The Big Picture – The Big Picture has a gallery of photos of the devastation in Oklahoma. Also, these before and after pictures are startling and display the power of the storm. Modern Parables 2 – I have often expressed my appreciation for the Modern Parables series of films. Well, they are now using Kickstarter to try to fund a second series of films. Check it out and consider being part of it! (And if you’ve never checked out the first series, you should.) The Sensuous Christian – Here’s a quote from R.C. Sproul. It tells about a book he’s almost written several times. The Case for Man/Woman Marriage – This is a great little video that gives a case for maintaining marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. If there’s a problem with it, it’s simply that this is an issue won and lost on the emotional, not the logical, level. King Solomon’s Commencement Address – I read yesterday that not one of the Ivy League schools has a conservative giving the commencement address this year. Well, maybe they should have asked King Solomon. Joe Carter speculates on what Solomon would tell them. 50 Common Misquotations – Here are 50 common misquotations you should stop using. It must not content us to take our bodies to church if we leave our hearts at home. —J.C. Ryle]]>The Big Picture – The Big Picture has a gallery of photos of the devastation in Oklahoma. Also, these before and after pictures are startling and display the power of the storm.
Modern Parables 2 – I have often expressed my appreciation for the Modern Parables series of films. Well, they are now using Kickstarter to try to fund a second series of films. Check it out and consider being part of it! (And if you’ve never checked out the first series, you should.)
The Sensuous Christian – Here’s a quote from R.C. Sproul. It tells about a book he’s almost written several times.
The Case for Man/Woman Marriage – This is a great little video that gives a case for maintaining marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. If there’s a problem with it, it’s simply that this is an issue won and lost on the emotional, not the logical, level.
King Solomon’s Commencement Address – I read yesterday that not one of the Ivy League schools has a conservative giving the commencement address this year. Well, maybe they should have asked King Solomon. Joe Carter speculates on what Solomon would tell them.
50 Common Misquotations – Here are 50 common misquotations you should stop using.
]]>It must not content us to take our bodies to church if we leave our hearts at home.
—J.C. Ryle
Why You Should Not Listen to Me – Thabiti Anyabwile: “Influence. It’s a funny thing. It’s inescapable–someone will always be perceived to have it or not have it, to either use or misuse it. We complain about it, but we also want to be influenced.” Be sure to read why you shouldn’t listen to him. Dear Mr. President – Here’s an excellent blog post. A mother simply writes a letter to the President, explaining how she told her children about the reality of abortion. Google Glass – Here’s the great line from this article on Google Glass: “Google Glass, like the Segway, is what happens when Silicon Valley spends too much time talking to itself. Maybe that’s even overstating the case: The rhetoric around Google Glass is what happens when important tech people spend a little too much time congratulating each other.” Also on the subject of technology, I don’t know much about the book, but this quote is worth pondering: Our Trust in Technology. The Inevitability of Sanctification – Elisha looks at the outdoors and (just as God wants us to, I’m sure) learns a lesson there about spiritual growth. The Sanctifying Work of Parenthood – “Many people describe marriage as the laboratory where our spiritual growth is fostered and developed. I find it to be equally true of parenting as well. God has used parenting in my life to refine and change me in ways I had not anticipated. He’s given me a child who requires more than I was trained to handle…]]>Why You Should Not Listen to Me – Thabiti Anyabwile: “Influence. It’s a funny thing. It’s inescapable–someone will always be perceived to have it or not have it, to either use or misuse it. We complain about it, but we also want to be influenced.” Be sure to read why you shouldn’t listen to him.
Dear Mr. President – Here’s an excellent blog post. A mother simply writes a letter to the President, explaining how she told her children about the reality of abortion.
Google Glass – Here’s the great line from this article on Google Glass: “Google Glass, like the Segway, is what happens when Silicon Valley spends too much time talking to itself. Maybe that’s even overstating the case: The rhetoric around Google Glass is what happens when important tech people spend a little too much time congratulating each other.” Also on the subject of technology, I don’t know much about the book, but this quote is worth pondering: Our Trust in Technology.
The Inevitability of Sanctification – Elisha looks at the outdoors and (just as God wants us to, I’m sure) learns a lesson there about spiritual growth.
The Sanctifying Work of Parenthood – “Many people describe marriage as the laboratory where our spiritual growth is fostered and developed. I find it to be equally true of parenting as well. God has used parenting in my life to refine and change me in ways I had not anticipated. He’s given me a child who requires more than I was trained to handle so that I would depend on him and not my own strength.”
$5 Friday – Ligonier has a few good deals in this week’s $5 Friday: The Intimate Marriage by R.C. Sproul, Economics for Everybody by R.C. Sproul Jr., a couple of biographies, and a $10 gift certificate for $5.
]]>Marriage is not a concession to our sinfulness; marriage is a provision for our holiness.
—J.A. Motyer
I am in the unique and enjoyable position of receiving copies of most of the latest and greatest Christian books and I like to provide regular roundups of some of the best and brightest of the bunch. Of all the books I have received recently, here are the ones that appear most noteworthy. Rhythms of Grace by Mike Cosper. “Confusion abounds over how to define the term “worship.” Is it singing? A service? Something that encompasses all of life? Helping Christians think more theologically about the nature of true worship Rhythms of Grace shows how the gospel is all about worship and worship is all about the gospel. Mike Cosper ultimately answers the question, What is worship? Bringing biblical truth to bear on this critical issue, Cosper, an experienced worship leader, argues that all true worship has one object (God), two contexts (the gathered church and the scattered church) and three audiences (God, the church, and the world). Writing from the conviction that the gospel is the heartbeat of true worship, Cosper explores four key areas (liturgy, song, style, and creativity), showing that worship is fundamental to spiritual formation. This eminently readable book, designed for church leaders and laypersons alike, offers a vibrant theology of worship that is biblical yet contextual, and systematic yet practical.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books.) Kingdom Come by Sam Storms. “The second coming of Christ is a matter of significant disagreement amongst Christians. Many hold to premillennialism: that Christ’s return will be followed by 1,000 years…]]>I am in the unique and enjoyable position of receiving copies of most of the latest and greatest Christian books and I like to provide regular roundups of some of the best and brightest of the bunch. Of all the books I have received recently, here are the ones that appear most noteworthy.
Rhythms of Grace by Mike Cosper. “Confusion abounds over how to define the term “worship.” Is it singing? A service? Something that encompasses all of life? Helping Christians think more theologically about the nature of true worship Rhythms of Grace shows how the gospel is all about worship and worship is all about the gospel. Mike Cosper ultimately answers the question, What is worship? Bringing biblical truth to bear on this critical issue, Cosper, an experienced worship leader, argues that all true worship has one object (God), two contexts (the gathered church and the scattered church) and three audiences (God, the church, and the world). Writing from the conviction that the gospel is the heartbeat of true worship, Cosper explores four key areas (liturgy, song, style, and creativity), showing that worship is fundamental to spiritual formation. This eminently readable book, designed for church leaders and laypersons alike, offers a vibrant theology of worship that is biblical yet contextual, and systematic yet practical.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books.)
