I was asked today why John 21.11 notes there were 153 large fish caught by Jesus’ disciples in this resurrection appearance. Here is my brief answer: St. Augustine (in his Commentary on Psalm 50) notes that the number 153 refers to completeness of the Law and Spirit: the law being 10 and the Spirit seven(fold)… Continue reading Goin' Fishin': A Brief Comment on John 21:11
The following are my brief notes written as a Sunday School introduction for adults to the book of the Revelation that I taught May 13, 2018 at New Life Assembly of God in Ellendale, ND. What is “apocalypse”? It is a “revealing” of something. This book belongs to a broader genre of writings known to… Continue reading Hearing and Seeing the Apocalypse: A Sunday School Introduction
This post is borne out of a need to briefly share my view of women serving in ministry. I am an unabashed Egalitarian. I believe women (and men) can and must serve the Church (global and local) in any capacity that they are called to as ministers of the good news of Jesus in the… Continue reading Women in Ministry: The Spirit, Creation and Eschaton (with Podcast)
Within Protestantism (and more specifically Evangelicalism) there has been a tendency toward the abstractions of doctrinal confessions. Theology has most often tended toward bullet pointed statements of confession. While this has its place it fails to grapple with the revelation of God which we confess as such: the very form of the Scriptures. The nature… Continue reading Why Narrative Theology?
The following is a sermon I preached for chapel at Trinity Bible College & Graduate School on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. “But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long… Continue reading Livin' Large and Makin' Babies: A Sermon
The following is a sermon I preached at Faith Assembly of God in Lisbon, ND on Sunday, March 25, 2018. “Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except… Continue reading The Fig Tree Withers: A Sermon
From time to time I receive random questions from people I don’t even know. One from yesterday went as follows: “Does Trinity Bible College hold the position that the four Gospels can or cannot be perfectly harmonized into one account?” And my brief response (that I thought could be of interest to some who follow… Continue reading To Harmonize or Not: A Brief Answer
Following the lectionary, I preached the Gospel portion from Mark 16.1-8 this morning. This may not seem strange to others, but for a Pentecostal preacher to end before the well known long ending of Mark is tantamount to heresy (not really, but it is a rare phenomenon that cuts against the grain). The Gospel of… Continue reading Sometimes It Causes Me to Tremble: Reflections on Mark 16.1-8
“…on earth as it is in heaven…” While we might consider this from the trajectory of the revelation of the God to Israel preceding Jesus’ statement (which would be a fitting approach), we might also consider this statement as embodied in the one leading the prayer: Jesus the Christ. Such a reflection (drawing from the New… Continue reading On Earth As It Is In Heaven: A Brief Theological Reflection
Psalm 61 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong… Continue reading Our God Has Wings: A Sermon
