The whole backbone to the “why” of small groups happens to be the Trinity and our being made in the image of the Trinity. The authors tease out how we are hard-wired for communal life, that God’s creative action intentionally made us social beings as seen in Genesis 1 and 2. As the Father, Son... Continue Reading

Leading others is significantly easier when followers enjoy being around the leader, and interpersonally gifted people are at a significant advantage in power… The higher the level of the job, the less important technical skills and cognitive abilities were and the more important competence in emotional intelligence became.   I’ve just finished one of the... Continue Reading

Anglicanism in the sixteenth century was consciously not a via media between Rome and Geneva, but between Geneva and Wittenberg. As Alister McGrath has observed, ‘the “middle way” which resulted was neither Calvinist nor Lutheran- but it was certainly Protestant.’ While Calvinists were the dominant theological force throughout the century, they never succeeded in making the worship... Continue Reading

But “For the Least of These” makes it clear that we should stop talking about work as a stick, and instead view it as a carrot. We need to stop bashing people over the head if they’re not working their way to wealth; life is complicated and unfair, and many people worldwide lack the resources... Continue Reading

Where Miller’s diagnosis was insightful, many conservative Christians criticized his book on a number of counts, and especially for its postmodern ethos which led to a lack of grounding in the authority of Scripture. Miller often eschews firm answers to matters of life and doctrine and this concerned those who hold up Scripture as a... Continue Reading

I would say that the most foundational error in the book is his rejection of the “dual aspects of the covenant,” a matter which I consider essential to good Reformed theology and well balanced Calvinism. Reformed theology at its best accepts all that Scripture teaches about both divine sovereignty and human responsibility, even though tying... Continue Reading

Ehrman’s core argument is that Jesus was a mere man who gradually, over time, came to be regarded as more and more divine, until he was ultimately (in the fourth century) regarded as the God of the universe.  He states, “It will become clear in the following chapters that Jesus was not originally considered to... Continue Reading

By remembering who we are and whose we are keeps us from falling into the double trap of idolatry and idleness in our occupations. Both of these grow out of the same misconception: if we are seeking our value and worth in our profession then we will (1) either turn it into an idol –... Continue Reading

“Schaeffer died 30 years ago this May and was known more in his later years for support of politically conservative causes. Apart from politics, though, he spoke of existentialism, modern art, music, ethics, theology, and movies in a rare way for evangelicals of his era or of any era.  Garber follows in that noble tradition... Continue Reading

“Matthew Vines’ “God and the Gay Christian,” released April 22 by Convergent Books, also cites Augustine, John Chrysostom, John Calvin and C.S. Lewis in the course of arguing that Scripture allows monogamous same-sex marriage. Vines admits that Christians throughout history condemned homosexuality, but he writes that most did not understand the modern concept of homosexual... Continue Reading