Tyler Street Pulpit- Sunday, January 25, 2009

Sorry for the delay on this one. The last few weeks have been crazy around here. Next week, I hope to get back to posting sermons by early Monday morning if not sooner.

Here is Rev. Chris Allen with a short but powerful message from our 8:30 am service.

To God be the glory!

How should we read the Bible?

In serving a number of congregations as a lay leader, a youth minister, the husband of a youth minister, and now as a pastor, I've noticed that while Christians know they ought to read their Bible, many are unsure of how to really dig in?

Should we just open the pages and see if a personal application becomes immediately apparent?

Or should we dig in and understand the likely original meaning of a given passage all those centuries and only then seek an application for ourselves with much prayer and humility.

Though the first approach is far and away, Dr. Ben Witherington of Asbury Theological Seminary has posted a lengthy blog article arguing that if we truly love the Word of God, we need to do the heavy lifting.

I highly encourage you all to read it. Let me know what you think.

Tyler Street Pulpit- Sunday, January 18, 2008

Sorry for the terrible delay this week.

The sermon below was preached by Rev. Mike Walker. To God be the Glory!

Music Fridays- Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain Edition

I've had a wierd, random day. Here is wierd, random music. I give you the theme to The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly as played by the UOGB.



I think I'll veg out and watch a western tonight after the kids go to bed.

See you on Sunday!

Tyler Street Pulpit- Sunday, January 11, 2009

The following sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Allen in our 10:50 am service.



To God be the Glory!

Music Fridays- Oak Cliff Guitar Heros Edition

Some may say that Oak Cliff isn't such a great place, but we here at Tyler Street UMC know better! We've been doing ministry here for almost a century.

Besides, any community which can produce these two guys must have a lot going for it:



(For those not in the know, that's the late and legendary Stevie Ray Vaughn playing a double-neck guitar with his highly underrated older brother Jimmy back in 1987. Jimmy Vaughn is still churning out solid blues albums and is worth a listen for those who like SRV's music.)

Links Worth Following

Attention theology geeks:

Over on Wesley Report, Shane Raynor has an excellent pro-Wesleyan response to the Calvinist doctrine of "unconditional election."

Have fun!

Faith Building: Augustine on the Atributes of God

St. Augustine was, far and away, the most keen theological mind of his own age and remains one of the most influential thinkers in Christendom. His works have shaped Roman Catholics and Protestants alike and continue to be read by seminary students, pastors, scholars, and lay people.

In his work known as the Confessions, Augustine lays out his faith in the form of deeply personal prayer. He doesn't just talk about God, he talks to God. The whole volume is full of stunning theological reflection mixed with powerful personal witness and fervent crying out to the Lord.

In that regard, The Confessions of Saint Augustine stubbornly defies any attempt to be relegated into a handy category or genre. It is not an autobiography, yet Augustine does recount his life's journey with many intimate details. It is not a liturgy text, though many passages have been used in public worship settings. It is not a devotional work as we might think of devotionals, and yet it can be used in that way. It is also not a pure piece of theology because Augustine makes no attempt at scholarly objectivity, and yet there are nuggets of profound theological truth on just about every page.

Below is a passage in which Augustine describes the attributes of God. As you read, I encourage you to reflect on your own understanding of God. Have you taken the time to ponder the great paradoxes of the Divine?

Enjoy!

What, then, is my God? What, I ask, unless the Lord God? Who is Lord but the Lord? Or who is God but our God?

Most high, most good, most mighty, most almighty; most beautiful and most strong; stable and incomprehensible; unchangeable, yet changing all things; never new, never old, yet renewing all things; leading proud men into senility, although they know it not; ever active, and ever at rest; gathering in, yet needing nothing; supporting, fulfilling, and protecting things; creating, nourishing, and perfecting them; searching them out, although nothing is lacking in you.

You love, but are not inflamed with passion; you are jealous, yet free from care; you repent, but do not sorrow; you grow angry, but remain tranquil. You change your works, but do not change your plan; you take back what you find, although you never lost it; you are never in want, but you rejoice in gain; you are never covetous, yet you exact usery. Excessive payments are made to you, so that you may be our debtor- yet who has anything that is not yours? You pay debts, although you ow no man anything; you cancel debts, and lose nothing. What have we said, my God, my life, my holy delight? Or what does any man say when he speaks of you? Yet woe to those who keep silent concerning you, since those who speak much are as the dumb.

Confessions, Book One Chapter 4- as translated by John K. Ryan- from the edition published by Image Press of New York.

Tyler Street Pulpit- Sunday, January 4, 2009

The following sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Allen in our 8:30 am service.



To God be the Glory!