Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Practical Theology

Has God Called You to Vocational Christian Ministry?

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Two resources helped me answer that question when I was in high school and college:

  1. C. H. Spurgeon, “The Call to the Ministry,” in Lectures to My Students: A Selection from Addresses Delivered to the Students of the Pastors’ College, Metropolitan Tabernacle, Lectures to My Students 1 (London: Passmore and Alabaster, 1875), 18–39.
  2. James M. George, “The Call to Pastoral Ministry,” in Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry, by John F. MacArthur Jr. and The Master’s Seminary Faculty (Dallas: Word, 1995), 102–15.

George suggests four criteria for evaluating whether God has called you to serve as a pastor, and you can remember them with the acrostic CALL: [Read more…] about Has God Called You to Vocational Christian Ministry?

Now What? Four Helpful Articles on President Trump

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Like most people who were following the presidential election, I was shocked that Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing as I watched The New York Times “Live Presidential Forecast.” Here’s how much the “chance of winning presidency” shifted last night from about 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. (I took this screenshot at 10:27 p.m. CT.)

nyt

Wow. [Read more…] about Now What? Four Helpful Articles on President Trump

Tim Keller: 6 Principles for How to Argue When You Disagree

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centerHere’s what Tim Keller writes in an extended callout in Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012), 376–80:

GOSPEL POLEMICS

All Christian movements must be based on commonly held biblical truths, and yet they must be characterized by trust and a willingness to unite around central truths and accept differences on secondary matters that—in the view of ministry partners—do not negate our common belief in the biblical gospel. On the one hand, we must realize that if we are going to maintain a healthy movement over time, we have to engage in direct discussion about any doctrinal errors we perceive. On the other hand, we must engage in such a way that we show great respect for the other party and aim to persuade them, not just punish them.

How can this be done? I suggest the following principles for “polemics”—contending over doctrine—that is seasoned in tone and strategy by the gospel itself. As I’ve read a number of respected Christian authors over the years, I have distilled a few “rules of engagement” that I believe can keep us from either avoiding polemics or engaging in it in a spiritually destructive way. [Read more…] about Tim Keller: 6 Principles for How to Argue When You Disagree

Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness

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PowlisonThis book just released:

David Powlison. Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness. Greensboro, NC: New Growth, 2016.   

Powlison, the Yoda of biblical counseling, penetratingly explains what makes anger good or sinful and what to do about it.

Check out this 33-page PDF sample, which includes the endorsements, table of contents, introduction, and first chapter.

Two-minute preview:

 

 

Married for God: Making Your Marriage the Best It Can Be

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ashThis book releases tomorrow:

Christopher Ash. Married for God: Making Your Marriage the Best It Can Be. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016.

My endorsement:

Engaged couples would benefit from carefully reading this book. The way Ash applies the Bible is pithy, practical, and wise.

Related:

  1. My favorite book for premarital counseling
  2. My favorite all-around book on marriage

Ask Pastor John

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apjI just caught up listening to all the Ask Pastor John episodes (900+ now). John Piper and the host, Tony Reinke, serve us well. I benefit especially from the well-reasoned rubber-meets-the-road practical theology.

Here’s a sampling of 13 episodes that stand out:

  1. Choosing a Seminary (Episode 89) [Cf. What, how, and why we teach.]
  2. On Ghostwriters (Episode 129)
  3. Bible Memory as Ministry to Others (Episode 131) [Cf. Why and How to Memorize an Entire Book of the Bible.]
  4. Should Christians Use the Pill? (Episode 230) [Cf. Should Christians Use Contraceptives?]
  5. Tattoos in Biblical Perspective (240)
  6. Six Reasons to Skip Tattoos (241) [Cf. “Should you get a tattoo,” in Conscience, pp. 73–75.]
  7. Ghostwriting and Research Assistants (Episode 245)
  8. Pornography and Resisting the Power of Temptation (Episode 291) [Cf. The Best Book on Sexual Purity.]
  9. Should Christians Watch ‘Game of Thrones’? (Episode 368) [Cf. Piper’s article.]
  10. How John Piper Writes Books (Episode 582) [Cf. “Window into Piper’s Writing,” a 6-minute DG video with shots of Piper’s home and study—embedded below.]
  11. How Do You Use Your iPhone and iPad in Christian Growth? (Episode 828)
  12. Ten Principles for Personal Productivity (Episode 839) [Cf. posts I’ve tagged as “work.”]
  13. A Short History of Bible Clutter (Episode 888; Paauw—not Piper) [Cf. Re 3 Unusual Tips for Better Bible Reading.]

https://vimeo.com/168993041