Paschal Homily

This is the Paschal Homily from St. John Chrysostom, followed by "Christ is Risen" by Matt Maher. Christ is risen, indeed!

If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.

If anyone is a grateful servant, let them, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.

If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting, let them now receive recompense.

If anyone has labored from the first hour, let them today receive the just reward.

If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let them feast.

If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings; for they shall suffer no loss.

If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let them draw near without hesitation.

If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let them not fear on account of tardiness.

Beautiful Painting

This painting was a gift to my wife and I from a student at our church whom we love very much. Thanks!

What version of the Bible should I study from?

This is a quick series on "What version...?" recommendations. It's not an in-depth study or anything like that. Very informal.

So, you're a preacher just getting started in the world of exegesis and hermeneutics and you're wanting to eschew prooftexting and eisegesis. Wonderful. You wonder "What version of the Bible should I study from?"

 

The answer is: multiple Bibles. I recommend using a good literal translation (NASB, ESV) or an interlinear (Greek/Hebrew + English) in order to be able to look up the words and their possible definitions (using Strong's Concordance). You see, in the interlinear Bible, you will see numbers above each Hebrew or Greek word. This number corresponds to a number in Strong's Concordance. Look up that number in Strong's and you'll have a list of other occurrences of that exact word.

 

Then you can look that word up (helpfully, by number) in a lexicon. The lexicon is like a dictionary of possible definitions and uses of the original word.

 

From their, you are able to assemble your notes and thoughts on what the original text meant.

 

In addition to the literal translation, I recommend using a version of the Bible that is in language you can understand easily, such as the New Living Translation, New International Version, or even the Message (a paraphrase). Use these in combination with the NASB or ESV.

Matt Maher's Grey Shirts

I recently mused about Matt Maher's grey shirts on Twitter:

@Adam Posegate Wondering if @mattmahermusic just has one grey shirt he washes over and over again, or many. Either way, I am intrigued.

It's primarily because the only time I saw him live, and in the only videos I saw of him, he was wearing grey shirts.


And all the videos here... http://www.mattmahermusic.com/journey/

So, despite Mr. Maher's assurances, I feel this was a fair question.

@adamposegate I don't currently own a gray shirt. But I have many shades of black #isitthehair?

Though, it might be the hair. Thanks, Matt! You're a good sport, and I also want to thank you for your worship leading and writing. Praying for you.