Friday, August 31, 2007

From the seminary to the pew...

What a great reminder for us seminarians to remember that the average lay person will never find the time (which is debatable, but anyway...) to study theology in-depth. However, in this article, Collin Hansen speaks to this issue.I think this is a very helpful read and one that everyone ought to read....

Justification - This is the best!

Folks, if this doesn't encourage you, then I'm afraid you need some help spiritually..."There is probably no passage in the Scriptures in which the doctrine ofjustification is more concisely or clearly stated than in 2 Corinthians 5:21 [Hemade Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become therighteousness of God in Him. ]. Our sins were imputed to Christ, and hisrighteousness is...

Thursday, August 30, 2007

A Sad Case of Divorce

I tell you, reading this sad article reminded me of the tremendous treasure the Lord has given me in Elizabeth. Read this sad article on two pastors divorcing in Tampa, Florida.They blame the divorce by saying that their lives are just going in two different directions.It is worthwhile to read this...

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

My New Favorite Worship Song...

Mighty to SaveBy: HillsongI invite you to go to this link to watch the LIVE version of the song. However, for you less charismatic in expressing your worship, you may want to watch this link. But my preference is the first video - imagine singing this song with thousands of believers in one giant auditorium....

Preaching To Please The Master

In Curtis C. Thomas's work, Practical Wisdom for Pastors, he gives this quote which I received elsewhere, but it greatly encouraged and challenged me this morning...If we ever get to the point where our message is rounded off so that we avoid a particular passage, a needed subject, a pointed rebuke...

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Morning Meditation on the Absolute Truth

This morning, I am more convinced than ever that God's word is faithful, true, inerrant and understandable: Psalm 119:105-111 105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path. 106 I have sworn, and I will confirm it, That I will keep Thy righteous ordinances. 107 I am exceedingly afflicted;...

Monday, August 27, 2007

Does the mode of baptism really matter?

According to Mike Gilbart-Smith yes! He posts a great blog here. I would like for us to read it and comment together. It is relating paedobaptism and credobaptism and he argues that those who adhere to these views have different concepts of what the church really is.He notes that for a paedobaptist:...

Boys Growing Up Without A Father

I have been thinking alot about the sad reality that so many boys in our culture are growing up without fathers. Al Mohler brought this reality to mind lately in some of his sermons. In any case, Dr. Mohler's blog is very insightful and sobering when we recognize the staggering statistics of boys that...

Great New Testament Website

Dr. Decker, NT professor at Baptist Bible Seminary and the man whom I will, Lord willing, study under for the next few years, has a wonderful website for NT students. You can check it out and glean from his plethora of wisdom and knowledge. He has recently started a "Bulletin Blog" (instead of a "Bulletin...

Saturday, August 25, 2007

A Pastor's Desire

My desire is . . .1. To exalt the grace of God.2. To proclaim salvation alone through the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.3. To declare the sinfulness, helplessness, and hopelessness of man in a state of nature.4. To describe, as far as I am able, the living experience of the saints...

Friday, August 24, 2007

Motivation To Preach...

A good man, Matt Weymeyer, posted these Biblical Motivations to Preach the Gospel and I so enjoyed pondering them I wanted to have them here for your enjoyment...1. A Jealous Delight in God’s Glory (Acts 17:16-17)2. A Heart of Compassion for Lost Souls (Matt 9:35-38)3. A Sober Awareness of the Need...

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Don't Get Involved With This

The Emerging Church is so diverse and even those who would see themselves "within" the Emerging Church don't agree on a lot of stuff. I want to post a few posters that were created to represent how the "Emergent's" think. They are entitled: Emerging Church Motivational Posters for you to see and then...

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

The Preacher's Ten Commandments

Sinclair Ferguson gives A Preacher's Decalogue over at Reformation21 online. It is very insightful and refreshing to read. Needless to say, as a preacher, it is very easy to overlook and even neglect some of these aspects in sermon preparation and in daily living.May it be a great blessing and reminder...

Monday, August 20, 2007

Wedding Pictures

I give you the link to check out all the pictures you would ever want to see. Matt Floreen was our photographer and he has an excellent website. You can view our pictures HERE.Have fun! ...

Friday, August 17, 2007

You Gotta Watch These

There is something about hearing a book of the Bible read in sum. Todd Bolen, who is what one of my former professors (and heroes), does it here. He memorized and recites the whole book of Ephesians for one of the classes in Israel last Spring.Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part...

Sometimes it is good to suffer...

Psalm 119:71-72 71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. 72 The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.Ponder that this d...

Thursday, August 16, 2007

He Is Coming!

Just to remind you... He is coming quickly. Are you prepared to meet your Creator if He comes tod...

