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Martin Luther’s Critique of Catholic Communion

In the article, “Of the Sacrament of the Lords’ Supper” Martin Luther provides a critique of the Roman Catholic view of the Lord’s Supper during the sixteenth century. In the article, “Of the Sacrament of the Altar” Luther proposes...

High Priestly Prayer of Jesus: John 17

BRIEF SUMMARYIn the article, “The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus” Bob Deffinbaugh examines Jesus’ prayer documented in John 17. The article’s thesis may be articulated as follows: the priestly prayer of Jesus has a primary theme of glory with an...

Prayer and Faith Article Critique: Edward Bounds

Bounds, Edward M. “Prayer and Faith.” In The Necessity of Prayer.The presuppositions in Bounds’s work are numerous. This post will address two significant presuppositions. First, Bounds provides a presupposition that faith is a prerequisite to...

Spiritual Disciplines

Donald Whitney lists eleven spiritual disciplines, which include Bible intake, prayer, worship, evangelism, serving, stewardship, fasting, silence, solitude, journaling, and learning.[1] The impact on members of my local church would be significant if the spiritual...

Sharing Your Faith Without Fear

David Earley describes living on mission as following the direction of Jesus as a missionary “not something the church does for God,” but “it is the church getting in sync with what God is already doing on planet earth.”[1] Later, Earley asks...

New Testament Christian Community

It is sometimes difficult to imagine the importance of the New Testament concept of community. In one of the most powerful references to the unity of believers, the Apostle Paul states that, “In Himself He might make the two into one new man…and might...

Christian Identity Markers of Self

Although difficult to limit meaningful identifying markers to four, the following summarizes the four most important and encouraging identifying markers in my life along with the reasons for my selections. First, in Christ, “I am justified and...

God’s Power in Prayer

Dave Earley asks a question that, at first glance, appears rhetorical. Earley asks whether the listener believes that God can do things bigger, better, more long lasting, and more effectively than humans can.[1] The rhetorical nature of the question soon diminishes...

Embracing the Cross of Christ

David Earley explains that embracing the Cross means saying no to my interests and being “willing to have nothing other than Jesus.”[1] My current level of embracing the cross is quite difficult to assess but would likely fall within a range between three...

Discipline of Thanksgiving

Dave Earley references a biblical example of thanksgiving from Acts chapter 16, which made the largest impression on my thinking.[1] After casting out an evil spirit from a profitable fortune telling slave-girl, Paul and his companion, Silas, were beaten with rods and...