Impactful Sermons and Essays: A List
Justin Taylor has been compiling a list of essays and printed sermons that have had significant impact on pastors and theologians that he has contact with.
Toward A Word-Centered Ministry
Chris Anderson has written a great little article on Acts 20: 17-38.
In Paul’s lecture to the Ephesians elders he provides for us what I call “an inspired philosophy of ministry.” He explains what his ministry looked like, providing a pattern for the church throughout the ages. We need to know this passage well and apply it to our churches intentionally, especially in a day when there are so many competing voices regarding the nature of Christian ministry.
And here is Chris’ breakdown of Paul’s own description of his 3 year ministry in Ephesus:
- He declared what was profitable (anangelō, v. 20)
- He taught the Ephesians (didaskō, v. 20)
- He testified repentance and faith (diamartureō, v. 21)
- He testified of the gospel (diamartureō, v. 24)
- He proclaimed the kingdom (kērussō, v. 25)
- He declared the whole counsel of God (anangelō, v. 27)
- He admonished the Ephesians (noutheteō, v. 31)
Al Mohler on the Lessons From the Life of Christopher Hitchens
Al Mohler has written an insightful article on lessons we must learn from the life of the notable atheist, the late Christopher Hitchens. The most important lesson for Christians is the deadly danger of superficial Christianity.
Unlike others who, as he wrote, might have rejected belief in God because of abuse or “brutish indoctrination,” Hitchens simply developed indignant contempt for a belief system that seemed so superficial and fraudulent. An exposure to tepid, lifeless, thoughtless, and intellectually formless Christianity can be deadly.
Mohler also points out that the greatest outside danger to Christianity does not come from the atheist.
In the final analysis, Christians have far less to fear from atheists or antitheists as we do from what Hitchens called “the generalized agnosticism of our culture.” We agree with him that the question of the existence and identity of God is nothing less than the most powerful and urgent question humanity will ever confront.
Difficult Warnings Regarding Losing Salvation?
Colin Hansen has posted an excellent article on the difficult warnings of Hebrews regarding our salvation and eternal security.
The Book of Hebrews daunts even the most gifted preachers and scholars. For one thing, we don’t know the author. He quotes the Old Testament at length and repeatedly, but his method of interpreting these passages doesn’t always make sense to readers. His arguments about angels, Moses, and the temple require more than cursory understanding of the Hebrew Bible.
And then there are the s0-called warning passages. It might be hard at first to grasp the significance of the priest Melchizedek, but many Christians viscerally understand the practical importance of these warnings. Can I lose my faith? What if I doubt? Fail to overcome sin?
To answer these questions and more, I turned to the acclaimed scholar Peter O’Brien, professor emeritus at Moore College in Sydney, Australia. Many who have studied Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians have benefited from his rich, insightful, and faithful commentaries. He has also written an immensely helpful commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews. He draws on some of that study to help us understand the famous warning passages in their immediate and canonical context.
Ekklesaphobia
David Fitch has come up with a great phobia that identifies a lot of what we see in Christian’s embrace of post-modernity and the missional movement. It’s called ekklesaphobia which is a fear of organization in the church (as if a disorganized church is much better.) You can read the article here.
…this wise caution against organizing people into Christendom-tainted-functions of the church has turned into a phobia, an unhealthy fear. I call this ekklesaphobia.
Christianity is Not Genetic
Russell Moore has a wonderful article for those of us who despair at the current state of the church. Moore relates a conversation he had with Carl F. H. Henry.
“Why, you speak as though Christianity were genetic,” he said. “Of course, there is hope for the next generation of evangelicals. But the leaders of the next generation might not be coming from the current evangelical establishment. They are probably still pagans.”
What You Really Want in a Pastor
Jonathan Leeman has written a helpful article for pastoral search committees to consider what one non-negotiable quality a church needs in a pastor. What is that one thing? It’s a supernatural faith in the power of God’s Word.
Now get this: God gives his faithful servants the ability to do the same things. “If anyone speaks, she should do it as one speaking the very words of God.” (1 Peter 4:11). This is why Don Carson calls preaching “re-revelation.” A preacher’s primary task is to say again what God has already said. Did you think life comes to the dead through the power of our intelligence or humor or charisma?
Leeman outlines 5 reasons this quality is so critical:
1. It will keep him from manipulating.
Paul said he “renounced secret and shameful ways” but instead “set forth the truth plainly” (2 Cor. 4:2). If a man believes that the Word alone is powerful to save, that’s what he’ll do—preach plainly and not try to emotionally manipulate.
2. It will keep him from building your church and your spiritual life on his personality.
Paul wasn’t a “trained speaker” with an impressive resume, like the “super-apostles.” He just preached Jesus, the Spirit, and the gospel (2 Cor. 11:4-5). Likewise, you want a man who is a good steward of his gifts, doesn’t rely on or trust his gifts to give life. He plants and waters, but relies on God to give the growth (1 Cor. 3:6-7). Men who build on their personalities have churches filled with nominal Christians.
3. It will keep him happy.
A man who trusts God to save by his Word and Spirit is a man who can sleep at night, because it doesn’t finally depend on him. This is a happy man who probably has a happy wife and children because he spends time with them. He doesn’t carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. This is a man who won’t burn out as easily and will serve your church for years.
4. It’s the primary means to your growth and your church’s growth.
It’s through the words of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers that God’s people become prepared for works of service “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-13).
5. It’s your best hope of reaching non-Christian neighbors.
“Faith comes from hearing the message,” says Paul (Rom. 10:17). Can the message be proclaimed through special programs and events? Of course. But you want a man who recognizes that it’s the regular, weekly “in season, out of season” work of “great patience and careful instruction” that saves the lost and builds up the saints—you want a man who “does the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:2-5).
Alvin Plantiga on Properly Basic Beliefs
Alvin Plantiga talks about arguments for God and why they are not needed, in what he calls “properly basic beliefs.”
Colin Hansen’s Top Ten Theology Stories of 2011
Colin Hansen has posted a list of his top ten theology stories of 2011. Included in his list is the backlash against “celebrity pastors”, the death of John Stott, and the success of Rob Bell against strong evangelical opposition.
Why and How to Read Calvin’s Institutes
Justin Taylor has put together an excellent article on the why and how of reading Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion.
