Articles

Leaving Home, Part IV

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009. John Chaney, Don Dean and I sat nervously on plastic chairs in one of the large classrooms of what had been, before the merger, the St. Andrew’s sunday school and church office building. Msgr Meaghar, Fr. Chris (his curate) and a gentleman from the parish council of the now merged “Sts John and Andrew Catholic Church” had, five minutes ago, been seated across the table. They had excused themselves and retreated to an adjoining room to discuss the topic of our meeting in private.

Tim Keller: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

A Conversation with Tim Keller: Belief in an Age of Skepticism? from The Veritas Forum on Vimeo.

This is an excellent example of Christian apologetics in a secular academic context. Tim Keller is a Presbyterian minister discussing the question of “truth” in front of an audience of academics and college students. I referred to this lecture during class this Sunday (4th of July). Be sure to listen to the Q and A also

Question and Answer: What is the “Filioque Controversy”?

Question: Why did the western church change the creed to “Father and Son”?

The controversy is called the “filioque” controversy. Filioque means “and the Son” which are the words the west added to the Nicene Creed to say that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father “and the Son”.

I wrote a piece on the Holy Spirit and the 5th Article of Religion some time ago and discussed the Filioque Controversy in detail. You can read it below

Is Anything Impossible for God?

There was some debate during yesterdays adult Sunday School class about the meaning of God’s omnipotence.  While discussing the 1st Article of Religion’s affirmation of God’s “infinite power”, I asked, “Can God create a rock too heavy for him to lift?”

A Commentary on the Third Article of Religion

Article Three: As Christ died for us, and was buried, so also is it to be believed, that he went down into Hell.

(first published at Stand Firm)
Have you ever wondered what happened to the faithful men and women of the Old Testament? Where are they? If, as we say, faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to find eternal life what was their fate?
The third article, I think, points us toward the answer to this perplexing question

Soft Talk: Conditioning People to Reject Orthodoxy

So when the next rector search or bishop election comes along and two candidates who differ on this particular question are set side by side, the lay person/clergy who has been conditioned to see the controversy over same sex behavior as a debate “within” the Church rather than an attack against it will be willing to consider each candidate using technocratic measures like “experience” or “qualifications” rather than measures like, “does this person’s life and doctrine measure up to that which is given as a requirement in scripture?”

Mark Dever: The Church is the Gospel Made Visible

I am posting this video sermon here on the Good Shepherd website because it is vital for us right now to hear it. I pray that we do not lose sight of the gospel and forget who we are and what we are called to do…it’s about an hour long but worth every moment.

Question and Answer: Why should I go to church?

The following question was sent to me this morning via facebook: I feel that I have an intimate reationship with God. I feel close to him while feeding cattle or mowing a pasture. Prayer and medittation come while driving down the freeway as naturaly as a church…Is a building constructed by man for man in the name of God more holy than my cow pasture created by God for man?

Archbishop Duncan’s Easter Message

Pilate invites Jerusalem’s leaders to “secure” the tomb of Jesus [Mt.27.62-66].  They “secure” the tomb with a stone, sealant and soldiers.  As if these could contain our Lord…  Their efforts prove inadequate.  Their materials and means turn out to be no match for the One through whom all things were made.

Holy Despair: A Lenten Meditation

Romans chapter 8 begins with the following:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1)

One of my favorite radio preachers often reminds his listeners that when you see a “therefore” in the bible you always need to ask yourself, “what is the therefore there for?” In this case, the “therefore” in Romans 8:1 refers to Paul’s description of his own personal struggle with besetting sin in chapter 7.

“For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing…” (Romans 7:19)

Questions and Answers: The Trinity

In 2008 a Binghamton University student sent me a few questions via email. He was curious about the Trinity. I promised to answer him “soon” but one thing led to another and before I knew it, the whole thing slipped my mind. I was reminded a few months later of the student’s email and the following is the answer I sent to him and, since I think some of his questions are quite common, with his permission, I’m publishing my answer here for you too…

Are Christians Hypocrites?

The truth is that God’s law is pure and good and perfect and that we, human beings, are not. We fail, we sin, we fall. And yet, despite our inability to do what God commands we cannot and do not pretend that he has not commanded it.

A Brief Note on Preaching

What is the role of preaching in the church? I ask because I believe there is a general level of confusion on the part of Christians. Is the sermon just another kind of “speech? Is it a lecture? Is it a motivational talk? Here are some comments I’ve heard recently, only one from a parishioner.

Question and Answer: Why do some Anglican churches use Incense?

Some college students from church backgrounds somewhat less liturgical than Anglicanism, asked about the use of incense. What is it and why do we use it? I did’t really have a chance to answer in a substantive way since the question was asked yesterday in the greeting line after the service. I managed to mention one of the characteristics of Anglicanism that sets the Anglican expression of Christianity apart from many other protestant expressions, namely that while we embrace the essential biblical truths recovered during the Reformation…

The Glory of the Cross of Christ

One of the problems in preaching about “glory” is defining it. Glory is common enough word. We use it all the time in the church. We say that we gather every Sunday to “glorify” God and, indeed, we hope that our gatherings bring him glory. In the Anglican tradition and probably in yours as well we donate items like crosses or communion sets or bibles to the church in the name of deceased relatives or friends and inscribe on them words like this: “For the glory of God in memory of______” . Some contemporary Christian music is categorized under a broad category called “glory and praise” music. Presbyterians say, and I think they’re right, that the chief end of man is to “To glorify God and enjoy him forever”.

The Leadership Structure of an Anglican Congregation

The leadership structure or “governance” of an Anglican congregation can be very confusing for those who are new to Anglicanism. Its hard to know who is in charge of what and why. If you are either a new member of Good Shepherd or considering becoming a new member, I thought it might help to explain some of the basics. This article is part of our “new member” series of articles, podcast and videos designed to ease your transition into Good Shepherd.