Here are some thoughts that I've used on occasion to serve at the Lord's Table:
The Too Familiar Words of Institution - Quite often I struggle with what to say when we gather at the Lord's Table. Though we only partake of this once a month, we (pastors) often repeat the same lines by way of introduction. And out of fear of falling into a rut I feel compelled to try to come up with something fresh, some new angle on communion to help you.
Continue reading "Some Meditations for Serving at the Lord's Table" »
Jesus, the Savior
Perhaps thankfully for most, the creed avoids the theological subtleties of the doctrine of Christ, steering a course instead for the more personal and Biblical emphases of His name and title, Jesus Christ. Now, let's be clear on that last statement since many people hear the address "Jesus Christ" and take that as His full name - Jesus being His first name and Christ His last. But this is not the case. As I've just said, Christ is actually more of a title as in "Jesus, the Christ."
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It's been nearly a year since I've been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Since then I've had surgery, then radiation treatment, and now am on a regimen of drugs. I've undergone these successive treatments because none have been completely effective. To put it another way, my hope in the medical treatment is partial at best. From a worldly point of view this should lead me to despair. But that has not been the case. In fact I've had several instances of rejoicing in it.
Continue reading "Rejoicing in the Midst of Cancer" »
Jesus, the Person
All the theological wrangling of the early centuries of the Church begs the question - why was there so much ado about Christ? Can't we just grant there are many things we don't understand and live with the ambiguity?
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One of my least favorite areas of ministry is the business end - the forming of budgets and accounting for funds. I'm just not a numbers guy. I don't do spread sheets. Don't ask me to balance anything. Our pastoral staff is composed of generalists rather than specialists but one thing our church (wisely) never does is put me in charge of administration. (Neither does my wife for that matter...).
Continue reading "Why I Think Tithing is for Christians" »
Jesus, the Doctrine
One reason why the creed devotes so much space to Jesus Christ is because of the controversy which surrounded the person of Jesus in the early Church. In its first 500 years or so the Church wrestled with many deficient explanations of and beliefs about Christ.
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There's a prevailing - and I think unfounded - assumption among American Christians that church should be enjoyable. Most people approach church involvement as if they were about to attend a dinner theater production: we dress up; we leave in time so as not to be late; we expect to be greeted at the door and escorted to our choice of seating; we hope the music is to our taste and that the pastor's speaking is winsome, engaging, and delightful. Then, of course, on the way home we review the whole as if we were critics about to write a column for the "Arts & Entertainment" section of the paper. I say this perspective is unfounded and want to suggest that, sometimes, not enjoying church is an expression of genuine Christian faith.
Continue reading "When It's Ok Not To Enjoy Church" »
Creation and Redemption
The second and largest section of the Apostle's Creed begins with a shift in focus to the very heart of the Christian faith - the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this transition from creation - "maker of heaven and earth" - to the Son the creed reflects a biblical flow of thought
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