What Kind of Literature is Genesis 1?
The Bible contains four basic genres of literature: historical narrative, poetry, prophetic, and epistolary. The genre classification of Genesis 1 is very important for our understanding of the overall message of Scripture, because the chapter deals with so many...
3 Ways to Understand and Communicate the Gospel
Sometimes it seems difficult to communicate the love of Christ to others. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer weight of Biblical data and become tongue-tied when trying to share how one can know Christ. Here are three ways to share God’s plan for salvation...
Psalm 90: New Year’s Resolutions For Every Day
Of the 150 psalms that constitute the largest book in the Bible, Moses penned only one, so we approach Psalm 90 with particular interest. What was so significant about the prayer of this one who spoke face to face with God (Exodus 33:11), that his prayer would later...
“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.”
The Basis and Mandate of Christian Ethics
The simplicity of Paul’s ethical mandate for believers is unmistakable in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whatever then you eat or you drink or whatever you do – all unto God’s glory you are to do.” In that context Paul challenges the Corinthian believers specifically to handle...
The Two Commissions in Matthew’s Gospel
In a now published thesis,[1] James Fazio draws attention to an important component of Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry: specifically, that Jesus commissioned His disciples on two significant occasions, and for two very different purposes. The first,...
An Introduction to Solomon’s Philosophy of Mind and Concept of Self
Solomon uses the Hebrew word leb forty two times in Ecclesiastes. The term is more general than technical, and is typically translated as mind, heart, will, or inner man. It is worth noting that the word indicates a deep connection between the thinking and feeling...
“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
Hell No?
Satan’s encounter with Eve in the Garden is fascinating and very important for us to understand. His temptation of Eve, recorded in Genesis 3, represents several firsts: It is the first instance of an epistemological alternative to God’s design. Satan offers to Eve a...
A Dialogue on the Relationship of Apologetics and Philosophy to Evangelism
Biblical apologetics is a form of evangelism (1 Pet 3:15), and not a form of polemics. Also, Biblical apologetics technically has nothing to do with philosophical argument. However, in practice, the term apologetics is traditionally used to refer to principles and...
Why I am Not a Calvinist…Or an Arminian (Synopsis)
Presented to the Free Grace Alliance, National Conference, October 15, 2014 Introduction While we often desire to align with particular historical theological views, it is usually the case that historical perspectives are not fully adequate in explaining the...
“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)
4 Basic Steps For Growing Biblical Understanding
What Does Romans Say About… (Part 1)
A downloadable PDF presentation on theological topics in the Book of Romans. Part 1 briefly considers the doctrines of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit
Genesis Overview (Synthesis)
A downloadable PDF overview of the Book of Genesis.
John’s Gospel Through Three Lenses
A downloadable PDF highlighting some important themes in John's Gospel, from three vantage points (synthesis, exegesis, analysis).
Matthew 18:15-20 The Purpose and Nature of Correction in the Church
Introduction Because of its detail and sequence, Matthew 18:15-20 has long been recognized as a central passage in dealing with sin, conflict resolution, and discipline in the church. In these verses Jesus provides His disciples a pattern for dealing with a sinning...
Hebrews Overview (Brief)
A brief overview of the Book of Hebrews.
The Emergence of Philosophy, Part 1
Despite assertions that “any conflict between philosophy and theology must be apparent rather than real, the result of a misunderstanding,”[1] conflict endures nonetheless. Paul Tillich asks if there is a necessary conflict between the two and if there is a possible...
Common Myths About Spiritual Gifts – Myth #3: We Have To Identify Our Spiritual Gifts
He had no military training, and no skill with the elite weapons of war, but when he saw a battle that needed to be won he didn’t hesitate to engage. Against all odds, and armed only with the knowledge of how God had strengthened him before, a sling and a few small...
The Thessalonian Example and Three Views on Salvation (Lordship Salvation, Ultra-Free Grace, and Free Grace)
It is remarkable how much disagreement persists among otherwise likeminded believers regarding how one is saved. Presently there are three basic views (though even more subtle nuances) on how one receives eternal life: (1) the lordship salvation view, (2) what I call...
My Experience As A Jury Foreman In A Racially Charged Criminal Trial
Not too long ago, an African-American man in a small Texas community was accused of sexual assault (rape) of a Caucasian woman. While the community was not especially noted for racial division, there were racial tensions discernible in some of its people, and this...