What is the whole point of our lives on this earth? What is the purpose of every church? What is the task of every Christian? Just what exactly are we supposed to do with the handful of decades that God has given to us? How many books have been written, sermons preached, and videos directed in our attempts to answer these questions? We ask these questions as if they exist as mine shafts miles deep when really the answer to each is so straightforward and simple: We are to be disciples of Jesus who live to make disciples of Jesus. Individually and collectively, the answer remains the … [Read more...] about Why do we make this so hard?
True Grace
Dave Miller wrote recently about the dangers of “hyper-grace.” I know I have seen it even in churches I’ve pastored—that when one seeks to confront another concerning sin, even in a loving way, they are met with the cry of “Grace! Grace!” It is the very thing Paul warned about in Romans 6 and elsewhere—grace, thankfully beyond words, covers our sin, both our nature and every act past, present, and future; but grace is not an excuse to dabble and dawdle in sin. Grace is the awesome favor of God bestowed upon undeserving creatures who have willfully turned against him to make themselves … [Read more...] about True Grace
A Hermeneutic of Story
For an upcoming seminar I am taking, the professor wrote in the syllabus that we should be ready on the first day to answer the question, “What is your hermeneutic.” The book he has us reading in preparation for this discussion is Kevin Vanhoozer’s The Drama of Doctrine (which I’ve mentioned in a previous post). At its core, Vanhoozer proposes what he calls a canonical-linguistic approach. With this, he critiques a postmodern tendency to place the authority of interpretation into the hands of a reader’s tradition and instead places the authority back onto God via his communicated word. … [Read more...] about A Hermeneutic of Story
Pray for Oklahoma
For we know the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now… ~ Romans 8:22 Oklahoma is sort of a “stomping grounds” for me. Though I was born, raised, and presently live in Missouri, I graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2003 with a degree in Meteorology. People see me going around all over the place with an OU hat and they immediately think, “Football.” Yes, that’s part of it, but before I became a student there I didn’t grow up with an affinity for a crimson-clad football team. For me it was all about the weather. I have had a passion for … [Read more...] about Pray for Oklahoma
Don’t call us traditional; call us vintage…
There are important dates that come with this time of year. Yes, there’s that date (I love you, mom!). But there are also other events worth celebrating, at least to me—the completion of 33 years of life and 9 years in the role of a pastor. These, of course, are not epic milestones and in both cases by many people around me, I am still but a pup. Side note: In 9 years of pastoring, I have always been the youngest “senior” pastor in my association. When I started at 23 going on 24, this was a bit of a no duh type thing. Now I’m like, “Are we ever going to get anyone younger than me?” … [Read more...] about Don’t call us traditional; call us vintage…
I Can’t Change, but Jesus Will Change Me
This past Wednesday night (May 1) on The Colbert Report, the mock-conservative pundit hosted a hip-hop group known as Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, performing the song “Same Love” off their album The Heist. The song, based on Macklemore’s family experience with homosexual uncles, stands as a piece of cultural protest aimed in favor of same-sex marriage. The lyrics speak to the predisposition of homosexuality, bash the notions of therapeutic and religious change, and quote the Bible—particularly from 1 Corinthians 13 and Paul’s admonition that love is patient and love is kind. The chorus line … [Read more...] about I Can’t Change, but Jesus Will Change Me
When God Judges a Culture
“The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave…” ~ Genesis 18:20 With the gay marriage question before the Supreme Court, the media (social, news, or otherwise) outlets of our culture have seen an explosion of activity and strong opinion in both directions. At the core of this issue is the notion of homosexuality itself, and such always seems to draw minds to the story of God’s judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis. God determined to rain his judgment and wrath upon the culture of those cities because of the greatness of their sin. A hint of this sin is … [Read more...] about When God Judges a Culture
Follow (pt. 4): Help Others Follow Jesus
Below is part 4 (the conclusion) of an outreach and discipleship booklet I put together for my church based on an April 2013 sermon series by the same name. You can find Part 1: Give Up Your Life for Jesus, here; Part 2: Value Jesus Above All Else, here; and Part 3: Delight in the Father’s Love, here. Help Others Follow Jesus Jesus’ first followers were a group of common tradesmen, fishermen to be exact. They were use to long days on a boat, casting nets into the sea, and pulling in large hauls of fish. That is, if the day went well. It was a long, hard, dirty, smelly, sweaty … [Read more...] about Follow (pt. 4): Help Others Follow Jesus
Follow (pt. 3): Know Who You Are and Delight in the Father’s Love
Below is part 3 of an outreach and discipleship booklet I put together for my church based on an April 2013 sermon series by the same name. You can find Part 1: Give Up Your Life for Jesus, here; and Part 2: Value Jesus Above All Else, here. To Follow Jesus, Know Who You Are and Delight in the Father’s Love[1] In Luke 15, Jesus was surrounded by two groups of people. One was a group who disregarded God’s commands, lived how they wanted to live, and sought pleasure in whatever sins they could commit. This group included those who became rich by robbing their very neighbors (the Roman … [Read more...] about Follow (pt. 3): Know Who You Are and Delight in the Father’s Love
Follow (pt. 2): Value Jesus Above All Else
Below is part 2 of an outreach and discipleship booklet I put together for my church based on an April 2013 sermon series by the same name. You can find Part 1: Give Up Your Life for Jesus, here. Value Jesus Above All Else Luke 14 tells us how Jesus was walking along and an exceedingly large crowd followed. At one point Jesus stopped and turned towards them, and said some very difficult things to them. Imagine Jesus speaking these words, and listen as you read: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, … [Read more...] about Follow (pt. 2): Value Jesus Above All Else