The Song in the Night (Luke 2:8-20)
A Christmas Homily from Carl F. H. Henry

“The Song in the Night,” date unknown. Sermons—Miscellaneous, Q-Z, Box 2, Folder 14, Carl F. H. Henry Collection, Gleason Archer Archives, Deerfield, Illinois. This story, of the angels and the shepherds, opens at night. It is the story of darkness and fright, which ends in exultation and jubilee. Life has many chapters like that, but…
Just as I Am: Billy Graham (1918-2018)

After hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed by evangelist Mordecai Ham at an evangelistic meeting in Charlotte, NC in 1934, Billy Graham, along with his friend Grady Wilson, responded to the invitation as the hymn “Just as I Am” was sung. This beautiful and moving gospel song, written by Charlotte Elliott in 1835, became…
Symbols/Signs: Reclamation and Reminder

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, A wondrous beauty I see For ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, To pardon and sanctify me. “The Old Rugged Cross,” George Bennard For people in the United States, the details of the massacre at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in…
The Enduring Greatness of Abraham (Nu. 1)

Our previous entry focused in on the importance of the Image of God in the world of medical science. Without a firm grasp of humanity’s spiritual component, we lose our ethical footing when dealing with the material aspect. Without recognizing the grander purpose for human existence, we cannot fully live as we ought. Nu.1: The…
Relating Man in the Image of God to the Health Sciences (Nu. 2)

In last week’s message, we saw Dr. Henry challenge the materialistic explanation for human nature, a view very prominent in today’s world. Theologically speaking, living in this way is inconsistent with who we truly are as human beings. We can only be fully who we are meant to be when we live in light of…
The Greatest Interview of All Time (nu. 3)

In our last posting we saw something of the timelessness of the human condition, as Dr. Henry showed the links between the worldviews of the pagan ancient world and our own postmodern age. The life without God yields the same sense of apathy tempered only by despair whenever we might happen to live. …
Neo-Paganism: Life Without the Emmanuel Factor (nu. 4)

In our last posting we heard Dr. Henry use Ecclesiastes 12 to challenge us in considering our ways. The inevitability of infirmities as we age ought to remind us that we cannot forever count on our temporal strength. Keeping our mental eyes fixed firmly on our Creator will grant us perspective when our created eyes…
In Search of a Happy Ending (nu. 5)

Last week we heard Carl Henry admonish the sometimes anemic church of the postmodern age to look back to the power of the Early Church. In their lives we see a hope for a renewed past. This was no mere atavism where we simply imitate what has already been done but rather tapping into the…
The Risen Christ and the Radiant Church (nu. 6)

Last week we heard the challenge to us that we would orient our lives by Christ as the Logos of God, the exegete of the Father, and the perfect human being. We find our identity not in empty materialism or utopian socio-political movement but in him who is forever before the face of God. Nu….
The Greatness God Has Prepared for Us (nu. 7)

In last week’s sermon we were presented with Dr. Henry’s challenge to our freedom obsessed age. Where we strive to be free from all constraints and end up being slaves to our every passing impulse or handing our liberties to political saviors promising utopias to come tomorrow, life in Christ grants us the form and…
The Greatest Text on Freedom (nu. 8)

In last week’s sermon we heard Dr. Henry show us how our true image is found in Christ. In contrast to the world which offers us transitory and ultimately meaningless sources of identity, God, in the life of Jesus, shows us how to be truly human. We have in Christ the pattern for humanity which…
The New Image of Man (nu. 9)

Last time we saw that Carl Henry’s view of humanity rested ultimately in his view of creation. Without the Triune God creating humanity with his own imprint, his Imago Dei, humanity’s dignity is but dust in the wind. With it we have a purpose, a place, and a person-ness which can be neither denied nor revoked….