean to believe in Christ and how does one really show his belief in Christ? Matthew 10:34-39, John 6:47, John 3:18.
4. God uses His Spirit to accomplish all His work, Exodus 31:3, Ezekiel 3:12, 14, Ezekiel 36:26,27. Everything God does is through the power of His Spirit. God is Spirit (John 4:24). Explain what the Holy Spirit does. Judges 3:7-11, Matthew 10:16-42, John 4:1-26, John 14:15-31.
5. God says that He only gives His Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). Once one begins to obey God, how does one receive the Holy Spirit and how does one keep the Holy Spirit alive in his/her life?
6. Can the Trinity be proven in the Bible? What is the origin of the Trinity Doctrine particularly the scripture I John 5:7-8? Is the Holy Spirit a person being or the power of God?
7. Does man have an immortal soul, Zechariah 12:1.What happens to the spirit in man when man dies? Ecclesiastes 9:5, Acts 13:22, Ezekiel 37:24, Acts 2:29, 34.
8. God’s plan is for all mankind to receive the opportunity for salvation (I Timothy 2:4). He doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). In (I Corinthians 6:9-11) we read about the characteristics of the unbeliever. In (Romans 4:4) we learn that salvation cannot be earned. So, what must one do to have salvation? In order to have salvation, is it God’s plan for man to leave jobs, families and responsibilities in order to serve Him? Explain the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.
9. How does one become spiritually fit? I Timothy 4:14-16.
10. Using the story of Nicodemus in John 3:1-36, discuss the phrase “Born Again.” Has today’s Christian made this phrase a feel good emotion when it has far more meaning? If one agrees that the two major events in the life of a Christian are a) conversion (Romans 12:2) and b) the resurrection (Philippians 3:21), would it be accurate to say a Christian is born again at the resurrection and not has his/her baptism and acceptance of Christ?
11. What is the Biblical definition of sanctification? What does it mean to sanctify the Lord God in your heart? I Peter 3:13-17. How does one do this?
12. Give the meaning and ritual of Pentecost in the Old Testament and the observance of Pentecost in the New Testament. Is the observance of the Christian Pentecost linked to the Old Testament Pentecost? How should one observe the day and is it joyful?

GUIDELINES:

1. Articles should be approximately 750-1000 words.
2. Only electronic versions of articles are accepted. Email your article to noni@cgi.org as a Word document or in the body of your email.
3. All articles should center on the topic as described above. Poetry can be on any topic.
4. Only use the New International version for quotations from the Bible. If you use a different version for word emphasis, note the version in parenthesis.
5. For longer articles, please use headings.
6. Please capitalize the following words; Bible, God, Old and New Testament, Holy Days, Sabbath, Kingdom and when referring to God or Jesus Christ capitalize He, His and Him.

DEADLINE: All submissions must be received by April 1, 2008.