Pastors:
You know how when you go to the grocery store you need bags to get the food home? You congregation similarly needs stories & metaphors to bag up what you're teaching. If you don't give them one *at least* every 5 mins, they will tune out & forget your words.
from what the Lord wrought through the actions of the body, know the truth and through him might consider the Father.
(Athanasius, 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 15.1)
For since human beings, having rejected the contemplation of God and as though sunk in an abyss with their eyes held downwards, seeking God in creation and things perceptible, setting up for themselves mortal humans and demons as gods, for this reason the lover of human beings
and the common Savior of all 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 and dwells as human among humans and draws to himself the perceptible senses of all human beings, so that those who think that God is in things corporeal might...
perpetuating a savior complex masquerading to be "incarnational" is not as spiritual as you think it is. in actuality, it is idolatry that is made in the image of yourself.
“Since believing is looking...neither does place matter in this blessed work of believing God. Lift your heart and let it rest upon Jesus and you are instantly in a sanctuary though it be a Pullman berth or a factory or a kitchen.”
(AW Tozer, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑢𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑜𝑑)
"I wept over Dido who 'died in pursuing her ultimate end with a sword'. I abandoned you to pursue the lowest things of your creation.
I was 𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭."
(Augustine, 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 I.xii.21)
"do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for 𝑯𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒏, as he said. 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐬𝐞𝐞 the place where 𝑯𝒆 lay.”
(Matt. 28:5-6, ESV)
following Jesus means beholding His glory more than before.
Happy Resurrection Sunday.
“how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"
(Isa. 52v7, ESV)