“The hallmark of the apostolic method of preaching was boldness. Again and again as we read Luke’s account we are arrested by the power and boldness that characterized the way in which the gospel was proclaimed by those early preachers . . . This characteristic boldness is all the more striking when we compare it …
The Absolute Necessity of the New Birth/Romans 9
INTRODUCTION: We left off with St. Paul’s observation that the Gentiles blasphemed God’s name because of the behavior of God’s people. In this passage, he goes on to show the root cause of the discrepancy between the holy name by which God’s people were called, and unholy lives which disgraced that calling. The root cause …
The Genesis of Hypocrisy/Romans 8
INTRODUCTION: We have already seen in the first chapter that the unbelieving Gentile world is without excuse in their rebellion against God. We have also seen (in this second chapter of Romans) that believing Gentiles are not in the same position. And here in this passage, we come to the point of emphasis, which is …
Preaching and Timbre
“God plays a number of different instruments, and the individual personality and background of the preacher is as much a part of powerful preaching as is the divine influence” (Wagner, Tongues Aflame, p. 31).
Easter Answer Once More
A week or so ago I blurbed The Easter Answer. A bunch of people went to that site and found an intriguing title, but no way to order the booklet. But, good news, the web site now has a purchase option here.
Glory, Honor, Immortality/Romans 8
INTRODUCTION: Paul has already stated his great theme—that the just shall live by faith. This is the great epistle of justification by faith, apart from works of the law. At the same time, it is quite striking that there is no more of a contradiction between Paul and James than there is between Paul in …
The Spirit of Accusation/Romans 6
INTRODUCTION: God’s wrath is taught very clearly in Scripture. Our great problem with it is that we confound it with the spirit of accusation that belongs to the devil, and we show that we do not understand how righteousness, the real thing, interacts with sin. We think we know, but we tend to know only …
Following the Template
“Let us remember that as in theology and ethics, so in preaching, we participate in apostolic authority and power by following apostolic precept and example as they set forth in the pages of Scripture” (Wagner, Tongues Aflame, p. 31).
A Large Part of Acts
“The sermons of the apostles, of which there are so many fine examples in Acts (they make up one-fifth of the book), are not therefore, incidental additions to the account, chosen arbitrarily for the purposes of narrative ‘color’. These sermons are cited to emphasize the central role preaching played in the witness of the apostles …
Vile Affections/Romans 5
INTRODUCTION: Recall that we have learned that the wrath of God is revealed in the world, and it is revealed as God “lets go”of a culture, allowing them to run headlong into various suicidal and fruitless practices. In this text, we find a deepening expansion of the point Paul has already made. THE TEXT: “For …