Category: Bible
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Insights Into Ecclesiastes
As I read through and study Solomon’s Book of Ecclesiastes, for personal enlightenment rather than for preparation to teach, I appreciate the insights offered by Douglas Wilson, through his book Joy At the End of the Tether: The Inscrutable Wisdom of Ecclesiastes. First, I appreciate the “scaffolding” Wilson identifies – the two great refrains that…
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Finding My Place in the Story
The Bible comes to us in various forms of literature: history, poetry, and letters, just to name a few. But essentially, the Bible tells one epic story from beginning to end, using all the various genres. Eugene Peterson, writing the introduction to Matthew in The Message, said: “Every day we wake up in the middle…
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Pascal on the Book of Ecclesiastes
Famed philosopher Blaise Pascal noted: “Ecclesiastes shows that man without God is in total ignorance and inevitable misery.” Elaborating on the message of Ecclesiastes, Pascal summarazied it in these words:
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Jonah Resources
Preparing for an upcoming sermon series in the Book of Jonah, I have been enjoying a variety of resources, some of which are pictured above. A Gracious and Compassionate God by Daniel C. Trimmer Man Overboard by Sinclair Ferguson Rediscovering Jonah by Tim Keller Jonah: Navigating a God-Centered Life by Collin Smith You! Jonah! by…
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How the Early Church Leaders Died
The Early Church Father, Tertullian, notably quipped: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” The author of the Book of Hebrews urges us to consider such leaders, and their way of life, as encouragement to us to persevere in the faith in the face of our own particular difficulties, trials, and…
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Outline of Biblical History
I have learned that I am one who learns best from outlines. Perhaps not in all subjects, but I think certainly when it comes to learning history. I can often recall many of the stories, but I am sometimes slow to remember how things played out and how things connect. Outlines helps to remind me…
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Prayer of Re-Orientation
Dallas Willard on the importance and centrality of the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed be Your Name”: “This request is based upon the deepest need of the human world. Human life is not about human life. Nothing will go right in it until the goodness and greatness of its Creator and Sustainer is…
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Hebrews 9-10 Recited
While studying the Book of Hebrews this week, in preparation Sunday’s message, I stumbled upon this recitation of Hebrews 9 & 10 by a guy named Ryan Ferguson. I was impressed as I listened to him present these chapters through oral interpretation. Ferguson’s performance of these verses offers a perspective that both resonates with my…
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No Other Gospel
After learning I would be beginning a new sermon series this week, a study of the book of Galatians, a friend and colleague who is an Army Chaplain asked me if I had read the relatively new book, No Other Gospel. Though I had seen it, I admitted I was not really familiar with it. …
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About Bible “Admissions”
When first reading an article featured in Relevant Magazine by John Pavlovitz, 5 Things I Wish Christians Would Admit About the Bible, I found myself feeling a mixture of mild reactions: chagrined by the banality, and indifferent because of the banality. While the magazine does occasionally publish some thoughtful pieces, the majority seem to be either…
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We 3 Kings
You probably know the song, We Three Kings of Orient Are: We three kings of orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, Moor and mountain, Following yonder star. The song is based upon the account of the Magi, in Matthew 2. And though it may be a little less than an accurate…
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5 Questions to Read the Bible With Heart & Mind
Tremper Longman summarizes the entire thrust of his book, Reading the Bible With Heart & Mind, in five simple questions: 1. What does this passage of the Bible teach me about God and my relationship with Him? 2. What does this passage tell me about how God has acted in the past? 3. How does…
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Seed of the Word in the Soil of the Heart
“Truly, the Bible as the Word of God has an inherent power, but it is not a coercive power. That is, the Bible does not work it’s effects mechanically. We don’t change just because we read it. Out minds may be engaged in the text, but something must happen in our hearts as well. In…
