Dec 7, 2010
Posted on Dec 7, 2010 in Articles, Bible Study, ebooks, Resources
I’m writing a series of articles that will soon be published on another site about how Christians can use technology for deepening their bible study lesson preparation and small group leading, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, see this article today from USA Today about the google bookstore that concludes with this quote: “In July, Amazon said sales of e-books passed hardcovers. In a July interview with USA TODAY, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos predicted that e-books would outsell paperbacks — the publishing industry’s volume product — “in the next nine to 12 months. “It stuns me,” he said. “People forget that Kindle is only 33 months old.”"
I have said before that I think that ebooks are what most people will be using to consume books and media in the near future. As I prepare for this series, leave comments with how you are currently using technology (specifically e-readers) for your personal devotions and preparations for leading bible studies.
Sep 3, 2010
Posted on Sep 3, 2010 in Articles
What does it mean to have Christian Hope?
Christian hope is based upon the scriptures (Rom 15:4) and is built fully upon the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who was promised throughout the Old Testament (Acts 26:6; 1 Tim 1:1).Christian Hope is waiting patiently for what you cannot see and believing fully that it is both true now and in the future. (Romans 8:24,25)
Not even suffering can shake this hope (2 Cor 1:7), but rather strengthen it (Rom 5:3,4) because it is laid up for us in heaven (Col 1:5); is good news for all (Col 1:23); and is our steadfast anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:18). The indwelling Spirit of Christ is the hope of glory (Col 1:27) and this living hope (1 Peter 1:3) informs both how we grieve (1 Thes 4:13) and also how we rejoice (Romans 12:12) so that people might ask for the reason we have such hope (1 Peter 3:15). Our hope may fade and grow dim (Eph 1:18) which is why we must do all that we can to maintain our focus on Christ and his return as our only hope for salvation. (1 Peter 1:13).
Aug 27, 2010
Posted on Aug 27, 2010 in Articles, Books
I asked our resident Trinity expert, Chris Spano, to review Fred Sander’s new book The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything
The Summary is posted below, with the review to follow in the coming days.
Summary
Recently, one of my best friends, John, composed the following lament in an e-mail exchange: “Why have some of the best Trinitarian defenses of the last twenty years been from…[the Roman] Catholics…and [Eastern] Orthodox?” This is a lament because John’s implied observation is: ‘Evangelical Protestants have not been producing robust Trinitarian theology.” Enter Fred Sanders.
Sanders, an associate professor of theology at Biola University’s Torrey Honors Institute, corroborates John’s observations. According to Sanders, evangelicals “are not currently famous for their Trinitarian theology” and “the evangelical movement is bedeviled by a theological and spiritual shallowness” (11). Therefore, many (if not most) evangelical Christians are “cold toward the doctrine of the Trinity, confused about its meaning, or noncommittal about its importance” (14).
And yet, Sanders rejects the implicit conclusion of John’s observation, namely: evangelicals at large are scarcely Trinitarian people. Paradoxically, Sanders advances the provocative thesis that “evangelical Christians have been in reality the most thoroughly Trinitarian Christians in the history of the church” (9). According to Sanders, this is because evangelical Protestants get the gospel right and “the Trinity belongs to the necessary presuppositions of the gospel” (19)—or even more insistently, “the central claim of this book is that the Trinity is the gospel” (98). To clarify, Sanders’ logic is syllogistic: Evangelicals are—by very definition—gospel people. The Trinity inherently belongs to/is the gospel. Therefore, evangelicals are inherently (and therefore “profoundly”) Trinitarian, “whether or not they know it” (27).
Sanders defends his thesis in three parts. First, in chapters 1-2, Sanders addresses some introductory matters: Trinitarian theological methodology and the ‘immanent Trinity’—who the Triune God is “first and foremost” in himself, irrespective of who God is for us in the Son and by the Holy Spirit (26). Second, in chapters 3-5, Sanders outlines the relationship between the Trinity and salvation, “showing salvation’s size, the gospel’s shape, and our point of access into it” (25). Third, in chapters 6-7, Sanders seeks to demonstrate that Bible reading and prayer are the most “profoundly Trinitarian” features of evangelical praxis, which assume and exhibit the high quality of evangelical Trinitarianism. Given that this is a book written by an evangelical for evangelicals, Sanders uses the life and theology of prominent evangelicals throughout history to illustrate his arguments in every chapter.
