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Paul Lamey
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23 Responses
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I wish to thank God for sites like this that bring reality of GOD’S wonderful word into focus. We are losing this in the churches especially in New Zealand. We think that worship is music. A very Charismatic idea, but dangerous road to travel.
We grab onto anything that will make Church grow without HIS WORD. We are looking for programs without the person of Jesus Christ in our sermons. Content in sermon is feel good messages. The BIBLE (WORD FOR WORD) is replaced on the pulpit with dynamic ones, a disaster in the making, we need repentance in the pulpit before there will be blessings in pew. God help us — the leadership is filling the congregation with good feeling without the Saviour. “PREACH THE WORD” said Paul to Timothy.
“Do not grow weary in doing good” 2 Thess. 3:13.
I LOVE THE ESV. Thank God for this translation. I have been a Christian for 46 years and was taught by Godly people as Gary Inrig in Calgary, Canada. But I am here to pass on what I was taught.
Dawood,
Thanks for this note! May the Lord bring about revival in your land and ours.
Caleb
I noticed you’ve added me (Unashamed Workman) to your blogroll, and I’d just like to say thank you. Looking forward to another year of your stimulating blog!
Paul and Cabeb and Matt
Sorry about that mistake. But I do that a lot.
I enjoy the articles.
A question about preaching sermons. Since plagiarism has come up from time to time. And the idea is to give credit for quotes, etc that you use in your sermons. How do you give credit to Greek Workbooks, Theological Dictionaries, Linguistic Workbooks. You can footnote those in your sermon notes, but how do you address the references to the people? I might use more than ten references in one sermons.
Charles
Charles,
This is a matter of conscience in my humble opinion. If i directly quote someone (or something) i always try and give credit (or atleast say one scholar wrote, etc).
I don’t think you want to disrupt the flow of your sermon so much that you are constantly saying “in the words of one scholar” etc, etc. Sometimes it is simply better to restate what someone else wrote in such a way that you are not forced to say this is from___
Because this is often a case by case decision i probably shouldn’t try and be anymore specific.
Blessings to you,
Caleb
I came across one of your articles to do with whether or not one should take notes during preaching. I have been doing some research into the whole area of taking notes and to my surprise have found precious little on the internet.
I was wondering if you gentlemen would perhaps share some insights into how you actually record your notes from your bible study and research?
many thanks
Simon
Simon,
Are you asking about taking notes as a listener or taking notes as a preacher?
In my opinion one of the great advancements in technology (as far as preaching is concerned) is power point. I think more and more preachers are using power point as a way of highlighting their major points, statements, etc.
People who are more visual seem to appreciate this additional teaching resource. I think you can overkill on PP but that if used right it is a wonderful tool.
When i take notes as a listener i am looking for the major thesis of the passage; the preaching outline; passages of Scripture that i want to study more in depth (because time is often the preachers greatest enemy); I always write down anything that i may not have agreed with or atleast items i want to study more (as a Berean); things that i know i need to change as a result of what i heard that morningl; etc, etc.
Hopefully this helps some,
Caleb Kolstad
Hi Paul – I just came across your blog and wanted to thank you for all your work. There seems to be some great stuff on here! I and a friend have just started a blog dedicated to the stimulation of Biblical Preaching through discussions of applied homiletical theory, discussions of specific Bible texts and preaching book reviews. I’d be honored to get listed among your “preaching links” if you consider our blog a worthy addition. The URL is http://biblicalpreaching.wordpress.com (Biblical Preaching Blog). Thanks brother and keep up the good work!
Peter Mead
….PS I should apologise for using the same wordpress theme as you – I hadn’t seen any other blogs when I set it up, but I suppose it is obvious to use a bridge scene for a blog like this!
Peter,
We have now added your site to our blog role. Thanks for dropping by.
PSL
Paul or Matt
AWANA. How do you view their position on salvation? What is your approach in teaching children about salvation?
How is the best way to evangelize children?
Charles
I am studying and researching Ezekiel to prepare some sermons. Do you have any study suggestions for this difficult book?
I greatly appreciate your site, by the way, and look forward to reading more of your entries.
Mark: Daniel Block’s two-volume commentary in the NICOT series is stellar. I would definitely start there.
