Apostles of Disunion, written by Charles B. Dew, is a book that focuses on the topics of Slavery, States’ rights, and Secession. The introduction chapter of the book talks about how Dew grew up as a “son of the south”, and how his ancestors fought for the confederacy. He talks about how he went to school in Virginia and he packed his Confederate flag to hang on his wall. Dew says that he didn’t think much about secession, however, he knew that the south had seceded for the lonely reason of states’ rights.
Drawing Jesus’ obedience to His Father, Ignatius invites the Christians to follow their Bishops as they represent the presence of God. They are the focus of affection in the church. The Bishops are too identified as the overseers of all the
On January 3, 1884 Eli Stanley Jones was born in Baltimore, Maryland. There is little recorded information about his childhood and family. As a teenager, Jones was involved in a dangerous street gang. One night, his band of rebels decided to interfere with an event where a traveling evangelist was speaking. However, the message Jones heard during the service that night would alter the course of his life.
In this article titled “How Do We Know It's The One True Church?” the author “Fr. Dwight Longanecker” gives many critical points of defending his argument. In this article the author gives background on how he was brought up in the church. The author gives his conversion story on how he was raised as a protestant and then converted to Catholicism.
The sketch that most exhibits the message and emotions that were delivered from Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” illustrates a man in a room, and the Virgin Mary outside the window. This sketch is a personal favorite of mine because the emotions and message were conveyed in a very powerful manner. This sketch made me stop and think and made me view it from a different perspective. It was abstractly painted, and the colors used accurately demonstrate the mood, environment, and time period in which this sermon was spoken. The audience that Edwards’ sermon was meant to be spoken to were those who were having second thoughts about the church and wanted to leave, it was his way of persuading them to join and remain
The missionary’s speech was his attempt at persuading the congregation to donate money to him and his cause. Truly, his use of ethos, logos, and pathos was genuine. Throughout his speech, he spoke with a sincerity that externalized his compassion for others, especially Latin Americans. Also, the missionary put a lot of focus on not just teaching Christianity but on owning a loving Christian character through humanity and kindness. The missionary honestly discussed his past, used honest statistics, and gave his speech to help Latin Americans.
Atlantic Cape Community College Church After Several Years Amina Holliday Reflection Paper 10/27/2015 Abstract I always knew church was where people was to worship God but I didn’t understand why people had put so much faith into the pastor.
When it comes to knowing and learning the religions of the world one must approach them with a critical mind. One cannot simply just believe every religion and know have their own view points. David Van Biema presents his ideas about Christianity and Jesus in “The Gospel Truth?”. Van Biema’s main point is about how “Matthew, Mark, Luke and John… is notoriously unreliable,” . Van Biema writes about how one cannot be completely sure about whether to believe if Jesus actually said what is written in the bible, he continues to say that Jesus may even be an “imaginative theological construct” .
but they seem kinda sensible,” (15). He doesn’t see himself as preacher anymore because of the mistakes he has made in his lifetime and this is evident when he is reluctant in saying a few words at the Joad’s dinner table. With this being said as he continues on his journey with the Joads, he finds a new outlook on life and on what it means to be a preacher; to him now, it isn’t about reading passages from the Bible but
Dear God, why have you forsaken me? What would you have me do? I am a man of faith. I must have faith, or I have nothing! What is the meaning of a life of a reverend if he does not believe the very name he preaches?
Ed combats this view with the idea that the point of discipleship is not information, but Christ-like transformation. The second “broken view” presented is the fact that we try to program discipleship. Ed infers that discipleship is so much more than a six-week course, and people are looking for relationships more than discipleship classes. The third “broken view” is that we equate discipleship with our preaching. In fact, 56% of pastors surveyed believe their weekly sermon was the most important discipling ministry in the church.
"HOW TO PREACH A LOUSY SERMON" When writing a lousy sermon Collins said that one should remember never, quote too many scriptures. Why should you try to show off by over stating scriptures like you are an expert? In fact, the assignment of a preacher is to minister by meeting the needs of the people not to make yourself look good. After all, the anointing makes the difference not the vessel. The Lord needs a yielded vessel that will do the will of the Father and not their agenda.
I personally felt that this book is not only for Christian ministers or leaders but for everyone and anyone because, as mortal human beings, we live in a societal world where caring or helping each other is indispensable. I like the way Nouwen makes us see the four chapters of this book, as entering into four different doors, each representing the ‘problems of ministry in the modern world’ (Nouwen, 2010, p.3). I’ve categorized my reflections on this book into three particular headings. The Human Condition Nouwen starts the first chapter by portraying Peter, a young man going through the contemporary human condition, which is, the search of meaning to their life.
James Fowler's "Stages of Faith" does not have a direct reference to religion, but it is a very closely related to religious faith. I would like to compare my spiritual journey with this stages of faith presented by Fowler to support the relevancy of his model. The first stage is called Early stage. Since it is a early and infant stage of faith, distinguishing reality from fantasy might not be easy, and children might have hard time understnading the concept of devil (Berger,2014). Second stage is Mythic (Literal) Stage, and everything is one-dimentioanl and literal (Berger, 2014).
A short critique - “The Reformed Pastor” by Richard Baxter Richard Baxter’s writings on the “The Reformed Pastor” is a wake up call to every shepherd of the flocks to examine their soul’s condition and their flocks as well. So, the minister, coming into ministry with much infirmity, has before him a great responsibility and yet difficult office to undertake and to accomplish. Every minister’s success in accomplishing God ordained duties and responsibilities depends on the thoroughness of his examination of his own soul – “It is most necessary, therefore, that men of so much infirmity should take heed to themselves, and be careful in the oversight of their own souls.” While he takes care of his own soul diligently, the same way he needs to care for his flocks welfare – soul’s betterment. Richard Baxter’s writing had been a humble yet an authoritative call to reform ministers’ actions and live their lives as if the souls of his flock depend on his actions.
