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Blog Post: Dangerous Reality

belonginghouse — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:21:00 GMT

I continue to ponder the Reality of Christ in you–the Inside Out gospel. This idea, summarized in Colossians 1:27, is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Paul called this a glorious mystery–something profound, hard to understand, and intensely important. … Continue reading →

Blog Post: Images & The Gagging Of God

Daniel McCarthy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:01:00 GMT

As part of a 16-week overview of the Story of Scripture, I am preaching on the Ten Commandments this Sunday at church. The Second Commandment, in particular, has generated a variety of explanations:

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below” (Exodus 20:4).

Why no images? Explanations vary, and they are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Here are just a few:

Blog Post: A Short History of Lent

cmpatton — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:06:00 GMT

Millions of Christians around the world will spend the next 40 days celebrating a Christian tradition which predates every denomination. The season of Lent refers to a 40 day period leading up to the celebration of Easter. The English word “Lent” is a funny one. If you lived at a time and in a place [...]

Blog Post: Sheer Madness

Daniel McCarthy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT

I have committed many sins in my life. Not one of my sins has ever made me happy. None has ever added a single ounce of happiness to my life. Quite the contrary. Sin has added an abundance of unhappiness to my life. I stand...

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Blog Post: Keeping up Appearances

Daniel McCarthy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:21:00 GMT

Admitting your marriage isn't perfect may be the first step to making it better

Blog Post: I Gave Up Worry for Lent

Daniel McCarthy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:12:00 GMT

Consider taking 40 days to give up a deep-seated sin.

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belonginghouse — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:40:00 GMT

Blog Post: More Warnings about the Validity of Subjective Experience as an Apologetic for Your Faith

cmpatton — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:54:00 GMT

Why do you believe in God? “Because I know deep in my heart that he exists.” Why do you believe Christ rose from the grave? “Because I have experienced the same power in my life.” Why do you think the Bible is true? “Because it speaks to me in places that no other book has.” [...]

Blog Post: Book Review: A Cross Shaped Gospel by Bryan Loritts

Daniel McCarthy — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT

The last several years have seen numerous books asking the same question: What is the gospel? Some maintain a clear distinction between the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and how the gospel works itself out in our lives, where others wind up confusing the...

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Blog Post: Lessons on Leadership, Pt. 6-The Self-Awareness of a Leader

Daniel McCarthy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:54:00 GMT

The different tasks of leadership pose many challenges for a leader. It requires that the leader have a good sense of knowing the people well enough to relate to them but also for him to have a good sense of direction in terms of where he wants to lead them. Fundamentally, however, one of the most neglected aspects of leadership entails knowing exactly where the leader is in terms of self-awareness. In other words, the leader must have a good read on his own strengths and weaknesses in order to know how to best lead the people he shepherds over. This requires a strong sense of self-awareness of the leader in his giftedness, his personality, and his leadership style. This entry will examine the biblical encouragements for self-awareness and the hindrances that prevent his success in leadership.

Blog Post: The Problem with Labels and the Need for Clarity (and Charity)

Daniel McCarthy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Last week I wrote a post about reasons for not continuing to follow “celebrity” pastors and what to do instead. Little did I know that it was going to start spreading around to the degree it has. And, in all honesty, if I’d thought about...

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Blog Post: The True Morality of Which God Approves

Daniel McCarthy — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT

The principal duties of love to God above all, and to each other for His sake, from whence all the other duties flow, are so excellent that I cannot imagine any more noble work for the holy angels in their glorious sphere. They are the...

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Blog Post: The Holy Presence & the Word On Fire (by Dr. Michael Brown)

Daniel McCarthy — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 06:17:00 GMT

What is revival? It is God “stepping down from heaven” and baring His holy arm. He comes and acts and speaks. There is a holy presence and a word on fire. God is in the midst of His people. The Lord is shaking the world. That is revival! It is a time of visitation. If [...]

Blog Post: Unworthy of Assistance?

Daniel McCarthy — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT

The Law drew a distinction between God’s people and the surrounding nations, even in matters of economic compassion. God’s expectations for interactions between Israelites are entirely different. This does not mean, however, that those outside the covenant community could be conveniently ignored—only that concern and care...

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Blog Post: Patristic vs. Modern Trinitarianism

Daniel McCarthy — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:07:00 GMT

Mark Thompson of Moore College offers some helpful observations regarding the difference between patristic and modern treatments of the Trinity. Here's an excerpt:

Patristic trinitarian thinking and writing appears more overtly biblical, and specifically more exegetical, than much modern writing. Sometimes that exegetical work is tortuous and repetitive, as in some of Athanasius' orations against the Arians. Sometimes it is crisp and leaves important questions unanswered. Yet the Bible is in the foreground rather than in the background in many of the patristic treatments of the doctrine. In contrast, much of the modern discussion glances off the Bible and shies away from sustained exegetical comment.

Blog Post: Why My Back Healing Does not Prove Christianity True

cmpatton — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:21:00 GMT

Left unchecked, experience is the most powerful source of belief in our lives. As the old saying goes, “You can’t argue with someone’s personal experience.” This is true in a limited yet real sense. Once someone has a personal experience, it becomes personal and it is very hard to take it away or argue against [...]

Blog Post: St. Francis Didn't Say It

Daniel McCarthy — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:03:00 GMT

“Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.” How many (hundreds of!) times have you heard that line rolled out? The good part about the alleged saying is that we do need to communicate that we truly believe the gospel through what we do. People need to see the gospel as well as hear it. If you have any doubts about this, please refer to my post from a few days ago on “justice and mercy” ministries. But there are two problems with the way this quote is normally used. First, it is often used by people who are oriented toward social concern but who are less comfortable with verbally proclaiming the good news about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and faith in him alone. Such hesitancy to share the gospel verbally simply will not do if you even remotely consider yourself to be a biblical Christian. Second, Francis of Assisi apparently never said it.

Blog Post: The Gospel and Marriage Explain One Another

Daniel McCarthy — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Among the many books I’m reading right now is The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Tim and Kathy Keller and (as I’m sure will be surprising to exactly no one) I’m finding it to be tremendously...

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Blog Post: What's Going On with Your Teen?

Daniel McCarthy — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:51:00 GMT

Understanding the young person you thought you knew

Blog Post: My Back Has Been Healed – Am I Charismatic Now?

cmpatton — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:02:00 GMT

Wonderful news. My back has been healed. Wait. Shelf that. I need to back up. The moment I proclaim victory over something is the moment it usually comes back with a ferocious force and undermines (to say the least) my victory procession. I remember when I prayed for my sister Angie when she was in [...]