How Long, Oh Lord, Until You Return?

Luke Geraty —  August 17, 2012 — Leave a comment

In preparation for this coming Sunday’s message on the four parables of the Olivet Discourse, I read a fantastic statement by Michael Wilkins:

“The way one thinks about the Lord’s return will eventually influence what one says and how one acts. Perhaps the servant thinks that the master will never return or that he can get away with his wickedness before he is caught. This may be a subtle hint here that Jesus’ return will be delayed, which will act as a test to the heart of each person.” (The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew, 804)

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In Christology, Eschatology
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Church Planting Soap Box: Plant a Church Somewhere that Needs One

Luke Geraty —  August 16, 2012 — 11 Comments


A few days ago I found out another church had been planted in the local “big city.” Yes, I say another in mild sarcasm. But in this city of approximately 66,000 people, there are churches everywhere. I just typed in the name of the city and “churches” and google showed a map that had dots all over the place. I can’t drive into this city without seeing Baptist churches, Lutheran churches, non-denominational churches, Roman Catholic churches, Methodist churches, and more. There are churches everywhere. It almost feels like we’re in the Bible belt… even though it’s the good state of Wisconsin, a cheese lovers paradise.

Yes, I’m standing on a soap box today. If you dislike soap boxes, forgive me… but I think this soap box is necessary.

Why, oh why, do people plant churches in locations that are over-populated with churches? Here are some quick thoughts:
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In Church Planting, Ecclesiology, Missional, The Vineyard Movement , , ,
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Heinrich Bullinger on Justification

Luke Geraty —  August 13, 2012 — 6 Comments

Heinrich Bullinger, the 16th century Swiss Reformer, wrote a book with a typically long title:

“The grace of God that justifies us for the sake of Christ through faith alone, without good works, while faith meanwhile abounds in good works.”

Would you agree or disagree with this definition of Justification?

In Christian Living, Gospel, Reformed Theology, Systematic Theology , ,
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For the Calvinists Too Reformed for Church

Luke Geraty —  August 9, 2012 — Leave a comment

James K. A. Smith writes a letter to a “young Calvinist” named Jess and touches upon a real issue:

“That’s a common enough temptation, Jess. I understand it. I’ve been there. But step back and think about what you’re saying: it’s as if you’re saying you’re “too Reformed” for any church! How un-Reformed is that?! It seems to me that the Reformed tradition makes us all the more aware of our own personal faults and shortcomings – the myriad ways we fall short of God’s holiness – as well as our utter dependence on the unmerited grace of God. How odd would it be to conclude, then, in the name of being “Reformed,” that no church is “good enough” for us? In the name of Calvinism, you end up spurning the gritty particularity of what John Calvin cared about the most: the church – and not the church as some abstract, ethereal, pure ideal, but the church in Geneva, the congregations he knew and loved.” - Letters to a Young Calvinist: An Invitation to the Reformed Tradition

Ha ha! Yeah, if you are so Calvinistic that you have become too Reformed for every church that exists, you need to… *drum roll*… slap yourself.

In Ecclesiology, Reformed Theology
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The “What” and “Why” of Small Groups (7 of 10)

Luke Geraty —  August 9, 2012 — Leave a comment

I’m happy to report that there has been a renewed interest in the Resurrection. N. T. Wright’s The Resurrection of the Son of God (2003), Adrian Warnock’s Raised with Christ: How the Resurrection Changes Everything (2009), and the most recent controversial contribution by Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach, all have served the church to point her back to one of the most important events in all of history.

But what does the Resurrection have to do with small groups?
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In Ecclesiology, Small Groups
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“All Israel Will be Saved!”

Luke Geraty —  August 9, 2012 — 9 Comments

The apostle Paul makes a remarkable statement in Romans 11:26:

“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob” (Rom. 11:25-26)

The question is, how will all Israel be saved and to what extent does “all” mean? 

I like how Keith Intrater explains what this means. He writes,

“Comparing Joel 2:32 to Romans 11:26 indicates that when Paul said that all Israel would be saved, he was referring to the remnant of Israelis that call upon the name of the Lord, as opposed to every person of Jewish blood. On the other hand, the indication is that the last-minute repentance and revival in Jerusalem will be of such magnitude that virtually every single person in the city will be saved.” (Israel, the Church, and the Last Days, 148).

