Weekly Recommendation: "Death By Love"

Last night during Bible Study, we discussed Christus Exemplar and I reference one of my favorite books, "Death By Love: Letters From the Cross" by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Beshears. I highly recommend this book and have written a full review of the book some time ago. In fact, I was listening to this book the day I got hired at Goshen. So it is especially important to me.

Review - "Death By Love"



For More:
Where Theology and Life Intersect: A Theological Case for Christus Exemplar and Why It is Necessary - Part 1 - Introduction
Where Theology and Life Intersect: A Theological Case for Christus Exemplar and Why It is Necessary - Part 2 - This regards the doctrine of sin and depravity
Where Theology and Life Intersect: A Theological Case for Christus Exemplar and Why It is Necessary - Part 3 - Here is a discussion on the historicity of the doctrine
Where Theology and Life Intersect: A Theological Case for Christus Exemplar and Why It is Necessary - Part 4 - Here is a discussion on Humility
Review -"Religion Saves"
Review - "The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World"
Review - "The Radical Reformission"
Review - "Vintage Jesus"
Theology - Churches Helping Churches: MacDonald Makes His Plea
Theology - The Myth of Adolescence: Mark Driscoll Weighs In
Theology - Does Satan Exist? Debate
Theology - Driscoll on ABC

Wednesday Night - 1 Peter: Suffer Well . . . Like Christ

Here are the notes from last nights Bible Study on 1 Peter. It was a good discussion. Here is the description:

We can all relate to the issue of suffering. We've all been through hard times. How, as faithful Christians, do we suffer well? How do we keep from wasting our suffering? How do we bring God the glory in the midst of our suffering? Peter tells us in his first Epistle: Suffer like Christ.

Notes

For more:
1 Peter and Suffering Well in Perseverance
Christus Examplar in 1 Peter
Wednesday Night Bible Study - 2 Peter: Pete and Repeat . . .

1 Peter and Suffering Well in Perseverance

As I study 1 Peter for tonight's Bible study, I was struck by the following passage near the end. This is a wonderful summary of this wonderful Epistle:

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while,the God of all grace , who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. -1 Peter 5:6-11 (NASB)

I especially love the conclusion. When we persevere through our suffering, Christ "will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish" us.

Christus Examplar in 1 Peter

Tonight we will be looking at 1 Peter and discussing how to suffer well like Christ. Central to this is the doctrine of Christus Examplar. Unfortunately, very few Reformed, conservative Christians are willing to talk about this issue. As a result, I am in the middle of writing on the topic from a Reformed perspective. So far I have written 4 parts. Here are the links and as I continue to post more, I will link to them here.

Where Theology and Life Intersect: A Theological Case for Christus Exemplar and Why It is Necessary - Part 1 - Introduction
Where Theology and Life Intersect: A Theological Case for Christus Exemplar and Why It is Necessary - Part 2 - This regards the doctrine of sin and depravity
Where Theology and Life Intersect: A Theological Case for Christus Exemplar and Why It is Necessary - Part 3 - Here is a discussion on the historicity of the doctrine
Where Theology and Life Intersect: A Theological Case for Christus Exemplar and Why It is Necessary - Part 4 - Here is a discussion on Humility

Coming soon will be discussions on love, suffering, and other topics. The point is that when it comes to life, we must remain firm on the cross. The gospel is substitutionary and the gospel demands we live like our dying Savior.

For more:
Reviews -"Death By Love"