MOST RECENT
This is a common Roman Catholic red herring. The issue of whether the Magisterium is needed to interpret the Bible is a worthwhile conversation, but it’s not the first one.
If you do not follow Jesus and want to begin to explore the life and claims of this man (and you should) start with his resurrection. If the resurrection did not happen, there is no point in moving on to anything else. Even the Apostle Paul said, "if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins." (1 Cor 15:17). So, start with Jesus' resurrection. A common question I frequently get is, "How many intelligent, self-respecting people could actually believe an obscure Jewish preacher in a rural province of the Roman empire 2,000 years ago was God who raised from the dead?" That's a good question. Answer: Quite a few actually.
I have lost track of how many church planting books I have read. I have attended conferences. I have read blogs. I have listened to sermons, workshops and seminars. I have talked to seasoned planters and pastors. I have done my homework. As a novice church planter I was told to focus on: converts, leadership development, missional communities, connecting with city leaders, contextualization, strategic planning, social networking, engaging preaching, membership development, and contemporary worship. Those are all good, even needed. I agree with (most of) them. Yet, in focusing on so many things, it is easy to lose focus on the main thing.
This past summer as I was preparing for our church's covenant membership series I dropped by the Seattle Central Library, located in downtown Seattle, to do some research on the history of Jesus' people in Seattle. What I found shocked me. On the bottom shelf of an isolated rack, located in a quiet corner of the Seattle Room on the top floor, I found a box. It was largely unmarked. I don't know why I decided to open it, but I did. The condition of the box made it evident that it hadn't been opened in some time. The box, about the size of a small shoe box, was packed with hundreds of 3x5 cards.
The most recent film adaptation of Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo, came out last week. It is a great work that largely follows the theatrical storyline. Though most are familiar with the musical, Les Mis was originally a 1200+ page novel. I read it for the first time this year. It is probably the best book, outside the Bible, that I've read. It's definitely an investment of time and effort (some parts seem needlessly long, but do contribute to the overall feel of the storyline), but worth it.
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How do we determine when a manifestation of mental illness is psychological or demonic? Is such a determination even possible? This is particularly pertinent in an urban context like ours, with an epidemic of mental illness on the streets.
It’s tempting to think of “finding God’s will” as a game of hide-and-seek. So, we look for a sign, a dream, a voice from heaven, a subjective sense, a favorable fortune cookie, or some other revelatory circumstance. But, rarely do we ask, “Is God’s will something to be found?”
Concerning the many varied responsibilities of gospel ministry, Paul told Timothy to, “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (1 Tim. 4:15). He didn’t say, “Wait until you have it all together”, or “Let all see your curated online persona.” Instead, he said, “Make progress.” How freeing. We can all make progress.
This question isn't relevant until it is, and when it is, it is really relevant. Most conversations about discerning calling into vocational ministry can be reduced to some form of internal, external, and circumstantial factors. These are great. But, what follows is a slightly deeper reflection I recently shared with a group of aspiring missionaries and church leaders.
This week, I came across this gem of a meditation by John Newton. He reminds us that in God’s economy, disappointment is not merely a loss, but a lesson—and how regularly we need this lesson!
On Sunday I shared the poem, "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" by William Cowper (1731-1800), with Downtown Cornerstone. It's an oldie, but a goodie. Over the years it has become deeply meaningful to me.
Right thoughts, carried by the Spirit, throw gasoline on the fire of our affections, while wrong thoughts douse them. Here's how America’s greatest theologian put it.
It's difficult to not like John Bunyan (1628-1688). He had an incredible gift for preaching to the heart. If anything, Bunyan teaches us that we will never plumb the unfathomable riches of the gospel (and its implications), but we should give it a try any way.
It is easy to fall into a prayer rut. Who hasn’t? At such times, I’ve found reading a book on prayer helpful. But, where do you start? There are so many books and not all are equally biblical, edifying, or instructive.
By God's grace, and the generosity of our church, our family was able to get some extended time away last month. In addition to having longer-than-usual stretches to read the Scriptures, I had a chance to read a number of great books and revisit some others I’ve found to be helpful in the past.
Everyone needs to reinvigorate their prayer life from time to time. When I sense a need for a fresh injection of vigor into my ongoing conversation with God, I find the most helpful practice is to revisit the names, characteristics, and attributes of the One to whom I am praying. There is a reason that Jesus begins his famous prayer with the phrase "Our Father". It is deceivingly easy to subtly slip into focusing more on what we are praying about than who we are praying to. When my prayer life wains, it is often because I have become more enamored with the results of prayer rather than the Receiver of my prayers. There is a selfish inertia within our souls that wants to make our prayers about us. Its no wonder we so often struggle with prayer.