B. B. Warfield warned busy theological students in his The Religious Life of a Theological Student, “There is no mistake more terrible than to suppose that activity in Christian work can take the place of depth of Christian affections” (The Religious Life of a Theological Student /The Master’s Perspective on Pastoral Ministry, page 27). “Activity, [...]
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We have many Marthas, but where are the Marys?
Posted: February 7, 2012 in Book ReviewsTags: B. B. Warfield, prayer closet, religious exercises, spiritual disciplines, The Religious Life of Theological Students, theological students
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Driscoll’s Unlimited, Limited Atonement, Part 2
Posted: February 6, 2012 in ChristTags: A. H. Strong, Amyraldianism, Arminianism, Atonement, Charles Hodges, Five Point Calvinism, Jacob Arminius, Limited Atonement, Louis Berkhof, Mark Driscoll, Millard Erickson, Moses Amyraut, Paul Hartog, Philip Schaff, Phillip Johnson, Robert Lightner, Synod of Dort, The Creeds of Christendom, The Death Christ Died
Driscoll’s Unlimited/limited Atonement is unlimited in the benefit of the atonement. The benefit of the atonement is similar to Common Grace which some of the Reformed men have accused him of teaching. No where does Driscoll state that the provision of Christ’s death is unlimited. Driscoll quotes Charles Haddon Spurgeon to support his unlimited, limited [...]
Driscoll’s Unlimited, Limited Atonement, Part 1
Posted: February 6, 2012 in ChristTags: A. H. Strong, Amyraldianism, Arminianism, Atonement, Charles Hodges, Five Point Calvinism, Jacob Arminius, Limited Atonement, Louis Berkhof, Mark Driscoll, Millard Erickson, Moses Amyraut, Paul Hartog, Philip Schaff, Phillip Johnson, Robert Lightner, Synod of Dort, The Creeds of Christendom, The Death Christ Died
Mark Driscoll set off a controversy among some of the reformed, whom he called, ”Young, nitpicking, theologically geeky, Calvinist crazy-makers who are like a rock in my shoe” when he preached his modified Calvinist position on the death of Christ which he calls “The unlimited, limited atonement.” Click to hear the sermon http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/christ-on-the-cross/unlimited-limited-atonement. Did Christ die for all people [...]
Review: The Religious Life of Theological Students by Benjamin B. Warfield, Part 1
Posted: February 4, 2012 in Book ReviewsTags: B. B. Warfield, Cotton Mather, J. Gresham Machen, Princeton Theological Seminary, The Religious Life of Theological Students, Westminster Seminary
Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (1851-1921) was professor of theology at Princeton Theological Seminary from 1887-1921. Warfield is considered the last of the great Princeton theologians before the split in 1929 that formed Westminster Seminary under the leadership of J. Gresham Machen. I am reviewing a message he delivered to pastoral students at the Autumn Conference of Princeton Theological Seminary on October 4, [...]
Do We Want to Improve or Just be Approved?
Posted: February 2, 2012 in Homiletics/PreachingTags: Andy Stanley, Brian Tracy, Charles H. Spurgeon, J. Oswald Sanders' Spiritual Leadership, John Maxwell, Mark Driscoll, Maximum Achievement, Michael Duduit, Preaching Now, Vintage Church
Spurgeon would occasionally find a nasty anonymous letter lying on his pulpit when he would stand up to preach. There would be a letter but no name. One day he got to the pulpit and there was a piece of paper with one word written in large letters….IDIOT…. So Spurgeon said to his congregation, “Normally [...]
Why I Am Not a Five or Six or Seven Point Calvinist! (Part 2)
Posted: January 30, 2012 in SalvationTags: double predestination, five point calvinist, Hyper-Calvinism, Phil Johnson, The Canons of the Synod of Dordt, The Gospel Standard Aid and Poor Relief Societies, Tim Challies
It is at this point that another debates fares up: What constitutes a hyper-Calvinist? Is a person a hyper or strict Calvinist because he believes 5 to 7 points of Calvinism or because of what he practices i.e., he refuses to preach the gospel to all sinners because Christ only died for the elect. Tim [...]
Why I Am Not a Five or Six or Seven Point Calvinist! (Part 1)
Posted: January 30, 2012 in SalvationTags: A. H. Strong, bible.org, Charles Ryrie, Clark Pinnock, John Piper, Matt Perman, Phil Johnson, Thomas Constable, Tim Challies
Here is how Matt Perman, director of strategy at Desiring God in Minneapolis, MN., describes what Piper means when he describes himself as a “seven point Calvinist:” When John Piper says he is a “seven point Calvinist,” he does so half jokingly and half seriously. Historically, there are five points of Calvinism, not seven. Piper isn’t seeking to [...]
The New Jerusalem or Heaven on Earth (Revelation 21-22) Part Two
Posted: January 25, 2012 in End Time Events, SermonsTags: Charles Spurgeon, gold wedding ring, John MacArthur, John Walvoord, New Jerusalem, Robert Thomas, shekinah glory, Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology
Now the angel giving John and us the guided tour takes us through the gates of pearl into the City to continue our worship and wonder at God’s greatness. I. The New Jerusalem Described Externally (21:10-20) This is the aerial view. II. The City is now Internally Described (21:21-22:5). Not only is God a master architect but He is [...]
Pastor/People Relationship in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14
Posted: January 24, 2012 in SermonsTags: assembly problems, Billy Sunday, Charles Spurgeon, missionary journey, pastoral leadership, president harding, soul trap, Stephen Olford
Billy Sunday once said, “I would rather preach than anything on earth. If President Harding should telegraph me tomorrow, and say, ‘Bill, will you change jobs with me?’ I’d say ‘Nothin doin, Warren.’” Paul felt the same as Sunday as he expressed in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14. Paul started the church at Thessalonica on his second missionary journey [...]
The New Jerusalem or Heaven on Earth (Revelation 21-22) Part One
Posted: January 24, 2012 in End Time Events, SermonsTags: David Jeremiah, Heaven, J. Oswald Sanders, Martin Luther, Millard Erickson, Randy Alcorn, Stephen Davey, The New Jerusalem, Wayne Grudem
When a Sunday school teacher quizzed her fifth-graders about how one gets to heaven, she got all correct answers: One doesn’t get there by being good, giving away money, or being a nice person. “Well, then,” she asked, “how does one get heaven?” Before any of the regular students could answer, a boy who was [...]
