How evil was Herod the Great?

“Tony Reinke has a helpful podcast interview with Dr. [Paul] Maier about the paranoid tyrant who ended up killing three of his sons on suspicion of treason, putting to death his favorite wife (of his ten wives!), killing one of his mothers-in-law, drowning a high priest, and killing several uncles and a couple of cousins.

They also talk about Herod’s plot to kill a stadium of Jewish leaders, and whether there are any doubts in Dr. Maier’s mind about the historicity of the slaughter of the innocent male children recorded only in Matthew 2 — and why there isn’t any collaborating evidence in the historical record.”

– Justin Taylor draws attention to an illuminating interview. In addition, John Piper speaks about his Hope for the Hurting This Christmas video.

Feed My Lambs

“Simon Peter, you will recall, was a fisherman, not a shepherd by training. He was used to nets and boats and water. Now he is called to feed sheep. These are very different tasks. The fisherman does not stay up at night, protecting his fish from slaughter. He does not lovingly tend the fish, knowing that they will surely perish without a fisherman. As a matter of fact, the fish should rightly fear the fisherman, who hardly takes their personal welfare to heart.…”

– At today’s Commencement of Ministry service at Southern Baptist Seminary, Albert Mohler will remind graduates of the nature of Christian pastoral ministry. Here’s the text of his charge.

Preaching resources from Tassie

The Diocese of Tasmania has posted some new preaching resources on its website – most recently a section to help a local church incorporate Scripture Union’s E100 Bible reading challenge into a twenty week preaching programme.

Proc Trust Autumn Ministers Conference 2012

The Proclamation Trust has made available the audio files from its 2012 Autumn Ministers Conference (12-15 November). Speakers were Doug Moo, Vaughan Roberts, Adrian Reynolds and Prof. Glynn Harrison. Downloads here.

Advent, tyranny and freedom

“‘Free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny.’ These words come from the much-loved Advent carol, ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’. We sing it most years, and it has always moved me. The Lord Jesus comes to set me free.

Tyranny, though. Doesn’t that sound a little odd?…”

– Mike Ovey writes at the Oak Hill blog.

Digital Advent Calendar

In this 2 minute video Greg Clarke at The Bible Society introduces 25 days. 25 people. 25 words. for Christmas.

Sounds like a great idea – and ideal to pass on to your friends.

Preaching Christmas 2012

“Suspend your disbelief, pastor. December is about to arrive on your pastoral doorstep. … Advent sermons will soon need preparing. Ere long we will stand before the old and young, the believer and skeptic, proclaiming the message that Angels once declared!

So how can we make the most of this opportunity?”

– Colin Adams at Unashamed Workman has some great advice, under these headings:

1.  Be sure the incarnation is thrilling your soul.
2.  Do not get original with your content.
3.  Keep “the packaging” of Christmas sermons fresh.
4.  Preach the full range of passages that address the Christmas theme.
5.  Consider consecutive Christmas preaching.
6.  Consider preaching individual texts.
7.  Remember to preach the Christmas narratives as fact not fiction.

Daily readings for Advent — free eBook from John Piper

“Advent is just around the corner. It starts the fourth Sunday before Christmas — this year, that’s December 2 — and is a season of preparation for Christmas Day.

The team here at Desiring God did a deep dive into our thirty-plus-year reservoir of sermons and articles, and selected brief devotional readings for each day of Advent. Our hope is that God would use these readings to deepen and sweeten your adoration of Jesus this Advent.”

– free eBook, Good News of Great Joy, from Desiring God. Worth checking out.

Anti-Santy Ranty — Christmas resource

Check out this 3 minute video from Christian book distributors 10ofthose.com in the UK. You can probably think of ways of using it evangelistically this Christmas.
(h/t Gary Ware.)

Dick Lucas: Judgment, Salvation, the Living and the Dead

As we remember Chappo, we must not forget what drove him – and what should drive every Christian.

At The Proclamation Trust, Adrian Reynolds links to this video of Dick Lucas, recorded on November 11 in Dundee. Six minutes of your time well spent.

Chappo talks about his conversion

John Chapman speaks about how he came to Christ – in this 3 minute video recorded a couple of years ago for St Mark’s Pennant Hills. Thanks to Craig Schafer for making it available.

Trusting God — free kindle version

The Kindle edition of Trusting God by Jerry Bridges is currently available (for an unknown period of time) as a free download from Amazon. h/t Gary Ware.

Encountering God Together

Dr David Peterson has a new book to which we can look forward…

“In January 2013, IVP UK will publish my new book Encountering God Together. …  This paperback was written to help everyone involved in planning and leading church services think more biblically and creatively about this important ministry.” – Details here.

Time for a grown-up debate on what sort of children will be allowed into the world

“Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia John Anderson last night strongly criticized the level of public debate in Australia and Western society.

Speaking at the launch of Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Ethics and the beginning of human life, Mr Anderson lamented the lack of understanding of what a civilized debate requires, and observed that valuable contributors to society’s understanding of complex matters are often put off by the way debates unfold in the public sphere and by the demonisation to which contributors are frequently subjected. …”

– Ian Carmichael at Matthias Media, has news of an important book by Dr Megan Best.

There’s also audio from the book launch. The book is available from Matthias Media.

A Mormon President?

In January, Michael Horton spoke with Adam Christing, writer and director of a documentary about a relatively unknown aspect of the life of Joseph Smith, namely his candidacy for President of the United States.

Whatever the outcome of the US elections this week, this programme gives some useful insights into what Mormons believe. Hear it via this link.

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