Robert, Restless and Always Reforming

Largely forgotten by many, George Whitefield was probably the most famous religious figure of the eighteenth century. Newspapers called him the “marvel of the age.” Whitefield the calvinistic methodist was a preacher capable of commanding thousands on two continents through the sheer power of his oratory. In his lifetime, he preached at least 18,000 times to perhaps 10 million hearers. Being a preacher is being a steward of the Word and to be about the business of feeding the Lord’s sheep.

As I have been reading about Whitefield, one is able to sense the divine calling of God on his life to be a mouthpiece for God from behind the sacred desk of the pulpit. I would like to give a glance into his life particular his last night where he did what he did for many years which was to expound the scriptures.

On the last evening of his earthly life, George Whitefield began to mount the stairs of the Presbyterian manse at Newbury Port, Massachusetts, where he was staying on a preaching expedition. His tireless schedule had taken its toll this aging evangelist. As he ascended the stairs, the townspeople came pressing at the door, longing to hear the gospel from his lips once more. Now 50 yrs of age, he was weakening, worn out from a lifetime of evangelistic labors. For dys he had been so infirm that he should not have left his bed, but he did, all to preach again. At the crowd’s insistence, the weary evangelist began to expound the Scripture. There he stood, candle in hand, preaching with renewed zeal, unaware of the passing time, until the flame finally burned itself out, leaving the room in darkness. The sermon was over, and Whitefield dismissed the crowd. No one knew it at the time, but that was the last sermon Whitefield would preach. Later that night, the gifted evangelist who was used so mightily by God to help usher in the Great Awakening entered into his heavenly rest.

The burning candle Whitefield had held was representative of his life and ministry. It had been a blazing torch that had burned brightly in a dark generation, shining forth the brilliant of divine truth, faithful until the end. But finally, as with every preacher, it burned its last. (57) Whitefield dies as he had lived, relentlessly preaching the Word, holding forth the light of the glory of God in Christ.

George Whitefield’s tireless perseverance should inspire all today who are called to preach. May the holy flame of each God-called preacher burn brightly in this dark hour, faithful to the end. (George Whitefield by Arnold Dallimore, pg. 37)¹ 

This recollection of Whitefield’s last sermon shows a life lived to be a herald for God’s Word. Whitefield fulfilled his calling until his last breath. Many preachers start well but not all finish well. George Whitefield once said, “It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher.” May we burn to share the Word and finish well.

¹ Famine in the land: A Passionate Call For Expository Preaching by Steven J. Lawson pg.126

The book of Psalms has always been one of the portions of scripture that has always been challenging when studying in preparation to teach or just wanting to be a serious student of the Word. Now Dr. Allen P. Ross professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School has now provided an invaluable tool to assist the pastor, teacher and student in better understanding the Psalms.

Allen P. Ross’s first volume on the Psalms is appearing in the Kregel Exegetical Library: Psalms, Vol. 1 Psalms 1–41. The author spends the first portion of the book about 180 pages providing necessary background material like setting, authorship and textual issues. Ross also explains in depth the value of the psalms, their use in Israel’s worship, and interpretative history of the Psalms. In the introduction we are also given instruction on how to interpret biblical poetry along with how understand the different literary forms within the Psalms. This introductory material is not to be overlooked as it gives the reader the tools to begin his interpretative study of the Psalter.

Now once we get into the Psalms with Ross he takes each individual Psalm he divides each Psalm into an introduction which looks at the text and textual variants in the Greek and Hebrew, then the composition and context, and an exegetical analysis. Dr. Ross then shifts into the commentary of the text which is outlined in an expositional format for easy reading.  Then it is all tied together with a message and application of the Psalm which is extremely helpful and beneficial. I find the commentary to be very thorough as the author combines biblical scholarship with practical insights to assist preacher or teacher to exposit the psalms in their entirety. I enjoyed his footnotes which go deep into the linguistic technical aspects of the Psalms.

I will keep coming back to Ross’ work here to explore and deepen my understanding of the text. His work is clear and extremely well organized, providing enough scholarly and pastoral insight to suit both the average reader and the pastor preparing for a sermon. Kregel Publications has generously provided a preview of this commentary (here).

I would gladly recommend this resource as I find it to be a beneficial addition to anyone’s library. It is the opinion of this reader that it belongs on any list of helpful writings on the book of Psalms. I can’t wait for the next volume to be available. I will certainly be coming back to Ross’ work to assist me in my study of the text as he gives well organized scholarly with pastoral insight on this great book.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Kregel Publications as all opinion are my own. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

You can now access the Reformation Study Bible online at Bible Gateway. The Reformation Study Bible has thousands of invaluable study notes to aid people in their Bible reading and study. I am thrilled to hear that it is going to be available online for free no.