Kingdom Come by Sam Storms. “The second coming of Christ is a matter of significant disagreement amongst Christians. Many hold to premillennialism: that Christ’s return will be followed by 1,000 years before the final judgement, a belief popularised in the popular Left Behind novels. However, premillennialism is not the only option for Christians. Sam Storms provides a biblical rationale for amillennialism, the belief that 1,000 years mentioned in the book of Revelation is symbolic with the emphasis being the King and his Kingdom.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon.)
Sex and Money by Paul David Tripp. “Pleasure. We live in a world obsessed with finding it, passionate about enjoying it, and desperate about maintaining it. Chief among such objects of affection are sex and money–two pleasures unequaled in their power to captivate our attention and demand our worship. In what is sure to become an instant classic, popular author Paul David Tripp pulls back the curtain on the lies of our flesh and the ways we distort God’s good gifts, examining the insanity of our culture and exposing our tendency to fall prey to the hollow promises of this world. In exploring how God’s grace frees us from futile pursuits, Tripp directs readers to the wisdom of God in Scripture and the liberating power of the gospel, offering practical guidance on finding true joy and enduring satisfaction.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books.)
1 & 2 Peter and Jude by Paul Gardner. “1 Peter addresses Christians who have known suffering and persecution to a degree that we will never know. In 2 Peter, Peter was very concerned that those who deny Christ’s return should be withstood and that the church could be confident that Christ has not abandoned them. The theme of Jude is similar and also points Christians towards the evidence of believers who heard Jesus speak, to enable them ‘to fight on for the faith which once and for all God has given to his people’.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon.)
Matthew by R.C. Sproul. The latest volume in the St. Andrew’s Expository Commentary series. “Over the course of three years, Dr. R. C. Sproul gave 128 sermons on the Gospel of Matthew, which have now been edited into this collection of memorable messages. Here is a substantial and practical commentary on the first book of the New Testament canon, one that will serve the church well and will be of great use in small-group settings, sermon preparation, or personal Bible study.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books.)
Messages That Move by Tim Hawkins. “A practical guide to the art of preparing and delivering Bible talks. Seasoned preacher Tim Hawkins urges us to give ‘Messages That Move’ which take people on a journey to a worthwhile destination. Learn how to plan and prepare a talk and lead to genuine transformation through the gospel. ‘Messages that Move’ gives you tools to deliver memorable, engaging Bible talks that lead to gospel transformation. It will give you practical help to prevent sermons being ‘boring’ and a wealth of tips and tools for better preparation, illustration, story telling and delivery.” (Learn more and shop at The Good Book Company.)
]]>Two Sets of Wants – A reader directed me to a new blog and I found a great post there on parenting. A dad writes about his two competing sets of wants for his children. Good stuff! A Writer’s Confession – “I’ve been reflecting lately on the real dangers of being a writer. One of the reasons I took a break from blogging for a while is because I was too consumed by checking statistics, subscriptions and comments. It started to become too much about me. Here are some things I have to daily repent of as a writer, in the form of a prayer.” $5 Friday – Ligonier has some noteworthy deals in their $5 Friday including (among other things) R.C. Sproul’s commentary on Romans (in electronic editions) and The Holiness of God teaching series. Heaven Is For Real – I guess it was inevitable. Heaven Is For Real is coming to the big screen. It will be co-produced by Joe Roth (Oz the Great and Powerful) and T.D. Jakes and directed by Randall Wallace, who wrote Braveheart and directed Secretariat. How Many Hours Should Pastors Work? – Darryl has a very helpful take on how many hours pastors should work in a week and what they need to model before their congregations. The Sentence Against God – Randy Alcorn + John Stott = a powerful article. A Letter to the Church – Here is a letter to the church that you may do well to read. Never undertake more Christian service than you…]]>Two Sets of Wants – A reader directed me to a new blog and I found a great post there on parenting. A dad writes about his two competing sets of wants for his children. Good stuff!
A Writer’s Confession – “I’ve been reflecting lately on the real dangers of being a writer. One of the reasons I took a break from blogging for a while is because I was too consumed by checking statistics, subscriptions and comments. It started to become too much about me. Here are some things I have to daily repent of as a writer, in the form of a prayer.”
$5 Friday – Ligonier has some noteworthy deals in their $5 Friday including (among other things) R.C. Sproul’s commentary on Romans (in electronic editions) and The Holiness of God teaching series.
Heaven Is For Real – I guess it was inevitable. Heaven Is For Real is coming to the big screen. It will be co-produced by Joe Roth (Oz the Great and Powerful) and T.D. Jakes and directed by Randall Wallace, who wrote Braveheart and directed Secretariat.
How Many Hours Should Pastors Work? – Darryl has a very helpful take on how many hours pastors should work in a week and what they need to model before their congregations.
The Sentence Against God – Randy Alcorn + John Stott = a powerful article.
A Letter to the Church – Here is a letter to the church that you may do well to read.
]]>Never undertake more Christian service than you can cover by believing prayer.
—Alan Redpath
Baseball and the Christian Walk – Because baseball season is nearly upon us. “The reality that baseball is a game of managed failure for every player, even the great ones, is one of the reasons the game imbedded so deeply in the fabric of American culture.” Page CXVI – Page CXVI, which is a project meant to make hymns accessible, is giving away their complete catalog of 74 songs. It’s there for the taking! “To celebrate our 7-year anniversary of making music, we’re giving away our entire catalog of music for the month of March.” We Are What We Remember – Jim Hamilton read a book I suggested, Moonwalking With Einstein, and has some very interesting applications. As he writes, he demonstrates why it is useful for Christians to read more than explicitly Christian books. (Be sure to read down a little ways.) Economics Has Consequences – “Economics Has Consequences” is a greatly abridged version of a teaching series from R.C. Sproul Jr. Ligonier Ministries has made this abridged version free to watch online. Three Generosities – “I think there are three levels of generosity a local church can process through given the gospel’s dominion in the place and the leadership’s determination to be humble and not insecure.” There is some food for thought here. Hate Speech Ruling in Canada – This is very encouraging news from my side of the border (though, as always in this world, the news is not all good). “The Supreme Court of Canada unanimously ruled yesterday that a Sasketchewan…]]>Baseball and the Christian Walk – Because baseball season is nearly upon us. “The reality that baseball is a game of managed failure for every player, even the great ones, is one of the reasons the game imbedded so deeply in the fabric of American culture.”
Page CXVI – Page CXVI, which is a project meant to make hymns accessible, is giving away their complete catalog of 74 songs. It’s there for the taking! “To celebrate our 7-year anniversary of making music, we’re giving away our entire catalog of music for the month of March.”
We Are What We Remember – Jim Hamilton read a book I suggested, Moonwalking With Einstein, and has some very interesting applications. As he writes, he demonstrates why it is useful for Christians to read more than explicitly Christian books. (Be sure to read down a little ways.)
