Our culture is changing rapidly, and many Christians aren’t keeping up. The old formulas that have worked for decades won’t work with the emerging generation. If there’s one lesson that the modern, successful evangelical church needs to learn it is this. We need a fresh perspective on what our world is like today from someone who has escaped the Christian subculture and ventured into the heart and hearts of non-Christians.

Enter Dan Kimball. His book, They Like Jesus, but not the Church, gives the perspective that is badly needed. Continue Reading »

There is still time to enroll. The Theology Program online Summer semester begins June 3. Enroll today.

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First Things is brought to you live on Connection Gate

Join us as we discuss five related mistakes that we can make when we are defending the faith. We are joined toward the end of this blogcast by the IMONK, Michael Spencer. (Sorry about the poor sound quality for the IMONK.)

 

 First Things #6: Warnings to Apologists [33:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (351)

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[audio:http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session5/IT5a.mp3,http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session5/IT5b.mp3,http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session5/IT5c.mp3,http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session5/IT5d.mp3,http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session5/IT5e.mp3,http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session5/IT5f.mp3]
Note: there are multiple sessions that will play back to back. Total time is just over 1 hour.

(what is this all about?)

Continue Reading »

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I live with the fear that Chuck Swindoll will call me into his office. Wait, I am getting ahead of myself . . . 

January 2000. I have just been hired as an intern at Stonebriar Community Church. I still have a year left at Dallas Theological Seminary, but my excitement is far beyond I could have ever imagined six years ago when I began to think about ministry. My life had not been one of a minister in preparation by any means. At least not what I would think. The constant adrenaline that the idea of full-time service for the Lord was enough to keep my mind off my past failures. Watching Braveheart in 1995 seventeen times at the theater fueled my motivation. I thought to myself If I could just give my life for something bigger than myself like William Wallace did then contentment would be found in sacrifice. This was the road I was on. Excited, motivated, hopeful, and ready to change lives, I was now working for Chuck Swindoll, my hero. Continue Reading »

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Plugs and prayers:

• Check out the Conservative Reformed Mafia. Looks like a promising new blog.
• Bob Pratico, a friend of the ministry and elder at Sojourn Church, will be having heart surgry next month. Please pray for him. 

Ministry Announcements:

• Online courses start soon. Enroll in The Theology Program today. Continue Reading »

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Defining Inerrancy

 

 Defining Inerrancy #4 [30:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (310)

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Provided by
 
D.A. LaGue

 

 Historical Renewal with D.A. LaGue - John Witherspoon [4:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (330)

On August 7th, 1768, a ship from Glasgow, Scotland sailed up the Delaware River bound for Philadelphia. On board was a 46 year old Scotsman who would be one of the leading figures tying a strong Christian conviction with political freedom. Continue Reading »

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To REFLECT: “To think, ponder, or meditate; to think seriously.”

You are either 100% correct in doctrine or you are not correct at all. (I believed this for a long time. A pastor I loved and admired once told me this. But if this is the case, we are all up creek skubalon –pardon my French . . . I mean Greek) 

If you smoke, you must not be a good Christian. (Really? Is it the addiction or health problems that cause us to say this? If it is the addiction, are we ready to give up coffee? If it is the health, are we ready to exercise daily and stop eating fast food? Otherwise, I think we need to calm down.)  Continue Reading »

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First Things is brought to you live on Connection Gate

Join us today as week seek to understand why Paul and James seem to be at odds concerning justification.

 

 Catholics vs. Evangelicals on Justification [36:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (609)

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All Christians have a credo. That is, all Christians believe something. Some think theology is bad, without realizing that that position is a theological statement. Others say, “The Bible is my creed” without grasping that the Bible needs to be interpreted; after all, not all interpretations are created equal. Those who have more training recognize that a number of beliefs need to be articulated for one’s credo. It’s this last group that I wish to address in this blog. Continue Reading »

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First Things is brought to you live on Connection Gate

Join us as we talk about the recent discussions concerning Roman Catholic and Evangelical relations. Here we will discuss why Catholics believe in justification by faith and works. (Or at least we will try to get to it!)

 

 First Things Blogcast: Catholics vs. Evangelicals on Justification #1 [31:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (425)

Continue Reading »

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I was teaching today on hermeneutics. More specifically, I was teaching on the importance of what is known as “authorial intent” or “historical grammatical” hermeneutics. Hermeneutics is a fancy word that has to do with one’s method of interpreting the Bible. An authorial intent hermeneutic simply means that we must seek to understand what the text meant from the standpoint of the original author and audience before we can apply it to our lives. This involves an understanding of many things including the argument of the writing, the situation of the audience, the rules that govern the particular genera (type of writing), the culture in which the book was written, issues of grammar and syntax, and personality and mood of the author. Sometimes this is self-evident, and sometimes it takes a lot of leg work.

While I was explaining this, many people were becoming very uncomfortable and squirming in their seat. One lady would have none of what I said, but continually pleaded that she does not need this. God simply speaks to her when she opens the Bible bypassing all these difficulties and roadblocks that I was suggesting. She insinuated that if what I said were true that she would have to quit reading the Scriptures. Ouch! As an Evangelical Christian teacher, this is the last thing that I want someone to do. Continue Reading »

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We need your help! As you know online and onsite classes are beginning September 9, 10, 11. We need you to be the official Reclaiming the Mind Representative at your church. This can be done in many ways. Here is a list from the most simple to the most involved:

• Place TTP brochures in your church’s brochure rack or on a display table.
• Set up a TTP booth at your church on the coming Sundays before online classes begin, encouraging them to get involved online and enroll. Continue Reading »

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[audio:http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session4/IT4a.mp3,http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session4/IT4b.mp3,http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session4/IT4c.mp3,http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session4/IT4d.mp3,,http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/content/files/TTP/IT/session4/IT4e.mp3]
Note: there are multiple sessions that will play back to back. Total time is just over 1 hour.

(what is this all about?)

Continue Reading »

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Fred Sanders and Klaus Issler have recently edited an important book on the relationship of Jesus to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus in Trinitarian Perspective: An Introductory Christology will be an outstanding follow-up volume for those of you who study the evidence for the deity of Christ that Rob Bowman and I have amassed in Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ. Once you’ve got a solid grasp on the fact of Jesus’ divine identity, you’ll want to spend some time wrestling with how that fact fits into a larger Trinitarian framework. Continue Reading »

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