Light & Heat
The idea circulates that theological study is futile. Why study the ineffable God? Many a modern Christian seems to gravitate towards chucking doctrine, perceiving the pride and folly of claiming to know with our small brains what can only be understood by our omniscient Father. Rather than advocating a heaping helping of humility, some are seduced by a false dichotomy: doctrine or mercy, doctrine or mystery, doctrine or mission.
The story of Training Leaders International is an incredibly hopeful story for the church worldwide. As President Darren Carlson points out, “Even if all the seminaries in the world operated at 100% capacity, we wouldn’t make a dent in the number of leaders that need training…. Seminaries are outposts of gospel light. Planting and working in pastoral training schools are some of the most fruitful things missionaries can do.”
Over the next several months, Alex Kirk will be unrolling a new series for us: The Theology of the Pentateuch. It is just a small preview of our OT 500 course, The Torah, which is a deeper exploration of the foundational Old Testament doctrines of creation, sin, faith, redemption, the character of God, law, holiness, and blessing. We hope this whets your appetite to dig into the first five books of the Bible with fresh curiosity and appreciation.
To fail to worship is to undercut the truth we claim to understand…. But all too often in our day and age, and in many, many seminary classrooms, the study of theology, which should kindle all of our affections for Jesus, is instead nothing more than a regurgitation of some collection of well-reasoned arguments concerning God. But theology is for doxology… Let us come to the subject at hand with the proper respect and awe and whole-hearted devotion that it deserves.
What does Zechariah mean when he admonishes us not to “despise the day of small things”? Catherine Morgan considers the significance of small people, small places, and small beginnings. “A key part of Christian formation is cultivating an appreciation for the spiritual treasure house of small things, learning to see behind appearances and look, as Jesus did, a little deeper.”
Is this what Christ called us to do: tie people emotionally to a place, personalities, programs, and people? Cory Hartman and Will Mancini urge us to get beyond attractional ministry to focus on what really matters: discipleship. Hartman, one of our adjunct faculty in applied theology, is the Lead Content Developer at Auxano, the ministry consulting organization founded by Will Mancini to help churches realize their vision.
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Garth Rosell of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary to the blog! Dr. Rosell reflects on his many decades of teaching church history and his development of a cohort-model D.Min. program for Gordon-Conwell. “The credit for these remarkable communities of learning, friendship, and faith, of course, belongs solely, absolutely and completely to God. Such developments, if they are genuine, are always the work of the Holy Spirit and ‘they are marvelous in our eyes.’”
Pastor Leo Barbee, Jr. has been a faithful expositor of God’s Word for 63 years, serving for decades at Victory Bible Church in Lawrence, KS, and investing in countless young leaders, including Michael Morgan. This week, Michael sat down to chat with Pastor Barbee to discuss how to raise up leaders with a priority of grace and compassion. Pastor Barbee isn’t a political activist, he is primarily a shepherd, and an extraordinary disciple-maker. As he likes to say, “I am a gospel preacher who just happens to be born black.”
If you are burdened by the plight of the poor, heartbroken over the reality of human trafficking, stirred by the cries of the oppressed, yet overwhelmed with work, pulled in numerous directions, and confused about where to begin… take heart. The extraordinary example of John Newton offers a model for pastors everywhere to remain faithful in their post, preaching and praying, and all the while quietly changing the world.
What can a 17th century German theologian have to say about 21st century concerns? Gerhard aims to fortify his readers with comfort and assurance as they face the certainty of death. “It is appointed for all to die;” he says, “but to die with piety, to die in Christ, to die happily is not for everyone. Therefore the soul must be prepared for that blessed ability to die well and must be armed with the shield of the Word and prayer.” Gerhard was equipped as few Christians are today to provide that preparation of the soul.
“Christian faith, and therefore Christian theology, emerges out of the shock of the gospel…the comprehensive interruption of all things in Jesus Christ (43).” So begins the late Professor John Webster (1955-2016) in a series of six lectures given in 1998 at the University of Otago in New Zealand, recently republished as The Culture of Theology.
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