Believer, I hope I did not imply that the Sunday sermon is the only means we have to get our people into the Bible. We have Bible classes, new member instruction classes, supply materials for home devotion, and encourage daily personal devotions and readings. What I meant through pericope use is that it prevents the pastor from limiting himself to topics of his own choice. Sometimes the preach...more

Believer,
I hope I did not imply that the Sunday sermon is the only means we have to get our people into the Bible. We have Bible classes, new member instruction classes, supply materials for home devotion, and encourage daily personal devotions and readings. What I meant through pericope use is that it prevents the pastor from limiting himself to topics of his own choice. Sometimes the preacher must wrestle with Scripture to present the whole counsel of God.

Objectivity, welcome to the CP. You sound like you're Lutheran from reviewing your comments. Nicht wahr?less

Johnzon, Yet, the one thing in your whole argument that lacks is the understanding of the teaching of God's grace. To measure up to Him is impossible, and that failure is fatal. Thus Christ came, to atone for sins and offer free complete forgiveness to those who trust this promise. This faith in the atonement is the beginning of a life adventure (or not, if you just happen to be the thief on t...more

Johnzon,
Yet, the one thing in your whole argument that lacks is the understanding of the teaching of God's grace. To measure up to Him is impossible, and that failure is fatal. Thus Christ came, to atone for sins and offer free complete forgiveness to those who trust this promise. This faith in the atonement is the beginning of a life adventure (or not, if you just happen to be the thief on the cross -- Lk. 23) as trust in Christ is the foundation of a life in Christ -- the working of the Spirit promised by Christ (Jn. 16: 13). This is believer's ."personal relationship with God and Christ alone ."

This understanding of God's grace is important. Gotten dead to rights by His Law, God works forgiveness in His Gospel. The offer is firm, but too easily ignored. Other messages come along, other teachings. I'm sure the Dalai Lama is a swell guy with a winning style and a warm smile. But outward appearances .. is this what we wish to build a faith on?

The Gospel ... God has given you an offer, but will not be twisting arms to get one to take up the invite. If it's a life-death matter, then the consequences of refusal are just so much stiffer. It is in no degree sadistic egotism, just giving one a chance of a lifetime.less

Believer, We too use a three-year set of readings for the Sundays, and preach the sermon based on the Old Testament, Epistle, or Gospel reading, while having the option to preach from a relevant text in times where direct application of Scriptural truth is clear. We find a topical approach to preaching is not as efficient as a liturgical entry, simply because a topic would be the sole domain of ...more

Believer,
We too use a three-year set of readings for the Sundays, and preach the sermon based on the Old Testament, Epistle, or Gospel reading, while having the option to preach from a relevant text in times where direct application of Scriptural truth is clear. We find a topical approach to preaching is not as efficient as a liturgical entry, simply because a topic would be the sole domain of the pastor, who would lean toward pet topics.

There is also the discipline of preparing a sermon message from a pericope. The pastor must do intense text study to find the best way to preach on that theme as revealed in the text. the reward of building a fine sermon on the text not under your direct control means pastors who best serve their congregation.

By the way, I believe our synod has a double set of pericope series of readings, so that means greater exposure to the whole of God's message.

A happy New Year to you.less

>> Either your god is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient, or s/he doesn't care about humanity. Now there's a non sequitur for you. DisOP your concept of God is a little lackluster, as you tend to focus of the three omni attributes, as if they were self-conflicting. Imponderable, yes. Conflicting, no. You limit your idea of God, forgetting other attributes as eternity, holiness, immutabili...more

>> Either your god is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient, or s/he doesn't care about humanity.
Now there's a non sequitur for you. DisOP your concept of God is a little lackluster, as you tend to focus of the three omni attributes, as if they were self-conflicting. Imponderable, yes. Conflicting, no. You limit your idea of God, forgetting other attributes as eternity, holiness, immutability, etc. As a whole, it helps see your weaknesses in how you've tried to express God's role as world Savior. As holy, He can create totally sinless people (i.e. Adam and Eve), and in His wisdom give such as these free will (anything less would make man robot. God needed human, not minion). Praise from a perfect man would be from the heart, not from a pre-set programming. This leads to possible defections in man's use of his/her free will to find a perceived "better life" (hence, the "you shall be as God" lie of the evil one).

But such a choice by man would be countered by God's merciful plan to redeem and restore. Thus, God would be honored in man's conduct, free unfettered praise, or willing restoration through salvation.