P.S. For a shorter treatment, you might consider Lamar Eugene Cooper’s commentary on Ezekiel in the NAC series.
I like Charles Feinberg’s commentary on it as well as the one’s mentioned by Matt. I have to say i have never preached a sermon from Ezekiel though.
If you’d like to buy a copy of the Feinberg commentary please let me know as i happen to have two. I have a brand new copy that i paid 21 for that i will sell for 10.
Grace,
Caleb
Matt and Caleb, Thanks for the tips. I have looked at Block’s commentary and it has interested me. Let me investigate the Feinberg commentary and I will let you know.
I found on Amazon these 3 books for less than $25 total (including shipping!):
John B. Taylor’s commentary,
Walther Eichrodt’s commentary,
and “The Messiah’s Coming Temple” by John W. Schmitt and J. Carl Laney. This book deals with the last few chapters that pertain to Ezekiel’s vision of the temple.
Do you have any comments concerning these books?
Thanks for your help!
I can’t help you on those my friend.
Caleb
Bigelow will always be Frank’s church as long as Frank is the pastor, for better or worse. The challenge comes from the fact that Frank is always evolving in his theology and philosophy. As a non-denominational church, the pastor becomes the final authority. The question comes down to which is better – a stable denomination with established doctrines and ministry philosophy which can become rotten at the core or a non-denominational church that is based mostly on the convictions of an individual who can either become entrenched and possessive, or, fickle and defensive? I don’t have an answer to that one.
When do you see the need to remove your membership from a church that appears to be biblical in its preaching.
Charles
Guys
I am really enjoying the discussion topics on this board. They are just what I need.
Thanks.
Tim
Tim,
We appreciate your note and your comments.
Grace to you,
Caleb
Thank you for leading me to this space of contact with you.
I assumed that, since the post was talking about a series on baptism, it would be on-topic to offer a quote about baptism.
You said, “I pray that you will search the Christian Scriptures…”
I have. My parents and sisters were all ministers and the Gospel was our daily Bread.
You said, in regard to the Baha’i Faith that it, “…appeals to the idea that we are in control of our destiny…”
The Baha’i Faith clearly upholds that we are beholden to God, that we do nothing of ourselves.
I’ll leave you with a quote from the Bible. It talks of the Glory of the Father. To Baha’is, Baha’u'llah is Christ returned in the Glory of the Father:
“6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
(King James Bible, Romans)
Amzolt,
I think you missed the point.
PSL
I WANT TO BE PART OF YOUR ORG. I LOVE YOUR PROGRAM.
THANKS
Pastor Matu E. Nimely
I was reading your post about Driscoll, and unfortunately it was closed to further comments. I wanted to say thank you for pointing out many issues with what I perceive as “the mess going on at Mars Hill,” and quite probably within Mark Driscoll’s heart as well. That sounds harsh, I know, but as so many pointed out in that conversation, he has been pleaded with to no avail, and he has been challenged with the qualifications of pastors and elders verses his own behavior, and yet he refuses to truly repent and to adjust his behavior.
I haven’t read enough of your blog to know how you feel about Christian therapists, but I am one. And so my blog comes at what I perceive happening at Mars Hill from a bit of a different perspective, perhaps not different, but with other facets. I am looking at Mark’s behavior and attitudes and characteristics, and I am looking at Mars Hill’s by-laws and membership covenant and the fruit in people’s lives from affiliation with this church, I am looking at all of that from a spiritual/church abuse perspective. It is quite disturbing when one compares the evidence with the descriptions of experts in the field of spiritual/church abuse.
I have read the testimonies of so many women who have been objectified and deeply wounded by MD’s teaching, just as you wrote about not wanting to have happen with your wife and your daughters. MD is an “example” of what I would never want all those young men he is influencing to become, and yet he plows forward 8,000 strong, with aspirations of 10,000, and eventually, Oh, God forbid, an army of Driscollites at 50,000 strong. From what you wrote, I know you would not want your sons to be a part of that. I commend you for that!
I’ve created a blog about what I consider to be abuse that is only getting worse at the hands of Driscoll in what appears to be a very abusive system. I hope you post this so your readers can check this out as well, and to help validate and heal those who have been so wounded by what is going on there:
freedom4captives.wordpress.com
In Him always,
Freedom