The Tabernacle and Heaven

My second Sunday School class is up.  I had way too much material for the time allotted, and so I suspect I will be saying more about the tabernacle and the temple next week.

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Walter Lowrie on Early Church Bishops

In Walter Lowrie’s “interpretation” of Rudolph Sohm, a very convincing case is made that the “bishop” in the early church was a local church, a congregational, minister whose primary job was to preside over the Eucharist, which was a communal feast.  He writes:
Both Gentile and Jewish usage required a president at the feast, and this [...]

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An Image of God

From my Sunday School notes, inspired heavily by Crispin Fletcher-Louis-
Exodus 28:5-14
They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen, and they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked.  It shall have two shoulder straps joined at its two edges, and [...]

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1st Heaven Sunday School

The first class in my heaven series is now online for download.  I will be giving the second part tomorrow, with the class consisting of a total of five parts.

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The Church and the early church: Sweet Messiness

There seems to be an assumption that “the Church” is equivalent to a particular institution, and thus “the early church” must be a singular institution to which all of “the fathers” belonged.  Since Ignatius talks about “the bishop,” which he does, then the institution must be one of a sort of apostolic succession, or so [...]

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Heaven

I’m beginning a study on heaven that will serve as a five-part Sunday School series at my church.  The general outline so far is this:
Class 1: An Introduction to Heaven and Its Place on Earth (With Apologies to Belinda Carlisle!)
Class 2: The Temple: Gateway to God
Class 3: New Covenant and New Temple
Class 4: The Resurrection [...]

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Time to Graduate

Eric has posted a provocative article on the current state of theological education among the Reformed and Presbyterians in the American South.  Having recently graduated myself, I can say that, barring a few exceptions, his analysis is accurate.  Particularly distressing is the “robotic” confessionalism that he laments, for it often succeeds in poisoning the well [...]

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Jim Jordan at the Hungarian Liturgy Conference

The lectures by Jim Jordan in Hungary are very good.  He lays out the basic theology of worship and explains a Reformed view of liturgy and ritual.  You can listen here.

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John Milton Against the Presbyterians

ON THE NEW FORCERS OF CONSCIENCE UNDER THE LONG PARLIAMENT
John Milton (1646)
Because you have thrown off your Prelate Lord,
And with stiff vows renounced his liturgy
To seize the widowed whore Plurality
From them whose sin ye envied, not abhorred,
Dare ye for this adjure the civil sword
To force our consciences that Christ set free,
And ride us with [...]

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Show It Don’t Say It

My writing professor used to always say that in undergrad.  Lately I’ve come to see how right he was.  I am very tired of the expressions “hearty thanks,” “warmly receive,” “with great appreciation,” especially when they are said in worship.
Instead, just say what you want to say with those emotions involved. Make the other person [...]

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