Bible, theology, culture, etc.
"Provided that meetings, pamphlets, policies, movements, causes, and crusade, matter more to him than prayers and sacraments and charity, he is ours--and the more 'religious' (on those terms) the more securely ours. I could show you a pretty cageful down here."- C.S. Lewis, writing as the demon Screwtape in The Screwtape Letters Your prayers will … Continue reading Prayer When the Nation Rages
*I know, I know, Covid. If you are forced to stay home because of medical complications, the Lord understands. Hebrews 10:24-25 refers to willful neglect of missing church on Sunday; being forced to stay home because of medical reason does not necessarily mean you are breaking this commandment. But, if you are healthy and are … Continue reading Skip Church? Consider the Cost
In my church's statement of faith, statement XV, "Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper" explains baptism as, "a prerequisite...to the Lord's Supper." My church previously practiced what is known as "open" communion, which is a position that states that the Lord's Table is available to anyone who has professed faith in Christ. Our new statement of faith, … Continue reading Requiring Baptism for Communion
I am a pastor. I am not a scientist, I am not a doctor. I took "zero" classes on epidemiology or respiratory infections in seminary. Below is a summary of findings from academic journals or articles published by research universities on the science behind the risks of singing indoors in a Covid-19 world. But, because … Continue reading Can We Sing?
The Old Testament book of Daniel is famous for portraying human government doing wicked things! What could it tell us about the goodness of government? The fact that Daniel and his three friends are willing to work within the Babylonian courts is itself instructive. These are men who, quite literally, are willing to die before … Continue reading The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Government
Sermon Video: https://www.facebook.com/QuinaultBC/videos/2670491949873628/ Sermon Manuscript: 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into … Continue reading Displaying Death and Life: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Richard Baxter was a puritan pastor and theologian in England in the seventeenth century. He lived through the Great Ejection by the Church of England where the state abusively expelled about 2500 ministers across England who refused to conform to the new Anglican liturgical orders. Baxter was forced out of his pulpit against his own … Continue reading Cancel Church? A Puritan Reflection
I just finished preaching two sermons on Mark 5: Jesus and Demons (Mark 5:1-20) and Jesus and Death (Mark 5:21-43) and was struck by a subtle theme in the chapter. I want to propose a (cautious) theological interpretation of the chapter that I believe Mark intends for the perceptive reader to pick up on and … Continue reading Deeper Dive in Mark Five
Link to sermon video: https://youtu.be/iM619t9eEyE Sermon Discussion Questions: What stood out to you most? What fears do you most commonly struggle with? How has Jesus' victory over death affected how you deal with every other fear? Do you have a hard time applying Jude 22? Do you tend to look more like Jairus or the … Continue reading Jesus and Death (Mark 5:21-43)
I recently preached a sermon on how Christians should think about Satan and Demons. One element that I didn't get to explore more was a tableau from the book of Revelation that illustrates everything I was trying to say, but in a more vivid, powerful way. Why Revelation is so Confusing The book of Revelation … Continue reading Why Satan is Doomed: Revelation 12
Marc Sims 