From the Genius Admired Most by WELS - Leonard Sweet

Leonard Sweet

2 hrs · 

Baptism is one's ordination into ministry. If you won't ordain women, why do you baptize them?

Gregory L. Jackson I would check with St. Paul about this.

Like · Reply · 2 · 1 hr

Linda Elam Young How about checking with Jesus?

Like · Reply · 4 · 1 hr

Gregory L. Jackson They were not opponents, you know.

Like · Reply · 53 mins

Universalism Everywhere: ELCA, Rome, Syn Conference. Let Us Disbelieve Together in Love

Herman Otten was bewailing Universalism in the Church of Rome but not in the LCMS. I saw an editorial that sound Universalistic, by Scott Murray, LCMS, another UOJ friend of Paul McCain and Otten, the odd couple who elected Al Barry and Matt Harrison. 

Scott asked, "What must I do to be saved?" He answered himself, not from the Scriptures, but from his UOJ talking points. The answer is "literally. Nothing. It is done."

Christian News, 8-22-2011, "Nothing To Conquer," p. 4.

Acts of the Apostles
KJV Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Gospel of John
KJV John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.

The Apostle Paul
KJV Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

KJV Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

The Holy Spirit moves us to faith through the Means of Grace
The UOJ fanatics want to say they are devoted to grace, but they obliterate faith and the Means of Grace. They have to eliminate the Holy Spirit's work in the Word because their foundation is Halle Pietism - not Biblical, Lutheran doctrine.

I know something about modern theology because my professors studied under Barth, Tillich, Bultmann, and Moltmann. Stan Hauerwas, on my dissertation committee, is the best known theologian in America. Martin Marty recommended the publication of my dissertation, and so forth. Marty was good enough to lecture at Wisconsin Lutheran College, so he must be kosher for WELS.

The names are relevant because my studies meant reading hundreds of books of modern theology, not to mention writing essays based on those studies and lectures.

UOJ, mainline theology, ELCA, and modern Romanism all share the same basics of Universalism, expressed with a little variety. As someone said about gardens, "Each one is unique, but few are original."

When Team Ichabod was discussing What Happened To Knapp, the Founder of Double-Justification?, I found the clue. Knapp is largely forgotten, overshadowed by men like Schleiermacher, but the old Halle Pietist is still in print. My English copy is dated from 1830, and Knapp's Halle lectures began long before that. But people are still printing and buying his lectures from 180 years ago.

More importantly, Knapp became the gold standard for mainline theology.

Knapp's double-justification scheme, starting with the justification of the entire world, turned easily into Step One as a solo. Schleiermacher, considered the father of modern theology, studied at Halle and taught at Halle, specializing in Step One Universalism.

I remember many a mainline theology book warning. "We must not make this contingent upon faith." Similarly, Syn Conference types glare and say, "Do not make faith a work of man." Those who are giddy with UOJ love to emphasize unbelief as a virtue.

God creates and nurtures faith through the Gospel in the Means of Grace. Since faith is the foundation for the Christian life, unbelief is the basis for all sin and evil.

Many are in deep pain as they realize their synods teach against Luther's doctrine, contrary to the Book of Concord. The results are everywhere. One friend went to  a WELS service where the congregation was involved in worshiping with the help of their volunteer kazoo band. 

Excommunication Meeting This Sunday at Holy Word.Patterson and Gurgle Pile On.Typical Kelmish Borrowed Theology

"It's just easier for many people to work backwards from the subjective to the objective in their thinking. In fact, upside-down evangelism may start with gospel and work back to law, stating the solution as a prelude to the problem and clarifying both at the cross." [This is Moravian Pietism, as shown by Walther's Law and Gospel.] Paul Kelm, The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Fall, 1985 p. 5.


I was looking for the quotation from Paul Calvin Kelm, above, when Megatron, the legendary database, vomited up a bunch of Kelm and Olson quotations. The Kelm quotation is significant for several reasons.  
One is that Kelm and Patterson gave papers on how to improve pastoral education at The Sausage Factory!
Two - Universal Objective Justification necessarily leads to the kind of nonsense now being showcased at Holy Word (WELS), Austin, Texas.

WELS is always saying that people should a) write a letter, or b) meet with the person.

Writing a letter starts the process of excommunication because no one is allowed to question the infallible WELS, no matter how many times the infallible WELS changes its doctrinal opinions.

Meeting with one of these leaders is akin to picking up a bar of soap in a hot shower. Rather than discuss doctrine with Joe Krohn, Kudu Don Patterson chose to cut off all communication from the parish to him and send a certified letter to get rid of his own congregational elder. Patterson accused Joe Krohn of persistent false doctrine without meeting with him. He was only willing to meet if Joe sat there without saying a word. The Protes'tants remember that scenario.

Patterson gets a free vicar from WELS offering money--every year--so he loves to play the role of synod big shot. However, his call is not synod big shot, but parish pastor. He is doing what Kelm urged above. "Every single pagan in the world is already forgiven and saved." Second - "You disagree, so you will feel the full force of man-made law." Ethics and pastoral practice fly out the window because UOJ excuses everything already. Likewise, Walther did not excommunicate very often, because he hated people out of his life, unless he needed a mob to do his dirty work.

The Wisconsin Sect makes a show of being all-Gospel, but it is really all-law. The extent of the hypocrisy can be viewed in the facile lies of the quotations below. I would rename Megatron The Vomitorium except that I have preserved hundreds of examples of sound doctrine in the same file. I do not know how people can call themselves Lutheran or Christian while flinging such effluent in all directions.

SP Schroeder, the conservative dream candidate, continues to do nothing while Kokomo is replayed and the Changers are rewarded. At first he could play the helpless role - stuck with the incompetent and evil staffers of the Gurgle era. After four years of rewarding the Changers and silencing dissent, he is clearly leading from his bunker deep beneath the Love Shack.

