When I went to Shepherd's Conference a couple of years ago it unearthed a question long since buried in my mind from my Baptist History, or was it Systematic Theology, class: Who should I invited to the Lord's table? Should the sprinkled, the immersed, the covenant, or just plain ole everyone come and partake?
I have given you a link to a paper dealing with that very issue. It's a Southwestern publication written by a PhD student at Southeastern who earned his MDiv at Southern. How about that for getting a taste of Baptist higher education?
Monday, September 25, 2006
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Arthur Pink on using "trump texts"
But the Word of God does not contradict itself, and it is an evil practice which cannot be too strongly condemned to pit one passage against another: any attempt to neutralize one text by another is handling the Truth deceitfully (Arthur Pink, An Exposition of Hebrews, 1011).
Friday, September 22, 2006
Sam's third movie of the year
I have found now the third movie Sam will have to see this year; my what a busy year the Long's will have. It's the documentary titled Jesus Camp.
The sad thing is that this is how the liberal media views evangelicals. They do not see this as an aberrant group who has missed the point at several points. I bet they assume this is what is happening at Mambrino VBS every summer.
The sad thing is that this is how the liberal media views evangelicals. They do not see this as an aberrant group who has missed the point at several points. I bet they assume this is what is happening at Mambrino VBS every summer.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Jacob's Ladder
One of the hardest things about being a preacher is getting ahold of something interesting and not being able to use it in a sermon. Well you guessed it, I came back across some information that I'm not going to be able to use this Sunday so you get it today.
What in the world is Jacob's ladder all about in Genesis 28:10-15?
10 Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” (NKJV)
Is this simply the product of poor pillow selection or something more?
The something more is Jesus Christ. Did you know Jacob's Ladder is Jesus Christ?
See John 1:51 and tell me what you think
51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (NKJV)
What in the world is Jacob's ladder all about in Genesis 28:10-15?
10 Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” (NKJV)
Is this simply the product of poor pillow selection or something more?
The something more is Jesus Christ. Did you know Jacob's Ladder is Jesus Christ?
See John 1:51 and tell me what you think
51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (NKJV)
Monday, September 18, 2006
The results are in
The next book has been placed on order and it is
Mark Dever's book The Deliberate Church
For those Mambrino folks out there the cost will be 10.00 to get in on the action. If you want to go ahead and take a peak than look at the amazon.com site here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581347383/ref=pd_rvi_gw_1/002-4210980-7344013?ie=UTF8
And check out Mark Dever's site here:
www.9marks.com
Mark Dever's book The Deliberate Church
For those Mambrino folks out there the cost will be 10.00 to get in on the action. If you want to go ahead and take a peak than look at the amazon.com site here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581347383/ref=pd_rvi_gw_1/002-4210980-7344013?ie=UTF8
And check out Mark Dever's site here:
www.9marks.com
Friday, September 15, 2006
Teens and Media
I'll confess up front that the incompassing use of media in todays teens surprises me (and I'm 27)! Web cams, My Space, camera phones, text messages, blogs, mp3 players, and whatever is coming tomorrow is consuming our teen culture. And when I say 'consuming' I am using a negative reference.
Last night Angela and I watched the end of the ABC Primetime special on Mean Teens. Here is a snipet video from the show. YOU ARE WARNED the language used is not your Sunday morning straighten up you're in church language. I normally would not link to this but a daughter in the house has called me to action.
Primetime Webcast: The Teenage Girl
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2436321
Please, Please, Please follow the link connected to "Teens and Media" above and listen to the biblical response by Al Mohler president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Besides, if you tithe to a SBC church you're helping to pay his salary.
Paul
Last night Angela and I watched the end of the ABC Primetime special on Mean Teens. Here is a snipet video from the show. YOU ARE WARNED the language used is not your Sunday morning straighten up you're in church language. I normally would not link to this but a daughter in the house has called me to action.
Primetime Webcast: The Teenage Girl
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2436321
Please, Please, Please follow the link connected to "Teens and Media" above and listen to the biblical response by Al Mohler president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Besides, if you tithe to a SBC church you're helping to pay his salary.
Paul
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Books I'm reading for the present
Mark is the only post on what to read next. There was mention previously, undocumented of course, between Paul and Sam to the ends of reading God is the Gospel by John Piper. Since Mark is so adament and I have two copies let's read Deliberate Church next. Until those all come in and we get started here's what I'm digging into and where you can get a taste.
1. The Race Set Before Us: A Biblical Theology of Perseverance & Assurance, Thomas R. Schreiner & Ardel B. Caneday
If someone disagreeing with John MacArthur is just like someone talking bad about your momma I would stay away. No, I would encourage. They are very graceful and biblical (aka I think they're right).
Check out Tom Schreiner (sermons and writings) here: http://www.theopedia.com/Thomas_Schreiner
2. Sex and the Supremacy of Christ, edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor
I'm not too far in but if you want a better explanation for biblical sexuality than what masquarades for an explanation in most of our churches than check this one out.
3. War of Words, Paul David Tripp
If you want to learn to talk to your wife, kids, friends, pastors, deacons, in a way that glorifies God then you need to check this one out. Angela and I are reading it together and moaning about how often it nails us right in the heart of our communication struggles.
4. Genesis Commentaries
5. Hebrews Commentaries
I would list those but dinner is on the table!
Paul
1. The Race Set Before Us: A Biblical Theology of Perseverance & Assurance, Thomas R. Schreiner & Ardel B. Caneday
If someone disagreeing with John MacArthur is just like someone talking bad about your momma I would stay away. No, I would encourage. They are very graceful and biblical (aka I think they're right).
