Tag: christianity
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August ’25: Posts from X and Other Notes
Most of these notes are X posts form August, but some are pulled from the archives. — Natural revelation is infallible and absolutely authoritative. But Scripture still has a kind of primacy because of the form in which it’s given. I like how John Frame explains it: “God has given us Scripture, or “special revelation,”…
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How to Preach a Sermon and How to Listen to a Sermon
Pastors, as you prepare for the divine service tomorrow, remember, preaching is not just a lecture. Preaching an act of worship. Preaching is an effectual means of grace. Your sermon has a context – and that context is the whole of the liturgy and the baptized congregation gathered to receive God’s gifts. Pastors, know that…
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1 Samuel 30 Sermon Follow-up — A Biblical-Theology of Strength: Come, Men of Christ, be Strong
I have been making my way through 1 Samuel, usually doing one sermon per chapter. But this week I took a bit of detour to focus on one of my hobby-horses, namely a biblical-theology of strength. But I do not apologize for riding this horse because I think the topic is incredibly important – and…
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Satan, the False Accuser
One of Satan’s favorite weapons to use against the church is false accusation. There are plenty of examples of Satanic false accusation in Scripture. Pharaoh and Abimelech make false accusations against Abraham; Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph; Job’s so-called friends make false accusations against him, following Satan who did the same; plenty of false accusations…
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Notes on Family, Men, Women, Marriage, Sex, Feminism, Mothering and Fathering, Inheritance, Etc.
The purpose of marriage according to Ephesians 5 is ultimately gospel symbolism. The husband and wife are icons of Christ the church. But they can only portray the gospel in their marriage if there is role differentiation between them. They each have a script, a part to play, and while there is all kinds of…
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Calvin and Lewis on Liturgy
John Calvin on liturgy: “As to what concerns a form of prayer and ecclesiastical rites, I highly approve of it that there be a certain form, from which the ministers be not allowed to vary: That first, some provision be made to help the simplicity and unskillfulness of some; secondly, that the consent and harmony…
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“Sin Boldly”: Righly Understanding Luther’s Counsel to Melanchthon
Melanchthon was having another one of his bouts of conscience. His sins and sinfulness were weighing on him. He wrote to Luther, wondering aloud if he was really and truly a Christian. Luther responded with straight gospel fire: “Sin boldly. But believe even more boldly in Christ, and rejoice.” In other words: yes, you are…
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A primer on patriarchalism versus complementarianism — It’s Good to be a Man
This was a Facebook comment of mine, turned into a short article on the “It’s Good to Be a Man” website, posted on August 19, 2020. Bnonn Tennant made a few edits. Summary: Complementarians are primarily concerned with male and female roles in marriage and church; the patriarchal-household view is concerned with how male and…
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Old X Posts, #2
Another post from the archives: — Every book in the New Testament teaches that our eternal destiny hinges on doing good works There is no salvation without obedience Good works are necessary if we are to be saved You will not be forgiven without repentance Do not be deceived: You will reap what you have…
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Quotebook #7
“Charity means pardoning the unpardonable, or it is no virtue at all. Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all. And faith means believing the incredible, or it is no virtue at all.”— Chesterton — “A good man’s work is effected by doing what he does, a woman’s by…
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