As many of you know, I am currently engaged in preaching through the book of Romans. After an Advent hiatus, I will resume my place in chapter 11, and so I am coming up on the Pauline doctrine of the conversion of the Jews. The driving engine of that conversion — jealousy — has been …
A Sacrifice of Praise
Book 4/Chapter 18 The Mass not primitive (section 9) 1. Is there any such use of the Supper in the ancient church? 2. What must the Mass-doctors do? Detached sentences (section 10) 1. How can support for the Mass be found in the ancient authors? 2. What do the ancient writers do? A small fault …
Regardless of Real Amounts
There is no real understanding of modern politics possible that does not take into full account the deep and pervasive presence of envy. And such a broad cultural understanding will not come about until there is a reformation in the church, and my current suspicion is that it will have to be the kind of …
Bloodless or Bloody Sacrifice?
Book 4/Chapter 18 Language of sacrifice (section 4) 1. How does Calvin handle the argument that the prophets spoke of the new covenant era in terms of “sacrificing”? Bloodless or bloody? (section 5) 1. What other negative effect does the Mass have? 2. How does it do this? 3. How does Calvin answer the claim …
It Doesn”t Matter How Big the Sectarian Body Is
I mentioned this talk a day or so ago. Very worthwhile, and the conclusion is priceless. Dr. David Field is delivered the last lecture in NSA’s series, honoring the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin Calvin@500 Lecture – Dr. David Field – “Calvin’s Catholicity and Birth of English Nonconformity” from Daniel Foucachon on …
Laugh Like a Developmentally-Challenged Hyena
One of the things a lot of people need to learn how to do is make political determinations, whenever possible, based on the undisputed out-in-the-open facts. This is possible a lot more than is pretended otherwise. The alternative is to try to make determinations based on the contested behind-the-scenes-facts, and this is an invitation to …
Two Kinds of Black
As we celebrate the coming of the Christ, we must never forget the kind of world He was born into. The blackness that the star of Bethlehem shone brightly from was a creational blackness, the kind of blackness that was visible on the first day of our world—when it was evening and it was morning, …
More Than Last Time
The apostle Paul tells us that this bread represents the unity of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 10:16-17). How so? Remember that the Lord’s way of unity is one, one divided, and two restored into one. That is what He did in the Garden. Adam was one, then he was divided into two, so …
Their Father, Herod
Our Father and God, You have established Your Church as a royal priesthood in this world, and so we intercede for the nations of men now, confessing on their behalf so that the grace of Your forgiveness will soon be extended to them all. Father, in the blood of Your Son our Lord, You have …
Major and Minor
Yesterday Dr. David Field gave the final Calvin lecture in NSA’s commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the birth of that great reformer. And what a lecture it was — the video will be available on line sometime, and I will let you know when and where. In the meantime, the lecture jabbed some thoughts …