Economics Has Consequences – “Economics Has Consequences” is a greatly abridged version of a teaching series from R.C. Sproul Jr. Ligonier Ministries has made this abridged version free to watch online.
Three Generosities – “I think there are three levels of generosity a local church can process through given the gospel’s dominion in the place and the leadership’s determination to be humble and not insecure.” There is some food for thought here.
Hate Speech Ruling in Canada – This is very encouraging news from my side of the border (though, as always in this world, the news is not all good). “The Supreme Court of Canada unanimously ruled yesterday that a Sasketchewan Christian who distributed anti-gay pamphlets ‘violated the province’s human rights rules.’ However, the ruling encouraged Canadian evangelicals because it also narrowed the definition of hate speech, striking down some sweeping, unconstitutional language.”
]]>Calvary shows how far men will go in sin, and how far God will go for man’s salvation.
—H.C. Trumball
The Brutal Side of Papal Politics – This article looks at the brutal politics involved in choosing a new pope. “From champion of married priests to disgraced churchman within 72 hours, O’Brien’s trajectory is stunning but also emblematic of the frenetic and fever-pitched campaigning that occurs during the tiny window between a pope’s death or resignation and the election of his successor.” Culture Creep – Andree Seu Peterson goes to the news to show us how an orientation is born, showing how pedophilia is being redefined in that way. She points to “a case study in journalistic slouching toward Gomorrah.” Six Types of Selfishness – R.W. Glenn highlights six types of selfishness that Jesus died to kill. No Compromise – You can now listen to or watch all of the sessions from last week’s Ligonier Ministries National Conference. Speakers include R.C. Sproul, Alistair Begg, Sinclair Ferguson, and Steven Lawson. Christians in North Korea – “The fanatical regime, which rules the destitute country of 24 million people with a proverbial iron fist, has a special hatred for Christians,” Jerry Dykstra of the California-based Open Doors USA noted. “North Korea is in a league of its own when it comes to persecution of Christians.” Pastors, Christians and Louis C.K. – This is an interesting little article. One obvious takeaway is that pastors need to be more careful with videos they show before their services! But there are other applications as well. Book of Judges Infographic – Here is an infographic for the book of Judges. What Exploded…]]>The Brutal Side of Papal Politics – This article looks at the brutal politics involved in choosing a new pope. “From champion of married priests to disgraced churchman within 72 hours, O’Brien’s trajectory is stunning but also emblematic of the frenetic and fever-pitched campaigning that occurs during the tiny window between a pope’s death or resignation and the election of his successor.”
Culture Creep – Andree Seu Peterson goes to the news to show us how an orientation is born, showing how pedophilia is being redefined in that way. She points to “a case study in journalistic slouching toward Gomorrah.”
Six Types of Selfishness – R.W. Glenn highlights six types of selfishness that Jesus died to kill.
No Compromise – You can now listen to or watch all of the sessions from last week’s Ligonier Ministries National Conference. Speakers include R.C. Sproul, Alistair Begg, Sinclair Ferguson, and Steven Lawson.
Christians in North Korea – “The fanatical regime, which rules the destitute country of 24 million people with a proverbial iron fist, has a special hatred for Christians,” Jerry Dykstra of the California-based Open Doors USA noted. “North Korea is in a league of its own when it comes to persecution of Christians.”
Pastors, Christians and Louis C.K. – This is an interesting little article. One obvious takeaway is that pastors need to be more careful with videos they show before their services! But there are other applications as well.
Book of Judges Infographic – Here is an infographic for the book of Judges.
What Exploded Over Russia? – This is fascinating.
]]>Sin has the devil for its father, shame for its companion and death for its wages.
—Thomas Watson
Writing Is Easy – Peggy Noonan on writing and speaking: “If you try to write ‘good lines’ you’ll likely wind up with strings of dumb, unconnected applause lines. The audience will probably applaud—crowds of supporters are dutiful that way, and people want to be polite—but they’ll know they’re applauding an applause line, not a thought…” Our Universe – Fox: “The week’s best images of our solar system, the galaxy and everything out there, putting you in touch with the most distant parts of the heavens.” That description is a wee bit dramatic, but the photos are well worth a look. Christian Liberty – Erik Raymond is learning and teaching what it means for a church to be gospel-centered. Most recently he looked at Christian liberty. “Paul’s true freedom is not in what he can enjoy but what he can freely give up. He is not a slave to the weak, the Jews, the Greeks, or anyone else. He is a slave of Christ and a servant to all. This is for the sake of the gospel.” Audio Books – ChristianAudio has a few good books on sale. Just click the link and scroll down; you can get God’s Smuggler for free and several others for $4.98. $5 Friday – Ligonier Ministries has some good products on sale today for $5–a couple of books by Sinclair Ferguson, several teaching series by R.C. Sproul, and even $10 gift certificates at half price. Watching Porn – Al Mohler linked to this article yesterday that traces how watching pornography…]]>Writing Is Easy – Peggy Noonan on writing and speaking: “If you try to write ‘good lines’ you’ll likely wind up with strings of dumb, unconnected applause lines. The audience will probably applaud—crowds of supporters are dutiful that way, and people want to be polite—but they’ll know they’re applauding an applause line, not a thought…”
Our Universe – Fox: “The week’s best images of our solar system, the galaxy and everything out there, putting you in touch with the most distant parts of the heavens.” That description is a wee bit dramatic, but the photos are well worth a look.
Christian Liberty – Erik Raymond is learning and teaching what it means for a church to be gospel-centered. Most recently he looked at Christian liberty. “Paul’s true freedom is not in what he can enjoy but what he can freely give up. He is not a slave to the weak, the Jews, the Greeks, or anyone else. He is a slave of Christ and a servant to all. This is for the sake of the gospel.”
Audio Books – ChristianAudio has a few good books on sale. Just click the link and scroll down; you can get God’s Smuggler for free and several others for $4.98.
$5 Friday – Ligonier Ministries has some good products on sale today for $5–a couple of books by Sinclair Ferguson, several teaching series by R.C. Sproul, and even $10 gift certificates at half price.
Watching Porn – Al Mohler linked to this article yesterday that traces how watching pornography leads to the acceptance of homosexuality. Meanwhile David Murray says to Prepare for Gay Marriage.
Dramatic Iceland – This is a great timelapse video of Iceland.
]]>Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil’s reach as humility. Jonathan Edwards
Pastoral Confidentiality – There have been various articles about pastoral confidentiality. I really appreciate what Tom Ascol says; he seems to strike a healthy balance between the extremes. Boycotting Companies – R.C. Sproul Jr. answers this question: “Do Christians have a moral obligation to boycott companies that support unbiblical causes?” D.A. Carson on Complementarianism – Here’s a Q&A with D.A. Carson. He answers questions arising from his thorough argument for the equality of men and women but their different purposes under God. (Here’s a message from the same event.) Authors and Interviews – Authors or anyone else who is interviewed would do well to read this: “Interviews. They can be enlightening and entertaining. But all too often they’re thoroughly irritating for everyone involved. I know about this from personal experience. After producing radio shows for a number of years, I’ve heard more bad interviews than I’d like to count.” God Came Down – Kim Shay shares Juanita Stauffer’s story. Stauffer’s teenaged daughter was murdered four years ago and now her mother tells how the Lord sustained the family in that time. Train Your Kids in Cell Phone Use – “Apart from giving them the Gospel, the single best thing we can do for our kids’ college, career, and marriage prospects is to train them to be self-disciplined in their cell phone use.” David offers ten benefits of doing this. How a Key Works – A short animated gif finally explains it in a way that makes sense. God loveth the lowest saint more than the…]]>Pastoral Confidentiality – There have been various articles about pastoral confidentiality. I really appreciate what Tom Ascol says; he seems to strike a healthy balance between the extremes.