Quotations from Megatron - Read and Weep

"The role model for this carefully choreographed and rehearsed service, referred to by Rev. Dan Kelm as a 'seeker service,' is Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Ill., near Chicago, an independent congregation formed 14 years ago...Rev. Kelm said he viewed a videotape of a service at the Chicago-area church before planning the first seeker service for Divine Savior, which is affiliated with the Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod."
Carol Elrod, "Pastor Hopes Seeks Will Find Way to Special Church Service," Indianapolis Star, May 12, 1990 Reprinted in CN

"The mistaken announcement by a reporter from another Lutheran body was clearly repudiated in the March 15, 1992 issues of The Northwestern Lutheran. Yet you boldly state that the WELS continues to be a part of this project, in which it never participated. Dr. Jackson, I ask you to repent of your slanderous lie and retract it publicly. Galatians 6:1-2 leads me to ask this of you, for the sake of your spiritual life. Titus 3:10 urges me to ask this of you for the sake of the church.
cc: District President Robert Mueller, Vice President Paul Kuske, Vice President Gerald Schroer, Rev. David Grundmeier, Rev. Gary Baumler."
Pastor Paul Kelm (WELS), Letter to Gregory L. Jackson, 9-23-92.

"Your September 21 article in Christian News perpetuates a lie, slanders leaders of your church and risks spiritual offense to weak brothers and sisters. You describe a conference on leadership in which fellowship lines were clearly drawn and at which testimony to the truths which separate Lutherans was publicly given as 'a joint ministry conference with a liberal agenda.' Then you add, 'Months later, the three groups [ELCA, LCMS, WELS] joyfully announced a joint religious radio show, Joy, also funded by Lutheran insurance money. WELS participated in 'Joy' from the beginning and continues to be a part of the project.'" Pastor Paul Kelm (WELS), Letter to Gregory L. Jackson, 9-23-92.

Finding the Receptive: People in Transition, by James Witt - "The Bible illustrates the people-in-transition receptivity principle very well. Converts such as Naaman, a leper; Ruth, a widow; the woman at the well, a five-time divorcee; the thief on the cross, a convict near death; were all people who in a period of transition were receptive to hearing the Gospel. The Receptivity-Rating Scale shown at left...
Paul Kelm, editor, The Evangelism Handbook, WELS Evangelism Appendix III,

"Lifestyle evangelism is the merger of visual and verbal witness, by the people Jesus intended, in the way that He modeled. It's the primary element in a church's strategy to win the lost."
[Other endorsements from Rev. Burton Bundy, Church of the Lutheran Brethren, and Dr. Erwin Kolb, LCMS] Rev. Paul Kelm, Evangelism, WELS Your Invitation! Kent Hunter, (D.Min., Fuller; S.T.D., LSTC) Church Growth Center, Corunna, Indiana 46730 Phone 219-281-2452 Invitation for Heart to Heart Workshop, Paul Kelm quotation.

"TELL has served the church faithfully for 15 years. Three editors have served; Ronald Roth (1977-84), Paul Kelm (1985-88), and the undersigned since 1989...The lead article in the first issue of TELL was titled 'Church Growth - Worthwhile for WELS.'...The author of this article in April 1988 issue of TELL concludes, 'It's obvious by now that I believe we in WELS can profit greatly from the writings of the church-growth leaders.' ... TELL as a separate publication ends with this issue. Nevertheless, the focus of The Evangelism Life Line will continue for years to come as an integral part of the new Board for Parish Services journal - PARISH LEADERSHIP.
Rev. Robert Hartman TELL (WELS Evangelism) Summer, 1992.

"The church growth movement has made inroads into nearly every denomination in America. Once considered only the turf of conservative evangelicals, you will now find church growth practitioners in the United Methodist Church, in the Presbyterian Church in the USA, and among the Episcopalians. The LCMS has more pastors enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry program at Fuller Theological Seminary, the seedbed of the movement, than are enrolled in the graduate programs at their Fort Wayne and St. Louis seminaries combined, and most of them include church growth as part of their studies."
Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "See How It Grows: Perspectives on Growth and the Church," EVANGELISM, February, 1991, Parish Consultant for the WELS Board of Parish Services and his district's Coordinator of Evangelism. p. 1.

"Donald C. McGavran died at home in Altadena, California, on July 10, 1990. He was 92 years old. Dr. McGavran is widely recognized as the founder of the church growth movement, a movement which has sought to put the social sciences at the service of theology in order to foster the growth of the church. In August of 1989 I borrowed a bicycle and pedaled several miles uphill up from Pasadena to Altadena. I found Dr. McGavran in his front yard with a hose in hand, watering flowers." Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "See How It Grows: Perspectives on Growth and the Church," EVANGELISM, February, 1991, Professor, Martin Luther College (WELS), p. 1.

"Don't let the world paint us into a corner of antiquarianism on subjects like a six-day creation or verbal inspiration."
Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 13.

"Thesis Seven: Sound Apologetics Can Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good...Logic never converted anyone; but Christianity is logically defensible, once one makes reason ministerial to God and His Word...Read C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer and Josh McDowell for practical apologetic tools. In fact, lend your copy to the prospect whose intelligence and education have become his curse. Once you've read Josh McDowell's 'Lord, Liar, or Lunatic' argument for the deity of Christ, you'll find yourself using it." Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 14.

"We can't do a thing to make his Word more effective. But surely we can detract from its effectiveness by careless errors and poor judgment. It just makes good sense to utilize all of our God-given talents, to scour the field for appropriate ideas, concepts, and material (sic), to implement programs, methods, and techniques so that we do not detract from the effectiveness of the gospel we proclaim. Church growth articles, books, seminars, and conferences can offer such ideas and programs."
Pastor James Huebner, Spiritual Renewal Consultant, Notebook, School of Outreach IV, Seventeen Ways to Keep Your Church from Growing, p. 178. First VP of WELS!

