Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Practical Theology

Two Books on Politics by Theologians Coming out Next Month

by

One short (144 pages)

Carl R. Trueman. Republocrat: Confessions of a Liberal Conservative. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2010.

(Sample pages, video interview, and endorsements here.)

One long (624 pages)

Wayne Grudem. Politics according to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010.

Mike Bullmore on the Gospel and Pastoral Ministry

by

My pastor, Mike Bullmore, began his sermon last Sunday with a brief update regarding a conference he ministered at the previous week in Toronto. The conference MP3s are available for free, and here’s what Mike contributed:

  1. The Functional Centrality of the Gospel
  2. Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Martin and guests
  3. The Gospel and Pastoral Character
  4. Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Symons, Boot, Martin, and guests
  5. The Gospel and Pastoral Labor
  6. Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Martin and guests
  7. The Gospel and Pastoral Hope
  8. Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Martin, Symons, and guests

Should Pastors Get PhDs?

by

John Piper answers that question in three and a half minutes (transcript | audio | video):

My initial response yesterday after reading and watching Piper’s answer was this:

I think I understand where Piper is coming from here, but it seems to me like he devalues his PhD without sufficient warrant. Did the PhD not help him hone his ability to think and communicate clearly and carefully?

I just read Dane Ortlund’s response to Piper’s answer. It’s excellent. (Dane just completed a PhD in New Testament at Wheaton under Doug Moo.)

Update: Just for the record, I certainly don’t think that all pastors should get PhDs. (But that’s not the point of this post. I am questioning whether we should devalue them so much.)