Check out Brian McLaren’s Inferno: three articles that begin to explain McLaren’s view of hell and judgement. part one, two,and three. Via Every Thought Captive.
Monthly Archive for May, 2006
A list of the most influential Pentecostals. Is it just me, or do we attract the crazies? Via Every Thought Captive
I thought King of the Hill Goes to Church! was too good to pass up. Personally, I think it’s a pretty accurate, and not too negative a portrayal of the modern megachurch.
I’ve put together some language study notes for the first sermon. Beside the general benefit that always comes from really studying a text, the two big things that stood out to me are:
- Paul’s frequent use of χαρις (grace) in verse 3, 4 (x2), and 7. It’s such a beautiful word. I wonder if it’s frequent usage indicates a stronger relationship between verse 3 and the rest of the passage then the headings in the NIV suggest. It strengthens verse three by providing examples of the grace that God gives. It’s a connection that the Greek reader (or hearer) would have surely caught, but one that the limitations of translation can’t seem to get across.
- I found the translation of βεβαιωσει in verse 8 of the NIV kind of curious. “Strong” seems like an odd choice. “confirm” seems to a more straight forward choice.
But then again, I am a total hack at this so don’t count my opinion for two cents!
I just came across the blog of Nancy Cucheran a missionary working in Romania. Apparently, there is severe flooding taking place along the Danube River causing massive devastation. She also has a great series of photos chronicling the flood.
After really wrestling with where to start the preaching for inTransit. I have decided to go with a four week look at the first two chapters of 1 Corinthians. I can’t deny that I have been influenced by the sermon series that Mark Driscoll is currently preaching at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, but I’m pretty sure the pull to preach these two chapters goes beyond that.
Even a quick glance through the passage tells me that 1 Corinthians 1:20, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?” has something to say to a group of educated, cool, 18-30ish year old people.
What about a new ministry that is just starting out? I know we’re trying hard to do things really well, put a lot of care into the promo, the website, the setup, the location etc. In fact, there are so many details that we are working on right now that I admit, it’s easy to start focusing on the details and lose sight of why we’re doing this. Check out what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5,
When I came to you brothers, I did not come to you with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
Lord, as we go forward, help us to put our hearts, minds and spirits in the right place. I look to you today Lord.
This is the site of the ministry that I am involved in kicking off next week. It’s called inTransit. Most the sermon ideas that I will be tossing around on this site will relate most closely to what is happening at inTransit.
The plan is to use this as a site to help me get feedback on my sermon preperation, topics and ideas. I hope to provide links that I have found helpful to my study, links to a few blogs that challenge me, the odd book review and who knows what else.
