Author Archives: davetcourt

Mercy “caused” us to be born again through resurrection (1:3). Born again into an inheritance (imperishable, undefiled, unfading), and “kept in heaven for you” (1:5), guarded and ready to be revealed. 1 Peter 1:1-5 This is the same powerful language of adoption that we find in so much of Paul’s own writings, and fleshed outContinue reading “1st and 2nd Peter: Adoption and the Indiscriminate Nature of the Cross”

One thing we know about the letters of John with a fair degree of certainty is that someone named John wrote them. Yes, this sounds obvious and even a bit contrived. It is called 1st, 2nd and 3rd John after all. But bear with me for a moment, because this is not necessarily the caseContinue reading “1, 2nd, 3rd John: Division, Fellowship And the Power of Love to Conquer Death”

One of the most important sections of scripture for me growing up, and my favorite letter, was Philippians 2:1-11: Christ’s Example of Humility So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having theContinue reading “The Letter to The Philippians- Finding Hope In Love”

“There are no good and bad films, only good and bad Directors. – Truffaut The cinema is an invention without of a future – Louis Lumière For most cinephiles (a French born term), Auteur Theory, or the idea of the Auteur, is likely a familiar term and idea, if not in definition than certainly withinContinue reading “Travelling the World in film 2020- FRANCE”

As “one of the oldest film markets in the world”, Japan’s cinematic story is a fascinating, always exciting, and often inspiring narrative to unpack. It is ripe with the expected markers that tend to be shared by cinema worldwide- the arrival of the Cinematograph, the shift from social commentary to propaganda during the World War,Continue reading “Film Travels 2020: Japan”

Having been immersed these last few weeks in Fleming Rutledge’s phenomenal and monumental The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus, 40: The Temptation of Christ (a recently released and independent 2020 release available for rent or purchase on most platforms) proved to be a fitting. highly visual, and complimentary addition for understanding and ruminating onContinue reading “40: The Temptation of Christ: Good, Evil and the Grand Narrative of the Crucifixion”

I had the great privilege of hearing a recent interview with Fleming Rutledge, the author of The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death Of Jesus (a book I am currently working through and reflecting on), talking about her body of work and what a lifetime of preaching, pastoring, and writing have taught her in terms of big ideas,Continue reading “Justification, God’s Wrath, and The Reforming Work of The Cross”

The Cross is offensive to everyone, religious people (“Jews”) and secular people (“Greeks”) alike. It is this radical undercutting of who is in and who is out that makes the cross so deeply threatening to many. All human achievement, especially religious achievement, is called into question by the godlessness of Jesus’ death. If God inContinue reading “The Cross, Salvation, The Law and Capital Letter Sin”

  “The way ahead is found in the tension itself. This is not the same thing as having it both ways by seeking a bland, safe position in the center between the poles. Christian theology and the Christian life are best found on the frontiers, where our thinking and doing are engaged by the dynamicContinue reading “The Offense of the Cross: Rediscovering Freedom and Hope”

I still remember the day I picked up my first John Piper book, the popular preacher, teacher, theologian, and resident spokesperson for many in the ultra conservative brand of the Reformed Calvinist camp. The book was called “Desiring God”, and at the time it represented a major shift for me in how I understood myContinue reading “The Crucifixion: Working Through a Theology of the Cross”