[Update: Please see the concerns in the comments below regarding this post. I contacted Logos directly, and to be quite frank, the response from Logos was less than satisfactory.]
From the Logos blog:
As a hat-tip to all our loyal Logos blog readers, we wanted to let you know about our latest online project, Sermons.Logos.com (beta). While we aren’t ready for a full-out release announcement, we thought it would be fun to let you guys and gals get the first chance to visit the site and “kick the tires.”
Sermons.Logos.com is an online community built around user created sermons and illustrations and already hosts over 56,000 sermons and illustrations.
Along with the ability to search Sermons.Logos.com using the same powerful search engine that runs Bible.Logos.com, you can also rate sermons, subscribe to sermon RSS feeds, create links to sermons and illustrations you want to share with people, and even create your own user account to upload your sermons and illustrations to the site.
If you already have a Logos.com account, there is no need to create a new account to use the site. Your Logos.com username and password work on Sermons.Logos.com. Not only that, but you can also promote your church and your sermons by enhancing your profile with a picture, a link to your church, your title, organization, personal blog or website, denomination, and much more. To enhance your profile, just visit: https://www.logos.com/user/MyProfile.
If you’re a Logos user and have the Sermon File Addin, contributing to Sermons.Logos.com is as easy as checking the “add my sermons to the Logos database” checkbox. Your sermons will automatically be added and, even more, when you edit them within Logos, your edits will appear on the site as well.
So, there you go. Remember, the site is in beta, so go check it out and let us know what you think.
Dec 3, 2008
Dec 2, 2008
Jackman on Ten Exhortations for Preachers
Colin Adams has posted David Jackman's ten exhortations for preachers. The ten exhortations are:
1. Get rid of the idea that we have to make the text relevant.
2. Go back and work hard on the text, to find out what it meant to its first hearers or readers.
3. Make sure the original context determines your contemporary application.
4. Set the passage also in its wider Biblical theological context.
5. Focus your understanding and purpose in key sentences.
6. Develop a clear programme.
7. Study your congregation.
8. Apply the truth to the whole person.
9. Make your language count.
10. Pray for the Holy Spirit to blow his life-giving breath through it all and to do the gracious and powerful work of which only he is capable.
Jackman's entire article can be accessed here.
Mounce on the Definitite Article in 1 Timothy 4:13
Bill Mounce has a nice discussion on the definite article in 1 Timothy 4:13 and its potential applications. Read the post here.
Free Spurgeon Audio Download
Christianaudio.com is offering a free download of the first ninety days of Spurgeon's classic devotional Mornings and Evenings. Go here and enter the coupon code DEC2008 when prompted.
Dec 1, 2008
The Provenance of Philippians
Michael Bird has a nice discussion on the provenance of Philippians. He argues for an Ephesian provenance. The post is worth reading although I hold to the traditional Roman provenance for Philippians.
Bivin on Hebrew as a Spoken Language in First-century Israel
David Bivin has an interesting post affirming that Hebrew was a spoken language in First-century
Randall Buth has pointed out to me a fascinating indication that Hebrew was the spoken language in the first century. The Jewish historian Josephus describes an incident that took place during the siege of
Nov 29, 2008
Wealth and Poverty
Much of the Bible is concerned about the topics of wealth and poverty. One of the great challenges of dealing with this topic in the West in general and the United States in particular is that our general relative affluence makes it difficult to gain a perspective from which we can better appreciate such texts. To this end there is a helpful tool that you can access here in which you can plug in your annual income and see how rich you are in relation to the world.
A Review of Simpson's Assaulted by Joy
Simpson, Stephen W. Assaulted by Joy: The Redemption of a Cynic. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008.
