Calvinists & Arminians: Can They Get Along?

Charles Simeon

John Wesley

Here is a brief account of how Charles Simeon  ”squared off” against John Wesley, in the love of Jesus!

How Calvinist Simeon Related to Wesley

Prayer and God’s Plan

How does prayer fit into God’s plan? Doesn’t God know the future? Isn’t every last detail in His plan? So why pray? John Piper answers this question well - in a simple, readable way that won’t make your head explode! Read it here.

~Donovan

HT: Justin Taylor

The Justification Debate Clarified

One of the biggest theological debates over the last few years has been on the doctrine of justification. NT Wright (in particular) has been presenting a “new perspective”, and John Piper (in particular) has been arguing for the traditional view. Trevin Wax has a brief and readable article in the latest Christianity Today that serves as an accessible primer on the debate. Read it here.

~Donovan

HT: Tim Challies

A smorgasboard from around the web

It’s been a busy week, and I haven’t had a chance to post anything. I have come across several good posts on-line though, and since I don’t know which to link to, here’s a smorgasboard of good stuff from around the web (as usual, I found most of this stuff thanks to Tim Challies and Justin Taylor!):

• John Piper wrote a thought-provoking post entitled, “Why I Don’t Have a Television and Rarely Go to Movies” . This post also includes a wonderful example of humbly confessing sin. 
• Keith and Kristen Getty have released a new album of modern, celtic-style hymns. Their lyrics are saturated with Scripture and their music is beautiful! You can listen to samples and/or order the CD here.
• Sovereign Grace Music has released another children’s album entitled, To Be Like Jesus. Read about it here.
• Tim Challies asked John Bell, pastor of New City Baptist Church in Toronto, to share about his experience sharing the gospel with the gay community in his city. It is well worth reading - to help us think biblically about homosexuality, and to help us in God-honoring evangelism and church life. There is also some very interesting discussion in the comments, especially involving a number of men who struggle with homosexuality but turn from it because of their commitment to Christ. Read this post here. 
• If you’re compiling a summer reading list, you might find these 2 posts from David Powlison to be of interest. Powlison is a bilical counselor, professor, and author, and he spent some time this week discussing some of his favorite literature with CJ Mahaney. You can read part 1 here, and part 2 here.  
• What does Kurt Warner, a Christian who plays quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, like most about being a professional football player? His very encouraging answer is here.   

Blessings…

~Donovan

What to do with your Christian Heroes?

These 2 blog posts are well worth reading:

Read John Piper’s post,  Hero Worship and Holy Emulation, here.

Read Kevin DeYoung’s follow-up post, Thoughts on Evangelical Superstardom, here.

~Donovan

Free Live Stream for Resolved Conference this weekend!

This year’s Resolved Conference will be streamed live for free!

Here’s the schedule:

Friday, June 12 
8pm – Session 1, Rick Holland

Saturday, June 13
11am – Session 2, Steve Lawson
5pm – Session 3, C.J. Mahaney
7pm – Session 4, Enfield Concert

Sunday, June 14
11am – Session 5, Steve Lawson
5pm – Session 6, John MacArthur
7pm – Session 7, John Piper

Monday, June 15
9am – Session 8, Rick Holland
11am – Session 9, John MacArthur
5pm – Session 10, C.J. Mahaney
7pm – Session 11, John Piper

For more about the speakers click here.

To access the live stream click here.

In case you haven’t seen this year’s promotional video, here it is again:

To see previous year’s trailers, click here.

~Donovan

Advance ’09 Conference Audio

This conference is mostly aimed at church leaders. I haven’t listened to any of the messages yet, but there are a number that should be very good:

John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad, Part 1

John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad, Part 2

Mark Driscoll, What Is the Church?

