A Pastor’s Reflections: Smokescreens
People camouflage themselves so that others in the church, especially elders and pastors, don’t see the problem areas in their lives
“I’m not saying that every person who makes a big deal about a particular doctrine or conviction is blowing smoke. But I am saying that many who do so are creating a smokescreen to hide their sin. Whether you’re a pastor or not, keep this in mind. Be observant. Don’t be fooled by the smoke.... Continue Reading
The Holiness of Christ
What is an appropriate reaction to the holiness of Jesus Christ? How should we approach Him?
“In a word, what the disciples experienced on the Sea of Galilee that night was the holiness of Christ. They liked His power when they were in trouble, so they were quick to wake Him when the boat seemed endangered. But when He showed them His power, they said: “This is not common power. This... Continue Reading
The Danger of Lectio Divina
If we follow Lectio Divina from personal devotions to sermon preparation, we may not preach the text, but preach our interpretation of the text
“This method has gained popularity in recent years, first in private devotions and increasing in sermon preparation. “And even where it is not practiced by name, it is remarkably similar to the way a lot of young preachers are taught to prepare. They are told to read the Bible devotionally, quietly, waiting upon the Holy... Continue Reading
Another 1000+ Member Texas Church Leaves The PCUSA For ECO
Windwood Presbyterian Church has voted to disaffiliate from the PCUSA and join the ECO
“Windwood has been engaged in prolonged litigation with the Presbytery of New Covenant over church property issues. That dispute is not resolved by the congregation’s vote to realign with ECO. A press release from the church verified that on May 18, 2014, Windwood Presbyterian Church held a congregational meeting and that 395 ballots were given... Continue Reading
Church Is For Messy People
Church should be a place where messy people, those who are weak, weary, and worn out, feel comfortable
How can we serve “messy” people? How can we make “messy” people feel welcome in our churches? Several ways: Don’t act shocked when we see sin. Unfortunately, we tend to act shocked when certain sins or struggles come to light. We aren’t surprised by pride or anger or impatience. Regularly acknowledge our own sins, failures, and... Continue Reading
Theologizers and the Anti-Seminary
The Anti-Seminary: seekers looking to ecclesiastically untethered and academically undisciplined smooth talkers for spiritual guidance and insight
What is amazing is that Vines and Evans have little formal theological education and yet have widespread popularity, especially among Millennial evangelicals. As one of my friends pointed out to me, Evans in particular is the perfect writer for this low-attention-span generation which eschews dense reading and complex arguments. Young evangelicals have been raised in... Continue Reading
Magnifying or Mangling the Word of Truth: A Tale of Two Preachers
Summer vacation and visiting churches: Same text different messages
Some are hasty to claim that preachers who care so much about grace will go light on holiness and sanctification. But a faithful preacher of grace knows that his flock will never be able to fulfill the imperative commands of the Bible without enabling grace. Precisely because he’s so committed to the sanctification of his... Continue Reading
Strategic Planning or Spiritual Power?
Is the basis of our ministry our self-reliance, our self-will, our self-determination, or is it the power of the Holy Spirit?
This twinge of fear was the latest in a long line of red flags that as a church, the PCA is less and less confident in the power of the Holy Spirit, and more and more reliant upon the wisdom of the age; less and less committed to Christ’s design for the church, and more... Continue Reading
Towards a New Model of Theological Education
While the traditional seminary model still works for some, it may not fit all. Other options need to be considered; what will these other options look like?
The key idea here is an integration of undergraduate liberal-arts education and graduate theological education, such that what we might term “M.Div. competency” is accomplished more efficiently than under the current system. Also, in the current environment it really is necessary that the student emerge from the process with some sort of masters-level academic credential.... Continue Reading
The Washington Post Is Super Confused About Where Babies Come From
“Do you agree with the consensus of scientists that say that human life begins at conception?” I’d like to see someone ask that question.
The thing is that activists can redefine pregnancy all they want and it won’t change the central issue at hand — the question of whether it’s ok to end the life of a genetically distinct human. We won’t resolve that debate any time soon, but obscuring the facts on when and how human life begins... Continue Reading