An Excerpt From One Of The Early Non-Canonical Books We Considered.

Dr. Patrick Vossen,
Founding Pastor CGMF

To the CGMF family,

I appreciate those who have studied through the years in our Thru The Bible Study series. Did you know we are now on our fifth cycle of study? This means some of you have studied through the Bible over four times. I am excited for you, and I have enjoyed being a part of your journey through the Word. Each time we have done this study I have always interjected 2 months of consideration concerning the Non-Canonical books, which gives you some background knowledge or understanding of these early works. You have learned that some of these books came very close to becoming part of canon, and were quoted and respected by many early Church Fathers or historical figures.

Our journey in Word has been fabulous in so many ways in this study, and the others we have made available at Covenant of Grace Ministry as well. Such as; The Foundations Series, Covenant Worldview, The Shepherd Trilogy ( understanding our intimate relationship with God ), and a variety of others. We have tried to give you a complete and balanced spiritual diet with a preference toward moderation in all things, but above all wisdom. Amen.

In closing I share with you one of those little nuggets from our recent study of readings from The Shepherd Of Hermas. God bless you all so much in your relationship to Christ and fellowship one with another.

"An Early Christian Excerpt From The Shepherd Of Hermas, A Book Some Early Church Fathers Considered canonical ( Iraneaus ), Which I Find Quite Lucid, And Or Insightful.

​The author of The Shepherd of Hermas apparently saw himself as a prophet as well. He made repeated claims to be the recipient of divine visions. He also indicated that there were tests that should be administered to evaluate the trustworthiness of a prophet. “By his life you test the man that has the divine Spirit.… You have before you the life of both kinds of prophets. By his deeds and life test, then, the man who says he is inspired.” He further said of the function of the prophet, “So whenever the man who has the divine Spirit comes into an assembly of righteous men … and a prayer is made … then the angel of the prophetic spirit which is assigned to him fills the man, and that man, having been filled by the holy Spirit, speaks to the group as the Lord wills.”