It is a rather ingenious plan if you take time to study and ponder ti. Unfortunately, you've committed yourself to "compelling evidence of his existence," whatever that is. Perhaps God will in His wisdom offer you some, if you are open to same.

That will be seen in the new year. A happy one to you.less

Online, > Is obedience legalism? Excellent question! Can the Law be obeyed for the sheer joy of it? I'm taken by Gal 6: 2: 2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. As the Spirit enables us, we are able to take the opportunity to serve. Is this that obedience?

DisOp, Your post displays a calculated misunderstanding of Scriptures. Where to begin? > I'm going to create man and woman with original sin. Hardly accurate. God created man with neither sin nor an ability to react to God as a robot. We call this free will. Man was granted this, and abused it, with dire consequences duly noted and ignored. Your opinion that God is "violent, cruel, angry...more

DisOp,
Your post displays a calculated misunderstanding of Scriptures. Where to begin?

> I'm going to create man and woman with original sin. Hardly accurate. God created man with neither sin nor an ability to react to God as a robot. We call this free will. Man was granted this, and abused it, with dire consequences duly noted and ignored. Your opinion that God is "violent, cruel, angry, misogynistic, capricious, incestuous, bi-polar, mass murdering, absurd" is proof of such ignorance.

If the "soul that sins dies" is simple divine justice on apostate man, your arguments don't ascend above the "sour grapes" catagory. But the God of justice becomes the God of grace by the very method you impugn. >impregnate a woman with myslef [sic] as her child, so that I can be born. If Christ takes the punishment for sin knowing there is no recource for man for self-redemption ... where's the barbarity, the idiocy in that?

If fundamentalism is grounding all religious truth on Scriptures rather than trendy whims of the human mind ... and this accepting the bad news of the Bible (condemnation under divine Law) along with the good (divine acceptance through Christ's atonement), then it very well can come under attack from those who take biased survey courses. But post modern Christian trends has no acceptable hermeneutics (interpretation) other than warm fuzzy feelings.

Isagogical approaches to Scriptures (intros and surveys) have nothing compared to exegetical study. You should inquire into this method.less

JBarr, Already in this post I've seen "blame the libs," "blame the conservatives," it's all the fault of "today's post modern, American Christianity trend," (duly noted objectivity) and now your "rise of fundamentalism." Cheisa is right in one respect. We poorly define our terms and create nothing more than scarecrows. It's time we get into the specifics of our accusations. Why vilify fundame...more

JBarr,
Already in this post I've seen "blame the libs," "blame the conservatives," it's all the fault of "today's post modern, American Christianity trend," (duly noted objectivity) and now your "rise of fundamentalism." Cheisa is right in one respect. We poorly define our terms and create nothing more than scarecrows. It's time we get into the specifics of our accusations. Why vilify fundamentalism when other posters lay the blame on the doorsteps of others?less

I took a week to let it mull in. We had two Christmas Eve services Friday night. We had a gloriously well-attended service on Christmas (550 +// N.B. We are in no stretch of anybody's imagination a megachurch, just a small rural Lutheran congregation somewhere in fly-over America). Then we had our two regular Sunday morning services, well attended but not thronged like any of the Christmas serv...more

I took a week to let it mull in. We had two Christmas Eve services Friday night. We had a gloriously well-attended service on Christmas (550 +// N.B. We are in no stretch of anybody's imagination a megachurch, just a small rural Lutheran congregation somewhere in fly-over America). Then we had our two regular Sunday morning services, well attended but not thronged like any of the Christmas services. It was then I understood the need of this normal Sunday service. It came in the general prayer for the membership. Four in for surgeries. Two of our members, ages 25 and 4, are struggling with incurable cancer. One life taken in a tragic car crash; one life in the balance at the local children's hospital. Two souls just released from the hosptial after their surgeries. Joyous news of the Savior's birth one day. A list of reasons for His importance in our lives the next.

