Clear, deep, thorough, penetrating ideas are not formed by short bursts of mental activity.
A Primer on Common Grace
What do Christians mean when we refer to common grace? It's been my observation over the past few years that believers are not well-acquainted with this area of theology. This lack of familiarity is unfortunate because the doctrine of common grace can offer significant insight into our Christian experience if rightly understood and applied. I … Continue reading A Primer on Common Grace
Christ as the Centerpiece of Theology
It's not a matter of Christ should be the center of our theology. Scripture shows us that he simply is the center of our theology. Herman Bavinck is certainly right when he says, “The doctrine of Christ is not the starting point, but it certainly is the central point of the whole system of dogmatics. All … Continue reading Christ as the Centerpiece of Theology
The Pastor-Theologian: Valuable and Necessary
While it may be difficult to believe in our current cultural setting, there was a time when the pastor was viewed as a town’s leading intellectual. Pastors of what seems like a long-lost era were doctrinally grounded and biblically saturated, to be sure; but they were also well-read in other important branches of study—literature, economics, … Continue reading The Pastor-Theologian: Valuable and Necessary
Toward a Christian Philosophy of History
Over the past few years---due to teaching assignments, writing projects, and personal interest---I've done a fair amount of reading and reflection on the Genesis creation narrative. One the major questions with which professing evangelicals are currently wrestling is how we should understand the Genesis account as it pertains specifically to the existence of Adam and … Continue reading Toward a Christian Philosophy of History
9 Exhortations for Doing Theology
Theology can be a snare if we don't pursue it properly. Below are nine exhortations for how we should approach the work of theology. (1) Revere the nature of Scripture and beware of mere abstraction When we study theology we must recognize that all true and useful theology flows from a proper understanding of Scripture. … Continue reading 9 Exhortations for Doing Theology
9 Quotes from ‘The Pastor-Theologian: Resurrecting an Ancient Vision’ by Hiestand and Wilson
I completed Gerald Hiestand and Todd Wilson excellent (and encouraging) volume The Pastor Theologian: Resurrecting an Ancient Vision about six months ago. If you are a pastor, I strongly recommend that you acquire and read this book. Below are my favorite quotes. Pastors are the Theologians of the Church: Despite assumptions to the contrary, the pastoral … Continue reading 9 Quotes from ‘The Pastor-Theologian: Resurrecting an Ancient Vision’ by Hiestand and Wilson
From the Study 