“Preaching does not have to be an individualistic sort of activity. In fact, great preaching well understands this. The true preacher is not over against the Christian congregation but rather is an expression of the congregation. The true Christian preacher affirms the faith of the congregation, and raises up the hope of the congregation. Much …
The Power of God Unto Salvation
“We have believed this Word because this Word, being God’s Word, has the power of God’s Spirit within it. Because God’s Word is inspired, it has the power to inspire. God’s Word inspires life. Nothing demonstrates the inspiration of the Scripture more than its ability to bring the Church to life. Nothing demonstrates the truth …
Why Sermons Should Be Full of Surprises
“When we understand life as the theater of God’s glory rather than merely the marketplace of human values, then we can begin to grasp why salvation is by grace. Grace is ultimately wondrous; it amazes us as nothing else. God’s power certainly impresses us, and his wisdom is impressive, too, as is his justice, but …
A Dirty Fire
In James 3:6, we are told how destructive the tongue is. It is called a fire, and then a whole cosmos of unrighteousness. Listed among our body’s members, the tongue has the effect of staining the whole body, and setting time on fire. The body (soma) is stained, and the whole “course of life” is …
Hope That Purifies
INTRODUCTION:Everything God does in our world is aimed at glorifying His name through the salvation of sinners like us. He declared his saving intentions right after the Fall, in the first pages of Scripture. He unfolded more and more details as the era of the patriarchs and prophets went on, and then, when it was …
Not Available in Stores
“The more stodgy sort of ecclesiastical politicians may not be able to inspire their congregations, but they do, on the other hand, have a way of keeping things in their control. Paul obviously had charisma, and great preaching needs charisma even if the less gifted have a way of feeling threatened by it. Charisma by …
Rare, and More Rare Than We Think
“The Church needs its exciting young charismatics and the Church needs solid elders and learned scholars. The amazing thing about Paul is that he was all of these together” (Hughes Oliphant Old, The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures, Vol. I, p. 208).
Simple Gifts
“Preaching is a charisma . . . it is a spiritual gift. SUrely there is much in preaching which is human skill or literary art, but none of it is nearly as central as the fact that preaching is a charisma . . . [Paul] realized that what made his ministry real was not his …
Some of Them Really Strange
“If the legitimate ministry is unfaithful, God will still be heard . . . The ordinary channels of hearing the Word of God have been clogged up by every kind of infidelity, but God’s Word has been heard in some of the strangest ways and some of the strangest places” (Hughes Oliphant Old, The Reading …
Knowledge of Good and Evil
INTRODUCTION: The Lord Jesus was born in this world in order to reestablish mankind. The first mankind in Adam had failed at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and so Jesus was born into this world in order to rebuild the ruin we had created here. Our celebrations at this time of …