“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2.3-4). H.W.J.D.? How would Jesus drive? Obviously, there were no cars in first-century Palestine so the question is anachronistic. But there was no internet, birth control, IEDs or aircraft, either. And the church […]
“Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them” (Lk 11.48). Jesus had lunch with a Pharisee one day (Lk 11.37). Not only did Jesus not wash his hands before the meal, he proceeded to take his host to the cosmic woodshed. Between bites of legumes Jesus exposed the wrank hypocrisy of the Pharisees. A Mosaic lawyer took issue with […]
What exactly is the “kingdom of God”? It was the substance of Jesus’ earthly ministry (Lk 4.43). It was a staple of Messianic expectations. What Jesus taught about God’s kingdom, however, was much different than what most thought to be true of that kingdom. When we think of “kingdom” we think king with a capitol, army, law, borders, flags, subjects and authority. When Jesus preached about God’s kingdom, he did […]
“So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him” (Lk 8.18). Most of us have seen the 3-D that hides a picture within a picture. To see the embedded image you stand three feet away, close one eye and squint. Some see the hidden picture right away […]
Christian baptism is necessary for the Christian life. The New Testament regularly considers it in the same context of conversion (see Part 1). It’s the new birth certificate, the public record, that one has been born again. While the act of baptism does not technically save anyone, it is nonetheless part of what it means to be saved. The New Testament simply has no category for an unbaptized Christian. Baptism […]
“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised […]
Evangelism is the declaration of good news. “Evangel” was not originally a Christian word but there is certainly no better word to describe what Christians have to declare. A fleet-footed messenger would return from the battle lines to declare the good news of victory. Christians declare the triumph of Jesus over sin, death and hell. Evangelism has become quite an industry. There are resources, tools, tracts, books, pamphlets and bracelets […]
Every Saturday The Commercial Appeal in Memphis publishes a “Faith in Memphis” section with a “Faith in Memphis Panel.” The editor asks local religious leaders to respond to a current issue in the news. That issue is usually about atonement when Yom Kippur rolls around each year. Yom Kippur is the Jewish “day of atonement” and the holiest day of the Jewish year (Lev 23.27-28). Since the holy day began […]
I will never forget a life-altering lesson learned fifteen years ago from my New Testament professor at Southern Seminary (long live Mother Southern). Dr. Mark Seifrid began each class with prayer. But not just any prayer. It was prayer remarkably different from the rote, I-know-exactly-what-this-deacon-is-going-to-pray-before-the-offering sort of prayers. They were far different than the “bless the gift and the giver for the nourishment of our bodies” variety. Dr. Seifrid’s prayers […]
Hands down, my favorite hymn is O Christ, Our Hope, Our Heart’s Desire. Written in the 7-8th century in Latin, it was translated by John Chandler into English in 1837. There are two different tunes, one arranged by Handel in 1751 (Bradford) and another by George Greatorex in 1851 (Manoah). I’m familiar with the latter because it’s far easier to sing in my opinion. Robust theology jam-packed into a simple, […]