In the sense of a traditional “blog” entry, allow me to share my personal meditations and study from the past week. If you caught the entry from last Sunday, you know I had an interaction with a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses on my front lawn in which I basically “preached” them to the curb and…
Quote from Louis Berkhof
This past week during my studies I found an interesting quote that I would like to share with you, the MTZ readers. The quote is from Louis Berkhof. Berkhof was an American Dutch Reformed theologian during the late 19th and early 20th century. From my observation and reading, his views seem to be some mix of…
Put Away Clamour
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32 In my studies this morning, the word “clamour” stood out above the other…
Where There Is No Vision, The People Perish
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18 This verse is often quoted to show the importance of long term goals in the church, particularly in the mind of the pastor. A person would define “vision” as the goals or ambitions of the pastor….
Should Pastors Preach on Politics?
The following are some thoughts that came to mind after seeing a Politico article on political endorsements coming from the pulpit. (Read the article here) While we have a charge to preach Biblical morality on some issues that have waxed political (abortion, marriage, sexual morality, etc.), we have no authority to waste time preaching politics….
An Interesting Observation
What do you think most Christians really crave to hear preached? Practical insight? Something motivational? Were people polled, I imagine many would answer accordingly. However, a recent server log gave me reason to pause and reflect on something I have believed for years. People, especially people who are outsiders to the message of grace, need to…
Am I A Pharisee? 12 Signs to Watch Out For
In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees were an prominent group of religious Jews often regarded as being holy and spiritual. While their founding (150s BC) ideal was noble – separation from sinfulness and adherence to God’s law – by the 1st Century AD they had become a harsh group of self-righteous elitists, often passing judgment on…
I’m Still A Guy
A few years ago, country music star Brad Paisley released a hit entitled “I’m Still A Guy.” While certainly not gospel (and perhaps a bit too graphic), it was amusing and spoke to the lamentable feminization of men in our country. I enjoyed the song and laughed along when I first listened. Not too long…
The Youth Are Craving Simplicity
The Youth Are Craving Simplicity: An Unchanging God Expects Unchanged Biblical Worship in an Ever Changing World “I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?” 2 Corinthians 12:18 Growing up in the Primitive Baptist Church I always…