The 'F' Word - The Revealer
Posted: 17/Jun/2008AD @ 11:31
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Foundation
Web
A different take on the prosperity gospel. (via LNL)
M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Posted: 11/Jun/2008AD @ 12:12
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On Friday 30 Dec 1842 the rector of St. Peter’s Church, Dundee, the Rev’d Robert Murray M’Cheyne wrote to his congregation with a scheme of Scripture reading “so that the whole Bible might be read once by you in the year, and all might be feeding in the same portion of the green pasture at the same time.”
This scheme is now known as the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan and is available online in several places, such as here and here. Our church provides each day’s readings from the ESV. Don Carson wrote two volumes of daily devotions based on the M’Cheyne’s plan. Carson’s devotions are also available for free via an email list.
I’ve prepared a PDF version of M’Cheyne’s plan which is ready to be printed double-sided as a booklet.
Dever's overview sermons
Posted: 11/Jun/2008AD @ 11:47
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Foundation
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Over the course of eight years Mark Dever at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington D.C. preached one sermon on each book of the Bible, one sermon on each Testament and one sermon on the entire Bible. Here is the list:
Dever on service and sermon preparation
Posted: 05/May/2008AD @ 14:22
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Foundation
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Below are two helpful talks from Mark Dever and IX Marks on service and sermon preparation. I found the first talk especially useful in thinking about my service leading. There are issues of context and denomination to translate, but that’s worth doing. They would provide a good kick-off point for discussion of how to prepare and lead services.
Service Preparation
Sermon Planning
Comments [2]
On Mythbusters
Posted: 21/Apr/2008AD @ 17:49
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Web
Cult
So what do you think of Mythbusters on SBS television? Is it science or something else? And where is Mythbusters actually made? An American show perhaps? Well, think again. Mythbusters is a surprise, as is the book of that title by Nicholas Searle. Let’s hear what he has to say about those two hairy guys with their explosive workshop, and then we’ll hear from Adam and Jamie themselves. Nick.
... the Large Hadron Collider will have the challenging task of accelerating certain heavy particles to incredible speeds, with the hope that they might smack into one another and demonstrate once and for all why things like you, me and a 747 have mass. This mass question is, hilariously, still something of a mystery, and one with which that other television program Australia’s Biggest Loser is yet to fully consider.
Mythbusters, The Science Show, Radio National, 12 April 2008.
Desiring God - The Way of Christian Hedonism
Posted: 10/Apr/2008AD @ 18:44
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Foundation
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I first heard of John Piper through a beach mission leader who spoke of Piper as an influence on his theological outlook. I learned from this guy that Piper was all about God’s glory, “Our joy is God’s glory” was this leader’s cry. Later I learned Piper had a ministry called Desiring God.
I hadn’t had cause to think about Piper until I received an MP3 player for Christmas. My desire for an MP3 player was mainly to listen to radio programmes. But God lead me to search out sermons from many sources, beginning at the Sydney Anglicans website. One series I found was the 1983 series at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis where John Piper set out his ‘theology’ of Christian Hedonism. The talks are listed below. I use theology advisedly as the talks do not constitute a systematic theology, but rather a movement through various parts of the Christian life, e.g. Conversion, Worship, Marriage. In fact it’s more of a Just for Starters, showing how Christian Hedonism is a coordinating principle for the Christian life. Simply put Christian Hedonism is a spin on the Westminster Catechism. Piper says that the chief end of man is…
To glorify God by enjoying Him forever.
I found the talks challenging, encouraging and stimulating to much reflection. I don’t think I agree with Piper everywhere but do so generally. They are very useful when thinking about guidance and life goal issues. You are led to ask the uncommon question “How much do I enjoy God?”
Here are the talks:
- The Happiness of God: Foundation for Christian Hedonism (Jeremiah 32:36-41), 11 Sep 1983.
- Conversion to Christ: The Making of a Christian Hedonist (Matthew 13:44-46), 18 Sep 1983.
- Worship: The Feast of Christian Hedonism (Psalm 63:5-6), 25 Sep 1983.
- Love: The Labor of Christian Hedonism (2 Corinthians 8:1-2,8), 2 Oct 1983.
- Money: Currency for Christian Hedonism (1 Timothy 6:6-19), 9 Oct 1983.
- Marriage: A Matrix of Christian Hedonism (Ephesians 5:21-33), 16 Oct 1983.
- Prayer: The Power of Christian Hedonism (John 16:24), 23 Oct 1983.
- The Bible: Kindling for Christian Hedonism (Psalm 19:7-11), 30 Oct 1983.
- Missions: The Battle Cry of Christian Hedonism (Mark 10:17-31), 13 Nov 1983.
Elf Carson 2003
Posted: 12/Mar/2008AD @ 23:51
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Foundation
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I recently listened to the talks Don Carson gave at the 2003 European Leadership Forum or ELF. This conference is invitation only – not sure how you qualify – a tap on the shoulder during O-week?
The conference is split up into a whole heap of networks looking at different parts of Christian ministry and thinking – there’s the theologians network, the scientific network, the bioethics network, the leaders of christian organisations network, etc. Carson spoke at the Theologians network, gave four of the plenaries and ran several workshops.
Plenaries
- That First Temptation: Sin and the Fall (Genesis 3) [Audio | Outline]
- Jesus the Word of God: The Incarnation (John 1:1-18) [Audio | Outline]
- Why Trust a Cross? Atonement (Romans 3:21-26) [Audio | Outline]
- The New Jerusalem: Even So, Come, Lord Jesus (Rev 21:1-22:6) [Audio | Outline]
Theologians Network
- The New Perspective on Paul [Audio | Outline]
- Understanding Postmodernism from a Confessional Stance [Audio Part 1 Part 2 | Outline]
- The Use of the Old Testament in the New [Audio Part 1 1 Part 2 Part 3 | Outline]
Theology Workshops
1 Carson’s lecture on Postmodernism continues into the first hour of this session.
Another Carson pearla
Posted: 21/Feb/2008AD @ 07:56
Categories:
Foundation
Quoting an unnamed commentator writing on Gen 3:6...
It would take the coming and death and resurrection of the Messiah before the verbs “take” and “eat” would become verbs of salvation.
Again from ELF 2003 in the talk That First Temptation: Sin and the Fall.