Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Proverbs 26.7 Wisdom isn’t synonymous with orthodoxy, but everything that isn’t orthodox is foolish, which means the theologically sound preacher can mistake himself for a wise man who wonders why his sermons have no legs. It’s the same error […]
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Timothy 1.2 You’ve read and reread the pastoral epistles to learn your craft. They’ve warned of false teachers, instructed you in corporate worship, shown the marks of qualified officers, trained us to shepherd the wayward, given wisdom about the structures and […]
This is post 1 of 1 in the series “legacy” …do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God. Nehemiah 13.14 I’m writing this Med in Britain a few miles away from churches built 700 years ago on sites that hosted Christian worship 700 years before […]
You are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. Acts 8.23 The converted magician, Simon, had the very bad idea to buy the Holy Spirit and got an epic rebuke and a bad rep for two-thousand years. Before this Med continues, the I want to be clear that offering to purchase […]
Lord, if that is you command me to come to you on the water Mth 14.28. Such is the peculiar if-then calculus of all ministers. What does Peter think happens if it’s not Jesus? And who else would it be? Is he testing Jesus or himself? But that’s how people like us think. The life […]
Mike Kelly | February 13, 2022 “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.” Psalm 139.10 David knew his theology and rejoiced to put it to verse. His pen overflowed with odes to God’s glorious perfections and left a treasury of choral divinity that’s delighted us for ages. This Psalm is no exception, but its theology […]
Tie up your garments, and take this flask in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2 Kings 9.1 Elisha commanded his Assistant Prophet to anoint Jehu king of Israel, but that wasn’t Elisha’s job, much less his assistant’s. God told Elijah anoint Elisha, Hazael, and finally Jehu. He got right on the first and called […]
Ah, stubborn children. Isaiah 30.1 God knows who you pastor, after all he pastors you. We’ve been an exasperating, stiff-necked bunch since Eden. If the Gospel was an operating system our hard hearts would be a bug. They certainly are theologically speaking. But in the peculiar logic of grace, God has made the bug something […]
But I will be with you. Genesis 3.12 That was God’s answer to Moses’ vocational insecurity. How do you answer yours? Hopefully, you were well trained in the content and craft of ministry. The Church affirmed your gifts when they hired you. Congregational affirmation is harder to come by as time passes, but they keep letting you go to […]
May your silver perish with you. Acts 8.20 Peter said that in public to Simon, who came to faith after a life in the dark arts. Of course, offering money for the Holy Spirit is very bad, but don’t forget he was just a toddler Christian. And even if he were a seasoned disciple, Peter’s rebuke would never be allowed […]
