only gentle

the surprise of Paul's Romans 8 IFs, and Lord is a RE-er,

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(Let me know in the comments if you like these introductory videos. I’d scroll down and listen.)

1/ A Gentle Heart (Matthew 11:28-29)

2/ Only Gentle

Reflecting on Matthew 11:28-29, Jones, Kellen, and Green write:

Amazingly, this is the only place in the Gospels where Jesus self-describes his inner person: he is gentle and humble in heart towards those in need. (The Gospel for Disordered Lives. 167)

The discussion of gentleness continues with reference to these verses. (This would be a great devotional study topic.)

• 2 Corinthians 10:1

• Isaiah 40:11

• Ephesians 4:2

• James 3:13, 17

• 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8

• 1 Timothy 6:11

• Galatians 6:1

• 1 Peter 3:15-16

• 2 Timothy 2:24-25

• Galatians 5:16-26

• Titus 3:2

3/ Bene-Kuyper? A Modest Proposal

Here is a talk from the Touchstone Conference by John Stonestreet, suggesting that Abraham Kuyper has wisdom to help improve the Benedict Option.

There were a number of helpful take-aways, including his description of the de-centralized and de-professionalized nature of the Biblical work of cultural renewal.

(I take issues with Kuyper’s assessment of Luther, but it is interesting to compare the Lutherans and Calvinists differing approaches to “culture-building.”*)

4/ The “RE” Words

In his lecture Stonestreet mentioned how the Lord likes “RE” words. That’s nice, and another helpful topic for meditation.

REbuke, REconcile, REdeem, REfine, REformation, REfresh, REgard, REgeneration, REjoice, RElent, REmain, REmember, REmission, REnew, REpent, REproof, REstore, REstrain, REsurrect, REturn, REveal, REvile, REvive, REward.

Jesus, after all, is making all things new.

5/ Popularas Kristietibas Izgasanas?

Has American Christian Failed? is in Latvian now. Really cool.

You can still get it in English as well.

6/ Romans 8:16-17 “WITHS”

The Greek prefix sun means with. Paul piles up a number of sun words in Romans 8:16-17.

WITHwitness → WITHsuffer → WITHglory → WITHheirs

7/ Your Subscribed, Right?

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Christ is Risen!
Pastor Wolfmueller

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

www.wolfmueller.co

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Footnote:

*Stonestreet paraphrases Kuyper’s assessment of Luther’s theological starting point as “conversion.” Kuyper is better than that, but still working with a character of Luther:

"Who had the clearest insight into the reformatory principle, worked it out most fully, and applied it most broadly, history points to the Thinker of Geneva and not to the Hero of Wittenberg. Luther as well as Calvin contended for a direct fellowship with God, but Luther took it up from its subjective, anthropological side, and not from its objective, cosmological side as Calvin did. Luther's starting point was the special soteriological principle of a justifying faith, while Calvin's, extending far wider, lay in the general cosmological principle of the sovereignty of God." (Abraham Kuyper, Calvinism, p. 20)

I’ve just dipped my two into Kuyper, but he seems to be one of the driving forces behind the conservative Christian push for cultural engagement. If you know anything about him, let me know.