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Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
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Home Archives for Gospel of Matthew

Stumbling blocks: how we live matters more than our words

Posted on June 27, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre 1 Comment

Parents and church leaders, the best thing we can do for the next generation is to renounce our selfishness and come to meet Jesus at the Cross in humility and submission. We need to confess where we have compromised and seek to recover the ground that was lost. We want to hear the words of Matthew 25:21, “well done good and faithful slave.” We need to live lives that point to the reality of the Gospel.

Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: C. S. Lewis, Christian, Christianity, God, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus

Thoughts on Pharisaism inspired by Wendell Berry

Posted on May 15, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre 2 Comments

Add or Subtract

Wendell Berry’s essay entitled “Damage” inspired thoughts about how church leaders can without intention cause damage by falling into the errors of Pharisaism.

Filed Under: Church Leadership Tagged With: God, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus, Moses, pharisee

Commission and commands – Priorities for the Church

Posted on April 12, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

The Great Commission is the foundational text on which the mission of the church should be based. Or is it? Is there something else that needs to take priority? I think there is.

Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: Christ, Evangelism, God, Gospel of Matthew, Great Commission, Jesus

Quality vs. quantity – thoughts on building the church

Posted on April 10, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre 4 Comments

Gold Bars

Churches can be so enamored with numerical growth that the focus is on quantity and quality suffers. Heed the warning of Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: Bible, Church, God, Gospel of Matthew, Great Commission, Jesu, Jesus Christ

The God of new beginnings and second chances

Posted on March 1, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

Second Chance

Failure is a normal part of life. How does God respond to our failures? He gives a second chance and gives us the power to do better.

Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: Abraham, Christ, forgiveness, God, Gospel of Matthew, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Peter

Beware the leaven . . . thoughts on contemplative prayer

Posted on February 22, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

Philospher

Contemplative prayer has become a hot topic. My concern is that by applying labels and generalities we miss an opportunity to learn and grow. The danger is that we throw out the wheat along with the chaff.

Filed Under: Prayer Tagged With: Bible, Christianity, God, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus, pharisee, psalm

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Righteousness, Scribes and Pharisees

Jesus told his disciples that to enter Heaven, their righteousness would have to surpass that of the Pharisees. How could this be done? Should we throw in the towel or is there an answer to this problem?

Addressing doubt and disappointment

The church does not have a great record on addressing doubt within the body. Jesus’ interaction with John the Baptist provides some ides on handling doubt.

Commission and commands – Priorities for the Church

The Great Commission is the foundational text on which the mission of the church should be based. Or is it? Is there something else that needs to take priority? I think there is.

Plummer on Miracles

If He was not supernatural, then difficulty arises. But in that case we tear up the New Testament, and the history of the Christian Church becomes inexplicable.

Street signs pointing to right way and wrong way

There is a way that seems right to a man

These verses should also inform us that because of our inclination to go wrong, a healthy dose of self-doubt regarding our ability to understand and apply the Bible is advisable. Our first parents displayed the ability to distort what God said and if we are honest, we will admit that we share this with them. It is our nature to hear what we want to hear and avoid the rest.

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