"Blogging the Institutes" is my on-going attempt to paraphrase John Calvin's work, the Institutes of the Christian Religion. You can find out more about the series in the Introduction. For all the posts in this series, check out the Master List. The Word and the Spirit Form an Unbreakable Bond When these false teachers criticize us for…
Suburban Ministry–The challenges
I am inspired to write about doing pastoral ministry in the suburbs from a set of tweets by author/blogger Hannah Anderson, who was encouraging her husband to blog about pastoral ministry in rural VA, I believe. I also find that it can helpful to talk out my ideas (hopefully a few successes and probably a bunch of…
Blogging the Institutes–1.9.2–The Spirit in the Word, not Against the Word
"Blogging the Institutes" is my on-going attempt to paraphrase John Calvin's work, the Institutes of the Christian Religion. You can find out more about the series in the Introduction. For all the posts in this series, check out the Master List. Spirit in the Word, not Against the Word Because the Spirit speaks through the Bible, it…
Blogging the Institutes–1.9.1–The Spirit Speaks Through the Word, Not Apart From It
"Blogging the Institutes" is my on-going attempt to paraphrase John Calvin's work, the Institutes of the Christian Religion. You can find out more about the series in the Introduction. For all the posts in this series, check out the Master List. The Spirit Speaks Through the Word, Not Apart From It Some people reject Scripture in favor…
A Theology of Sex and Gender–Pt. 6–Consummation
This is the sixth installment of A Theology of Sex and Gender. Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Consummation God’s plan begins with man and woman living in His sacred space (Garden of Eden) under His rule (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-24). This is the kingdom of God. United in marriage, the man and the woman are “living…
A Theology of Sex and Gender–Pt. 5–Church
This is the fifth installment of A Theology of Sex and Gender. Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4. God created men and women in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). He also typically unites them in marriage for one lifetime under His rules (Genesis 2:18-24). Unfortunately, due to sin, all people now live in a corrupted world where…
A Theology of Sex and Gender–Pt. 4–Jesus & Redemption
This is the third installment of the series, "A Theology of Sex and Gender." Part 1, 2, 3 Jesus & Redemption God created men and women in His image. Both of them are fully equal in dignity and worth. Unfortunately, sin has broken God’s design. Jesus Himself recognized the profound effects of sin on sexuality and…
A Theology of Sex and Gender–Pt. 3–Israel & Exile
This is the third installment of the series, "A Theology of Sex and Gender." Part 1, 2 Israel & Exile The usual understanding of the Christian worldview proceeds along the lines of jumping directly from Creation and Fall to Redemption in Christ (see Creation Regained by Al Wolters for a typical layout of a Christian worldview along these…
A Theology of Sex and Gender–Pt. 2–Creation & Fall: God’s Good Design, Broken
This is the second installment of the series, "A Theology of Sex and Gender." You can find Part 1 here. Creation & Fall: God's Good Design, Broken A Christian worldview begins with God’s great act of creation. The biblical authors, and even Jesus Himself, regularly grounded their arguments in God’s creational design and order (cf. Matt.…
A Theology of Sex and Gender–Pt. 1–What does it mean to be “biblical”?
Conversations about sex and gender have always been part of human society since such issues are at the heart of human existence. What does it mean to be a "man" or a "woman" or even a "human"? Issues of sexuality, especially gender, have come to the forefront of American cultural conversations due to the transitioning…
Raising Lazarus 