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Archive for February, 2008

I think it is safe for me to say that those of us behind Veritas Domain have been rather busy…

Its timely for me to post a quote about John Calvin to encourage those who might be in school, seminary, ministry or missions this time of the year and are very busy:

T. H. L. Parker, translator and biographer, writes of Calvin, “On Sunday he took always the New Testament, except for a few Psalms on Sunday afternoon. During the week … it was always the Old Testament.” He took five years to complete the Book of Acts. He preached 46 sermons on Thessalonians, 186 on Corinthians, 86 on the Pastorals, 43 on Galatians, 48 on Ephesians. He spent five years on his Harmony of the Gospels. That was just his Sunday work! During the weekdays in those five years he preached 159 sermons on Job, 200 on Deuteronomy, 353 on Isaiah, and 123 on Genesis.” (Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 3:2 [Summer 1999]: 50)

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I was really turned off when I heard Obama’s statement on Television.

Hot Air’s post gives a more probable interpretation of Obama’s quote. Though his support of troops is encouraging, I still find his portrayal of Iraq and the U.S., very much like his quote above- flippant at best, sincere at worst.

Apparently, some veterans disagree with me and support Obama. I, however, remain suspicious.

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EXPOSITORY PREACHING IN TOPICAL SERMONS

 

            There are some preachers who sincerely believe that verse by verse preaching through a book in the Bible is the only legitimate form of Biblical expository preaching.  In the Master Seminary Journal article titled “Must Expository Preaching Always Be Book Studies?  Some Alternatives”[1], Dr. Busenitz explores four possible alternative forms in expository preaching, along with the benefits and precautions with each.

In desiring that all preaching be biblical, Busenitz devoted the first page in making the argument that expository preaching does not necessarily have to be verse by verse through a book in its format.  He cites Jesus as an example, who preached powerfully yet the gospel did not record him preaching verse by verse.  Other examples could have been cited by Dr. Busenitz, such as in Acts where the Apostles often preached topically such as Peter in Acts 2:14-41, Stephen in Acts 7:2-53 and Paul in Acts 13:16-52.  In all the passages mentioned, the Apostles quoted the Scriptures from the Old Testament in a thematic format rather than a verse by verse form.

No matter what the format of expository preaching are, there are things that are common to them all.  The danger of topical preaching is that it is easier to commit eisegesis as one jump from verses to verses.  All preaching must take into account the remote and immediate context, so that what the text really means instead of the preacher’s desired meaning is preached.

            Thematic preaching may perhaps be the most common topical preaching Christians are accustomed to.  Busenitz gave some guiding principles and how as a general rule, “the more you narrow the subject, the more thoughts you will have”.[2]  A popular pitfall is how preachers often would use the verse and match the message rather than having a thematic message based upon the correct interpretation of Scripture.

            Theological preaching is another form of expositional preaching.  It is important for the preacher to explain and defend the doctrines of the faith from the Bible, and an expositional sermon with this format would do much to equip the Saints.  Busenitz warned in his article that the preacher must be cautious that he does not preach only on the preacher’s favorite doctrines nor should the preacher go to the other extreme and avoid doctrines just because it is controversial.[3]

A third type of preaching is Historical preaching, which can be used to edify hearers with examples from Biblically history.  Dr. Busenitz offers as a guideline for historical preaching that “a Bible expositor should review geography and topography, together with the manners and customs of Israel and her neighbors”.[4]

In a similar vein with historical preaching is biographical preaching.  Dr. Busenitz pointed that such a message would be “a study of God’s sovereign, providential workings in their motives and actions, both good and bad”.[5]  In the unfolding of biographies during a sermon, it can be a possible pitfall that the lives of Biblical character are revealed without the focus being the hands of God in their lives.

            In summary, the article was a good survey of alternative expository preaching.  It was also helpful in discussing the appropriate timing for topical preaching and warnings of possible risks in such messages, along with the benefits and concern of each format.


[1] Irvin Busenitz, “Must Expository Preaching Always Be Book Studies? Some Alternatives”, Master’s Seminary Journal Volume 2 (Master’s Seminary, 1991; 2002), 2:139-156.

 

[2] Ibid, page 148.

[3] Ibid, page 151.

[4] Ibid, page 153.

[5] Ibid, page

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These lectures (video or audio) are recently given at Dallas Theological Seminary.

  1. The New Atheism and the Endgame of Secularism
  2. The New Atheism and the Assault on Theism
  3. The New Atheism and the Defense of Theism
  4. The New Atheism and the Future of Christianity

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This is an old picture of which would be timely to be posted just for today.

calvinist_romance.jpg

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AL QAEDA IN IRAQ ON THE RUN

A worthwhile news piece, about AL QAEDA in Iraq on the run:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article3346386.ece

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How to Commit Suicide?

This piece of article is written by SlimJim and especially in light of his message at the UCLA Bible Study. If you want to kill your-self because of life’s challenges and sufferings, let SlimJim’s article help you to die to your-flesh and be alive in Christ.

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How to Commit the Most Successful Suicide?

Attention to all those who wants to commit suicide. If you’re not one of them, read this in case you ever need it. Then pass this along to friends and family member. Especially towards those who might be flirting with the thoughts of suicide. May this tip offer successful suggestions for those in their endeavor.

Problems right now in your life?

Even as the author writes this, the thoughts of the situation with his potential audience floods his mind. Who are you and what is the circumstance you are going through right now? Is there family problem? Daddy’s leaving…mom’s getting a divorce…older brother dies…sister’s pregnant…the list could go on. Other relationship problem? Your boy friend turns out to be cheating…girl friend wants to go out with another guy…stuck in an ugly relationship…breakups…you name it, many of you claimed it!!!

