Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther explains the labor of love that is writing:

"6438. On Jun 10, 1545, Doctor Martin Luther wrote a thesis for a doctoral disputation, and was extremely exhausted. It was late when he finally rested and he said: I have had more than enough to do today, would like to have done much more and written two books, one in Latin, and one in German. I am weak. Come, Lord, and set me free! Those who know nothing about writing think there is no work to it. Only three fingers are used, but the entire body is worn out. It is a noble work, worthy of praise, for those who do it correctly." (p. 171).

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 advise to those who want to study theology:

"2146. He who wants to study theology and accomplish something is a fool, and will not become a theologian. The highest art of a future theologian is that he very carefully differentiates between the cleverness of reason and the Word; that is the wisdom of God. For those who confuse the two get heaven and earth mixed up." (p. 216).

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.

Keeping Your Greek

This is the time of the year when Greek students are wrapping up the semester and looking forward to their summer break. For some it means the end of their formal Greek study, while for others merely a three month pause until they resume in the Fall. Other readers of this blog are actively involved in ministry and are years removed from their Greek studies. Regardless of which one of these situations describes you, Constantine Campbell has written a book for you. The title says it all: Keep Your Greek: Strategies for Busy People. Based on a series of blogposts, Campbell provides equal parts motivation and tips to equip you to fight the good fight of language retention, all in less than 100 pages.
After a brief introduction, Campbell offers the following ten tips, each with its own brief chapter:

1. Read Every Day
2. Burn Your Interlinear
3. Use Software Tools Wisely
4. Make Vocabulary Your Friend
5. Practice Your Parsing
6. Read Fast
7. Read Slow
8. Use Your Senses
9. Get Your Greek Back
10. Putting It All Together

The book then concludes with an Appendix for current Greek students entitled "Getting It Right the First Time."
In my estimation this is now the go-to resource to help students think through practical ways they can keep their Greek fresh.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther comforts those tormented by doubt and uncertainty:

"114. 'My Dear Brother, do not be surprised that the devil tortures you so, Christ said, 'If you were of the world, then the world would not hate you. But because you are not of the world, etc. [John 15:19].' You may take your doubt and torment as a sign that you are a child of God. That is why Satan torments you, throws you into doubt, and makes you his son." (p. 309).

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 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.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther explains what makes a good theologian:

"3425. What makes a good theologian: 1. The grace of the Holy Spirit, 2. Torment of the soul, 3. Experience, 4. Appropriate to the circumstances, 5. Tireless reading [of Scripture], 6. Knowledge of good skills" (pp. 222)

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 portrays the gospel as a fesh breeze. IT is lengthy, but worth the read:

"6712. The Gospel is like a fresh, soft, cool breeze in the great heat of summer; that is, it is a comfort to the torment of the conscience; not during winter, when we already have enough of cold--that is a time of peace, when people feel secure and think to make themselves righteous and pious through their works--but in the great heat of the summer, that is in those who through fear and torment of their conscience really feel God's wrath against sin and weakness.

This  heat is brought about by the sun; just as the fright of the conscience is brought about by preaching the Law and directed to the thought and observation that man has transgressed and opposed God's and no man's law. So we have the heavenly breeze to set our conscience straight, to refresh it and comfort it, not the comfort from certain human endeavors and works, but from the preaching of the Gospel.

But now that our strength is restored through the fresh air of the Gospel, we should not become complacent, lie around and snore. In other words, now that our conscience is at peace, quieted and consoled through God's Spirit, we should demonstrate our Faith with good works, which God has ordered and commanded in the Ten Commandments. Otherwise, we will be led astray and plagued by mosquitoes, flies, and ants, and so on, that is by the devil, the world, and our own flesh. But one must come through all that and not be led astray." (pp. 467-468)

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.

The Kerfluffle with Rob Bell and "Love Wins"

By now most of you who read this blog have likely heard about Rob Bell's latest book Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Whether you have or not, Tony Reinke over at C.J. Mahaney's blog has posted a very helpful summary of the debate surrounding the book as well as some very helpful links to resources that deal with this essential issue.

