In 2012, two important Christian holy days occur in May – important Christian holy days that Presbyterian Christians have tended to be uncomfortable with. I’ll explain that statement, shall I? The two holy days are Ascension and Pentecost. First the easy part, I say these holy days take place in May this year, because these … Continue reading Pastor Note #36–Beyond a Pentecost According to Robert’s Rules of Order
Month: April 2012
Bible Note #15 — Exodus 34:29-35
Exodus 34:29-35 There is, in this passage, an interesting small but important detail that I have never really noticed before. It lies behind the widely recognized, though certainly bizarre, fact that Moses' face acquired an intense radiance as a result of close time spent in the physical presence of God. The people were quite terrified … Continue reading Bible Note #15 — Exodus 34:29-35
Sermon #17–Who Is This Jesus?: The Resurrection Life
This sermon is the last of a series of sermons that I preached from the "I Am" passages in John's gospel. It is the last in the series, but it is the first that I'm posting to my blog. I suppose the main reason I'm putting this one up first is that I want to … Continue reading Sermon #17–Who Is This Jesus?: The Resurrection Life
Sermon #16 — The Doctrine of God, Pt. 7: Three in One
In a theological context, a mystery is not a puzzle to be solved but rather a truth that exceeds the rational capacity of human beings. Certainly, the top of the list of mysteries in the Christian faith is the doctrine of the Trinity. The doctrine of a Triune God is crucial to the Christian faith; … Continue reading Sermon #16 — The Doctrine of God, Pt. 7: Three in One
Sermon #15 — The Doctrine of God, Pt. 6: To Know and Be Known
The Christian faith is not merely a set of ideas or concepts that adherents are meant to affirm intellectually; rather it is a living relationship with a living Being. If this series of sermons were to lead anyone to the notion that the Christian faith is simply about an intellectual decision to agree to a … Continue reading Sermon #15 — The Doctrine of God, Pt. 6: To Know and Be Known
Bible Note #14 — Luke 1:13: Of Prayer, Patience, and a Sovereign God
Luke 1:11-13 The archangel Gabriel says something strange to Zechariah here -- something I've never really recognized as strange until I just read this passage again for the two-hundred-eighty-third time. Gabriel tells Zechariah that his prayer has been heard and, as a result, Elizabeth is going to have a child. I say this is strange, … Continue reading Bible Note #14 — Luke 1:13: Of Prayer, Patience, and a Sovereign God
Sermon #14 — The Doctrine of God, Pt. 5: Male and Female He Created Them
Following on the theme of the previous installment in this series, here I look deeper into the nature of humanity, the image of God, and gender. As the preaching of this series worked out, I had not been planning on including this topic here in the series. But after a passing reference to the nature … Continue reading Sermon #14 — The Doctrine of God, Pt. 5: Male and Female He Created Them
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 