A week ago was Pentecost. This week was Trinity Sunday. A great time to continue blogging about the Holy Spirit. It took a while for Christians to become clear that the Holy Spirit is really and truly God. Father? Check. Son? Check. Spirit? Some ambiguity — for centuries actually. Once that was clear, though, we joyfully proclaimed and […]
Is Pentecost “The Birthday of the Church”? (Heidelberg Catechism, Q54)
Here’s a question for you: How many of you have heard or preached a Pentecost sermon proclaiming it “the birthday of the Church”? That seems to be the understanding today among Christians. What really happened in Acts chapter 2? Was it “the first Pentecost”? No. Jews from around the world were gathered in Jerusalem to […]
Vocabulary Lesson: What’s Up with the “Ascension”? (Heidelberg Catechism Q. 49)
We just rushed by the most neglected day of the Church’s year: the “Ascension”, forty days after Easter when the risen Christ left the earth and went to heaven. Part of the problem: the original event happened on a Thursday. Churches don’t gather to take notice until the Sunday afterward. Another issue: Jesus lifting off without benefit […]
Heidelberg Catechism Group Study Now on Kindle!
I was very pleased to discover that my six-week small-group study of the Heidelberg Catechism is now available on Kindle! Apparently it came out on Kindle in May of 2013, but I didn’t hear about it. The paper copy came out in 2012. It is part of the “Being Reformed” series put out by the PC(USA)’s Congregational […]
The Good Samaritan: A Lenten Reflection on Heidelberg Catechism Q. 9
I can’t do it! You are not being fair.” Both as a parent and as a teacher I’ve inspired those accusations. Does our ability change our responsibility? If the rules tell me I have to do something, but my life says I just can’t do it, what happens? Of course I don’t ask people to […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- …
- 20
- Next Page »