Author Proverbs 1:1 presents Solomon as the primary author of the book, but there are other writers as well, such as Agur and Lemuel. Theme Proverbs aims to teach us biblical wisdom, which is the skill of understanding and navigating the broken, sin-filled world around us by conforming ourselves to God’s pattern for creation. Background …
Serious study of any ancient document will require resources and tools that help to enrich one's understanding of the text. The Bible is no different. As both a cohesive and complete revelation of God to humanity and a library of literary masterpieces, the Bible has consumed the lifetime focus of some of history's most brilliant …
The Bible is a story. In fact, it is the Story, the true myth, the architype that is woven into who we are as people. It is the story that we all long for, even those who have yet to hear it and those who reject it. It’s the story that we continue telling. The …
Back in 2012, I taught through the books of Ecclesiastes and Philippians together, attempting to show how they both present that true joy is only found in Christ. Since I am now preaching through them again (finishing Ecclesiastes this Sunday), I'm sharing the essay that I wrote in 2012 to explain the connection between these …
Continue reading Depressing Joy: a thousand year search for meaning
I read from Stephen Nichols (in Heaven on Earth: Capturing Jonathan Edwards's Vision of Living in Between) that Jonathan Edwards was voted out of his church after moving the church to closed communion. The change backfired in part because Edwards failed to cultivate deep friendships within his congregation that would support him through such a …
It was a day full of butterflies. The ground outside stood muddied by rain, prayers and wishful thinking dried it no quicker. So people gathered, and plans changed. Under shelter, beams were raised, flowers planted, and lights ignited. Soon a flood of faces filled the landscape, waiting for that moment, for the doors’ opening. And they did open. Beauty levitated past the …
Continue reading The Day Full of Butterflies (6 Years & Counting)
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 (ESV) In these verses, Solomon proclaims that all is vanity. Or using other words, everything is meaningless. That statement is true, but there is a problem. …
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Acts 6:4 ESV In 1 Peter 5:2-3, pastors are given three commands which correspond to their three titles: shepherd the flock (pastor), exercise oversight (overseer), and be an example to the flock (elder). Each command is a different aspect of leading …
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not …
Given that appointing elders in every town was Paul's primary directive to Titus (1:5), it is troublesome that so few of us understand the biblical concept of eldership. In fact, thinking about a church's elders likely conjures up either wizened old men or cultish organizations governed ruthlessly by a handful of men. As you may …
B. C. Newton 