"While only the Word is efficacious, the methods we use to minister to people with that Word may vary in their effectiveness." Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "See How It Grows: Perspectives on Growth and the Church," EVANGELISM, February, 1991, Parish Consultant for the WELS Board of Parish Services and his district's Coordinator of Evangelism. p. 2.

"McGavran leaned toward me and said, 'The fields are white unto harvest. But you can't harvest a field of what with a penknife--you need a sickle, you need a scythe. Harvest intelligently."
Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "See How It Grows: Perspectives on Growth and the Church," EVANGELISM, February, 1991, Parish Consultant for the WELS Board of Parish Services and his district's Coordinator of Evangelism. p. 2.

"Our synod now has a full-time executive secretary for evangelism. He's the Rev. Paul Kelm; and we need him. We need him to be our evangelism advocate."
The Late, Great Ron Roth, The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Winter, 1985 p. 2. He also founded Cornerstone, a joint LCMS-WELS business for getting congregations deeply indebted.

"Please stop exaggerating the amount of study that I have done at Fuller. After four years of study at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, which involved sixty-two different courses and a year of vicarage, I graduated in 1983. From 1987 to 1989 I took four courses where I was in a classroom with a Fuller instructor. That is the extent of my Fuller coursework...In addition, I have taken two courses at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and one at the University of Wisconsin--Madison. Because of Fuller's liberal (would you expect anything else?) policy on transfer of credit, and because of two independent studies I undertook, I could complete the degree by simply writing a dissertation." Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "A Response to Gregory L. Jackson, Ph.D.," Christian News, 3-28-94, p. 23

"To the best of my knowledge, only three WELS pastors have ever taken classes at Fuller Seminary: Reuel Schulz in the 1970s, and Robert Koester and I in the 1980s."
Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "A Response to Gregory L. Jackson, Ph.D.," Christian News, 3-28-94, p. 23.

"You may reply that by 'Fuller-trained' you mean anyone who has attended a workshop presented by the Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth, an agency which is independent of the Seminary. If that is the case, your attribution of 'Fuller-trained' is still simply not true. It would surprise me if even half of the two dozen people on your 'WELS/ELS Who's Who' list have attended a Fuller workshop; I personally know of only five who have."
Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "A Response to Gregory L. Jackson, Ph.D.," Christian News, 3-28-94, p. 23.

"Paul says that people can, in some way, 'adorn the doctrine' (KJV). Does that mean adding anything to the Gospel, thereby making the Means of Grace more 'effective'? Of course not. But it does mean that a Christian, a Christian slave in the original context, can discredit the Gospel--and thus erect a human barrier--through actions and words that contradict the profession of faith."
Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "A Response to Gregory L. Jackson, Ph.D.," Christian News, 3-28-94, p. 23. Titus 2:9-10

"To believe, teach, and confess that truth is not inconsistent with being able to recognize that one approach to ministry may be more effective than another. It is more effective to hold worship services at 10:30 am on Sunday than at midnight on Tuesday; this is true, even though it is the same Gospel that is preached at either time." [another example, preaching in German to an American audience] Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "A Response to Gregory L. Jackson, Ph.D.," Christian News, 3-28-94, p. 23.

"Faithfulness is the standard by which God judges those he calls into the public ministry. That faithfulness may or may not be 'effective' in terms of visible results; results are up to God, not us. But part of faithfulness ought to include striving to be as 'effective' as we can be in the methods that we use to take the Means of Grace to people." Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "A Response to Gregory L. Jackson, Ph.D.," Christian News, 3-28-94, p. 23.

"Make no mistake; I am under no illusions here. I fully expect to be publicly pilloried in print again. You will no doubt do so with some wit, with a good selection of quotations instantly imported into your world processor from your ready-to-go database, and with my own words twisted and used against me. So be it; I can live with that."
Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "A Response to Gregory L. Jackson, Ph.D.," Christian News, 3-28-94, p. 23.

"While I would not encourage it, it would not surprise me to see my name in some future writing of yours. If it does appear there, please use my given [underlined] name, Lawrence."
Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "A Response to Gregory L. Jackson, Ph.D.," Christian News, 3-28-94, p. 23.

"It is appropriate to make use of educational research to improve the functioning of our small group Bible studies." Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "See How It Grows: Perspectives on Growth and the Church," EVANGELISM, February, 1991, Parish Consultant for the WELS Board of Parish Services and his district's Coordinator of Evangelism. p. 3.

"Contemporary social and behavioral sciences are a working out of the reason which God has given to humanity. Granted, the assumptions of some sociologists or anthropologists may be inconsistent with the Christian faith. That calls for discernment, but it does not invalidate the proper use of the social sciences by the church; it is, however, essential that they be used in a 'ministerial' manner."
Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "See How It Grows: Perspectives on Growth and the Church," EVANGELISM, February, 1991, Professor, Martin Luther College, (WELS), p. 3.

"We cannot add anything to the Word, but we may be able to remove the human barriers which might be in the way of the Word." Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "See How It Grows: Perspectives on Growth and the Church," EVANGELISM, February, 1991, Parish Consultant for the WELS Board of Parish Services and his district's Coordinator of Evangelism. p. 3.

"But when our Lord told us what our mission should be, he was quite clear: 'Make disciples.' Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Summer, 1988, p. 3. Matthew 28:19.

"PLANNING, long-range or short-range, should be S-M-A-R-T...specific...measurable...accepted...realistic...timed...." Paul Kelm, editor, The Evangelism Handbook, WELS Evangelism p. 3.

"A last word on sound doctrine is in place. Sound doctrine must be distinguished from tradition, praxis and preference. The liturgy, translation of the Bible, vestments and organizational policies of the church are not equatable with sound doctrine." Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 3.

"Non-Christians usually become good prospects for personal reasons or as I like to say: 'They come for sociological reasons and stay for theological reasons.'" [Note: this is the felt needs approach of Fuller, also endorsed by Pastor Forrest Bivens, now a professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary:

"I went to Fuller Seminary and I happen to believe we can use sociological methods to bring people to church so we can apply the Means of Grace." Midland circuit get together, attended by Pastor - now DP - John Seifert.] Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 4.