To those who have been watching Bell as I have for the past ten years, his most recent departure from historic, orthodox Christianity is not surprising. In one sense, it is merely a repackaged form of classic Protestant Liberalism of the 19th and 20th centuries, freshly presented in a postmodern context. As such, H. Richard Niebuhr's insightful description of mid 20th century Protestant Liberalism fits Rob Bell quite well:

"A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross."

My strong encouragement is that if you are using ANY Rob Bell resources (including and especially his NOOMA) videos in your ministry, you stop doing so IMMEDIATELY. I do not think we want people being drawn in by his slick marketing and hipster presentation into his heretical footsteps.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther speaks about our status as citizens of heaven:

"297. First, let us remember, that because of the fall of Adam, we were driven from paradise and became homeless and destitute. Second, let us think about the Son of God who shared our exile and brought us back to our Father's kingdom from which we had been expelled. Third, that we remember the lesson of this exile and that our homeland is not upon this earth [Philippians 3:20], but there will come another life, namely the eternal." (p. 209)

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 speaks about varying one's teaching style::

"234. A preacher is like a carpenter; his tools are God's Word. Because the audience, upon whom he is to work, is diversified, he should not continuously teach in the same tone, rather, in respect of the differences in his congregation, comfort for a while, frighten, scold. offer reconciliation, and so on." (p. 209)

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.

Kevin DeYoung - The Four Indispensable Qualities of Good Preaching

If you are not regularly reading the blog of Kevin DeYoung, you should be. Last week he offered what he considers the four indispensable qualities of preaching:

1. Veracity
2. Clarity
3. Authority
4. Authenticity

 You can and should read the whole post here.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther speaks about the folly of delighting in wealth and honors at the expense of God::

"2227. People are active and passive liars, that means they both create and tolerate lies. Thus, those who put their trust in mankind will be deceived [Jeremiah 17:5]." (p. 261)

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 speaks about the folly of delighting in wealth and honors at the expense of God::

"6582. A person, who has produced wealth in the world and earned honors, while neglecting God and his soul, is like a small child, who holds an apple in his hand, which has a beautiful form and color, and thinks he has something good; however, on the inside it is rotten and full of worms." (p. 171)

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.

The Ehrman Project

In the past ten years, no scholar has done more to undermine the Bible within our popular culture than Bart Ehrman. As the James a Gray Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ehrman has created his own cottage industry of books, lectures and media appearances calling into question the reliability of the New Testament, the biblical canon, and the development of the early church. He is the author of multiple books that have made the New York Times bestseller lists and made frequent appearances on TV including the Colbert Report on Comedy Central.

While Ehrman is in fact a respected scholar within academic circles, his notoriety stems from his ability to take disputed issues within the academy and translate them into something that people outside of the academy care about. The problem is that Ehrman's presentation of the evidence and scholarship is often misleading and skewed. Of course, since the broader public has no way of knowing this, much of what he claims to be true has been accepted by those who are all too ready to question the New Testament, the canon of Scripture, and the development of the early church.

While there have been a number of books written to respond to Ehrman, I am most excited about this new website entitled The Ehrman Project. So far the webstie contains a number of short video clips on key subjects such as Evil and a Loving God (Alvin Plantinga), the Canon of Scripture (Ben Witherington III), Inerrancy (D.A. Carson), First-century Doctrine (Darrell Bock), Conspiracy (Ed Gravely), and Morality and Evil (Michael Kruger). This website has now become the go-to place for short, helpful and scholarly responses to the claims made by Ehrman.

On a related note, I am currently working my way through a book that responds to several claims made by Ehrman on a more academic level. Entitled The Heresy of Orthodoxy: How Contemporary Culture's Fascination with Diversity Has Reshaped Our Understanding of Early Christianity, it is written by Andreas Kostenberger and Michael Kruger. In my estimation it is now the go-to academic level book that responds to the half-truths and misinformation that Bart Ehrman regularly presents. But even though the book is at an academic level, it is written in such a way that both pastors and lay people can benefit from as well.

If you are a pastor and are not familiar with these issues, you owe it to yourself and those to whom you minister to get up to speed on these matters. Use the website as a starting point, and then move on from there to this helpful read.