One of the great doctrines of Scripture is the doctrine of union with Christ. The phrase in Christ or related phrases occurs in Paul’s letters over 170 times. It occurs in the book of Ephesians over 30 times. Now for those who are Christ’s this union is the case all the time. But Scripture also …
Oceanic Theology
“I believe that the history of Christian preaching shows that preaching is always revived and carried forth on a rising theological tide” (Willimon, Proclamation and Theology, p. 3).
The Subject in Both Senses
“Preaching is about God and by God, or it is silly” (Willimon, Proclamation and Theology, p. 2).
But Other Than That, Be Yourself
“It is proper to repeat that at all hazards there must be life, freedom, power. Do not repress nature, though it must be governed; and do not force nature . . . No one can be in this respect so helpful as an intelligent wife” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 475).
An Objective Gospel
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) The Basket Case Chronicles #176 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according …
Start By Imagining You Can Preach
“Imagination in preaching is most important and most helpful. I am very ready to agree that it can be dangerous, but imagination, let us not forget, is a gift of God” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, as quoted in Wiersbe, Preaching and Teaching With Imagination, p. 288).
Not Too Contrived
“Let the speaker see to it that his bearing shall be free, unconstrained, and not ungraceful . . . life and power are far more important than grace; and , in fact, timid self-repression destroys grace itself” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 473).
Nothing Coming Down the Pike
The question of assurance is a subset of epistemology. And that means Christians today who struggle with assurance are dealing with an extra factor that previous generations of Christians (usually) did not have to deal with. We live in a skeptical postmodern age, and so the question of knowing that you are saved is related …
Surveying the Text: Acts
Introduction: After the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, this book, the book of Acts, represents the pivot of God. In this book, we move from the world of the Jewish nation to the world of the Gentile church. We move from a largely agrarian world to an urban world. We move from God’s work …
Room and Board
When Nicolas Ridley was Bishop of London, he undertook the important reform of “stripping the altars.” Churches then had multiple altars, in the front of the church and in many side alcoves. Ridley ordered these all be removed, and replaced with a wooden table, a “decent table.” He referred to this as the “Lord’s board,” …