"Upside-down evangelism may begin with different diagnostic questions. What do you want out of life? lets the other person pick the path for witness. How do you feel about where our society is heading? uncovers fears and needs without becoming too personal. What makes people happy (or unhappy) do you think? allows someone to express preceived [sic] needs in the third person." Paul Kelm The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Fall, 1985 p. 5.

"Upside-down evangelism doesn't begin with personal sin and guilt, but rather with the consequences of sin. Societal consequences (for which each day's newspaper provides evidence) are the 'perceived need' door to understanding the alienation of life and people from God." Paul Kelm The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Fall, 1985 p. 5.

"It's just easier for many people to work backwards from the subjective to the objective in their thinking. In fact, upside-down evangelism may start with gospel and work back to law, stating the solution as a prelude to the problem and clarifying both at the cross." [This is Moravian Pietism, as shown by Walther's Law and Gospel.] Paul Kelm The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Fall, 1985 p. 5.

"Upside-down evangelism follows the path of least resistance to the God of gracious acceptance." Paul Kelm The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Fall, 1985 p. 5. "Small churches need not be small thinkers, but small-thinking churches will always remain small. Churches and people seldom go/grow beyond their expectations." Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," See Waldo Werning and Robert Schuller for the same thought. Did the Apostles know this? p. 6.

"Thesis One: Sound Doctrine Sounds Good When Good People Sound it. Normally, people respond to other people before they respond to doctrine." Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 7.

"Small thinking churches typically budget to remain small." Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," See Waldo Werning and Robert Schuller for the same thought. Did the Apostles know this? p. 7.

When Kelm Taught Reformed Theology at Wisconsin Lutheran College (WELS)

Paul Kelm, D.Min., Concordia Lutheran Seminary

GJ - Below is a complete, verbatim copy of Paul Kelm's syllabus when he was teaching a course required for graduation at WLC. Are the Reformed and Pentecostals at Fuller Seminary reciprocating? Having Luther, Chemnitz, Walther on their required reading lists? Are Fuller D.Min. topics something like this? -

1. Luther Was Right, Get Over It
   
2. Pentecostalism Is Swallowing the Holy Ghost, Feathers and All
   
3. God Works Only through His Word and Sacraments
   
4. We Admire Everything about the Reformed, Except Their Doctrine
   
5. Worship God in the Beauty of His Holiness
   
6. What Can We Learn from the Means of Grace?
   
7. Useful Ideas from the Book of Concord

GJ note: The school had a hissy-fit when one student asked to avoid the assault of false doctrine. My name was never mentioned by the student, but the school brought up my name in a weird, paranoid way. No, this student skipped Kelm on his own and then sent me the material.


WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

THE 211: The Christian Faith and Life (3 credits)

Pastor Paul Kelm, Home Phone 784-0492 (Consultation by appointment)

I.    COURSE DESCRIPTION

A biblical study of the Christian’s relationship with God~ self and others, with a particular focus on the ministry and fellowship of Christians gathered to be Christ’s church.

II.   COURSE OBJECTIVES

A.  That students develop a more personal relationship with their God through Bible

study, reflection and discussion.

B.  That students develop a clearer understanding of themselves and their gifts, as well as Christian skills for coping with life and using their gifts.

C. That students become familiar with the nature and mission of Christ’s Church,

together with the challenges and opportunities confronting contemporary churches.

D.  That students evaluate several significant issues and functions of confessional Lutheran churches.

III. COURSE METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS

A.   Three distinct areas outline the content of the course: Skills of Christian Living, Is sues of Personal Christianity and Principles of Church Leadership. Sometimes students will be asked to prepare for class discussion, especially by thoughtful study of a chapter of the Bible during the “issues of personal Christianity” subjects. Most classes will be guided by a handout prepared by the instructor. Lecture, question and answer, focused discussion and small-group interaction will be the methodology employed.  Students are invited to raise related issues for discussion.



B.   Each student will develop a Bible study, based on a specific chapter of the Bible and for a specific audience. Chapter and audience options are listed later in this syllabus. Bible studies will be graded according to the following criteria: 1) How well did this study bring out the main truths of the chapter in a detailed outline or narrative that both explained and illustrated these truths? 2) Is this study relevant to the audience selected? 3) Does this study involve the audience in the study through effective questions, discussion starters, action involvement, etc.? 4) How clear and practical are the applications of the chapter’s truths to life? 5) Does this study clearly relate Jesus Christ to the chapter and to the Christian’s life? 6) How creative and engaging is this study? Bible studies are to be turned in no later than September 23.

C.   Each student will deliver an oral book review of six minutes in class. Book choices are listed later in this syllabus. The book review should include: the title of the book and a brief introduction of the author; a clear statement of the major premise/point/purpose of the book; at least four significant secondary or supporting arguments the author raises: an explanation of what value the book has to a Christian life and/or a church leader: a theological evaluation of the book (Is it biblically accurate and doctrinally correct?). Finally, the book review must convince the instructor that you actually read the book. The book review is due on or before Wednesday, October 21.

D. Students will complete an interview, analysis and summary project in teams of two. Options are listed later in this syllabus. Students must register their choice of project with the instructor by Wednesday, September 30, and must submit the written summary - no less than four typed, double-spaced pages with interview sheets attached - by Wednesday, November 18.

E.   A research paper on one issue or aspect of congregational life and ministry is due on or before Wednesday, December 9. This paper must be not less than five typed, double-spaced pages of original composition. Two copies must be submitted, one of which will be returned. The paper should combine research, evaluation and the clear presentation of a thesis or strategy. Research should include interviews, essays, articles and books. At least five different sources must be cited in the bibliography. A list of suggested subjects is included in this syllabus. However, students may choose their own subject, with the approval of the instructor. The subject matter of each student’s research paper must be established with the instructor by Wednesday, November 4.

