Ref21 Blog

Rumor has it that there was a minor panic across the Bible belt this morning when a number of pastors focused on this story as a sign that Matthew 24:15 was about to be fulfilled, advising their congregations to flee...

Prof Sandy Finlayson of Westminster Theological Seminary has published a new book on the formative leaders of the Free Church of Scotland. Unity and Diversity has been published by Christian Focus Publications. It gives biographical studies of men like Thomas...

I don't disagree with what Sean says; but I repeat: the `aha' moment is not application; it is not the end point of the sermon; it is not sufficient in itself to communicate the imperative; it certainly is not where...

Okay, I'll take the bait. Carl just wrote, "If the game is simply to get from Text A to Bethlehem, what do you do with a book like Judges? Preach 200 sermons which essentially say, 'This judge failed, but surprise,...

Derek's comments on a certain kind of Reformed preaching are spot on.  If the game is simply to get from Text A to Bethlehem, what do you do with a book like Judges?  Preach 200 sermons which essentially say `This...

Further to my last post, my good friend Dr. John Ross (Dumisani Theological Institute, King William's Town, SA), made the following insightful comment:"I fully agree it is pushing the envelope to say that a meaningful encounter with God happens nowhere...

Further to Carl's comments on Barthian preaching...   Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Barthian preaching is their belief that something happens in preaching that happens nowhere else. Lacking an authoritative epistemological base, Barthians assume the posture all too common elsewhere...

Karl Barth, as correctly identified by James from Edinburgh, who also raises the question as to why Barthian preaching is, by contrast with the quotation, often deathly dull.My theory is that neo-orthodox writing on preaching is often brilliant because it...

Here's an interesting quotation: "Preachers must not be boring.  To a large extent the pastor and boredom are synonymous concepts.  Listeners often think that they have heard already what is being said in the pulpit.  They have long since known...

The Vatican's chief exorcist has written his memoirs.  You can read the story here.   He claims ca. 70 000 exorcisms which is, I suspect, a workload which might even make Benny Hinn stop and take notice....

Want to hear Kevin Vanhoozer explain his new book, "Remythologizing Theology"? Check out this interview with Guy Davies here....

Derek mentioned this interview last week. The link can be found here....

Laughter is generally a social phenomenon; usually, it is very difficult to laugh at, say, a comedy program if nobody else in the room is so doing. It is also even more difficult to do, for some reason, when reading...

Todd Pruitt just brought this to my attention.  The list fails to mention two other tell tale signs -- suspects will also cast no reflection in the mirror, and exhibit a strange preference for the earlier, Shatner-dominated series of Star...

Discouraged in ministry by the likes of Trotter et al?  I have been trying to keep Del Boy from responding too his errant younger brother but I fear his ire will explode soon. In the mean time, you should avail...