Jul 20, 2010
Posted on Jul 20, 2010 in Articles, Missions
I love missions. Really. I’m not just saying that because pastors are supposed to say they love missions. But perhaps I should clarify. I love Christ. I want others to love Christ too, and I want our churches to be churches who love Christ and long for others to know him. I love Christ, therefore I love missions. Healthy churches are churches that are gripped by the urgency of the task to take the gospel to those who have not heard. Clearly, this must start in our own neighborhoods and towns, but it cannot stop there, nor should it be called “missions.” That should be called “normal Christianity.” The local church has a responsibility to look to areas of the world that are unreached and pray how they might be involved in the task.
I was a missionary in a 10/40 window country. I know the sacrifices you have made and are making; raising support; being separated from family and friends; difficult and hazardous living conditions; hard and unreceptive hearts from those to whom you are ministering. Your sacrifices are many and your difficulty is real. We want to support you and uphold you in prayer and by other means.
So here are ten things I, as a pastor, would like you to keep in mind when you share your ministry in a local church so that people in our congregations are gripped by a love for Christ and urgency for the task of world missions:
1. Prepare what you are going to say beforehand like you would if you were preparing for a major presentation or proposal. Craft your talks. Have points that relate to and support the main point you want to get across.
2. One goal should be to show people that it is essential for you to be doing the ministry you are doing. People who are compelled by your ministry are more likely to pray and support you.
3. You want the people to feel the passion that you feel. It’s OK if you are not a gregarious person. We’re not asking you to be. Just be yourself and demonstrate the passion you have for the gospel and in making Christ known in the ministry to which you have been called.
4. Please be careful in how you speak and write in your prayer letters about vacations you take while on the field. Fiji might have been just what you needed and a very inexpensive place for you to minister to your family, but there are more important things to regularly report on than where you went on vacation. (But do take vacations! You need them and it is essential for you to care for your family and lead them well.) See the next point.
5. Ask three friends who will be honest with you to read and evaluate your communications that you send to your supporters. Ask for feedback concerning content, length, prayer requests, financial appeals, etc… Remember what you wrote the last few months to your supporters because there is a cumulative effect that your letters have as people read them regularly.
6. Shoot for a presentation that is ten minutes less than the time you have been assigned then ask for questions. Most missionaries shine in the Q&A time. Listen to the questions people tend to ask you and shape presentations based around them.
7. If you are a missionary who is preparing to go to the field, don’t talk as if you have all the answers before you get there. If you are a missionary who has been on the field for a long time show the people the wisdom and expertise you have gained through your time in country.
8. If you are going to use multimedia, which is a good thing, use it in such a way that it aids you’re presentation and points. Use images to draw us into your story. Remember to communicate beforehand with the contact person about what multimedia options there are and what adaptors you might need to bring. Arrive early enough that the presentation is ready to go and always have a “plan B” in case the projector/sound doesn’t work. For some reason, we here in the states have issues when it comes to making technology work consistently. Assume that there will be a problem and plan accordingly.
9. Tell us about how you are doing personally. Share with us how your family is adjusting to pressures that you face. Let us know how to pray for you. If you are struggling and need encouragement, please share this with us in an appropriate way that enables us to empathize and care for you.
10. Don’t assume people remember everything that you share in your prayer letters. A lot of people who support missionaries receive many letters a month. Remind people about what you have been asking them to pray for and share with us how God has answered those prayers.
Jun 18, 2010
Posted on Jun 18, 2010 in Articles, Links of interest
This is an interesting read from Mark Dever
Here is an excerpt:
“True or False? While conservative Christians are often said to be more concerned about “saving souls,” religious liberals give a significantly larger proportion of their income to alleviating poverty and meeting the needs of the downtrodden and underprivileged. False. Conservative evangelicals tend to give more to the poor than religious liberals. (See Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion Sept. 1998; also Robert Wuthnow’s Acts of Compassion [1993].) Many individual conversions have resulted in personal reformations and particular social improvements. And we hope will result in good effects in this world.”
HT: Kevin DeYoung
