
There is a narrative theologians know well that pastors often fear to address—a piece of the story that seems just a smidge too far to be preachable to an enlightened world. Moving from Earth to Heaven may sound odd, but it has enough logic to it that it might be heard: “We go from matter…
We have to admit in analyzing the New Testament that the early church thought Jesus was serious about coming back really soon. Waiting a few millennia was not at all the way they interpreted Jesus’ prophetic statements. In Mark 13 He said he’d be back before a generation passed and so the New Testament authors…
Paul loves to reflect on order when talking about church services in 1 Corinthians 14. That subject continues to be in play all the way to the end of the chapter. What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things…
It seems to many of us that if prophecy is real, it is all about the future. This misunderstanding comes to us in a few different ways: (1) When we typically hear about prophecy, we hear about it being fulfilled; (2) the only unfulfilled prophecies many Christians consider legitimate are the ones the Bible says…
Thanks to Scott Smith for the Audible review on my book, The Rise of the Water Kingdom! The author paints a vivid story that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. Even though I knew the basic storyline well, I was inspired and encouraged with a fresh wonderment to plunge deeper into the Water Kingdom! I feel this…
It ends up that a seeker-sensitive model of the church has been practiced since the very beginning of the church, even though it looked nothing like our seeker-sensitive models today. Paul’s idea of being seeker-sensitive was that we don’t come across as raving mad in our supernatural practices at church and also that we prophesy…
In 1 Corinthians 14:23-25 Paul tells us that speaking in tongues in our church services will confuse unbelievers, but that prophecy can minister to them. If a new person enters the church and everyone is speaking in unknown tongues (as the Corinthian church is pictured doing), that new person is going to leave as soon…
While comparing tongues and prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul shows us that while tongues need interpretation to be beneficial to the body of Christ, prophecy is naturally beneficial to the body because it builds up the church (1 Cor 14:3-4, 17), encourages (1 Cor 14:3, 31) and consoles (1 Cor 14:3). This is all important…
