I shall leave out certain processions of the services for now and focus on the sermons.
I'm not going to repeat similar criticisms on the preachers who constantly make Rev. Tim Keller look good (Either rebelliously or ignorantly - to the congregants' need of God's Word). But I shall analyze their messages justly and learn what I can.
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01/25/2015 @ 5:00PM
4th Sermon in Series: A Leper Healed - Light in the Darkness: The Glory of Jesus in Mark, by Rev. David Bisgrove [Mark 1:40-45]
v. 40, Bisgrove noted the word "can" is equivalent to dynamite in the original Greek term. That has powerful connotation.
v. 41, Gisgrove changed the word indignant to compassion, not angry, which is used by most translations. I am not sure why it was printed thus. Perhaps the new NIV is really problematic. Nonetheless, σπλαγχνίζομαι refers to being moved as one's bowels.
Thayer: to be moved as to one’s bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity)
Interesting note in reflection, prepared by Rev. Bijan Mirtolooi (I need to verify if the Preparation person is the one responsible for the Reflection):
Early Christians did not engage in public preaching; it was too dangerous...Deacons stood at the churches' door...as bouncers...still the church grew...it was attractive. ~ Alan Kreider. I think Tim Keller used this in his sermon.
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02/01/2015 @ 11:30AM
5th Sermon in Series: A Paralytic Forgiven - Light in the Darkness: The Glory of Jesus in Mark, by Dr. Timothy Keller [Mark 2:1-12]
Mentions of anecdotes about how cloth stains can only be cleaned by the hands of love, analogous to Christ's blood washing away our sins. Keller spoke of forgiveness as a kind of absorption, willingly taking the unjust harm and pain inflicted by others.
Reflection: Preparation by Rev. Bijan Mirtolooi. Quotes from Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 1 & 3. Regarding strong smell of blood and ministering a diseased mind. Third quote is from 1 John 1:7.
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02/08/2015 @ 5:00PM
Note on reflection: A quote on Sabbath by Judith Shulevitz from "Bring Back the Sabbath," New York Times Magazine, March 2, 2003. Preparation: Rev. Abraham Cho. I think it is better to reflect on Christian quotes in this case. Unless, one is sure that most congregants here are theologically apt to discern some truth, which I don't think is the case at Redeemer, judging from the classes and such. Whoever prepared this, is obviously not on the reformed emphasis. Even when a Jew credits the Puritans with Jewish favor, I think a strong discernment of similarities and dissimilarities needs to be addressed.
6th Sermon in Series: A New Sabbath - Light in the Darkness: The Glory of Jesus in Mark, by Rev. David Bisgrove [Mark 2:23-3:6]
Bisgrove noted Christ as the Lord of the Sabbath. Then, I lost him.
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02/15/2015 @ 9:30AM
7th Sermon in the Series: Glory Displayed - Light in the Darkness: The Glory of Jesus in Mark by Rev. Abraham Cho [Mark 9:2-13]
The glory of God is the theme. I would like to visit Maui too and watch the abundant starry night. I don't see how can one feel terrified by it. Was it simply because of the dark of night?
My own side study:
- v.3 clothes...dazzling white...cannot bleach...comparing to Matthew 17:2's shining face (as noted by Cho in Moses) + white as light.- three shelters...but "This is my Son..." elevating Christ.
- Matthew 17:6-7, Fear, terrified, fell on faces...Jesus touched them...comforted them. A question I shall ask: Is the glory of God only terrifying to sinners?
- v.10 is missing from the Reading printout, but Max McLean read it. Relating to "the resurrection of the Son of Man", the disciples asked "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" Jesus answered in v. 12-13.