Getting Involved in Spiritual Transformation, Part 2 of 4

“…but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2, NRSV Stepping away from polluting voices is the first step in getting involved in spiritual transformation, but it’s only the beginning. We need something to take the place of those polluting voices; that is, something that will strengthen our … Read More

What I Learned from John Stott, Part 3 of 3

As a carpenter, I appreciate Stott’s human side whether as seen above in his enjoyment of dogs as he hangs out with Billy Graham or below with his willingness to roll up his sleeves and work hard. As a theologian, it’s his authenticity, fidelity, and clarity that continue to inspire me. Even though he came from a wealthy home and … Read More

What I Learned from John Stott, Part 2 of 3

Being at an evangelical seminary can be confusing. You’re constantly sorting through difficult exegetical and theological questions, as well as learning different denominational and historic understandings of various doctrines. The experience can leave you either, on the one hand, longing for the comfort of dogma (i.e. “Maybe I should become a Roman Catholic…”) or, on the other hand, desiring greater … Read More

How Did We Get the Bible We Have Today?

“The use of ‘canon’ for a list of books that are canonical in the defined sense is secondary and derivative. The church has always known, more or less clearly, that it did not create a canon by discretionary fiat but received the canon that God created for it.”[1] Like Jake and Elwood above, the Bible claims to be on a … Read More

How Bart Ehrman’s “Misquoting Jesus” Misses the Point, 2 of 2

Bart Ehrman is a first-rate scholar but he misses the point and it seems he should know better. At Princeton Theological Seminary, he was the student of Bruce Metzger (1914-2007), one of the highest regarded scholars of Greek, New Testament, and New Testament Textual Criticism in the world. In fact, Erhman dedicates Misquoting Jesus to Metzger and even helped update the … Read More

How Bart Ehrman’s “Misquoting Jesus” Misses the Point, 1 of 2

I mentioned here that I’ve been thinking a lot about understanding and addressing millennial apostasy. I’ve been doing this by identifying and looking through several lenses, one of which is a loss of confidence in the authority of Scripture. In my research, I’ve found that Bart Ehrman’s New York Times bestseller Misquoting Jesus has been a major contributor to this … Read More

Five Essentials of Spiritual Growth

On Sundays in many churches, personal use of a Bible in any form is unnecessary. Congregants know little of its contents and, barring a possible Sunday school or confirmation class, there’s insufficient training on how to handle it correctly. One mom scornfully described the classes of her own children’s church experience as “God loves you. Draw a tree.” Churches like … Read More

Expository Preaching and the Future of Christianity, Part 2

 “The ultimate healing of the world’s hurt is not to be effected by legislation but by the redeeming grace of God, and the proclamation of that redeeming grace is the highest work to which any man can be called.” – Congregational minister, J.D. Jones[1] As we said last week, expository preaching is essential to building individuals and families that love … Read More

Expository Preaching and the Future of Christianity, Part 1

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? Romans 10:14, ESV Last week, I talked here about the future of Christianity and how it’s tied to the importance of “moms and dads … Read More

Reading, Snuggles, and the Future of Christianity

Note: This post is a re-purposed and expanded version of “For the Love of Books,” and commemorates my son, Timothy, and daughter, Emily’s, graduations this week: Tim from Villanova where he got two Masters, one in English Literature and one in Theology, and Emily who became a registered nurse, receiving her RN from Rowan College. Very proud of them! In … Read More