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Remaining Witnesses
The biblical emphasis is upon sowing, not harvesting. It is upon testifying, not sentencing. Witnesses remain witnesses, and they do not move over to the judge’s seat. ~ Darrell Guder
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Total Church
I have recently been listening to Tim Chester and Steve Timmis speak about Total Church. I appreciate their emphasis that two key principles should shape church life: gospel and community. As Tim Chester writes: Christians are called to a dual fidelity: fidelity to the core content of the gospel and fidelity to the primary context…
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A Prayer for Septmber 11
In anticipation of the tenth anniversary of 9-11 attacks today, which will be recognized in our church this morning, and which will no doubt be remembered in many, many other congregations across the USA, I have been benefitting from the insights and prayers of many all week. I have particularly found the following prayer/litany by…
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Bashing the Bride
This video cracks me up… and it also makes me a little sad. It is sad because this critic is all too familiar – not just to me, but probably to most church leaders. In our consumer culture, where some people have little more allegiance to their covenant community than they do to Wal Mart, K-Mart,…
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Your Will Be Done in My Life
This prayer from Thomas a Kempis has really touched me where I am today: O Lord, blessed be your name forever, for it is your will that this temptation and trouble come to me. I cannot escape it, but must run to you so that you can help me and turn it to my good. Lord, I am now being afflicted, and my…
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Deconstructing the Twin Enemies of the Gospel
Perhaps the two of the most effective enemies of the gospel within the Church in North America are the twins: Moralism and Legalism. While there are other enemies at work, such as Relativism and Licentiousness, these are far more obvious in their opposition to the gospel. Moralism and Legalism, however, are so potent, especially among…
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Screwtape Meets the “Me Church” Generation
Among C.S. Lewis‘ masterful works is the Screwtape Letters. For those unfamiliar with this book, Screwtape is a fictional senior devil mentoring his nephew, Wormwood, a junior devil, in undermining his “patients” new found spiritual journey. When reading Screwtape Letters it is important to remind yourself that everything is presented from a backward perspective –…
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Mission @ the Heart of God
There are the five parts of the Bible: The God of the Old Testament is a missionary God, calling one family in order to bless all the families of the earth. The Christ of the Gospels is a missionary Christ; he sent the church out to witness. The Spirit of the Acts is a missionary…
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Tongue-in-Check
Let me share a story about an old mountain minister and a young boy in the congregation. During the children’s message this old pastor was trying to convey the sovereignty of God to his young parishioners – and to the listening ears of the rest of the congregation. As he began his summation one precocious…
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Who Does What?
Reading Jerry Bridges’ book Discipline of Grace, especially chapter 6, prompted me to think about the importance of understanding “Who does What?” in our salvation. Here are a few observations that I hope will provide some clarification: Many are frustrated to unfortunate degree because they do not understand that sanctification is a process. Many are…
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