Text-Driven Blog

Preaching God’s Sovereignty

The sovereignty of God is a doctrine that often causes a quagmire for the evangelical community. Some of our brothers and sisters in the faith are ready to storm the stage with pitchforks and torches when the song, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, starts. Then,... Read More »

Using Theology to Answer Societal Questions

Anyone who is spiritually-minded must ask themselves at some point, “What does this mean for me?” You can’t open God’s Word, spend time studying it, or listen to a sermon and leave with no convictions. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that “the word of God is... Read More »

How Theology Informs Our Teaching

In a letter to Timothy, his pastoral protégé and son in the ministry, the Apostle Paul made it clear that the task of teaching is one of the most important responsibilities entrusted to a pastor (1 Tim 3:2).  In fact, just a few sentences later in that same... Read More »

How Theology Informs Our Counseling

“What role does theology play in counseling?” This simple, yet thought-provoking question was asked by Dr. John Babler during a counseling PhD seminar last fall. Students, both in class and online, offered their perspectives with varying degrees of eloquen... Read More »

How Theology Informs Our Leading

“God told me to do it.” Those have to be some of the most dangerous and abused words in the English language. Some of the cruelest acts of humanity hide under the banner of those six words. God is blamed for incomprehensible evil by those six words. Just h... Read More »

The Role of Academic Theology in the Life of the Pastor

I personally have had conversations with both those in and outside the academy who do not like the term pastor-theologian. I do not know if the opposition is based on a substantive or functional objection. I do, however, know that if you are a pastor, it is no... Read More »

Assessing Theological Needs in the Church

As the author of Hebrews draws his letter to a close, he charges his readers to obey and submit to their leaders, and the reason for his instruction is clear: “they keep watch over your souls” (Heb 13:17). But then, the author explains the manner in which ... Read More »

The Danger of Preaching a Doctrine and Not a Text

Who cares if you preach a doctrine, especially orthodox doctrine, instead of a text? You may think “danger” is melodramatic. My goal is to show you the potential dangers when we preach a doctrine instead of a text. Preaching a doctrine and preaching a text... Read More »

The Need for Theology in the Pulpit

The words resound in my mind to this day. The revival preacher had opened the Bible, read the text, and began to preach. As he made his way through the body of the sermon, the people waited with anticipation for the crescendo toward which the preacher was buil... Read More »

Is the Pastor a Theologian?

Their child had only begun showing symptoms two days earlier. Deeply concerned from the beginning, they tried not to panic but called the doctor promptly, only to be told to take their son to the emergency room immediately. The staff made a valiant effort, mar... Read More »

Learning to Preach from John Jasper

Are you so convinced, that you become convincing?  As you ponder that thought for yourself in your own preaching ministry, one could simply peruse the life and ministry of the 19th century African-American preacher John Jasper and see that this brother believ... Read More »

Learning to Preach from George Whitefield

George Whitefield is a preacher worth learning from, and his extraordinary ministry powerfully affected two continents with countless souls being saved.  Whitefield’s preaching influenced virtually every single American.  Based on portraits, Whitefield was... Read More »

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