‘The Love Feasts’
Barry Newman’s latest topic for thoughtful examination is ‘the love feasts’ –
“What exactly did Jude have in mind when he wrote, ‘These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm – shepherds who feed only themselves’ (NIV Jude 12)? In particular what did he mean by ‘love feasts’? This blog series will attempt to examine these and related questions…”
– see the first few posts on the topic at Barry’s blog.
Carl Trueman on preaching and the Trinity
Carl Trueman spoke on the Trinity earlier this month at the Proclamation Trust’s Autumn Joint Ministers Conference in Leicestershire.
He began his series by pointing out how crucial it is that Christians have a good grasp of the doctrine of the Trinity. The first talk includes a fascinating overview of the doctrine of the Trinity in the early centuries. His second talk was on the link between preaching and the Trinity.
The Proc Trust has posted the videos of his talks. Most edifying. Direct links to talks – Talk 1 , Talk 2, Talk 3.
Make Disciples!
Bishop Paul Barnett reflects on Matthew 28:16-20 and disciple-making. Here are a few quotes:
“Christ was a disciple maker. His disciples were disciple makers. You and I are to be disciple makers. This is not just for clergy, it’s for all of us.”
“Disciple making is an infection that is caught as much as it is taught. It challenges our Christian faith to be real, joyous and others centred.”
“Congregations should free up their ministers’ time so they can do the research so as to properly teach and instruct their congregations. That is their main job.”
Why God became Man
“The title of this post is the translation of one of the most famous books in the history of Christian theology: Cur Deus Homo by Anselm of Canterbury. In it he expounded the biblical doctrines of Christ’s incarnation and atonement, demonstrating their fundamental connection. The one who died was God the Son become fully human. God the Son became fully human in order to die.
The necessity of the incarnation arises from both God’s character of holy love and determined purpose to have human beings for himself even in the face of the monumental attack upon God and his character that is human sin. …”
– ACL President Mark Thompson writes at Theological Theology.
Abandon the Reformation, Abandon the Gospel
“There they sat. Relics. Lots of them. There was a cut of fabric from the swaddling cloth of baby Jesus, 13 pieces from his crib, a strand of straw from the manger, a piece of gold from a Wise Man, three pieces of myrrh, a morsel of bread from the Last Supper, a thorn from the crown Jesus wore when crucified, and, to top it all off, a genuine piece of stone that Jesus stood on to ascend to the Father’s right hand…”
– At The Gospel Coalition, Matthew Barrett writes for Reformation Day (October 31).
Archbishop Cranmer’s immortal bequest
In the run up to Reformation Sunday (October 30), Church Society has republished a 1992 article from Churchman – ‘Archbishop Cranmer’s Immortal Bequest: The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England: An Evangelistic Liturgy’ by Samuel Leuenberger. (PDF file.)
Worthwhile reading for a sense of where the Book of Common Prayer comes from, especially so as Sydney Diocese discusses liturgical revision.
The Elephant in the Room
Does theology matter? Of course it does – and even more so when someone is a teacher and preacher who claims to speak the words of eternal life.
Over the last few days, quite a storm has developed over the invitation extended to a ‘Word of Faith’ preacher to speak at a high profile event in the US. You can read a summary by Tim Challies about the controversy. Carl Trueman also offers some thoughts.
Related: Word of Faith preachers. (Photo: Tim Challies.)
On hearing and responding to Christ’s word
At the Better Gatherings website (run by the Archbishop of Sydney’s Liturgical Panel), there’s a helpful short article by Dr David Peterson – on considering what we do when we meet around Christ in church. You can read it here (be sure to check the other resources on the site!).
Paul, Chronology and the Unity of 2 Corinthians
“It is generally agreed that Paul’s engagement with the church in Corinth was extensive and intensive, more so than with any Pauline congregation. This short paper addresses the question of the chronology of Paul’s relationship with the church in Corinth and the related issue of the unity of Second Corinthians. …”
– Bishop Paul Barnett has posted a very interesting and helpful paper he presented at the Society for the Study of Early Christianity at Macquarie University in August.
(Related: Society for the Study of Early Christianity website.)