Martin Luther (as quoted in Martin Llyod-Jones, Preachers & Preaching, p. 128) offers a helpful reminder to heady preachers: "A preacher should have the skill to teach the unlearned simply, roundly and plainly; for teaching is of more importance than exhorting...When I preach I regard neither doctors nor magistrates, of whom I have above forty in the congregation. I have … [Read more...] about Preaching Simply
Images of the Bible – Shattering the Trees
Nature lies outside the grasp of my control. One decent thunderstorm is enough to make this clear. And in Tennessee, we get some lively storms, complete with lightning, hail, damaging winds, and even the occasional tornado touching down. The thunder can crack so loud it shakes our house. The lightning still startles me, and with good reason. Scientists say lightning can heat … [Read more...] about Images of the Bible – Shattering the Trees
Magical Mission Trips and Camp Highs
As a pastor in student ministries, camps and mission trips comprise part of my yearly calendar. I love these opportunities, and in any given year, some of my favorite memories come from these concentrated times away. But as fun and helpful as these trips are, I find they can be a source of confusion and even consternation. Let me explain. People tend to approach these … [Read more...] about Magical Mission Trips and Camp Highs
Michael Horton on Masculine Christianity
I see something that disturbs me. I see complementarians conflate complementarianism with cultural definitions of masculinity and femininity. This bloating of complementarianism does not bolster the position, but weakens it. Such conflation pollutes dialogue, produces unnecessary quarrels, and distracts us from the central issues. Because of these concerns, I am thankful for … [Read more...] about Michael Horton on Masculine Christianity
Encouragement for Writers
I enjoy writing. I like words, and I like sentences. I even appreciate grammar. But none of that means I will produce good writing. Good writing is just plain difficult to do. The other day I was re-reading my favorite pure prose writer, Annie Dillard, and she reminded me of the monumental task that is writing, just how difficult a few good sentences can be to find. … [Read more...] about Encouragement for Writers