Every good scholar, a Theologian being no exception, takes time to engage a topic thoroughly. When one has the opportunity to explore a topic across disciplines, it is difficult yet highly rewarding. For those of us who enjoy Theology, we find that our field lends itself to interdisciplinary studies. For instance, a Theologian may spend time revisiting an era in Church History, like the times of the three Magisterial Reformers. Or a Theologian may engage at the crux of two... Read more
Continue to form in us the image of Christ. Continue to transform us. Continue to lower our pride. Continue to form in us a heart of service for Your Kingdom. I’ve started a prayer series on prayers during corporate worship services.[1] This one stems from a sermon on the incarnation.[2] It’s a simple prayer of transformation. Continue to Transform Us A great truth with the incarnation is that we are to participate in the incarnation . . . in a... Read more
The central question of this essay has plagued man ever since the fall.[1] What does it take to be in the image of God without setting myself up as an idol? You do not have to own a home in Beverly Hills or a recording studio in Nashville to be an idol. If you think you have to be an athlete, talk show host, or any other celebrity, you are wrong. There are countless ways that we face the tension... Read more
For quite some time, I’ve been wanting to do a series on prayers. These would specifically be vlogs that are from prayers within a congregational setting. I believe that like prophecy, prayer speaks to the now, to individuals and congregations. However, it also speaks to the not yet. It speaks to those times in the future when our prayers might be actualized in new ways. This prayer is from a sermon by Rev. Vernell Ingle.* Blessing on this House I’m... Read more
Some people say that the Gifts are merely supernatural. That means that the Holy Spirit just short circuits the mind and takes over somehow. Now this one is dangerous, because none of us feel like we’re good enough to be used by the Holy Spirit, if we think it’s just supernatural. We’re waiting on some kind of divine moment and we never step into the Gifts. Do we lose control as we operate in the Gifts of the Spirit? This... Read more
When Jesus prayed the Lord’s Prayer that many of us have memorized, He used terms like “our Father,” “we,” and “us.” He prayed a corporate prayer. I’m going to share a particular part of a sermon with you and how the sermon developed. It was during a time of transition in our church, and it seems like the Lord prepared me for it in advance. So I thought it would be interesting to share. i. Prayerful preparation before transition A... Read more
The Hebrew Bible as a whole defines the human person in relational rather than essentialist terms. Human beings are assessed as genuinely human and alive only within the family of humans brought into being by Yahweh and in relation to the God who gives life-giving breath.[1] i. Man and Woman in Marriage This assertion is firmly planted in the creation narrative, “male and female He created them” (Genesis 1.27). God creates man and woman for relationship. God also designs us... Read more
What do you think of when you hear the phrases image of God or imago Dei? Are they just Christianese euphemisms that have become commonplace? This series opens up the discussion again. It is based on previous research, but has been revised based on the dialogue I had with Professor Brian Edgar.[1] The interdisciplinary questions at hand are: what exactly is our interior life, and do we have the ability to have relationship with God? Relationship With God Throughout time, we... Read more
When you speak the mind of God under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, when you’re speaking God’s thoughts into a situation and not just your own thoughts, you’re speaking prophetically. I recently found some sermons I preached at First Pentecostal Church of God in Flatwoods, KY. This one is a sermon on the Gifts of the Spirit.[1] I’m going to focus in on the Gift of Prophecy since we’ve been looking at that in our recent podcasts (1 Corinthians... Read more
Last autumn, I began to share some writings on a view of persons from a Christian perspective. This encompassed writings from a psychological standpoint, integrating Theology. This also included writings from a Theological standpoint, incorporating multiple disciplines. As I forge ahead, I have been looking forward to a point when I could share some research on the image of God, or imago Dei. I am adapting this series from some previous research, but will also include adaptations which reflect the... Read more
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