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The failure of the United Nations - 7 March 2010 |
The United Nations was set up in the aftermath of the World War II “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind” (Preamble to the UN Charter, 1945).
Approximately 16 million people died in World War I, and between 50 and 70 million in World War II. It’s easy to see why the UN was thought necessary.
But between 1945 and 2000, approximately 40 millon more people died in war. That’s around 2000 people per day. The UN has evidently failed in its aim, despite the billions of pounds that have been spent in pursuit of its objectives.
Fortunately, the Bible not only tells us why the UN (and every other human attempt to promote unity without acknowledging the living God) has failed, but also explains where a true and lasting solution to human conflict may be found. In a nutshell, here it is.
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Minister's Blog
Turn it upside-down - 7 March 2010 |
Some highlights from The hospitality of God, a sermon on Mark 2 preached on 7 March at Emmanuel by Steve Hayhow.
The more trouble you’re in, the bigger mess you’re in, the more likely it is you’re being drawn to Jesus.
The gospel is basically hospitality. It’s the hospitality of God.
Everyone with a problem comes to Jesus’ house.
The Kingdom of God is the upside-down kingdom.
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Minister's Blog
Hudson Taylor - 4 March 2010 |
If you’re free and somewhere near Gunnersbury Baptist Church, West London, at 3pm on Sunday 21 March, then you might want to drop in on this highly-acclaimed production telling the story of the missionary Hudson Taylor.
Some audience comments: “Riveting,” “moving,” “outstanding,” “challenging.”
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Minister's Blog
That in his death all might die - 1 March 2010 |
These are the questions for week 16 of the Guided Reading Course.
Athanasius, On the Incarnation
Chapter I
1. What does Athanasius believe would have happened to Adam and Eve if they had not sinned (section 3)? Do you agree?
2. How does Athanasius argue that humanity was returning “to non-existence” as a result of Adam’s sin (sections 4-5)? What explicit biblical support could Athanasius have adduced for this teaching?
Chapter II
3. What was “the divine dilemma” (section 6)?
4. Why would repentance have been an inadequate remedy (section 7)?
5. How did the incarnation solve “the divine dilemma” (section 8-9)?
Chapter III
6. What further reason for the incarnation does Athanasius identify in sections 11-16?
7. What “paradox” does Athanasius discuss in sections 17-18?
Chapter IV
8. How has the experience of death been transformed for those “who believe in Christ” (section 21)? What are the pastoral implications of this transformation?
9. Why, according to Athanasius, did Jesus die a public rather than a private death (section 21)?
10. Do you agree with Athanasius that Christ’s body “did not see corruption” (section 21)? Why? What implications, if any, does this have for Jesus’ human nature?
11. On what basis does Athanasius conclude that there is “no excuse … for those who would divide the church” (section 24)? What significance does Athanasius perceive in the outstretched arms of the crucified Christ, and in the fact that Jesus was “lifted up” on a cross (section 25)? What does the structure of this argument tell us about Athanasius’ exegetical method? How do you react to Athanasius’ approach?
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Guided Reading Course, Minister's Blog
Rusty bike syndrome - 28 February 2010 |
“I used to be a Christian, but then I kind of drifted away from God. I thought I still believed in him, but I didn’t go to church for years, really. But then this happened. I tried to pray again, and I really wanted to get back in touch with God. Went to church and everything. Trouble is, I realised that I no longer believed in God at all.”
What you need is to start rebuilding from the ground up. When you’ve neglected something for so long, the best way forward is to start from scratch. Actually, you’ve forgotten most of what you used to know, and what you can remember is probably wrong anyway.
I call it rusty bike syndrome.
Imagine: you used to have a bike, when you were a kid. Used to ride it all the time. But then one winter you put it away in the shed, and the following spring you never got it out again. There it lay, gathering dust and accumulating rust for years on end. If people asked you whether you had a bike, you’d say, “Yeah, sure I do.” You just never rode it.
Then, one day, you really needed a bike for something, so you went to the shed to fetch the old two-wheeler. But when you finally managed to haul it out, the tyres were flat, the chain was broken, and the handlebars were so rusted that you could hardly turn them. Besides this, it was about 15 inches too small for you.
What are you going to do? A drop of oil here, lick of paint there? Hardly. Get off down to the shop and get one that’s more your size.
Or: open up a Bible and start at the beginning.
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Minister's Blog, Things people say and questions people ask
Greater privilege - 28 February 2010 |
Hebrews 2:1-3 says, “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”
With great privilege comes great responsibility. God’s Old Covenant people had heard his voice and received the Law that was given to Moses through angels, and they were required to humble themselves before him.
We have received a far greater revelation – the gospel of Christ. We have far greater privileges – access to the holy places through our great High Priest, the Lord Jesus, whose one sacrifice covers all our sins. How much more, then, must we take care to confess our sins and repent before him.