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In Eschatology, Messianic Judaism
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The Chick-Fil-A Hoopla

Luke Geraty —  August 1, 2012 — 4 Comments

So I was going to write a long post about what I thought concerning today’s “Support Chick-Fil-A” reverse boycott. I planned on explaining that I’m sure the intentions of those who started this idea and promoted it and took part in it were probably nothing but good. I was going to say that if I were near a Chick-Fil-A, I might have even got myself a sandwich (maybe… not sure… I’d have thought that one through a bit). I was going to make sure to emphasize that I believe Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-Fil-A, should be able to share his opinion and not have to worry about some radical anti-constitutional politician threaten to keep his business out of a certain city. I thought I’d probably then spend some time writing about why I think Christians should avoid getting all public with their participation in this “Support Chick-Fil-A” day because I think it will end up hurting the cause of Christ, especially amongst the LGBTQ community, and others who are just supportive of that communities rights and feelings.

But then I read a recent post by Barnabas Piper, “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day: A bold mistake.”

Piper’s post has everything in it that I want to say, so I’m going to refer you readers to it. It’s excellent. For those of you who are too lazy or not yet convinced it’s worth your time, he writes,

“Homosexuality is one of the most defining, contentious, and complex issues facing this generation of the church. We cannot sacrifice our biblical convictions but neither can we sacrifice the church’s ability to serve people of opposing viewpoints and lifestyles. The 452,000 people supporting Chick-fil-A are delivering more than one message, and the message the homosexual community and its supporters see is “us versus you.” The event also sends a message of separatism and territorialism in the “reclaiming” of those restaurants that are being boycotted, a collective action easily seen as a shaking of the fist or a wagging of the finger.”

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In Across the Web, Apologetics, Christian Living, Gospel, Missional , ,
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Encourage Pastors by Giving Up Discouraging Language!

Luke Geraty —  July 29, 2012 — 3 Comments


I love pastors. In fact, I think pastors get a bad rap because of the foolish or immoral acts of a few. Sometimes it seems that our culture just assumes that the vast majority of pastors are all about manipulating people and making a lot of money. Yet the pastors that I know and spend time with are deeply committed to the gospel and building up the Body of Christ. Sure, there’s a bad apple here and there, but that’s not the normal.

There are virtually thousands upon thousands of pastors who have not had the opportunity to attend seminary or theological training who are simply doing all that they can to glorify God. And that’s not all bad. Theological education can be great, but more important is a passion for the kingdom of God and a commitment to learn.

So I have in mind those pastors who, despite no formal theological training, are laboring for the Lord. There’s so many of you. I hope you realize how important you are to the building up of the church. You are in Africa, Asia, South & Central America, North America, and Europe… and God is using you. Bless you. I appreciate you and pray for you.
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In Christian Living, Ecclesiology, Leadership , , ,
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Thicken Your Eucharist!

Luke Geraty —  July 24, 2012 — Leave a comment

Tonight I participated in a group discussion on a variety of theological issues with some friends and family from the church I serve and another local church that I love (Faith Free Evangelical Church). Through the course of the discussion, my good friend Pastor Mike mentioned his desire to see a deeper appreciation for the Lord’s Supper. Well, as many of you know, I had to tape my mouth shut because I nearly jumped out of my seat in my attempt to say, “Amen!” and to encourage that very desire! I love celebrating the Lord’s Supper and believe it is absolutely one of the most rich acts of worship that our church gatherings participate in! 

One of the ways that I believe we can “thicken” our celebration of the Lord’s Supper is to “thicken” our theology of the Eucharist. As is often state here on this blog, our theology plays a major role in our praxis. So if we desire to “thicken” our praxis, I think it’s helpful to “thicken” our understanding of what actually happens during the Lord’s Supper (assuming something happens) and to “thicken” the various themes related to it. I’ve already written about five themes that can be found in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, so I figured I’d take a moment to share some of the “theology” behind the Lord’s Supper that has helped me lead our church towards having a “thicker” understanding of and celebration.
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In Eucharist
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What are the Privileges of Believers?

Luke Geraty —  July 23, 2012 — Leave a comment

Have you ever stopped to think about the privileges that believers in Christ have? Sometimes I think we take what we have for granted, so it’s helpful to have a reminder. Tonight I was reading through John Owen’s Lesser Catechism and found a great answer to our question. Owen has six general privileges for us to consider:

  • Union with Christ;
  • Adoption of children;
  • Communion of saints;
  • Right to the seals of the new covenant (sacraments);
  • Christian liberty;
  • Resurrection of the body to life eternal.

