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Church attendance and the Super Bowl: two questions

by Mark on February 8, 2010

Every year during the Super Bowl the question of church attendance arises. Should a person skip church for the Super Bowl? If he/she skips their regular Sunday evening church service are they sinning?

There seem to be two main positions on this. Those who are more sabbatarian minded fall along the lines of a person is sinning if they skip their church service for the Super Bowl. Those who skip church service may be charged with antinomianism. Corporate worship is a Christian duty [click to continue…]

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Lord’s Day 02/07 crumbs of mercy

February 6, 2010

Never was a poor sinner more unworthy of favor from God or His people than myself. I deserve not a name and a place among the children, but am as vile as a dog, and would be glad for crumbs of mercy that fall from the children’s table. But such is the free grace of [...]

Defining Missional

February 3, 2010

What exactly does the term missional mean? Attempts to answer this question can be found in books, videos, sermons, blog posts, theological ejournals, conference presentations, magazine articles, etc. Depending on who you ask will depend on the answer which may be good, bad or ugly. You get to decide which is which.
Where do we go [...]

Book Review: The Trellis and the Vine

February 1, 2010

The Trellis and the Vine:The Ministry Mind-Shift that Changes Everything by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne. Matthias Media, 2009. 196 pages.
The Trellis and the Vine focuses on doing the hard work of gospel living. That is, Christians giving of themselves through personal discipleship creating gospel growth.
The trellis represents the structure of a church including “management, [...]

Lord’s Day 01/31 rejoice in suffering

January 30, 2010

In the face of suffering, the believer is not to look for the “hidden God”-that is, God in his secret majesty. We cannot even attempt to figure out by speculation why we are suffering. We can only, with Moses, look upon God’s “back-side,” his compassion and mercy as revealed in Christ and his cross. While [...]

Ethics question: Kill or be killed?

January 29, 2010

Last night in ethics class we were proposed a scenario that I’m going to propose here. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Ready? Here goes!
You and your group are visiting a country that is in the middle of a civil war. All of you are then captured by one of the militias. In order to be [...]

Money for seminary?

January 28, 2010

I recently started seminary working toward an MDiv. Getting through seminary while having a family and full-time job looks to be a pretty big task.
Additionally, paying for seminary after recently experiencing a large personal economic downturn is an equally difficult task. However uncomfortable times may be, the Lord is providing. Of course, if He provided [...]

Think you have a library?

January 27, 2010

I’m grateful for my library. It’s decent and growing slowly. Sometimes I think about what it takes to move all those books, but it’s a cake walk compared to moving Dr. Mohler’s library.
Dr. Mohler shares some information about his library/study and books in general. I appreciate his insights and as a coffee drinker I learned [...]

Poll: Does “success” mean God is honoring a ministry?

January 25, 2010

Many times a ministry/person is defended, regardless of their teachings, because they are popular or successful. Not only are ministries defend as such, but they also come to a place where they can do no wrong. They might be betrayed as above any type of criticism or biblical correction.
Such ministries might be defended in various [...]

Lord’s Day 01/24 Jesus our priest

January 23, 2010

Many people offer up sacrifice, and they think that is enough; but the people of God they rest not only in the duty, no, nor in the spirituality of the duty, though that be counted a great matter: but they go one step higher, and so must you in all the duties you tender up [...]

Seeker-centered Buddhism

January 22, 2010

Buddhism’s numbers are apparently shrinking. They aren’t growing.
They’re answer? Hip-hop and alcohol?
“This is an old, old story, a fantasy and longing cosmology. Hey, hey, what’s the story about? It’s about the Buddha, yo. Hey brother, listen carefully! You got it? No? You don’t? Okay, baby, no problem.”
That is one hip-hop (can we call it that?) [...]

A letter to Francis Chan

January 20, 2010

In Francis Chan’s sermon Beware of Good Liars, he reads a letter from a single mother seeking his advice.
I’m curious how others would respond. I won’t comment yet. Just read it.
Pastor Francis, I made a covenant promise to a ministry [a TV ministry] in January for $100 a month. I’m a single mom with

True aim of Roman Catholic ecumenism

January 19, 2010

Ecumenism today can be seen in social/political change in the name of the ‘greater good’. Or in doctrinal statements drafted and signed by different “Christian” sects.
When dealing with such issues many Protestants speak up when it seems the Gospel is at stake. Other Protestants don’t always take to kindly to this. It seems no big [...]

Lord’s Day 01/17 poor sinners

January 16, 2010

Poor sinner, something to consider as you undeservedly get to worship the Savior with other poor sinners.
Christ’s Love to Poor Sinners
Let us stand still, and admire and wonder at the love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners; that Christ should rather die for us, than for the angels. They were creatures of a more noble [...]

Was Jesus a victim?

January 15, 2010

Taking the position of the victim is a popular offensive today. It is a way to turn the tables and draw sympathy from others. Kevin DeYoung posted a great article on this very subject – Why Are We So Offended All the Time? (cross-post). In his post he made the following statement.
As Christians, we worship [...]

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