F.   There will be no exams.

G.  Texts for this course are available in the bookstore and include:

THE HOLY BIBLE


IV. EVALUATION AND GRADE

Completion of all course requirements assures a C. Grading above a C will be based on the level of thoroughness, thought and clarity in each area of course requirement. The grade will be compiled with approximately 20% weight attributed to each of five areas: the Bible study, the book review, the team interview project, the research paper, and class contribution. Failure to complete all of the course requirements will result in an F. Late submission of any required assignment will lower the final grade by as much as one-half of a grade point (A to AB, AR to B, etc.) for each week or portion thereof overdue.

Because class preparation and discussion rather than examinations are an essential means of evaluation as well as education, each unacceptable absence from class will lower the final grade by as much as one-half of a grade point.

Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will mean failure of this class, and may result in expulsion from the college. Academic integrity means that you will not attempt to use one paper for two classes without prior agreement with both professors.

[GJ - That does not apply to St. Mark, Depere, Wisconsin sermons and emails. Or to the clergy there. Or even to this course, copied from the Reformed.]

V.  ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance at each class period is expected.

Absence from class must be excused with the instructor, in person. prior to the class to be missed where anticipated or in the following class when unanticipated.

Illness, family crisis and participation on in college-sponsored extra-curricular events are acceptable excuses. Issues of personal discipline and responsibilities to other educators or employers are not in themselves acceptable excuses for absence.

Habitual absence or dishonesty in reporting absence can result in a failing grade. Repeated late arrival is a disruption of the class and an expression of poor sell-discipline. Without prior explanation, repeated late arrival will be treated as an absence.


VI. COURSE OUTLINE


Week One:





Week Two:



Week Three:





Week Four:





Week Five:



A. Instruction and overview

B. SKILLS: Personal Bible Study



B.   SKILLS: Christian Prayer Life



A.   SKILLS: Christian Encouragement B. SKILLS: Christian Conflict Resolution



A.     SKILLS: Christian Values Choices 

B.     SKILLS: Christian Witness



A.   SKILLS: Apologetics

B.  SKILLS: Christian Decision Making





Week Six:

A.      ISSUES: Repentance. Psalm 51

B.      ISSUES: Sell-Image. Psalm 139





Week Seven:





Week Eight:    

ISSUES:Sanctification. Romans 6-7

B.   ISSUES: Character Formation. H Peter 1



A.   ISSUES: Christian Hope. Romans 8

B.   ISSUES: Christian Sexuality. I Corinthians 6:9 - 7:18









Week Nine:                         A.  ISSUES: Christian Giving   II Corinthians 8 and 9 

(B.  ISSUES: Being Sure    John 3)







Week Ten:



A.   Book Reviews B. Book Reviews


Week Eleven:                     A. LEADERSHIP: What’s A Leader?

B. LEADERSHIP: Understanding Ministry



Week Twelve:                     A. LEADERSHIP: Mission and Vision

B. LEADERSHIP: Analyzing a Church



Week Thirteen:              A. LEADERSHIP: Philosophy of Ministry

B. LEADERSHIP: Organizing Ministry



Week Fourteen:              A. Interview and Summary Sharing

B. LEADERSHIP: Involving Members in Ministry



Week Fifteen:                A. LEADERSHIP: Small Group Ministry

B. LEADERSHIP: Leading Change



VII. OPTIONS FOR THE BIBLE STUDY ASSIGNMENT:

Audience Options:

high school-aged youth; college students: young adult singles; married couples; families with children aged 4-10; and adult Bible class at your church; young mothers; business men and women; a men’s Bible class; a women’s Bible class; seniors.



Assume that the class for which you are preparing your study consists of ten people, is lay-led, and runs for 45 minutes.

Bible Chapter Options:

Genesis 3: Genesis 15; Exodus 3; Numbers 14: Deuteronomy 6; Joshua 24;

II Samuel 7; Nehemiah 9; Psalm 40; Ecclesiastes 9; Isaiah 40; ‘Jeremiah. 31;

Ezekiel 3; Hosea 11; Matthew 13; Luke 10; John 6; Galatians 3;

Ephesians 2; Philippians 3; Colossians 3; 1 Thessalonians 4: I

Timothy 6; Hebrews 12: James 1; I Peter 4;                                             I John 4; Revelation 22.

Viii.     BOCK REVIEW OPTIONS



Generating Hope by Jimmy Long (InterVarsity Press)

The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren (Zondervan)

The Contemporary Christian by John Stott (InterVarsity Press)

Renewal for The 21st Century Church by Waldo Werning (Concordia)

The Body by Charles Colson

A Church For The 21st Century by Leith Anderson (Bethany House)

Inside Out by Larry Crabb (NavPress)

Entertainment Evangelism by Walt Kallestad (Abingdon)

Effective Church Leadership by Kennon Callahan (Harper and Row)

Church Without Walls by Jim Petersen (NavPress)

Getting Together by Em Griffin (InterVarsity Press)

Christ Esteem by Don Matzat (Harvest House)

Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald (Olive Nelson)

Fit Bodies Fat Minds by Os Guinness (Baker).

The Once and Future Church by Loren Mead (The Alban Institute)

Why Nobody Learns Much. of Anvtbinng At Church and How To Fix jt

by Thomas Schultz (Group)

Three Generations by Gary Mcintosh (Fleming Revell)

Effective Church Leadership: A Practical Sou,rce Book by Lee Harris

It’s A Different World by Lyle Schaller (Abingdon)

Reflections ot a Contrarion by Lyle Schaller (Abingdon)

Strategies For Change by Lyle Schalller (Abingdon)

A Primer on Postmodernism by Stanley Grenz (Eerdmans)

Gentle Persuasion by Joseph Aldrich

User Friendly Churches by George Barna (Regal Books)

Darwin On Trial by Philip Johnson

Connecting by Paul Stanley and J. Robert Clinton (NavPress)


XI.  OPTIONS FOR INTERVIEW AND ANALYSTS

1. Interview 15 or more students at an urban university to determine religious attitudes and beliefs, with a view toward analyzing how to do evangelism with young adults.  Teams will develop a questionnaire, interview students face-to-face, summarize conclusions and suggest implications for evangelism.

