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The interweb is full of seminary bloggers. From theological writings to personal journals, there is a wealth of great materials out there for seminarians to check out. This is one of the reasons that, several months back, I brought on 5 other writers to GTS. There are so many of you out there with great things to share, I didn’t feel like it made sense to make GTS a place where all you ever heard was my voice.

So, it is along those same lines that I announce today that GTS is open for guest posts. If you are a seminarian and have advice, tips, or stories to share, then simply visit the write for GTS page and submit your story idea. Now, we can’t take every story, but we’re really excited about hearing from students at different seminaries, with different experiences, and different insights. Also, if you submit a few great posts, we might just ask you to join us as a full time contributor.

Also, while we hope that we’ll here from a lot of traditional seminary students, I’d really love to hear from some non-traditional students… you know, the ones who are going to seminary later in life, or maybe those who are taking classes slowly via distance education.

So, what are you waiting for? Submit your story ideas today!

Book Review: Heirs With Christ by Joel R. Beeke

Beeke, Joel R. Heirs with Christ: The Puritans on Adoption. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2008. 134 pp. $13.00.  Purchase direct from the publisher at Reformation Heritage Books or from Westminster Books.

Introduction

Dr. Joel R. Beeke is renowned for his writings on Puritan theology. He has written, edited, or co-authored over fifty books including Meet the Puritans, Reformation Heroes, Striving Against Satan, and Living for God’s Glory (my review is forthcoming). He serves as president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, the editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, and vice president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society which is all located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His PhD is in Reformation and post-Reformation History from Westminster Theological Seminary.

Obviously, Dr. Beeke is well-versed in Puritan theology and this book does not disappoint. Justin Taylor states it best in his blurb on the back: “In this short but spiritually substantive book…” What he lacks in length he makes up for with content and depth.

Summary of Heirs with Christ

The book was written as an apologetic for the Puritans and their writings on adoption. Many, thanks in part to J.I. Packer’s Knowing God, believe that the Puritans never dealt with the doctrine of adoption. Beeke spends the entire book showing that this is not the case and that the doctrine of adoption was foundational too much of their thinking.

Beeke first shows the comprehensiveness of adoption and its impact on soteriology (matters of salvation) and the Christian faith in general. He then states explicitly what adoption is not—regeneration, justification, and sanctification—and how you cannot have one without the other but they must be differentiated.

The chapters on the transforming power of, the transformed relationships in, and the privileges and benefits of adoption leave one breathless and wanting to plumb the deeps of the Puritan minds. Along the way throughout the book, Beeke offers a sneak peek into the thinking behind the Westminster Assembly Confession as well as adoption in both testaments of the Bible.

Critical Analysis

Beeke does a wonderful job of sticking to his thesis that the Puritans wrote extensively on the doctrine of adoption. As one reads Heirs with Christ, he feels as though he is part of a documentary. Dr. Beeke strives to let the Puritans speak in their own words. He merely provides guidance as we peer back in time and see how the Puritans emphasized the doctrine of adoption and how it was foundational too much of their teachings.

Recommendation

If you are a believer in Christ, then you need to read this book. To see the richness and glory of being adopted by God into His Family will have you shouting “Amen!” To be completely honest, the footnotes and the bibliography are worth the price of the book. Personally, I found the introduction to Cotton Mather (chapter nine) to be worth the read! Having only heard of him in passing, I was not prepared for his pastoral writings and the blessing they would be to my soul.

This book certainly deserves to be read over and over. For those who struggle with assurance—and many do—they can read about their adoption into the family of Christ and rejoice to know that their assurance rests solely on God and not themselves. What a joy to realize that all over again “for the first time.”

Free Bible Study Magazine

Want a free copy of Bible Study Magazine?  Logos is giving away a free copy to everyone who is willing to review it on their blog, church newsletter, email list, or just about anywhere.

Can This Site Live?

For our regular readers, much like Ezekiel looking over the pile of dry bones, you might be wondering if GoingtoSeminary.com is ever going to come back to life. Well, good news, the answer is yes.

I’ve been plotting and planning on my daily bus rides on how we can get this ship sailing again and I think I have some really good stuff up my sleeve. The biggest thing I need right now is a little bit of time. With a big four day weekend coming up, I think I’ll be able to squeeze enough work in to get this puppy shining again.

So, sit tight and say a prayer. GoingtoSeminary.com will be good as new (God willing) next week!

It might also help if you were to drop me an encouraging comment below to cheer me on. It help to know that this site is worth the time, energy, and sacrifice. Seriously… I’m not kidding.

Book Review: Worldliness by C.J. Mahaney

Mahaney, C.J. Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008. 191 pp. $12.99.

C.J. Mahaney has become one of the most beloved charismatics of our time. I say that tongue-in-cheek and as one who has greatly benefited from his ministry. This book illustrates why everyone runs to Mahaney to see what living a cross-centered life looks like in today’s marginalized Christianity. He does not disappoint with this little volume.

