Is the Bible More Than My Roadmap to Life?

A good 3 min clip by Chandler on how to read the Bible (or at least David and Goliath): Is the Bible More Than My Roadmap to Life? – Justin Taylor

Warning and Assurance in the Book of Hebrews

There have been a few posts recently on Assurance of Salvation and the warning passages in Hebrews, I wonder if they are quietly responding to Scot McKnight or not: Warning and Assurance in the Book of Hebrews – Justin Taylor

Evangelical Exhibitionists

This article starts out quite good, refusing to review Driscoll's book, but he still rips quite hard into Driscoll: Pyromaniacs: Evangelical Exhibitionists:

Yet evangelicals have been complaining for decades that we don't talk enough or hear enough teaching about sex. From the point of view of many non-evangelicals, sex is about the only thing evangelicals have demonstrated a serious and sustained interest in for the past 40 years. As early as 1977, Martin Marty, a liberal religious scholar, referred to the trend as "Fundies in their Undies."

Some Preliminary Thoughts On "Real Marriage"

Doug Wilson does make some good points: Some Preliminary Thoughts On "Real Marriage":

Take this example. Observe two Reformed pastors (Mark Driscoll and Tim Keller) of two major churches (Mars Hill and Redeemer) in two major cities (Manhattan and Seattle) who both have a book out on marriage (Real Marriage and The Meaning of Marriage). But in church polity, Keller is a soft egalitarian, and he has been conspicuous in his reluctance to address one of the central sins of Manhattan, which is the sin of sodomy. Mark Driscoll has been conspicuously courageous in how he has addressed the sexual perversions of his city. Now, which pastor is in big trouble? Which one is the controversial one? Which is the controversial one on sexual matters? We are not there yet, but this is the first step in how a people might supplant the Word of God for the sake of our traditions.

The Story of the Bible in One Sentence

Really the quote is in two great big sentences. The use of the semicolon is cheating a bit: The Story of the Bible in One Sentence – Justin Taylor:

The OT storyline appears best to be summarized as: the historical story of God who progressively reestablishes his new creational kingdom out of chaos over a sinful people by his word and Spirit through promise, covenant, and redemption, resulting in worldwide commission to the faithful to extend that new creation rule and resulting in judgment for the unfaithful (defeat and exile), all of which issues into his glory;

the NT storyline can be summarized as: Jesus’ life of covenantal obedience, trials, judgmental death for sinners, and especially resurrection by the Spirit has launched the fulfillment of the eschatological already-and-not-yet promised new creation reign, bestowed by grace through faith and resulting in worldwide commission to the faithful to extend this new creation rule and resulting in judgment for the unfaithful, unto God’s glory.

File sharing officially recognised as a religion in Sweden

Well this is a little strange: File sharing officially recognised as a religion in Sweden:

“For the Church of Kopimism, information is holy and copying is a sacrament,” Mr Gerson wrote on the church’s website.

“Being recognized by the state of Sweden is a large step for all of kopimi. Hopefully, this is one step towards the day when we can live out our faith without fear of persecution.”

Mr Gerson said the organisation has been trying to register the religion for over a year, but kept getting rejected.

Ligonier Connect online courses in Biblical Studies, Christian Living, Theology, and Worldview and Culture

This is a neat idea. You can watch past classes by R.C Sproul and also share the experience with other people who have opted into that class (or you can make your own class with people you already know). Ligonier Connect online courses in Biblical Studies, Christian Living, Theology, and Worldview and Culture

Ten Key Points to Remember in 2012

Some good advice from Rick Warren: Ten Key Points to Remember in 2012:

As pastors we live with the constant tension between the ideal (our dream for our church) and the real (how things actually are). Here are 10 key points I want you to remember this coming year

Resolve to be Thankful

Some good advice for the New Year: Resolve to be Thankful:

Demonstrate your thankfulness by attending, getting involved in areas of service, by giving of your time and money. Too many people live by the line of thinking, “I don’t have to go to church, or give or serve because God knows I feel thankful.” Do you want to be like the nine guys who didn’t come back to show their gratitude to Jesus or do you want to be like the one guy who did? All felt it, but only one acted on it.

Lead 11 Main Session Audio

The first free conference audio for this year (that I have found): Lead 11 Main Session Audio | Gospel Alliance New England:

Here are the Main session audios from Lead11. We are currently working on the video and breakout audios, and hope to have everything up by the first of the year!

The Meaning of Marriage

Challies has contrasted Kellers and Driscolls books on marriage well: The Meaning of Marriage | Challies Dot Com:

Having read the book through two times, I’ve found myself wondering how to best measure or evaluate it, but perhaps these criteria are useful: Would I want to read it with my wife or would I encourage her to read it on her own? Would I recommend it to the people in my church? In both cases the answer is an unreserved yes. In fact, I bought the audio book and listened to it with my wife and her assessment is the same as mine: Though there are many great books on marriage, this is the one we will recommend first.

My Review of Mark Driscoll’s “Real Marriage”

Another negative review of Driscolls new book: My Review of Mark Driscoll’s “Real Marriage” | Denny Burk:

The problems with the Driscolls’ advice, however, are not merely exegetical. They are also pastoral.

Book Review - Real Marriage

Ouch, but no surprise, Challies has been saying for a bit how much he didn't like this book. It has gone on sale today: Book Review - Real Marriage | Challies Dot Com:

Having read the book through two times, I’ve found myself wondering how to best measure or evaluate it, but perhaps these criteria are useful: Would I want to read it with my wife or would I encourage her to read it on her own? Would I recommend it to the people in my church? In both cases the answer is no. This is not to say that the book is entirely without merit; Real Marriage does have things to commend it. But in my assessment the negatives far outweigh the positives. Its disjointed nature, the way it is unhinged from the gospel, the way it evaluates sexual acts through an improper grid—in all these ways and more it inadvertently lowers marriage rather than elevates it. With so many good books on marriage available to us, I see no reason to recommend this one.

Shifting Footings

Interesting post on the arguments against Junia been a woman or apostle: Jesus Creed » Shifting Footings:

This gets tiresome. Let the Bible say what it says. Junia was a woman; she was an apostle; she was a great apostle. Give the woman a break and give her a big clap! Saint Chrysostom surely did.

Free Downloads on christianaudio

Nice, Knowing God is the free audio book this month: Free Downloads on christianaudio - Audiobooks, MP3, M4B, iPhone Apps, Free Downloads!