The writer here is no psychologist, hence there’s no answer from psychology here. Missing in this message is also any One-eight-hundred numbers for you to get a hold of any counselor to speak to. The solution of going to court to sue someone for damaging your mental state is foreign to the author. He’s no lawyer to give you any legal consulting.

How Eager are You?

Again may you be asked: how eager are you to commit suicide? Enough to pull out a gun and hold the trigger firmly? Driven to the point of such despair as to stand at the edge of a cliff and stare below soberly? Enough to commit suicide for real? Maybe the concept of suicide is not something you flirt with but is all too possible. Perhaps you are not held hostage by the idea of fear. Of fear of pain. Of fear of death. Of fear of the unknown. Or maybe you need some more bad news to spur you on towards suicide. You need to have more bad news of the awful state you are in. In such a case, this author would be much obliged to assist.

Lie to Yourself… Go ahead

Look inside yourself and examine yourself openly and honestly.

Of course, you don’t have to if you just want to deceive yourself.

How wretched are you? Your baggage of issues…how many of them have been the product of SIN? Or even inter-mingled with evil or wrong desires? Your issues…have they gave birth to illicit and malicious thoughts or actions? Perhaps revenge you have taken. Perhaps you have carried for quite some time a nearly unforgivable grudge against someone for something in the past.

You only choke yourself miserably and make your inner self all vile with the ugly reality of what you really are: A wretched sinner. Of course, some would accuse that this message as absurd and mean-spirited, that you are not wrong for this and that problems in your life…but what of those issues that you have wronged in?

Don’t think this message is to stop you from death. Its opening purpose has been very clear. DEATH.

If you want a reason to be miserable to commit suicide, here’s one:

As a sinner, you are going to hell for your wrongdoings.

Legally, (except in Oregon and the Netherlands) and to avoid the possibility of being sued, this author can’t go over how to use theoretical Euthanasia technique with a rifle. Nor should this author warn that in slitting one’s veins in the arm, slicing perpendicular to one’s finger rarely works.

If you are so eager, so desperate and out to do anything in your state of suicidal thoughts meditate on this verse:

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” (Romans 6:8)

What does it mean to die with Christ? “To die to your sinner self” (cf. Romans 6:6).

This death is with Jesus Christ. You die to him, just as He died for your sins. Here lies the method of the most successful suicide: You die to your old self and unlike sitting in a garage with a running car, there is something good to your death: You will live again and forever (cf. John 3:16)!!! To die to your old sinner self is to repent from your sins, not pulling the trigger. It is to acknowledge your sins and that God should have punished you in Hell but now spared you when you “died? to your sins by accepting Jesus Christ.

The ironic truth of the matter is, just as Jesus Christ died physically and raised physically from the dead, it is not impossible that you can die spiritually to your sins and be raised again to really live a spiritual life with God and Christ. Only then would you really begin to live. To commit the most successful suicide (to repent from your sins) go to the “How to accept Jesus Christ? page.

Important Note.

It is important that you seek help. Call the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation for resources. Jeffrey Black’s book is one of the many books that will provide help and intervention.

suicide

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During my “Sex and Gender” class, we watched a PBS NOVA Program called “Life’s Greatest Miracle” on DVD.

PBS.org lets you watch online for free. This video is a sequel to NOVA’s program “The Miracle of Life,” apparently the most popular NOVA program of all time. If your not familiar with NOVA, its a television series specializing in teaching science, offering many other free videos as well as podcasts online.

Nova’s approach aims at teaching but also entertaining the popular audience. Although the opening sentence suggests an anti-religious philosophy, they do offer a quality explanation of science for the layperson and science enthusiast.

If you find it inappropriate, there was a scene of people in bathing suits at the beach introducing the topic of sex, as well as naked babies walking and crawling around in the beginning. I didn’t see the actual birth (since the class ended before we could finish the DVD) but our professor warned there maybe some parts which may cause people to faint (like the actual birth).

I really enjoyed the DVD, the 1 hour video giving a good visual overview of the developing baby from conception till birth. Seeing God’s handiwork gave me a sense of reverential awe. During the video, I was somewhat disheartened that most students probably would never see the video the same way. The students probably didn’t consider the video pro-life but a Christian could use “Life’s Greatest Miracle” in that way.

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This is the man that led the United States of America for two terms, and served this great nation well. Our tribute to this great leader. Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6th 1911.

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This is an interesting piece from NY Times.

What does Hillary, Obama and Huckabee show to us (sex, race and Christianity)?

At a New York or Los Angeles cocktail party, few would dare make a pejorative comment about Barack Obama’s race or Hillary Clinton’s sex. Yet it would be easy to get away with deriding Mike Huckabee’s religious faith. Liberals believe deeply in tolerance and over the last century have led the battles against prejudices of all kinds, but we have a blind spot about Christian evangelicals. They constitute one of the few minorities that, on the American coasts or university campuses, it remains fashionable to mock.

What has the libs done? Why are they not in Darfur, Burma, Laos, Tibet or Iraq helping someone in great need? Many are busy mocking the Christians or indulging in their own flesh…

In parts of Africa where bandits and warlords shoot or rape anything that moves, you often find that the only groups still operating are Doctors Without Borders and religious aid workers: crazy doctors and crazy Christians. In the town of Rutshuru in war-ravaged Congo, I found starving children, raped widows and shellshocked survivors. And there was a determined Catholic nun from Poland, serenely running a church clinic.

That is why the challenge by Greg Bahnsen in the great debate to the atheists still left unanswered till today!

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