

New Book Announcement: Introduction à l’herméneutique et à la méthode d’étude biblique
Available now, from Publications Chrétiennes is a new book by Dr. Christopher Cone –Introduction à l'herméneutique et à la méthode d'étude biblique, the French translation of Prolegomena on Biblical Hermeneutics and Method. ISBN#978-2-89082-259-7 Pages: 268 pages...
Principles of Teaching: The key to effective illustrating
Every good craftsman has a toolbox – perhaps more than one. When there is a job to be done, a skilled craftsman does not assess the job primarily based on what tools can be used to get the job done. Instead, the focus is on what tools are needed in order to get the...
Dr. Gary Gilley’s Review of Redacted Dominionism
Redacted Dominionism, A Biblical Approach to Grounding Environmental Responsibility,by Christopher Cone (Eugene, Oregon: WIPF & Stock, 2012)Paper, pp. 122, $17.00. Available at Amazon ($12.60). Review by Dr. Gary Gilley, initially in Journal of...
“The most effective leadership, management, and efficiency models share traits common with each other, and traits that are ultimately traceable to the pages of the Bible. While these models are often not intentionally rooted in Biblical concepts by those that promote the models, the models illustrate how applying Biblical principles can set a trajectory of success in enterprise and in life. Led By a Lion is designed to introduce some of these leadership, management, and efficiency models, but goes a step further in identifying the Biblical genesis of many of the core traits that fuel the success of these models.”
Worship and the Presence of God
A common theme in contemporary Christian worship music is the idea of coming into the presence of God to worship Him in a deep and meaningful way. Songs that emphasize this concept challenge believers to pause from their normal daily life in order to do something...
Methodological and Hermeneutic Bases for the Distinction Between Israel and the Church
Five Methodological and Hermeneutical Bases for the Distinction Between Israel and the Church Presented to the Council on Dispensational Hermeneutics, Summit University, September 16, 2015 [gview...
Are Christians Supposed to Judge Others?
Jesus says in Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, that you may not be judged.” From this statement one might conclude that judging is prohibited, but in the next verse the context helps the reader understand that the passage is not a prohibition. Rather it is a warning: “For...
“This approach has the advantage of seeking to view all knowledge through the lens of Scripture, and to subject all knowledge to the authority of Scripture. It encourages science and research within the field of psychology. It offers a Biblical balance of description and prescription. Of course, if the Bible is unreliable, then the refractive power of Scripture is distortive rather than corrective, but the epistemological premise of this approach is that God’s word is authoritative and sufficient for our understanding, for our equipping, and for our practice. There are many extra-biblical resources that we can employ, but in seeking out how and when to do that, we mustn’t lose sight of the one reliable constant that God has provided for us – the Bible.” –Chapter 9
The Auschwitz Legacy and the (Non) Advancement of Man
I was invited to speak at a conference in Poland recently (on Biblical hermeneutics and theological method, in case you were curious), and while there I had an opportunity to visit Auschwitz. I am not much of a tourist or a sightseer, but there are just some things...
Planned Parenthood Issues Symptomatic of Deep-Seated Problem
During the fiscal years of 2009-2014 alone, Planned Parenthood performed 1,650,024 abortions.[1] In the same five years, Planned Parenthood provided more than twice as many breast exams (3,254,136)[2] as abortions – along with a host of other services related...
10 Reasons Market Meltdowns Not Cause for Panic
Today is not looking like it will be an encouraging day for financial markets around the world, and predictably this news cycle will probably be dominated by ominous financial news. This is a difficult time for many, but doesn’t need to be cause for hopelessness or...
“The Green Tree is an exceptional work…provides a vital tool for every Bible interpreter…Just as the root system is the foundation of a tree and directly impacts the health of a tree, hermeneutic method is at the root of one’s worldview. This illustration demonstrates that the hermeneutic method that an interpreter of the Bible employs will significantly affect the outcome. The tree will either be healthy, or it will not be healthy…The authors provide a unique examination of Revelation, Genesis, and Job that demonstrates that the LGH hermeneutic is derived from within Scripture, something that other hermeneutical methods fail to demonstrate. This is perhaps the most crucial principle demonstrated in The Green Tree, and it effectively demonstrates that the LGH hermeneutic is also the Biblical hermeneutic.” – Andrew Friend (Amazon Review)
Radio (KPRZ) Interview with David Spoon about sandiegofellowship.org
Radio interview with the David Spoon Experience (KPRZ) on the launch of SDF, the importance of having a church home, and the difference between making meals and bringing people into the kitchen.
Considering Whether the Revelatory Functions in 1 Corinthians 13 Have Already Ceased or Not
Presented to the SCS Faculty Symposium on the Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts, July 27, 2015 Introduction While not the only passage on the topic, 1 Corinthians 13 is a pivotal context on the issue of whether or not the revelatory gifts continue for the...
A Brief Introduction to Philosophical Inquiry and Components of Worldview, Part 1: Addressing the Epistemological Questions
There are four major areas of philosophical inquiry that make up the basic components of worldview: epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and socio-political philosophy. Epistemology (the study of knowledge) addresses the question of how can know what is true and what is...
The Peter Principles: Peter’s Formula for Using “Spiritual” Gifts
Peter presents the purpose of the gift and the employment of the gift in 4:11b: “so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Again, this is very simple. The purpose is theocentric and doxological – centered on Him and for His glory. Peter’s principles, then, for gifts are as follows…
A Recommended Biblical Statement on Gender, Sexuality, and Marriage
From evolving societal perceptions of gender and sexuality and from newly adjusted legal definitions of marriage emanating from SCOTUS emerge significant complications for churches and other faith-based organizations. As a result, there has recently been a wave...
How to Measure Pastoral Success
For some unidentifiable reason I enjoy tormenting students with an important albeit slippery theological and philosophical question. What is good? As you might imagine, the answers I get are quite diverse. One student recently responded by citing an online dictionary...

9 Steps for Bible Exegesis and Exposition, Step #6: Identify Biblical Context
After completing the detailed grammatical, syntactical and lexical analysis, we need to step back and refocus to the bird’s eye perspective and so some synthesizing. First, we need to identify the overall theme of the book, but by completing the first steps in the...

7 Core Values for Effective Life and Ministry
#1 The Supremacy of His Glory It’s simple: It is all about Him, end of story. Ephesians 1 illustrates how Father (1:6), Son (1:12), and Holy Spirit (1:14) each work together for the glory of God. His activities serve His own purpose of expressing His character,...

Modeling Thanksgiving
What can we learn from Paul’s prayers of thanksgiving?

Obadiah Overview
A downloadable synthetic overview of the Book of Obadiah.