Audio Slideshow of RBS Pastoral Theology Module

 

Dr. Gonzales (Academic Dean of Reformed Baptist Seminary) has uploaded to his blog a ten minute slideshow of the recent RBS module (which I wrote about on barren land blog here) complete with audio samples of the lectures and discussion sessions.  Watching it reminded me of what a rich time of learning and edification it was.  I would encourage you to watch it (and not just because my ear gets a sweet cameo at about 6:30), but even more I would encourage you to lift up the ministry of RBS and the men laboring in preparation for ministry to our Lord in prayer.  May He use RBS to fulfill His purposes and to glorify His Son Jesus.

The Connected Kingdom Podcast: A Great Tool for Short Devotional Listening

Many people I know try to supplement their devotional life (or, as providential circumstance may have it, preserve their devotional life) by listening to solid sermons during the day.  This can be a great habit to get into, although there is at least one practical challenge.  If the sermons you are listening to are of the Reformed variety, your average audio file is going to be clocking in somewhere from 45-60 minutes in length.  Even if you are listening while folding laundry or wrenching on the car, good luck going that long without interruption. 

I'd like to point out a resource I've been benefiting from recently- the Connected Kingdom podcast.  CK is co-hosted by Tim Challies and David Murray, and until recently it has been produced in a fairly straight forward interview/Q and A/discussion format.  However, the first two episodes produced in the new season they have launched have been ten to fifteen minute monologues- perfect for devotional listening.  I have found them to be very listenable and spiritually rich.  I've embedded the first two episodes below.  If you find them helpful, check out either Tim or David's blog for new installments.

Ordinary



Crushed

Ward on Civil Religion

Although I've only known that it exists for a few weeks, I've been greatly enjoying the blog of Dr. Mark Ward Jr. of BJU Press.   In fact, I am pleased to announce that he has become my new favorite fundamentalist (not used here as a pejorative- he self identifies as such in the linked post).  To be fair, living in the Pacific Northwest means that I know far more Marxists, lumberjacks, and trees than I do fundamentalists; but the point remains and is meant as a compliment.  His post today reflecting on the President's recent remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast is a healthy does of keen insights, respectful tone, and good writing.  Enjoy.

The Gospel of Eden Part IV: Christ in the Garden

While the name “Jesus Christ” does not appear in Scripture until Matthew 1:1, the Son of God is present and accounted for from the first verses of the Bible; even in the works of creation according to John 1:3, Colossians 1:16, and Hebrews 1:10.  The first explicit mention of the Son in the text occurs in the midst of God’s “judicial inquest”[1] which begins in Genesis 3:8.  This section can be divided into three portions: the testimony of the guilty parties in verses 9-13; the pronouncement of the divine judgment in verses 14-19; and the various recorded responses and subsequent events recoded in verses 20-24.  Most relevant to the development of the gospel in this narrative is the judicial curse on the serpent in 3:15 and the divine act of mercy in 3:21.  In these two instances the redemptive nature of the person and work of Jesus Christ is typologically preached to man for the very first time.  This post will deal with both of these subjects in turn.

The Gospel of Eden Part III: Sin in the Garden

Although the creation of man in Genesis 2 was dealt with somewhat in the previous post, attention must be paid to the parallel account in chapter one. In Genesis 1:26-27 we encounter some very significant language.

Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.  And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Much has been said by others concerning the significance of man as “image bearer” of God.[1]  What is most relevant to the present discussion is the fact that when combined with the dominion mandate of 1:28 and the commission/admonition of 2:15-17, man’s pre-fall situation and identity begins to come into focus.  Far too often a strong emphasis is placed on his ethical innocence at the neglect of his covenant responsibilities and promises.  While man was without sin in Eden, he was still in that posse peccare state, with the possibility of failure and the threat of death ever over his head.

A Slander on the Oyster

"You are probably all acquainted with ministers who have mistaken their calling, and evidently have no gifts for preaching; make sure that none think the same of you. There are brethren in the ministry whose speech is intolerable; either they dun you to death, or else they send you to sleep. No chloral can ever equal their discourse in sleep-giving properties. No human being, unless gifted with infinite patience, could long endure to listen to them, and nature does well to give the victim deliverance through sleep. I heard one say, the other day, that a certain preacher had no more gifts for the ministry than an oyster, and in my own judgment this was a slander on the oyster, for that worthy bivalve shows great discretion in his openings, and he also knows when to close. If some men were sentenced to hear their own sermons, it would be a righteous judgment upon them; but they would soon cry out with Cain, "My punishment is greater than I can bear." Let us not fall under the same condemnation through any faults in our preaching which we can remedy." Charles Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry, 28-9.

Elephant Equation

If you've never heard of the Elephant Room I would probably just skip this post. It's amazing how many "controversies" that we get worked up about in evangelicalism involve men and churches which are geographically and culturally so far away from us that they have no real impact on our lives.  Our LCD screens become both the window into matters that truly do not involve us and also the pulpit from which we then opine as though they were very urgent in our lives.

That being said, if you are following this blog then there is a good probability that you are somewhat engaged with the broader reformed and evangelical culture.  A good percentage of you may have been following every twist of this story for the last several months.  The Elephant Room has been and continues to be a bit different from the normal evangelical kerfuffle do to the central doctrines at play and the particular men involved.

My input on this will be brief.  If you think that the Elephant Room 2 was a.) the dawning of the age of Aquarius in regards to a new "tribe" which speaks to rather than at each other and which rightly exalts love and relationship over doctrine and division, or b.) you think that the age of Antichrist has dawned and the end is near; you should probably take a break from the internet.  

As usual, Dr. Gonzales has some great thoughts and helpful links.  Also, don't miss Thabiti's thoughts from before the event actually occurred.

As for me, I could write 10,000 words on this but it would probably be more heat than light. Rather, I have chosen to express myself by way of an equation. Remember your order of operations (please excuse my dear aunt sally).   

[(good intentions - critical discernment) + (admirable courage - careful wisdom)] x reality TV

the strange state of contemporary evangelicalsim

=

the blurred orthodoxy of the Elephant Room 2