Parchment & Pen Blog

As a follow up to my last post O Teacher Where Art Thou, I came across this audio clip (located at the bottom of this post) that in my opinion, demonstrates why pastors and teachers need some type of formalized training in an objective learning environment.  It is not enough to just know what Scripture [...]

An Example of Bad Hermeneutics Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Another step to bringing clarity to the issue of what the Trinity is not. This has to do with the essence of God. When we talk about God’s essence, we are speaking of the “stuff” that God is made up of (not made of!). It is often referred to in philosophical language as the “ontos” of [...]

Alternate title: “Trinitarian Heresy 101″ “The doctrine of the Trinity is like an egg: three parts, one thing.” Ever heard that? How about this, “The doctrine of the Trinity is like a three leaf clover: three leaves, one clover.” Or how about THIS, “The doctrine of the Trinity is like water: three forms (ice, steam, liquid) [...]

There have been times too numerable to count where it seems that I have gone one way suspecting the Lord was heading in the same direction only to find out the often heart-breaking reality that God is going a different direction. As Christians, like anyone else, we seek to confirm our worldview (our belief system) [...]

I have always been a great fan of Dr. Tom Schreiner. He is an outstanding Bible commentator and New Testament theologian. But more than this he is balanced and has a good understanding of not only the issues, but the significance of the issues. In this audio from a sermon that he preached a few [...]

Tom Schreiner on Revelation 20 [ 38:11 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I have designed a theological toolbar to lead you to all the best and most trustworthy sites on the web. Included: Online Bibles Sites Bible Study Software Christian History Theological Sites Built in MP3 with the entire Theology Program fed into it. Easy to access RSS feed to the must read Theological Blogs (P&P included of [...]

In Michael’s recent posts on what does it take to be in ministry, I noticed that one area that tends to get push back is the issue of seminary and why it would be necessary for ministry leaders, especially pastors and teachers.   After all, the pastor/teacher is called by God and charged with ‘preaching the [...]

The past few weeks I’ve been teaching an adult Sunday school class on the relationship between the Christian faith and science. We’ve reviewed what the Genesis text says—and what it doesn’t say. We’ve also noted how two twentieth-century discoveries—the universe’s beginning at the Big Bang and the universe’s astonishing fine-tuning for life—offer dramatic support for [...]

Repost from the great crash 0f 08 I have heard this since I was a very young Christian. It seemed somewhat reasonable as it was explained to me by pastors in sermons and by Christians as they explained the seriousness of sin. Their theology goes something like this: All sin is so bad that even the [...]

I admit, I am not an overly emotional person.  In fact, I find being around overly emotional people uncomfortable and there are at times instances when I wish certain experiences could evoke more emotion within me.  However, as I also find that the discipleship and discipline process, in which God purposes some form of discomfort [...]

Here are sixteen thoughts about going into ministry. They are in no particular order. UPDATE: Please understand, I am listing these idealistically. Although I followed many of these, some of them I did/have not. For example, I went through seminary in 2.5 years. It was supposed to take at least 4. I regret it and [...]

Are there some people who have more clout with God than others? When joining people in a community of prayer, are there certain people who have more influence with God than others? Moses seemed to have more influence than others in his day when he prayed for the deliverance of Israel. The same thing can [...]