Normally, I review books that are directly related to biblical studies. But Robin Geelhoed at Zondervan contacted me about the book in question. Wanting to stretch a bit I decided to take it on. I am glad I did. Assaulted by Joy is a series of personal vignettes describing the author’s journey from cynicism to joy. The approach is generally effective since joy is more easily illustrated than defined. Using both personal tragedy and triumph, Simpson demonstrates that joy is more of a journey than a destination and that cynicism is a constant and attractive detour along the way. And that joy, contrary to popular understanding, is not best produced individually but rather cultivated in community and in relationship with others. Overall, the book is personable and easy to read and I could not help but identify with the author’s struggle with cynicism. That being said, I wonder whether the cynics that could benefit most from this book, will conclude that Simpson’s book is too simplistic, shallow, and saccharine. Or is that simply me being cynical?
Nov 28, 2008
Expository Preaching: The Minimum
Colin Adams suggests that at minimum expository preaching includes . . .
2. Giving the basic thrust of that passage’s message.
3. Positively demonstrating the meaning of the text by supplying relevant supporting evidence to your interpretation (historical background, literary context, grammatical support, word studies, wider Scriptural cross-reference, etc)
4. Negatively clarifying what the passage does not mean; ruling out possible faulty interpretations.
5. Drawing out the lessons of the passage for believer and non-believer.
6. Relating the passage to Christ and his gospel (setting the text within the wider framework of biblical theology).
(Note: non essentials to exposition include catchy introductions or conclusions, illustrations, numbered points, alliteration. No doubt some of these can be helpful on ocassion, but you could do exposition without them).
The post can be found here.
Reformed Theology Literature Website
There is a nice Reformed theology literature website accessible here.
Nov 27, 2008
Dissatisfied Churchgoers Cite Three Main Complaints
According to the latest issue of the Church Leaders Intelligence Report,
People who are dissatisfied with how their church is helping them develop spiritually (about 17% overall) are most concerned about three elements of the weekend worship service. 68% say the service does not incorporate Bible teaching that helps them with everyday life. 70% say the service is not challenging or thought-provoking enough, and 81% say it does not provide enough in-depth study of the Bible. Those generally satisfied with their churches also list these three elements, but with a much higher rate of satisfaction.Sounds like some solid Bible exposition would help!
Nov 26, 2008
Zane Hodges (1933-2008)
I learned today that Zane Hodges has gone on to be with the Lord. Although I did not know the man personally, men that have taught me were influenced by him. Dan Wallace has a nice reflection on Zane here.
Considerations for Choosing a New Sermon Series
Colin Adams has offered the following list of helpful points to consider in selecting a new sermon series.
1. How long do we have for this batch of sermons (one year; three months; four weeks)?
2. What Testament did we preach from last?
3. What biblical genre have we not preached from lately?
4. What is the one greatest spiritual need in the church currently? (and what book/section of a book would best address that need?)
5. What portion of Scripture excites me at the moment personally?
6. What Scripture books/sections have I not preached on with this congregation?
7. If we’ve just preached through a relatively lighter book, what would stretch the congregation? If we’ve just waded through Leviticus, what might make for some lighter lifting?
8. Are there any clear and present theological dangers that need to be urgently addressed?
9. Is there a contemporary circumstance (9/11, credit crunch) that might call for or pave the way for a series of sermons?
You can read the entire post here.
Nov 25, 2008
Ortlund on Preaching
The Faith by Hearing blog has noted the availability of three messages by Ray Ortlund on preaching. Here are the links to Ortlund's message.
Power in Preaching: Decide (1 Cor 2:1-5)
Why Professors Blog
Fred Sanders has an interesting post on why professors blog. The post has remarks from Michael Bird, Scot McKnight, Andreas Köstenberger, and Peter Leithart. You can read it here.
Thanks to Justin Taylor for pointing this out.
Nov 24, 2008
Blomberg Takes on National Geographic
Stackhouse on Qualifications for Teaching at a Small Christian College
Some readers might be interested in this post by John Stackhouse on "Qualifications for Teaching at a Small Christian College." The post can be accessed here.
Review of Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek
Constantine R. Campbell, Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek (
Thank Jesse Hillman for the review copy.