These thousands of study notes and commentary are drawn from the theological work of more than fifty distinguished Bible scholars which includet he likes of Wayne Grudem and  J. I. Packer and many others.

On an additional note that I mention it is edited by theologian and past Dr. R. C. Sproul. On the BibleGateway website these profound and insightful study notes can be read alongside any bible translation online. You can find further information on how to use this free study tool more on either of the following links (here or here).

Thanks to Kregel Publications I was given the opportunity to read & review bible scholars Andreas Köstenberger (NT) and Richard Patterson (OT) recently published book Invitation to Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature, and Theology. It is the latest installment in Kregel’s Invitation to Theological Studies Series. Dr. Köstenberger is director of doctoral studies and professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

In this new book, Invitation to Biblical Interpretation he provides seminarians and upper-level collegians a textbook utilizing what is known as the “hermeneutical triad” method. This distinct approach to interpretation is based on giving due consideration to both the historical setting and the literary context, as well the theological message. In short the book teaches students to look at the canonical, genre-related, and linguistic features of the passage. The overarching structure outlined in the book is (1) Preparation (2) History (3) Canon (4) Genre (5) Language (6) Theology (7) Application and Proclamation. These are the steps and tools the book provides to engage students to study the biblical texts in a theological construct.

Throughout the book they provide interpretive examples showing how their interpretative method works and applies in order to give a guide to students in proper exegesis. An added plus are the concluding exercises and assignments in order to hone in your skills and comprehension of each chapter. I found the last chapter very helpful as it provides practical tips on how to preach from the differenct biblical genres and also provides guidance on what are some of the best biblical studies tools out there and how to best use them.

Interpreting the Bible accurately is one of the most important responsibilities every believer has, and it is especially crucial for those who teach and preach God’s Word to others. This book which is a product of 10 yrs of work in collaboration with Dick Patterson is a must read for every student of the scriptures. This work promises to be a valuable resource for pastors, teachers, and students for years to come. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to further increase their ability in handling the text of scripture. It will make a most notable addition to one’s library indeed. Even though it is an academic book I found its reading style easy to read. Here are some additional resources:

• You can download a copy of the first chapter from Kregel (here).
• You can also see all 39 endorsements of this book (here). 

Disclaimer: Review copy of book was provided by Kregel Publications for an honest and impartial review as all comments are my own.

I have always been a reader of almost anything D. A. Carson writes and his newest book “The Intolerance of Tolerance” does not disappoint in the least. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity who is the author or coauthor of over 45 books including the Gold Medallion Award-winning book “The Gagging of God”.

Right off the bat Carson spends time contrasting the “old tolerance” and “new tolerance.” He explains how the new tolerance calls for the acceptance of another’s position believing that the position to be true or at least as true as your own position. This is a shift from allowing contrary opinions in the marketplace of ideas to the outright acceptance of all opinions now. Carson then continues the pursuit of unpacking the slide from the “old” to the “new” tolerance from the historical past to how it now presents itself in our present culture..

D. A. Carson then challenges the empty intellectualism and exposes the hypocritical inconsistently of the new tolerances view points. This book needed to be written for the sake of the theological integrity of the church and the culture at large. He provides a long list of a variety of examples how this philosophy has leaked into all areas of life such as religious, political, news and academic environments.

In conclusion the author explains how the Christ follower must adhere to the objective truth found in the scriptures despite living in a climate where religious relativism is the accepted norm. The book is just completely outstanding and a well volume worth adding to one’s reading list for this year the first 30 pages can be previewed here. I found it stimulating intellectually, very readable, well researched and apologetically engaging. Here are some MP3s part 1 and part 2 where Dr. Carson speaks on the intolerance of tolerance as dated March 2004. Also here is a recent interview with John Starke where Carson explains the difference between the “old tolerance” and the “new tolerance”. Enjoy!

In the Christian ministry one runs into many facets of evil from abortion, sexual abuse, sexual immorality, suicide, and the depraved lure of addictions to godless things. I am constantly reminded that I live in a fallen world as in our city’s students; our neighbors and coworkers are perishing in depravity. In this I am reminded who my enemy is. It is not our students, neighbors or coworkers but the prince of powers (Ephesians 2:2, 6:12-13).

