Blast from the Past: An Old Bibliotheca Sacra Journal Article from 1951 Chiding Pentecostals for Being a “Small” Denomination

In my research for my thesis, I came across the following from BSac—V108 #429—Jan 51—pps. 46-47
Is the Pentecostal Movement Pentecostal?
Part 1 – Roy L. Aldrich
The first statement to be examined is the assertion that the modern Pentecostal movement is “a second, or fuller, realization and fulfillment of Joel 2:28–29” than was known previously. If the [...]

Against Evangelical Hipsters

In the Summer 2009 issue of The City there is a superb piece of writing that diagnoses a creature that I come across quite a bit online and sometimes in the flesh up in D.C. – the evangelical hipster.  John Mark Reynolds wrote the piece, where he diagnoses the persona of these individuals:
Secularists should stop [...]

“Emerging Adults” and Religion

Christianity Today’s Katelyn Beaty interviewed sociologist Christian Smith for the current issue.  Smith’s new book, Souls in Transition,  looks at the religious attitudes and practices of 18-29 year-olds.  The idea that this phase of life is now a prelude to married life has come out in several things that I’ve read.  Some good examples are [...]

2 Clement: A Call to Repentance and Holy Living

While it’s traditionally called the “Second Letter of Clement,” Michael Holmes notes that it’s neither by Clement nor a letter.  2 Clement is actually a sermon or some other kind of address, the first complete Christian sermon outside of the New Testament.  The author and date are difficult to establish, although Holmes discusses some interesting [...]

Home Group Sheet for Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”

I know this is a bit choppy, but I made it for my personal use and it might not be reader-friendly. This is a condensed commentary on Matthew 5:4 for the homegroup I am leading right now. We are going through the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they [...]

Appreciating your clergy…

8 ways to encourage your pastor…
have you encouraged him lately?

Balanced Spirituality According to St. James

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
I am preaching on this text this coming Lord’s Day (8/31/09). After reading Matt Harmon’s ( Grace Theological Seminary) “ten theses for further discussion” from his [...]

A Christian’s life…

…is not guaranteed protection from hardships, trials, & pains in this life.  In fact, we are warned about it, that it WILL come, and when it does, to ENDURE.   1Pe 1:6  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
1Pe 1:7  so that the tested [...]

Paul Tripp: the American dream compromises Christian community

I’m excited that the New Calvinists are challenging the American-evangelical synthesis that blesses the assumptions of American life with religious approval.  At the Desiring God blog, Paul Tripp states it about as strongly and as well as it can be said:
I read a book on stress a few years back, and the author made a [...]

Countdown to Pentecost Sunday: Pentecostals, Greatest Global Movement?

Time magazine had recently cited the “New Calvinism” as one of the most important ideas in the world. While I am excited about such as a Calvinist myself, I was somewhat surprised by the omission of Pentecostalism.
Jenkins calls Pentecostalism,“the most successful social movement of the past century” (Jenkins 2002:8). Jenkins, P. (2002) The Next Christendom: [...]

Quotable from Charles Hodge on Prayer

Hodge also preached on prayer as a means of communion with God. Prayer in his view can be solemn and formal “in the use of articulate words and on set occasions in the closet, family or sanctuary” or it can be ejaculatory “and thus constant as the bubbling of a spring of living water” or [...]

Happy Ascension Day!!!

Ascension Day often gets overlooked, but it is a most glorious truth that we celebrate today…the risen, exalted Christ, reigning from on high, expanding His kingdom and subdoing His enemies.

Peter Berger on Globalization and Religion

I listened to Speaking of Faith program (transcript and audio here) from 2006 today that talked about how globalization has impacted religion.  You might be familiar with the rather Eurocentric thesis that said that secularism would accompany modernization, just as it had in Europe.  In fact, sociologist Peter Berger held this view as well, before [...]

The Suburban Megachurch Youth Pastor…Gagggg

All I got to say is that I strived to be genuine and authentic in my time of youth ministry. The youth needed to hear about Jesus more than what movies I watched, what games I play, what sort of clothes I am wearing, etc.  The youth pastors that made the [...]

A Robust Review of Rob Bell’s NOOMA Series

About two years ago, our 20s and 30s group at church watched most of the NOOMA videos from Rob Bell, pastor at Mars Hill in Michigan.  I liked them as we watched them, but I didn’t realize until later that Bell had his share of critics as well as admirers.  Greg Gilbert, director of research [...]