Mahaney is joined by Craig Cabaniss, Bob Kauflin, Dave Harvey, and Jeff Purswell in exhorting the believer to flee worldliness. C.J. introduces the book with a chapter that looks hard at how often we disregard certain verses in the Bible. He compares this to Thomas Jefferson who removed everything in his “bible” that conflicted with his own thinking. How much more do we do that today and not even realize it? If we are to believe the Bible to be God’s Word, then we must adhere to all of it and not just what we agree with.

The proceeding four chapters in the book are all titled “God, my Heart, and _______.” They include the media (television and computer), music, stuff, and clothing. In each of these four chapters, the reader will be shaking his head as if to say “Yes, that was me once” or “Wait a minute that is worldliness?” You will be both challenged and comforted in reading these pages.

The final chapter explains how to love the world without losing focus of Who we worship. Jeff Purswell shows, in essence, how to be in the world and not of the world as so many Christians claim they do. What many will see is that they are in fact living for the world rather than living for the glory of Christ.

There are two appendices that are worth reading. Both are directed at women and dressing modestly (something that seems to be foreign even in our churches today) daily, and perhaps more importantly, on her wedding day. Even though they are directed at women, husbands, fathers, and young men would do well to read them and use them as a guide when shopping with a daughter, wife or wife-to-be.

We all struggle from time to time with what kind of music we listen to or what media we allow in to our homes or how much stuff we own. We would all do well to heed the call to flee worldliness and to live a more Christ-centered and God-glorifying lives. This volume shows what that looks like and offers the encouragement to “go all in for Christ.”

Ligon Duncan offers this statement in his blurb on the back of the book: “I now know the first book I am going to reach for when a Christian is wrestling with worldliness—or isn’t but should be!” I include this statement because it best sums up my recommendation. This will be a book that you will want to purchase multiple copies of to loan out to those needing counsel on worldliness.

Free Dr. Pepper!

According to a Fox News Report, you will be able to download a coupon all day this Sunday for a free Dr. Pepper that will be good until 28 February 2009.  Click here to go straight to Dr. Pepper’s website.

Book Review: The Leadership Dynamic by Harry Reeder III and Rod Gragg

Reeder III, Harry L. and Rod Gragg. Reeder III, Harry L. and Rod Gragg. The Leadership Dynamic: A Biblical Model for Raising Effective Leaders. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008. 191 pp. $12.99.

Introduction

Perhaps one of the most oft-asked questions in the Christian blogosphere is where one should go to be trained in leadership. The arguments range from the seminary to the local church to the family. However, what is most notable is the “next generation” of preachers, of which I am one, cries out for training in this most important area of ministry and life. What is even more prominent is the reality that a quality biblical model of training the next generation of leaders is lacking in most churches.

Now, Harry Reeder, senior pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, has written a book that presents a biblical model for training this next generation of leaders. Along with Rod Gragg, a professor of history at Coastal Carolina University, Reeder shows from Scripture what it means to be a leader capable of changing the fabric of society.

Summary of The Leadership Dynamic

The first three chapters deal with what the Bible says about leadership. Chapter one shows how the biblical model of leadership is counter-cultural to what the world thinks a leader should be. Being a leader is supposed to be in the world but not of the world. It is something many Christians say, but do not apply to their lives. This is even truer when it comes to spiritual leadership.

The second section—arbitrarily called a section by me—helps to define what a leader is. After defining the leader, Reeder presents the marks of the effective Christian leader and then offers ways to become just that. Drawing from his own experiences, Reeder shows how the best leaders learn from their lives as well as others who have “been there, done that.”

The third section—again, arbitrarily—explains how to develop future leaders. This section needs to be read and understood by many of today’s pastors as well as that “next generation” so that we may pass the baton of faith that Paul talks about in 2 Timothy 2:2. Reeder places the role of leadership building squarely on the church where, if it is to be biblical, it should be.

The final chapter is perhaps the most important chapter in the book. In it, Reeder exhorts the leaders to know who the enemy is. The enemy is not that thick-headed deacon or the young seminarian who knows everything. The enemy is Satan and he is dangerous. If you are going to begin training leaders, you must prepare yourself for the war that will ensue.

Recommendation

This is a much needed resource. It should be in every pastor’s library. Any father who wants to train his children in the fear of the Lord would benefit from the information found within the pages of this book. As a young minister myself, I can recall feeling lost when it came to being thrusted into a position of leadership. Reading this book has helped to enlighten much of my ignorance. I would recommend this resource to anyone wanting to know what it means to be a godly leader.

Gift Cards from Banner!

Just in time for the Christmas, yes Christmas, season Banner of Truth has unveiled a gift card option.  It comes in a larger greeting card and can be redeemed on the Internet and over the phone.  The best news in addition to the Good News?  Banner of Truth is not going out of business, so this gift card will still be valid in 2009! [Read more]

Book Review: Total Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis

Chester, Tim and Steve Timmis. Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008. 224 pp. $15.99.

