FOX News: ‘Sex and the Sermon’
February 17, 2009
Billy Sunday, explained by a kindergartner
February 6, 2009
10 things to pray for your pastor’s preaching
January 7, 2009
Library of Congress gathering sermons on Obama’s historic inauguration
January 3, 2009
Library of Congress American Folklife Center blurb (HT: Bruce Tomaso, Dallas News)
‘Top Ten Most-Read Sermons of 2008′
December 17, 2008
… from Preaching Today. Titles include:
1. Jeremiah Wright’s “The Audacity of Hope”
2. Bill Hybels’ “The Story of Seven Demotions”
3. Mike Woodruff’s “What Would Jesus Say When the Dow Drops 700 Points?”
‘A Strong Opinion’
December 16, 2008
More hilarity from The Sacred Sandwich:
Preaching interviews: Keller, Begg, Baucham
December 10, 2008
Colin Adams has brought out some of his own greatest hits/posts this week:
- Interview with Tim Keller
- Interview with Alistar Begg
- Interview with Voddie Baucham
Gobs of resources on sermon preparation
December 9, 2008
… courtesy of my personal friend (how privileged I am!), Colin Adams.
“How Should a Member Respond to a Divisive Elder?”
December 4, 2008
Thabiti Anyabile addresses a question brought to his attention:
“I am currently in a dialogue with an elder in my church who does not believe that traditional, ‘monologue-style’ preaching is the ‘preaching’ that is modeled and recommended in the New Testament. He believes that a conversation in which the Gospel is shared is a form of preaching. He also believes that preaching could simply be reading a book of the Bible, even possibly on Sunday mornings, without any additional explanation or application. … Do you have any recommendations as to how I could answer his points about expositional preaching?”
Thanksgiving/Weekend Walkabout, Nov. 27, 2008
November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
26 posts from the week that escaped mention (almost!):
Advent on your iPhone - Father Z
“Those of you who have an iPhone may want to know about a fun application for Advent for $0.99.”
The Blind Spot of the Spiritual Formation Movement - Craig Brian Larson
“Read books on spiritual formation and you will be hard pressed to find anyone who lists listening to the preaching of God’s Word as a first-order spiritual discipline.”
Check out free downloads from Christian music artist Josh Garrels - Joanne Brokaw
“Like other indie acts with a blatant faith message but an unconventional delivery … Garrels doesn’t quite fit the typical Christian music mold.”
The Day I Schmoozed - Amy Scott:
“Just tell her what she wants to hear.”
Evangelicals Adopting Advent - Cathy Lynn Grossman (HT: SharperIron)
“They’re giving a new, personalized spin to the prayers, candles and calendars to track the building excitement, and set a spiritual tone day by day.”
Faith and Politics - Doug Pagitt
“I was asked by the folks at Conservative Reformed Mafia blog to discuss my thoughts on faith and politics in light of my interest in running for the Minnesota State Legislature. I responded to questions with a video …”
Gordon Brown sells the nation’s soul to Satan - Cranmer
“As Gordon Brown has already sold the nation’s soul to the EU, all further treaties with the Devil are subject to EU scrutiny.”
Helpful Books on Justification - Mark Driscoll
It’s Time to Rethink the Issue of Homosexuality - Ken Silva
“Yes, you read that right; I do believe the time has come to rethink how we’re handling the issue of homosexuality in the Body of Christ. But maybe not like you think.”
The Jelly Bellies of Christendom - Prodigal Jon
“Super Sweaty Pastor – usually wrapped in a monogrammed handkerchief, these beans are slightly salty and super sticky from perspiration, taste like licking a Thompson Chain Reference and smell like a locker room”
Kids and Philanthropy: Teaching Your Children To Be Charitable - Beth Kanter
Logos360 Announced - The Wait Begins - ChurchCrunch
“It is, without question, simply a matter of time before we see what’ll it’ll really do to the digital landscape for Church Management Software.”
Meditations on Thanks and Giving - Carolyn McCulley
“As I prepare for Thanksgiving, one image is burned into my mind …”
National Geographic on Qeiyafa - Todd Bolen
“Much of the story reports what has been covered elsewhere, but there are some problems with the article.”
Of Crusaders and the West - Joshua Claybourn
“Our understanding of society and the individual certainly has its roots in the Crusaders.”
Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day October 3, 1863 - Abe Lincoln/Worship.com
“In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict …”
Q 2009 - Greg Atkinson
“Q is a gathering where church leaders and cultural influencers from the fields of business, politics, media, education, entertainment and the arts are exposed to the future of culture and the church’s responsibility to advance the common good in society.”
Recessions Are Good? - Rob Moll
“Recessions, before the Great Depression, were often viewed as good things.”
Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints (review) - Rebecca Writes
“I’ve reached the age where I think more and more about getting old, and I’ll let you in on a secret if you promise not to tell …”
Twilight (Book Review) - Tim Challies
“Admittedly, this is my first foray into fiction written for teen girls.”
An Unwanted Detour - Suzanne Hadley:
“A week later I sat in a doctor’s office trying to hold back tears.”
Video Interviews with John Lennox - Justin Taylor
“Creator or the Multiverse?”
What is the Church Year? - Mark Daniels
“The Church Year is a human invention. Observing it won’t make us better than anybody else. Nor does keeping it ’save’ a person from sin and death. But …”
50 eXcellent Blog Footer Designs - Hongkiat.com (sorry, had to reach for this one)
“In the eye of a visitor, the footer is perhaps one of the most unnoticeable section but to a designer who knows how important user experience, navigation and designs, they are treated the same.”
You May Be a Hyper-Calvinist If … - Phil Johnson
“Within the militantly Arminian sector of the Southern Baptist Convention, it seems there are still those who insist that ‘by the definition of Phil Johnson,’ James White is a hyper-Calvinist …”
Zane Hodges (1933–2008) - Dan Wallace (I mentioned Hodges’ passing, but it means much more coming from an accomplished Greek scholar):
“Zane taught Greek and New Testament courses at Dallas Seminary from 1960 to 1987. I took him for more courses than from any other NT prof, and learned a great deal from him. His skills with the Greek text were breathtaking. I never knew a professor who could sight-read as well as Hodges (except for Johnson). And he thought through his positions well. I didn’t agree with him on everything; in fact, I would say that I disagreed with him on most of his positions. I was always a bit nervous coming into his class because I wasn’t sure what he would say that hour that might rock my world. But I enjoyed immensely how he structured the courses, how he argued his positions, and how charismatic he was in the classroom. He was a superb preacher and very persuasive. His electives always had the highest enrollment by far of any NT electives at DTS. … Zane Hodges will be dearly missed. But he now knows the joys of his Savior and is finally home.”
What happened to Pulpit?
November 26, 2008
The folks at the Pulpit Magazine blog are restructuring, and will be rolling out with a new look (and webhost) early next year:
“In the meantime, we will periodically post some articles here, just to keep things somewhat interesting. But just so everyone knows, Pulpit 2.0 will be coming to a computer near you just after the turn of the year.”
“Factors in Choosing a Sermon Series”
November 26, 2008
Colin Adams offers nine suggestions:
- How long do we have for this batch of sermons (one year; three months; four weeks)?
- What Testament did we preach from last?
- What biblical genre have we not preached from lately? …
Audio: “Paul’s Dark Night of the Soul”
November 12, 2008
Colin Adams shares a link to a recent sermon he preached with this title.
“Last Sunday, an unusually large number of people seemed to have been helped by my sermon. My introduction highlights who it is for:
‘Have you ever felt like this:
- your prayers seem ineffective
- your doubts feel paralysing
- your love for other Christians has waned
- your passion for evangelism has faded
- and if you’re honest, you have almost a complete lack of assurance and joy in Jesus’”
Two letters
November 12, 2008
- One from Peter Wall to AT&T Wireless — Wall is unhappy with the free Wi-fi service they provide to iPhone users
- One from E. Scott Hart to all pastors of churches in the Southern Baptist Convention (HT: Mark at Sweet Tea & Theology):
“What is really so remarkable about the question of SBC decline is not the decline itself, but rather the simple answer that is so obvious no one will talk about with any seriousness openly in the SBC. The cause of the decline of the SBC is – YOU!”
“What preachers can learn from Obama”
November 7, 2008
Five tips posted at Read Better, Preach Better, based on the president-elect’s victory speech in Chicago (HT: BHT):
“3. He was understated… and it worked
With such a momentous occasion, I would expect someone else to be swept away with emotion. Yet Obama was calm and steady. It would have been easy to ride that wave of undulating excitement and emotion. Instead, Obama chose to speak with reserve and poise. The effect of this, for me, was to think that this guy is in control, and is serious about the challenge ahead.”
