Category Archives: Ministry

The Story Behind “There is a Fountain”

*Posted by Winston Hottman This videoby Mars Hill Church Seattletells the story behind one of the most beloved Christian hymns of all time, There is a Fountain. There is a Fountain by William Cowper: There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuels veins;And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose … Continue reading →

Politics in the Pulpit

*Posted by Winston Hottman Should pastors preach politics from the pulpit? Pastors Bill Kynes, Voddie Baucham and Mark Dever offer different perspectives on the issue as they discuss scripture and their ownministry experiences.

Misdirection

*Posted by Kirk Spencer I was at Jack-in-the-Box the other daythe one on the interstate. A woman asked if I was from the area. I was. Then she asked if I knew how to get to the new IHOP. I did. Just down the highway at the next intersection in fact. So I gave her directions. Turn left (east) on the highway, get off at the next exit, stay on … Continue reading →

Nietzschean Laughter and the Happy Inquisition

*Posted by Kirk Spencer After 40 years, I went back to church camp. It was a bittersweet trip down memory lane. The sameness surprised methe same knotty-pine cabinsthe same name-scarred bunksthe same exaggerated teenage importance of whos cute and who-loves-who. And the smell of adolescence was the same (warm sweaty corn-chips!). However, it is the differences that really shocked me. I was surprised at their muchness. And, while it may … Continue reading →

The Case for Early Marriage

*Posted by Winston Hottman At Christianity Today, Mark Regnerus makes a case for early marriage. He argues that many of the efforts to reduce high rates of premarital sex among Christian young people have failed because of unbiblical views and attitudes about marriage, among them the idea that marriage needs to wait in most cases: Still, the data from nearly every survey suggest that young Americans want to get married. … Continue reading →

Getting Past the Shouting Match

*Posted by Winston Hottman Like much of the dialogue in the Chik-fil-A controversy, public debate over homosexuality tends to devolve into little more than a shouting match. New Testament scholar, N. T. Wright, shares some thoughts on a better way to approach issues like this as Christians:

Gospel Tipping

*Posted by Winston Hottman Over at Baptist Press, Raymond Johnson has found an opportunity for gospel witness in a place you might least expect: tipping. He argues that Christians can either obscure or display the grace of the gospel in their generosity to servers: I have been serving tables at a restaurant for several years in order to support my wife and children and to pay my way through graduate … Continue reading →

Liberal Christianity: An Endangered Species

*Posted by Winston Hottman In his latest NY Times column piece entitled Can Liberal Christianity Be Saved?, Ross Douthat considers the effects of liberalism in Christian denominations. His particular focus is the Episcopal Church USA, which just wrapped up its General Convention after voting to authorize blessings for same-sex unions. Yet instead of attracting a younger, more open-minded demographic with these changes, the Episcopal Churchs dying has proceeded apace. Last … Continue reading →

Jesus vs. Religion?

In a Christianity Today article, Chuck Colson and Timothy George address Jefferson Bethkes viral YouTube video, Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus. Of course, few churches live up to Christs vision for his bride. Why should we expect otherwise? After all, we dont. Yes, the local church is usually buffeted by struggles, beset by detractors, peopled by sinners, and in countless other ways, just plain annoying. Its also the … Continue reading →

Gospellegory: Or, An Allegory’s An Allegory

*Posted by Barry Creamer Engraving from Pilgrims Progress, John Bunyans allegory of the Christian life. All scripture ought to be interpreted carefully then applied prescriptively. Scripture is more than a record of others faith and practice. It is a directive for our faith and practice. Its fairly easy to interpret and prescribe a New Testament command like pray without ceasing. It takes a bit more work to apply an Old … Continue reading →