Introduction

The authors of this book are also cofounders of a church planting initiative in Sheffield, UK called The Crowded House. The name of that initiative might have doubled as the name of this book. Both men have experience in what they write. Timmis is a former director of Radstock Ministries. There he helped the local church engage in world missions. Chester was a church planter for 15 years. Currently they are serving together as the codirectors of the Porterbrook Network a training and mentoring ministry for church planters.

Summary of Total Church

The book is divided into two parts. The first part is the foundation for the entire book. In it, the authors set out the two key components to the thesis of Total Church. The subtitle of the book shows what these two components are: gospel and community. In this part, Timmis and Chester argue that for a church to be biblical, it must be centered first on the gospel (if Christ was not crucified, buried, raised and ascended, then we have no church). The second focus is that of community. All throughout the book of Acts and the epistles of Paul (as well as the general) we read of a community of believers.

This community is a must in a world that no longer views a Christian as someone who is trustworthy and retainer of the truths found on in “The Book.” Without community, it is so easy to see believers leave the church disenfranchised with fellow believers. Perhaps one of satan’s greatest victories is a lack of community in the local church.

Part two comprises the majority of the book and looks at eleven different areas of “doing church” and how they would be impacted if the gospel and community were central to the local church. Here we see what evangelism and social involvement would look like and how they go hand in hand. Church planting would no longer be a concept approved of but would become a way of life in the local church. Discipleship and Training would not be sought out by young Christians longing to be discipled; rather, they would automatically be discipled and trained without having to sign up for a class. Things like theology and apologetics (seminary or local church?) would be taught.

All of this, plus much more, would ultimately lead to a deeper passion for God. Instead of “doing church” in the form of meetings and administrative work (yes, those have their place in the local church but are not as central as many think), the local church would actually be involved in the community by default. In other words, the content of the local church is the gospel while the context is the community of believers.

Recommendation

While you may not agree with everything the authors have to say, I think the concepts in this book deserve to be looked at and judged in light of Scripture. I would contend that the precepts found in the pages of Total Church are in fact biblical. Thus, I would recommend this book as a mandatory read for any young aspiring pastor. It is even more recommended for those who have a heart for planting churches.

As a matter of church government, I think a third part would have been nice to see that dealt with how best to govern this local body of believers. It is hinted at all throughout the book but never really dealt with explicitly. I realize there are differing opinions on church government, and entering into that debate is not within the parameters of this book, it still would have been nice if they took a stab at showing the infrastructure (humanly speaking) of the local church and how it shapes the duties of the church.

While the subtitle claims “a radical reshaping” of the church, I believe what is at issue is not so much a reshaping as much as it is an issue of sola scriptura. Most churches need to do away with the business and pseudo-business models of church life that focus on administrative work and get back to the heart of what a community of gospel believing sinners should be. In other words, we need to stop doing church in our meetings and offices and be the church doing the work of the gospel in our communities.

Book Review: Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns

Brauns, Chris. Unpacking Forgiveness: Biblical Answers for Complex Questions and Deep Wounds. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008. 235 pp. $17.99.

Chris Brauns, senior pastor at the Congregational Christian Church of Stillman Valley, Illinois has written a much needed exposition on a much maligned topic. In Unpacking Forgiveness, he offers a study of what Scripture says regarding the discipline of forgiveness. He then gives his readers some basic guidelines to begin what is the long journey to true forgiveness.

Every believer must forgive and ask for forgiveness daily whether they realize it or not. This book helps the Christian to see what exactly that looks like as well as what is entailed in forgiveness. Although it may be controversial, Brauns explains how forgiveness, according to the scriptures, is conditional. Most people want to claim that forgiveness is unconditional and must be handed out freely. This idea of “free forgiveness” is nothing less than a feel-good, therapeutic forgiveness that has nothing to do with the Bible and everything to do with the person who is doing the forgiving.

Brauns painstakingly shows how therapeutic forgiveness solves nothing and more often than not leads to bitterness. Biblical forgiveness is conditional upon repentance. Yes, you can offer forgiveness to someone, but if they are not repentant, then they cannot be forgiven. It may be tough for some to understand this concept, but it must be understood that forgiveness does not have as much to do with the people involved as much as it does with Who is ultimately offended—God.

Each chapter includes a list of discussion questions that can be done alone but is best suited for a group study. This becomes especially important when you are instructed to not forgive the unrepentant and allow for the wrath of God to have the final say (see chapter 12).

While I want to write so much more in this review, I fear I cannot. Because I was challenged in my own preconceived notions—however subconscious they were—of what forgiveness was, I want to share everything I learned. However, if I were to do that, I fear that I would in essence be plagiarizing the book in this review! This book is saturated with scripture and consequently, it is one of the more challenging volumes that has come across my desk in some time. If you are not challenged by this book, then you either did not read it or you are not a believer who has experienced true forgiveness at the foot of the cross.

Suffice it to say that this book belongs on the shelf of every believer. What is more is this book belongs in the libraries of every pastor or nouthetic counselor who really wants to deal with the issue of forgiveness with a member of your congregation or a counselee. For those who have been hurt by a spouse, or parent, or friend, this book is a must read. If you ever want to learn to truly forgive and be content with the person who offended you, then you need to read this book.

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