Reflections of an Undeconstructed Pentecostal
In the Lord’s Supper believers are partakers of the divine nature. Through Christ’s priestly ministry, humanity is sanctified so we can receive the Spirit (Heb. 10:22; 1 Peter 1:2). The Holy Spirit comes through the intercession of Jesus (John 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:7; Acts 2:33). Through the Spirit, Christ comes to believers in the bread and cup.
Continue reading “The Lord’s Supper – Participating in the Divine Nature”
…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith… (Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV).
Hebrews is an ancient Christian sermon that was delivered to Jewish Christians weary of persecution and losing confidence in the Gospel. Some were beginning to “drift away” (2:1); some were tempted by “an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (3:12). Many stopped attending worship services (10:25) and others failed to grow in spiritual maturity favoring the milk of babes over solid food (5:12-13). The spiritual condition of these believers is described as hands hanging down, feeble knees, and lame feet (12:12-13). They had no strength to worship, no stamina to serve, no direction for ministry.
Continue reading “Looking Unto Jesus”
Psalm 73 is a wisdom psalm that is expressed in the language of lament. Wisdom literature seeks to answer the questions of life, and tries to explains God’s role in human affairs. The writer of this psalm has come to a crisis of faith and in this crisis, he cries out. The ancient Hebrew theologians tried to answer the most perplexing of questions: If God is good, why does evil abound? Why do good people suffer and evil people prosper?
Continue reading “Is God really Good? Can God be Trusted?”
One of the most important disciplines I learned while pursuing my education was peer review. All assignments were graded by my professors. Occasionally, a professor would submit assignments to fellow classmates for their review. In fact, in the preaching class I teach at Pentecostal Theological Seminary the final project, the student’s presentation of a sermon, is graded through the process of peer review in which fellow students listen and critique the sermon.
Continue reading “The Discipline of Peer Review”
This month, August 2022, I celebrate five years serving at Pentecostal Theological Seminary. After 37 years serving as a local church pastor, 22 years serving in ministerial development, terms of service on the South Georgia Church of God State Council and State Ministries Board, and 12 years on the denominational Division of Education board, I was invited to join the staff and faculty at PTS. I was honored then, and I remain honored to serve the church at PTS as Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministries and Executive Director of PTS Thrive.
Continue reading “Celebrating Five Years at PTS”
Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25–26 NRSV).
Even so, our hearts are broken. The grief is bitter. I will not offer superficial platitudes in an effort to comfort hearts that cannot be comforted. Nor will I try to answer questions that are beyond comprehension. Instead, I will try to give voice to the bitter sorrow all of us are experiencing. I will try to speak for Carmen and share with you her fears and her faith. Finally, I will try to give voice to our hope that is in Christ Jesus.
Continue reading “Celebrating the Life of Carmen Rodgers Murray”
Last year, I prepared a series of short presentations on human sexuality to be produced by DOE1. The manuscripts of those presentations are presented here. As you read each one, you will see that my presentations are faithful to Holy Scripture and the practical commitments of the Church of God. The video presentations are available at the DOE1 website.
Continue reading “A Conversation about Sex, Parts 1-9”