The arguments of the book evolve, in one way or another, from Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 4, particularly verse 6 which reads, “I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.”

Here are some things that I highlighted:

• The sin of judging is negatively evaluating someone’s conduct or spiritual state on the basis of nonbiblical standards or suspected motives.
• Since you cannot know with certainty what is in your own heart, how could you possibly think that you can discern what is in the heart of another?!
• Everyone knows that murder, adultery, hate, lust, and other common sins are wrong, but few are aware that it is equally wrong to judge another Christians.
• Jesus Christ is the only One fully qualified to judge some things and the only One fully capable of judging some things.
• The Bible teaches that there are some things about others that we can and should judge, and that there are some other things that we cannot and should not judge.
• We should withhold judgments not only on that which is outside of Scripture, but also on that which is inide of man.
• We can and should judge what people say about their beliefs, whether it is consistent with the Bible or not. But we must be very careful not to ascribe bad motives to them.
• Cross-Examine Your Judgements:
  • Is this opinion based firmly on Scripture, or on my ideas and preferences?
  • Does the formation of this opinion include any judgments about the person’s thoughts of motives?
  • Am I missing any facts that are necessary for an accurate evaluation?
  • How would I want this person to think of me if the roles were reversed?
  • How can I show the grace of the cross to this person?
• Legalism: creating moral standards beyond what the Scripture has revealed.
• The study of spiritual issues can actually produce bad results if it is divorced from the love for God and others.
• Knowing that God accepts us in Christ keeps us from fabricating human ways to earn acceptance with Him.
• When it comes to issues not directly addressed in the Scriptures, God will be looking primarily at the reasons and responses of the heart.
• In ourselves we are more sinful than we ever dare to admit, but in Christ we are more loved and accepted than we ever dare to hope.

The above excerpts are often paraphrased slightly for reasons of brevity. They are solely to capture your interest in order that you might lend yourself to purchase the book for your own reading.

Swavely wrote this book to help us make more decisions that are grounded in God’s Word. The first half of the book is dedicated to how we should not make decisions. The second half is on how we should make decisions. It is very, very practical. At the same time, it convinces with solid Biblical evidences.

Dave Swavely is a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was founding pastor of Faith Church in Sonoma, California.

Here are some things I highlighted:

• “Needs theology” has infiltrated the church – the idea that our needs must be met first before we can really reach out to others … this is unbiblical.
• When faced with a choice, remember the old saying that the road to JOY is Jesus, Others, then You – in that order.
• When we give little or no thought to God in our decisions, we are disobeying the command in 1 Corinthians 10:31 and failing to fulfill the very purpose of our existence.
• Extra-biblical revelation is not only spurious, it’s downright dangerous. It invariably leads you astray, away from the truth of God. Your curiosity and your fascination will take over, eclipsing the authority of the Scriptures.
• The fact that God speaks today only through his Word is a blessing, not a handicap.
• Discontentment with the wisdom of the Word and the presence of the Spirit is looking for “something more” than what God chose to give.
• You need to understand that the Bible uses the terminology “will of God” to express two different concepts: the sovereign will of God and the moral will of God.
• From God’s perspective, he knows all our choices ahead of time and actually has planned for us to make them. But from our perspective, we do not know his plan until it happens, so it is our responsibility to make our decisions based on the commands and principles revealed in his Word.
• God’s sovereign plan will go on undaunted.
• Feelings and impressions are not always a good indicator of a godly choice.
• God’s providential plan is a part of the “secret things” that belong to him alone. We must focus on what he has revealed in his Word.
• The terms for prayer in Scripture are never used of God. We talk to God through prayer; he talks to us through his Word. So the idea of “listening to God in prayer” reflects a misunderstanding.
• God accomplishes his sovereign will through our desires, and his moral will reveals that sometimes he gives us guidance through our desires.
• Psalm 37:4 seems to not be saying that God will grant the desires of your heart, but that God will implant them into you (when you are following him).

The above excerpts are often paraphrased slightly for reasons of brevity. They are solely to capture your interest in order that you might lend yourself to purchase the book for your own reading.

Here is a trailer featuring Shai Linne’s wife, Blair.

The author, T. David Gordon, has identified a problem that affects all churches today. It is a result in the shift of dominant media forms which have unfortunate consequences when it comes to preaching. The subtitle says it all, “The Media Have Shaped the Messengers.”

Gordon is a professor of religion and Greek at Grove City College, where he has also taught in the humanities and media ecology.

