The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #25

Oil Lamps in Biblical Times

In case you needed a visual for last Sunday's sermon on Zechariah 4.

Be Killing Sin, Or Else

From Grace to You comes this encouraging reflection on the need to make all out war against indwelling sin.

Is Eldership Gender-Neutral? A Response to Katia Adams

A well-reasoned, biblically astute, and respectful critique from Andrew Wilson. "There are times, of course, to quibble with specific translations; regular readers will know that I do it myself. But when you quibble with all of them, and the lexicons, and the commentators—and especially when you do so by misrepresenting the way the Greek language works—there is a problem."

Context Matters: Valley of Dry Bones

This short article presents a useful exercise in paying close attention when exegeting Scripture.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

Oil Lamps in Biblical Times

This week we're studying Zechariah 4. There, the prophet beholds a golden lampstand notably different from that which stood in the tabernacle (Ex 25:31-40). The former menorah looked something like this:

By comparison, Zechariah describes his lampstand thus:

"And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it." (Zech 4:2)

Basically, the lamppost was topped with a central basin filled with oil. This fed to seven protruding "lamps" each with seven cast "lips" (spouts). The result would be an impressive amount of light coupled with an efficient means of refueling.

Now examine these artifacts found in and around biblical Israel.:

While not exactly matching Zechariah's vision, they reveal the contemporary existence of menorahs that featured central reservoirs to feed several lamp-protrusions, as well as lamps with multiple cast "lips" (spouts).

To learn more check out this article, "Oil Lamps from the Times of the Bible (3,500 - A.D. 600).”

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #24

What is the Regulative Principle

Derek Thomas explains and argues for this distinctive feature of Reformed worship which entails that on the Lord's Day, we worship God only in those clearly prescribed in the Word.

10 Practical How-To’s of Discipleship

With the possible exception of the first point, which might be too narrow, this is a good run-down of tips for developing disciples of Christ.

My Heroes

A WSCAL professor reflects on his changing perspective about what constitutes heroism. "Just because the so-called age of retirement hits doesn’t mean I have to hang up my cleats."

A New ‘Peculiar Institution’ Treats Human Beings as Legal Property

A new Arizona law raises serious theological and ethical questions. Basically, it requires courts to give embryos created by IVF to the spouse who plans to use them to have a baby when a couple decides to have a divorce. In light of this, Joe Carter urges, "we must treat humans at the earliest stages of life as the children they are—to be loved by us as they are by God—rather than as property to be discarded at our whim."

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #23

O. Palmer Robertson on the Duty of Celebration

This past Sunday, I mentioned the book of Nahum. To whet your appetite for this often overlooked prophet, here's an excerpt from O. Palmer Robertson's excellent commentary on Nahum, on lessons we draw from OT feasts.

Learning to Hate Our Sin Without Hating Ourselves

Denny Burk and Rosaria Butterfield reflect on differences between historic Protestant and Roman Catholic approaches to sin in relation to sexuality and guilt.

How to Discourage a Grieving Friend

"What does being a friend to someone in need even look like? What should we say to our neighbors who are struggling?"

3 Errors of Musical Style that Stifle Community

An this excerpt from a book by Mark Dever and Jamie Dunlop, they offer their perspective on things that tend to make a mess of our goals in worship.

The Dust Storm from Two Weeks Ago:

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

O. Palmer Robertson on the Duty of Celebration

This past Sunday, I mentioned the book of Nahum. To whet your appetite for this often overlooked prophet, here's an excerpt from O. Palmer Robertson's excellent commentary on the book of Nahum:

Perhaps a certain element of duty is involved in the summons to celebration. It is an obligation of God’s people to render a full round of thanksgiving for their rescue from misery.

In concrete terms, Israel’s three annual festivals and their new covenant counterparts might be considered as the natural vehicles by which God’s people may give expression to their continuing joy in salvation.

The Passover meal, which finds its NT counterpart in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, reminds that the Death Angel has “passed over” because of the substitutionary blood of the Lamb. All the power of the ultimate enemy has been destroyed.

The festival of Pentecost, which corresponds to the new covenant reality of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, celebrates the newness and fulness of life freely given to the redeemed. The fruit of the Spirit in a person’s daily experience provides continual cause for celebration.

The harvest festival of Booths reminds of the abundance of provision that God makes for his people, even as they continue along their pilgrim pathway. A plentiful harvest in a context of humble tent dwelling combines images that define the contrasting sides of current reality. If they will accept both these facts of redemptive life, God’s people by faith shall be enabled to celebrate continually the goodness of the Lord despite numerous constraints. [...]

The Christian gospel provides the fullest possible framework for permanent celebration of victory. Death has lost its sting. The believer has died to sin. The loss of all material possessions can be only temporary, and soon will be replaced with the permanence of the new heavens and the new earth. Celebration by keeping the vows of the Christian life is always in order.

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #22

Jesus and the Psalms

This articles explores the relationship Jesus had with the psalms, which themselves points us to him.

Differences Between Salvation in the Qur’an & the Bible

Did you know there are an estimated 120,000 muslims living in Arizona? Understanding differences, especially about our understanding of Jesus, can prepare you to share your faith with these neighbors.

The Cure for Unbelief (.pdf)

A classic essay from Horatius Bonar (1801-1900) on overcoming our unbelief toward God's Word.

Beautiful Babylon

This one comes in light of the sermon series on Zechariah. National Geographic presents remarkable photos and art that help us sense what life in the ancient city must have been like.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #21

God Only Wise

J. I. Packer considers the meaning of divine wisdom and how we share in it. This dovetails nicely with our PM series.

Five Ways to Minister to Others this Sunday

Sometimes we don't know where to begin serving at church. Super-blogger Tim Challies offers a useful encouragement on practical ways to get involved without having to bake.

"Family Roles" Model: Reflections on 1 Thess 2

Each of us has something to learn from the way fathers, mothers, and children are called to live.

US Geography Weirdness (video)

As shown below, many of us have strange conceptions based more on human map making than on the physical reality of the earth. It serves as a good reminder to check our biases when seeking to understand God's revelation and our place in it.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #20

What is a Sacrament?

A concise explanation of what these important elements of worship are and do. "It is easy to think of the sacraments as things we do as a pledge of obedience to God or a sign that we’re giving our life to him. But this is to fundamentally misunderstand the nature of a sacrament. Sacraments are not things we do for God but are ordinary ways the Holy Spirit applies the benefits of salvation. In addition, it is only by faith that a person receives these benefits."

Calvin's Doctrine of Common Grace (.pdf)

A classic essay by the theologian Herman Bavink. This one might involve two cups of coffee but it's worthwhile.

Is the PCA Becoming More Unified?

Following up on their recent General Assembly, Pastor Richard. D. Phillips contemplates the state of our sister denomination. What happens there is significant not only because of the PCA's outsized influence (they are over ten times larger than the URC) but because similar fault lines exist to lesser or greater extents in nearly all NAPARC churches.

Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend

Christina Fox meditates on the value of honest admonition. A real friend points out the spiritual "spinach" struck in your teeth.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.