Baptism, An Exploration: A Poll About Those Who Die on the Way to the Baptistry

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Jay F Guin

[poll id=”2″]

Inspired by HistoryGuy’s suggestion, I thought I’d try out Theoblogger’s polling feature. I don’t intend to be unfair in my list of options. If I need to add more, let me know.

Posted in Baptism, Uncategorized | 42 Comments

A Thought Question: Advice for Worship Leaders

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Jay F Guin

worshipFrom a post by Philip Nation regarding worship leaders —

1. Just sing the song.

2. We don’t sing La-La-La

3. Open your eyes.

4. Stop singing in the key of “Tomlin.”

5. We only know 4/4 time.

6. Plan the transitions.

7. Turn up the lights.

8. Dress like it is worship that matters.

9. Love Jesus more than music.

Read the full post and the explanations here and then come back here to discuss — do you agree or disagree?

Posted in Thought Questions, Uncategorized | 14 Comments

Real Restoration: On Loving One Another, Part 2

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Jay F Guin

Desktop potter's wheelConsider —

1. We are called to serve, not to be served.

(Mat 20:25-28 ESV) 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

To love as Jesus loved, we must love as servants.

Now, how many congregations of Christians struggle with this one? How many church leadership meetings struggle to deal with a lack of volunteers? A lack of commitment?

Well, the fundamental problem is that we’ve imported Western consumer values into church, pretending that the members are there to be served. They aren’t. They are there to serve. Continue reading →

Posted in Real Restoration, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Break Time: Ed Stetzer Suffers ‘Roid Rage

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Jay F Guin

Ed Stetzer is a popular author of books on church growth and church planting and a consultant to the Southern Baptist Convention on these things. He speaks at Christian programs around the world. And he has a keen sense of Calvinistic humor. Yes, I know: it sure sounds like an oxymoron — “Calvinistic humor.” I mean, most Calvinists have all the humor of a tuna fish sandwich (at least, when discussing Calvinism).

So Ed had a bad reaction to some medicine and got loaded up on steroids, resulting in a series of hilarious tweets. (Don’t be embarrassed if you have to look some of the terms up. I did, too.)

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Baptism, An Exploration: Water Baptism and the Spirit

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Jay F Guin

JESUS BAPTISMWe who grew up in the 20th Century Churches of Christ were taught that the Spirit is not received at baptism. The “gift of the Holy Spirit” is salvation. Or maybe it’s the “ordinary” indwelling — which doesn’t do all that much. Indeed, the point was hammered into me with such force that I at one time thought we received the Holy Spirit when we went to the bookstore and bought a New Testament!

Therefore, I shouldn’t be surprised that we often struggle to understand that very nearly everything that happens at baptism — other than the cleansing of the filth from the flesh — happens by the action of the Holy Spirit. It’s at God’s direction and by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice. But it’s by the Spirit.

Consider —

Receipt of the Spirit means we belong to God.

(Rom 8:9 ESV) 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Uncategorized | 21 Comments

Baptism, An Exploration: Preliminary Theories and Conclusions

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Jay F Guin

JESUS BAPTISMTheories

We’re not finished. We have to work through Ephesians, Colossians, and some more beyond them. But I’m in the mood to consider what conclusions we might tentatively draw so far.

We could wait to consider the other passages, but I’m finding it difficult to go on without a working theory or two. I need a framework to work from. And the meanings of the remaining passages are all highly controverted.

So let’s speculate a little. Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Uncategorized | 23 Comments

Wiki-Lessons: 2 Samuel 7 – 9

Posted on January 16, 2011 by Jay F Guin

A short post.

2 Samuel Chapter 7

Once David established Jerusalem as his capitol, David asked the prophet Nathan whether God would approve the building of a temple. Until this time, the ark and sacrifices were all at the tabernacle, quiteliterally a tent. But God refused.

(2Sa 7:12-16 ESV)  12 “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.  14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,  15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.  16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'” Continue reading →

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Wiki-Lessons: 2 Samuel 6 – 7; 1 Chronicles 15 (David brings the ark to Jerusalem)

Posted on January 16, 2011 by Jay F Guin

David-dancingDifferent details of the return of the ark to Jerusalem are recorded in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. 2 Samuel gives more details about Michal’s reaction. 2 Chronicles gives more details about the ceremony itself. I’ll skip back and forth a bit.

David brings the ark to Jerusalem

David planned an elaborate ceremony to celebrate the transport of the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem, including singers, harps, lyres, cymbals, a music director, and trumpets — Continue reading →

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Wiki-Lessons: 2 Samuel 6 (Uzzah and the Ark)

Posted on January 16, 2011 by Jay F Guin

Uzzah Did Not Heed the Lord

I’m not sure the picture above is entirely historically accurate, but it certainly gives the right sense of things. Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Samuel, 2 Samuel, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Wiki-Lessons: 2 Samuel 2 – 5 (The Conquest of Jerusalem)

Posted on January 16, 2011 by Jay F Guin

PictureI don’t think I want to spend a lot of class time on the political machinations leading up to David’s enthronement over all of Israel. Just a few summary points need to be covered —

* The tribe of Judah anointed David king over Judah, but the other tribes did not immediately accept him as king.

* Abner was the general over Saul’s army and continued to be a very powerful man after Saul’s death. He had Ishbosheth, Saul’s oldest surviving son, anointed king over the remaining tribes. The text suggests that Ishbosheth was a weak ruler, perhaps due to his personality and perhaps due to knowing that his throne came from Abner rather than God.

* Joab was the head of David’s army.

* Abner killed Asahel, Joab’s brother, in battle, and Joab swore revenge (speaks much more poorly of Joab than Abner, as Abner appears to have acted not only in battle but in self-defense). Continue reading →

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