2.   Interview 12 or more high school juniors or seniors who no longer attend church, though they were confirmed, to determine why they dropped out and how the church might better serve them. Teams will get names from churches or pastors, develop a questionnaire (for personal or phone interview), conduct interviews, and draw conclusions re why dropout occurs and how the church  can better prevent it.

3. Attend a voters meeting in 3 different churches, then interview the pastor and two

key lay leaders from each church to determine what is effective and what is ineffective in the decision-making process of churches. The written summary will be based on the interviews and personal observation.


4. Conduct a door-to-door canvass until 12 or more unchurched people have been located for interviews to determine what about the church turns unchurched people off. Teams will develop an interview or questionnaire format (while open-ended questioning should be included; multiple choice questions will assure some meaningful response), conduct the canvass and interviews, summarize and prioritize reasons why the unchurched remain so, and draw conclusions for the church’s mission today.

5.   Interview 12 or more elderly church members, 4 in nursing homes, 4 in senior

apartments and 4 in their own homes, to determine what are their spiritual

perspectives and personal needs and how the church can better serve its elderly.

Teams will develop a basic interview format (personal or phone), gather the names of elderly members from one or more pastors, conduct interviews, compare responses and summarize.

6. Interview 12 or more new members (joined within the last year) from at least 3 churches. 4 transfers from sister churches, 4 who had been members of a different Christian church and 4 who were new to Christianity, to determine how well they have been assimilated into their churches and what facilitates assimilation of new members. Teams will, gather names and addresses and phone numbers from three or more pastors, develop an interview format, conduct interviews, compare responses from the three groups, summarize conclusions and draft suggestions for churches,

7. Interview 12 or more young, single members of at least 3 churches, with a balance of male and female as well as those who are members of the congregation in which they grew up and those who’ve recently joined a different church, to determine the level of involvement of young singles and what they believe would make the church more effective at involving young singles. Teams will gather names and addresses or phone numbers from three or more pastors, develop an interview format, conduct interviews, summarize and compare responses, and develop suggestions for the church.

8. Interview 10 or more Christian business leaders or professionals to determine what are the challenges facing Christian leaders in the business world, what are the ways in which they witness their faith, how can they best serve their churches, and how they balance the responsibilities to family, work; church and community. Teams will gather the names and addresses or phone numbers of business leaders - both male and female, draw up an interview format, conduct the interviews, compare and summarize responses, and draw conclusions for future Christian business leaders and for the church.

9. Interview 10 or more Christian public school teachers to determine what are the challenges to Christianity they’ve encountered, the ways in which they witness their faith, and what they believe the church can do to reach the non-Christian children they teach. Teams will gather the names and addresses or phone numbers of teachers, draw up an interview format, conduct the interviews, and summarize findings.

10. Interview 10 or more home missionaries to determine the challenges in church planting, the strategies that have been successful, and the kind of support or assistance that the church can best provide. Teams will gather the names and phone numbers of missionaries, develop an interview format, compile and compare responses, and draft conclusions for the church.

11. Interview 8 or more Christian psychologists or social workers to determine their assessment of the most significant problems facing families, children and adults, as well as what they believe the church could do to more effectively prepare people for these problems.  Teams will gather the names and addresses or phone numbers of Christian psychologists or social workers, develop the interview format, conduct the interviews, and summarize findings.

12. Students may propose additional interview, analysis and summary projects, but must have instructor approval before proceeding.

NOTE: WLC students are NOT to be included in the people you interview.


X.  SUGGESTED SUBJECTS FOR RESEARCH PAPER


1.  "Staff Ministry” what’s the future?

2.  The Parish Nurse: real holistic health.

3.  The Lutheran Deaconess - past and future.

4.  Why do para-church agencies develop and are they a good idea?

5   Family Ministry: who’s doing what, how?

6.  The annual stewardship program - what it is and if it works.

7.  Programmatic approaches to evangelism - pros and cons.

8.  Keys to cross~cu1tural ministry.

9.  Ministry among the urban poor - how are we doing?

10. Peer counseling programs in the church - possibilities and pitfalls.

11.Prison Ministry: Describe several working models.

12.       The “Mega-Church’ is bigger better?

13 Lutheran confirmation should it be changed?

14.       Campus ministry: can a regular congregation do it?

15. Church-planting strategies: what’s new and what works?

16. Special ministries for the handicapped - what and how.

17.       12-Step programs in the church - pros and cons.

18. Deferred giving:  is this the answer to the church s financial crunch?

19. Why the Sunday school is in decline and what should be done about it.

20. Tuition in the Lutheran Elementary School - trends and implications.

21. “Seeker Service” - definition and evaluation.

22. Assimilation and retention - principles and methods.

23. The Church Growth Movement: can we lean anything from it?

24. Does the church have a place in cyber- space?

25. Religious publishing:  Should the market drive decisions?

26. Religious broadcasting - issues and trends that affect the future.

27. Christian day care - issues and questions confronting congregations who are

considering it

28. Legal issues and concerns confronting churches in a litigious and secular society.

29. Conflict in the church: avoiding it and resolving it.

30.  YOUR IDEA. with instructor’s approval

Kelm, UOJ, and Church Growth

Knapp, the Pietist from Halle University, taught UOJ first.

It's been said that we Lutherans emphasize objective justification to the point that the individual's response of faith is ignored. How do we draw a line between the two?

Dogmatic "lines" are drawn only to isolate biblical truths for thorough study, to promote deeper understanding of what God has revealed and to recognize error and misuse of Scripture. Theology, like Scripture, relates doctrines to each other appropriately. Objective justification and subjective justification are like two sides of a coin, inseparable though subject to study individually.

