Harris gives an argument for why Twitter should not be used by parishioners during the sermon. It’s probably tempting to do other things, like check email, etc. The tweeter is going to be distracted while looking to compress their ‘thoughts’ and express them. The most important thing in listening to preaching is hearing God speaking to you, and tweeting changes the focus to ‘what do I want to say?’ Consider what it says to those around, whether they wouldn’t view the tweeter as distracted. People don’t need to see churches that accommodate to every trend, rather, they need to hear God’s unchanging truth and understand the demand that He makes upon their lives. Finally, tweeting can be done after the service. Should We Use Twitter During Church-
Spiegel, in the Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, argues that church leaders should enhace their ‘aesthetic sensibilities’ by educating themselves in the arts, and making art a regular part of their lives. [why do arts get priority over sports? What, fundamentally, is different between a live play and television?]. Keller thinks that “Christians must look, listen, read, and experience the arts if we are to lead our culture to renewal” and that the arts cannot be abdicated to secular society. How Christians Can Make the Arts a Regular Part of Their Lives
“one of the most basic tests of comprehension is to ask someone to read aloud from a book. It reveals far more than whether they understand the words. It reveals how far into the words--and the pattern of the words--the reader really sees.” The Lost Art of Reading Aloud
Burk gives an FYI that ‘white knots’ are being used as symbols of homosexual marriage (“marriage equality”). Fad Alert- White Knots for Gay “Marriage”
JT points to DeYoung’s interview with Richards, and provides a quote from his book: “. . . [H]aving the right intentions, being oriented in the right way, doesn't take the place of doing things right. A pilot's caring deeply for his passengers and wanting to land a plane safely are no substitute for his learning how to actually land plans safely. . . . I hope you already have a heart for the poor. Lots of Christians do. But do you have a mind for the poor? Unfortunately that's in rather short supply. (p. 35)” Money, Greed, and God- An Interview with Jay Richards
Edwards wrote that the duty of singing praises seems wholly for exciting and expressing affections, for, as it is our nature, these things tend to move our hearts. Piper points out that this will have weight if you understand as Edwards did, “1) "true religion consists very much in the affections," and 2) there is no true Christian faith without the affections being awakened, and 3) God is most glorified when he is affecting us and not just known by us.” One Reason God Created Singing and Poetry
MacArthur articulates the danger of freedom for Christians. Under persecution, the cost of following Christ is immediately known, and without physical oppression or any visible threat, we lose a sense of subtlety about how the enemy attacks, becoming concerned with our own comforts rather than obeying Christ. Taking up your cross is optional in the West. The offense of the cross has been systematically removed so that the message is more acceptable to unbelievers. MacArthur shares a letter from a Romanian, who calls it “easy Christianism.” He relates how a leading Soviet scientist was shocked that while he taught creation to his students in Russia and has never encountered opposition there are laws preventing this in America. The greatest mission field is western Europe – Christianity is thriving under the iron curtain. Is Democracy Good for Christianity-
Piper argues that when you believe the Gospel and treasure Christ you will be led to treat your wife differently than otherwise. http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2009/3927_Johns_Crazy_Joy_More_on_Bridegrooms_and_Purification/
Want to know the difference between ‘who’ and ‘whom’'? “Who” is used as the subject of a verb or complement of a linking verb. “Whom” is used as the object of the verb or the object of a preposition. It’s an objective pronoun. Make sure the prepositional pronoun in question isn’t also a subject—if it is, then you use “who.” If it can be replaced with “he,” you use “who”; if “him” fits better, use “whom.” Who vs. Whom Explained
A school district in California is forcing K-5 children to learn a homosexual curriculum, where kids are taught ‘tolerance’ for the homosexual lifestyle and ‘all family structures’. Parents can’t opt out. "This curriculum ignores the fact that every child has a mom and a dad, to redefine ideas like 'family.' School absolutely should be a safe place, but this isn't just about safety. Students have to embrace highly controversial social values or risk being labeled as bigots… Five year old kids aren't ready to think on their own about sexuality – and their families' values will be dismissed. That's not an education in critical thinking. It's social activism." http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=99442
While John Calvin abhorred philosophy for the attempts to go beyond its place and for displacing the wisdom of God, he was not ignorant of it, nor did he reject things simply because he did not understand them. He could deal in philosophy, and explain the faith in its terms, but he did not view it as something to organize his thoughts, but rather as the history of human attempts to understand our existence, and something for consideration. Philosophy Word of the Day – John Calvin and Philosophy
“I heard one say the other day that a certain preacher had no more gifts for the ministry than an oyster, and in my own judgment this was a slander on the oyster, for that worthy bivalve shows great discretion in his openings, and knows when to close. (Charles H Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students)” A word from CHS as you hone your sermons
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