Transforming Sermons

Asking questions, finding answers

2009-11-24T21:11:00.003-05:00

This is a brief, helpful article on interpreting the Bible through asking good questions.

Building and planting

2009-11-24T21:08:00.001-05:00

Keith Brenton has noticed something about the language Christians use to describe building the church:

I'm a little uncomfortable with the term "church planting."

I understand that it's trying to describe something more organic than building and filling church facilities; something that communicates growth and change, and that the alternative term "church-building" would have attached to it all of the baggage of "church buildings." But "church planting" isn't really a scriptural term.

True. I recommend Keith's whole article.

Revolutionizing our view of God

2009-11-23T17:45:00.000-05:00

Glen Scrivener explains, succinctly and poignantly, why it really matters that "Jesus is God-sized and God is Jesus-shaped."

On being translated

2009-11-23T17:44:00.000-05:00

"As Christ came to the world, so his people spread out across the globe spreading the Good News of a God who translated himself so that we could understand him. The centre of this Good News is the creation of indigenous redeemed communities expressing the Gospel manifold cultures and all adding together to create a symphony of praise to our God. The translation of the Scriptures lies at the very heart of this. Translation is not simply a way to convey the message: translation is the message."

- Eddie Arthur

Seeking first

2009-11-23T17:43:00.000-05:00

Dan Edelen writes trenchantly about the failure of Christianity in the United States:

Our problem as Christians in America 2009 is not simply that we are more wealthy than 95 percent of the world’s population, but that every single aspect of how we live, work, love, commune, and bleed MUST be “sold” to follow Jesus.

And we are simply unwilling to take that step.

Dan goes on to offer solutions at the link.

Meanwhile, another Dan (Horwedel) offers related thoughts on American civil religion: "too much of who we are as the church is wrapped up in preserving our country and/or way of life, and not near enough is about loving God and others."

I recommend the writings of both Dans.

'Distinctive ignorance'

2009-11-20T19:31:00.000-05:00

"What we are ignorant of is highly telling."

Story of the missionary God

2009-11-20T19:30:00.000-05:00

"We are often rather suspicious of narrative; with a slight suspicion that it is less authoritative than propositional logic. We would like the Bible to be a book of systematic theology rather than a narrative. But God gave us the Bible he wants us to have and we should be wary of regarding it otherwise." - Eddie Arthur

On making peace

2009-11-20T19:28:00.000-05:00

These have got to be some of the best words I've read in a long time on peace:

We are called to be peacemakers. So, what is a peacemaker? A peacemaker is someone who brings righteousness (Jesus) into a situation. You actually make peace by sowing righteousness. For instance, if you don’t have peace in your marriage, don’t avoid the conflict. Rather, bring your marital relationship into right standing with God. Bring righteousness into the relationship and peace will follow.

If there is an area of conflict in your life, then examine to see if it is in right standing with God. Bring righteousness into that area of your life. Make it completely right before God. Totally surrender it to Him. Give it to Jesus! Righteousness will bring peace!

That's Eric Jones, and I recommend his whole article.

Two must-haves in preaching

2009-11-18T10:46:00.001-05:00

"It is my opinion that in biblical preaching God is most interested in two things: faithfulness and humility."

'Obeying God by doing nothing'

2009-11-18T10:44:00.001-05:00

Roycle Ogle writes a good reminder to overworked Christians:

God in his infinite wisdom declared that man should rest every seventh day to show that he was set apart for God. This day of rest (Sabbath) was a covenant between God and man and God said rest and he meant it. . . .

So, I’m officially off 52 days a year. I’m taking a nap on the back porch on my day off and my neighbor stops by. “What are you doing sleeping in the middle of the day?” I answer, “Oh, I’m just honoring and obeying God.” “I’m just following instructions.”

Yes.

The real Jesus?

2009-11-17T18:33:00.001-05:00

Jeff Weddle: "Many believe in Jesus; few believe in the Jesus of Scripture."

Ministry and depression

2009-11-17T18:18:00.003-05:00

Kinney Mabry is hoping to start a dialogue on ministers dealing with depression:

Ministers have a harder time dealing with depression and anxiety because of their positions. They often feel as if they can't tell anyone how they are feeling. In doing so can sometimes even cost them their ministry positions in the churches that they pastor. Where do they turn? If they share their thoughts with members, elders, or others in their church it can cost them. If they share their thoughts and feelings online it could cost them if someone reads what they feel . . . .

A good bit of discussion has already begun in the comments section of Kinney's blog post.

Along similar lines, Darryl Dash shares insights on a related ailment: a low-grade sense of ministerial failure.

Speaking well

2009-11-16T09:17:00.002-05:00

This looks helpful: Ten things good ministers say.

