Matthew Burden's Blog, page 19

The Evangeliad

(Click here for an introduction and previous installments of the Evangeliad)
Section 28, extended (corresponding to John 8:1-5)
Jesus left the city, taking the wayUp the Mount of Olives, but on the next dayHe was back again in the temple yard,And people streamed to him from near and far.
He took up a place and started to teach,But the Pharisees soon disturbed his peace.They dragged out a woman and threw her downAt Jesus' feet in the midst of the crowd.
"Now, teacher," they said, "this woman was caughtIn adultery, and as we've been taught,She should be stoned--so says the Lawgiver--But what say you? What should we do with her?"

Photo of the Week

It is not death to fling aside this sinful dust,And rise, on strong exulting wing, to live among the just.Jesus, thou Prince of life, thy chosen cannot die!Like thee, they conquer in the strife, to reign with thee on high.
- from a hymn by Cesar Malan

Quote of the Week

"The gospel is the proclamation of God's free love; the revelation of His boundless charity. Nothing less than this will suit our world; nothing else is so likely to touch the heart, to go down to the lowest depths of depraved humanity, as the assurance that the sinner has been loved -- loved by God, loved with a righteous love, loved with a free love that makes no bargain as to merit, or fitness, or goodness."
- Horatius Bonar

PhD Oral Defense Coming Up

Dear readers,

I've been hard at work preparing for the final hurdle of my PhD studies--the oral defense, which comes up this next Tuesday. I'll be presenting on my dissertation, "The Emergence and Development of Missiological Themes in Early Nonconformist Hymnody (1706-1755)," and then answering questions on my research. I'll take a few days off from the blog while that's going on, but I should be back in a week or so. 

Photo of the Week

Lord, her watch Thy Church is keeping:When shall earth Thy rule obey?When shall end the night of weeping?When shall break the promised day?
Gone for ever parting, weeping,Hunger, sorrow, death, and pain;Lo! her watch Thy Church is keeping;Come, Lord Jesus, come to reign!
- from a hymn by Henry Downton

Quote of the Week

"To gather with God's people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer."

- Martin Luther

A Prayer from John Wesley

O God, seeing as there is in Christ Jesus an infinite fullness of all that we can want or desire, may we all receive from him, grace upon grace; grace to pardon our sins, and subdue our iniquities; to justify our persons and to sanctify our souls; and to complete that holy change, that renewal of our hearts, which will enable us to be transformed into the blessed image in which you created us. O make us all acceptable to be partakers of the inheritance of your saints in light. Amen.

Church History Series: The Reformation's First Wave (early 16th century)

(Click here for the church history series page)

Lecture audio: The Reformation's First Wave (click here to listen to right-click to download)

Lecture Notes Outline

-       Roots of the Reformation

o  Early reform movements – John Wyclif in England,Jan Hus in Bohemia

o  Decay in Catholic morals among clergy &monastics

o  The sale of indulgences

o  Papal involvement in political tensions

o  Invention of the printing press

o  Reappropriation of the biblical Greek &Hebrew text traditions – Erasmus

-       Martin Luther & the German Reformation

o  Life as an Augustinian Catholic monk

o  Life as a theology professor

o  The 95 Theses

o  The Reformation solae: Scripture alone,faith alone, grace alone

o  Confrontations with the Pope & the HolyRoman Emperor

o  Time in hiding & translation of the Bibleinto German

o  Public ministry and writing in ReformationGermany

o  The Peasants’ Revolt

o  Philip Melanchthon & the Augsburg Confession

-       Ulrich Zwingli & the Swiss Reformation

o  Pastoral ministry in Zurich

o  Returning to biblical practice

o  Views of Communion

o  Seeking unity among Protestants—Martin Bucer

The Evangeliad

(Click here for an introduction and previous installments of the Evangeliad)
Section 28, extended (corresponding to John 7:47-52)
"What? Don't tell me he got to you, too!You're at risk of all being led off like fools!Has a priest or Pharisee heeded his call?Don't be swayed by those who know not the law!"
But Nicodemus was there at that site,The Pharisee who had spoken with Christ,And he urged caution amid their rebukes:"Don't judge him more quickly than the law would do."
They mocked him for his credulous views:"Is Nicodemus from Galilee too?Search all the scriptures, and then you'll see:Prophets simply don't come from Galilee!"

Photo of the Week

Oh, my soul is all aflame,How I love the precious name,Jesus, the King of Glory;Unto Him my praise I give,For His kingdom I will live,Jesus, the King of Glory.
- from a hymn by Charles Reign Scoville