Papers by Paul D Cornell, Jr.
This sermon outline flies over the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament portion of the Bible, try... more This sermon outline flies over the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament portion of the Bible, trying to spot ten separate times where the book tells of something better that Christians can believe or experience.
This sermon outline explores seven letters, written a few thousand years ago by the apostle John ... more This sermon outline explores seven letters, written a few thousand years ago by the apostle John to seven ancient Christian churches, which you can read about in the last book of the Bible, in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3.
This sermon outline explores the story of the Tower of Babel in the Book of Genesis in the Bible.... more This sermon outline explores the story of the Tower of Babel in the Book of Genesis in the Bible. The word “babel” in Hebrew means “to confound or confuse.” If you have grown up in the church or have read Genesis, you might be familiar with these nine short Bible verses. Hopefully this outline helps you walk away with a fresh perspective.
This sermon outline explores the concept of what is called the “remnant.” Specifically, this outl... more This sermon outline explores the concept of what is called the “remnant.” Specifically, this outline explore a small handful of Scripture verses in the books of Amos, Isaiah, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah in the Old Testament, and Romans and Ephesians in the New Testament, that talk about this remnant
In the twenty-sixth chapter of the book in the Bible known as the Acts of the Apostles or simply ... more In the twenty-sixth chapter of the book in the Bible known as the Acts of the Apostles or simply Acts, we find one of the leaders of the early Christian church, a man formerly named Saul—now renamed Paul—standing before a king named Agrippa. Paul is there to, in his own words, “make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews” (v. 3). Why is Paul in this predicament to begin with? What are these accusations; who are these Jews who made such accusations against Paul; and who is this Agrippa that Paul was defending himself in front of? Was his defense convincing? Did Paul win Agrippa to his side? Finally, what conclusions can we draw from this suspenseful account during the formative years of the Christian church almost two millennia ago? This short teaching outline answers these questions and provides practical applications to Christians who are given opportunities to share the message of Christianity and their personal experiences in the application of this message in daily life.
How should Christians think about and act toward human institutions, governments, and leaders—esp... more How should Christians think about and act toward human institutions, governments, and leaders—especially those that are unjust and even hostile toward followers of Jesus? This short teaching outline explores this question in the context of 1 Peter 2:13-25. We see in this passage an argument that urges followers of Jesus to not only submit to human institutions, governments, and leaders but even be willing to suffer unjustly at their hands, as the church lives out the example and exemplifies the character of Jesus as a means to bring the unbelieving world to faith.
Jesus Christ made a curious statement in John 6:53-54 that "unless you eat the flesh of the Son o... more Jesus Christ made a curious statement in John 6:53-54 that "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man [a term Jesus frequently used to refer to himself] and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life." Was Jesus speaking literally or figuratively? If literally, how can we do this when he is now longer physically present with us? If figuratively, how do we properly interpret his words and translate them into Christian belief and practice? This paper provides a brief exploration of these words of Jesus Christ within its broader literary and theological context.
For those who earnestly seek to pursue a life characterized by the belief in and pursuit of Jesus... more For those who earnestly seek to pursue a life characterized by the belief in and pursuit of Jesus Christ, a lingering frustration with the continued presence of sin in their lives—and more deeply an ongoing despair over sin’s seeming control and mastery over their souls—can lead to feelings of ineffectiveness and even defeat in the purpose and service to which they believe God has called them. The Christian apostle Paul argues in Romans chapter 6 that to conquer sin’s stronghold over a Christian’s life, the believer must continually receive God’s grace offered to them; and the ability of the believer to receive such grace—and the power of God’s grace to defeat such sin—is best understood theologically through the picture and symbolism portrayed by baptism. This paper explores this "formula" of Paul's in Romans chapter 6. The "formula" here must not be seen as something like a mathematical proof that when applied keeps the Christian from sinning once and for all. Rather, by "formula" here I mean the set of theological components that work together symbolically to help the Christian remember that God is with always them to help them break sin's overwhelming stronghold on their lives.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice originating in China and has its ro... more Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice originating in China and has its roots in Buddhism. Falun Gong means “Practice of the Law Wheel,” while Falun Dafa means “Great Way of the Law Wheel.” This paper begins by presenting a brief list of facts about Falun Gong, including its relationship to dance troupe Shen Yun, to provide some historical and cultural context. This is followed by a condensed summary of the movement’s core set teachings from the book Zhuan Falun. The concluding section compares and contrasts key doctrines of Falun Gong with key Christian doctrines.
In the fields of Christian theology and doctrine, millennialism concerns itself with the earthly ... more In the fields of Christian theology and doctrine, millennialism concerns itself with the earthly return of Jesus Christ. Christians have debated throughout church history about the best explanation for the timing of this event. To provide context into these debates, key terms in millennialism are first briefly defined, including pre-, post-, and amillennialism. A summary of why these debates matter to the Christian church, along with the historical development of these debates from the church’s inception through to the birth of the Evangelical Christian movement and into today, follows. Finally, key arguments supporting both premillennialism and postmillennialism are proposed to equip Christians to better participate thoughtfully and respectfully within these debates.
