Christopher Bryan is, if his prose any indicator, both a scholar’s curmudgeon — much on the order of Morna Hooker — and a happy person. He’s a scholar’s curmudgeon because he doesn’t buy trendy scholarship just because everyone likes it, and he writes with a clever lilt — the kind that makes you occasionally smile. I wish more could write like Bryan. |inline Read more
At the very center of the world’s redemption is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The intention of God is to call others into the “ambit” of his Son, or to call humans to be “in Christ.” When all is done, God will be all in all and at the center of it all will the Son on the throne. |inline Read more
By Steve McCoy: 1. One book that changed your life: D. Bohoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship. I read it in college and it has haunted my life. I’ve read most of it in German as well, and am moved everytime I touch the book. |inline Read more
What about universalism? Before I say anything, I want to ask if you think the following proposal by Spencer is universalist or if it is not more accurately a (very, very) “generous inclusivism”? Here are Spencer Burke’s central theses, and I’ve gone back over these more lately and they have led me to change the direction of this post: |inline Read more
This verse, the “God works all things together…” verse, needs nothing other than its verse as the title for today’s post. Favorite verses are neither easy to preach or write about. A few comments can be made: |inline Read more
Saturday’s post on plagiarism took me by surprise. Lots of chat for a Saturday. The challenge to preach and teach weekly, and often more than once, is far more challenging than most comprehend. I’m wondering what you do to keep yourself fresh and in condition to give your own sermons. |inline Read more
Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.” Let’s continue the Christian and politics theme this week by looking at what the Bible says about empire and power. To do this, we will look at the new book by Christopher Bryan, Render to Caesar: Jesus, the Early Church, and the Roman Superpower (Oxford). |inline Read more
A genuine Christian experience in prayer is to come to the edge of the road and to recognize uncharted territory and not know the way — but, instead of turning back, cutting our way through the thickets and dense grasses in faith through the power of the Spirit. That, I think, is what Romans 8:26-27 speaks of when it speaks of the Spirit interceding on our behalf. Paul defines prayer here brilliantly, and it unlocks much of what we need... Read more
Grant to me, Lord, I pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that I, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. + Read more
The NY Times ran an article about pastors swiping sermons from sermon sources, and then Out of Ur ran a piece which got some comments. (HT: Garry Poole) I’m wondering what you think. Here are my thoughts: |inline Read more
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