Category: The Gospel Coalition

The Gospel Coalition

Blog can be found on:

http://theologica.blogspot.com/

By micoots

Why I Support Capital Punishment

Editors’ note: Last month a unanimous jury sentenced Dylann Roof to death for killing nine black churchgoers as they attended Bible study in a Charleston, South Carolina church. The reaction to Roof’s sentencing has rekindled discussions—even among victims’ families—about whether Christians should support capital punishment. To consider both side of the debate, TGC is presenting personal essays on the death penalty by Matthew Arbo, assistant professor of biblical and theological studies at Oklah..

By micoots

Why I Oppose Capital Punishment

Editors’ note: Last month a unanimous jury sentenced Dylann Roof to death for killing nine black churchgoers as they attended Bible study in a Charleston, South Carolina church. The reaction to Roof’s sentencing has rekindled discussions—even among his victims’ families—about whether Christians should support capital punishment. To consider both side of the debate, TGC is presenting personal essays on the death penalty by Matthew Arbo, assistant professor of biblical and theological studies at O..

By micoots

How to Subtly Abandon Your Bible’s Authority

Editors’ note: Christians in the Wes, face a number of explicit threats to the authority of Scripture. But explicit threats alone don’t weaken our trust in the Bible. Subtle threats—those that creep in unnoticed—also foster skepticism. Writing for Themelios, TGC president Don Carson outlines 10 ways we subtly abandon the authority of God’s Word. Below are some excerpts from his timely essay.

On the danger of appealing to selective evidence:

The most severe forms of this drift [appealing to sel..

By micoots

God Uses Our Work—Even Cleaning Milk Off the Floor

Messes are an everyday occurrence in my house. A house filled with five people (three of whom are younger than 4) means spills, laundry, and more spills. Few things make me wonder if my work matters like spilled milk on a freshly mopped floor. But in my most coherent moments, I’m reminded even the simple act of wiping up spilled milk is valuable work.

On a practical level, leaving milk on the floor is hardly sanitary (or pleasant to smell over time). On a deeper level, cleaning up a mess is a w..

By micoots

Like Scales and Jazz: How to Preach Christ from Psalms

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

The Christian church knows this excruciating cry from both the Gospels and the Psalms (Matt 27:46; Mark 15:34; Ps. 22:1). But how did Jesus come to inhabit the lament of his royal ancestor, breathing David’s agonized prayer as his own?

After his resurrection, Christ taught his disciples that the Psalms—indeed, the entire Old Testament—had testified about him (Luke 24:27, 44). Christ was teaching that all of Scripture is fulfilled in him—that he walks t..

By micoots

On My Shelf: Life and Books with Gracy Olmstead

On My Shelf helps you get to know various writers through a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their lives as readers.

I asked Gracy Olmstead—associate managing editor at The Federalist—about what’s on her nightstand, books that have shaped her approach to journalism, her favorite fiction, why she’s only reading and listening to old things in 2017, and more.

What’s on your nightstand?

The Revenge of the Analog by David Sax. It’s a fascinating consideration of our nostalgic return to “real things..

By micoots

Be Patient, Missions Is Urgent

Our day is one of instant gratification. The slogan “Your way, right away” has seeped beyond fast food into most of our thinking. Whether it’s advancing technology or the general zeitgeist of our times, instant gratification affects the church as well.

As a pastor who has lived in the United Arab Emirates for four years, I’ve become familiar with different missions organizations, movements, and philosophies. What’s generally true across the board is a deep desire to see the gospel go forward a..

By micoots

5 Things Singles Wish Married Couples Knew

As my church has been going through 1 Corinthians, we’ve talked a lot about marriage and singleness. Ever since we looked at 1 Corinthians 7, I’ve had interesting conversations with my single and married friends.

In my experience, here are five things singles wish married couples knew.

1. God settles the solitary in a family—and it might be yours.

Psalm 68:6 says, “God settles the solitary in a home.” One way God does this is through the church. He creates homes both from biological familie..

By micoots

Make History Great Again

History isn’t what you’d call “straightforward.” It’s notorious for raising as many questions as it settles.

What is history, really? How do we reach sensible interpretations of it? Which criteria are most important? Are we to prioritize facts or meanings? Does history tell one story or many?

Some of these questions are more puzzling than others, of course, but it’s the question of interpretation that’s a recurring fascination for Christians. Perplexed by challenges and crises, communities of..

By micoots

Meet the Gateway People to the Muslim World

A few years ago at a conference, I held a large banner that read: “Azerbaijanis: God’s gateway people to the Muslim world.” One quizzical individual pondered a few minutes before asking me whether this was a real place.

Azerbaijanis get that a lot.

They are one of the few peoples that span numerous countries with different linguistic and cultural contexts. The Republic of Azerbaijan is home to 9 million Azerbaijanis, but its low profile on the world stage leads many to underestimate its signif..