Tuesday funeral. Wednesday mid-week service. Special celebrations on New Year's Eve. How often we have it placed in our heads that church is a one-day deal, see you next time. The kingdom of God is a daily matter, and what we call Sabbath a wonderful moment when the local portion of the Body of Christ meets together for encouragement, strengthening of faith, and fellowship.
DP, I would have met r71's point with this item from Colossians:

16Let no man therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, 17which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s. 18Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth. (Col. 2: 16-19) The reason for a move from Saturday to Sunday was to celebrate on the Lord's Day, the day of resurrection as well as the day on which Pentecost occurred. We are not pledged to Mosaic ritual but to worshipping Christ in spirit and in truth. I know the need of meeting frequently together. I'm just miffed at those who see three days straight as a challenge not to be endured.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (1 Peter 3: 18)less

DP, >I'm from MN. It really is a hoot down here in the Carolinas when you get snow. Then I guess you know about the "give-n-take" attitude we have about snow. The Lord gives us the white stuff. We take out our shovels and snowplows and carry on. May your Christmas be merry and white.

We shall have Sunday services. This after our children's Christmas Eve service, vesper service, Christmas Day celebration. We see this as a rare apportuntiy to gather three days straight to hear the great things that God has done. those who will come, come. Those who feel "churched-out," sleep in. DP, we've had our bit of snow in these parts too, but Wisconsinites have a give-n'-take attitude...more

We shall have Sunday services. This after our children's Christmas Eve service, vesper service, Christmas Day celebration. We see this as a rare apportuntiy to gather three days straight to hear the great things that God has done. those who will come, come. Those who feel "churched-out," sleep in. DP, we've had our bit of snow in these parts too, but Wisconsinites have a give-n'-take attitude about the white fluffy stuff.

Anyway, we don't see this as so much different than the last week of Lent. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter vigil, Easter Day service. To one who is in Christ, is there a "maxed out." On this side glory, maybe. Good practice for that side.less

The atheist bulletin board ultimately made no sense. This season ... celebrate REASON! Why???? Was it Jeopardy" finals week?

There has always been something vapors and moonbeams about settling for a "Happy Holidays" when a hearty "Meery Christmas" is more the real deal. "H.H." sounds more like you're trying to avoid a commitment. If so, I would still wish a faint "Holidays" if it would mean something. The poor feeble phrase seems to be best answered by a "whatever!' than anything else. Give me a "Merry Christmas" ...more

There has always been something vapors and moonbeams about settling for a "Happy Holidays" when a hearty "Meery Christmas" is more the real deal. "H.H." sounds more like you're trying to avoid a commitment. If so, I would still wish a faint "Holidays" if it would mean something. The poor feeble phrase seems to be best answered by a "whatever!' than anything else.

Give me a "Merry Christmas" where you know the background to the whole Bethlehem episode. It is highly important to many, and that alone would deserve the considerations of anyone who was sensitive to matters called faith. But such sensitivity is in such short supply, even in these politically correct times.

Merry Christmas to you all.less

I like Tchividjian's sense of the front-door/backdoor relationship of Law in a Gospel situation. To approach the Gospel without the sense of the Law's insistence of all falling short and never attaining the full understanding of God's glory means you can't appreciate the full and satidfying accomplishment of forgiveness of sins in Christ. This conceptualization of Christianity striking down all ...more

I like Tchividjian's sense of the front-door/backdoor relationship of Law in a Gospel situation. To approach the Gospel without the sense of the Law's insistence of all falling short and never attaining the full understanding of God's glory means you can't appreciate the full and satidfying accomplishment of forgiveness of sins in Christ. This conceptualization of Christianity striking down all overestimations of the self in view of God's holiness may be galling to humanistically-minded people like Mike, bot does he bristle at an insult, or at a truth? Read your newspapers and watch your newscast carefully and with introspection for once! There is something flawed with the human spirit, and this is sin. Jesus Himself raised some hackles amongst the self-righteous of His day. The effects of the Law leading to the understanding of Gospel should do no less today.
The backdoor effect of Law after the sweetness of Gospel is believed is more a Spirit-led motivation of thanksliving, offering ourselves as living sacrifices as stated in Romans 12: 1. This sacrifice is more a revulsion of the garbage that enters into the lives of human existence, the petty selfish, self-centered greedy acts that are jettisoned when the "greater than I" enters into ones life. God's Law doesn't disappear into irrelevance at the coming of Gospel, but becomes a no-pressure "to-do list" of ways God is glorified in us. God's gracious forgiveness motivates us on, to be forgiving ourselves in the same measure God has been forgiving to us. this Christian walk doesn't complete itself this side of glory, but time resolves even this.

To understand and distinguish the facets of the doctrines of Law and Gospel makes ones relationship to God through Christ a firm steady journey in this life to the next. Emphasis Gospel without devaluating the Law.

