Christian Life
« Previous EntriesA Christian Leader Opens His Heart and Sets an Example for Us
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010I learned today that John Piper, Pastor for Preaching and Vision of Bethlehem Baptist Church, prolific author, and one of our nation’s most influential Christian leaders, is taking an eight-month leave from his work as a pastor, writer, and speaker.
This, in and of itself, is a bit surprising, given Piper’s usual volume of productivity, which […]
What Kind of Theological Renewal Does the Evangelical Church Need Most?
Thursday, April 1st, 2010The Evangelical Portal of the Patheos website is featuring a new conversation called the Cross Investigations Group. Here’s how Patheos describes this endeavor:
The Cross Investigations series encourages pastors, professors, authors, and bloggers to explore questions of import to the church in a coherent and cooperative manner. Every two weeks, a question will be posed to […]
Full-Size!
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010I’ll never forget the first memorial service I ever performed as a pastor. It was for a grandmother of one of my college students at Hollywood Presbyterian Church. I did not know this woman, but was the only pastor her family knew, so they asked me to do the service.
The service happened in a mausoleum […]
Should You Enjoy a Sermon?
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009Recently I had the privilege of preaching at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. It’s always an encouragement for me to experience a vibrant, Christ-centered, mission-oriented church. Thus I felt invogorated to be part of this church for a day.
I preached twice on Sunday morning in the traditional services at HPPC. During the second […]
Intimate Fellowship and Complete Joy
Friday, August 21st, 2009Part 21 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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I began this series by looking at the sad situation that motivated John to write his first letter. Poor theology plus unloving behavior had led some members of his church to depart, leaving behind their former brothers and sisters […]
Intimate Fellowship Encompasses Four Common Ideas of the Christian Life (Section 2)
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009Part 11 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In my last post in this series I began to examine several common ideas of the Christian life and their relationship to intimate fellowship. These ideas included:
1. The Christian life is being in heaven after death.
2. The Christian life […]
Intimate Fellowship Encompasses Four Common Ideas of the Christian Life
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009Part 10 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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So far in this series, I have been exploring the idea that the Christian life is, essentially, intimate fellowship with God and God’s people. I have based my discussion primarily on the first letter of John in the New […]
Walking in Darkness and Light (continued)
Monday, August 17th, 2009Part 9 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In yesterday’s post I began examining a passage from 1 John that uses the metaphor of walking to talk about how we live. To review, here’s the text:
This is the message he has given us to announce to you: […]
Intimate Fellowship Impacts Our Whole Life
Friday, August 14th, 2009Part 8 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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A couple of weeks ago I was working away on a series entitled “What is the Christian Life?” I got about two-thirds through that series when I was distracted by other things, including my most recent series on “Grief […]
Intimate Fellowship with God and God’s People (cont)
Friday, July 24th, 2009Part 7 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In my last post, I showed how 1 John connects fellowship with God and fellowship with people in such a way that they are virtually inseparable. Although this notion might be surprising to some of us who have drunk […]
Intimate Fellowship with God and God’s People
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009Part 6 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In my last post I proposed that the Christian life is koinonia, which should be understood as intimate fellowship. This koinonia is with God through Jesus Christ, but not only with God. I’ll explain what I mean in today’s […]
The Christian Life as Intimate Fellowship
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009Part 5 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In my last post in this series, I asked: What is the life revealed by God? The answer of John in his first letter is: Jesus Christ. Through the one who is the Life, we experience the fullness of […]
What is the Life Revealed by God?
Friday, July 17th, 2009Part 4 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In the opening verses of 1 John, we discover some essential characteristics of the life revealed by God. First, it was “from the beginning” (1:1). Second, it is something John has experienced personally: heard, seen, and touched (1:1). Third, […]
The Life Has Been Revealed
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009Part 3 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In my last post I introduced the New Testament letter we know as 1 John. Written by a pastor for his hurting flock, John begins his letter by talking about the life we have in Christ. Here, once again, […]
Life for a Divided Community
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009Part 2 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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Yesterday I began a new blog series I’m calling What is the Christian Life? If you missed yesterday’s post, you might check it out to see where I’m headed in this series. Or, you can read on, and be […]
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