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Fatherhood of God
After spending the better part of the past week preparing to preach about the Fatherhood of God, and the amazing doctrine of adoption, from Galatians 3.23-4.7, I am still pondering the richness and beauty of how the Heidelberg Catechism expresses it: Q 26. What do you believe when you say: I believe in God the…
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Culturally Literate Evangelism
Jonathan Dodson offers an astute assessment of the cultural landscape and some practical suggestions about how this effects the way we as Christians ought to engage in evangelistic efforts. What Dodson offers refelcts the best of contextual ministry: The message should not change, but understanding those to whom we are speaking, knowing their needs and…
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Gospel Greater Than God’s Law
Preaching through Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, I have received quite a bit of feedback – more than I receive during most series I have done. Much to the relief of my thin skin, I have received no criticism (to date). Most of the comments have been appreciative, either for the reminder of things that we need…
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3 Kinds of Marriages
An interesting article in The Atlantic by Richard Reeves of the Brookings Institute, How To Save Marriage in America. Of most interest, to me anyway, is this chart that they provide describing three kinds of marriages: Traditional Marriage Romantic Marriage HIP Marriage
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Fellowship of Jesus’ Followers
Stanley Grenz wrote, in Theology for the Community of God: “The fellowship of Jesus’ followers is not merely a loose coalition of individuals who acknowledge Jesus. Rather, it is a community of disciples who seek to walk together in accordance with the principles of the kingdom. As Christ’s church, we desire to live out in…
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I Will Praise You
A live performance by my friend Ginny Owens of a song from her (relatively) new album: I Have a Secret. This song just seems appropriate today, as some very close to me are experiencing serious life challenges. But in each case, regardless of the immediate outcomes, I know they will be praising God.
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5 Things Church Members Wish Pastors Knew
Anyone who has ever served on a ministry staff for any measurable amount of time knows the twin realities of the incredible joys and the exhausting difficulties. Perhaps this tension is part of the reason why there is such large drop out rate among pastors and other ministry leaders in the American Evangleical Church. Ministry is a tremendous privilege,…
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Absence of Grace in the Culture Wars
There has to be some way to better go about this. The Washington Post reported last week of a man in Colorado, Bill Jack, who in attempt to demonstrate the hypocrisy of recent court rulings related to the Traditional Marriage vs. Gay Marriage debates, requested two cakes that together expressed clear anti-gay sentiments. Jack seems to have…
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Be Not Afraid
by John Michael Talbot You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst./ You shall wander far in safety though you do not know the way./ You shall speak your words in foreign lands and all will understand./ You shall see the face of God and live. Chorus: Be not afraid.…
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Repenting of “Biblical” Manhood
The following was written by Kyle Worley, from Village Church in Dallas, and was posted on CBMW‘s web. I thought about editing, but realized there is nothing I could add, nor is there anything for me to delete. So I post it here in its whole, as one who shares this complimentarian perspective (here, here)…
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Turning Consumers Into Missionaries
In this video, Hugh Halter offers some helpful suggestions about turning church consumers into people who live on mission for and with Christ. While this is a long video, in the current climate of American church culture, I found it worth taking the time to consider. I broke it up into viewing sections – watching…
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Spiritual Chrysalis
In preparation for this past Sunday message from Galatians, I again marveled at the insight and passion of Martin Luther concerning our Union with Christ: “So far as justification is concerned, Christ and I must be so closely attached that He lives in me and I in Him. What a marvelous way of speaking! Because…
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Valley of Vision
Having spent the bulk of my years in ministry residing and serving in mountainous regions, this Puritan prayer, from which the Valley of Vision collection takes its title, has always carried deep meaning for me. For not only was it descriptive of my geographic and topographic surroundings, but even now that I am living a…
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