Mark 9: Motivation To Take Up The Cross

Going into Mark 9 from Mark 8, Jesus has just announced in Mark 8:34 that anyone who wants to come after him has to deny himself, take up his cross, and follow him. Then in 8:35 he said that if you want to gain your life you have to lose it. The last words of …

Doxologies in the New Testament: Limited Time Offer

Here is the fourth of the five Tables from God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment: A Biblical Theology that I’m posting here. This one gathers all the Doxologies in the New Testament. Like the previous one, the relevant statements of the verses are printed out along with the references. A fitting thing to read through …

The Debate about Shouwang Church

Here’s an interesting article about what is taking place in China: “The Debate about Shouwang Church.” I have a proposition, then a question prompted by the article, then brief thoughts on Paul’s response to such situations: Proposition: The Chinese government is wickedly persecuting Christians and opposing God and his gospel. May God break the teeth …

The Messianic Woes in the Old and New Testaments: Limited Time Offer

As noted earlier, Crossway is allowing me to post some Tables from God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment: A Biblical Theology. This is the third of the five that will be posted here, and it seeks to provide background for statements like the one in Colossians 1:24, “Now I rejoice in my suffering for your …

Payne Alleges Censorship and Editorial Abuse of Privilege

Here are another couple of paragraphs omitted from my review of Payne’s book. Those who disagree with Payne are accused of censorship, misrepresentation, blatant falsehood, and uncritical thinking: Payne suggests that when Douglas J. Moo, as editor of Trinity Journal, did not publish a particular egalitarian’s submission, Moo practiced “censorship” (120 n. 13, cf. 411 …

How Payne Responds to His Critics

Here’s a paragraph that I cut from my review of Payne, Man and Woman, One in Christ: Payne typically answers his critics with argumentum verbosium or “proof by verbosity.” Craig Blomberg wrote a 2,200 word review of the book under review here,[1] and Payne posted a 3,600 word comment in response. Tom Schreiner reviewed the …

Randolph Street’s Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies

From Randolph Street Church in Charleston, West Virginia: The Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies will be formally launched in May 2011 at Randolph Street Church in Charleston, WV.  Visit www.randolphonline.org/academy for details and to register for the first class.  Attached is a detailed description of the Academy and schedule. Our adjunct professors for 2011-2012 include Dr. …

The Hero Story (The Messiah in the Old Testament)

This essay appears in the spring 2011 issue of Southern Seminary magazine, The Tie. I am grateful to post it here by permission. Click through for a free subscription to The Tie. Have you heard the ballad of the hoped for hero? Ancient prophecies foretell his coming. Not altogether clear, shrouded in mystery, but enough …

Looking for Good Writing? Check Out Moore’s Latest

If you’re asking whether there are any Christians who can write, maybe adding that you want a Christian who writes good theology with style, you should check out Russell D. Moore’s Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ. This is a beautifully written book. And it’s compelling, stirring, insightful, life-giving . . . …

The Turn to Jerusalem

On Sunday, April 3, it was my privilege to preach Mark 8 at Kenwood Baptist Church, “The Turn to Jerusalem.” To this point in Mark Jesus has been ministering in Jerusalem (Mark 1–7), but after Peter’s confession here in Mark 8, he sets his face toward Jerusalem and teaches his disciples what it means to …

Releasing Today: Tim Challies’ “The Next Story”

Tim Challies can be counted on to shoot straight. His book reviews are valuable precisely because he’s not afraid to say that a book is terrible, and as he refuses to beat around the bush, he evaluates from a perspective of sound theology and biblical wisdom, loving discretion and insightful discernment. Tim’s first book, in …

Are Your Doubts Consistent?

My friend Greg Sykes sent me this quote from Tim Keller in response to some of the comments on “Why I Believe the Bible“: “The only way to doubt Christianity rightly and fairly is to discern the alternate belief under each of your doubts and then to ask yourself what reason you have for believing it. …

Trevin Wax Interviews Mitch Chase

Head on over to Kingdom People for this interview with Mitch Chase on his book The Gospel Is for Christians. Endorsements for the book: “Mitch Chase joins a growing group of leaders on mission to help the church rediscover the truth that the gospel isn’t just the power of God to save us; it’s the …

Authors of Fiction Exercise Meticulous Sovereign Control

“As in the universe every atom has an effect, however minuscule, on every other other atom, so that to pinch the fabric of Time and Space at any point is to shake the whole length and breadth of it, so in fiction every element has an effect on every other, so that to change a …