Bible, theology, culture, etc.
Does Art still matter today? In the vast tubes of the internet, I stumbled across this incredibly thought-provoking long-form essay, "Enter the Supersensorium: The Neuroscientific Case for Art in the Age of Netflix" by neuroscientist Erik Hoel. It is just over 7,000 words (about a 45-minute read), and wades into some dense neuroscientific jungles (gamma-aminobutyric … Continue reading Entertaining Ourselves to Death: The Supersensorium
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here. *Originally preached in March 2022* Sermon Audio: He Emptied Himself (Phil 2:5-11) The great New England pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards once wrote: “God is God, and distinguished from all other beings, and exalted above them, chiefly by his…” How would … Continue reading He Emptied Himself (Phil 2:5-11)
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here. *Originally preached in February 2022* Sermon Audio: What the Gospel Creates (Phil 2:1-5) *This week, I am attempting something new with my sermon notes. Rather than writing an extensive manuscript, I attempted to just use an outline of brief notes. The … Continue reading What the Gospel Creates (Phil 2:1-5)
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here. *Originally preached in February 2022* Sermon Audio: The Joy of Missing Out (Phil 1:27-28) Arius did not believe that Jesus was God. He twisted and maligned Scripture to make it support his view. He found powerful allies who he won over … Continue reading The Joy of Missing Out (Phil 1:27-28)
Art, beauty, aesthetics--these do not provide much for us in the way of utility and functionality, at least if we are thinking of those terms in their strictest of definitions. And yet, God seems to have filled our world with an abundance of beauty. We are naturally drawn to create art, to order our world … Continue reading What’s the Point of Beauty?
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here. *Originally preached in February 2022* Sermon Audio: Worthy of the Gospel (Phil 1:27-30) What is a life worthy of the gospel? That may, in some sense, sound rather strange when you hear it. How can your life be “worthy of the … Continue reading Worthy of the Gospel (Phil 1:27-30)
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here. *Originally preached in January 2022* Sermon Audio: To Live Is Christ (Phil 1:18-26) “Life is meaningless….I lived for thirty or forty years: learning, developing, maturing in body and mind, and…with matured mental powers reached the summit of life from which it … Continue reading To Live Is Christ (Phil 1:18-26)
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here. *Originally preached in January 2022* Sermon Audio: To Die Is Gain (Phil 1:18-23) “Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, … Continue reading To Die Is Gain (Phil 1:18-23)
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here. *Originally preached in January 2022* Sermon Audio: The Advance of the Gospel (Phil 1:12-18) Optimists are people who tend to look on the bright side, notice that the glass is half full, make lemonade when given lemons. They are positive and … Continue reading The Advance of the Gospel (Phil 1:12-18)
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here. *Originally preached in January 2022* Sermon Audio: The Love of God's People (Phil 1:1-11) Sermon Manuscript: Power is an unstable foundation to build a relationship on. Power, like authority, used wisely is a wonderful blessing from God. Power can get … Continue reading The Love of God’s People (Phil 1:1-11)
Marc Sims 