Objective justification is the truth that God has declared all people "not guilty" because Jesus has atoned for the sins of all (1 John 2:2), that God has reconciled the world to himself by attributing sin to Christ and Christ's righteousness to sinners (2 Corinthians 5:19-21). Subjective justification is the truth that this righteousness-for-sin exchange becomes personal salvation alone by faith in Jesus Christ, that Christ's redemptive work is personally appropriated and God's justifying decree personally received by faith (John 3:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 1:17; Hebrews 4:2). St. Paul demonstrated the bonding of these twin truths in Romans 3, where he says both that we are justified by grace (objective, v. 24) and that we are justified by faith (subjective, v. 28).

Lutherans emphasize objective justification because God's grace is the basis and focus of our salvation, from Christ's work of redemption to the Holy Spirit's work of conversion. Both God's glory and our assurance are jeopardized by an emphasis on the "decision" and "experience" of faith in contemporary religion. Further, faith is only as good as the object of its trust. In a generation that has blurred the content of Christian faith and fostered a kind of "belief in believing," the objective reality of our justification must be emphasized.

Of course there are dangers in minimizing the role and importance of faith in our salvation. Universalism is the heresy that everyone will be saved, with or without faith in Jesus. Unless there is clear, emphatic teaching about faith, the church risks intellectualizing salvation, undermining Christian sanctification and devaluing the means of grace--word and sacrament.

Objective and subjective justification cannot be understood apart from each other. Emphasis is only the appropriate sequencing of these twin truths and a response to errors, which, of late, have primarily threatened objective justification.

Send your questions to Questions, The Northwestern Lutheran, 2929 N. Mayfair Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53222, Questions of general interest are preferred. Questions will be answered, however, only through this column.

Pastor Paul Kelm is the synod's administrator for evangelism. 1988.

For He’s an Old, Church-Growthy, Calvinistic, Enthusiastic, Wisconsin Boy

Original Lyrics

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Willowcreek Lutheran Chapel Invites Paul Kelm":

You're a psychotic old man who is also very immature and just plain a waste of space. Do us all a favor and leave this earth now and go home to hell. 

***

GJ - Not everyone enjoys a droll sense of humor and song parodies.

Kelm Anecdote

When Paul Kelm was promoting Reformed doctrine at Wisconsin Lutheran College, his course was required for graduation.

One student asked to be excused from the course.

The response was, many years after I was out of WELS, "Have you been talking to Greg Jackson?"

The family thought this was hilarious since they came to their conclusion on their own.

The MLC keynote speaker job, noted below, is meant to send a message - just like the gig at The Love Shack. The apostates are lining up to shove their Reformed doctrine in everyone's face. WELS funded Church and Change. Sow the wind - reap the whirlwind.

Ichabod Does Spell-Check for the Entire Internet

The pastor no longer "wears a rob" (sic) at St. Mark's DePere (WELS), but an alb.

I think Bailing Water caught this first.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Ichabod Does Spell-Check for the Entire Internet":

I have not seen an alb at St Mark's; pastors wear suits.

***

GJ - Has anyone heard a Lutheran sermon at St. Mark's? That is the real question.

St. Mark's DePere Cures Plagiarism by...Removing Sermon Texts

Kelm to Parlow: "Our ministry of xeroxing will have to be sub rosa from now on, or maybe just sub-marine."

St. Mark's - Identity Confusion (Indentity?)

Not long ago I pointed out to the pastors at St. Mark's that their published sermons had a reformed flavor. Or as some might say they were plagiarized. The St. Mark's pastors then began to use footnotes to cite their reformed sources.

Recently St. Mark's has pulled written sermons from their web site.

no more printed sermons

But you can view the video of this cutting edge church:

http://stmark's sermon tube

***

GJ - The closer to Luther, the better the theologian. (Walther, quoting others.)

The closer to Werning, the worser the theologian. (A new motto for WELS, in line with prep grammar skills.)

Kelm Understands Universal Objective Justification

UOJ Stormtrooper on Vacation

Paul Kelm, WELS (D.Min. in Church Growth, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) is one of the few to grasp the real meaning of Universal Objective Justification.

Probably no one has been taught the weirdness of forgiveness without faith until he has studied at the Sausage Factory (Mequon), the Frozen Food Seminary (Mankato) or the two Concordias. Many of those students think UOJ means the Atonement, but it does not. As I have told various people, the misinformed and badly educated have had their eyes opened by the actual statements of UOJ champions. The scales fall off their eyes when they realize that UOJ is not the Atonement but an alien religion divorced from the Christian faith.

Apart from the Midwestern sects of Lutheranism, the same ones flocking to Fuller and Willow Creek, no organizations have embraced UOJ in all of Christianity.

But Paul Kelm has an important insight, which may explain matters for people. He likes to make everything upside-down. He has this statement in one of his theological treatises:

"It's just easier for many people to work backwards from the subjective to the objective in their thinking. In fact, upside-down evangelism may start with gospel and work back to law, stating the solution as a prelude to the problem and clarifying both at the cross." [This is Moravian Pietism]
Paul Kelm The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Fall, 1985 p. 5.

Moravian Pietism starts with the Gospel and works back to the Law. That explains the peculiar nature of WELS. On the one hand, they publish articles in FIC (False Teachers in Collusion) and books at NPH (Valleskey, et al). They always say, "The whole world has been forgiven." The ELS says the whole world is saved.

On the other hand, they lash people with the Law. WELS blames its members for its financial meltdown and loss of members. The ELS extends the Left Foot of Fellowship to anyone who dissents, even UOJ warrior Preus.

LutherQuest (sic) chants "Anathema sit. Anathema sit (Let him be damned)," if anyone questions their beloved UOJ. Wait guys. Everyone has been forgiven, declared righteous. It's over, man, as you say so eloquently. How come the Book of Concord fans are condemned while the Hottentotts are forgiven? Why is Hell filled with guilt-free saints while Ichabod is full of condemned sinners?

Paul Kelm has explained it well. Start with the Gospel, move to the Law.

