Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Three Questions About a “Secret” Rapture

UPDATE: Jason Boyett’s “Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse” is a great book for anyone interested in the basics of evangelical apocalyptic eschatology. Advocates of the rapture make much of the texts in Luke and Matthew that speak of “one taken, one left.” Luke 17:34-35 34 I tell you, in that night there will be twoContinue reading “Three Questions About a “Secret” Rapture”

What’s Wrong With The Sermon? V: “More stories please!”

The series to this point: Whatâ�?��?�s Wrong With The Sermon?: It’s Too Long. Whatâ�?��?�s Wrong With The Sermon? II: It’s Boring. Whatâ�?��?�s Wrong With The Sermon? III: “I don’t understand it.” Whatâ�?��?�s Wrong With The Sermon? IV: “It isn’t practical.” While an appreciation of stories is essential to understand and communicate the Bible, Biblical preachingContinue reading “What’s Wrong With The Sermon? V: “More stories please!””

Review: Jesus and The Victory of God by N.T. Wright

For the past year, I’ve been reading N.T. Wright more than any other author. His “big books” have been mountains that I was determined to climb carefully and thoroughly. Today I finished what easily goes to the top of my list of books that have impacted my life, my ministry, my faith and my understandingContinue reading “Review: Jesus and The Victory of God by N.T. Wright”

What’s Wrong With The Sermon? IV: “It isn’t practical.”

The Gospel leads us to practical discipleship, but it doesn’t create a religion of simplistic success principles. Good preaching leads to practical application without obscuring the Gospel itself. To gain some idea of the state of contemporary preaching, survey what is being preached at any ten successful megachurches in your state, or any ten churchesContinue reading “What’s Wrong With The Sermon? IV: “It isn’t practical.””

Southern Baptists and Charismatics: What A Long, Strange Trip It’s Been

Are current fears of Pentecostal/charismatic Christianity among Southern Baptists reasonable or ridiculous? I first bumped into the charismatic renewal movement in the early 1970’s. Episcopalian friends were going to a charismatic prayer meeting at a Catholic church. Curious, I began attending, observing, and eventually participating, right down to–briefly and insincerely–speaking in tongues. Riding home afterContinue reading “Southern Baptists and Charismatics: What A Long, Strange Trip It’s Been”

Review: Promises Kept by Mark Dever

Mark Dever is pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., a member of the Founder’s Ministries inner circle, an accomplished Puritan scholar, director and resident scholar at 9 Marks Ministries, seminary professor, author and one of my very favorite preachers to listen to anytime. Dever’s new book The Message of the New Testament:Continue reading “Review: Promises Kept by Mark Dever”

What’s Wrong With The Sermon? III: “I don’t understand it.”

The third in a series of posts examining the basics of good contemporary preaching. This post is not about people whose communication skills are too poor to get the job done. If you are ignorant, or mumble or can’t get a talk organized in any sort of comprehensible way, the road for you is clearContinue reading “What’s Wrong With The Sermon? III: “I don’t understand it.””

More Thoughts On The Emerging Church

When did “emerging” get to mean something that was so clearly, definitely bad? When did we all agree that “emerging” means wrong about everything? I thought “emerging” was an approach, a “style,” not a theological confession. According to recent posts at various self-proclaimed theological watchblogs, “emerging” equals heresy, open theology, charismatic error, liberalism, denial ofContinue reading “More Thoughts On The Emerging Church”

What’s Wrong With The Sermon? II: It’s Boring

In an entertainment addicted, spiritually depraved culture, the Christian message will never escape the charge of being boring, so preachers should tell God’s story clearly, creatively and persuasively, but without trading the Gospel for the applause of an audience. Today’s criticism:2. The sermon is boring. What did we do before the word boring was invented?Continue reading “What’s Wrong With The Sermon? II: It’s Boring”