Boycotting Companies – R.C. Sproul Jr. answers this question: “Do Christians have a moral obligation to boycott companies that support unbiblical causes?”
D.A. Carson on Complementarianism – Here’s a Q&A with D.A. Carson. He answers questions arising from his thorough argument for the equality of men and women but their different purposes under God. (Here’s a message from the same event.)
Authors and Interviews – Authors or anyone else who is interviewed would do well to read this: “Interviews. They can be enlightening and entertaining. But all too often they’re thoroughly irritating for everyone involved. I know about this from personal experience. After producing radio shows for a number of years, I’ve heard more bad interviews than I’d like to count.”
God Came Down – Kim Shay shares Juanita Stauffer’s story. Stauffer’s teenaged daughter was murdered four years ago and now her mother tells how the Lord sustained the family in that time.
Train Your Kids in Cell Phone Use – “Apart from giving them the Gospel, the single best thing we can do for our kids’ college, career, and marriage prospects is to train them to be self-disciplined in their cell phone use.” David offers ten benefits of doing this.
How a Key Works – A short animated gif finally explains it in a way that makes sense.
]]>God loveth the lowest saint more than the highest angel loveth God.
—Thomas Manton
He Smelled of Urine and Infection – “Amy Julia Becker recently linked to the story of a couple named Greg and Tesney who adopted a son, Kirill, from Russia. I would say the story of his condition when in Russia was ‘heartbreaking,’ but I would not be doing that word justice.” $5 Friday – Ligonier Ministries has some great items for sale in their $5 Friday, including R.C. Sproul’s newest book Are We Together? in hardcover (it’s a really good one). There are several other books and teaching series at the same price. What Pastors Shouldn’t Tell Their Wives – Here’s a follow-up to an article I shared a couple of days ago (that is also linked in the first paragraph of this article). It addresses this question: How much should pastors tell their wives? Theology and Doxology – I love this! “Theology that doesn’t make us sing has failed in its mission, no matter how correct it may be. Worship that doesn’t take us deeper into Christ has also failed, no matter how glorious the music or how applicable the sermon.” No Matter How It Was Conceived – Randy Alcorn addresses a very difficult issue. “What if you found that your spouse or adopted child was fathered by a rapist? Would it change your view of their worth? Would you love them any less? If not, why should we view the innocent unborn child any differently?” 9 Things to Know – Joe Carter tells you 9 things you ought to know about Roe v.…]]>He Smelled of Urine and Infection – “Amy Julia Becker recently linked to the story of a couple named Greg and Tesney who adopted a son, Kirill, from Russia. I would say the story of his condition when in Russia was ‘heartbreaking,’ but I would not be doing that word justice.”
$5 Friday – Ligonier Ministries has some great items for sale in their $5 Friday, including R.C. Sproul’s newest book Are We Together? in hardcover (it’s a really good one). There are several other books and teaching series at the same price.
What Pastors Shouldn’t Tell Their Wives – Here’s a follow-up to an article I shared a couple of days ago (that is also linked in the first paragraph of this article). It addresses this question: How much should pastors tell their wives?
Theology and Doxology – I love this! “Theology that doesn’t make us sing has failed in its mission, no matter how correct it may be. Worship that doesn’t take us deeper into Christ has also failed, no matter how glorious the music or how applicable the sermon.”
No Matter How It Was Conceived – Randy Alcorn addresses a very difficult issue. “What if you found that your spouse or adopted child was fathered by a rapist? Would it change your view of their worth? Would you love them any less? If not, why should we view the innocent unborn child any differently?”
9 Things to Know – Joe Carter tells you 9 things you ought to know about Roe v. Wade.
From a Prison Cell to Planting Churches – Mez McConnell shares his testimony in this video. His new blog 20Schemes is one worth following.
]]>The truths that I know best I have learned on my knees. I never know a thing well, till it is burned into my heart by prayer.
—John Bunyan
This is the nineteenth installment in a series on theological terms. See previous posts on the terms theology, Trinity, creation, man, Fall, common grace, sin, righteousness, faith, pride, election, revelation, atonement, adoption, sanctification, incarnation, idolatry, and the church. In a lecture titled “The Meaning of Holiness” (video), R. C. Sproul identifies two major scriptural meanings to the word holiness, one primary and one secondary, one in relation to God and one in relation to human beings. The primary meaning is in relation to God, and it refers to his being separate or other. “When the Bible speaks about God’s holiness,” explains Sproul, “the primary thrust of those statements is to refer to God’s transcendance, to refer to his magnificence, to refer to that sense in which God is higher and superior to anything that there is in the creaturely realm.” This meaning of holiness is implied all throughout the Bible, as it characterizes all of God’s attributes. God is holy in glory (Isaiah 6:3), power (Isaiah 52:10) and righteousness (Isaiah 5:16). For God to be holy means that, unless God makes it so, there is no one and nothing like him in any way. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? (Psalm 77:13) Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. (Revelation 15:4) The secondary meaning refers to our righteousness and purity. Holiness is the manner in which, by the Holy Spirit, God’s people live and act as imitators of God’s character,…]]>This is the nineteenth installment in a series on theological terms. See previous posts on the terms theology, Trinity, creation, man, Fall, common grace, sin, righteousness, faith, pride, election, revelation, atonement, adoption, sanctification, incarnation, idolatry, and the church.
In a lecture titled “The Meaning of Holiness” (video), R. C. Sproul identifies two major scriptural meanings to the word holiness, one primary and one secondary, one in relation to God and one in relation to human beings.
The primary meaning is in relation to God, and it refers to his being separate or other. “When the Bible speaks about God’s holiness,” explains Sproul, “the primary thrust of those statements is to refer to God’s transcendance, to refer to his magnificence, to refer to that sense in which God is higher and superior to anything that there is in the creaturely realm.”
This meaning of holiness is implied all throughout the Bible, as it characterizes all of God’s attributes. God is holy in glory (Isaiah 6:3), power (Isaiah 52:10) and righteousness (Isaiah 5:16). For God to be holy means that, unless God makes it so, there is no one and nothing like him in any way.
Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? (Psalm 77:13)
Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy.