Mark Driscoll, Ministry Idolatry

Tyler Jones, The Resurgence of the Church

Bryan Chapell, Communicating the Gospel Through Preaching

Matt Chandler, Preaching the Gospel to the De-churched

Ed Stetzer, Keys to Understanding the Church and Kingdom

J. D. Greear, Planting is for Wimps: Revitalizing a Church around the Gospel

Chandler, Driscoll, Chapell, Q&A

Eric Mason, The Ultimate Shepherd

Danny Akin, Marks of a Healthy Community of Faith

Piper, Driscoll, Greear, and Stetzer, Q&A 

~ Donovan

HT: Justin Taylor

Wisdom About Angels and Demons

John Piper:

“The folks at Westminster Bookstore have helped set up a remarkable website with serious reflections on the kinds of scientific and religious questions raised by the Dan Brown blockbuster Angels and Demons.

It’s the kind of place you could send your unbelieving friends who have questions.”

~Donovan

Gospel Coalition Conference Audio and Video

“Entrusted with the Gospel“, the 2009 Gospel Coalition conference, was last week. The conference had an incredible line-up of speakers.

Justin Taylor:

The audio and video from The Gospel Coalition conference are now available online for free. Most of them are expositions of 2 Timothy:

• Tim Keller, “The Grand Demythologizer: The Gospel and Idolatry” (Acts 19:21-41)
• John Piper, “Feed the Flame of God’s Gift: Unashamed Courage in the Gospel” (2 Timothy 1:1-12)
• Phil Ryken, “The Pattern of Sound Words” (2 Timothy 1:13-2:13)
• Mark Driscoll, “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:14-26)
• K. Edward Copeland, “Shadowlands: Pitfalls and Parodies of Gospel-Centered Ministry” (2 Timothy 3:1-9)
• Bryan Chapell, “Preach the Word!” (2 Timothy 3:10-4:5)
• Ajith Fernando, “Gospel-Faithful Mission in the New Christendom“
• Panel Discussion: Tim Keller, John Piper, Ligon Duncan and Crawford Loritts (chair: Stephen Um)
• Ligon Duncan, “Finishing Well” (2 Timothy 4:6-22)
• Don Carson, “That By All Means I Might Win Some’: Faithfulness and Flexibility in Gospel Proclamation” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

The Audio from most of the worskshop sessions is also available:

• Buster Brown, “Preaching in a Christianized Culture“
• Graham Cole, “Homosexuality and the Bible: Texts, Hermeneutics, and Pastoral Wisdom”
• Joshua Harris: Ministering in a Church-Hopping Society
• CJ Mahaney: The Pastor’s Charge 
• Thabiti Anyabwile: “The Decline of African-American Theology”
• Steven Chin: “Working Faithfully Under a Senior Pastor”
• Graham Cole: “Homosexuality and the Bible: Texts, Hermeneutics, and Pastoral Wisdom”
• K. Edward Copeland and Charlie Dates: “Mentoring Younger Pastors”
• Andy Davis: “The Gospel and Social Action”
• David Helm: “Biblical Reflections on Building a Staff”
• Bill Kynes: “Complementarianism: Definition and Priorities”
• Crawford Loritts: “Staying Faithful, Staying Relevant: The Use and Abuse of Polemical Preaching”
• Tom Nelson and Matt Perman: “The Gospel and Money”
• Colin Smith: “Transformational Expository Preaching”
• Stephen Um: “On Ministry and Revolving Doors: Practical Challenges and Ideas for Ministry in a Mobile Society”
• Sandy Willson: “Gospel Mission to the World: Arrogance or Love?”

Three of the sessions had corrupt audio, and the files are being worked on. It may be some time, however, before they become available:

• Michael Bullmore, “The Functional Centrality of the Gospel”
• Tim Savage, “Power in Weakness: The Heart of Gospel Ministry”
• Scotty Smith, “A Biblical Theology of Worship: On Preference and Other Matters”

~Donovan

Biblical Guidelines for Loving Each Other Amid Differences

John Piper recently exhorted his pastoral staff towards unity and love amid differences. He boiled his meesage down to a brief blog post, giving 6 points of excellent, biblical counsel that are applicable to all Christians seeking to live in the unity Christ calls us to. Read it here.

~Donovan

HT: Justin Taylor