During our recent Christmas season I noticed many references to JOY. Exactly what is “joy,” and why is it so closely connected with Christmas? We note first of all that on the night of Jesus’ birth, the angel of God … Continue reading
Jack Cottrell
WHATEVER WHO WANTS?? A COMMUNION MEDITATION by JACK COTTRELL Christmas is a time when many of us focus on what WE want for ourselves. How many times do we hear (and ask) the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” … Continue reading
What Is Forgiveness? Jack Cottrell – November 2014 QUESTION: Must we or should we Christians forgive someone who sins against us and refuses to repent? Some people say that we must forgive regardless, but that does not mean we have … Continue reading
YOUR WORST ENEMY: DEATH! (A sermon by Jack Cottrell — October 2014) INTRODUCTION. We all know about villains: Darth Vader, Hannibal Lecter, Freddy Krueger, Godzilla, the Joker, the Penguin—to name a few fictitious ones. In real life we could name … Continue reading
WHAT WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS? (A Communion Meditation by Jack Cottrell – November 2014) Back on March 23 (2014), when giving our order of worship, our Sunday bulletin indicated that our Communion Hymn would be “Burdens Are Lifted at … Continue reading
“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. So they said to one another, … Continue reading
QUESTION: Is there any problem with applying the term “pastor” to ministers of the local church? ANSWER: In the New Testament the descriptive word “pastor” (which is identical to our word “shepherd”), in both its noun and verb forms, when … Continue reading
WHOSE NAME WAS ON THE CUP? A Communion Meditation Jack Cottrell, July 2014 [For a recent communion meditation at the church where I serve, I brought a prop to the pulpit with me. It was a fairly large coffee cup … Continue reading
WHAT IS CENTRAL IN OUR LIVES? JACK COTTRELL – AUGUST 2014 For decades I have tried to expose and refute a theological error I call “the Christological fallacy.” It is indeed a serious error in Christology, or the true understanding … Continue reading
AN ESCAPE FROM CALVINISM: YOUNG, RESTLESS, NO LONGER REFORMED A Book by AUSTIN FISCHER Reviewed by Jack Cottrell, August 2014 Austin Fischer is not yet 30 years old, but he has experienced a very interesting theological pilgrimage which he describes … Continue reading