Issue
That Word Above All Earthly Powers: Preaching
Vol. 9, No. 6 • Nov/Dec 2000
Over the years, I have noticed that “want ads” for pastors have changed quite remarkably. For most Reformed and Presbyterian bodies, as, I would imagine, most Lutheran and Southern Baptist churches, vacancies are advertised in denominational periodicals. Even there, the calls are advertised differently than in the past. Hoping to have my general impression tempered […]
All Articles (14)
Wanted: Ministers Who Do Not Preach Themselves But Christ
Over the years, I have noticed that “want ads” for pastors have changed quite remarkably. For most Reformed and Presbyterian bodies, as, I would imagine, most Lutheran and Southern Baptist churches, vacancies are advertised in denominational periodicals. Even there, the calls are advertised differently than in the past. Hoping to have my general impression tempered […]
What Would Jesus Preach?
You may be surprised to learn that catechism preaching-long a weekly staple in Reformed churches-is enjoying an unprecedented revival in a broad cross-section of evangelical churches across America. Granted, the vast majority of contemporary catechism preachers rarely appreciate the grand tradition they have joined. In fact, these messages are rarely actually called catechism sermons. This […]
A Tale of Two Catechisms?
A catechism is a brief summary of Christian doctrine intended for the uninstructed, often put in a question-and-answer format. Since the earliest times in the church, converts were instructed in their basic understanding of the faith before being admitted to full fellowship in the sacraments of the church. The course of instruction in the ancient […]
A New Evaluative Question: “Would Jesus Have to Be Crucified to Make This Sermon Work?”: An interview with William Willimon
One of MR’s aims is to insist that “conservative/liberal” (or “fundamentalist/modernist”) is not the only important distinction to be drawn in the American Protestant landscape. For one thing, not all conservatives are as serious about Scripture as they claim to be. Nor are all so-called liberals actually as compromised as they might at first appear […]
Divine Double-Talk and the Parable of the Good Samaritan
“The Lord kills, and He makes alive; He brings down to Sheol, and He raises up again” (1 Sam. 2:6). “I form light and create darkness, I make wealth and create woe, I am the Lord who does all these things” (Isa. 45:7). Sin and grace; death and life. Even the novice reader of the […]
Immodest Speech: Speaking the Truth in Love
The spirit of our age is very unfriendly towards dogmatic people. Folk whose opinions are clearly formulated and strongly held are not popular. A person of conviction, however intelligent, sincere and humble he may be, will be fortunate if he escapes the charge of being a bigot. Nowadays the really great mind is thought to […]
