William Still (2010) challenges us to push further into the Gospel and all that it means: In evangelical circles the danger that the Gospel may be equated with the mere rudiments of the Word of God has become almost a disaster, for these rudiments are only the beginning of the Good News. There are profounder things by far in the Bible than what is called 'the simple … [Read more...] about More Than Gospel Rudiments
How to Use a Bible Dictionary
A dictionary is a handy tool for Bible study. As we encounter unfamiliar words or, more often, as we try to meditate on the deeper meanings of words in scripture, we often find ourselves reaching for this tool. But there are some pitfalls here. It is possible to misuse the dictionary and be misled by it. To avoid these pitfalls, we must remember two important … [Read more...] about How to Use a Bible Dictionary
The Importance of Singing in Spiritual Formation
Andy Crouch (2017) makes an interesting point about the wholistic nature of singing and its contribution to our spiritual formation: Worship is more than singing, of course. But there is something about singing that is fundamental to Jewish and Christian worship - starting with the Psalms, continuing with the hymns that grew out of the early church and the renewal and … [Read more...] about The Importance of Singing in Spiritual Formation
Did Jesus Really Think He Was God?
This is a question many folks ask. And the main pushback comes from the fact that, at first glance, nowhere in the Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) does Jesus make the exact statement "I am God." But there is more than one way to claim divinity, and Jesus makes many direct and indirect claims about being divine. One of the best summaries of these claims I … [Read more...] about Did Jesus Really Think He Was God?
Crouch on Solitude
Andy Crouch (2017) on solitude, silence, and fasting: The central disciplines of the spiritual life, as taught by generations of Christian saints, have stayed the same for twenty centuries now: solitude, silence, and fasting. Each of these pushes us beyond our natural limits, and all of them give us spiritual resources for everyday life that we can't gain any other way.Very … [Read more...] about Crouch on Solitude