(Revelation 15:4)
The secondary meaning refers to our righteousness and purity. Holiness is the manner in which, by the Holy Spirit, God’s people live and act as imitators of God’s character, which is separate and other from the manner in which the world around us lives.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
(Peter 1:14-16)
]]>Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
(2 Corinthians 7:1)
Rape, Sexual Assault, and Consent – In light of recent headlines, The Resurgence blog asks this question: What is sexual assault? Justin Holcomb gives a practical and pastoral answer based on a book he wrote on that very topic. UPS Worldport – This article (and video) may appeal to your inner geek (or engineer, for that). It shows how UPS manages to move 2,000 packages every 17 seconds. The Pill – Gospel Coalition has a helpful little article on what’s at stake in the discussion of the birth control pill. “It’s time to distinguish clearly–in terminology, thinking, and public policy–between contraception and abortion.” Why Keep Praying Even When You Feel Dull? – This blogger answers the question by going all the way back to David Brainerd. The Sufficiency of Christ Alone – Monergism is giving away an ebook titled “The Sufficiency of Jesus Christ Alone: Classic Essays on the Doctrine of Justification.” Be Strong and Courageous – Owen Strachan: “I want to suggest that wherever you can as a young man or one involved in any way in training young men, you point them toward manhood, maturity, adulthood, responsibility, ambition, strategy, vision, focus. Yes, it can be fun to be boyish. But you know what’s far more satisfying? Becoming something. Becoming something greater than you are. Becoming a man. Building stuff.” Three Is the Loveliest Number – Michael Reeves explains why ‘that Trinity stuff’ is not a philosophical headache but a captivating picture of the Good and Beautiful. To demand from others what the Spirit…]]>Rape, Sexual Assault, and Consent – In light of recent headlines, The Resurgence blog asks this question: What is sexual assault? Justin Holcomb gives a practical and pastoral answer based on a book he wrote on that very topic.
UPS Worldport – This article (and video) may appeal to your inner geek (or engineer, for that). It shows how UPS manages to move 2,000 packages every 17 seconds.
The Pill – Gospel Coalition has a helpful little article on what’s at stake in the discussion of the birth control pill. “It’s time to distinguish clearly–in terminology, thinking, and public policy–between contraception and abortion.”
Why Keep Praying Even When You Feel Dull? – This blogger answers the question by going all the way back to David Brainerd.
The Sufficiency of Christ Alone – Monergism is giving away an ebook titled “The Sufficiency of Jesus Christ Alone: Classic Essays on the Doctrine of Justification.”
Be Strong and Courageous – Owen Strachan: “I want to suggest that wherever you can as a young man or one involved in any way in training young men, you point them toward manhood, maturity, adulthood, responsibility, ambition, strategy, vision, focus. Yes, it can be fun to be boyish. But you know what’s far more satisfying? Becoming something. Becoming something greater than you are. Becoming a man. Building stuff.”
Three Is the Loveliest Number – Michael Reeves explains why ‘that Trinity stuff’ is not a philosophical headache but a captivating picture of the Good and Beautiful.
]]>To demand from others what the Spirit Himself patiently endures is to exalt ourselves above God.
—R.C. Sproul
America’s Most Important Economic Lesson – R.C. Sproul Jr. has put a lot of effort into thinking through economics from a biblical perspective. In this article he suggests the most important economic lesson America should learn. More Gospel Centered Than Thou – Mark Lauterbach has been thinking about gospel-centeredness and raises a few possible concerns in this article. It’s well worth a read. Nate Fancher – I enjoy Nate Fancher’s music and am glad to see that he has made it all free for a limited time. Don’t Underestimate the Power of the Gospel – Thabiti highlights a highlight moment from the most recent Together for the Gospel conference. Tech Predictions for 2013 – This probably won’t interest you a whole lot unless you’re interested in technology. But here are ten good predictions for technology in 2013. Every Bomb in the Blitz – This is pretty amazing. The British National Archives have created an interactive map that shows every German bomb dropped on London during the Blitz (in the Second World War). Thanks for Not Sharing – This columnist is tired of our status updates. “It is tempting to call this unctuous ooze of status updates and vacation snaps seeping across Facebook and Twitter and the rest information overload. But that would be to debase the word ‘information.'” I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do His work through me. —Hudson Taylor]]>America’s Most Important Economic Lesson – R.C. Sproul Jr. has put a lot of effort into thinking through economics from a biblical perspective. In this article he suggests the most important economic lesson America should learn.
More Gospel Centered Than Thou – Mark Lauterbach has been thinking about gospel-centeredness and raises a few possible concerns in this article. It’s well worth a read.
Nate Fancher – I enjoy Nate Fancher’s music and am glad to see that he has made it all free for a limited time.
Don’t Underestimate the Power of the Gospel – Thabiti highlights a highlight moment from the most recent Together for the Gospel conference.
Tech Predictions for 2013 – This probably won’t interest you a whole lot unless you’re interested in technology. But here are ten good predictions for technology in 2013.
Every Bomb in the Blitz – This is pretty amazing. The British National Archives have created an interactive map that shows every German bomb dropped on London during the Blitz (in the Second World War).
Thanks for Not Sharing – This columnist is tired of our status updates. “It is tempting to call this unctuous ooze of status updates and vacation snaps seeping across Facebook and Twitter and the rest information overload. But that would be to debase the word ‘information.'”
]]>I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do His work through me.
—Hudson Taylor
Halloween and Evangelical Identity – Russell Moore takes a light-hearted look at Evangelicals and Halloween. “I tried my hand at explaining the spectrum, with tongue in cheek, using Halloween as a Rorschach test. I posted it over at the First Things group blog. Here goes.” Luther and the Reformation Free – Ligonier Ministries is giving away R.C. Sproul’s video teaching series Luther and the Reformation. It’s free in the downloadable format today only, so get it while the getting’s good! Images of Sandy – Here is a photo gallery of images taken in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. In a similar vein, here are some statistics on the storm. Macabre and the Christian Psyche – Patrick Schreiner has a very interesting look at the macabre and the Christian psyche, focusing on horror and zombies. Can I Love My Child Too Much? – Kim Shay reflects on her realization that our children may become our idols if we do not guard ourselves against it. Adultery is an obvious violation of the rights of another. You are stealing what doesn’t belong to you. —Sam Storms]]>Halloween and Evangelical Identity – Russell Moore takes a light-hearted look at Evangelicals and Halloween. “I tried my hand at explaining the spectrum, with tongue in cheek, using Halloween as a Rorschach test. I posted it over at the First Things group blog. Here goes.”
Luther and the Reformation Free – Ligonier Ministries is giving away R.C. Sproul’s video teaching series Luther and the Reformation. It’s free in the downloadable format today only, so get it while the getting’s good!
Images of Sandy – Here is a photo gallery of images taken in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. In a similar vein, here are some statistics on the storm.
Macabre and the Christian Psyche – Patrick Schreiner has a very interesting look at the macabre and the Christian psyche, focusing on horror and zombies.
Can I Love My Child Too Much? – Kim Shay reflects on her realization that our children may become our idols if we do not guard ourselves against it.
]]>Adultery is an obvious violation of the rights of another. You are stealing what doesn’t belong to you.
