These are quotes which stood out to me, possibly for use in a sermon someday. Their presence here does not mean I agree with them, it merely shows that I might want to reference them later. The default view is five random selections. Use the tag list on the right to view all quotes relevant to that theme.
If it were not for the presents, an elopement would be preferable.
Some years ago, a new pastor was called to a spiritually dead church in a
small Oklahoma town. The pastor spent the first week calling on as many
members as possible, inviting them to the first Sunday service. But the
effort failed. In spite of many calls, not a single member showed up for
worship! So the pastor placed a notice in the local paper stating that since
the church was dead, the pastor was going to give it a decent, Christian
burial. The funeral for the church would be held at 2 p.m. on the following
Sunday.
Morbidly curious, the whole town turned out for the "funeral." In front of
the pulpit, there was a large casket, smothered in flowers. After the eulogy
was given, the pastor invited the congregation to come forward and pay their
respects to the dead church. The long line of mourners filed by. Each one
peered curiously into the open casket, and then quickly turned away with a
guilty, sheepish look. For inside the casket, tilted at just the right angle
was a large mirror. Each one saw his own reflection in the mirror as perhaps
never before!
That is still what happens when human beings allow the living Christ to
confront them in their sinful brokenness. This special day calls us to make
a choice to receive God's Christ, and to let our lives be made whole again
by the power of God. As you begin this Holy Week, can you truly say in your
heart, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" The choice is
up to you!
id: 1071 | source: Robert A. Beringer, Turning Points, CSS Publishing Company, 1995. | tags: Apathy, Church, Creativity
How many Stanford students does it take to change a lightbulb?
One: he holds it up and the world revolves around him.
paraphrased: when trying to apply the Bible look for two factors: the God factor and the depravity factor. What's the angle on God communicated in this passage and what's the human response that distorts it? That's where you can see cross-cultural applications.
Do I understand Greek and Hebrew? Otherwise, how can I undertake, (as every Minister does,) not only to explain books which are written therein, but to defend them against all opponents? Am I not at the mercy of every one who does understand, or even pretends to understand, the original? For which way can I confute his pretence? Do I understand the language of the Old Testament? critically? at all? Can I read into English one of David’s Psalms; or even the first chapter of Genesis? Do I understand the language of the New Testament? Am I a critical master of it? Have I enough of it even to read into English the first chapter of St. Luke? If not, how many years did I spend at school? How many at the University? And what was I doing all those years? Ought not shame to cover my face?
id: 3186 | source: John Wesley, An Address to the Clergy | tags: