I have been perusing Robert Jenson’s new Ezekiel commentary in the Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible series and have found much to like. Jenson does not hedge his bets but rights in a straightforward, winsome manner affirming confidence in the text and its theological meaning. For example in reference to the date of Ezekiel, …
Recently Tremper Longman created quite a stir when he argued, in the video below, that it was unnecessary to hold to a literal Adam in the Genesis account. I am among those who found this very disturbing given the place of Adam in Paul’s thinking (esp. Romans 5). I was intrigued then to see what …
Duguid’s recent commentary on these three oft neglected prophets is a great resource for preaching and teaching particularly due to his “Application” sections where he demonstrates how to properly apply these books in a New Covenant setting. The whole task of applying Old Testament books to our New Covenant setting is so often misunderstood and …
Continue reading ‘Duguid on Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi’ »
I have often argued for simplifying the busy schedule churches often have. I just recently came across this quote from Craig Barnes book, The Pastor as Minor Poet: “So rather than developing a ‘seven day a week’ church that fills up the members’ lives with church activity, the poetic pastor will wonder why these folks …
Carl Trueman continues to sound the trumpet of real pastoral oversight. His latest post is right on target and deserves a wide reading. His points echo the key concerns of this blog. Here is one quote in hopes of enticing you to read the entire post, “Life Together- Or Not”: “First, I am immensely grateful …
Continue reading ‘Carl Trueman on Pastors Knowing Their People’ »
In honor of our new semester beginning next week, I thought I would post a story from the autobiography of John G. Paton, which was passed on to me by Patrick Brown. This famous, godly missionary knew how to manage a classroom. “The following week, a young man and a young woman began to attend …
Continue reading ‘Missionary John Paton on Classroom Discipline’ »
This 17th century poem, prepared later as a hymn by Wesley, captures well the truth of living all of life under the gaze of God and for his glory. “The Elixir” Teach me, my God and King, In all things Thee to see, And what I do in anything To do it as for Thee. …
Continue reading ‘George Herbert on Life to the Glory of God’ »
The following quote comes T. K. Cheyne’s book, The Christian Use of the Psalms, published in 1900. Cheyne, a critical, Anglican scholar critiques what he sees as a flat, mundane use of the Psalms in Anglican churches. I do not agree with a number of his comments and suggestions. However, I found this section telling …
I just heard that the “world’s most interesting man” is a guy known for recent beer commercials. Must not be a very interesting world. I am blessed to know some very interesting people so I don’t believe the pronouncement. In fact this pronouncement reminds me of a comment from C. S. Lewis in a different …
Brandon O’Brien in his new book Strategically Small Church, The: Intimate, Nimble, Authentic, and Effective writes, “Despite the fact that the Bible compares the spread of the gospel to the mustard seed, which appears insignificant and unproductive, the dominant expectation of most pastors is that success is measured in terms of numerical growth. Fifty years …
Continue reading ‘A Move Towards Intentionally Smaller Churches?’ »