The compassion of Jesus runs deep: it is deeply felt in his body and deeply present in his ministry and his teaching. We can observe and imitate the consistent structure of Jesus’ compassion, learning how compassion can move us from vision to action. Most of all, we should rest in Jesus’ deep compassion for us….
The Heart of the Man: A Guide to the Gospel of Matthew
Most animals behave in predictable ways. But humans are unpredictable on account of their hearts. A man outwardly obedient and outwardly blessed may sin the next day because his heart is not satisfied in God. Yet the pure in heart, be he poor or afflicted, will finally come to see God. The Tetramorph Over the…
46 Theses on Lectio Divina
There are many excellent books on Lectio Divina, the sacred reading of Scripture. The problem with these books is that they are books—long and easily divorced from the actual contemplative practice. Instead, I offer a list of 46 “theses” or “chapters” on Lectio Divina. Each thesis is short, distilling thoughts and quotations into a single…
One Canon, Two Testaments (Andrewes’ Principle, Pt. 1)
Anglicans stand on “One canon reduced to writing by God himself, two testaments…”
Feasting on God’s Word in the Wilderness
Have you ever needed to hear something over and over again for it to stick? Probably something a parent or your spouse reminded you of countless times before you realized it was, after all, the best thing for you? When my dad was a teenager, he was pretty rebellious, he told me. He didn’t rebel…
A People of One Book
“I want to know one thing—the way to heaven…Let me be homo unius libri [A man of one book]. Here, then, I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone: Only God is here. In his presence I open, I read his book; for this end, to find the way to…
What is the Apocrypha, and Why Should You Read It?
This is the first part of Dr. Noll’s series, “Reading and Enjoying the Apocrypha.” It is hard enough to pronounce or spell Apocrypha, so why should you want to read it? Good question, and one I plan to answer in this series of articles. Did you know that the Apocrypha is part of the Bible?…
Aramaic for Kids: Teaching the Gospel from Hosanna to Lema Sabachthani
Kids love the Aramaic sayings of Jesus. At first, I was a bit nervous about teaching the topic. Though the Aramaic phrases from the gospel of Mark have always fascinated me, I did not know if kids would share my interest. But my task was to prepare five lessons for a week-long camp called “Camp…
The Liturgical Home: The Nativity of John the Baptist
The Nativity of John the Baptist, celebrated on June 24th and also known as the Summer Christmas, Nativity of the Forerunner, or Johnmas (I love that one!), is the special day we commemorate John the Baptist’s birth. It was once a highly celebrated feast day, though it doesn’t receive the recognition it once did, which…
Why I Became Anglican (And You Should, Too!)
After nearly four years of prayer, discernment, and hard discussions with friends and mentors, I officially left the Southern Baptist life I had grown up in to be confirmed into the Anglican Church of North America. This was a difficult decision for me. I had grown to love the biblical commitment of the SBC and…
Did Jesus Reject the Land Promise?
This article is part of a series on Jesus the Jewish Messiah by Gerald McDermott. Click here to view other articles in this series. In Luke 21:24, Jesus prophesied that one day Jews would have sovereignty over the land of Israel. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all…
Book Review: The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture
The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (ACCS) is an edited collation of Biblical commentary from the early Church Fathers. The total set of Fathers included is too extensive to list, as it encompasses not only figures from the first two centuries, such as Clement, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus, but also Fathers from the 3rd…