QUOTABLES: Pondering Miracles
February 2, 2018
Category: Theology
Making Music with Athanasius
January 25, 2018
I’m digging into the writings of the early church fathers, and was reading Athanasius last night. I came across a little gem in my “digging” that perfectly aligns with one of my favorite writing projects. In The Father’s Song, I try to tell the Big Story of the Bible using the metaphor of a divine melody … More Making Music with Athanasius
LIFE VERSES 4: Hebrews 4:12
January 18, 2018
This series is expounding some of the Bible passages that have been most significant in my own faith journey. –JB 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. From my point of view, … More LIFE VERSES 4: Hebrews 4:12
Cross, Atonement & Paul Peter Waldenstrom
November 17, 2017
“Oh! How dear and precious to your heart you will find God to be when you thus behold him in Christ. Because in Christ you have the true manifestation of him.” P. P. Waldenstrom (1838-1917), Swedish Covenant Pastor & Theologian I’ve been exploring the meaning of Jesus’ death and atonement theology recently. We just watched … More Cross, Atonement & Paul Peter Waldenstrom
Blue Parakeets & the Bible’s Big Story
November 9, 2017
I’m rereading the great book The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible by my teacher, Scot McKnight. I can’t believe its already been nearly 10 years since I first devoured the book (half of it in the bookstore!), and now am studying with Scot! I’m preparing to preach on the importance of grasping the … More Blue Parakeets & the Bible’s Big Story
QUOTABLES: God’s Sovereignty
October 25, 2017
“If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, …then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled. Perhaps that one maverick molecule will lay waste all the grand and glorious plans that God has made and promised to us…” -R.C. Sproul, Calvinist “There is, I … More QUOTABLES: God’s Sovereignty
On Wrestling with Books: Luther’s Tower Experience
October 18, 2017
Have you ever argued with an author, or wrestled with a book? Has an idea ever so overwhelmed you that you gasped audibly and threw the book down in either disgust or delight? Have you ever returned to a section, re-reading a sentence over and over hoping to find some other way to interpret it? … More On Wrestling with Books: Luther’s Tower Experience
Preaching Luther
October 15, 2017
We are celebrating “Luther Week” at MainStreet as we honor the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. We watched the 2003 Luther movie on Wednesday night, and we will be discussing the movie and Reformation this Wednesday night at Three Taverns. This Sunday I also spent time introducing this truly one-of-a-kind flawed heroes of the faith. … More Preaching Luther
God’s ‘Man-centered’ Gospel & Glory
October 11, 2017
Human beings glorify God not by curling up in a helpless, hopelessly depraved blob just relieved that God is great enough for the both of us. Rather, God is most glorified in us when we, God’s image-bearers in the world, are living most in tune with God’s purposes for our lives, utilizing our God-given gifts and passions, flourishing in our God-directed pursuits, and accomplishing great things in the name of God and for the expansion of the Kingdom of God. … More God’s ‘Man-centered’ Gospel & Glory
Going Green 4: God’s Junior Gardeners
June 10, 2017
You may be thinking, “Sorry, I’m not into gardening, so maybe I’ll skip this series.” Not so fast. We’re talking about something far more central to our humanity than growing vegetables and flowers. God the Creator made human begins in his divine image and likeness, and part of this likeness is our ability to join … More Going Green 4: God’s Junior Gardeners
Loosening the Helmet: Narrative & Communal Dimensions of Salvation
May 30, 2017
In this essay from 2004, I seek to expand our understanding of salvation emphasizing the significant roles of both narrative and community in one’s conversion. Many years ago, seemingly in a different life, I found myself on a bus full of zealous Christians headed to a San Diego music festival to pass out gospel tracts on the street corner. Only after … More Loosening the Helmet: Narrative & Communal Dimensions of Salvation
Faith Over Feelings
May 12, 2017
Theology matters. And we all “do theology” — whether we’re aware of it or not. Theology is “thinking about God.” The question is not whether we do theology but whether we do good or bad theology. This is why my one of my biggest passions as a pastor is trying to help people begin to think critically … More Faith Over Feelings
Moltmann & the Parousia: Who Exactly is Coming Again?