—Sam Storms
I Want to Die in the Trenches – “The local church is the front line of ministry. In the battle against the spiritual forces of evil, the church is the trench. Christ’s bride is dug in, charged up, and ready to die for the freedom of souls. I relish the trench. It’s messy, at times gruesome, and the noise makes it difficult to sleep.” How Can We Pray? – R.C. Sproul Jr., who in the past year has lost both his wife and one of his daughters, answers the question: How can we pray for you? Don’t Hide the Word from the Little Ones – “It may long be remembered as the night Sinclair Ferguson went rogue. The date was June 28, 2009. During the congregational singing, he felt an unusually strong impression to preach something altogether different — both text and topic — from the manuscript he was holding in his hand for the exposition he had prepared on Romans 6:6–14.” The Minister as Shepherd – Here’s a free ebook if you’re interested “In The Minister as Shepherd, Charles Edward Jefferson (1860-1937) calls pastors to view their primary role not to be as mere preachers, but more importantly, to be shepherds of the flock of God.” National Geographic Photo Contest – Here are some amazing photos. Sing the Roof Off! – Mark Altrogge asks what kind of a statement we make about God in the way we worship. It’s worth thinking about: “If an outsider came into your Sunday meeting and observed you worshiping,…]]>I Want to Die in the Trenches – “The local church is the front line of ministry. In the battle against the spiritual forces of evil, the church is the trench. Christ’s bride is dug in, charged up, and ready to die for the freedom of souls. I relish the trench. It’s messy, at times gruesome, and the noise makes it difficult to sleep.”
How Can We Pray? – R.C. Sproul Jr., who in the past year has lost both his wife and one of his daughters, answers the question: How can we pray for you?
Don’t Hide the Word from the Little Ones – “It may long be remembered as the night Sinclair Ferguson went rogue. The date was June 28, 2009. During the congregational singing, he felt an unusually strong impression to preach something altogether different — both text and topic — from the manuscript he was holding in his hand for the exposition he had prepared on Romans 6:6–14.”
The Minister as Shepherd – Here’s a free ebook if you’re interested “In The Minister as Shepherd, Charles Edward Jefferson (1860-1937) calls pastors to view their primary role not to be as mere preachers, but more importantly, to be shepherds of the flock of God.”
National Geographic Photo Contest – Here are some amazing photos.
Sing the Roof Off! – Mark Altrogge asks what kind of a statement we make about God in the way we worship. It’s worth thinking about: “If an outsider came into your Sunday meeting and observed you worshiping, what would he conclude you think about God?”
Those McDonald’s Fries – McDonald’s is being brilliant in responding to all those rumors about their food. I enjoyed this video mostly because of the sheer awkwardness of the host. But I also love those fries.
]]>Salvation is not verified by a past act, but by present fruitfulness.
—John MacArthur
I love writing book reviews and I love reading them. Since I cannot possibly read and review all of the interesting books out there, I publish occasional round-ups of reviews written by other writers. Or even if I am able to review the book, it’s always good to get a second opinion. So here are a few notable links I’ve collected over the past few weeks. Gospel Deeps by Jared Wilson Reviewed by Mike Leake. “Gospel Deeps is a risky book. I say that it is risky because it is not immediately practical. There are not 10 steps to ‘going deep in the gospel.’ There is no immediately practical advice for living out the Christian life. Neither does this book make any shockingly new insights; it is not revolutionary in that sense. The point of the book is not to help you change your church, reconsider your theology, or inspire you with newfound truth. All Jared Wilson does in Gospel Deeps is hold up an infinitely precious jewel, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and call us to marvel along with him. That’s risky.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon) Tempted and Tried by Russell Moore Reviewed by Mike Wittmer. This is one of my all-time favorite books; Wittmer liked it as much as I did. “Moore’s book reads like a sermon series on the temptations of Christ, with numerous memorable lines and extended commentary on contemporary church and culture. I think anyone who is planning to preach on temptation and sin in general or Christ’s…]]>I love writing book reviews and I love reading them. Since I cannot possibly read and review all of the interesting books out there, I publish occasional round-ups of reviews written by other writers. Or even if I am able to review the book, it’s always good to get a second opinion. So here are a few notable links I’ve collected over the past few weeks.
Gospel Deeps by Jared Wilson
Reviewed by Mike Leake. “Gospel Deeps is a risky book. I say that it is risky because it is not immediately practical. There are not 10 steps to ‘going deep in the gospel.’ There is no immediately practical advice for living out the Christian life. Neither does this book make any shockingly new insights; it is not revolutionary in that sense. The point of the book is not to help you change your church, reconsider your theology, or inspire you with newfound truth. All Jared Wilson does in Gospel Deeps is hold up an infinitely precious jewel, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and call us to marvel along with him. That’s risky.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon)
Tempted and Tried by Russell Moore
Reviewed by Mike Wittmer. This is one of my all-time favorite books; Wittmer liked it as much as I did. “Moore’s book reads like a sermon series on the temptations of Christ, with numerous memorable lines and extended commentary on contemporary church and culture. I think anyone who is planning to preach on temptation and sin in general or Christ’s temptations in particular should read this book. Also anyone who is planning on sinning. …Moore’s book is simply theology the way it’s supposed to be. You may not agree with every one of his points, but you’ll be better off for having read his book (assuming you apply the points that convict you, and unless you’ve completed Wesley’s steps to Christian perfection, I’m sure you’ll find more than a few).” (Learn more and shop at Amazon)
The Work of Christ by R.C. Sproul
Reviewed by Aaron Armstrong. “Rather than trying to be the final word, The Work of Christ serves as a starting point for greater study. Sproul doesn’t expect readers to just take his word for the importance of each of these events, nor does he provide extensive overviews of each subject—he expects readers to study for themselves. From beginning to end, from incarnation to return, the work of Christ is necessary for our salvation and our growth in Christ. This is a subject we must study thoughtfully and apply well. The Work of Christ offers readers—whether individuals or small groups—a wonderful starting point. I trust that you’ll be blessed as you see just how important all the events of Jesus’ life are for you.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon)
Matthew Henry: His Life and Influence by Allan Harman
Reviewed by Jeremy Walker. “While Matthew Henry’s commentary, though sneered at in some quarters, remains rightly esteemed, the man himself is often little more than a cipher. Though in a style that is not always lively, Allan Harman puts that right in this accessible biography by putting the writing in the context of the life. … In the 350th anniversary year of Matthew Henry’s birth, we would do well to consider his life and draw from it the valuable lessons to which Harman points us.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon)
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by Bruce Ware
