Episode 378: Paul says, “I…urge you…[be] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Although we are exhort to maintain peace, it seems like we allow church autonomy to handcuff and handicap our efforts at working together. What does it look like for churches to cooperate with one another? Tune in as we explore Acts 11 where the early church serves as a model for cooperation among churches.
Today in Church History: Philip Melanchthon was born (1497)
Question of the Day: Is a small church without elders or deacons a scriptural church?
Episode 302: If spiritual growth were likened unto a swimming, too many Christians would be hanging out, splashing around in the shallow end. God expects & desires for His people to learn to swim and go out into the deep end. Tune in as we see God’s rebuke of shallowness and His request for us to go deeper from Hebrews 5.11-6.3.
Today in Church History: Hilary of Poitiers dies (368)
Episode 296: How did we get to the place where Lauren from Lipscomb is the now the Preaching Intern for the 4th Avenue Church of Christ in Franklin, TN? What is the process for normalizing error? Tune in as I discuss the process and the consequences such choices can bring if left unchecked.
Question of the Day: Can women serve in leadership roles in the church?
Today in Church History: Marriage of Ruth Magongo to Enoch Litswele who serve as missionaries in Africa (1960) & the death of Karl Barth (1968).
Episode 295: Lauren from Lipscomb is the new Preaching Intern at 4th Avenue Church of Christ in Franklin, TN. It looks like she has a bright future ahead of her as a preacher. Does anyone else sense a disturbance in the Force here? Tune in as explain the situation and offer what the Bible says concerning spiritual leadership.
Today in Church History: Rose Lathrop & Alice Huber found the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, also known as Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer. (1900)
Episode 293: Recent news report seem to indicate that the Pope is waffling and even flip flopping on the issue of homosexuality. One month he’s dogmatic about it; the next month he seems about ready to sign a papal bull welcoming them into the church; the next month he’s saying kids need both a mommy & a daddy. Today I address this flip flopping and show why we should expect this from a mere man who claims to be the head of the church.
Today in Church History: Pope Boniface VIII publishes Unam Sanctum
Question of the Day: What’s wrong with the Catholic Church?
Episode 281: “[God] has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:9–10, NIV84)
It is still “through the gospel” that we come to know the life and immortality of Christ today. It is still “through the gospel” that we gain access to the promise, body, and inheritance today (Ephesians 3.6). We must believe, accept, and obey “the gospel of your salvation” (1.13) to be incorporated into Christ Jesus. As Christians, we need to value the gospel. In order for the gospel to impact our lives, we must value it as revelation from God. Think of the parable Jesus told about the pearl of great price (Matthew 13.44-46). We have that which is of ultimate value. The gospel was all Paul had. The gospel is all we have. We must pay attention to, be defined by, and solve our problems with the gospel.
The gospel is not merely about getting to heaven; it is about life here and now as well as over yonder. It captures our initial conversion and our daily walk as disciples. It touches on our forgiveness and how we ought to forgive others. It speaks to God’s unfathomable love for us and how we ought to love one another. With so many implications upon life right now, it is no wonder Paul calls it “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3.8). And then we gather with the saints once or twice a week and think we’ve got it? No! We only start unwrapping the gift here; you take it home and finish the job the rest of the week.
Episode 275: Did I ever tell you about the time I got kicked out of a Baptist church? I say kicked out; I was asked to not come back ever again or they’d call the police. It’s not what you think. Tune in as I tell my story and why truth matters.
Question of the Day: What’s wrong with the Baptist Church?
Episode 246: Brethren disagree. And we disagree about a lot of things. Having examined the principles in Romans 14-15, what do we do? In this episode, I lay out the 2 + 1 solutions which are available to us when we disagree.
Episode 245: What do we do when we disagree? I continue to unpack principles from Romans 14-15, specifically the role unity plays in our disagreements. Tune in and find out how important unity really is and why our disagreements must always keep unity in view.
Episode 244: We disagree over many things in the churches of Christ. Those disagreements have yielded chaotic effects in the church. But God’s word brings order out of chaos. So what is the word of order which God speaks into the present chaos which exists in the churches of Christ today due to disagreements and division? Tune in as I begin walking us through Romans 14-15, gleaning valuable principles for what we are to do biblically when we disagree.
Live from the Pulpit 