“I do want to learn from these experts, even if that learning forces me to see my own weaknesses (which are many) or my church’s own weaknesses (to which I am often blind). But must every pastor be a “visionary”? Must every local church transform itself into a “movement”? Is that even possible? Where does... Continue Reading

“I was shocked to discover that Ehrman does not engage with the scholarly (or popular) works of any experts in the field. One would have expected Ehrman to have read and shown awareness of the works of Eric Meyers, professor at Duke just down the road from where Ehrman teaches at the University of North... Continue Reading

“Studies reveal that of the minority who do still manage to drag out to a church service once a week in their twenties, a statistical majority of them shop for a church that emphasizes youth relevance rather than a biblical Christ-centered approach to preaching and ministry. The studies conclude that 55% who do go to... Continue Reading

“What principles were to guide this restoration of balance? None, as it turns out. Schlesinger and others thought America had entered a new phase of politics and culture. In the past men fought over religious convictions and moral principles. Traditional public life was riven by a politics of conviction that, in twentieth century, took rigid... Continue Reading

We have to be consistently reminded that the gospel is not just the way in, it’s the way through; indeed, it’s the destination!  Through the power of sound theology and the real life stories of Jesus’ followers, the Morrises underline what Jesus taught on the road to Emmaus – that the Scriptures preeminently concern him.... Continue Reading

The author’s point is that God’s imputing Christ’s righteousness and his imparting righteousness must not be blurred or conflated; we are not to collapse sanctification into justification. To put it in a way that might make Calvin smile, justification and sanctification are to be distinguished but not divorced.   Antinomianism: Reformed Theology’s Unwelcome Guest? Mark... Continue Reading

Much of the material falls in the “helpful reminder” category. Christians know this, and have learned this — but do we live it? Some of Anyabwile’s insights are refreshingly new and quite helpful. I particularly enjoyed how he showed that in most of the post-Resurrection appearances, merely seeing the physical Jesus was not enough. The minds and... Continue Reading

“In The Question of Canon, Michael J. Kruger, president and professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, systematically addresses five assumptions about the formation of the canon that have resulted in the dominant “extrinsic model.” In such an extrinsic approach, scholars think of the canon as something imposed from without (e.g., by... Continue Reading

As a lover of church history, I appreciate Simonetta Carr’s attention to detail and focus on historical accuracy. Rather than painting an impossibly perfect picture of a higher-than-thou saint, she gives us the true John Knox, doubts and weakness and all. He was like any of us, and because of that we can learn to... Continue Reading

The authors present Ehrman’s skeptical assertions, and then investigate his presuppositions, challenge his selective “facts,” and lay before the reader intelligent explanations as to why our belief in Jesus and trust of the Scripture is reasonable. Their purpose for taking this approach is not really about Bart Ehrman as much as it is about the... Continue Reading