The exchange we had with Christopher Hitchens in Dallas is now available as a podcast. Check it out here.
Differences Between the Testaments
Book 2/Chapter 11 Differences between the Testaments (section 1) 1. How many differences are there between the Old and the New Testaments? 2. What is the first of these differences? 3. How did this differ from what Calvin’s opponents said? Childhood (section 2) 1. Calvin reapplies an image that Paul used in Galatians. What is …
Fully Persuaded/Romans 16
INTRODUCTION: We continue following the apostle’s discussion of Abraham’s faith. We finished our treatment of Romans 4:16, knowing that Abraham was the father of believing Jew and believing Gentile alike. But what do we mean by that word believing? Abraham sets the pattern, and in this passage we learn what his faith was actually like. …
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Okay, so today is tax day, and it is time for a little pep talk. Our government is going what governments do best, which is being greedy, grasping, voracious, irresponsible, idiotic, and shrewd. The people on the receiving end of this are doing what they do best, which is complain about it without doing anything …
More Than a Full Belly
Book 2/Chapter 10 The hope of the godly (section 17) 1. How often did Calvin believe that promises of blessedness were fulfilled in this life for Old Testament saints? 2. Did this cause these saints to despair of the fulfillment? The flip side (section 18) 1. Did the wicked ever receive “blessings” in this life? …
Hitting the Target
On Saturday, April 25, Nate will be in the LA area. More details here. He will be on the Target Children’s Stage at 4:40 pm — Target is picking up his Cupboards series in 1400 of their stores.
Beautiful and Stupid
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 164 “Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich” (Prov. 28:6) Proverbs is full of trade offs, and this is the way that wisdom has in teaching …
Not Going to Run Out
Now I have outlined in a previous post the fact that incentives are inescapable. It is not whether finite creatures will have them, but which incentives they will have. They will respond to various incentives according to their nature, according to the moral condition of their heart and head. You cannot lure a hungry horse …
Trials of the Patriarchs
Book 2/Chapter 10 The trials of Isaac and Jacob (section 12) 1. Did Isaac live as troubled a life as Abraham? 2. What about Jacob? 3. What are the implications of this? Looking to the promises (section 13) 1. What Scripture settles the issue? 2. What would the patriarchs have been if God had promised …
Seventy Two of Them
You get more of what you subsidize, and you get less of what you penalize. This is not just a good idea, it’s the law. Different worldviews do not differ over this law — they differ over what is valued and which we therefore want “more of,” and over what may be justly reckoned as …