This echoes John Calvin, who writes:

“We must now see in what way we become possessed of the blessings which God has bestowed on his only-begotten Son, not for private use, but to enrich the poor and needy. And the first thing to be attended to is, that so long as we are without Christ and separated from him, nothing which he suffered and did for the salvation of the human race is of the least benefit to us. To communicate to us the blessings which he received from the Father, he must become ours and dwell in us.” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3.1.1)

Union with Christ is far more central to our Christian experience than we often give credit.

In Christian Living, Christology, Gospel, John Calvin, Systematic Theology , , ,
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Thoughts on the Vineyard “Healthy Lives, Leaders, & Churches” Conference (Duluth, MN)

Luke Geraty —  July 22, 2012 — 15 Comments

Last week I had the opportunity to head to attend the  “Healthy Lives, Leaders, & Churches” conference,  hosted by the Duluth Vineyard, featuring Phil and Janet Strout. Phil is the new Vineyard USA nation director, so I was looking forward to hearing Phil cast vision for the future and to especially hear his heart.

I found the conference to be extremely encouraging, challenging, and somewhat concerning. But those feelings where all good for my soul and I think good to work through and reflect on.
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In Charismatic Theology, Christian Living, The Kingdom of God, The Vineyard Movement
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Calvin on the “True Church”

Luke Geraty —  July 17, 2012 — 1 Comment

John Calvin writes,

“Accordingly, inasmuch as it was of importance to us to recognise it, the Lord has distinguished it by certain marks, and as it were symbols. It is, indeed, the special prerogative of God to know those who are his, as Paul declares in the passage already quoted (2 Tim. 2:19). And doubtless it has been so provided as a check on human rashness, the experience of every day reminding us how far his secret judgments surpass our apprehension. For even those who seemed most abandoned, and who had been completely despaired of, are by his goodness recalled to life, while those who seemed most stable often fall. Hence, as Augustine says, “In regard to the secret predestination of God, there are very many sheep without, and very many wolves within” (August. Hom. in Joan. 45). For he knows, and has his mark on those who know neither him nor themselves.” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, IV.I.VIII)

In Ecclesiology, John Calvin
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The “What” and “Why” of Small Groups (6 of 10)

Luke Geraty —  July 17, 2012 — Leave a comment

Small groups are about Jesus. Okay, let me rephrase that. Small groups should be about Jesus. I readily admit that they are not always about Jesus, but they should be.

Actually, small groups are often made up of people who are trying their best to be about Jesus but often don’t best understand how to carry that out. When distractions arise, rather than stay focused on the King and his kingdom, people often follow rabbit trails that lead away from the cross.

Despite this problem, I’m convinced that small groups are always supposed to be about Jesus and that one of the ways that their being about Jesus actually demonstrates how Jesus is about community. Gareth Icenogle writes,

“The ultimate and focused demonstration of God’s reconciling movement toward humanity comes in the person of the Son, Jesus Christ, who, in his own being as both God and human, enters the human arena as a man who does the work of restoring community between God and humanity. The man Jesus, himself, is the divine act of intervention and restoration between God and humanity. Jesus surrounded himself with small groups of men and women who looked to him as the Lord and model of One who builds divine-human community. The small group who lives and walks with Jesus discovers how humanity can live with God and live with one another in shalom and sabbath. Jesus reconciles, restores and completes the purpose of the primeval small group. Jesus restores the larger community of children and adults, male and female, Jew and Gentile. Even though the human political and religious systems—built in the sin of broken relationships, addiction and abuse—killed Jesus, he demonstrated, in resurrection, that divine-human community will not be destroyed, even in death. In his resurrection, Jesus, the incarnate God, has continuing and growing community with humanity in the presence of Abba God.” (Biblical Foundations for Small Group Ministry: An Integrative Approach)

Did you catch that last statement? By way of the resurrection, Christ has continuing and growing community with humanity. Once again, small groups helpfully point us to… *drum roll*… Christ and community and the integration of how these two concepts are to applied and lived out.

In Ecclesiology, Small Groups
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Inerrancy and Worldview, by Vern S. Poythress

Luke Geraty —  July 15, 2012 — Leave a comment

The exact nature of how Scripture functions as an authority for the church has long been a source of debate. The issue only seems to have become more intense with the onset of post-modern epistemology. How do those with a high view (inerrancy) to answer the challenges that are being raised by today’s world, from both outside and within the church.

