Deus Misereatur

Hearers and Doers: A Pastor's Guide to Growing Disciples Through Scripture and Doctrine by Kevin J. Vanhoozer My rating: 5 of 5 stars At 58, I still love physical fitness. I run 4 miles three times a week, lift weights, and keep up with my Tae Kwon Do. Though it doesn't come easy, it did come early, and it came with loads of guidance and instruction. In my Junior High and High School years I received instruction and coaching on various aspects of running and lifting. I also received years of training from three martial arts instructors patiently guiding me through routines, sparring and weapons drills. These experiences and my present pleasure in physical conditioning has attuned my ears to the analogies in Scripture that picture discipleship as something of an aerobic fitness program. Kevin Vanhoozer, research professor of systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, picks up this work out theme in his new 296 page hardback, "Hearers and Doers: A Pastor...

Pictures at a Theological Exhibition: Scenes of the Church's Worship, Witness and Wisdom Kevin J. Vanhoozer IVP Academic (InterVarsity Press) PO Box 1400 Downers Grove, IL 60515 ISBN: 978-0-8308-3959-9; $20.00; March 2016 Reviewed by Rev. Dr. Michael Philliber for Deus Misereatur Clear-Eyed  Read; 5 Stars out of 5 If relaying sound doctrine to Christ’s people is part of the divinely sanctioned, apostolically commissioned tasks of a minister ( e.g. , 2 Timothy 2.2 and Titus 2.1), then looking for friends who can help us in this task is simply plain smart.  And a friend has stepped forward to do just this in his recently published 327 page paperback titled, “Pictures at a Theological Exhibition: Scenes of the Church's Worship, Witness and Wisdom.” Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, has pulled together this readable resource with the aforementioned goal in mind; “…it m...

[The following is what I presented on 22 June 2016 at the Capitol Forum, at the Oklahoma State Capitol] Demon Piety Luke 8.26-39 Did you know that the devil is very pious or religious? And did you know that our best religious efforts are often duplicated by demons? Why should this matter? Because it ought to inspire in you and me to examine ourselves, our religiousness, our Christianity, and yearn to be authentic God-lovers ! Consider the “piety’” of the demoniac: Demons have religious insight: “ Jesus, Son of the Most High God” (v.28). Demons have a form of religiousness: notice they pray to Christ for some form of mercy: “ I beg you, do not torment me” (v.28)! Demons were persistent in their prayers: “ they begged him... ” (v.28, 31, 32). Demons praying in a humble, subservient posture: “he cried out and fell down before him” (v.28). Demons pray with deep feeling: he cried out... and said with a loud voice” (v.28). Demons use humble expressions in their p...

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 ...