Many people believe that Satan is simply an externalization, or projection, of the idea of temptation but not a real metaphysical being. As the French poet Charles Baudelaire said, “The devil’s most clever trick is to convince us that he does not exist.” English novelist Joseph Conrad embodied this belief in his writings also that the devil is just man’s theoretical excuse to not take responsibility for his own actions when he said, “The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.”

There are a lot of opinions on the subject but I find the best definition on the historic Christian understanding of Satan offered by Jeffrey Burton Russell which I was introduced to while reading Evil, Satan, Sin and Psychology by Terry D. Cooper & Cindy K. Epperson.

The heart of the concept is that a cosmic power exists other than the good Lord, a power that wills and urges evil for its own sake and hates good for its own sake and hates good for its own sake, a power that is active throughout the cosmos, including human affairs. The power is not a principle independent of God but rather a creature of God. The evil in him proceeds not from his nature, which was created good, but rather from his free choice of hatred. God permits him to choose evil and to remain evil because rue moral freedom is necessary to the divine plan: God creates the cosmos for the purpose of increasing moral goodness, but moral goodness entails freedom to do evil. The Devil, whose will is wholly given over to hatred, wishes to distort the cosmos as much as he can; to this end he tries to corrupt and pervert the human race. This is the center of the concept and the crucial judgment must be made upon it. (Satan: The Early Christian Tradition by Jeffrey Burton Russell, p. 222)

That being said any theology that does not take the devil seriously should not itself being taken seriously. I know who my foe is and the Lord has left us very few weapons, but they are mighty! (1) Pray which according to the holy writ of scripture found in James 5:16 is effective and can accomplish much. A favorite word on prayer by John Piper is, “Prayer makes things happen that would not happen had I not asked”. Simply put when the righteous man prays he can move kingdoms and shape the world. (2) The sufficiently inspired Word of God is a formidable weapon many times described as a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) that is sufficient for any good work (II Timothy 3:16-17).

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

Jonathan Edwards the puritan theologian who is commonly known for his preaching to his congregations also preached to his children. He constantly spoke of heaven & hell to his children. The necessity of the gospel was a spoken about truth in the Edwards household. 

The following letter written to Edward’s daughter Esther dated May 27, 1755, shows Edward’s intent on making the gospel not assumed but something that is explicit in the Edward’s family.    

Dear Child,    

Though you are a great way off from us, yet you are not out of our minds: I am full of concern for you, often think of you, and often pray for you. Though you are at o great a distance from us, and from all your relations, yet this is a comfort to us, that the same God that is here, is also at Onohquaga; and that though you are out of our sight and out of our reach, you are always in God’s hands, who is infinitely gracious; and we can go to him, and commit you to his care and mercy. Take heed that you don’t or neglect. Always set God before your eyes, and live in his fear, and seek him every day with all diligence: for tis’ he, and he only can make you happy or miserable, as he pleases; and your life and health, and the eternal salvation of your soul, and your all in this life and that which is to come, depends o his will and pleasure.    

The week before last, on Thursday, David died; whom you knew and used to play with, and who used to live at our house. His soul is gone into the eternal world. Whether he was prepared for death, we don’t know. This is a loud call of God to you to prepare for death. You see that they that are young die, as well as those that are old: David was not very much older than you. Remember what Christ has said, that you must be born again, or you never can see the kingdom of God. Never give yourself and rest, unless you have good evidence that you are converted and become a new creature. We hope that God will preserve your life and health, and return you to Stockbridge again in safety; but always remember that life is uncertain; you know no how soon you must die, and therefore had need to be always ready.    

We have very lately heard from your brothers and sisters at Northampton and a Newark, that they are well. Your aged grandfather and grandmother, when I was at Windsor, gave their love to you. We here all do the same.    

I am, Your tender and affectionate father,    

Jonathan Edwards    (Works of Jonathan Edwards Vol. 16, 666-67) ¹ 

This letter shows Edward’s pastoral fatherly concern for his daughter’s spiritual health. As a family shepherd he speaks of the redemptive gospel through Christ in whom all are happiness dwells. The youth minister in me finds Edwards in this letter exemplary of what a father’s role is in sharing the gospel with his children. Edwards here purposedly makes sure his daughter is reminded of what is of greatest importance. That God would spur men to be family shepherds and preachers of the Gospel to their children. 

¹ Owen Strachan and Doug Sweeney, Jonathan Edwards on Heaven & Hell The Essential Edwards Collection (Moody Publishers, 2010) pg 48-50.

John Wesley

I remember listening to John Piper preach and he said a word that has rung in my ear ever since when it comes down to money. I also bumped into this truth again sometime later in his book Don’t Waste Your Life around page 111.  