Check out Tom Schreiner (sermons and writings) here: http://www.theopedia.com/Thomas_Schreiner
2. Sex and the Supremacy of Christ, edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor
I'm not too far in but if you want a better explanation for biblical sexuality than what masquarades for an explanation in most of our churches than check this one out.
3. War of Words, Paul David Tripp
If you want to learn to talk to your wife, kids, friends, pastors, deacons, in a way that glorifies God then you need to check this one out. Angela and I are reading it together and moaning about how often it nails us right in the heart of our communication struggles.
4. Genesis Commentaries
5. Hebrews Commentaries
I would list those but dinner is on the table!
Paul
Monday, September 11, 2006
Arthur Pink on using "trump texts"
But the Word of God does not contradict itself, and it is an evil practice which cannot be too strongly condemned to pit one passage against another: any attempt to neutralize one text by another is handling the Truth deceitfully (Arthur Pink, An Exposition of Hebrews, 1011).
Lessons learned from Grace Abounding
1. Grace abounded for me to finish the book.
It is so easy to get involved and complete what is easy is it not? Reading Grace Abounding was on a small scale like getting involved in someone's life who constantly takes a great deal of our emotional effort. I found myself wanting to at times scream at Bunyan but that's because I lack compassion, gentleness, patience, and the like. Uh oh, sounds a little bit like the fruit of the Spirit doesn't it? Reading Bunyan is prep work for dealing with people. Grace abounds for us to get involved and persevere in a way that glorifies God and builds His kingdom.
2. The unexamined life is not worth living
Socrates said it consumed with himself but Bunyan lived it consumed with God. The deeper Bunyan dug into his desires the greater he discovered his need for grace. The more sin he discovered the more concerned he became over the state of his own eternal soul. The roller coaster ride took him to places I dare say our own 'secure' faith will not take us. How many of us could endure 12 years of prison, the death of a child because of the stress, placing our family in poverty, and the like all so we can preach the gospel? Bunyan struggled greatly and he was used mightily. I wonder if there is any connection with struggling a little and being used a little?
3. Scripture must be used constantly and rightly
We mentioned the inadequacies of Bunyan's interprative methods previously. He botched some things and this caused him difficulties. His proper use of Scripture, however, brought him greater strength, endurance, and joy than his improper use. This does not excuse him or us but it should show us the value of constantly using Scripture in the battle of life (as Bunyan did) and it should encourage us to think of the even greater advantage of using it rightly (as Bunyan at times did not do).
Paul
It is so easy to get involved and complete what is easy is it not? Reading Grace Abounding was on a small scale like getting involved in someone's life who constantly takes a great deal of our emotional effort. I found myself wanting to at times scream at Bunyan but that's because I lack compassion, gentleness, patience, and the like. Uh oh, sounds a little bit like the fruit of the Spirit doesn't it? Reading Bunyan is prep work for dealing with people. Grace abounds for us to get involved and persevere in a way that glorifies God and builds His kingdom.
2. The unexamined life is not worth living
Socrates said it consumed with himself but Bunyan lived it consumed with God. The deeper Bunyan dug into his desires the greater he discovered his need for grace. The more sin he discovered the more concerned he became over the state of his own eternal soul. The roller coaster ride took him to places I dare say our own 'secure' faith will not take us. How many of us could endure 12 years of prison, the death of a child because of the stress, placing our family in poverty, and the like all so we can preach the gospel? Bunyan struggled greatly and he was used mightily. I wonder if there is any connection with struggling a little and being used a little?
3. Scripture must be used constantly and rightly
We mentioned the inadequacies of Bunyan's interprative methods previously. He botched some things and this caused him difficulties. His proper use of Scripture, however, brought him greater strength, endurance, and joy than his improper use. This does not excuse him or us but it should show us the value of constantly using Scripture in the battle of life (as Bunyan did) and it should encourage us to think of the even greater advantage of using it rightly (as Bunyan at times did not do).
Paul
Friday, September 08, 2006
Where to next?
I looked back over the schedule and we are supposed to have finished Grace Abounding this week. Well, I'm a week behind. Hopefully I'll finish it this weekend.
What matters is what we are going to read next. Where do ya'll want to go?
Tom wants to get together and talk face to face about Grace Abounding. I think it's a good idea and I need to know when and where is best for everyone.
Paul
What matters is what we are going to read next. Where do ya'll want to go?
Tom wants to get together and talk face to face about Grace Abounding. I think it's a good idea and I need to know when and where is best for everyone.
Paul
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
A Relation of the Imprisonment of John Bunyan
What impresses me about Bunyan's imprisonment is his persistent kindness. From his account there is no trace of anger or bitterness over the trial. Instead there is the aire of trust in God.
I wonder in my disputes and trials how often there is an overpowering aire of trust in God? Better yet; how often do I trust God enough to be patient in trails? My anger, bitterness, and sulking days afterwards display everything but trust in God.
But Bunyan wasn't all smiles while in prison. His agony over separation from his wife and family were great. He clearly did not enjoy his imprisonment but clearly handled it with his eyes fixed on the author and perfector of his faith. I wonder how many John Bunyans there are today?
Paul
I wonder in my disputes and trials how often there is an overpowering aire of trust in God? Better yet; how often do I trust God enough to be patient in trails? My anger, bitterness, and sulking days afterwards display everything but trust in God.
But Bunyan wasn't all smiles while in prison. His agony over separation from his wife and family were great. He clearly did not enjoy his imprisonment but clearly handled it with his eyes fixed on the author and perfector of his faith. I wonder how many John Bunyans there are today?
Paul
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