Over the years I’ve taught preaching in university courses and mentored a number of preaching apprentices and preachers-in-training. This series summarizes some of the most basic yet most useful preaching points I’ve emphasized in these… Expository or Topical (Preaching Point #1)
I know a family who once sent their child to time-out. The elementary-aged son dutifully retreated to his room. Normally, his time-outs last about 15 minutes or so. But the mom and dad got busy. They failed to release him after the normal 15 minutes. 15 minutes turned into 30. 30 turned into 45. 45 turned into 60. The parents actually forgot about the son altogether. Eventually, the son poked his head out of his room and asked, “Can I come out?” What was supposed to have been a time out of a few minutes became a one-hour prison sentence. And that event raises an important question: When does the punishment exceed the crime? Clearly, in this case, the punishment had done just that.The Problem of Hell: Hell is Unrelenting (Matt. 25:45-46)
The small group which my family and I attend once discussed the prayer-life of Jesus. After a convicting conversation, several of us confessed a desire to spend more time in prayer—to prioritize prayer like Jesus. … Is Your Prayer One-Sided?
In the second century, Celsus, a critic of Christianity, labeled God a “cosmic cook.”[1] Celsus was referring to the Christian doctrine of hell. He mocked Christianity because it portrayed God as a “cosmic cook” who was going to roast unbelievers in a fiery hell. And for this reason, and others, Celsus could not embrace the Christian faith.The Problem of Hell: Hell is Unloving Chris Altrock, February 5, Sunday Morning Message