Reviewed by David Steele. “Recent years of scholarship have surfaced some terrific books on the doctrine of the Trinity. Father, Son, & Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles & Relevance by Bruce A. Ware is among the best. Dr. Bruce Ware defines and defends the doctrine of the Trinity with biblical precision, Christ-exalting passion, and theological muscle. … Dr. Ware has done in invaluable service for the church in this book. He has unpacked the doctrine of the Trinity in a way that is clear and biblical. He has skillfully applied this essential doctrine in a way that can strengthen a Reformed spirituality among believers. And he has rightfully challenged the egalitarian movement with the biblical antidote that should define a new generation of Evangelicals.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon)
War of Words by Paul David Tripp
Reviewed by Lindsey Carlson. “In thirteen chapters, you will find enough material to keep your brain and your heart busy for a long while. A month was probably too quick to digest such a thick read and glean every insight. It’s great information that will challenge and convict the Christ follower to the core, but be warned; this is no light-hearted, short, weekend read. … This jewel of a book has encouraged me to examine my own words (i.e., my heart) on a regular basis, and to continue striving for God’s glory and redemptive purposes in all of my relationships. In Christ, it is possible to win the war of words!” (Learn more and Shop at Amazon)
]]>Praying for Your Pastor – “One of the great encouragements in my ministry is knowing that many at Redeemer regularly and frequently pray for me. There are a number of ways we should be praying for our leaders in the church, but as we approach Sunday I want to encourage you to pray for your pastors and their preaching in 4 specific ways.” Quit Picking on Video Games – Video games and the people who play them have become an easy mark for pastors. Stephen Altrogge asks such pastors to stop. Why We Don’t Burn Things – Christians (typically) don’t burn things when God is mocked. Here’s at least a partial explanation as to why this is. An Eye-Opening Book – David Murray writes a glowing review of a book I loved: Eyes Wide Open (Here’s my review). Speaking With Tongues Speakers – Josiah Grauman has a couple of interesting questions you may want to ask if you encourage speaking in tongues or if you interact with those who do. Soda Ban Explained – Here’s a short video that tries to explain the New York soda ban. Though this ban applies to only a limited area, it provides an interesting commentary on the role of government in our lives. To call a Christian a “theist” is roughly equivalent to calling the space shuttle Atlantis a “glider.” —R.C. Sproul]]>Praying for Your Pastor – “One of the great encouragements in my ministry is knowing that many at Redeemer regularly and frequently pray for me. There are a number of ways we should be praying for our leaders in the church, but as we approach Sunday I want to encourage you to pray for your pastors and their preaching in 4 specific ways.”
Quit Picking on Video Games – Video games and the people who play them have become an easy mark for pastors. Stephen Altrogge asks such pastors to stop.
Why We Don’t Burn Things – Christians (typically) don’t burn things when God is mocked. Here’s at least a partial explanation as to why this is.
An Eye-Opening Book – David Murray writes a glowing review of a book I loved: Eyes Wide Open (Here’s my review).
Speaking With Tongues Speakers – Josiah Grauman has a couple of interesting questions you may want to ask if you encourage speaking in tongues or if you interact with those who do.
Soda Ban Explained – Here’s a short video that tries to explain the New York soda ban. Though this ban applies to only a limited area, it provides an interesting commentary on the role of government in our lives.
]]>To call a Christian a “theist” is roughly equivalent to calling the space shuttle Atlantis a “glider.”
—R.C. Sproul
Questions the TDSB Is Not Answering – As his church deals with having to leave the public school they rent, Julian is asking questions that the school board is not answering. Calvary Love – Here’s an artistic take on John Piper’s most recent poem which is titled “Calvary Love.” Read the Text – Paul offers some really helpful counsel on a preacher’s relationship to his Bible. A Map of Muslim Protests – “If you can’t keep track of all the Muslim protests erupting across the globe, you’re not alone. The uproar over a 14-minute anti-Islam YouTube video has sparked furious protests from Somalia to Egypt to Sudan to Tunisia to Libya to Bangladesh to Indonesia to Pakistan. With new reports of protests surfacing every minute, we’ve compiled the latest reported incidents into this handy interactive Google Map.” Is Election Unfair? – You won’t be surprised to know that R.C. Sproul holds that the doctrine of election is not at all unfair. The Mystery of the Lord’s Supper – This book, recently commended by both Keith Mathison and Carl Trueman, has just been released in ebook format The Birds of Spain – This photographer drove over 1,000 kilometers to get just the rights shots of the birds of Spain. To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. —C.S. Lewis]]>Questions the TDSB Is Not Answering – As his church deals with having to leave the public school they rent, Julian is asking questions that the school board is not answering.
Calvary Love – Here’s an artistic take on John Piper’s most recent poem which is titled “Calvary Love.”
Read the Text – Paul offers some really helpful counsel on a preacher’s relationship to his Bible.
A Map of Muslim Protests – “If you can’t keep track of all the Muslim protests erupting across the globe, you’re not alone. The uproar over a 14-minute anti-Islam YouTube video has sparked furious protests from Somalia to Egypt to Sudan to Tunisia to Libya to Bangladesh to Indonesia to Pakistan. With new reports of protests surfacing every minute, we’ve compiled the latest reported incidents into this handy interactive Google Map.”
Is Election Unfair? – You won’t be surprised to know that R.C. Sproul holds that the doctrine of election is not at all unfair.
The Mystery of the Lord’s Supper – This book, recently commended by both Keith Mathison and Carl Trueman, has just been released in ebook format
The Birds of Spain – This photographer drove over 1,000 kilometers to get just the rights shots of the birds of Spain.
]]>To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.
—C.S. Lewis
22 Ways to Humble Ourselves – “Christians should be the most humble people on earth. We should be so because we have come to know something of God’s infinite greatness and our own unworthiness before him. Here are some reasons why we should humble ourselves before God and some suggestions on how to do it.” Not Lucky – Grace reflects on why she wouldn’t call herself “lucky” to be a stay-at-home mom. Top Ten Sproul Lectures – Robert Rothwell, who writes studies and other materials for Ligonier Ministries, offers his take on R.C. Sproul’s top ten lectures. More Wood, Bigger Fire – You don’t have to actually buy any of the recommended books here to benefit from reading the article. The Game Starts Now – If you enjoy reading tech-related articles, you’ll want to take a shot at this one–The Verge’s take on Amazon’s announcement about their new Kindle e-readers and tablets. They are at war with Apple, something that ought to benefit the consumer. SBC 40/40 Prayer Vigil – Here’s a kind of political action I can get behind (or could if I was in the US of A): “The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention are partnering to encourage Christians to pray for 40 days leading up to the U.S. presidential election this fall—from September 26 to November 4.” Why Did the Ducks Cross the Road? – They aren’t too smart, are they? This is the scariest video you’ll see all…]]>22 Ways to Humble Ourselves – “Christians should be the most humble people on earth. We should be so because we have come to know something of God’s infinite greatness and our own unworthiness before him. Here are some reasons why we should humble ourselves before God and some suggestions on how to do it.”
Not Lucky – Grace reflects on why she wouldn’t call herself “lucky” to be a stay-at-home mom.
Top Ten Sproul Lectures – Robert Rothwell, who writes studies and other materials for Ligonier Ministries, offers his take on R.C. Sproul’s top ten lectures.
More Wood, Bigger Fire – You don’t have to actually buy any of the recommended books here to benefit from reading the article.
