OK, so its not really mid week anymore, but, it's pretty close. These are both from Josh Ritter's newest album, The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter. To be honest it's still not my favorite album of his, but it is definitely beginning to grow on me. His previous album, Animal Years, is one of my overall favorite albums. He's really just a great artist ... inventive lyrics, beautiful instrumentation, great songwriting overall.
Anyhow, here they are, enjoy...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Seminary Preparation ... Part the Second
So I have been assigned the task of preparing a sermon. Granted, I won't be preaching in front of the whole congregation, but in front of the staff. Originally I was assigned something from the Sermon on the Mount, but that was deemed too difficult for someone who has never preached a sermon before ... apparently it's hard enough even for my brothers who are seasoned by years of ministry. Then I thought I might do something from one of Paul's epistles, but alas those are hard as well for the novice, so I'm shooting for a Gospel narrative. I have chosen Christ's baptism in Matthew 3. While that should give me plenty to work with, I am still a little nervous about how one moves from point A) choosing a text to the final product, a sermon.
It was suggested that I read Bryan Chapell's Christ-Centered Preaching. In the opening chapted, Dr. Chapell eases my burden a little when he reminds me that,"Ultimately, preaching accomplishes its spiritual purposes not because of the skills or the wisdom of a preacher but of the power of the Scripture proclaimed. Preachers minister with greater zeal, confidence, and freedom when they realize that God has taken from their backs the monkey of spiritual manipulation."
And yet, preachers are still called to wrestle with the Word, to mine its depths for the truth that is there and to not come at it with ulterior motives. I still have to prepare the sermon, deliver it and receive the feedback from ministers far more seasoned in sermon preparation and the realities of day to day ministry than I am. To be honest, I am a little scared ... I still feel unworthy to do what God has called me to do, to minister his word and shepherd his people. Thankfully, the Lord makes his servants ready for the calling he has for them.
Here's a verse for thought:
It was suggested that I read Bryan Chapell's Christ-Centered Preaching. In the opening chapted, Dr. Chapell eases my burden a little when he reminds me that,"Ultimately, preaching accomplishes its spiritual purposes not because of the skills or the wisdom of a preacher but of the power of the Scripture proclaimed. Preachers minister with greater zeal, confidence, and freedom when they realize that God has taken from their backs the monkey of spiritual manipulation."
And yet, preachers are still called to wrestle with the Word, to mine its depths for the truth that is there and to not come at it with ulterior motives. I still have to prepare the sermon, deliver it and receive the feedback from ministers far more seasoned in sermon preparation and the realities of day to day ministry than I am. To be honest, I am a little scared ... I still feel unworthy to do what God has called me to do, to minister his word and shepherd his people. Thankfully, the Lord makes his servants ready for the calling he has for them.
Here's a verse for thought:
For as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV)
Friday, April 11, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Seminary Preparation...Part the First
As you may already know, I am planning on going to seminary beginning summer or fall 2009. I realize I've been saying that for a while, but I have finally started the application process and, Lord willing, I'll hear an affirmative back from Covenant Theological Seminary sometime in the early fall. I did my 'official' visit at the beginning of March and it really confirmed what I had already been leaning towards. Check out these pictures from my visit ... it snowed a foot the first day I was there.
As I prepare for seminary over the next year my coworkers and other friends who have gone ahead of me have recommended many resources to help me prepare for my studies. Obviously, spending more and more time in Scripture and prayer are foremost on that list, but there are various books and other resources that have been highly recommended. So I'll post periodically on these as I read them.
The first one is BB Warfield's The Religious Life of Theological Students. I've found it very helpful in thinking through my seminary prep and eventual studies. He starts out saying, "A minister must be both learned and religious. It is not a matter of choosing between the two. He must study, but he must study as in the presence of God and not in a secular spirit." He goes on to emphasize that, "A minister must be learned, on pain of being utterly incompetent in his work. But before and above being learned, a minister must be godly."
My hope is that I will continue in spiritual maturity and godliness, above and beyond any other preparation over the next year. It will be hard, no doubt, but much more beneficial than anything else I could do in preparation for seminary and eventual ministry.
This is where I stayed and when heading back across the field sunk in well above my knee more than once
Look at that snow, it was crazy, everything was closed for the day.
It was coming down pretty heavy for a while (thats the library)
As I prepare for seminary over the next year my coworkers and other friends who have gone ahead of me have recommended many resources to help me prepare for my studies. Obviously, spending more and more time in Scripture and prayer are foremost on that list, but there are various books and other resources that have been highly recommended. So I'll post periodically on these as I read them.
The first one is BB Warfield's The Religious Life of Theological Students. I've found it very helpful in thinking through my seminary prep and eventual studies. He starts out saying, "A minister must be both learned and religious. It is not a matter of choosing between the two. He must study, but he must study as in the presence of God and not in a secular spirit." He goes on to emphasize that, "A minister must be learned, on pain of being utterly incompetent in his work. But before and above being learned, a minister must be godly."
My hope is that I will continue in spiritual maturity and godliness, above and beyond any other preparation over the next year. It will be hard, no doubt, but much more beneficial than anything else I could do in preparation for seminary and eventual ministry.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