In the late fourth century AD, Pelagius, a zealous ascetic from Britain, eventually made his way ... more In the late fourth century AD, Pelagius, a zealous ascetic from Britain, eventually made his way to Rome and began teaching that humanity was not created with an innate tendency toward sinning; rather, sins are committed by one’s free choice. As such, if humans can freely choose to sin, there is also the possibility of humans freely choosing not to sin. By remaining sinless, humans can live perfect, holy lives in harmony with God’s will, thereby earning salvation on their own. If people can thus save themselves, they have no need for God's help through his intervening grace. This set of beliefs, later known as "Pelagianism," were condemned by church theologian Augustine of Hippo, also known as Saint Augustine or commonly just Augustine. Pelagius was excommunicated by the church in 417 AD and condemned as a heretic in 418. Pelagianism was officially condemned as a heretical teaching at the Council of Ephesus in 431. Augustine’s teachings were key in securing the condemnation at Ephesus. This paper examines Augustine's main points against Pelagianism and its later post-council modification, "semi-Pelagianism," through Augustine's work A Treatise on the Predestination of the Saints. Specifically, Augustine's key arguments for grace and predestination are reviewed and assessed.
The Age of Enlightenment brought about the emergence of rationalism, or the theory that knowledge... more The Age of Enlightenment brought about the emergence of rationalism, or the theory that knowledge should be based on objective reason rather than more traditional sources, such as religious beliefs. During the Enlightenment, in Denmark, Lutheran Christianity was firmly planted as the official state church. It was against these two influences of rationalism and state-instituted Christianity that Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) penned his work from Copenhagen titled Concluding Unscientific Postscript to Philosophical Fragments in 1846, noted by theologian Roger E. Olson as "perhaps Kierkegaard's most systematic statement of his philosophy" against these influences. To provide a historical understanding of Kierkegaard’s impetus for writing his Postscript, key theories and events from the Enlightenment period and immediately following—specifically those in and around Denmark—are briefly summarized. Attention is then focused on Kierkegaard’s pushback in his Postscript to these theories and events. Finally, Kierkegaard’s philosophy in his Postscript about the traits that inhabit a true and authentic Christian, over and against these theories and events, are explored. Kierkegaard's Postscript captures the heart of his existentialist philosophy about what it means to be a true and authentic Christian.
Book Reviews by Paul D Cornell, Jr.
This paper provide a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "The Anabaptist Story: An Int... more This paper provide a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "The Anabaptist Story: An Introduction to Sixteenth-Century Anabaptism, Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged" by William R. Estep (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1996.)
This paper provides a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "Martin Luther and the Refor... more This paper provides a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "Martin Luther and the Reformation in Germany Until the Close of the Diet of Worms" by Charles Beard (Andesite Press, 2017. Reprint. Originally published by Kegan Paul, Trench & Co., 1889.)
This paper provides a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "The History and Character o... more This paper provides a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "The History and Character of Calvinism" by John T. McNeill (London: Oxford University Press, 1967.)
This paper provides a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "The Story of Christianity, ... more This paper provides a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "The Story of Christianity, Volume 1: The Early Church to the Reformation, Revised and Updated" by Justo L. Gonzalez (New York, NY: HarperOne, 2010.)
This paper provides a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "A Summary of Christian Hist... more This paper provides a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "A Summary of Christian History" by Robert A. Baker and John M. Landers (Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005.)
This paper provides a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "Christianity Through the Ce... more This paper provides a concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the book "Christianity Through the Centuries: Third Edition, Revised and Expanded" by Earl E. Cairns. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1996.)
Thesis Chapters by Paul D Cornell, Jr.
This brief review attempts to explore a small collection of literature by Christian historians an... more This brief review attempts to explore a small collection of literature by Christian historians and theologians around the predestination-versus-free-will debate to see whether there are any mediating viewpoints that those across the typical Calvinist and Arminian camps might reasonably agree.
Christian existentialism proposes a Christian point of view on subjective aspects of individuals'... more Christian existentialism proposes a Christian point of view on subjective aspects of individuals' being or existence, encouraging individuals to take a "leap of faith" to believe in God, even when there seems to be little to no objective certainty in a post-modern, humanistic world that is consumed with fear and doubt. Summaries and analyses of the perspectives and tenets of Christian existentialism based on a well-known work from each of five historically-renowned Christian existentialists across the Global North over the 19th and 20th centuries--Soren Kierkegaard of Denmark (1813-1855), Nikolai Berdyaev of Russia (1874-1948), German-American Paul Tillich (1886-1965), American Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971), and Gabriel Marcel of France (1889-1975)--seek to provide practical insights and applications to help 21st-century Christian churches in the Global North to revitalize, grow, and deepen their congregants' faith, connections, relationships, and service not only to God but to the fearful and doubters within their surrounding communities.
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Papers by Paul D Cornell, Jr.
Book Reviews by Paul D Cornell, Jr.
Thesis Chapters by Paul D Cornell, Jr.