Sea of Fire Ministries

As we have taken a brief overview as to some areas of the New Testament Canon, James Meyers, III considers how we might know what is and what is not Canon. Has God given us a means by which we might distinguish between authentic or inspired books and inauthentic or uninspired books. James gives three main corresponding qualities or attributes which, taken as a whole, give us the means for our own...

In this message, James Meyers, III speaks on the fifth chapter of Hosea about the knowledge of God: both our knowledge (or lack thereof) of God and God’s knowledge of ourselves. How known do we desire to be? In our fallen condition, since we are not what we ought to be, we hide from ourselves, from others, and from God fearing complete exposure. However, God knows us and we cannot hide from Him. R...

James Meyers, III considers whether the New Testament authors knew they were writing divinely inspired texts, or whether they were unaware and the church later decided they were inspired and, therefore, should be collected into a Canon. This is another secularist position which reflects the Marcionite mood of disregarding the heritage of Old Testament Scriptures. James considers this and discloses...

James Meyers, III preaches on the fourth chapter of the Book of Hosea, which is a litigious text, which is essentially an arraignment in which God charges the people for their sins. The three main charges are the loss of truth (or faithfulness), mercy (or love/devotion), and knowledge of God. James considers these as relational, marital, and covenant terms, reflecting the image henceforth of Hosea...

Today, James Meyers, III preaches on the wonderful third chapter of Hosea. To him, this short chapter is filled with the Five Solas of the Reformation: Sola Scriptura (in Scripture Alone), Sola Fide (by Faith Alone), Sola Gratia (through Grace Alone), Solus Christus (in Christ Alone), Soli Deo Gloria (to the Glory of God Alone), and is one of the finest chapters in the Old Testament containing the...

In our last session, James Meyers, III discussed the Historical Definition of Canon, and how the early Christian would have expected a new written dispensation as a conclusion to the Old Testament, the terms of the New Covenant, and the Apostolic ministry. In this session, James considers the Community Definition, or the functional definition, which dates the canon late in the second century. Jame...

As many secularist scholars are questioning the historicity and, subsequently, the reality of our New Testament Canon, James Meyers, III considers some of their objections through a historical lens. Ultimately, was the Canon some sort of forced document imposed on the early church or was it more organic? Do we have any reason to think the early Chrisian would accommodate a canon, or much more expe...

James Meyers, III preaches on the second chapter of the prophet, Hosea, by emphasizing the means of grace by God to return His people to Himself, even through forsaking them and withdrawing His mercies for a time. James argues that this forsaking and temporary removal of His mercies are in fact a means through which His presence is known and His mercy is found in its loss. In other words, sadly, t...

James Meyers, III considers how we define Canon, and how divergent this subject can be. He gives 3 main definitions, which at first seem mutually exclusive. However, James thinks they are not and in fact all 3 can be useful to define what is Canon. While this doesn’t immediately address the problems discussed in our first session, it is the proper starting point for a proper perspective before con...

James Meyers, III continues his sermon series on The Book of the Twelve through the prophet, Hosea. Hosea’s marriage, and subsequently his family life, is to reflect our marriage union with God. Just as Hosea’s wife, Gomer, forsakes him and has illegitimate children, so the people of God, though betrothed to God through our sacred covenant which He has sealed, forsake God and produce dead fruits....

James Meyers, III begins a series considering how we received the New Testament canon, how this term compares with “Scripture,” how we define “canon,” and more. In this session, he lays out many of the problems that arise when discussing the Tew Testament Canon which will be answered in this series. However, he wants the Christian to “grasp the weight” of the problems, and thus, purposefully leave...

James Meyers, III begins a sermon series regarding what are commonly called the “Minor Prophets” due to shorter books as compared to the “Major Prophets.” While James understands the reason for this terminology, he fears it may minimize their contributions, and so prefers the designation of “The Book of the Twelve.” Today, he introduces the prophets, and the first of the Minor Prophets,” Hosea. Se...

