What is the Relationship Between Biblical Counseling and Preaching in the Local Church?
Here at RTS Charlotte, we are very excited about the recent arrival of Dr. Jim Newheiser, our new Associate Professor of Christian Counseling and Practical Theology, and the Director of the Counseling Program.
As many of you know, just a short time ago we launched a new Masters degree program in biblical counseling. This has been met with a great deal of enthusiasm and we believe it will meet a real need in the body of Christ.
Our program has assembled some of the finest faculty in biblical counseling today, as we have drawn upon leading figures all over the country. Visiting professors have included David Powlison, … Continue reading...
This Book Really Needed to Be Written and Finally Someone Has Done It
Every once in a while a book comes along that meets such an important need that it makes you wonder, “Why hasn’t someone done this before?” Richard (Dick) Belcher, OT Professor and Academic Dean at RTS Charlotte, has written just such a book: Prophet, Priest and King: The Roles of Christ in the Bible and Our Roles Today (P&R, 2016).
Of course, in the Reformed world, the idea that the work of Christ can be divided into his three “offices” (prophet, priest, and king) has a long lineage. Although it appears in a number of places in the early fathers, the Reformers were the ones who expounded on … Continue reading...
What Resource Can You Give Your Lay Leaders to Help Them Teach the Bible?
A couple weeks ago I was interviewed on the Reformed Forum with my friends Camden Bucey and Jared Oliphint about my latest volume, A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament: The Gospel Realized (Crossway, 2016).
This is a new New Testament introduction composed of contributions from professors at Reformed Theological Seminary, both past and present. The multi-author nature of the volume allows each prof to focus in upon their area of expertise–something not many intros are able to do.
But, there is another thing that is special about this new volume. It puts the focus on the message and theology of the biblical books. Most introductions tend to be heavily … Continue reading...
Taking Back Christianese #2: “Preach the Gospel; If Necessary, Use Words”
In American evangelicalism over the last decade, there has been a resurgence of interest in what might be called “deed” ministry. Christians should not be concerned only about evangelism, it is argued, but also about caring for the practical, day-to-day needs of our unbelieving neighbors.
This sentiment is captured in a phrase that is being used more and more these days: “Preach the Gospel; if necessary, use words.” This is the next installment in the “Taking Back Christianese” series originally announced here.
Our purpose in this post (as in all the posts in this series) is simply to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of this phrase. We will do … Continue reading...
Note to Aspiring Preachers: Here are Seven Key Pitfalls to Avoid
Preaching is hard work.
To those sitting in the pews, preaching can look relatively effortless–especially when it is done well. But do not be fooled. Preaching exhausts the body and the soul in ways that are incommensurate with its duration. I could work in the yard all day in 90 degrees of heat and (somehow) feel less exhausted than preaching two services.
But, it is not just the physical/spiritual toll that preaching takes. What makes it hard is the complexity of the task. Just standing up and talking for 30 minutes (and making any sense at all) is tough enough for most folks. But, on top of this, preachers have … Continue reading...