Preacher Man

So it's been about 2 years since I've preached what I would call a real sermon. I came to this realization this past Friday as I was preparing my sermon for yesterday. Such a thrilling and daunting task. I gave it at a church that just after the service was deciding whether or not they were going to stay open or close their doors.

And while I don't know the outcome of their decision, the sermon seemed to go well though. You can make up your mind about that though.

I welcome any and all feedback.

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Ephesians Quote

The picture the text paints is bleak. Because of sins humans are the living dead. They live in keeping with a world that ignores God and in keeping with a tyrant who works to cause disobedience. In their enslavement they follow desires and distorted reasonings that leave God out of the picture and, therefore, they are under God's wrath. But , the main point of Ephesians-- and especially of 2:1-10-- is that God will not stay out of the picture.

Klyne Snodgrass, Ephesians.

Cubs Game


Not knowing just how much longer I'm going to be in Chicago it was
hard for me to turn down a spur of the moment Cubs game. We got there
just into the 2nd inning and squatted underneath the score board in
center field. It certainly wasn't the most comfortable game that I've
been to, but the excitement and the feel of having snuck in- which
trust me, for the price we paid there was no sneeking. But the W flag flew.

Sent from my iPhone

No Sleepwalking

Exegesis introduces another dimension into our relation to this text. The text as story carries us along, we are in on something larger than ourselves, we let the story take us where it will. But exegesis is focused attention, asking questions, sorting through possible meanings. Exegesis is rigorous, disciplined, intellectual work. It rarely feels "spiritual." Men and women who are, as we say, "into" spirituality, frequently give exegesis short shrift, preferring to rely on inspiration and intuition. But the long and broad consensus in the community of God's people has always insisted on a vigorous and meticulous exegesis: Give long and close and learned attention to this text! All our masters in spirituality were and are master exegetes. There's a lot going on here; we don't want to miss any of it; we don't want to sleepwalk through this text.

Eugene Peterson, Eat This Book, p. 50.