To conclude this series, James Meyers, III considers the power of executing authority within the institutions of state and church. James continues discussing what the apostle, Paul, said in the thirteenth chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, but considers other instances within the Bible to get a better idea as to what is being communicated. While there are times and occasions when it is necessar...

James Meyers, III discusses the relationship between church and state, and how these are differing arenas of authority, but how they are both under the True Author of authority, God Himself Who gave Christ all authority in heaven and on earth. James traces the aspect of civil government from the Garden of Eden to today and considers how the Christian lives under the secular civil authorities. Addi...

James Meyers, III considers the relationship between the natural sciences and the theological sciences. Since the closing of the 19th century, there has been an increasing antipathy from one community toward the other, whereas, historically, that was not the case. James traces some of the events which led to this, but desires the Christian to embrace natural science because “all truth is God’s tru...

James Meyers, III considers some of the history of the Literary Arts, and when we began shifting to a more image based society. While observing some of the effects of this shift, James encourages the Christian to be People of the Word in order that we might reach this generation of images. We do not seek to remove or restrict these media, but rather return to a cogent and linguistic approach which...

Having considered many of the major secular philosophies, James Meyers, III begins to discuss certain areas of life in which philosophy is involved. In this session, James discusses the beauty found in art. The iconoclastic age has wearied many Christians into detesting art entirely, or perhaps are ambivalent. James encourages Christians to return to the love of art as has been historical. Beauty...

James Meyers III considers the philosophy known in academic circles as Hedonism. While Hedonism might be fairly unknown or misunderstood, many contemporary philosophers opine that the West is a hedonistic culture. In its nascent form, it seeks optimal pleasure and the avoidance of pain as the ultimate pursuit of life. James considers this and compares the philosophy of Stoicism which unexpectedly...

James Meyers, III discusses perhaps the most well known secular philosophy commonly known as either Relativism or Pluralism. Having introduced some preceding philosophies which helped shape the world into Relativism, James discusses the ramifications of stripping unity from diversity. Particularly through the postmodern era which sought to deconstruct “societal truths,” we have lost the metanarrat...

James Meyers, III considers the prodigious epistemology given by the great 18th century thinker, Immanuel Kant. So impactful were his contributions to the world that perhaps no other contemporary philosophy should or can be rightly considered without them. The American Revolution is seen by some to be the greatest revolution in the past few hundred years. However, James believes, agreeing with man...

James Meyers, III discusses the secular philosophy called Positivism, probably the least familiar philosophy discussed in this series. However, Positivism enjoyed much prominence and was later developed into Logical Positivism before it was rejected, but eroded into other philosophies, such as Pluralism/Relativism. James considers the father of Positivism, Auguste Comte and proceeds to trace its i...

James Meyers, III considers the philosophy called Pragmatism, which is an inherently American philosophy. As was mentioned in the first session, the “ism” indicates a philosophical perspective. Being pragmatic and a follower of Pragmatism are two quite different things. The Pragmatist believes that whatever works is therefore good, thus establishing a relativistic ethic and a disparate logical sys...

James Meyers, III discusses the philosophy of Humanism, which has a long and somewhat twisted history. James believes this philosophy can be traced to the fall of Man by a serpent rather than a human being. As optimistic as secular humanism became, James shows its utter naïveté and how it is rationally circular, and therefore fallacious and untenable. He concludes with a Christian admonition that...

James Meyers, III discusses Christian existentialism as found in the nineteenth century Dane, Søren Kiergegaard. While James finds Kierkegaard to be the greatest existential thinker, he communicates some areas in which he disagrees. However, these disagreements notwithstanding, James finds Kierkegaard to be one of the last sincere Christians, not only in what he said, but, more importantly, and pe...

James Meyers, III considers the philosophy of Existentialism. While perhaps a familiar term, few are able to define it. However, James finds it to be perhaps the most influential secular philosophy and it also enjoyed a fairly swift popularity as compared to other philosophies. James discusses two very influential men who, in their lives, propagated existentialism, albeit in diametrically opposing...