For all the good ministry Mark Driscoll does for the Kingdom, there is still enough bad in my opinion to require a clear “Warning Label” on his teachings and ministry. When hammering out the essentials of discipleship and faith, I can stomach his teachings and be challenged and sharpened by him. Yet, he’s notorious for … More Driscoll on Husbands as Stay-at-Home Dads
UPDATE: Albert Mohler has a fair critique of the situation from a conservative angle worth reading HERE. Can’t we just get along? Well, probably not. But can’t we just at least try to listen to and respect those on the other side of socio-political issues? I’ve been posting lately on the political question sparked by Glenn … More Polarized & Perplexed About Helping the Poor
Last post I mentioned we just began studying our way through Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians on Sundays with our high school students. A perceptive and refreshingly honest student asked the following question: “Umm…can you tell me again why we’re taking the time to read this ancient letter written to these people we’ll never … More On Reading Ancient Letters of Strangers 2
I began a new Sunday Bible study with our high school group this morning going through Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. For me this seemed like a perfectly normal thing to do as a long-time Christian, church attender and pastor — that is, spend 6 weeks pouring over a portion of Scripture. But every … More On Reading Ancient Letters of Strangers 1
RJS at Jesus Creed brought these two videos to my attention. Wright discusses our need to approach the Scriptures on their own terms and how our particular worldview and philosophical presuppositions color our understanding of the text. The first video highlights the Enlightenment’s influence on our views of God, and the second video discusses how … More N.T. Wright on How Worldview Shapes our Reading of Scripture
What is the “Big Story” behind all the smaller episodes in the Bible? How does the Old Testament relate to the New Testament? Why does the portrayal of God in the OT (as wrathful, violent, etc.) seem at odds with the NT picture of God revealed to us by Jesus Christ? What ultimate goal do … More What’s the Big Picture? The OT through the lenses of Jesus
Greg Boyd is involved with some very deep and provocative research and writing at the moment (and always). He gives us a link to a recently published article entitled “Two ancient (and modern) motivations for ascribing exhaustive definite foreknowledge to God: A historic overview and critical assessment.” If the title is any indication I would … More BOOK PREVIEW: “Jesus Versus Jehovah” by Greg Boyd
Here’s an old post salvaged from the old DI archives from a couple years back. Enjoy! I love the Bible. But I’ve never been good at citing “chapter and verse” as they say. Have you ever met those Christians who always need to have a verse cited to back up every statement made? When reading … More Beyond Chapter & Verse
Dr. Ben Witherington, well-respected New Testament scholar provides a nice, short critique of the common arguments against women in ministry in a post entitled “Why Arguments Against Women in Ministry are Unbiblical”. What are your thoughts on this issue? What do you think of Dr. Witherington’s treatment of the debated biblical texts?
How does the Bible exercise authority and guide our lives as people living in a post-modern age? N.T. Wright, bishop in the Church of England, addresses this issue in his must-read essay/lecture How Can The Bible Be Authoritative? Please check out the entire essay HERE. Below is an excerpt giving a taste of his narrative … More Narrative Theology: N.T. Wright’s Five-Act Hermeneutic
What does a narrative approach to Scripture say about the authority of Scripture? 5. Narrative Understanding of Scriptural Authority. Most foundationally, we must treat Scripture as more than a static repository of abstract truths that reveal true propositions about God, history and the human condition (though these too are important, have their special place and can be … More A Powerful Collision: God, Bible, Authority & Narrative 4
Nobody likes being told what to do and what not to do. To some degree or another, everybody is suspicious and wary of “authority” and those we call “authority figures.” We think of relentless bosses, overbearing parents, slave-driving teachers, stern-eyed judges and intimidating police officers. Yet, the Authority that stands above the rest is God. … More A Powerful Collision: God, Bible, Authority & Narrative 2
Dr. James Howell has posted some very helpful 10 minute video overviews of the OT prophets on YouTube. If you are intimidated by the prophetic books and enjoy seeing the “bigger picture” then check them out. I have posted Isaiah below or you can view them ALL HERE.
