Deus Misereatur

Theology and the Mirror of Scripture: A Mere Evangelical Account Kevin J. Vanhoozer and Daniel J. Trier IVP Academic (InterVarsity Press) PO Box 1400 Downers Grove, IL 60515 ISBN: 978-0-8308-4076-2; $26.00; November 2015 Reviewed by Rev. Dr. Michael Philliber for Deus Misereatur 4 Stars out of 5 Maybe the hinge is binding because there’s something wrong with the door altogether, or maybe there’s nothing more than a bit of rust and grime that have begun to encumber the door from opening and closing properly. Whatever it is, my truck door is giving me fits! It catches, groans and pops every time I open and close it. In many ways, evangelicalism is in a bind and catching. It doesn’t appear to be “working” correctly any longer. That’s why Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and Daniel J. Trier, Blanchard Professor of Theology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, have penned ...

The Relevance of Religion: How Faithful People Can Change Politics by John Danforth My rating: 5 of 5 stars Incivility, with all of its rudeness in personal and political discourse and discourtesy on social and audio-visual media, seem to have confiscated and impounded our shared psyche as a nation. Simultaneously, into this caustic environment is being poured a highly-flammable fuel that explodes and melts down discussion and disagreement, and dissolves any hope of reaching the common good. The Ninth Commandment clearly announces that we’re not to bear false witness against our neighbors. And yet people of strong Christian convictions violate the Ninth Commandment minute-by-minute on Facebook, via email and by means of other outlets. You see it when we post and publicize scathing, often half-truth fabrications against this or that Governmental office holder and others. To propose a remedy, John Danforth, Lawyer, Episcopal priest, one-time Republican Senator for Missouri and United ...

House Luke 5.17-32 Home groups, care groups, small groups; what are they all about? Sometimes these groups can thin down into sanctioned times of gossip and gab; becoming ingrown and ill. Sometimes they can be nothing more than just another time-consuming, exhausting “program” meant to keep you busy. Nevertheless, there is valuableness for these groups if pursued with the right aim. I hope that when I am done today, we will all have a clearer sense of purposefulness for our home groups. Brought in (17-26): Though Luke is not very clear where this is, we know that Jesus is in someplace, in some facility. It’s Mark that makes it clear and tells us, “ it was reported that [Jesus] was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them ” (Mark 2.1-2). This whole scene unfolds inside Jesus’ house. They bring a paralyzed man to him and seek to “bring him in” (2xs, 18, 19). The friends know that g...

New Dictionary of Theology: A Concise and Authoritative Resource Editors Sinclair B. Ferguson, David F. Wright and J.I. Packer IVP Academic (InterVarsity Press) PO Box 1400 Downers Grove, IL 60515 ISBN: 978-0-8308-1400-0; $45.00; 1988 Reviewed by Rev. Dr. Michael Philliber for Deus Misereatur Comprehensive Compendium; 5 Stars out of 5 To speak of a dictionary may conjure memories of dusty drudgeries and tiresome tomes. But dictionaries can be great assets, especially those that focus on special fields of study. The “New Dictionary of Theology: A Concise and Authoritative Resource” is such a work. Put together in 1988 by Editors Sinclair Ferguson, David F. Wright and J.I. Packer, this volume is a treasure trove of substantive exposés. Though it is not an exhaustive volume, and the articles are 28 years old, yet the hundreds of topics covered, by a wide range of scholars, makes this work a useable keeper for seminarians, pastors, Bible teachers, scholars and think...

Sunday morning: O Father, our Father, you desire us to draw near to you with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a Father, able and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others. Therefore, we come. Abba, Father, fulfill the meaning of your name toward us, your children; do govern, preserve, protect, prosper, guide, console, strengthen and sanctify us. Let us be so enkindled with love for you that we may never forsake you, O most merciful Lord, and most tender Father. And, like King Jehoshaphat, may our hearts be courageous in the ways of the LORD. We ask you to aid and support Dan Young, his family, and the mission team in McAllen, Reynosa and beyond. Grant to them peace and protection, trustworthy co-laborers and tangible assets, help unlooked for and wholesale opportunities for their work to be successful. We implore your kindest care and compassion on the nations of our world, especially where there is bloodshed, bombings, and grisl...