Today at the Brook Dialogue called “Spirit and Truth” I’ll be sharing some thoughts on preaching, and taking in a lot from the pastors and worship leaders gathered at Elmbrook, from special speaker Scot McKnight and our worship staff, and then, later in the evening, a special presentation by Professor James Davison Hunter. It should […]
What is preaching? Read More »
When Medina won the war that broke out between the two kingdoms of Medina and Mecca, Muhammad became the indisputable leader of Arabia, and the beginnings of a new empire were formed. When Muhammad died in 632, Arabia was united under Muhammad’s control. By the close of that century,
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By Stuart Briscoe (“Oprah! You May Not Know Her As Well As You Think”) Atlantic Monthly, in a recent article, asked today’s 20-something’s questions about the Ten Commandments. On average they didn’t know more than two of them, but they didn’t like “Honor Thy Father and Mother” or “Remember the Sabbath Day to Keep it
Oprah and TV Spirituality Read More »
This series of articles describes the basic tenets of Islam, and then will compare it to Christianity. Muslims believe that one day Muhammad was visited by an angel who commanded him, “Proclaim!” Muhammad told the angel that he was not a proclaimer and hurried home, believing that he was either called to be a prophet
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Many pastors want “fast acting” sermons. But what brings lasting transformation is a steady, intentional plan for the pulpit. An article in Leadership Journal online.
Incremental Preaching Read More »
This begins a series of articles describing the basic tenets of Islam, and then comparing it to Christianity. Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship and heard around the world on his daily radio broadcast BreakPoint, relates the following anecdote: A group of women gathered at the Old Country buffet of Boston at the shopping mall.
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A Christianity Today editorial.
The end of religious freedom? Read More »
If you asked a wide variety of believers what was the most spiritually formative influence in their lives, what do you think they would say? One study done on this issue revealed an amazingly consensus. The most frequent answer was not “my mother,” or “my home church,” or “Pastor so-and-so.” For some reason the most
Crisis changes people Read More »
Whether stated or not, every church has a value system, and when the values are truly inspired by God, they are our best hope of rising above conflict and fragmentation, and being drawn together as a whole church. Every church should be able to say why it does what it does.
What do “values” mean in a church? Read More »
The first event sponsored by The Brook Network happens next week Tuesday here at Elmbrook Church. It is a one-day conference for pastors and/or worship leaders on the topic of “Spirit and Truth: Preaching and Creativity in Worship Today.” Dr. Scot McKnight from North Park University, author of Jesus Creed
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Today is the summer solstice. It marks the start of summer for some; for others, it is the highpoint of neo-pagan celebration. Worship of the sun has an ancient history (Stonehenge this morning). Think about it. If a person does not believe in an all-powerful, transcendent God, then one of the likely alternatives for people
I’m really enjoying reading the new probing biography about Dietrich Bonhoeffer written by Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (I recommend it!). Executed in a concentration camp mere weeks before the end of WWII in Europe,
Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy Read More »
For Fathers’ Day, one of the funniest commercials I’ve ever seen (especially given my kids’ fear of clowns when they were small.)
An Unfortunate Father Read More »
Many men don’t feel up to the task of expressing love, or at least that’s what they’ve been told. Yet in their hearts they know that they are concerned about their kids. They hope that their kids will “turn out” okay, that they will be safe,
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For Fathers’ Day, check out the initiative called The Mentoring Project which author Donald Miller founded. Don grew up in a fatherless home, and this organization is doing constructive things to deal with the problem of fatherlessness in our country. Pastor Mark Buchanan has an excellent article: Thy Kingdom Come, Why repentance is always good news. An