27
Jun
2014
The New Coach: A Parody on Sanctification
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“OK, men, everyone gather around, and let’s get this football season under way,” Coach Paul deTarsus bellowed out. As the young recruits swaggered over, jostling each other manfully, Coach deTarsus continued gruffly, “This year the school steering committee has asked us to try a totally new approach to the game developed by a new assistant... Read More
18
Jun
2014
Two Things I Learned from John Stott
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Who was John Stott? It’s been a couple of years since Stott died, and his legacy is still taking shape. I suspect that for many of us he’ll be remembered as the author of one or two books on our shelves—probably The Cross of Christ and/or Basic Christianity—or as the name we associate with the International Congress on World Evangelism(think Lausanne).... Read More
14
Jun
2014
Learning about the Past: The Church around the World
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Over the past few weeks, I’ve posted a couple of suggested reading lists. These lists have included broad overviews of church history and books on the history of Christian doctrine. In this post, I’m going to recommend a number of books that focus on the history of the Christian church in specific geographic areas. The... Read More
12
Jun
2014
A Perfectly Good Father
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Father’s Day is this Sunday (just in case you’ve forgotten.) It’s a day set aside for us to show our gratitude to the men who have provided, cared for, and guided us throughout our lives. Unfortunately, too many have never experienced the joy of having a father. Some were deprived by death, while many others... Read More
10
Jun
2014
Give Them Common Grace Too
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When I was a boy I grew up in a traditional American home. My father taught me the value of hard work, integrity, courtesy, and the disciplines of standing alone for right, offering a firm handshake, and looking people square in the eye. He had learned these things from his father, he from his father before... Read More
5
Jun
2014
The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses
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These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.—Colossians 2:17 Colossians 2:17 gives us another important insight into how the earliest Christians put their Bibles together. But, the NIV here nicely obscures some of the difficulties of this verse, which literally reads: “These are a shadow... Read More
31
May
2014
Learning about the Past: What Has the Church Believed?
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About two weeks ago I began a recommended reading list for those who wish to brush up on the history of the church. My initial suggestions included a couple of church history survey texts. In this post, I’m going to mention a few titles that focus on the development of Christian doctrine over the past... Read More
28
May
2014
A Century-Old Answer to Tchividjianism: Studies in Perfection by B. B. Warfield
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Normally when book reviews appear on this website, they’re for new books: cutting edge books that add some new piece of information or fresh analysis to our ever-growing bank of theological information. But we also need to reflect on historical gems—classic treatments that inform the present far more thoroughly and penetratingly than any one week’s... Read More
22
May
2014
Are Women More Easily Deceived Than Men?
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And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became sinner.—1 Timothy 2:14 Does 1 Tim 2:14 suggest women are more easily deceived than men? Here I want to answer this question by saying something (1) about the function of 1 Tim 2:14 and, then, saying something (2) about... Read More
17
May
2014
Learning about the Past: The Beginnings of a Reading List for Pastors, Future Pastors, and Curious Christians
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I recently had a student ask what books pastors and future pastors should read in order to become familiar with the church’s past. I’d like to answer that question by suggesting a short list of books over a couple of blog posts. The nature of church history is such that one should probably begin by... Read More