Theology of social media

2009-11-16T09:17:00.001-05:00

Scot McKnight: "So, let me ask pastors who tweet and who update their status a few simple questions: What do your updates tell us about what you are doing? About what is uppermost on your mind? About what is most important to you? It is time to take stock."

On competence addiction

2009-11-16T09:15:00.000-05:00

"The perfectionistic, driven, and competent person, capable of leading others well is no better off than an addict who tries to get her needs met through alcohol - if she's operating out of sheer need for approval or drivenness to 'git it done.' Whether our flesh is a little like the Pharisee or more like the woman at the well, getting our needs met apart from trusting in Christ is a dead-end."

- Victoria Gaines

Translating church-hopper lingo

2009-11-13T16:38:00.001-05:00

This may be a little cynical, but probably more true than we'd like: Top ten things church hoppers say (via).

Go deeper

2009-11-13T16:37:00.001-05:00

"Thank you preacher- that was boring, uninspired, obscure and moralistic."

One-note Gospel preaching

2009-11-13T16:36:00.001-05:00

"The critic of the one-note Johnnyism of gospel-centrality just doesn't get it. But the gospel is versatile enough for those who do and don't. And there's the awesomeness of gospel-centered preaching! It's a wonderful Catch-22. Those who haven't yet experienced gospel wakefulness can only do so by hearing the gospel, and those who have experienced gospel wakefulness don't tire of hearing it!"

- Jared Wilson

The strength of my heart

2009-11-12T14:20:00.001-05:00

Victoria Gaines: "We can stop worrying and feeling condemned over our flesh when we realize that God doesn't intend to "fix" it. God puts no hope in the flesh, neither should we!"

On being still

2009-11-12T14:18:00.001-05:00

Jared Wilson writes succinctly and insightfully on Sabbathless Christianity:

This is often our invitation: "Come to Jesus and get to work."

This is Jesus' invitation: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Good point.

'I don't know anything about that'

2009-11-11T13:11:00.002-05:00

This one's simply too rich to summarize, so I urge you simply to follow the link and read Mark Olson's writing of cross and culture.

Working on a pure heart

2009-11-11T13:03:00.001-05:00

Eric Jones shares some thoughts on keeping the heart pure:

Let me start out by emphatically stating that the only way we can ever have a pure heart is to

invite Jesus to reside, rule, and reign inside our hearts. He alone is the essence of purity and holiness. So, there’s no hope for a pure heart without God.

But know that in Christ, we now have the ability and responsibility to actively pursue this progressive work of developing a pure heart. “I can do all things through Christ…” My heart can be purified. I am called to "work out my salvation with fear and trembling.” I am called to work on my heart.

There's more in Eric's article.

Serving with joy

2009-11-10T16:50:00.000-05:00

Victoria Gaines shares a reminder about guilt, grace, and religious labor:

When a baby is born, we're happy and rejoice! When my three children were born, I certainly cooed over them lovingly, thanking God for such precious life. I didn't look at them and say, "Hmm...I wonder what awful sinful past this baby had?

If we belong to God, He isn't saying that either.

Yet many of us, after being born into Christ, still kick ourselves and drag around a heap of guilt and shame. We worry we haven't pleaded enough for forgiveness, served God enough, disciplined ourselves enough, or think ourselves unworthy because of shame. Listen, none of us were worthy before He saved us! And religious works won't ever cleanse our conscience! But because God loves us, He provided a means for healthy guilt-free living; we just need to receive His provision. Only then will we serve Him with joy and out of this amazing grace in which we now stand.

Thanks, Vicki; those words really hit home.

Credit where credit is due

2009-11-09T08:21:00.000-05:00

Plus, no football was ever elected to the Hall of Fame.

Not twittering

2009-11-09T08:19:00.003-05:00

I'm glad to see someone else feels the same way: Skye Jethani gives a number of reasons why he doesn't tweet. Here's sample:

SIX

I don’t need another commitment in my life. To quote Bilbo Baggins, I fee like “too little butter spread over too much bread.” I already check email, Facebook, SkyeBox, Out of Ur, voicemail, snail mail, and a number of other websites with obsessive regularity. Frankly, I don’t want another one filling my mind or time.

SEVEN

I’m tired of obeying marketers. No offense to those in the marketing profession, but I’d like to know when we collectively decided to make marketers the high priests of our culture? We listen to them like prophets and obey their instructions like slaves. Every marketer seems to be singing the praises of Twitter and social media. I’m sure they have a legitimate point, but if I did everything a marketer told me…well, it would be a sad existence.

Mr. Jethani's final reason, by the way, is the best of all. And thanks to David Fitch for the link.