Here are some things I highlighted:

• Seven minimal requirements that are essential to every sermon: Textual Fidelity, Unity, Evangelical Tone, Instructiveness, Movement, Point, Order.
• With regard to sermon lengthiness: When we experience a thing that is well done, we get caught up in it, become lost in the movement, and lose any sense of the passage of time. [On the other hand,] bad preaching is insufferably long, even if the chronological length is brief.
• Sermon length is not measured in minutes; it is measured in minutes-beyond-interest, in the amount of time the minister continues to preach after he has lost the interest of his hearers.
• Those who write compose their thoughts more successfully than those who do not; they commit fewer “sentence farts” (where one begins a sentence, partway through realizes that it cannot be successfully completed, and therefore begins again).
• Many ministers today read for information or for amusement, but they do not read because they cherish the aesthetic pleasure taken in something that is well written.
• We are swamped by the inconsequential, bombarded by images and sounds that rob us of opportunity for reflection and contemplation that are necessary to reacquaint ourselves with what is significant.
• At least two disadvantages to technological developments: (1) We can hear people whom we do not see. (2) We do not compose our thoughts as frequently or carefully as we once did.
• We have become telephone babblers, unskilled at the most basic questions of composition.
• Preach Christ, and you will have morality.
• If theocracy didn’t work in Israel, where God divinely instituted it, why do people insist on believing it will work in places where God manifestly has not instituted it?
• The pulpit is the place to declare the fitness of Christ’s person, and the adequacy of both his humiliated and exalted work for sinners.

The above excerpts are often paraphrased slightly for reasons of brevity. They are solely to capture your interest in order that you might lend yourself to purchase the book for your own reading.

The truth is, I’m just not good at writing reviews. Corner me in my office or sit down with me over some Kung Pao Shrimp and it’s another story. I can talk all day about books. It’s the systematic scripting that scares me. Nevertheless, I am so convinced that the following book is needed for today’s Christians, that it is time for me to suck it up and get to typing. I only hope that you can get passed my dull writing.

One thing that I have had trouble settling in my mind is the matter of Spiritual guidance. Many of us will say things like “God is leading me …” or “God is telling me to …” or something similar. I’ve wondered how this fits in with the belief that God has said all that He intends to say to us and enclosed it in the Bible. I was reading a blog post from Phil Johnson on the subject when referenced a book by Dave Swavely. I quickly purchased the book online and put my nose into it once it was delivered. While it did speak directly to the matter of my interest, the book was about making godly decisions.

Decisions, Decisions: How (and How Not) to Make Them.

Ephesians 5:15-17 reads, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” In 1 Corinthians 10:31, we find the command to, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Evidently, every decision we make, even those that we call trivial, should glorify God. Isaiah teaches us that we were created for this purpose (Is. 43:7).

Let me first say that Dave speaks directly to my initial concern and he does so in a very practical way. He points out some dangers in extra-biblical revelation. It not only brings about poor decisions, it also leads us away from God’s Word. To the contrary, he promotes the blessing of God speaking to us only through the Bible.

Personal conversations with God was only one of the ways we should not make decisions. Seeking supernatural signs was another. These two spearheaded the first section of the book. It was divided into two: How Not to Make Decisions and How to Make Decisions. He did well in the first section by explaining what the Bible calls the “will of God.” Here is what he says:

“The first thing you need to understand is that the Bible uses the terminology ‘will of God’ to express two different concepts. One is commonly called the sovereign will of God (also known as the ‘secret’ or ‘decretive’ will). The other is called the moral will (also known as the ‘revealed’ or ‘preceptive’ will).” (p. 44)

Understanding the difference between the two can make a world of difference. I won’t ruin it for you who want to find out. I’ll only say that if you want to make godly decisions, you will need to know what God plans to happen and what God wants to happen.

Also within the first section (How Not to Make Decisions) is some practical instruction on the role of feelings and impressions, circumstances, counsel, desires and prayer. All of these things do have a role in our decision making, but they are not to be our decision makers. For example, how did Jesus feel about His coming crucifixion while praying the night before? What difference would it have been had He submitted to the feelings He had while sweating blood?

Sometimes, getting to the godly decision is not that easy. Feelings and circumstances can sometimes get in the way. However, there is a way (otherwise, Dave would not have written the book!). And, in the second section of the book, he describes a biblical, and therefore practical, way to make decisions pleasing to God.

