Some of you know we were at North Point Community Church last weekend for the Sunday services. I was asked by the lead pastor, Andy Stanley, and the good folks there to speak about the Jesus Creed — and I took yet another approach to the Jesus Creed by looking at the challenge of following Jesus by converting everyday people into everyday neighbors. It was Jesus’ commitment to living out the Jesus Creed that led to making folks neighbors, and... Read more
The words of James 5:1-6 are strong words, some of the strongest criticism of the rich in the entire Bible, and they are addressed at the rich for their oppression of the poor. Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have... Read more
For those who don’t know this, this post is written by our friend “RJS,” a professor in the sciences at a leading American university. She regularly posts here about issues intersecting science and faith. Last week in A Fine Tuned Universe 3 I posted on Augustine and his view of creation. Augustine’s conviction that science and reason cannot conflict in any foundational way with the faith is expressed in his work The Literal Meaning of Genesis: When they are able,... Read more
This a brief excerpt from another Beliefnet.com blog, called Science and the Sacred, by Darrel Falk. OK, we’re all really proud that Falk begins by giving kudos to RJS for her posts on science and faith on Jesus Creed. I have been a biologist for a long time, and I hope I never stop getting shivers in my spine when I think about the beauty of how we come to know things in biology. Biologists make predictions, then they go... Read more
Let’s give it up for our local worship bands and leaders. Followers of Jesus love to sing and love to bring both their worship and their message into song … and our worship bands are often the leaders in guiding us in our gatherings into those songs. This morning I listened to the excellent CD of Todd Fields, worship leader at North Point Community Church. We’ve participated in a number of services when Todd was leader, and so we’re grateful... Read more
A case can be made that the two most socially revolutionary passages in the New Testament are (1) Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:69-75 and (2) James’ potent criticism of the rich farmers in James 5:1-6. I quote James 5 in full: Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you... Read more
There are four major reasons given to teenagers at the time of their sexual awakening, for not engaging in sex. 1. It’s wrong — and some just say “Because it’s wrong!” while others reach into their sacred texts, like the Bible, or find some moral arguments against sex before marriage.2. You can get pregnant or impregnate someone.3. You can get STDs — sexually transmitted diseases.4. You can get “hooked” on sex. This fourth argument, which can be called an emotional... Read more
A couple year’s back Mark Noll and Carolyn Nystrom co-authored a book with a spiffy little question for a title: Is the Reformation Over?: An Evangelical Assessment of Contemporary Roman Catholicism . They marshalled evidence to suggest the Reformation had had a powerful impact and the Roman Catholic (evangelical types) and Protestant Evangelicals now had huge connections where there was once massive fissures. If this sketch is accurate to what the Pope says, two questions: (1) is he old or... Read more
A couple year’s back Mark Noll and Carolyn Nystrom co-authored a book with a spiffy little question for a title: Is the Reformation Over?: An Evangelical Assessment of Contemporary Roman Catholicism . They marshalled evidence to suggest the Reformation had had a powerful impact and the Roman Catholic (evangelical types) and Protestant Evangelicals now had huge connections where there was once massive fissures. If this sketch is accurate to what the Pope says, two questions: (1) is he old or... Read more
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Read more
Jesus Creed
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