“Preach the doctrines of grace, dear brethren, and those who like not your Lord will either be changed themselves or change their minister” (Charles Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry, pp. 106-107).
A Seven-fold Woe/Amos 7
INTRODUCTION: In this passage, we begin part way through chapter five, and continue on through the entirety of chapter six. Amos eloquently continues to hammer away at the two things that turn God’s stomach—false worship and an opulent, violent stupidity. THE TEXT: “Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! . . .” …
Bum-fuzzled, Pole-axed, Gob-smacked, and Bewildered
Lane does not believe the chess game is over, as he states here. He says he is not going to “answer every point,” which is fine. I would be content if he simply answered the central one. He says this, “Quite simply put, our response to God’s command to come to faith is God’s doing, …
This is What We Do
The structure of our worship service follows what we call a covenant renewal pattern. First, there is a call to worship, where God’s people are solemnly called to order in the name of Christ, making this a worship service. When we do this, the Holy Spirit gathers us up and escorts us into the heavenly …
Science as Blowing Bubbles
“So the bubbles go on bursting, and meanwhile more are being blown, and we are expected to believe in whatever comes, and wait with open mouth to see what comes next. But we shall not just yet fall down and worship the image of human wisdom, notwithstanding all the flutes, harps, sackbuts, psalteries, dulcimers, weekly …
And We Do It Very Well
“What is science? The method by which man tries to conceal his ignorance” (Charles Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry, p. 97).
Dikai-Infusions and Dikai-Imputations
Lane thinks we are making progress, and I agree. But I don’t think we agree on what that progress actually is. He makes four points that I would like to address. The first is on the “aliveness” of faith. “But in what does faith’s aliveness consist? Does it not consist in sanctification? Does it not …
No Jesus, No Way/Amos 6
INTRODUCTION: In this next section, we are going to have to follow the way Amos arranged the unit, which, although it starts at verse 1, does not match the chapter divisions (vv. 1-17). This section is a chiasm, and again, not surprisingly, it is seven-fold. THE TEXT: “Hear ye this word which I take up …
Haman and Mordecai
In my morning Bible reading, I have been going through the book of Esther. Now in our circles, I am aware of a common reading of the text that says Mordecai was in the wrong for refusing to bow before Haman. Here are just a couple quick reasons why I can’t see it. The reversal …
Obedience Unto Justification
Let me begin this round of my exchanges with Lane with straight up agreement on at least one point. Lane says: “In my opinion, this whole issue is very parallel to the debate about faith’s aliveness. It is not the aliveness of faith that makes faith the instrument of justification. Rather, it is the fact …