As a Jewish Christian I have often been asked by churches at Easter to speak about the Jewish Passover or to perform a demonstration of one. Churches seem fascinated by it. It looks like it would be helpful background to understanding the Last Supper and therefore Jesus’ death.
‘He descended into hell’
Thought
One thing that has puzzled me ever since I went to church as a teenager was the line I used to say in the Apostle’s Creed: “He descended into hell”. When I said this, my mind was filled with all sorts of fantastic images of Jesus plummeting through the earth on Easter Saturday to a place where the devil lived and where the fire burned continually. I didn’t really know what it meant, but I was happy to say it, because, after all, it was in the creed that the apostles had written, right?
FAQs on the ESV
Thought, Sola Panel
As word spreads about the new ESV, my email inbox is increasingly clogged with interested people wanting to know more. Here’s a sample of some of the most common questions, with some brief answers.
FAQs on the resurrection
Why do you think the resurrection is important?
Without the resurrection the only thing that lies ahead of us is death. What’s more, it would mean that Jesus, whom we believe to be God, is also dead. Small wonder that Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”.
Making Jews jealous: another look at Romans 9-11
Life
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he says that he is not “ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” (Rom 1:16). In what sense is the gospel “first for the Jew”? What does this mean for Christians today?
Fantasy literature and Christian readers
Chuck Colson’s website, BreakPoint online, ran an interview with the author Connie Neal, who has written a book called What’s A Christian to Do with Harry Potter? (discussed below). Soon afterwards, he published a disclaimer, saying that he did not “encourage Christian parents to encourage their children to see the movie or read the books” because “there is much better literature available for children with less potential to lead people into the occult”. This seemed to run counter to an earlier piece by Colson (se p.14 of Neal’s book) which spoke positively of the books’ value for children.
Faith alone or faith together?
Getting the Gospel Right
R. C. Sproul
Grand Rapids, Baker, 1999.
How can we know if a doctrine or issue is worth splitting a church or denomination over? R.C. Sproul claims to address this very issue, by expounding the essentials of the gospel in which evangelicals are to find unity.
The unity of the church
Thought
The second in a series of essays on the subject of unity. John Woodhouse examines what it means for the church to seek unity here on earth. (Read part one and part three online.)
The Prayer of Jabez and other misuses of the Bible
Review
THE Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life
Bruce H. Wilkinson
Multnomah Publishers, 2000.Hardcover, 96pp.
It is a #1 bestseller in Christian bookstores. In fact, it was a #1 New York Times bestseller. It is a book that promises to revolutionize your life. It is called The Prayer of Jabez. (more…)
The difficult issue of premarital sex
Premarital sex in the world
There is no longer any stigma attached to premarital sex in our society. Pop stars do it, sports stars do it, politicians do it. Hormone levels are raised by advertising, television, cinema, music and magazines. What is discussed is not so much premarital sex, as non-marital sex, or even non-‘heterosexual monogamous life-long relationship sex’.
The Qur’an and the Bible
A Westerner reading the Qur’an may find many familiar names and events. Most of the prophets from the Bible are mentioned. There is clearly a strong relationship between the two books.
This present age: Our struggle not to covet
Life
Last month, Carmelina Read asked whether Christians were in any way distinct from the great Australian materialistic dream. In this article, Phillip Jensen challenges us to think this through in some particular areas of life: gambling, schooling and paying our clergy.
Keeping it interesting as a young preacher
Pastoral Ministry
Experienced preachers often get asked by young preachers to give them advice on their craft. How do I preach better? Should I preach longer? Or shorter? Should I use illustrations? Should I use a full script or just notes?
When to unite and when to divide
Thought
Have you noticed the way in which ‘divisiveness’ has become a completely negative word? If an idea, a statement, a strategy, a proposal is judged to be ‘divisive’ then it is unwelcome. For example in my part of the world, in the Anglican denomination, there is a proposal to authorise lay persons to administer the Lord’s Supper in church, just as lay persons may be authorized to preach God’s Word. This is opposed by some who have no fundamental objection to it, except that it would be ‘divisive’. Therefore it ought not to be pursued.
Things to say when you are asked the question of the moment
Everyday Ministry
The US terrorist attacks have brought the age-old complaint against God to everybody’s lips: how could he allow such a thing to happen if he is good and omnipotent? Here are some brief ideas on how you can respond.