by Brad Blocksom | Jan 27, 2020 | Leadership, Missional, Practical Theology, Reviews, Theology
Full disclosure up front: I love Alan Hirsch! He is one of my favorite authors and missional thinkers/leaders. His book, The Forgotten Ways, literally changed my life. But enough about that. In 2017, I walked out of the Missio Alliance conference with an armful of...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 8, 2019 | Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, General, Healing, Missional, Practical Theology, Prayer, Reviews, Small Groups, The Vineyard Movement, Theology
Disclaimer: Mike Turrigiano is one of my favorite people in the Vineyard movement! Luke Geraty (his co-author) is a friend and kinda my boss here at Think Theology. What follows is my attempt to, none-the-less, provide an impartial, unbiased review of Pastor...
by Luke Geraty | May 5, 2016 | Biblical, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day and if you are going to be preaching this week, you’ve probably been looking for some resources that would help you with your sermon. Thus, it only seems fitting to review Making Sense of Motherhood: Biblical and...
by Luke Geraty | Apr 21, 2016 | Biblical, Reviews, Theology
Growing up in a church environment that made use of “end times charts,” I’ve not always found books on the second coming of Jesus all that helpful. Far too many authors have too little understanding of the biblical authors’ worldview and spend...
by Luke Geraty | Apr 7, 2016 | Christian Living, Reviews, Theology
As one of my recent reviews reveals, there are many resources available for Christians interested in having a better understanding of what Scripture says regarding homosexuality, engaging homosexuals, and how the Church should respond to questions about issues related...
by Luke Geraty | Jan 5, 2016 | Reviews, Theology
This past Sunday I asked the congregation what are some of the central beliefs of the Church… the non-negotiables, so to speak. I was absolutely delighted to hear one of my friends say, “the Trinity!” Yes! Yes, yes, and yes! As a committed advocate...
by Luke Geraty | Nov 3, 2015 | Biblical, Reviews, Theology
While there are some significant differences between the various eschatological views that are found within the Church, I’m convinced that there are some general hermeneutical guidelines that would serve students of Scripture when approaching apocalyptic...
by Robby McAlpine | Aug 27, 2015 | Biblical, Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
It has been my privilege to read Mary Boller’s The Wisdom of Wimber over the past few weeks. Marty (can I call you Marty?) has done an excellent job of collecting a variety of the late John Wimber’s pithy insights and pastoral wisdom, and sharing them in a...
by Brad Blocksom | Jun 8, 2015 | Biblical, Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
Yesterday at 12:30pm, Pastor, teacher, author, speaker, scholar, disciple of Jesus and friend of many, Dr. Bill Jackson, passed from this life into the next. The Vineyard movement has lost one of its greatest leaders. And the Evangelical Church has lost one of the...
by Luke Geraty | Jun 4, 2015 | Biblical, Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
I think I could sit at a table talking about the Holy Spirit with Dr. Jack Levison for hours. The way that he thinks and writes is ever engaging and many of the questions and concerns he poses go on to raise countless hours of reflection. Those of you who are into...
by Luke Geraty | Jun 4, 2015 | Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
Historical biographies are important for the health and development of individuals and ecclesial communities. While it may be true that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it, as George Santayana is famous for saying, I’d like to think...
by Luke Geraty | Mar 7, 2015 | Biblical, Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
Last year I was at Society of Vineyard Scholars’ annual conference and had lunch with a really cool dude with a beard. He informed me that he had started attending the Central Vineyard in Columbus, OH and was a writer. As an aspiring author, I was immediately...
by Luke Geraty | Feb 12, 2015 | Biblical, Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
If I had to summarize all of the preaching of Jesus and all of the preaching of Paul, I’d suggest that they had one message with many applications: the kingdom of God. Jesus proclaimed the kingdom (Matt. 4:17, 23; 9:35; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 8:1; Acts 1:3, etc.)...
by Brad Blocksom | Jan 31, 2015 | Biblical, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
OK, folks. I’m taking up the challenge from Able Baker and following in the footsteps of his post recommending books for Pastors. In the interest full disclosure, I’m not a Pastor, but do like to study the word as if I had to teach it every week. I’m...
by Luke Geraty | Jan 19, 2015 | Biblical, Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
I have a love/hate relationship with study bibles. On one hand, I really like that there is a resource for people who may not have had seven hundred years of seminary training. On the other, it’s frustrating when some well-meaning people treat the commentary...
by Luke Geraty | Aug 13, 2014 | Biblical, Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
In this post, I want to review and interact with Ken Wilson’s work in ALTMC on the Apostle Paul. In addition to several posts covering Ken’s introductory work (here, here, and here), I’ve posted my thoughts on his use of the Old Testament. Now I want...
by Luke Geraty | Jul 24, 2014 | Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
Throughout the year I often find myself asking questions about personal “soul care” and this usually turns into questions about my time spent reading Scripture and praying. I used to always feel like I was the worst follower of Jesus in the universe...
by Luke Geraty | Jul 3, 2014 | Biblical, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
I think a case could be made that the Bible offers a variety of options regarding church polity. However, I personally find the plurality of pastors model the best option for the local church (see my top 5 books on the subject). In fact, if you take a look at my list...
by Luke Geraty | May 30, 2014 | Biblical, Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
We have finally arrived to the area of Ken Wilson’s book, A Letter to My Congregation, that many of you have been patiently waiting for… Ken’s biblical arguments! How does Ken treat the Bible’s statements regarding homosexuality? How does he...
by Luke Geraty | May 20, 2014 | Biblical, Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, Reviews, Theology
Okay folks… this is part three of the long overdue review of Ken Wilson’s A Letter to My Congregation (ALTMC). Please stop emailing me, sending me messages on Facebook, or sending me text messages asking me when it’s going to get published! Listen, I had a baby! Okay,...