This is Vern S. Poythress’ focus in Inerrancy and Worldview: Answering Modern Challenges to the Bible. Unlike Beale’s The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism, where the book primarily addresses the writings of Peter Enns, Poythress spends most of his time looking at the worldview that shapes the challenges against inerrancy. Inerrancy and Worldview certainly contains interaction with a variety of authors and leading voices, but the primary focus is on the thinking that Poythress believes brings about rejection of inerrancy.
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In Books, Reviews, Scripture , , , ,
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“I need to schedule better… starting in two week.”

Luke Geraty —  July 11, 2012 — 1 Comment

This has been the busiest summer I’ve had in quite a few years. Summers are usually nice and relaxing. Not this year. This year has been busy with personal stuff and busy with church stuff. I define “stuff” in a myriad of ways, but you get my point.

Tomorrow morning my family is driving up to Duluth to attend a Vineyard conference at the Duluth Vineyard. We’ll be gone from Thursday until Saturday and then next week, on Tuesday, I’m heading to Philadelphia to speak at and attend the annual ACRC conference. I basically have two weeks of being busy, but I’m thinking a lot about whether that is something I can honestly say is going to change after those two weeks are up.

At the end of the day, I realize more than ever that I need to become better at (1) scheduling and (2) guarding my schedule. I think I waste a lot of time on things and in meetings that I probably don’t need to do. I need to prioritize better.

Yesterday I was thinking a lot about this and I think the Lord led me to the conclusion that I tend to try and fix people’s problems more often than I can physically do. Midnight phone calls and last minute requests to meet have controlled so much of my time that I think I’m probably tireder and more stressed out than I should be.

And whose fault is that? Mine. I can only take responsibility for my own actions.

So in two weeks… I’m making some changes… even though that sounds ridiculous (why not start now, right?).

But I am… you’ll see.

In Christian Living, General
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I’m Back to Blogging…

Luke Geraty —  July 5, 2012 — Leave a comment

“It’s been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you / without a dope rhyme to step to…” – Eric B. & Rakim, “I Know You Got Soul”

It’s been over a month since I’ve blogged. I’ve gotten a lot of emails and messages and even a few phone calls from people wondering where I have been. Here’s what has happened in the past month:

  • I went to Alaska to visit some family and spend some time fly fishing for Kenai River rainbow trout.
  • Our family moved from the house we were renting into our church’s building and into the house that we bought.
  • Yeah, we bought a house.
  • We did a fair amount of renovations in the house (floors, painting, unpacking, etc.).

So I’m a home owner. And I’m back to blogging.

Here’s a picture of our house:

In General
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“What Does the Holy Spirit Do?”

Luke Geraty —  June 6, 2012 — Leave a comment

Gordon D. Fee writes,

“What does the Holy Spirit do? He acts as a divine personal agent in myriad ways. The Spirit searches all things (1 Cor 2:10), knows the mind of God (1 Cor 2:11), teaches the content of the gospel to believers (1 Cor 2:13), dwells among or within believers (Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 3:16; 2 Tim 1:14), accomplishes all things (1 Cor 12:11), gives life to those who believe (2 Cor 3:6), cries out from within our hearts (Gal 4:6), leads us in the ways of God (Rom 8:14; Gal 5:18), bears witness with our own spirits (Rom 8:16), has desires that are in opposition to the flesh (Gal 5:17), helps us in our weakness (Rom 8:26), intercedes on our behalf (Rom 8:26-27), strengthens believers (Eph 3:16) and is grieved by our sinfulness (Eph 4:30). Moreover, the fruit of the Spirit’s indwelling are the personal attributes of God (Gal 5:22-23).” (“On Getting the Spirit Back into Spirituality,” in Life in the Spirit: Spiritual Formation in Theological Perspective, 41)

Not sure if a better summary could be written.

In Christian Living, Pneumatology, Systematic Theology , , , ,
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A Hipster Bass Photo

Luke Geraty —  June 4, 2012 — Leave a comment

Caught on a secret fly at a secret spot. Nice try.

In Fishing
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Two Good Books on Healing

Luke Geraty —  June 3, 2012 — 1 Comment

I thought I’d point out two good books on the subject of healing and miracles, though they also cover a lot more ground (Christology): Jesus the Miracle Worker by Graham H. Twelftree and Israel’s Divine Healer by Michael L. Brown. I’ve been reading through sections of these two books and find a lot of similarities in how they approach the subject. Both are a bit of biblical and historical theology, though before it was “fashionable.”