Quote of the Week from Dr. David W. Barker on Alcohol & Gluttony, Need for Pastoral Consistency

“To protect people from intoxication is laudable, but it is inappropriate to deprive people of Christian freedom based on their potential abuse. What the church should seek is Christian maturity, discipiling its members into moderation, not only in alcohol consumption, but in all things. While alcoholism is a real problem, even the daily news reports [...]

John Piper “God is God When Everything Else Fails”

Short clip, check it out!!!

The everlasting Christmas celebration…

Every year the holidays come and go.  I, for one, don’t let go so fast.  I have always loved Christmas and all it represents, though as a child, I didn’t know all it represented but I knew I was missing something.   When I became a christian, it became all the more clearer why I loved [...]

“Cancer’s Unexpected Blessings” by Tony Snow

I know this is dated a bit but I wanted to post it anyways. This testimony was shared at the request of Christianity Today and can be found here. His wise words inspire us all to life life on the precipice of eternity. He also teaches us not to lament our suffering, but to embrace [...]

Is God provoked by America’s Worship of Mammon?

    
I am preaching through the book of Hosea and in my sermon preparation for Hosea 2, I made the following observations:
Hosea 2:9-13 (ESV)
(9)  Therefore I will take back my grain in its time, and my wine in its season, and I will take away my wool and my flax, which were to cover her [...]

A Sit Down with MMA Prospect Cody Ziemer

I had the opportunity to sit down with Cody Ziemer last week and chat about his fighting career. He attends the church I pastor, Sovereign Grace Fellowship, and is a rising star here in the Idaho Fight League. He recently just won a fight out of state and has an upcoming fight in Las Vegas.
In [...]

Why do Christians Sing?

This coming Sunday I will be preaching on worship…especially in song. As I have done research and preparation for the message, it has been difficult because there is so much I want to convey and I need to redact my material. Anyhow, song is powerful.
Creation was birthed in song, Song accompanied pivotal moments in redemptive [...]

Are you really Green? Join the growing Amish

The Amish have nearly doubled in the last 16 years as reported by USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-08-20-amish-population_N.htm).
I find it amazing…who said Christians aren’t good for the environment? These have got to be the most eco-friendly folks in the world.

Book Review of Sam Storms’ “The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts”

Storms, Sam. (2002) The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts. Ventura, CA: Regal Books.
Dr. Storms stays true to the title and offers an insightful introductory primer on Spiritual gifts, namely the “charismata” mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 by the apostle Paul. Storms weaves non-technical exegesis in related texts, personal testimonies of his relation to the exercise [...]

What’s a Pulpit Worth???

John Piper encourages pastors and hearers to protect the pulpit from trivialities and instead delight in God through the ministry of preaching in the Church.

15 Ways My Pentecostal Upbringing Has Shaped Me…for the good

John Piper recently posted on his blog some reflections on Fundamentalists and why he doesn’t despise them (http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1251_20_reasons_i_dont_take_potshots_at_fundamentalists/). I was inspired by such to reflect on my own spiritual and theological journey in Pentecostalism. Here are 15 reasons why I am grateful for my Pentecostal heritage:
15. I learned that prayer was not merely a monologue [...]

Pursuit and desire

No, this isn’t a post about dating! It’s about the practice of using the prophetic gift. I’m starting from the premise that the gift of prophecy continues today and is to be used for upbuilding, encouragement, and consolation of others (1 Cor. 14:3).
Paul instructs us to “pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual [...]

“Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound that Saved a Wretch Like Me” vs. “Prevenient Grace, How Fair the Sound, that calls all Sinners Equally”

I don’t want to be totally obnoxious…but I was thinking about the beloved Hymn “Amazing Grace” and was wondering how a theological Arminian could really sing it.
Traditional Arminian theology believes in “prevenient grace”…essentially meaning that God exerts a measure of grace towards all sinners. Some would even say that God works equally in His grace [...]

Is Preaching Like Administering CPR?

      
I once heard Pastor Jack Hayford, who now serves as the president for the “Foursquare” denomination, use the illustration of CPR as being similar to his idea of preaching the Bible. He likened his sermon preparation as an “inhaling” of God’s Word and then the sermon itself as an “exhaling”. I have always liked his [...]

Bezalel “Endued” by the Holy Spirit for Beautifying and Creating Culture + Thoughts on Reformed, Dispensational, Cessationist, Pentecostal/Charismatic Spirituality and Piety

What does God do when He wants beautiful craftsmanship?  Pours out His Holy Spirit
How does God increase IQ? Holy Spirit
How does God increase ability? Holy Spirit
How does God increase ones artistic ability? Holy Spirit
How does God equip Teachers for His people? Holy Spirit
At least, this is the obvious conclusion for God’s intended purpose of filling Bezalel [...]