"Preaching Sunday Morning to Monday People"

Cal Habig has a helpful reminder about "Preaching Sunday Morning to Monday People."

Ken Schenk on Theological Versus Inductive Readings

Ken Schenck has an interesting post on the distinction between theological and inductive hermeneutical approaches. Schenck notes three distinctions (which I have only listed, see the post for additional explanation of each).

1. Its fundamental method is deductive rather than inductive.
2. It does not aim at the most likely interpretation given the evidence but on the interpretation that best fits with its presuppositions.
3. Theological hermeneutics is a species of reader response criticism.

While I think at a general level there is some validity to three distinctions, I wonder whether it is as either/or as the post seems to imply. What I mean is this. Theological interpretation presumably begins with inductive interpretation at some point. In other words, the theological presuppositions which might be brought to bear on a given text were not created out of nothing, but probably created out of an inductive reading of the text. I see both theological and inductive readings to be part of the hermeneutical spiral in which inductive readings challenge theological presuppositions and theological presuppositions are brought to bear on inductive readings. That being said, I would encourage you to read Schenck's entire post.

Thomas Á Kempis on Spiritual Reading

One of the men in a Bible study that I lead recently gave me a devotional book with daily readings from classical Christian writings. The first reading I turned to was from Thomas Á Kempis (adapted by John Wesley).

Read to despise exterior things and to give thyself to the interior.

Assign some stated time every day for this employment of spiritual reading; so far as you possibly can, keep this exercise in inviolable.

Prepare yourself for reading, by purity of intention and by fervent prayer to God, that he would enable you to see his will, and give you a firm resolution to perform it.

Be sure to read, not cursorily or hastily, but leisurely, seriously, and with great attention; with proper pauses and intervals, and that you may allow time for the enlightening of the divine grace. To this end, recollect, every now and then, what you have read, and consider how to reduce it to practice.

Further, let your reading be continued and regular, not rambling and desultory. To taste of many things, without fixing upon any, shows a vitiated palate, and feeds the disease which makes it pleasing. Whatsoever book you begin, read, therefore, through in order.

Labor to work yourself up into a disposition correspondent with what you read; the reading is useless which only enlightens the understanding, without warming the affections. And therefore intersperse earnest aspirations to God, for His heat as well as His light. Select also any remarkable sayings or advices, and treasure them in your memory.

Conclude all with a short prayer to God, that from your reading He might sow seeds in your heart and that it may bring forth fruit.

Decker on Dispensationalism and Kingdom

Rodney Decker has made a previously published booklet on Dispensationalism and Kingdom (Rodney J. Decker, Contemporary Dispensational Theology, Kansas City, MO: Calvary Bible College, 1992. ii + 58 pgs) available as pdf download here.

Anxiety in the Ministry

Over at the Exiled Preacher blog there is some helpful wisdom from Pastor Geoff Thomas on "Anxiety in the Ministry." Some of the points I found most helpful are:

I. Four things that we must not worry about
1) Trivia
2) Things we can't control
3) Problems that have not arisen yet
4) About things that God has promised to take care of
II. How should we deal with our worries?
1) Make a present of worry
2) Be thankful
3) Leave your worries with God

Is Seeker-Sensitive Worship Legalistic?

See Brian Thornton's provocative answer to this question.

Drowned Man "Tried to Walk on Water"

Surely there is a lesson or illustration in this tragic story of a man in Brighton England who apparently had messianic delusions and drowned after trying unsuccessfully to walk on water. I am reminded of the assertion of C. S. Lewis and others that Jesus of Nazareth was either liar, lunatic, or Lord.

Genesis 1 and ברא

Chris Heard continues his discussion of Genesis 1 and interaction with John Walton's view with a focus on the Hebrew verb ברא. Heard concludes, "In my opinion, we must conclude that the author of Genesis 1 used ברא and עשה as synonyms. If so, then the whole 'assignment of function' argument cannot stand or fall with ברא alone, but also with עשה. This weakens Walton’s point even further, if he really wants to eliminate “making things” from the semantic range of ברא. It just won’t work."

Make sure to read the rest of the post.

Musical Based on the Book of Daniel

Mark Hunt, apparently a Seventh-day Adventist has written and is producing, “Babylon the Musical 2008,” based on the book of Daniel. Read the story here.

Latest Issue of The Review of Biblical Literature

The latest issue of the Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews that may be of interest to those interested in Bible exposition include:

Loveday