May 4, 2017
This academic essay explores the character of Christ’s Second Coming in light of the Jesus-shaped theology of Jurgen Moltmann. Introduction For most of Christian history, the doctrine of the parousia of Christ (his “coming” or “effective presence”, i.e., Second Coming) in glory and judgment has been neglected and pushed to the margins of Christian theology and … More Moltmann & the Parousia: Who Exactly is Coming Again?
What Story are you part of? (Mike Fox)
November 22, 2016
I can only answer the question, “What am I to do?” if I can answer the prior question “Of what story or stories do I find myself a part?” – Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue My granddaughter loves to act out the stories she hears. She is the heroine of a seemingly endless stream of mysteries, … More What Story are you part of? (Mike Fox)
Tim Keller’s “Counterfeit Gods”
September 19, 2014
Check out Trevin Wax’s review of Tim Keller’s book Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters (Penguin, 2009). Keller is one of my favorite Christian thinkers these days, and I find him a very insightful, articulate writer bringing clarity to very complex theological issues. He is a … More Tim Keller’s “Counterfeit Gods”
God’s Grand Story & Our Role In It
September 17, 2014
Narrative theology is a relatively new undertaking and is one good example of a positive development in theological studies, due, in part, to the influence of postmodernity.[1] I would suggest that the contributions of this movement will surprise many with numerous insights into how we might better approach the theological task, read the Bible, and … More God’s Grand Story & Our Role In It
Cultivating an Apostolic Imagination
August 21, 2014
A repost from a few years back. -JB What if our faith was as real and powerful as the faith of the Apostle Paul, Peter, James and John, Mary and Lydia, Priscilla and Aquilla? What if our experience of church today was as exciting as those in the upper room at Pentecost, as action-packed as … More Cultivating an Apostolic Imagination
Cruciform Justice 1: Introduction
August 10, 2014
How long, O LORD, must I call for help before you listen, before you save us from violence? (Habakkuk 1:2-4) He came closer to the city, and when he saw it, he wept over it, saying, “If you only knew today what is needed for peace! But now you cannot see it! (Luke 19:41-42) There … More Cruciform Justice 1: Introduction
“Get Out of the Way” Theology
August 6, 2014
When I meet Christians who are infatuated with their own depravity because it supposedly puts God on display, I often wonder what they do with certain Bible passages. You’ve met them often enough. They have a “Get out of the Way” theology. They appropriately fear self-righteousness and pride in their faith. They rightly want to … More “Get Out of the Way” Theology
Grace & Truth
August 2, 2014
American musician John Mellencamp once said, “I know there’s a balance in life. I see it every time I swing by it.” There is perhaps no more profound realization in the entire Christian experience than grasping the necessary balance and tension between GRACE and TRUTH. Most individuals, churches, denominations, pastors, teachers, and movements tend to choose … More Grace & Truth
ReKnew Manifesto (Greg Boyd)
May 1, 2013
Those who know me will know that Greg Boyd has been one of my teachers and theological mentors over the years. He continually stretches my thinking and challenges me to wrestle courageously with the Biblical text and not mindlessly adopt the traditional beliefs handed down through church history. Some of his views are controversial and … More ReKnew Manifesto (Greg Boyd)
N.T. Wright: The Gospel of John & Second Genesis
April 6, 2012
The following post is worth reading. I found it during my Easter sermon study and preparation as I prepare to trace the New Creation theme through the Gospel of John. I have read the book he’s referring to by N.T. Wright. I, too, am a huge fan and student of Wright. Get the book! Enjoy! … More N.T. Wright: The Gospel of John & Second Genesis
Carl Olof Rosenius on a Living Faith
March 14, 2012
I’ve been studying the history and founding fathers of the Covenant the past several months. Perhaps the greatest influential figure of the 19th century revivals that swept through Sweden was C.O. Rosenius (1816-1868). He became one of Sweden’s most widely read religious writers of his time as the editor of Pietisten used heavily by the Mission Friends … More Carl Olof Rosenius on a Living Faith
‘One Body, Many Parts’ – Do you know your roots?
December 18, 2011
Are Calvinists Right?
December 6, 2011
Scot McKnight is sharing his own journey of wrestling with Calvinism at Jesus Creed. Here’s a snippet, and I recommend you read the rest of the forthcoming series. I found two major weaknesses in Calvinism’s theology (and also a disorientation in its architecture): first, the emphasis of its architecture is not the emphasis of the … More Are Calvinists Right?
Jeremy Berg 