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The very reason many contemporary churches embrace pragmatic methodology is that they lack any understanding of God’s sovereignty in the salvation of the elect. They loose confidence in the power of God to use the preached gospel to reach hardened unbelievers. That’s why they approach evangelism as a marketing problem. Their methodology is shaped accordingly. More than 40 years ago, J.I. Packer wrote, “If we forget that it is God’s prerogative to give results when the gospel is preached, we shall start to think that it is our responsibility to secure them. And if we forget that only God can

Over past several years I have been convicted about preaching and the way I study for it. I assume that conservative pastors at times struggle with the demands of life and how they can faithfully carry out the preaching of the whole council of the Word of God. I have an insatiable desire to preach with authority and to constantly improve my communication, but the most important experience I have had about preaching was when someone who was visiting my church told me that they thought I read my sermon. This convicted me. I did not read my sermon; I

http://dogmusings.blogspot.com/2005/10/defense-of-calvinism-as-gospel-by.html see also www.disciplemaking.net

Expositor’s Quote from the Australian Anglican pastorP.J.H. Adam: We all know the saying `A text without a context is a pretext’, whichpoints to the danger of trying to interpret words out of theircontext. However the task of understanding a text in context is morecomplex than many realize. To place a text in context we must identifyits >literary context theological contexthistorical contextcontext in OT or NT theologycontextin God’s progressive revelationcontext in biblical theologyWhen God chose to reveal his saving will in the Bible, he did not use a systematic theology, a dictionary of useful texts, or an anthologyof current debates. He

Here is a good article about women preachers in Baptist life: Do SBC Moderates Really Believe Women Should Serve as Pastors? An Important Research Project see also www.disciplemaking.net

Fall 2006 Courses Systematic Theology II with audio lectures by Dr. Roger NicoleThis is the second in a series of four planned courses on Systematic Theology. The first course covered the Place of Systematic Theology, Divine Revelation and the Authority of Holy Scripture. Topics in this second course include: Doctrine of God, Creation and Providence, the Doctrine of Man and Sin. Students can take the Systematic Theology courses in any order. It is not necessary to take Systematic I before taking Systematic II. Dr. Roger Nicole is a retired professor of theology emeritus at both Gordon-Cornwell Theological Seminary and Reformed

Unity, God, and YouBy Paul Alexanderfrom www.9marks.org I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You sent me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the

To order Audio of Founders Fellowship Breakfast 2006 click here see also www.disciplemaking.net

What are the Essentials of the Gospel?By Phil A. Newtonwww.9marks.org “Essentials” implies necessity – something that cannot be left out if the gospel is to be properly understood. Charles Haddon Spurgeon seemed to have mastered the “essentials of the gospel” in his preaching and ministry. Though numerous areas of biblical thought were open to debate, upon the essentials or “fixed principles,” as he called them, there could be no debate. I have found his outline to be helpful in sharpening my thinking on the essentials of the Christian gospel. 1. We must begin with God, and the certainty “that there

Are brief, general statements of faith harmful or helpful?By Shawn Wrightwww.9marks.org In a local church, brief statements of faith are not helpful. A statement of faith must be complete enough to mark out the doctrinal parameters of the church, without being so precise that it excludes persons unnecessarily. But it should not be brief or general.New Testament Background. The New Testament is full of doctrinal statements of varying lengths (e.g., Matt. 16:16; 1 Cor. 15:3-8; 1 Tim. 3:16). Paul’s exhortation that his teaching be followed in the local church (e.g., 1 Tim. 4:1-16; 2 Tim. 2:2) as well as the