John Piper’s recent book, Coronavirus and Christ (Crossway, 2020) has quite a lot on common with John Lennox’s Where is God in a Coronavirus World?
Both are written from an evangelical perspective by men with long experience in Christian ministry, and who have experienced significant ill-health in the past. Both books are quite short, appeal to the same kinds of biblical teaching, and extend an invitation to accept the Good News of Jesus, crucified, risen and returning.…
John Lennox, Where is God in a Coronavirus World? The Good Book Company, 2020.
I’d like to offer a brief resume of this book by an Oxford mathematician, philosopher of science, and Christian apologist.
I think that I have faithfully reflected – albeit mostly in my own words – the main lines of thought.
1. Feeling vulnerable
Lennox writes in April, 2020, just a few short months into the world-wide emergency that has been precipitated by the rapid spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. …
A summary of chapter 30 of The Fountain of Life., by John Flavel.
“He is not here; for he is risen, as he said: come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Matthew 28:6
In these words we have both a declaration and confirmation of the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
First. A declaration of it by the angels, both negatively and affirmatively. Negatively, He is not here. Positively, He is risen.…
Ian Paul has some helpful thoughts on preaching online during the present corona virus epidemic.
I summarise.
Introductory thoughts
A summary of ch. 21 of John Flavel’s The Fountain of Life.
“The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do you, as oft as you drink [it], in remembrance of me.”…
These are notes of a talk I gave many years ago.
In the letter of Paul to the Philippians, chapter 5, and verse 17, we read the following: ‘Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note or those who live according to the pattern we gave you,’
Our task is to take note or a man who indeed lived according to the pattern given by the apostles; a man who could say with more honesty than most: ‘To me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’…
A bit of an ‘Aha!’ moment came while reading this interview (by Ian Paul) of Andy Angel, vicar of St Andrew’s, Burgess Hill in West Sussex and author of The Jesus You Really Didn’t Know.
Evidently, the thrust of the book is that Jesus, in his teaching as recorded in the Gospels, placed a lot more emphasis on judgement and obedience than many care to acknowledge.
IP: You talk about the prominence of judgement in the teaching of Jesus as an ‘elephant in the room’.…
A summary of The Case Against Euthanasia, by Donald Mcleod (From The Monthly Record, Feb, 1981)
Current publicity probably gives an exaggerated impression of the pro-euthanasia lobby. But the subject cannot be dismissed ‘lightly: ‘respect for human life derives ultimately from the fear of God and that is becoming an increasingly rare commodity.’
Danger highlighted in the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill of Lord Raglan in 1969. The provisions of this were,
A summary of ch. 26 of John Flavel’s The Fountain of Life.
“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” Acts 2:23
In this text, we have an account of
1. The nature of the death Christ died, which is here described more generally, as a violent death, You have slain him: and more particularly, as a most ignominious, cursed, dishonorable death; you have crucified him.…
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself; and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:8
DOCTRINE. That the state of Christ, from his conception to his resurrection, was a state of deep debasement and humiliation.
The Lord Jesus was humbled in his incarnation, his life, and his death. Here we deal with the second of these.
I. The Lord Jesus was humbled in his very infancy, by his circumcision according to the law, Lk 2:21. …
