Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther describes one form of God's judgment on a people:

"6544. When God wants to punish a kingdom, land or people, the first thing He does is take away devout, religious teachers and preachers, as well as God-fearing regents and advisors, prudent and experienced warriors, and other honorable people." (p. 301)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

He is Risen!

Go, make the tomb secure as you know how:
Send out a watch--you have the guards you need.
And set the seal: if death does not give heed
To this, at least prospective thieves will bow
Before raw military might, and plow
Some other furrow less foreboding, freed
From threat of soldiers' angry blows. This seed,
Pernicious rumor, can be stifled now.
     The One enthroned in heaven laughs an scoffs.
     Imagine stone to hold th'eternal Son!.
     Imagine that a seal could be enough
     To stay redemption's plan now well begun!
The stone retreats: three days have run their course.
No seal, no soldier can restrain this corpse.

-Taken from D.A. Carson, Holy Sonnets of the Twentieth Century (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994), 61.

The Death of Jesus

The darkness fought, compelled the sun to flee,
And like a conquering army swiftly trod
Across the land, blind fear this despot's rod.
The noon-day dark illumined tyranny.
Still worse, abandonment by Deity
Brought black despair more deadly than blood
That ran off with his life. "My God, my God,"
Cried Jesus, "why have you forsaken me?"
     The silence thundered. Heaven's quiet reigned
     Supreme, a shocking, deafening, haunting swell.
     Because from answering Jesus, God refrained,
     I shall not cry, as he, this cry from hell.
The cry of desolation, black as night,
Shines forth across the world as brilliant light.

-Taken from D.A. Carson, Holy Sonnets of the Twentieth Century (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994), 51.

Video Podcast: What is the Gospel? Part 1

As part of our church's Grow Initiative, we have begun selecting one book a quarter that we are encouraging our people to read. Because the gospel is so foundational, we began with Greg Gilbert's book What Is the Gospel?. The book does an excellent job of explaining in very simple but profound terms the basics of the gospel message. In his foreword to the book, D.A. Carson writes:

"This book does not so much claim to break new ground as survey afresh some old ground that should never have been ignored, much less abandoned...This book will sharpen the thinking of not a few mature Christians. More importantly, it is a book to distribute widely to church leaders, young Christians, and even some who have not yet trusted Christ who want a clear explanation of what the gospel is. Read it, then buy a box of them for generous distribution." (p. 14)

To help our people identify and digest key aspects of the book and its implications, several staff and myself recorded a video podcast discussing the book. Here is part one of that podcast:


P.S. If you are in the Winona Lake area and want to attend a Roundtable Discussion of this book, join us at 7:00pm tonight at Christ's Covenant Church.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther explains the fickleness of the human heart:

"2799. The human heart can bear neither good nor bad. When we have money and possessions, we have no rest; in poverty, no peace. In the middle is correct, that is, to be satisfied with one's fortune.'" (p. 115)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther gives career advice:

"2903. Those who are called to an occupation are the most peaceful in their profession; those who have chosen an occupation may be happy in the beginning, later, however, are plagues by the devil. It is said: 'Blissful are the pure [Psalm 119:1].'" (pp. 117)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

R.C. Sproul Interviews D.A. Carson on Biblical Interpretation

This is a helpful discussion between R.C. Sproul and D.A. Carson on Biblical Interpretation:


RC Sproul interviews DA Carson on biblical exegesis from Ligonier on Vimeo.