Simple Smallgroups (pt. 6): Pattern 2 – Changing

Back to more Simple Smallgroups! Last time we finished the “Connecting” pattern. Today we start up our new pattern “Changing.” Changing is just the word Bill Search uses for spiritual growth/sanctification. So lets take a look at what this pattern is and how Lifegroups can help us change. ____________________________________________________ Pattern 2: Changing So over theContinue reading “Simple Smallgroups (pt. 6): Pattern 2 – Changing”

Organizing My Sermon Thoughts (Pt. 3)

Hey fellow preachers and teachers. For a third time I thought it would be cool to let you in on how I organize my thoughts in preparing a sermon. I usually pray, approach the text, pray more, read again, pray, outline main ideas, form a rough outline, pray, then write out the sermon verbatim. IContinue reading “Organizing My Sermon Thoughts (Pt. 3)”

Organizing My Sermon Thoughts (Pt. 2)

Hey fellow preachers and teachers. Once again I thought it would be cool to let you in on how I organize my thoughts in preparing a sermon. I usually pray, approach the text, pray more, read again, pray, outline main ideas, form a rough outline, pray, then write out the sermon verbatim. I want toContinue reading “Organizing My Sermon Thoughts (Pt. 2)”

Organizing My Sermon Thoughts (Pt. 1)

Hey fellow preachers and teachers. I thought it would be cool to let you in on how I organize my thoughts in preparing a sermon. I usually pray, approach the text, pray more, read again, pray, outline main ideas, form a rough outline, pray, then write out the sermon verbatim. I want to share withContinue reading “Organizing My Sermon Thoughts (Pt. 1)”

Simple Smallgroups (pt. 5): Pattern 1 – Steps for Connecting Your Own Group

I know its been a LONG time since I posted for this series (two full quarters to be exact)…. but school is almost on break again so here we go! ____________________________________________________ Pattern 1: Connecting (Steps for Your Group) Hey friends, I know it’s been a while since I last posted something to this series. IContinue reading “Simple Smallgroups (pt. 5): Pattern 1 – Steps for Connecting Your Own Group”

College Services, Penal Substitution, and Lex Orandi Lex Credendi

So the following are some of my thoughts on Penal Substitution, Worship, and the formation of theology in light of our worship practices. Its a bit “stream of consciousness” so forgive me if there are some gaps in my logic and or some parts don’t make sense… ___________________________________ So Thursday I went to visit aContinue reading “College Services, Penal Substitution, and Lex Orandi Lex Credendi”

Church and Culture, Eschatology, and the Biblical Meta-Narrative

Question: How should the church engage culture? Should it seek to transform it? Answer: One of the major conflicts in evangelicalism revolves around the notion of how much the Church should engage culture. Although there is conflict, there are certain things that most traditions agree upon. For instance, there is agreement that the Church shouldContinue reading “Church and Culture, Eschatology, and the Biblical Meta-Narrative”

Interpreting the History of American Evangelicalism: 2 Lenses (Part 3: Doctrinal Disputes)

In this brief series of posts I would like to examine the history of American Christianity through two lenses: 1-the lens of democratization and 2-the lens of doctrinal disputes. Last time we looked at Evangelicalism through the lens of “democratization,” in today’s post (which is the third post in this series) we will take aContinue reading “Interpreting the History of American Evangelicalism: 2 Lenses (Part 3: Doctrinal Disputes)”

Interpreting the History of American Evangelicalism: 2 Lenses (Part 2: Revolutionary Religion and Creationism)

In this brief series of posts I would like to examine the history of American Christianity through two lenses: 1-the lens of democratization and 2-the lens of doctrinal disputes. In today’s post, which is the second post in this series we will take a look at two movements in American Evangelicalism which can be interpretedContinue reading “Interpreting the History of American Evangelicalism: 2 Lenses (Part 2: Revolutionary Religion and Creationism)”

Interpreting the History of American Evangelicalism: 2 Lenses (Part 1)

It has been said that one of the themes in the history of evangelicalism is that energetic populist or democratic new movements eventually become more middle class and staid. One might seek to interpret the history of American Christianity in light of this lens (the democratization of American Christianity). However there are other primary lensesContinue reading “Interpreting the History of American Evangelicalism: 2 Lenses (Part 1)”