Constantine Campbell has written a short, interesting, and informative book on verbal aspect in biblical Greek. The strength of this work is its clarity (terms are defined, examples provided, etc.). The reader is also aided by the exercises (with answers), a glossary, and an index. To be quite honest, I am not sure that I am qualified to evaluate the strengths of some of some of the more technical linguistic arguments, but it appears that
Table of Contents:
Preface
Introduction: Verbal Aspect and Exegesis
Verbal Aspect Theory
1. What is Verbal Aspect?
2. The History of Verbal Aspect
3. Perfective Aspect
4. Imperfective Aspect
5. The Problem of the Perfect
Verbal Aspect and New Testament Text
6. Verbal Lexeme Basics
7. Present and Imperfect Tense-forms
8. Aorist and Future Tense-Forms
9. Perfect and Pluperfect Tense-Forms
10. More Participles
A Concluding Postscript: Space and Time
Verbal Glossary
Answers to Exercises
Indexes
Nov 23, 2008
Prophecy of the Eucharist in Malachi?
Jake Belder has an interesting post in which he notes that some of the early Church Fathers viewed Malachi 1:10 as a prophecy of the Eucharist. Read the post here.
Nov 22, 2008
Witherington on the Rhetorical Nature of Hebrews
You can read the text text (but not the notes) of Ben Witherington's Society of Biblical Literature paper on "The Rhetorical Nature of Hebrews" here.
Goodacre on Dating the Crucial Sources in Early Christianity
Mark Goodacre's handout for this year's SBL Meeting paper on "Dating the Crucial Sources in Early Christianity" is available here.
Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature
The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews that may be of interest from a Bible Exposition perspective include:
Bob Becking
From David to Gedaliah: The Book of Kings as Story and History
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6207
Reviewed by Marvin A. Sweeney
Jason Beduhn and Paul Mirecki, eds.
Frontiers of Faith: The Christian Encounter with Manichaeism in the Acts of Archelaus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6297
Reviewed by Tobias Nicklas
Roland Boer, ed.
Bakhtin and Genre Theory in Biblical Studies
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6214
Reviewed by Timothy J. Sandoval
Susan Brayford
Genesis
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6302
Reviewed by Jan Joosten
Rhonda Burnette-Bletsch
Studying the Old Testament: A Companion
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6203
Reviewed by Steed Vernyl Davidson
Stephen K. Catto
Reconstructing the First-Century Synagogue: A Critical Analysis of Current Research
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6430
Reviewed by Birger Olsson
Reviewed by Jonathan Bernier
Nicola Denzey
The Bone Gatherers: The Lost Worlds of Early Christian Women
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6280
Reviewed by Paul Dilley
Deborah L. Ellens
Women in the Sex Texts of Leviticus and Deuteronomy: A Comparative Conceptual Analysis
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6434
Reviewed by Naomi Steinberg
Richard A. Horsley
Scribes, Visionaries, and the Politics of Second Temple Judea
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6119
Reviewed by Lester L. Grabbe
Paul Joyce
Ezekiel: A Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6431
Reviewed by Corrine Carvalho
Reviewed by Steven S. Tuell
Adriane B. Leveen
Memory and Tradition in the Book of Numbers
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6153
Reviewed by James W. Watts
David R. Nienhuis
Not by Paul Alone: The Formation of the Catholic Epistle Collection and the Christian Canon
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6406
Reviewed by Patrick J. Hartin
Matthew B. Schwartz and Kalman J. Kaplan
The Fruit of Her Hands: A Psychology of Biblical Woman
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6180
Reviewed by Corinne Blackmer
Jan G. van der Watt, ed.
Identity, Ethics, and Ethos in the New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6044
Reviewed by H. H. Drake Williams III
Nov 20, 2008
Adams on Prophetic Preaching
Colin Adams has suggested five "guidelines for prophetic preaching."
- Prophetic preaching must be God-centered preaching
- Prophetic preaching must pay careful attention to historical context
- Prophetic preaching must recognise a variety of genres in prophetic literature
- Prophetic preaching must take account of the past, present and future
- Prophetic preaching must connect to Christ
Nov 19, 2008
Blomberg on James 5:13-18
Craig Blomberg has posted some helpful thoughts on James 5:13-18. Read it here.
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