Bible, theology, culture, etc.
https://youtu.be/qUxbFlat0Vg No one likes a hypocrite. We are frustrated when someone claims to be for something, but their actions prove otherwise. If a politician vows to be pro-life when candidating, but then recoils from enacting legislation when in office, his constituency is frustrated. If a business claims to care for the environment, but then dumps … Continue reading Who Are You to Judge? (1 Cor 5:9-13)
https://youtu.be/WG7Lic7kTns Ireland for a long time was the most thoroughly Christianized nations in Europe, retaining a much higher percentage of practicing Christians than any other European country. The authority of the Catholic church in particular was staggering, so much so that many assumed that to be Irish was to be Catholic. Yet, today, Ireland is … Continue reading Ought You Not Rather to Mourn? (1 Cor 5:1-8)
Like most of the country, our city just emerged from an unusually intense winter storm. In a few short days, we were sunk under a heavy blanket of snow. While our children were thrilled to death about getting to go sledding, the hazardous snow conditions made us uneasy about driving. Our driveway is fairly steep … Continue reading “You! Yes, You Christian, Make Disciples”
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
You can find the sermon audio (titled "The Church" on 6/5/16) here. Does a Christian have to be part of a church? Can you be a Christian and not be a part of a church at all? Perhaps for some of you that answer seems obvious, and maybe others are wrestling with that. Maybe … Continue reading God’s Family: The Church
Marc Sims 