Keep Out The Heretics

Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney, Australia "has taken the extraordinary step of banning John Shelby Spong, a fellow member of the Anglican communion who arrives in Sydney this morning, from churches in his diocese."The article is found in The Australian regarding this issue. Spong is a retired bishop...

Sufficient in Christ

This excellent post encouraged me this morning...We need not add to our salvation. Who we are in Christ is sufficient tosustain us in and through all that life here has to offer. We are pilgrims,strangers in a strange land. We are on journey and will soon arrive at ourdestination. Let us heed Peter's words and abstain from the lustful things thisworld has to offer. To entangle ourselves with such...

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

What Paul Really Said

Great article here in Christianity Today on the New Perspective on Paul. Also, at the end of this article is a great source for many other articles well worth a re...

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Seeing the Glory of God

John 11:40 40 Jesus said to her [Martha], "Did I not say to you, if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" This morning I want to give you a few thoughts of mine concerning the phrase, "seeing the glory of God."We know, first of all, that Jesus' ministry was consumed with the glory of His Father...

Monday, August 13, 2007

MacArthur on Video

Who would have ever thought... MacArthur's sermons at Grace Community Church are now online. Watch them HE...

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Seeing The Glory of God

I raed this quote this morning as our pastor was preaching from John 11 on the "Raising of Lazarus." I read this verse and - no kidding - it was as if I had never read it before. I post it here for your reading and meditation and hopefully it will stimulate your thinking. I am not ready to post my idea as to what I think it means, so I will study it and post it shortly...John 11:39-40 39 Jesus said,...

Friday, August 10, 2007

Theological Refresher -- Inspiration

5 points of inspiration from Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy:1. God, who is Himself Truth and speaks truth only, has inspired Holy Scripture in order thereby to reveal Himself to lost mankind through Jesus Christ as Creator and Lord, Redeemer and Judge. Holy Scripture is God's witness to Himself....

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Once a people -- Always will be a people

This morning I had a delightful time in Jeremiah 31 being reminded not only of God's faithfulness, but also of his unconditional, unilateral and unchangeable covenant with the nation of Israel.Jeremiah 31:35-37 35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon...

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Biblical Scholarship -- Part 2

Silva in his work, God, Language and Scripture concludes with this quote that I heartily agree with:But I fear most of all for the future of biblical scholarship. Many are the students who have acknowledged that, if they had not been forced to take Greek and Hebrew, they would not have done so, thus...

Prayer For India

I have been in contact with a friend of mine in India. He does Christian evangelism work there and is a great and passionate soldier for our Lord! His name is Raju. Believe it or not, I met him in New York City recently and he hugged me tighter than I had ever been sqeezed before in my whole life. He...

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Evangelism -- One Way To Do It...

I was reminded this morning of the simplicity of evangelism. Of course, I recognize there are many facets to this and one must be ready and equipped to engage in theological discussions, but as far as just the sheer act of being a witness for Christ is fairly simple.Take the conversion of Augustine....

Move and Stay There...

This essay is by a guy named Jim Elliff and it's entitled, Pastors Moving To Other Churches: Why? It is excellent. Quite lengthy, but excellent. It is an excellent argument (and a right one) as to why a man should pastor a flock and live life with the sheep. He must become part of them and let them...

Saturday, August 4, 2007

The Pastor As Theologian

To be a "pastor who is not willing to enter into the theological world" is an oxymoron, I believe. I feel comforted knowing that I have the president of Southern Theological Seminary on my side. Mohler notes, "Every pastor is called to be a theologian." He adds:Nevertheless, the health of the church...

Friday, August 3, 2007

Like Sixteen Is Not Enough...

I clicked on the news and one of the top stories was Michelle Duggar and her husband who live in Little Rock, Arkansas who just had their SEVENTEENTH ("17") baby. Same marriage. Same family. Real children! Amazing. This is one family that takes Psalm 127 quite literally...Psalm 127:3-5 3 Behold, children...

Pray For The Lost

This post is from a NT scholar that I have been reading a lot from recently as I prepare for some exams, David Alan Black. He has written numerous works, such as, It's Still Greek To Me, Linguistics for Students of NT Greek, Rethinking NT Textual Criticism, among many others. In any rate, Dr. Black...

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Piper on the Twin Cities Bridge Collapse

John Piper writes a short bit on his reflections regarding the collapse of the bridge in the Twin Cities. He notes that many of their workers at the church and at DesiringGod ministries cross the bridge often.Read the excerpt HERE....

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Are We Counted Righteous In Christ? Or Not?

One of the books I have been reading for pleasure lately is one by John Piper, Counted Righteous In Christ. The title caught my eye, so I opened up to see how Piper would organize the work. To my surprise, he spends most of the book arguing against a well known New Testament theologian who says ...
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)