The Game Starts Now – If you enjoy reading tech-related articles, you’ll want to take a shot at this one–The Verge’s take on Amazon’s announcement about their new Kindle e-readers and tablets. They are at war with Apple, something that ought to benefit the consumer.
SBC 40/40 Prayer Vigil – Here’s a kind of political action I can get behind (or could if I was in the US of A): “The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention are partnering to encourage Christians to pray for 40 days leading up to the U.S. presidential election this fall—from September 26 to November 4.”
Why Did the Ducks Cross the Road? – They aren’t too smart, are they? This is the scariest video you’ll see all day!
]]>
R.C. Sproul has a long history of making a stand for truth. He has an equal history of standing firm against error, using his ministry platform to refute errors that are seeping into the Evangelical church. On several occasions he has reacted to those who have sought to minimize the differences between Protestant theology and Roman Catholic theology. Faith Alone and Getting the Gospel Right are both insightful looks at the critical importance of affirming and protecting the Reformation gospel of justification by grace alone through faith alone. These books were largely a response to “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” and “The Gift of Salvation” (ECT 2). While ECT may seem like ancient history, there are many Protestants today who continue to minimize the differences between Protestantism and Catholicism, even going so far as to say that the Reformation is over and that it is time to reunite with Rome. Others may not go quite that far, but they still believe that the differences are not significant enough to prohibit a great deal of unity. “The Manhattan Declaration” was just one recent attempt to find common cause on issues such as abortion and traditional marriage. With such efforts in mind, Dr. Sproul returns to the fray with Are We Together? A Protestant Analyzes Roman Catholicism. He makes his purpose clear in the book’s opening pages: “In this book, I have a simple goal. I want to look at Roman Catholic teaching in several significant areas and compare it with Protestant teaching. I hope to show, often…]]>
R.C. Sproul has a long history of making a stand for truth. He has an equal history of standing firm against error, using his ministry platform to refute errors that are seeping into the Evangelical church. On several occasions he has reacted to those who have sought to minimize the differences between Protestant theology and Roman Catholic theology. Faith Alone and Getting the Gospel Right are both insightful looks at the critical importance of affirming and protecting the Reformation gospel of justification by grace alone through faith alone. These books were largely a response to “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” and “The Gift of Salvation” (ECT 2).
While ECT may seem like ancient history, there are many Protestants today who continue to minimize the differences between Protestantism and Catholicism, even going so far as to say that the Reformation is over and that it is time to reunite with Rome. Others may not go quite that far, but they still believe that the differences are not significant enough to prohibit a great deal of unity. “The Manhattan Declaration” was just one recent attempt to find common cause on issues such as abortion and traditional marriage. With such efforts in mind, Dr. Sproul returns to the fray with Are We Together? A Protestant Analyzes Roman Catholicism.
He makes his purpose clear in the book’s opening pages: “In this book, I have a simple goal. I want to look at Roman Catholic teaching in several significant areas and compare it with Protestant teaching. I hope to show, often using her own words, that the Roman Catholic Church has not changed from what it believed and taught at the time of the Reformation. That means that the Reformation is not over and we must continue to stand firm in proclaiming the biblical gospel.” He means to show that the gospel itself is at stake and to do this he looks at six core doctrines in which Catholicism varies from the clear teaching of Scripture: Scripture, justification, the Church, sacraments, the papacy and the role of Mary. He closes with a reflection on how Protestants should now relate to Roman Catholics without minimizing theological differences.
What I have long appreciated about Dr. Sproul’s books on Catholicism is that he is charitable and respectful in his tone, always careful to show where Protestants have erred in their understanding of Catholicism and ensuring that he properly represents even those positions that he does not hold to. Thus he looks at Catholic doctrine as it is explained by its foremost theologians and official documents. Having allowed Catholicism to explain itself, he goes to Scripture to show where it has strayed.
When discussing Roman Catholic theology, Protestants have too often been ignorant, careless, or unfair. The power of this book is that R. C. Sproul is fair, precise, and charitable as he proves that the errors of the Roman Catholic Church are both deep and significant, and that the Roman Catholic gospel is not the gospel of the Bible. Even as he calls for us to love our Roman Catholic friends, he warns that we cannot consider them brothers and sisters when the gospel itself is at stake. Are We Together? serves as a helpful primer on Roman Catholic theology and a powerful stand for the gospel. I highly recommend it.
]]>The Westboro Cult – I’m all for this. It is abundantly clear to most Americans that the “Westboro Baptist Church” is neither “Baptist” nor a “church” according to any commonly accepted meaning of either word. As a Christ follower, and a long time church attender, I enter this plea to stop using the phrase “Westboro Baptist Church” in favor of the more accurate “the Westboro cult.” 50 Shades of Grey – Redeemed Reader recently interviewed me about the mega-selling 50 Shades trilogy. Reading the Landscape – “Do you ever wonder what you’re seeing when you look out of your airplane window and spot bizarre red pools or strange green circles on the ground below? You’re not alone. We talked to Gregory Dicum, author of the incredible aerial landscape guide Window Seat, about the weirdest and most beautiful views from an airplane.” The Packer/Sproul Sale – Westminster Books is having a great sale on titles by J.I. Packer and R.C. Sproul. Disturbing Trends – In his foreword to a new book by R.C. Sproul, Michael Horton lists four disturbing trends he sees in the contemporary church. Fighting for Sanctification – Tony Reinke does battle with this kind of logic: “We know that God hates sin. And although we fight sin in ourselves, no matter how hard we try, we will always find a lamentable degree of remaining sin on this side of glorification. Therefore, God must be perpetually angry with me.” The one indispensable requirement for producing godly, mature Christians is godly, mature Christians. —Kevin DeYoung]]>The Westboro Cult – I’m all for this. It is abundantly clear to most Americans that the “Westboro Baptist Church” is neither “Baptist” nor a “church” according to any commonly accepted meaning of either word. As a Christ follower, and a long time church attender, I enter this plea to stop using the phrase “Westboro Baptist Church” in favor of the more accurate “the Westboro cult.”
50 Shades of Grey – Redeemed Reader recently interviewed me about the mega-selling 50 Shades trilogy.
Reading the Landscape – “Do you ever wonder what you’re seeing when you look out of your airplane window and spot bizarre red pools or strange green circles on the ground below? You’re not alone. We talked to Gregory Dicum, author of the incredible aerial landscape guide Window Seat, about the weirdest and most beautiful views from an airplane.”
The Packer/Sproul Sale – Westminster Books is having a great sale on titles by J.I. Packer and R.C. Sproul.
Disturbing Trends – In his foreword to a new book by R.C. Sproul, Michael Horton lists four disturbing trends he sees in the contemporary church.
Fighting for Sanctification – Tony Reinke does battle with this kind of logic: “We know that God hates sin. And although we fight sin in ourselves, no matter how hard we try, we will always find a lamentable degree of remaining sin on this side of glorification. Therefore, God must be perpetually angry with me.”
]]>The one indispensable requirement for producing godly, mature Christians is godly, mature Christians.
—Kevin DeYoung