Sometimes a habit is a placeholder for attention. The habit of daily tracking a budget through a smartphone app can keep us attentive to our financial obligations and goals. The habit of keeping a food journal can lead to a better diet and weight loss simply through creating attentiveness to food. The habit of reading the verse of the day can keep us pegged to the Word … [Read more...] about Habits of Attention
King Ambivalence
In 1 Samuel 8:4–7, we read, “[4] Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah [5] and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” [6] But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. [7] And the … [Read more...] about King Ambivalence
Written Word of God
The notes below are excerpted from a recent sermon at Immanuel Church on the Written Word of God (a.k.a, the Bible) based off the passage 2 Timothy 3:16a: "All scripture is breathed out by God..." (ESV). I hope the information will be helpful to you. Please let me know in the comments if you have any questions or feedback. Blessings! dg 1. What does “breathed … [Read more...] about Written Word of God
What Is the Word of God
What are we talking about when we speak of the "Word of God"? The "Word of God" can refer to several different categories of divine expression. Theologians, like Grudem (2020), use something like the following categories: Decrees With decrees, God speaks to reality, if you will, speaking out what will happen. We see this in the creation account in Genesis. God says, … [Read more...] about What Is the Word of God
The Word for Better or Worse
John Frame (2010) issues a startling warning worth our consideration: “The power of the word brings wonderful blessings to those who hear in faith, with a disposition to obey. But it hardens those who hear it with indifference, resistance, rebellion. In considering this biblical teaching, I often warn my seminary students to pay heed to what God is telling us here. For … [Read more...] about The Word for Better or Worse