Category Archives: Christianity

What We Bring to the Table

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Paul Wilkinson is the author of Thinking Out Loud and Christianity 201.  Today he is our guest.  (And no, that’s not him in the picture.)

Back on the Labor Day weekend, Clark asked me to consider writing something for his readers here. I was honored, but also confused. What could I possibly bring to The Master’s Table that wouldn’t be the blog equivalent of showing up at Clark’s house and painting graffiti all over his living room walls?  I believe this is part of a larger “table” question we should ask ourselves on a regular basis,

What Do I Have to Bring to the Table?

I don’t do a lot of formal meetings in the course of a year, but when they come up, I like to arrive prepared. If there are multiple people involved, sometimes I will say nothing for the first twenty minutes, looking for the idea that’s being missed, the implication that’s not being considered, the parallel to another situation that’s not being remembered. Then I will interject something that I feel is helpful. I want to make a contribution, not simply nod in agreement or call for the vote. Continue reading →

Multitasking Worship

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My mother uses her cell phone for one thing, and that is to make and receive calls.  She has no camera, internet or mp3 player.  But let’s be honest, that isn’t how most of us do it.  Most of us are downloading music, texting, instant messaging, uploading pics, and some of us still talk once in a while.  We do business on the way to work.  We listen to audio books while on the treadmill.  Nobody does one thing at a time anymore.

Moses sees the burning bush in Exodus 3, and in verse 3 he says “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”  Moses was doing his job as a shepherd when the sight of the burning bush got his attention.  He then turned aside; he put what he was doing on hold in order to pay attention to this curious sight.  He discovers God in the bush, and for the rest of chapter 3 and 4 does nothing but talk and listen to God. Continue reading →

Bethany’s Blog

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I read a post some weeks ago about the lack of females in the Christian blogosphere.  While I don’t have binders full of them (sorry) I would like to share… one.

Even if you didn’t see Soul Surfer you must be somewhat aware of Bethany Hamilton.  She and her family not only consulted during the production of the film (based on her autobiography) Bethany herself did many of the stunts seen onscreen.  The fame has created an audience she would not have had otherwise, and she thanks God for the opportunity to be a witness.  Hamilton has traveled the world telling her story and doing mission work.  Here is the link to her blog, but I will warn you she averages one or two posts per month.  She was nearly eaten alive by a shark; what’s your excuse?

Believing and Doing

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Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  -Matthew 7:24

Jesus says that everyone who hears his words and does them is like that wise man.  Verse 26 describes the man that hears those same words but does not do them.  (Read the full story here.)  There is a obviously a difference between hearing and doing.  There is even a difference between believing and doing.  Faith is belief in action, and it is the action of the believer that makes all the difference. Continue reading →

Quotable

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The church is a living body and must have working parts.

-Our Daily Bread, A Working Church, Oct. 12, 2012 (link)

Technology vs Relationship

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I have written before on how the church can take advantage of information technology.  Blogs, video streaming, social websites and podcasting are all ways the local church can reach a global audience.  At the same time, your members and community can stay better informed and connected.  Technology can be a powerful tool for sharing the Gospel, but as always there is a danger if used incorrectly.

Discipling: More Than a Podcast Preacher by Jonathan Dodson at 9Marks reminds us that discipleship is relational.  The relationship can be lost if replaced by technology.

The concept is nothing new, but a entire new generation could be subjected to it.  Back in the 80’s, an increasing number of television preachers took their sermons or entire services to the airwaves.  If you were shut in, lived in a nursing home, incarcerated or isolated by geography, the t.v. preacher could be a God send.  For others, watching a Sunday morning broadcast took the place of participating in a local church.  Maybe it was easier than getting up and dressed, or maybe it was about avoiding people, the collection plate, etc.  Weblogs and podcasts are excellent tools for sharing the Gospel, but discipleship is relational.  Jesus preached to multitudes, but he also discipled a group of 12, taught in people’s homes and touched the sick.  The church is a community of believers, and we must not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Heb 12:25).

To Whom Much is Given…

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One of my all time favorite movie lines comes from the 2002 Spider-Man movie.  One of the last things Uncle Ben says to Peter Parker is “With great power, comes great responsibility.”  There is some debate as to the original source.  The quote resembles something FDR wrote about World War II, but he died the day before the speech was given and it is unlikely Stan Lee was familiar with his quote, published many years later.

…

There is of course a resemblance to the parable in Luke 12, in which Jesus teaches us “to whom much is given much will be required.”  The parable is about being ready.  “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.”  At age 12, Jesus told his earthly parents that he must be about his father’s business.  We must be about our father’s business; we are told elsewhere to work for the night is coming.  The parable is also about responsibility, the commitment we have to be good stewards.  American Christians in this time period should really contemplate the meaning of those words: To whom much is given, much will be required.

Think about what we have been given.

Continue reading →

Men’s Morning with God

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I met Michael Spencer in 2003 when my wife and I visited the ministry he was a part of.  After joining that ministry, I was introduced to an early morning small group, Men’s Morning with God.  The poster said “bring your Bible and coffee.”  I’m a big fan of both of those things.  We met twice a week at 7 a.m. studying the scripture and praying before work.  I have been involved with other small groups before and since, but I stayed with that particular group for the duration of our ministry in Kentucky.

I thought that particular situation was unique.  There were about 150 people all living within a few miles of each other, ministering together, and all beginning the work day at basically the same time.  Still, our men’s group was never more than 10 or 12 (and sometimes just Michael and I).  I have been blessed to find an early morning men’s group once again.  This morning there were 5 of us.  From different churches, different vocations and with different schedules, this is a group of men that meet at 6 a.m. to read, discuss and pray.  One of those men was a friend of my dad, and one of my teachers back in the day.  Another member of the group went to high school with my brother.  You gotta love small towns.

And I love finding a group of men willing to be up and dressed before they have to be, in order to pray with and for each other.

Three Scriptures on the Incarnation

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Four verses from Philippians, two from Hebrews.  Each describe the voluntary act of Jesus humbling himself to the Father’s will.  Each describe him as smaller, weaker or lower than his original state, and each ends in death.  But as far as we are concerned, his death was his greatest moment.  He tasted death so that none of us have to.  Death that is separation from the body maybe, but not the death that is total separation from God.  And he defeated the one with the power of death, that is the devil.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
(Philippians 2:5-8 ESV)

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
(Hebrews 2:9 ESV)

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
(Hebrews 2:14 ESV)

Continue reading →

The Sinner’s Prayer Debate

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One side of the debate says that the sinner’s prayer is not found in scripture.  Okay, I’ll give you that.  But you loose me on the premise that nowhere is such a prayer commanded nor implied anywhere in the New Testament.  The Apostle’s Creed is not found in scripture, but that is the statement of faith regularly made by many believers.  Each claim is based on scriptural truth.  Below is the sinner’s prayer text, followed by several statements quoted directly from scripture. Continue reading →