Posts by David Oliver
Forgotten on Earth, Remembered in Heaven
Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt are men not only conspicuous in the pages of American history; their images are carved into the stone face of Mt. Rushmore. The record of the lives of some men makes it nearly impossible for them to be forgotten by future generations. But there are countless other great individuals whose…
Read MoreWhy the Dearth of Young Preachers? (Part 2)
As part of a study on why it is becoming increasingly difficult for churches to find young pastoral candidates, the president of Barna Research, David Kinnaman noted, “There are now more full-time senior pastors who are over the age of 65 than under the age of 40.” A shortage of young gospel ministers is not…
Read MoreWhy the Dearth of Young Preachers? (Part 1)
According to Barna Research, half of all American pastors are 55 years old or older. Pastors 40 years old and younger constitute only 15 percent of the total number. These statistics indicate far more than the fact that the average gospel preacher is older than in past decades. They show that there is a dearth…
Read MoreThe Right to Life
So familiar and so profound are the words of the Declaration of Independence identifying the self-evident and unalienable rights of men that most think that they form the opening statement in this celebrated document. Actually, these words form the second paragraph of our nation’s founding pronouncement. They identify the right to life, liberty, and…
Read More“Concerning Christ and the church”
Last month, I officiated at an outdoor wedding. Whenever a couple tells me they are planning to be married outside, I always tell them they have to have a “plan B.” No one wants to be a part of a wedding ceremony held in a driving rainstorm. This couple did have a back-up plan, but…
Read MoreTwenty-two: Numbering Our Days
Job observed that his days were like a weaver’s shuttle, sliding along the loom so swiftly that the eye could hardly follow. I sympathize with the Old Testament saint’s assessment of how fast the days of his life seemed to pass. The older I get, the faster they go. A few months ago, I received…
Read MoreRepentance and Salvation
Several years ago, a couple attended the services of our church, but after a few months they stopped coming. They told me I said something in a sermon with which they strongly disagreed. What did I say that they found so troubling? I said that repentance was necessary for salvation. How is that problematic? Did…
Read MoreOn Funerals, Cremation, and the Gospel
I am often asked what I think about cremation as opposed to burial. A generation ago fewer than one-in-twenty were cremated at death. Many older folks still prefer traditional burial, but today the cost of cremation is two-thirds less. Primarily because of that, fully half of all Americans who die this year will be cremated…
Read MoreWith Dobbs, What Has Changed?
On June 24th the Supreme Court issued its ruling on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case. The landmark verdict reversed the controversial 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that declared that the U.S. Constitution guaranteed the right to an abortion. The recent ruling states that the Constitution does not confer any such right. Those…
Read MoreBoasting in Shame
Among the many books in my library is a very useful commentary on the book of Genesis by Lutheran scholar, H.C. Leupold. This two-volume exposition of the first book of the Bible contains careful verse by verse explanations of the text. Particularly helpful for the preacher is a concluding section at the end of each…
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