This sponsored post was prepared by Dr. C.J. Williams, Professor, Old Testament Studies, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary To open the Bible is to step into a world in which shepherding, farming, swords, and plowshares were the stuff of everyday life. The Gospel message is affixed to such images by way of parable and metaphor, but…
Hi, my name is Matt. I’m a pastor, and I also run a small business called Mere Agency. You may have heard of MereChurch. I know many other bi-vocational ministers, those who aren’t able to be paid enough by their congregation to meet the needs of their family, and so need to take a second…
By E. Ray Clendenen President Obama is famous for repeating some variation of the phrase, “Let me be clear.” There has been some discussion of what he means by this. Some suggest it marks a “sound bite” or a “take-away” for reporters. Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University and author of “The Argument…
The truth of Scripture is meant not only to be studied—it’s meant also to be sung. What the people of God believe shapes the way we worship, and how we worship shapes how we practice our faith. Church musicians and lyricists who have crafted hymns with deep biblical content and soul-stirring arrangements have been of…
by Barry York At the heart of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is learning from Him. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32). As a new professor at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS) in…
The Bible is a book. It may be called a collection of books compiled into one majestic volume. As a book it is designed to be read. In this respect it is like all other books. But in important ways, the Bible is not like any other book. It is the Book of books. We…
Tabletalk magazine exists to help Christians grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. It meets Christians where they are, whether young or old in the faith, and it takes them deeper. Tabletalk helps to provide Christians with the tools they need to dig down into the depths of God’s Word and the theology of God’s Word…
by E. Ray Clendenen Although not as versatile as some words (such as run), the word faithful can mean different things in different contexts. It can refer to “loyalty,” the quality of always acting in the best interests of someone else. It can also refer to “consistency” or “predictability,” always acting according to certain principles…
By Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. You could see the panic rising in his eyes. As the collection plate moved ever closer to him, indecision tightened its grip on his heart. In his hand was a wad of cash, and, as he ruffled through the various bills, one could almost hear the question that echoed in…
by Tony Payne. Perhaps it’s a kind of laid-back Aussie skepticism about the possibility of anything ever being very successful, but I have been genuinely surprised by the reaction to The Trellis and the Vine over the past five years. To me it always felt like a very ordinary and unremarkable statement of the patently…
By Tony Merida Social causes come and go like bad fashion trends, sometimes quite literally: what color bracelet are you wearing this month? Surely our consumer-conditioned attention spans have something to do with this, but let’s be real: when you care about something enough to devote serious time and energy, it can be discouraging when…
“We are all aware of the growing phenomenon of biblical illiteracy. Mitch Maher has set out to address this problem. His overview, Clarifying The Bible, indeed clarifies the whole Bible. A clear and likable communicator, Mitch knows his stuff. May the Lord use Mitch and this project to turn the tide of biblical illiteracy!” Dr.…
So what’s keeping you from talking to your elders about one of the most important decisions you will ever make? What’s keeping you from seeking counsel on matters related to vocation? What’s keeping you from an honest, denying-of-self, evaluation of God’s call upon your life? It goes without saying that God call men to be…
The smartest way to study the Word is here: Faithlife just released Logos 6, the most intelligent Bible study software ever, equipping you for incredible insights in a fraction of the time. There are three easy ways to get Logos 6: a base package, a crossgrade option, and the core engine Plus, for a limited…
First of All…What’s a Book Summary? The book summaries from Books At a Glance crunch each book into a 7-10 page, chapter-by-chapter summary, so that you can really learn the meaning, teachings, and arguments contained in the book…in just the time it takes you to read (or listen to!) 7-10 pages. These book summaries are…
by Barbara Duguid Should our sin surprise us? In counseling earnest college students who love the Lord, I have seen many Christians who agonize over their daily struggle with very ordinary sins. Jane knows the gospel well, attends church faithfully, and reads her Bible every day, yet feels hatred toward her roommate. She idolizes her…
In the world of Bible translations there are two primary models or theories for bringing the ancient text into contemporary language. One is usually referred to as formal equivalence (or “literal” or “essentially literal”). The other is referred to as “dynamic” or functional equivalence. Formal equivalence involves trying to make a translation that changes as…
In a time when most people were ignorant of the Bible, William Tyndale resolved that if God would spare his life, even the boy plowing the fields would know the Scriptures better than the typical priest of his day. He also fervently promoted the teachings of the Reformation such as justification by faith in Christ…
Keeping up with your Bible study, let alone keeping it rich and exciting, is a daily struggle for many people. Whether you’re a pastor tired from late-night sermon prep, a seminary student buried under tedious tasks, an academic lacking the resources to make new discoveries, or a layperson wanting to be more confident in your…
Do you often feel confused or stupid (“Apparently I don’t know how to use the Internet!”) when trying to buy something online or trying to do research on a Web site? You’re not alone, and it might not be your fault. Most sites are unnecessarily difficult to use, and there is one core reason for…