by Bret Capranica | Sep 9, 2006 | Culture, Ecclesiology, Emergent, Seeker-Sensitive
Dr. Russell Moore, Dean of Theology from Southern Seminary, writes a funny piece noting that the TNIV has become the official version for Relevant Magazine. You need a good laugh! The Henry Institute:...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 8, 2006 | Ecclesiology, Pastoral Ministry
A healthy review of biblical eldership, especially as a congregational proponent. paleoevangelical: Misconceptions About Plural Elder Led...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 7, 2006 | Ecclesiology, Pastoral Ministry
Not that the Wall Street Journal is going to fairly represent Christianity or the church, but this report about the splits taking place in churches who are moving to the PD philosophy is the tip of an ice-berg story that needs to be further plumbed and told. WSJ raises criticisms about “ËPurpose-Driven’ model –...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 7, 2006 | Bookreviews, Ecclesiology, Evangelism
Pastor Jerry Cook has a passion to see the church be more effective Monday through Saturday in the world in which she lives. Such is the stated theme of his book, The Monday Morning Church. Cook defines “the church on Monday” as “the body of Christ at work in the world” (3). This work is a sequel to Cook’s earlier book, Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness (9). Here, in The Monday Morning Church (MMC), Cook wants to call Christians to “make Jesus accessible to people, right where they live” (4), by being “incarnational” in our communities (5). MMC is a book centered on a devotional look at the book of Ephesians, where the author wants to use Ephesians “as an illustration and dramatic guide to becoming the church on Monday” (10). If we understand who we are in Christ and what we possess as believers, we will be more effective in our witness of Christ to the world. I applaud this idea and passion presented by Pastor Cook. Thus, MMC is arranged into four different sections, “Where Is God on Monday,” “Who You Are,” “What You Have” and “How You Live.” The opening section provides the author’s argument for why we need to be more intentional and aware of our Christian witness to the watching world. The majority of the book is a devotional exposition of the book of Ephesians. I would readily commend Pastor Cook for his passion and desire to see Christians and the church to be fervent, intentional and aware of the way we live out our life in Christ before a watching and needy world. His...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 7, 2006 | Bookreviews, Ecclesiology, Worship
Rick Muchow, the worship leader of the well-known Saddleback Church in Southern California, pastored by best selling author, Rick Warren, has written a short devotional book entitled The Worship Answer Book. The intention of The Worship Answer Book (WAB) is to “stimulate personal discovery and to help [the reader] consistently move into the presence of God” (17). Such is the definition for Muchow of what biblical worship consists. Muchow seeks to make WAB a tool to assist us in “understanding biblical worship – what God says worship is and how we are to worship him” (15). WAB consists of fifty-four chapters arranged in seven different sections. These sections include: “The Basics of Worship,” “Worship in the Bible,” “Personal Worship,” “Music . . . and More,” “Group Worship,” “Leading a Managing Worship,” and “Change & Conflict in Worship.” The book is published in a smally, very colorful and glossy format that one comes to expect from Countryman Publishing. WAB has a number of aspects I can readily commend. Muchow’s discussion of worship in general and references to worship in the Bible are helpful and accurate. He provides a concise chapter reviewing all of the Hebrew and Greek terms in the Bible commonly translated “worship,” along with quick definitions and corresponding passages (76-80). Related “worship-terms” from the Bible are also defined in a following chapter (82-85). His content in the second section, “Worship in the Bible,” is a good overview of biblical terms translated as worship and associated with worship. He has helpful overviews of what Jesus taught about worship and how he expressed worship while on earth. Muchow also notes...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 5, 2006 | Ecclesiology, General Theology
The L.A. Times is reporting on the familial and theological rift between Chuck Smith Sr. and Jr. How unfortunante to have this played out in public. I found it interesting that a Calvary Chapel adherent, quoted in the article, calls for the disfellowshiping of Jr. because of his liberal drift. This may be a good illustration of why membership is important and does matter. Father, Son and Holy Rift – Los Angeles Times HT:...
