The generosity of Desiring God continues. They have now posted the audio for all of Pastor John's Practical Theology seminars for free: 1. Biblical Eldership (my post, and response paper) 2. Desiring God (my post, and response paper) 3. Future Grace (post and response paper are forthcoming) 4. Gravity and Gladness on Sunday Morning: The Pursuit of God in Corporate Worship (my post and response paper) 5. Prayer, Meditation, and Fasting (my post and response paper) 6. Sexual Complementarity: The Pursuit of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (my post and response paper, parts one and two) 7. … [Read more...] about John Piper’s Practical Theology Seminars
Guest Review of Sam Storms – Chosen For Life
Given the recent discussion on Calvinism and Arminianism, I thought this would be a good time to post this guest review of Chosen For Life by Sam Storms (for which I previously offered these brief salvos). The review comes from the pen of my friend Brian Tabb (M.A. Wheaton College, 2005, and currently pursuing a Th.M. at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN): Author Sam Storms opens his book Chosen for Life with what proves to be a defining illustration of two nineteen-year-old twin brothers, Jerry and Ed, whose family, church experience, and aversion to the gospel message are identical. However, … [Read more...] about Guest Review of Sam Storms – Chosen For Life
Women in Ministry and the Home – III
In the last two posts I introduced the complementarian assignment in the Practical Theology seminar and provided a summary of William Webb's perspective. Here is my response to Webb: Response to William Webb’s “redemptive-movement” hermeneutic The over-arching concern with Webb’s hermeneutic is that it essentially invalidates the moral authority of the New Testament. If the New Testament teaching represents just one stage of movement toward an “ultimate ethic,” Christians must at all cost discover this ethic. But then this ambiguous “ultimate” teaching (itself a moving target, since … [Read more...] about Women in Ministry and the Home – III
Massive Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis, MN
My wife and I drove over that bridge many times every week, as did hundreds of our friends and coworkers. I don't think I have ever been so close to a tragedy of this proportion in all my life. John Piper comments on the significance of these kinds of events: All of us have sinned against God, not just against man. This is an outrage ten thousand times worse than the collapse of the 35W bridge. That any human is breathing at this minute on this planet is sheer mercy from God. God makes the sun rise and the rain fall on those who do not treasure him above all else. He causes the heart to … [Read more...] about Massive Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis, MN
Women in Ministry and the Home – II
Following up on my last post, here is a summary of William Webb's perspective: Introduction William Webb has set forth an ingenious apologetic for egalitarianism in his book Slaves, Women & Homosexuals (IVP, 2001). This paper will focus on Webb’s arguments regarding slavery and the roles of women, asking the question: If biblical principles suggest that slavery should be abolished, even though the Bible regulates slavery, shouldn’t women also be “liberated” (i.e., released from having to submit to their husbands and allowed equal opportunity to attain pastoral offices), even though the Bible … [Read more...] about Women in Ministry and the Home – II
Women in Ministry and the Home
I did a series of posts on Calvinism - Arminianism last week. I thought I'd proceed to the topic of my more recent (and final) TBI paper: the complementarian - egalitarian debate. This time, Wayne Grudem gave the five-hour seminar (as he was in town visiting, normally John Piper teaches it following these notes). Grudem unpacked the main points in his book Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth: An Analysis of More Than 100 Disputed Questions. As usual, we were asked to read a book representing "the other side" and then respond. I choose to read Discovering Biblical Equality: … [Read more...] about Women in Ministry and the Home