The seminaries are too full

This raises a host of questions regarding the importance of attending the local church vs the importance of moving away to get a good theological education. Maybe technology will help: The seminaries are too full « Expository Thoughts:

I think churches have a responsibility as well. Should anyone go to seminary that is not already manifesting some level of ministry gifting and ability in his local church? Churches can adopt some form of criteria to test men before sending them off. A robust apprenticeship program or internship can be a great ministry for local churches and give men time to mature and grow in ministry. On the other hand, we also need to reexamine whether sending men off is good for the church at all. I think this is a sacred cow for many but one worth slaughtering if need be. In this day and age, the seminary classroom can be localized in such a way that men can serve in their local church and still attend class through virtual means. I’m not talking about on-line degree factories but places like The Expositor’s Seminary where like-minded churches host real-time classes with back and forth interaction at the same time on numerous church campuses. On this, seminaries and churches need to think outside the box and I’m encouraged that many are doing this.

Putting On Christ / Putting Off Sin

A good overview of Paul's references to putting on the new life and putting off the old one: Putting On Christ / Putting Off Sin – Justin Taylor:

I’ve been intrigued by Paul’s idea of “putting on” and “putting off,” and wanted to investigate a little further.

One of Our Favorite Series on Manhood

More free audio on Manhood. I think have listened three other talks by Chandler, and I thought they were great: One of Our Favorite Series on Manhood | The Resurgence:

Matt Chandler did a Men's Bible Study back in 2008 at the Village Church titled The Image & Glory of God. We thought it's a great series on manhood so we wanted to repost it here as a resource. Find more studies and seminars from the Village Church.

Joy in God Is the Heart of Mission

I like Newbigin. Mission is not a command, but implicit in Christianity: Joy in God Is the Heart of Mission - Desiring God:

The mission of the Church in the pages of the New Testament is more like a fallout which is not lethal but life-giving. One searches in vain through the letters of St. Paul to find any suggestion that he anywhere lays it on the conscience of his reader that they ought to be active in mission. For himself it is inconceivable that he should keep silent. 'Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!' (1 Corinthians 9:16). But nowhere do we find him telling his readers that they have a duty to do so. . . .

Love Tanks

Some parenting tips by Doug Wilson Love Tanks:

But children need fathers to be fathers. They need fathers to draw a line, to set a boundary. They need limits. But they need these limits from a man who has established his wisdom in drawing them. The limits are not set for their own sake, but for the child's sake. And they are not set all by themselves, but are balanced in the context of a gracious relationship -- just as the numbers on checks should be balanced in the context of the numbers on deposit slips.

Singe, Christian and Sexy?

Should Christians be sexy? Candid Christianity: Singe, Christian and Sexy? | Antwuan Malone:

The short answers seems to be that, yes, single Christians can be sexy. This, however, begs the question: Should they be sexy?

engage 2011 sold out

Piper is speaking. I got five tickets last night for the first weekend: engage 2011 sold out - Katoomba Christian Convention:

Tickets have now sold out to both weekends of engage 2011

New Multimedia Resource: Jonathan Leeman on God's Word

Four free talks on the Bible by a 9marks guy: New Multimedia Resource: Jonathan Leeman on God's Word | 9Marks:

How should we as Christians view God's Word? How does God's Word give life to a congregation? Is God's Word really that important in the local church? Jonathan Leeman recently had the opportunity to encourage and instruct some church members in Graham, Texas by considering these questions and more.

Epicycles and Phlogiston: Fanciful Flights from the Historical Adam and Jesus

There seems to be a debate brewing over a Historical Adam. Christianity Today has a review of the debate as well: Epicycles and Phlogiston: Fanciful Flights from the Historical Adam and Jesus – The Gospel Coalition Blog:

Which brings us to theological liberalism, which hates talk of the historical Adam. Just when they think they’ve evaporated him in the “myths” of Genesis, he crops up in New Testament texts as a real man. There he is in Romans 5, as in “by one man sin entered into the world” and as in “death reigned from Adam to Moses.” Then he appears in 1 Corinthians 15: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive”; and again, “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” Not to mention the genealogy in Luke 3 and the talk of Eve’s and his problems in 1 Timothy 2. It’s enough to make a Tübingen adept long for Martian loops.

Connecting with Your Kids

Two on-line tools for connecting with your spouse and children: Connecting with Your Kids:

After years of working with couples employing the Flag Page and getting marvelous results and success, we enlisted the help of Larry Bilotta, creator of the Flag Page, to come up with a Kids Flag Page. The game-base version can be used with children ages 6-11—or younger with parental assistance—to give them and their parents an understanding of what drives them and makes them tick.

Make Every Effort

Do we lean too much on grace? Effort is also required for the Christian lifeMake Every Effort – Kevin DeYoung:

God did not tell the Israelites, “Work hard and I’ll set you free from Egypt.” That’s law without a gospel. Neither did God tell them, “I love you. I set you free by my grace. I ask nothing more except that you believe in this good gift.” That’s gospel with no law. Instead, God redeemed the people by his mercy, and that mercy made a way for obedience. Gospel then law. Trust and obey.

Ruth 4 and the Sovereignty of God

Do we stop and do too much risk assessment, or get on with things and trust in the sovereignty of God?: Ruth 4 and the Sovereignty of God | Dipendente:

It is my belief that as we come to realize and believe in the sovereignty of God, that we will also start doing less of this “risk assessment” and just get on with God’s mission. I think i am coming to the conclusion that there must be a mathematical equation (quite hard for me since i hate maths) the the more a church believes in the sovereignty of God the more willing it is to serve, but the opposite i think is true also. The less a church is involved in mission and stepping out and taking risks i believe is an indicator of the loss in understanding of God’s Sovereignty.

When Does Viewing Porn Disqualify for Ministry?

Driscoll answers this question in the following video: When Does Viewing Porn Disqualify for Ministry? | Dipendente

Piper, Carson, and Keller on Sustaining the Covenant of Marital Love

Some heavy weights talk about been marriage for about 40 years each: Piper, Carson, and Keller on Sustaining the Covenant of Marital Love – The Gospel Coalition Blog:

Don Carson, Tim Keller, and John Piper offer insight on falling in love again and again and the ground of covenant in which the flower of love grows. In marriage, man and woman change, but their promise does not, sustained by the God who enacted his covenant between Christ and the church.

Psychics

Social commentary by the Dilbert guy. I've heard Driscoll also say that men on sitcoms are always the butt of a joke and never the leader who resolves all the problems: Scott Adams Blog: Psychics 06/06/2011:

Here's a quick quiz: What is the common word for 'hatred of women'? Most of you got the right answer in less than a second: misogyny.

Question two, what is the common name for 'hatred of men'?

Um...

The answer is misandry. But I would have also accepted 'normal,' at least in America. Hatred of men for their supposed faults is pretty much business as usual in this country - so much so that we rarely label it. And if a man is powerful, that's two strikes against him.