This June 4-8 I'll be participating in a week-long intensive course on the book of Galatians with Dr. Tom Schreiner of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Schreiner will be hosting this class at Bethlehem Baptist Church as part of The Bethlehem Institute (TBI) Apprenticeship program. Given the number of e-mails I've received asking me about TBI, I thought I'd list for you what we have been doing since September in preparation for Dr. Schreiner's arrival. First of all, we have been diagramming and ARCing all six chapters of the Greek text. ARCing is a technique for tracing an … [Read more...] about Intensive Course on Galatians with Tom Schreiner
D.A. Carson on Intelligent Design (and more)
The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology (SBJT), Spring 2007 issue, is now available. The forum is entitled "In the Beginning..." and it features responses from D.A. Carson, Kirk Wellum, Todd Miles, Terry Mortenson, and C. Everett Berry on matters pertaining to science, origins, and the Christian faith. Don Carson provides a very helpful perspective for understanding the discussion on Intelligent Design in Christian and non-Christian circles. … [Read more...] about D.A. Carson on Intelligent Design (and more)
Summer Reading Plan
(HT: Tim Challies) … [Read more...] about Summer Reading Plan
John Piper on the Imputation of Christ’s Righteousness
When we teach that our right standing with God is attained through the imputation of Christ’s obedience to our account (Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:6, 11; 10:3), does this imply that the work of Christ on the cross—his final suffering and death—is insufficient for our justification? That is the question which John Piper answers. The importance of Christ's righteous (i.e., obedient) life is also unpacked in David VanDrunen's excellent chapter "To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice: A Defense of the Active Obedience of Christ in the Light of Recent Criticism" is By Faith Alone: … [Read more...] about John Piper on the Imputation of Christ’s Righteousness
Gospel Growth versus Church Growth
Nine Marks in association with Matthias Media announce the Conference Gospel Growth vs. Church Growth: Understanding the difference sets you free. The Conference Description It's hard for pastors not to be mesmerized by church growth. Who doesn't want their congregation to grow? Who doesn't want to see numbers and budgets increasing year by year? And who isn't greatly interested when the latest growth model comes along, the latest research, the latest insight that promises us the key to such growth? But there's growth and there's growth. Understanding what the New Testament means by growth, … [Read more...] about Gospel Growth versus Church Growth
The Faith of Condoleezza Rice
Being a political aficionado, I am always intrigued about the faith (and supposed faith) of popular politicians. Condoleezza Rice is particularly intriguing because of her rising prominence, first in Bush 41's administration, and now in the second term of Bush 43's administration. In addition, she was the Provost of Stanford University when my wife Marni attended the school. I went to the rival (I mean, superior) school, the University of California at Berkeley. But even though she was in Washington, DC while I was in graduate school at Berkeley (2000-2004), Dr. Rice was a known figure … [Read more...] about The Faith of Condoleezza Rice