Those who read my series of posts on the debate between John Piper and N.T. Wright must read the following interview with N.T. Wright by Trevin Wax. This is one of the clearest, most concise summaries of what exactly is at stake and which issues are on the table in the debate. Let me quote at … More N.T. Wright Responding to Piper on Justification (Trevin Wax)
We’re comparing the differences between John Piper and N. T. Wright on Paul and the New Perspective using helpful summaries compiled by Trevin Wax featured in the June 2008 edition of Christianity Today. Today we finish up with the final comparison from Wax’s chart dealing with the question of the present and future realities of justification. What … More Piper v. Wright (7): Future Justification
We’re comparing the differences between John Piper and N. T. Wright on Paul and the New Perspective using helpful summaries compiled by Trevin Wax featured in the June 2008 edition of Christianity Today. Today we follow up the significance of the saving work of the gospel of Jesus Christ by asking the question: “How does this happen?” … More Piper vs. Wright (6): How Exactly Does Jesus Save?
We’re comparing the differences between John Piper and N. T. Wright on Paul and the New Perspective using helpful summaries compiled by Trevin Wax featured in the June 2008 edition of Christianity Today. Today we focus on the central message of the gospel. What is the gospel? PIPER: The heart of the gospel … More Piper vs. Wright (5): The Gospel
We’re comparing the differences between John Piper and N. T. Wright on Paul and the New Perspective using helpful summaries compiled by Trevin Wax in the June 2009 edition of Christianity Today. Today we focus on the question: How do Piper and Wright differ on their understanding of first-century Judaism as the background of Paul’s … More Piper vs. Wright (4): First-Century Judaism
We’re comparing the differences between John Piper and N. T. Wright on Paul and the New Perspective using helpful summaries compiled by Trevin Wax featured in the June edition of Christianity Today. Today we look at “the righteousness of God.” What does Paul mean by the righteousness of God? PIPER: The essence of God’s righteousness is … More Piper vs. Wright (3): God’s Righteousness
We’re comparing the differences between John Piper and N. T. Wright on Paul and the New Perspective using helpful summaries compiled by Trevin Wax featured in the June edition of Christianity Today. Today we look at their respective views of the Law and Covenant. What is the purpose of the Law and Covenant? WRIGHT: God … More Piper vs. Wright (2): The Law & Covenant
I have been following the lively, helpful discussion at Jesus Creed on Wright vs. Piper on Justification and the New Perspective, and recommend you check that out for yourself for more nuanced, detailed treatment. Today, I was very pleased to find this debate featured in this June edition of Christianity Today with an enormously … More Piper vs. Wright (1) – The Sin Problem
The previous post sought to show how the biblical narrative paints an ideal picture of human flourishing which echoes the same longings the Neo-Tribalist philosophy emphasize. The point: So far, Christians can find much common ground with the aims of neo-tribalism. Today, however, I want to highlight where the biblical story diverges from the neo-tribalist … More Neo-Tribalism & the Tower of Babel – Part 3
What is the gospel? I mean: What is the full, Kingdom of God-announcing, cross-centered, New Creation focused, sin-bearing, substitutionary atoning, wrath-absorbing, life-transforming, social justice-bringing gospel really about? Scot McKnight is doing perhaps the best job I’ve ever seen in concisely and biblically recapturing the fullness of the Kingdom Gospel of Jesus that has been … More Scot McKnight: Loosening the Helmet of Salvation
In part 1, I introduced the socio-economic philosophy of Neo-Tribalism. Wikapedia further adds that Data has pointed to a general breakdown in the social structure of modern civilization due to more frequent moves for economic reasons, longer commutes and a lack of emphasis in the media narrative on the desirability of strong friendships and community … More Neo-Tribalism & the Tower of Babel – Part 2
Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed is in the middle of a provocative discussion on the fuller message of the “Kingdom Gospel” found by reading the Bible as Story over and against the more popular, privatized gospel boiled down to a few abstract propositional truths pertaining to individual salvation. McKnight pushes us to a larger, more … More ESSAY: The Church as God’s New Language
Kingdom Harbor 