Luther said if we do that, the listener will look at us the way a cow looks at a newly painted fence.

And that is the proper look for UOJ laity.

Blog Power - St. Mark's DePere Takes Down Plagiarized Sermons

Bailing Water and Ichabod have discussed the plagiarized sermons posted on the St. Mark's DePere, Wisconsin website, as if one or the other pastor wrote them. Both sermons were nearly verbatim from a Baptist website, as BW pointed out.

St. Mark's is the big WELS Church Growth congregation, full of cell groups, women teaching men, all the cutting edge things learned at Fuller and Willow Creek.

I have contended that the Church Growth people despise the Means of Grace. If they trusted in the Word and sound doctrine, the two pastors would write their own sermons, not steal them from the Baptists.

Lutherans have lost their confidence in the Word, so God is taking away the little they have.

Pseudo-Mike, who sounds exactly like Paul Kelm wrote this:

Is it CGM when we learn how to remove or reduce barriers to communicating the gospel clearly? If I better know the mind of an unbeliever, might I better be "all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some?" If I give thought to having adequate parking at our church knowing that if I don't the first-time visitor might drive off, does this mean I am a CGM flunkie? Or is it possible that I'm so in love with Christ and his powerful Word that I will bend over backwards to remove every possible barrier which might keep a person from coming into contact with the Word and hearing it clearly?

So in love with Christ sounds weird.

If someone loves Christ, he loves His Word and keeps (guards) His Word. The Greek word for keep is the same one used for guarding something. We guard treasure; we do not steal someone's garbage. Skunks steal garbage.

KJV John 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

KJV John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Someone cannot truthfully say he loves Christ when he downplays error or promotes error.

Plagiarizing the Reformed

Wauwatosa Must Be An American Indian Word for Xeroxing

WELS pastor continues to plagiarize Reformed sermons!

From Bailing Water

It is sad that the WELS is allowing the Church and Change group to lead the way in the synod.

It is also sad that WELS pastors in Green Bay resort to plagiarized sermons and yet the WELS leadership does nothing.

Here is a comment that was recently left on BW...

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Check out this recent sermon (Dec. 23, 2007) from Parlow's church in Green Bay. It doesn't say who "wrote" the sermon, but as has been mentioned on this site and others, Parlow has plagiarized at least one sermon in the past.

Anyway, here is an excerpt from the sermon:

"'Joy' is clearly a Christmas word. Those other activities can make us happy but don’t confuse happiness with joy. They are not the same thing. Happiness is temporary; joy is lasting. Happiness is on the surface; joy is deep down. It is not unusual to have joy without happiness and even have happiness without joy.

A few years ago there was a book published entitled, The Progress Paradox. It documented the enormous improvement in American lives over recent generations. Average life expectancy has doubled since 1900. Undernourishment was a major problem in our country and now we are “over nourished.” How many of us aren’t officially overweight according to the national BMI scale? Central heating was unusual and air conditioning unknown. Medical care is much more sophisticated and available."

Here is an excerpt from Lieth Anderson of "Faith Matters":

"'Joy' is clearly a Chirstmas word....We sometimes confuse joy and happiness althout they are not the same. Happiness is temporary; joy is lasting. Happiness is on the surface; joy is deep down inside. It is not unusual to have joy without happiness and it is not unusual for some who have happiness not to have joy.

The progress Paradox by Gregg Easterbrook documents enourmous improvement in the American way of life and standard of living over recent generations. Average life expectancy in the United States has doubled since 1900. Undernourishment was a major problem, but now we are 'over-nourished'. Central heating used to be unusual and few homes had central air conditioning. Today medical care is much more sophisticated and available."

The St. Mark's sermon is here:


The "Faith Matters" article is here:


PP
---------------------------------------------------
Ha! The Sermon from the week before is the same way. From "The Gif of Peace - Dec. 16":

"In the great depths of the oceans the pressure is enough to crush a submarine like a can of Coke. In order to explore down deep the oceanographers have built bathyspheres. They are like miniature submarines constructed out of steel plates that are several inches thick. They have thick "skins" to stop the crushing power of the pressure on the outside from getting to the scientists on the inside. When those bathyspheres finally settle on the ocean floor and turn on their lights for exploration, the scientists see fish—fish with very thin skins. Why don’t they implode? Those fish have pressure inside them equal and opposite to the pressure outside. They are able to swim freely and easily where we would be destroyed."

Type "In the great depths of the oceans the pressure is enough to crush a submarine like a can of Coke" into Google and you find this:

"In the great depths of the oceans the pressure is enough to crush a submarine like a can of Coke. In order to explore down deep the oceanographers have built bathyspheres. They are like miniature submarines constructed out of steel plates that are several inches thick. They have thick "skins" to stop the crushing power of the pressure on the outside from getting to the scientists on the inside.
When those bathyspheres finally settle on the ocean floor and turn on their lights for exploration, the scientists see fish—fish with very thin skins. Why don’t they implode? Those fish have pressure inside them equal and opposite to the pressure outside. They are able to swim freely and easily where we would be destroyed.
That is what peace is like. Peace on the inside is equal and opposite of all the stresses and pressures crushing us from the outside."

My Flock

PP

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GJ - Isn't it equally sad that the laity do nothing about the plagiarism? It is dishonest, unethical, and a crime to use another's words and claim them as original.
Perhaps this editorial--When Pastors Plagiarize--from Christianity Today (probably on their reading list) should be published on the St. Mark's website, too, with a proper citation.

***

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Plagiarizing the Reformed":

I did some googling of my own and found that all three of the sermons in this "Shopping for a Savior" series seem to come from the Advent 2003 sermon archives of Wooddale Church. Woodale is a Baptist church. The Pastor at Wooddale is the same guy that wrote the "Faith Matters" article.

http://www.wooddalechurch.com/sermons/sermons2003.asp

Note the copyright at the bottom. This isn't just plagiarism. It is copyright infringment too.