Does God Feel Distant?
It is not uncommon to go through periods in life when God feels aloof and unconcerned. Are you facing a time like that now?
The Good Book Blog
A Blog by
the Faculty of
Talbot School of Theology
Posts from June 2011
Lessons from the Life of Francis Schaeffer
I recently prepped a new elective on Francis Schaeffer for undergraduate students at Biola. Rather than restricting our time to his apologetics only, we focused on his life and thought as a whole. I have admired Schaeffer since I took a similar class when I was in seminary, but God used this class to teach me four lessons that I want to share.
1. Humility in Ministry
2. Dependency upon God
3. Racial Injustice
4. Marriage
Lessons on Leadership from the Pastoral Epistles, Pt. 3-Choosing the Right Leaders
Choosing the right leaders helps determine good leadership. This is true for every organization that requires leadership. Even the business world understands this important axiom. Jim Collins for example in his book Good to Great uses the analogy of getting the “right people on the bus” before any kind of leadership could move, develop, or flourish. This is not only a proven principle from experience but also something that the Pastoral Epistles certainly emphasizes. This is why following the prescription of what makes a good leader according to the Word of God is so crucial for the church. Without referring to the qualities mentioned in the Scripture, potentially wrong criteria could be imposed in choosing leaders for the church and this would be tragic!
SHAME REMOVED; HONOR RECEIVED, PART 3
SHAME REMOVED; HONOR RECEIVED, PART 3
--Jesus' interactions with people in the Gospel of John...and today
This is the third part of a series that looks at events in the Gospel of John in which we find Jesus interacting with various people who need help—physical help and spiritual help.
In John 4, Jesus speaks with a Samaritan woman. It is interesting that John records this interaction right after his interaction with Nicodemus. The Samaritan woman could not be more different than Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a male Jew, a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish ruling council, and was Israel’s teacher (3:1, 10). He was the epitome of the best of the best that Israel had to offer.
A Layman's Guide to the Law: Part I
This is the first part of a two part mini-series that will seek to answer two questions regarding the large portions of legal corpora spread through the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Bible, known by the Hebrew term Torah and often translated into English as "Law." In Part I we will ask the question "What Is It?" and in Part II to appear next month, we will consider the question "What Is It For?" not only for ancient Israel, but also its relation and significance for modern day Christians.
God's Hesed and the Sears Tower
If you think the book of Ruth is some kind of self help program to become the best mother-in-law (or daughter-in-law), you will have missed the whole idea of why it's included in Scripture. It was written by one who carefully, skillfully, and dramatically records - with a surprise ending to the book - the events of a seemingly insignificant, desperate family. I brought this message to the audience attending Biola's chapel on Grandparents Day. It's 22 minutes short, but "the view is spectacular."
Teaching Deeper, Part V
Last month I shared a “coaching” model for teaching that I believe can help us deepen the impact of our teaching, helping us avoid the problems of biblical amnesia and aborted application. This month I start by looking at Paul’s teaching ministry to see how this coaching approach fits with his efforts. Then I go back through the phases of the coaching model and talk about what that would mean for us as teachers in the church. What does it look like to begin teaching like a coach?
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