Blog - THE CAPRANICA

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Dishonoring God 2

Dec 9, 2006 | Biblical Studies, Pauline Theology

While I’ve fallen behind in posting on my reading from Tom Schreiner’s book, Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ, I’ve not really been behind in reading it. I’ll try to catch my posts up: Sin is a Power: Sin is . . . a tyrannical power that exercises its dominion over those in Adam. It enters the world through Adam’s sin and exercises its sway over all people (Rom 5:12-19). Sin manifests its reign in the domonion of death (Rom 5:21). Apart from Christ people are ‘slaves’ to sin (Rom 6:6), whereas believers have been freed from the sin that enslaved them and are now enslaved to righteousness (Rom 6:16-18, 20, 22). The image of slaver is not overstated since unbelievers cannot liberate themselves from sin’s grip. Sin exercises control over them so that they are in bondage to it (127-128). Under the rule of the pedagogue (Gal 3:24). The law as our tutor: Paul uses the illustration of the pedagogue for its temporal significance. That is, he does not appeal to the pedagogues because they functioned as teachers or curbed unsuitable behavior. He introduces the pedagogue for one reason only: pedagogues had charge over people during their minority years. Pedagogues are assigned to children, and when one becomes an adult a pedagogue is unnecessary. Thus, Paul uses the pedagogue as a metaphor for the law to make the point that the law was in force for only a certain period of salvation history. . . . Paul uses the illustration to describe the era in salvation history before the coming of Christ, when believers did not yet... read more

Thoughts on Organizational Planning

Dec 8, 2006 | Time/Life Management

Here are a few helpful thoughts on group planning retreats. Don’t just “ËRetreat,’ PLAN –... read more

Adrian and Grudem 4

Dec 8, 2006 | Interviews, Uncategorized

Adrian continue in his discussion with Wayne Grudem Adrian’s Blog: INTERVIEW – Wayne Grudem, Part Four – Ethical Trajectories, Feminism, and... read more

Adrian and Grudem 3

Dec 8, 2006 | Interviews, Uncategorized

Here is part 3 of Adrian’s interview with Wayne Grudem – this time on the complementarian issue and evangelical feminism. Adrian’s Blog: INTERVIEW – Wayne Grudem, Part Three – Evangelical Feminism: A New Path to... read more

Adrian and Grudem 2

Dec 5, 2006 | Interviews

Adrian Warnock continues his interview series with Wayne Grudem. Today they focus on Grudem’s systematic theology – a great volume well worth owning and regularly using. Adrian’s Blog: INTERVIEW – Wayne Grudem, Part Two – Systematic Theology and... read more

Adrian and Grudem 1

Dec 4, 2006 | Interviews

Adrian Warnock begins an interview series with Wayne Grudem. Adrian’s Blog: INTERVIEW – Wayne Grudem, Part One read more

Busyness and Blogging

Dec 2, 2006 | Personal

The fall is perhaps the busiest time of year for me (as I’m sure it is for many) personally and in ministry, which always adds a lull to the blogging. A great deal of my time is invested in my local church ministry in a number of areas. Preaching and Teaching: I preach every Sunday evening and since June, I have been preaching out of the book of Romans. I also teach each Sunday morning in a small group study with young adults. Currently we are doing and inductive study in 1 Corinthians. Tomorrow we will begin chapter 14 and the controversial subject of speaking in tongues. I also teach two classes on Wednesday evening. One on Spiritual Disciplines and another on how to teach the Bible in a small group setting. Internship: This past October, our church officially launched our first internship ministry with one student: Jaron. Jaron is a part of a special Bachelor of Applied Theology (BAT) program at California Baptist University (CBU), which focuses upon preparing men for pastoral ministry. Our internship seeks to provide the practical training for these students. So, since October, Jaron and I have been meeting for two hours a week (and a lot of phone calls and off-the-cuff meeetings) to discuss expository preaching. Jaron will be preaching his first sermon this Sunday evening. What a joyful time this has been to see Jaron’s growth and zeal for the ministry of the Word. Doctor of Ministry. This past week I finished my final DMin seminar work and I will now begin to focus completely upon my DMin project. Our internship ministry... read more

A Great Word of Caution

Dec 2, 2006 | Calvinism, General Theology

Dr. Danny Akin of Southeastern Seminary writes a pointed and needy letter to the students of his institution. Sounds like good blog advice as well. Founders Ministries Blog: Sage, Courageous Counsel from Dr. Danny... read more

Is the Fad Fading?

Dec 1, 2006 | Seeker-Sensitive

Painful Decline | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction Like fads before it (i.e., Promise Keepers), could we be seeing the end of the Purpose Driven Church fad? According to the linked article, the Purpose Driven ministry is no longer its own entity, but is now overseen by the staff at Saddleback Church. Is the shift in oversight a result of a stronger local church theology? Apparently not. The PD ministry has lost its CEO and 1/3 of its staff and is now overseen by church staff. Those now overseeing the ministry admit that PD has reached a crest and is now settling down. Whether the PD approach is long-term or not remains to be seen. I realize that good ministries come and go over time for good reasons – and this one may simply have run its course. Yet I do have to wonder if there isn’t something more to the recent passing of the PD ministry. I happen to think that PDC as a movement will continue to fade for a number of reasons. First, as mentioned in the article, Rick Warren is not as interested in the PDC movement as he is the new P.E.A.C.E program. This program is being spun as a long-term “missions” program. I’m not convinced this is missions. In my estimation, the gospel is not emphasized in the P.E.A.C.E. plan. Church planting may be a plank in the acronym but if the churches begun through the new movement match the theology of the fading fad in America, will these churches have any lasting impact and more importantly, are they, biblically... read more

Health and Wealth Benny Hinn Style

Nov 22, 2006 | Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

I had not seen this footage before – pretty amazing and informative as to the lifestyle of a heretic. Between Two Worlds: Benny Hinn read more

Authorial Intent vs. Reader-Response

Nov 12, 2006 | Biblical Studies, Hermeneutics

Biblical Foundations » Authorial Intent vs. Reader-Response Andreas Kostenberger just caused me to add his commentary on the Gospel of John to my CapCravings. I don’t know about all of his hermeneutical positions, but I enjoyed his thoughts regarding the need to stay within the author’s intention when interpreting Scripture. I will be looking forward to his next posts on the subject. I have read him on 1 Timothy 2 and found him very helpful and convincing on the subject of women not teaching in the context of the local church. In short, I don’t find it legitimate to assign symbolic meaning to a text, when the original author provides or suggests no such symbolic intention. Maybe when I finish Romans, John should be my next book to tackle. We will have some time to make this decision, I don’t think I’ll be out of the eighth chapter of Romans until... read more

Elton John’s Compassionate Religious Bias

Nov 12, 2006 | Culture

Elton John would ban organized religion because it lacks compassion – see his compassionate approach. Elton John wants “hateful” religion banned – Yahoo!... read more

Meeting Matt Waymeyer pt 2

Nov 10, 2006 | Interviews

Matt is a man you need to become acquainted with. One day he will be globally famous and I will say (in the bliss of my obscurity) – “I used to sweep the gym at GCC with that guy, small world.” Interview with Matt Waymeyer: Part Two – Expository... read more