The historical background of the world of Jeremiah really began when the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel began to lose their independence. As Assyria increased in power and began her campaigns for the dominance of the Fertile Crescent,[1]The nations beginning wih... Read More »

The prophets were launched upon their prophetic careers by a definite call. Even as Israel moved forward because of a consciousness of a covenant relationship with God, so the true prophets entered the prophetic ministry because of the constraint of God’... Read More »

The book of Jeremiah is neither a biography nor auto­ biography of Jeremiah, nor is it a carbon copy of all his ser­mons. it is all of these things and more, with the various materials being joined together in what seems to be a hap­ hazard fashion. It has ... Read More »

During the last twenty-five years, preachers have often been exorted to make their messages relevant. During the same period, many pleas have been made for a return to biblical preaching. Some writers have related these two needs by insisting that biblical pre... Read More »

Ours is an age in which creativity is at a premium. At no previous time in history have nations vied with one another in such a competitive race in the areas of science, industry, and to a degree in the arts, although the struggle is less enterprising here tha... Read More »

Business is booming in the churches of our land. Budgets are relentlessly spiraling upward. Buildings are larger and more lavishly furnished. Sunday school enrollment and church attendance are on the increase. Surveys indicate that a greater percentage than ev... Read More »

Two wisdoms confront each other in First Corinthians: the “wisdom” of the world and the Wisdom of God. The one constitutes the basic problem at Corinth, the problem underlying all the problems. The other wisdom is God’s answer to the false wi... Read More »

The state of the times today calls for a number of ethical sermons every year. The time of year ought to depend on the minister’s program. Personally, I did such preaching during the months following Easter. In the harvest season (winter) we received mor... Read More »

Christian living is theology in action. The Christian life involves both belief and practice. The depth and sincerity of one’s doctrinal belief is revealed by the quality of his life. On the other hand, vital, dynamic Christian living will be rooted in a... Read More »

An understanding of historical background is essential in the interpretation of any document, biblical or otherwise. The degree of significance is determined by the extent to which the document deals with the specific problems of a particular situation. Conseq... Read More »

Preaching for the Church. By Richard R. Caemmerer. Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959. 353 pages. $4.50.   There are few creative and fresh approaches to homiletics. Consequently it is a rare occurrence when a book on homiletics is published makes... Read More »

The well-equipped workrooms and offices of engineers, lawyers, and physicians stand in sharp contrast to the study or workroom of the average pastor. Granted that the spiritual requirements for his call to preach have been met, still there is often a serious d... Read More »