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Exhortations before confession, Minister's Blog
Tread carefully - 24 February 2010 |
These are the questions for week 15 of the Guided Reading Course.
Please tread carefully this week. Listen to Calvin: “We must so cherish moderation that we do not try to make God render account to us, but so reverence his secret judgments as to consider his will the truly just cause of all things” (Institutes, I.xvii.1).
Berkhof, Systematic Theology, pp. 165-178
1. How does Berkhof define providence? What are the three elements of it? How do they relate? (pp. 166-167)
2. Why might it be useful to distinguish between these three elements of divine providence? Can you give any examples to illustrate the relationship between them?
3. How (apart from by direct appeal to explicit biblical texts) would you argue against the thhree misconceptions Berkhof describe, namely (i) prescience / prescience plus foreordination; (ii) the deistic view; (iii) the pantheistic view? (pp. 167-168)
4. How is the doctrine of preservation related to the doctrines of God and creation? (p. 170)
5. How is concurrence distinct from preservation? (p. 171-172)
6. What is wrong with illustrating the concurrence of divine and secondary causes as “a team of horses pulling together” (p. 172)?
7. How does Berkhof reply to the claim that his view of divine concurrence “makes God the responsible author of sin” (p. 174)? Is his defence adequate?
8. What perspective upon providence does divine government emphasise? (p. 175)
Calvin, Institutes, I.xvi-xviii
9. Why, according to Calvin, do some adopt a “distinction … between doing and permitting”? What does Calvin think of this distinction? What biblical data does he adduce to support his view? (I.xviii.1)
10. How does Calvin believe God’s will is related to human actions? (I.xviii.2)
11. “But even though [God’s] will is one and simple in him, it appears manifold to us” (I.xviii.3). Why does Calvin feel it necessary to make this clarification? What does he mean by it?
12. What point does Augustine make in the lengthy quote with which Calvin believes “all godly and modest folk agree” (I.xviii.3)?
13. What point is proved by the example of “the choice of king Jeroboam”? (I.xviii.4)
14. How, if at all, do you think Calvin would advise preachers and teachers to approach the subject of divine providence? (I.xviii.4) Do you agree?
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Guided Reading Course, Minister's Blog
A real test of character - 22 February 2010 |
The time is coming – indeed, in some quarters it has already come – when evangelicals, especially evangelical leaders, will need to take a stand against unbiblical attitudes in the public square. This will require courage, since proclaiming the gospel to people who don’t want to hear it seldom results in increased popularity, and no one enjoys being despised.
At the same time, we should remember that the true test of Christian integrity comes not when we need to stand against those who hate us, but when we need to challenge our friends. It’s one thing to confront the unbelieving world, whose opinion of us we have rightly learned to disregard. It’s another matter to expose deceit and ungodliness among those close to us, whose good opinion we may be tempted to covet just a little too much.
After all, generations of wicked Israelites managed to summon up contempt for the Pagan nations of the world. But Phinehas received a covenant of eternal priesthood when he slayed the fornicator within the camp (Numbers 25), and the Levites were set apart for Temple service because they put to death their idolatrous brothers (Exodus 32).
The true test of character for an evangelical leader is not public, but private. Frankly, if doesn’t take much to stand up to the predictable and yawn-inducing hostility of the mainstream press, since at this point his Christian friends (his real audience?) can be relied upon to cheer from the sidelines. But will he have the courage to expose the hidden deceit of behind-the-scenes church politics, when to do so may cost him friends (and preferment) he really values?
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Current affairs, Minister's Blog
Open air evangelism - 20 February 2010 |
People keep asking for a copy of the questionnaire that we use at Emmanuel when we do open-air and door-to-door evangelism. Maybe this has got something to do with it. Well, here goes.
It’s not rocket science, nor is it original to us, nor do we necessarily follow it very closely in practice. It’s also constantly evolving as we find new and better ways of engaging with people in our community.
We try to keep remembering that we’re primarily interested in people, not demographic data. After all, it’s people that God cares about. These questions are designed to help us overcome our nerves and get talking to them. We try to treat each question as a conversation-starter, a way to get to know the person we’re talking to.
With those caveats and qualifications in place, here goes:
- What do you do during the week?
- What things are most important to you? Why?
- What do you think is wrong with the world?
- What do you think is the root cause of the problems in the world?
- Would you describe yourself as religious?
- What do you know about Jesus Christ?
- If you could ask God one question, what would it be?
- If it were possible to know God personally, would you want to?
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Minister's Blog
Two American Pastors - 20 February 2010 |
One American Pastor (John Piper) talks to another (Douglas Wilson) about how the latter got on in a recent friendly head-to-head with atheist Christopher Hitchens.
Click here and scroll down for the video. Scroll down a bit further for a clip of Wilson vs. Hitchens.
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Minister's Blog