A Merry Christmas to all the CP posters. Christ is born. Salvation is sure.less

OS, I'm somewhat fearful of "friendless-fire" incidents, a variation of "friendly-fire" except in a case of dealing with those who openly vaunt their sexual preferences prior to battle situations. Stay tuned.

Took in the movie with the class after taking time to read C. S. Lewis' story. We went in with seeking out the differences Hollywood would make in offering its rendition of the tale. The green smog was the first "SAY WHAT?" The class acknowledges the events of Lewis' story were presented, but in rather a shuffled "ZYX" order with the Dark Island as a final destination rather than an unfortu...more

Took in the movie with the class after taking time to read C. S. Lewis' story. We went in with seeking out the differences Hollywood would make in offering its rendition of the tale.

The green smog was the first "SAY WHAT?"

The class acknowledges the events of Lewis' story were presented, but in rather a shuffled "ZYX" order with the Dark Island as a final destination rather than an unfortunate stopover. We loved the special effects, but noted touches inconsistent with Lewis' original story. For example, in the book Dark Island was escaped by crying out to Aslan, followed by a light (cross? albatross?) shattering the gloom of Dark Island. In the movie, Lucy does whisper Aslan help us. But then, after an epic battle with a sea serpent and dissing the White Witch (you must admire that woman's agent, getting her a part in a movie for book she doesn't have a role in), the island dissipates into nothingness and restoring all the lost people engulfed in the green smog.

I like the closing comments of Aslan that on leaving Narnia for our normal world, you must look for him under a different name. C. S. Lewis fully intended us to realize that lion is symbolic for Christ. This version leaves you wondering where to look.less

B-moth, Good point all around. Remember the Soviet Union. The "workers' paradise" had nothing to do with religion, and much less to offer the "people." And, their promotion of science ... thanks to Lysenko, agenda-driven soviet science produced inferior technology, lost the early lead in a "space race," and created a shabby industrial base that put Warsaw Pact nations at a loss when Communism...more

B-moth,
Good point all around. Remember the Soviet Union. The "workers' paradise" had nothing to do with religion, and much less to offer the "people." And, their promotion of science ... thanks to Lysenko, agenda-driven soviet science produced inferior technology, lost the early lead in a "space race," and created a shabby industrial base that put Warsaw Pact nations at a loss when Communism failed in the late 1980's.
If this is atheism in control ... shudder!less

believer, Been mulling over this article all day. I think the title does not address the key issue of the message Pastor Furtick preaches. This "calling", wouldn't a better word for it be "direction"? As a teacher, I see this more often than most. My kids offer tons of various talents. I see that living for Christ is knowing His Gospel, then living it in light of those talents that best expr...more

believer,
Been mulling over this article all day. I think the title does not address the key issue of the message Pastor Furtick preaches. This "calling", wouldn't a better word for it be "direction"? As a teacher, I see this more often than most. My kids offer tons of various talents. I see that living for Christ is knowing His Gospel, then living it in light of those talents that best express our response to His grace.
Your post expressed this thought very well. God bless you for your insight.less

I commend our president for being so right on this issue. I believe his activities in the soup-kitchens this holiday is a far cry better than taking time-off to vacation on the tax-payers' money. Any act of kindness should be noted, and even a fellow who didn't vote for Obama should be gracious enough to give him a "tip-o-the hat" when he acts in such a way. Still, I note Jesus' point in Matt...more

I commend our president for being so right on this issue. I believe his activities in the soup-kitchens this holiday is a far cry better than taking time-off to vacation on the tax-payers' money. Any act of kindness should be noted, and even a fellow who didn't vote for Obama should be gracious enough to give him a "tip-o-the hat" when he acts in such a way.

Still, I note Jesus' point in Matt. 6: 1 ... "to be seen by men." Perhaps the mid-term elections will make the President more open to the feelings of those more moderate and conservative. We should take time to see. You know, a tree that has a bumper crop should continue to produce like that, or else the ax. Any politician worth their stuff understands this.less

Shows what happens when the true Gospel of Christ enters into the culture, replacing not only the decadent demonic teachings but even the ineffective approaches to God's grace. When Catholic teachings intermingle with voodoo, nothing but despair. But a fresh movement of God's love in Christ alone ... a world of difference. Praise God!

>> Natural phenomena have natural causes. Ah, RK, but do natural causes have natural beginnings? The teleological aspects of evolution have ever been unevaluated, even ignored.