Three Questions for Sermon Listening

How do you know you are hearing a biblical sermon? I like this writers suggestion on how to be discerning sermon listener. What do you think?Sermon

 

Three Questions to Ask Before Listening to Any Sermon

It's easy to become a passive sermon consumer. As a young Christian, I started to sense this tendency in my own listening, so one Sunday I brought a notebook to church and devised a simple little practice to get my discernment juices flowing before listening to sermons.

Fighting For The Faith

This is an example of a sermon review done on a podcast called Fighting For The Faith. I encourage you to check it out and see if it doesn't help you think about what you are listening to when you hear a sermon. When you click the link, it make take a few seconds to load since this sermon review is in the middle of a two hour podcast. Enjoy!

Hillsong's "Naked Cowboy" Twists Acts 16 - Fighting for the Faith

00:09:22 Katie Souza Thousandfold Con 00:24:33 Steve & Wendy Backlund Making Your Promise Your Identity 00:46:39 Ed Young No Word of God for Memorial Day 01:03:51 Jurgen Matthesius The Power Of A Vision Builder 01:18:27 Sermon Review: Jesus Doesn't Change by Diego Simila

We Refused to Practice Cunning

Here is a fascinating teaching that critiques both the methods and message of preaching that is common in many evangelical churches. It's almost an hour long, but definitely worth it. When you click on the link, you'll have the option of listening to audio or watching the video!

General Session 2

Grace Community Church's mission is to glorify God and extend His kingdom by living and proclaiming His truth in the world.

Bible Gateway passage: 2 Corinthians 4:1-5 - English Standard Version

The Light of the Gospel - Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

Two Words: Law and Gospel

This is a follow up on the previous sermon. These quotes focus on two words: law and gospel. Lutheran theologians read the entire Bible through the lens of these two words. I think it is a very helpful way of hearing God's Word. A word that kills and makes alive!

10 Thoughts on Law and Gospel

BY BRANDON HANSON Try not to let your head explode. Here's a little "devotional" for you; some thoughts on Law and Gospel from Gerhard Forde. Drink deep, drink full. These are rich streams of thought. 1. The Gospel does not tell me what to do to be saved.

For a more in-depth study of Law and Gospel, continue reading here!

The Radical Gospel

The Radical Gospel

BY GERHARD FORDE The radical gospel of justification by faith alone simply does not fit, cannot be accepted by, and will not work with an anthropology which sees the human being as a continuously existing subject possessing ''free choice of will''...

To The Troubled In Conscience

To The Troubled In Conscience

BY ED ELLINGSTON This is a word to those with a troubled conscience. Those tormented by their failure to conquer that secret sin, or those who have screwed up so horrifically and publicly that they are in danger of losing all hope.

Book Recommendation

Are there any avid readers following my blog? If you like what you are listening to and want a good book to read about the central massage of the Bible, I recommend this book. I found it to be interesting, thoughtful, and well written. Used copies are available for less than $3.00! Happy reading!

Law and Gospel: A Theology for Sinners (and Saints)

Blood On The Floor

I've been thinking a lot about forgiveness lately. Maybe it's because I need it more than I'd like to admit or that I struggle with giving it as freely as I have received it, but I also see so many hurting relationships around me that desperately cry out for forgiveness. I am reminded of this quote:

 In order for forgiveness to really happen, something has to die. Whether it's your expectations of a person, or your idea about who you are. There has to be a death for forgiveness to happen...where forgiveness is easy, and love is easy, there's not enough blood on the floor to make sense of that. -Brené Brown

In Christianity the blood on the floor is Jesus' blood, and after we receive His forgiveness for our sin, He says take up your cross and follow me. Apparently forgiving others is going to cost us something too. But any dying we do in forgiving others, serves to crucifies our flesh and reminds us we are already dead and Jesus is our life. The act of forgiving others is no less God's gift to us than the forgiveness He shows to us. Both are drawing us closer to Him and to each other.

Below is a link to a video interview with Brene' Brown that includes the above quote as part of her personal testimony. I think it's worth the time to listen to.

Brene' Brown Returns to Church (and Finds Jesus Weeping)

Government

Here is a good sermon appropriate for the season. It was preached in the fall of 2008 by William Cwirla. Below the audio player is a link to the Biblical text and a manuscript of the sermon.




Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Laying Down The Law

Below is a blog post about the purpose of the law. It will give you an interesting perspective on those new year's resolutions you made and what can actually change your life...the Gospel! This isn't a one-off. Grunewald has a great blog and some other resources. Here is a link with some recommended reading from his blog. Happy New Years!

What We Want the Law to Do That It Can't Do

Ten Commandment Diagnostic Questions

Below is the list of self-diagnostic questions discussed in the video. I find them to be a good tool for evaluating my love for God and neighbor and a reminder to daily repent of my sin.

1.  What am I afraid of?
2.  How are my prayers?
3.  What is my attitude toward worship?
4.  What is my attitude toward authority?
5.  Am I angry?
6.  Am I chaste/content with my spouse?
7.  Am I greedy/lazy?
8.  Am I bitter?
9 & 10. Am I content/happy?

If you like this video, you can find more here. There are videos on each commandment and many other Biblical texts. Grappling with the Text Videos Enjoy!

Theology as Child's Play

Here is an excellent sermon that highlights a game Martin Luther suggested parents and teachers play with children to teach the great themes of the Bible. Here is what Luther said about the game:

And let no man think himself too wise for such child’s play. Christ, to train men, had to become man himself. If we wish to train children, we must become children with them. Would to God such child’s play were widely practiced. In a short time we would have a wealth of Christian people whose souls would be so enriched in Scripture and in the knowledge of God that of their own accord they would add more pockets.

Enjoy the sermon and listen for the game! I have become fond of playing the game in my head when reading scripture and listening to sermons. Here is the text: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Not Surprised by Sufferiong - 1 Peter 4:12-19

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller / Hope Lutheran Church, Aurora CO

January 3, 2016 / 1 Peter 4:12-19

Dying to Self

Below is a link to something I found helpful in thinking about justification, sanctification and what it means to die to self. It's not an easy read, but I recommend it for your consideration. Happy reading!

Dying To Self by Gerhard O Forde