Here’s a convicting excerpt (pp. 173–74) from John Piper’s “Faith in Future Grace vs. Impatience” (chapter 13 in Future Grace): [Read more…] about Piper: “Impatient people are weak”
Mark Dever Defends His Practice of Separation
Mark Dever just posted this short article on the 9Marks blog: “Mark Dever doesn’t practice separation”?
He concludes:
To sum it up, I want my separation from the world to be more pronounced than my separation from other Christians. Does this make sense?
The Offense of the Cross
Paul’s argument in Gal 5:1–12 defends Christian liberty over a distinctive Jewish practice: circumcision. Note Paul’s logic in v. 11:
Ἐγὼ δέ, ἀδελφοί, εἰ περιτομὴν ἔτι κηρύσσω, τί ἔτι διώκομαι; ἄρα κατήργηται τὸ σκάνδαλον τοῦ σταυροῦ.
Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed (NET).
Adding circumcision to the gospel removed “the offense of the cross,” which is essential to the gospel.
Questions for reflection:
- How does our culture remove “the offense of the cross” (e.g., through mainstream media)?
- How do Christians remove “the offense of the cross” (e.g., through writings, sermons, ministry philosophies)?
- How might I remove “the offense of the cross” when I communicate with (1) non-Christians, (2) other Christians, and (3) myself?
John Piper: “20 Reasons I Don’t Take Potshots at Fundamentalists”
See here. Piper’s attitude is commendable.
On a related note, I enjoyed observing him and interacting a bit last week at the annual pastor’s colloquium for The Gospel Coalition. The man is passionate about guarding and advancing the gospel, and for that I gratefully thank God!
Mark Dever Interviews Mark Minnick
The latest 9Marks interview by Mark Dever is now available: “Fundamentalism and Separation with Mark Minnick: Pastor and Bob Jones University professor Mark Minnick presents the case for the Fundamentalist doctrine of separation.”
Related:
Con Campbell’s Second Book on Verbal Aspect Released in Carson’s SBG Series
Last August I posted on “Con Campbell’s Book on Verbal Aspect Released in Carson’s SBG Series.” His second volume, a companion to the first, is now hot off the press:
Constantine R. Campbell, Verbal Aspect and Non-Indicative Verbs: Further Soundings in the Greek of the New Testament (ed. D. A. Carson; Studies in Biblical Greek 15; New York: Lang, 2008), xiv + 155 pp.
Carson writes in the series editor’s preface,
One of the self-imposed limitations of Dr Campbell’s earlier volume in this series, Verbal Aspect, the Indicative Mood, and Narrative: Soundings in the Greek of the New Testament, was the restriction of the analysis to verbs in the indicative mood found in narrative settings. The book you now hold in your hand plugs part of that gap: Dr Campbell now does for the non-indicative verbs what he earlier did for the indicative. His approach is similar: judicious soundings, careful examination of the context, thoughtful translation—all couched in highly readable prose. The two volumes belong together, and together they establish one of the most credible (and certainly accessible) analyses of verbal aspect in the Greek of the New Testament. The issues are complex and frequently subtle, so inevitably grammarians will differ in their assessments of some elements of Dr Campbell’s presentation. Nevertheless this contribution is strong evidence (if more evidence is needed) that verbal aspect theory has come of age and cannot responsibly be ignored by New Testament scholars (pp. xi–xii).
Endorsements on the back cover are by Peter T. O’Brien (Campbell’s colleague at Moore Theological College) and Rodney J. Decker.
Related: Andrew David Naselli, “A Brief Introduction to Verbal Aspect in New Testament Greek,” Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 12 (2007): 17–28.
Mike Bullmore MP3s on 1 Cor 7
My pastor, Dr. Mike Bullmore, is currently preaching through 1 Corinthians, and this morning he finished a sensitive, insightful, pastorally wise exposition of chapter 7.
- Marriage in God’s World (April 13, 2008)
- A Oneness That Glorifies God (1 Cor 7:1–7) (April 20, 2008)
- Glorifying God in Challenging Marital Situations (1 Cor 7:8–16, 39–40) (April 27, 2008)
- To Marry or Not to Marry: Singleness and the Glory of God (Part 1) (May 4, 2008)
- To Marry or Not to Marry (Part 2) (May 18, 2008)
Today’s sermon (#5 above) is particularly outstanding. Its target audience is older teenagers and their parents, but it is especially applicable to singles in their 20s, 30s, 40s, etc. Bullmore gives two reminders followed by five statements summarizing biblical priorities in preparing for marriage. Highly recommended!
Mike Bullmore’s preaching is like a combination of John Piper and C. J. Mahaney! More of his MP3s are available here, here, and here.
Charging the Mound: A Lesson in Hermeneutics
My good friend Phil Gons was sitting just a couple rows directly behind home plate in Seattle on May 8 for the Mariners-Rangers game when 6′ 8” Richie Sexson charged the mound and the benches cleared. If all you saw was a replay of the pitch prior to his charging the mound, you might wonder why he did that; the fastball was right down the middle (although eye level). This video at MLB.com serves as a good lesson in biblical hermeneutics: context, context, context!
