Is the identity of Israel Important?

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This past Thursday, Mr. Michael Heykoop shared a forum on the identity of modern-day Israel. He explained that this church doctrine is strongly frowned upon by many outside of the church and potentially misunderstood by those inside. This doctrine can and has been misused throughout history. People can take it to argue their superiority over others if they are descendants of the ancient tribes. Mr. Heykoop encouraged us to see the importance of this doctrine and how it dramatically impacts our job as Christians, but does not determine our salvation. 

Mr. Heykoop said learning Israel’s modern-day identity is crucial to understanding prophecy. Jeremiah 30 calls the last days the time of Jacob’s trouble. Understanding who these people are helps us prepare for the approaching times. The second key is that it assists us as we preach the Ezekiel warning. This understanding is vital to doing the work and mission God has commissioned us to do. 

Mr. Heykoop came to a close by reminding us that God does not judge our salvation on nationality but on character. Acts 10 shows that God gave the Gentiles His Spirit before baptism, showing how He works with all people. We have been covering this topic in our Biblical Doctrines class for the past few weeks, allowing us to appreciate Mr. Heykoop’s lesson. He said that learning the identity of Israel is of utmost importance, but whether we are direct descendants does not. What matters is that we are citizens of Christ through our baptism. 

MTC – Oklahoma

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Mr. Jonathan McNair: PowerPoint Power

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Author: Caleb Loy| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25

How to do slide decks and better… and why

Mr. Jonathan McNair talked with us about the skill of making PowerPoint Presentations, which he argued we need to develop to succeed in today’s world. He encouraged us to use these skills to grow and thrive in our professional and educational futures.

He clarified that this was not a discussion of PowerPoint alone but all slide decks. Mr. McNair effectively introduced why becoming capable in this area is so important by highlighting various books written on terrible slide decks and how to fix them. What drove the point home was the comic with the punchline “Death by PowerPoint.” 

Mr. McNair broke down his talk into two major components: the basics and the finer points. He told us that we needed to think about our slides last. We should first develop what we want to say, then build the slides to assist us, not make them our notes. When we read off the slides, it creates a disconnect with those who are listening to us. This is not a new concept, however. He compared it to a teacher in college who would write on the blackboard the entire time and seldom pay any attention to the class. Slides should be something we use to leverage attention to ourselves, not something to hide in. 

Mr. McNair also taught that it is essential to create a consistent look and feel with the text; less is more. Individuals often put too much information that the viewer cannot take in. All this does is create confusion and distract the audience. Along with the amount of text, the size is equally important. There is no point in putting any text on the slides if the audience cannot read it. The same is true with photos. They should enhance the meaning of what is being conveyed instead of having them just because you think it would make your presentation more “colorful.” 

Digging deeper, Mr. McNair discussed effects and transitions from slide to slide. He said that they should be simple, as, in most cases, the audience does not need fancy swirling transitions to keep them entertained. It would generally undermine our credibility. Instead of taking the time to add intricate transitions and effects, he recommended focusing on the “meat” of the presentation. 

Mr. McNair reminded us that slide decks should only be a launching point for us to explore our topic. While notorious for detracting from a presentation, they can significantly enhance its effectiveness. While we do not use slides daily, we are excited to apply this knowledge to future projects. We were encouraged to develop excellence both in building slide decks and throughout our lives.