I’m tempted to spell it out here but then you not need to read the book. My aim in this review is that you do rush out and purchase the book in order to read through all of this yourself. I give it little justice.

Still, I’ll leave you with this small note. In order to make godly decisions, you should be continually walking in the Spirit, recognizing God’s sovereignty and praying for wisdom. Then you should ask yourself, “What does the Bible say about it?” If the Bible is silent on the specific matter, you are free to choose based on the wisest choice and your desire. All the while, you are considering counsel.

I’ve said too much. Actually, I think I said to little. Some of you lazy guys are not going to read the book thinking that you now have the jest of it. Think again. I’ve only given you an outline. There is much to unpack and it will be worth you time. Trust me.

Maybe after you read Dave’s book, you can tell me if I made a good decision by writing this review, inferior as it is. I hope that it leads many to read: Decision, Decisions: How (and How Not) to Make Them.

Resources:

• Purchase on Amazon or ChristianBook.com
• Dave Swavely’s Blog
• Tim Challies’ 5 Great Books on the Will of God

During our family time, we like to read the Bible. Sometimes, we’ll make a game out of it and I’ll give a quiz at the end to see who was listening. It usually gives us a fun way to talk about the text. It also keeps the kids on their toes. If they don’t listen, there is a slim chance that they will win. And, like tonight, the stakes were high.

The one who has the most points at the end of the game gets to determine who will make his or her bed the next morning.

They were excited about the game. That is, until they started trailing in points. Apparently, two of our children were distracted with other things in the room. They didn’t hear all of the story. And, it showed.

The game was over. I was out of questions. The winner was announced and official Bed-maker was declared. Oh, how the game went sour. It is all fun until you find out you have to make two beds in the morning.

The Bed-maker was distraught by this. You’d think that it was mid-December in 2012 and the world was ending. So my wife intervenes … “You know what, I’ll make the bed in your place, so you don’t have to.”

Brilliant. I knew exactly what she was doing! I was excited. I hung on the words that followed.

She began to relate the gospel to the children. ”You know, this is what Jesus did for your sins. He said, ‘You know, I’ll make the bed so you don’t have to.’” The kids got it. But to reaffirm their thoughts, she added, “We all sinned and deserved to be punished, but Jesus willingly took our punishment instead.”

There was more said. It was great. I was delighted to see it all happen. It was a great night. My wife rocks.

This is not a strange idea to churches across the world, but it is trivialized to some degree. Sometimes, it is reduced to bumper-stickers and t-shirts. One adage says “Honk if you love Jesus!” while the driver of the car turns angrily, breaking the law and flashing obscene gestures. To some, this is the extent of glorifying God. This should not be so.

We cannot glorify God with aphorisms and symbolism – even if we are decent drivers. God is far too majestic. To glorify is to make clear the glory of God. It is to give honor to God, to admire and display His greatness. It is to put God on display in a way that esteems His nature. This is what we ought to do.

We should glorify God because He created us. “It is He who made us” (Ps. 100:3). Paul added, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Rom. 11:36). Moreover, God made everything to give Him glory. This was why He made everything. “The heaven declare the glory of God” (Ps. 19:1). “The wild beasts will honor me” (Is. 43:20). When Jesus was born, the angels said, “Glory to God in the highest” (Lk. 2:14). Nature, animals and angels glorify God. And yes, even unbelievers glorify God, too (Ex. 14:17). Every created thing will glorify God, willingly or unwillingly.

For Christians, glorifying God is a willful act – or should be. So we must do it in ways that are right and biblical. We should concern ourselves with these ways so that we can glorify God in all of our life. So, how should we glorify God? Here is a list of ways that the Bible teaches:

• Receive the Jesus as Lord and Savior. (Phil. 2:9-11)
• Make it your aim in all things. (1 Cor. 10:31)
• Confess your sins. (Josh. 7:19)
• Trust God. (Rom. 4:20)
• Bear fruit, do good works. (Jn. 15:8)
• Give praise to God. (Ps. 50:23)
• Endure suffering. (1 Pet. 4:14-16)
• Be content. (Phil. 4:11-12)
• Pray according to God’s will. (Jn. 14:13)
• Proclaim God’s word. (2 Thess. 3:1)
• Lead others to Christ (Eph. 1:12)
• Avoid sexual sin. (1 Cor. 6:18-20)
• Seek unity. (Rom. 15:5-6)

Adapted from John MacArthur’s The Keys to Spiritual Growth: Unlocking the Riches of God published by Crossway, 2001. Get you copy at Amazon or Christian Book Distributors.