“God has given us money to use money to show that God, not possessions is our treasure”. – John Piper 

In truth I have found that Christians who worship God, not money, prefer to live humbly and give extravagantly. This was fleshed out in the life of John Wesley the open-air preacher who is considered along with his brother Charles Wesley as the founders of the Methodist movement. Here is an excerpt of an article from © Desiring God on his life & giving. 

Take John Wesley for example. He was one of the great evangelists of the 18th Century, born in 1703. In 1731 he began to limit his expenses so that he would have more money to give to the poor. In the first year his income was 30 pounds and he found he could live on 28 and so gave away two. In the second year his income doubled but he held his expenses even, and so he had 32 pounds to give away (a comfortable year’s income). In the third year his income jumped to 90 pounds and he gave away 62 pounds. In his long life Wesley’s income advanced to as high as 1,400 pounds in a year. But he rarely let his expenses rise above 30 pounds. He said that he seldom had more than 100 pounds in his possession at a time. 

This so baffled the English Tax Commissioners that they investigated him in 1776 insisting that for a man of his income he must have silver dishes that he was not paying excise tax on. He wrote them, “I have two silver spoons at London and two at Bristol. This is all the plate I have at present, and I shall not buy any more while so many round me want bread.” 

When he died in 1791 at the age of 87, the only money mentioned in his will was the coins to be found in his pockets and dresser. Most of the 30,000 pounds he had earned in his life had been given away. He wrote, 

I cannot help leaving my books behind me whenever God calls me hence; but in every other respect, my own hands will be my executors. In other words, I will put a control on my spending myself, and I will go beyond the tithe for the sake of Christ and his kingdom. (Quotes from Mission Frontiers, Sept./Oct. 1994, nos. 9–10, pp. 23–24.  

Paul’s word on giving comes to mind in 2 Corinthians 9:6–8: “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” I Pray that God would open our hearts in order to open our wallets on behalf of the gospel ministry.

In my years in ministry working with youth & college students one of the constant issues and questions by students is why and how do I prevent my spiritual life from becoming a spiritual roller coaster ride? They experience a spiritual high at a camp, a retreat, a conference or some other event and then they return to their homes where later their present reality hits them and they crash and burn in walk with God only to await until the next pick me upper.

The question would be how can a Christian maintain his cross centeredness in the midst of a busy schedule, struggles and the demands of work, school, or family?  C. J. Mahaney in “The Cross Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel The Main Thing” quotes John Stott giving a bright answer on keeping the passion burning in the chase after God’s heart.

John Stott, author and pastor, compares the cross to a blazing bonfire. If we want the flame in our heart to be kept alive, we have to keep coming back to the source. “the cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled,” he writes, “but we have to get near enough to it for its sparks to fall on us.” 1

The Christian needs God’s sparks from the cross to fall on him to remind us of our wretched state prior to the penal substitionary atoning work of the cross. The blazing fire of the cross magnifies our sinfulness while at the same time amplifying the riches of God’s love and grace. This constant drawing back to the cross keeps are passion kindled so that it does not fizzle out.

Mahaney shares 5 simple ways that have helped him draw near to the “sparks” of the cross each day. Stated as follows is first (1) Memorize The Gospel: read and memorize scripture that illuminates the gospel for example [Isaiah 53:3-6, Romans 3:23-26; 5:6-11; 8:32-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21]. Secondly (2) Pray The Gospel: with prayer being the center of our lives we should pray thanking and acknowledging what the work of the cross has done for us. Then (3) Sing The Gospel: with so many CD’s, worship songs and especially the old hymns out there we should sing songs that are full of the theology of the cross and that stir up our religious affections. Fourthly (4) Review How The Gospel Has Changed You: which is to reflect and remember the past from which we were saved from. Then lastly (5) Study The Gospel:  we should dive into first read the Bible then camp out in commentaries and books on various theological themes and doctrines. We should never be content with our current grasp of the gospel.

As Augustine said in his Confessions, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee, O Lord”. Oh may the sparks fly on us as we stay near the cross, so that our hearts will burn with a fire that is consumes our lives.

1 C. J. Mahaney, The Cross Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel The Main Thing, p.55.

The recession has hit lots of people hard, including houses of worship across the country. According to The Huffington Post, although most spiritual leaders of small towns and big cities across the country make anywhere from $25,000 to $40,000, some church pastors are making much….much more.

HuffPost Religion compiled a list of the best paid pastors and how much they make, including public appearances, book sales, and charity management. For a look at the full list of some well known and suprising names, you can head (here).