Some recent comments on EWTN drove me back to my Bible and some time thinking through my concept of how the church is both fallible and perfect; flawed and finished; historical and eternal. I’ll share several brief posts walking through the relationship between a very human and flawed historical reality and its relationship with theContinue reading “The Church: Flawed and Finished (1)”
Category Archives: In The Study
A Lectionary F.A.Q.
UPDATE: Josh S does some “lectionary criticism” at his blog. Just so you know it’s not a flawless medium. Even with the flaws, I recommend using it. I also recommend “filling in the gaps” whenever possible. Sam is a worship leader at a local Southern Baptist church, and he called me tonight to talk aboutContinue reading “A Lectionary F.A.Q.”
“What Now?” A Sermon for the First Sunday After Christmas
I preached this message- or a version of it- this morning at a church nearby. “What Now?” A Sermon for the First Sunday after Christmas, December 30, 2007 First Presbyterian Church, London, Kentucky Michael Spencer, preacher Scripture: Matthew 2:12-19, John 1:1-18 As our students were preparing to leave school the Friday before Christmas, we hadContinue reading ““What Now?” A Sermon for the First Sunday After Christmas”
What Do You Do When God Answers Your Prayer?
What do you do when God answers your prayers? I am a fairly consistent reader and user of the Book of Psalms in my devotional life and worship leadership. Along the way, I’ve noticed that many of the Psalms are prayer or report episodes of prayer in the Psalms. In many of these Psalms, theContinue reading “What Do You Do When God Answers Your Prayer?”
Making and Breaking Church Leadership
1Timothy 3:1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer* must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,* sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4Continue reading “Making and Breaking Church Leadership”
Will You “Come Down?”: A Sermon on Humility
This is most of a sermon on humility I preached in the Monday chapel service at the school where I serve. It’s taken from the lectionary text for the previous Lord’s Day. In many places I included illustrations and more content, but this gets the sermon across. Text: Luke 14: 1, 7-11. If someone wereContinue reading “Will You “Come Down?”: A Sermon on Humility”
Thoughts on Acts 15 and Early Church Leadership
A few nights ago, Denise and I were reading the scriptures together when I was struck by what we see in regard to church leadership in Acts 15. When we are discussing how Jesus established leadership in the early church, and how that leadership functions, this passage is crucial. The implications for the claims ofContinue reading “Thoughts on Acts 15 and Early Church Leadership”
Grace Is As Dangerous As Ever
The last few weeks of my men’s morning Bible study has been about “Texts That Will Get You In Trouble,” and we spent two sessions on John 8, and Jesus’ words to the woman caught in adultery: “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” Read Leviticus 20:10 and the other older testamentContinue reading “Grace Is As Dangerous As Ever”
John 3:16 and the Importance of the Old Testament
My adult Bible study is starting an Old Testament survey for the summer months in preparation for studying I Kings this fall. I did this little exercise with them this morning. I guess it’s kind of original with me. I’ve never seen anyone else do it. Consider it all yours for the glory of God.Continue reading “John 3:16 and the Importance of the Old Testament”
Question: “Should I give money to people on the street who ask for it?”
I received some good questions from a reader on the subject of giving to panhandlers. Here are a few thoughts and responses. I may have more to say in the comments. Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I sayContinue reading “Question: “Should I give money to people on the street who ask for it?””
The Internet Monk Archives 