Below is a short film imagining these final moments through the eyes of the repentant criminal. It was produced by The JESUS Film Project, a nonprofit organization aimed at sharing “Jesus with everyone in his or her own heart language using media tools and movement building strategies.” Donate to the mission and help spread the word.

As a people who are fallen, living in a fallen world, our minds are trained to think sinfully – even if the actions we desire are useful and beneficial to others. Paul argues in his letter to the Roman believers that all people, Jews and Greeks, are under sin. He cites the book of Psalms saying, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” (Rom. 3:10-12).

The words “no one” and “all” are absolutes. They reference all people in a negative or positive sense. Appropriately, no person is righteous before God, understands God, seeks God, or does good. Likewise, every person has turned aside to his own desires and away from God, and has become altogether sinful.

These are strong words, but true nevertheless. This is the reality of life without God’s divine intervention. This is our condition while we are “dead in the trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). Thus, with so many years of living in such deadness, we have cultivated a mind of sin. It is against God and requires a renewal (Rom. 12:2). Even after the regeneration of the Spirit we suffer a war in our mind.

For this reason, it is consistent with the pattern of this world and the cultivation of our mind prior to our salvation, to forego forgiveness. It was common then as it is common now. Today, if someone wrongs us, we respond, often in this order. First, we feel self-pity and whine. Second, we wonder where God was when it happened. And third, we sue somebody. As General Custer said in one of my children’s favorite movies, “We’re Americans, we don’t think, we do!”¹

The fact we are fallen, mixed with the cultivation of a fallen world, convinces us to ignore the goodness of God’s commands since they are contrary to what this world teaches. In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus teaches his followers not to retaliate, but endure and give. He says “if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn him the other also.” The world teaches the opposite – you’re to slap them back.

Paul has not yet made his appeal to Philemon, but the appeal is coming. And in his wisdom and understanding of man’s having fallen and man’s recovery in Christ, Paul knows that Philemon will wrestle with the arguments of the world in which he was once trained.

Onesimus wronged Philemon. He stole from him and ran away. The government at that time permitted slave masters to do as they pleased with criminal slaves. Since a slave is worth time and money, Philemon lost financial provisions as well as the continuity of his household. It was equivalent to today’s employee leaving town with the company’s resources, leaving the company short-handed and at a loss financially. So the way of this fallen world is to recoup one’s losses from this criminal and punish him for his actions. The slave laws of that time would add to this punishment, death.

Being the successful man that he was, Philemon likely heard the surrounding city people offering their worldly advice: “Let justice be done! Show this criminal how wrong he was.” Other successful men might have told him how they handled a similar situation, lawfully but harshly, to show authority. There were probably even some Christians within the church that told Philemon as Job’s friends told him, that he’d done something wrong for God to have allowed this to happen. Perhaps some even said as Job’s wife said, “Curse God and die” (Job 2:9).

Whatever the case, the reality remains. Christians living in a fallen world, war against the temptation of doing things the world’s way in contrast to a way pleasing to God. For this reason, James tells us to ask God for wisdom, “Who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (Jas. 1:5).

Such wisdom comes from God through Scripture by the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:19-21). Paul, an apostle and writer of the Holy Scriptures, gives cognitive reasons to convince Philemon that forgiveness is good. He aims at setting the mind at rest so Philemon will not give in to the temptations of this world.

“Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.” (Phile. 8-16)

• Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. 2009.

From the book, Forgiveness: A Commentary on Philemon, by Jacob Abshire

Despite its small size, the book is quite colossal, theologically speaking. It instructs us on forgiveness and does so in a unique and practical way. And while it does this, it gently teaches on matters of equality, fellowship, edification and more. Only 25 verses long, it packs 25 chapters worth of divine guidance for us all.

In this book, we will unpack these divinities so that we can think and behave more like our Lord, who is a forgiving God (Ex. 34:6-7). Technically, this book is called a “commentary” on Philemon; however, it has been written in a way that is unlike typical commentaries, which often read like textbooks, focus on individual passages, and have a choppy flow.

The flow of this book is fluid, transitioning from point to point, like topical books do. However, in this book all of the points are posited by scripture. This is a commentary for those who don’t like commentaries. My hope is that you enjoy both the richness of Biblical exposition and the ease of reading, all at the same time.

Other ways to purchase:

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