Have any of you read these two books? If so, what were your thoughts?

In Biblical Theology, Charismatic Theology, The Kingdom of God, The Vineyard Movement , , , , , ,
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“We Keep Our Hair Long Because it Glorifies God”

Luke Geraty —  June 1, 2012 — 7 Comments

Does the Bible teach that women shouldn’t cut their hair and that God requires a woman’s hair to be long? My wife and I were discussing this today.

Now as a point of clarification, I have encountered a lot of people over the years who interpret Scripture this way who I believe are Christians. It’s not that I am judging their salvation or their intentions. I simply cannot go along with an interpretation of Scripture that has so many problematic issues! Why? Simple…

This is a hermeneutical disaster! Yet there are entire denominations and churches that read Scripture in the same way and come to the same conclusions. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous way of misreading the Bible.
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In Christian Living, Gender Issues, Hermeneutics, New Testament, Practical Theology
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The Most Beautiful Daughters—or Bride—in All the Land

Deborah J. Shore —  May 26, 2012 — Leave a comment

(following comprises the final installation of the Saturday series on Secondary Illuminations of Scripture.)

In our last post, we noticed that Job as a type of Christ receives a double portion of all he had before his suffering and passes this on to both his sons and daughters.  The Bible describes Job’s daughters as the most beautiful women of the land. Since the adjective used is rooted in being “bright,” “resplendent” might be a fitting poetic translation. The Bride shines with clarity and glory and all else that exists in God’s Light.

Could it be that our relational trials actually facilitate the conception, beautification, and birth of the most resplendent Bride in the land? Our shock at the pain stills us and creates moments for intimacy and formation. It provokes us to push with the anguish of intercession that Paul likened to labor (Galatians 4:19).
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In Hermeneutics, Secondary Illuminations , , ,
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Speaking in Tongues as Spiritual Warfare?

Luke Geraty —  May 21, 2012 — 8 Comments

One of the theological backdrops to Pauline theology would be the Old Testament, right? After all, the apostle Paul quotes the OT quite a bit as an established authority for the early Christian communities (e.g., Rom. 1:17; 2:24; 3:4, 10; 1 Cor. 9:9; 14:21, etc.). So there’s really no doubt that Paul was thoroughly aware of the Hebrew Scriptures since it was common for Jews to be saturated in it, especially given that he was a Pharisee (Phil. 3:5).

This has got me thinking about whether or not there is a connection between Paul’s understanding of the nature of speaking in tongues and the OT narrative regarding how Jehoshaphat and the rest of Judah were delivered from the attack of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites by God (2 Chronicles 20:1-30). Furthermore, I wonder if this connects the gift of tongues (and interpretation!) with activity related to spiritual warfare. Here’s why:

  • We see a picture of God’s people, led by king Jehoshaphat, praying to God for salvation from the attacking armies (2 Chr. 20:5-12) and we see a picture of Paul describing the gift of speaking in tongues as a Holy Spirit inspired act of prayer (1 Cor. 14:2).
  • We see a picture of Judah singing praise to God (2 Chr. 20:21-22) and we see a picture of Paul describing tongues as Holy Spirit inspired praise (1 Cor. 14:15).
  • We see a picture of Judah giving thanks to God (2 Chr. 20:21) and we see a picture of Paul describing tongues as Holy Spirit inspired thanks-giving (1 Cor. 14:16).

I wonder if there is a connection, or if this is just a coincidence. What do you think?

In Charismatic Theology, Christian Living, Spiritual Warfare , ,
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“Always talking about their Jesus”…

Luke Geraty —  May 15, 2012 — Leave a comment

Bruce Shelley writes,

“Once the Romans discovered what the Christians were up to they were confronted by the problem of toleration in a more exhasperating form than even the Jews had presented. The Jews, after all, were “a sort of closed corporation, a people set apart from others by the mark of circumcision, who lived and worshiped largely by themselves, and did no active proselyting.” The Christians, on the other hand, were always talking about their Jesus. They were out to make Christians of the entire population of the empire, and the rapidity of their spread showed that this was no idle dream. Not only did they, like the Jews, refuse to worship the emperor as a living god, but they were doing their utmost to convince every subject of the emperor to join them in their refusal. From time to time, then, Christians felt the wrath of the empire and it’s people.” (Church History in Plain Language, 38)

In Christian Living, Church History
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