Category Archives: Theology

The Vacant House: A Horror Story Jesus Told

Posted on November 4, 2023 by salooper57

Jesus once told a story about an “impure spirit” that “comes out of a person” and “goes through arid places seeking rest” but does not find it. The spirit then says to itself, “I will return to the house I … Continue reading →

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How Great Is Our God (Romans 11:33-36)

Posted on October 29, 2023 by salooper57

Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever … Continue reading →

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The Christian Roots of Memento Mori Art

Posted on October 21, 2023 by salooper57

My wife and I are with friends in Germany this week. We stopped in Nuremberg, where we visited St. Siebold’s Church, which dates back to the beginning of the thirteenth century. St. Siebold’s was remodeled in the seventeenth century in … Continue reading →

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Is This the Bible’s Most Difficult Verse?

Posted on October 14, 2023 by salooper57

St. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian Church is one of the earliest books in the New Testament. Toward the end of the letter, the Apostle Paul throws in a list of instructions – a sort of church member’s checklist … Continue reading →

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God Speaks Your Language

Posted on September 23, 2023 by salooper57

He speaks to the poet in meter, to the architect in blueprints, to the child in games and laughter, to the wise in wisdom, to the fool in folly. He speaks to Isaac Newton in mathematical formulae, to Francis Collins in ribonucleic acids and to fisherman in fish. Continue reading →

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Finding a Place to Stand in the Culture War

Posted on September 9, 2023 by salooper57

The culture war has left little space to stand, but there remains the higher ground of Jesus’s lordship and biblical teaching. Those who stand here must refuse to allow cultural battles to force them to retreat or to move them to antipathy for those with whom they disagree.   Continue reading →

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The Surprising Place God Shows Up

Posted on September 2, 2023 by salooper57

…it is often when we’re stuck at the intersection of unfair and inconvenient that God shows up. Continue reading →

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Chatbots: Coming to a Pulpit Near You?

Posted on July 15, 2023 by salooper57

In June, hundreds of people attended a service at St. Paul’s Church in Fuerth, Germany. Curiosity was high as people joined in a worship time planned almost entirely by artificial intelligence. Four young-looking avatars, two females and two males, directed … Continue reading →

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What We know (1 Thess. 1:4-10)

Posted on July 7, 2023 by salooper57

I am not posting this sermon in the order it was preached because something happened during the sermon that caused a delay in posting it. While preaching, my vision became distorted, and I needed to sit. Our medical team cared … Continue reading →

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Expiration Date: The Paradoxical Impact of Knowing Our Mortality

Posted on July 1, 2023 by salooper57

Imagine that you were born with an expiration date on your wrist or scalp. Your parents would know from the moment you were born how long your life would last. When you became old enough to understand what the numbers … Continue reading →

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