Book Haul 2022

One of the joys of reading books would be sharing what I have learned to our church, SEE students, and to my pastor friends. I am utterly convinced that my philosophy in ministry should revolve around ministering with depth rather than ministering with relevance.

Ministering with depth helps me minister to people on how being a Christian thrives amidst joyful and sorrowful circumstances. This is something that is not achieved when we just want to be relevant to the lives of people. Isn’t it that being practical (relevance) flows deeply from being theological (depth)?

Here’s my latest haul to help me minister with depth:

A Long Line of Godly Men

The set is a powerhouse! I have read 4 of them on Kindle (Edwards, Owen, Spurgeon and Carey). A theological biography of these men are invaluable contribution to long line of godly men who passionately herald and minister the gospel of Jesus Christ. Honestly, the books are not about these men. The reason that it is a theological biography is because of the focus of their ministries and their callings on how their dedications were molded by their convictions–preach Christ and Him crucified. The line still continues in this part of church history.

Expanding Berkhof

Berkhof is probably on the bottom portion (along with Grudem) of my go-to systematic theology books. I plan to read him as a supplement on the topic that takes my interest and never intend to read him from cover to cover.

Letham on the Upper Portion

If Berkhof falls on the bottom portion of my list, Letham will be on the upper portion. The reason I love Letham is that he clearly defines the conservative task and constructive task in doing theology–which is, contextual theology should be catholic.

Reformed Ethics

I have convinced myself to dedicate my time in reading Bavinck’s work. I am almost finished with his Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 4. Though I do not see the necessity of reading this immediately because there are a lot of things to reread in his dogmatics.

Finally, the Whole Counsel!

I have heard that The Whole Counsel of God is not yet “whole” until the rumors of the upcoming 4th volume, but this has been remarked as the capstone of this 3-volume work. Though one may irk on what we have to do with the Western hemisphere (see sub-title), we can learn from his effort to be systematic in the context of redemptive-historical approach.

Reading RST 3 with a Reading Group

Reading commitment to this tome is never easy but a reading group will make it motivating and enjoyable. If the course work for Systematic Theology is time-bounded, I am certain that choosing this book as a required textbook will be overwhelming. But if the course work for Systematic Theology is to be divided, this would prove to be beneficial.

One of the things I enjoyed in this series would be the consistency of how each topic is done. Theology, indeed, is for life.

9Marks

9Marks is indeed beneficial. No doubt about that. My only fear is that it will used as a method rather a display of a faithful commitment to both Scripture and the church.

Nine Marks of a Healthy Church (4th edition) together with How to Build a Healthy Church (previously known as Deliberate Church) are on revised edition. Not that much of a change seriously.

The Path to Being a Pastor is really a good and special read especially when the church is considering more pastor-trained pastors in the church. Pastoral formation is needed nowadays.

Deacons, the last installment of their 14-volume Building Healthy Church series. It goes along well with Church Elders.

First Steps. Honestly, it is very frustrating for me to have a missing piece to a complete set. To cut it short, I grabbed the opportunity to take hold of the set.

Church Fathers

“Church did not start in the 1500’s” is what I usually tell my students and our church. In my opinion, the reason for the neglect of 15 decades of church history is the obsession among the Evangelicals to be innovative in their theology. Though, some are still skeptical because reading church fathers might be stale, cold, and dry to name the adjectives connected with patristics, reading their works afresh leads “a renewal movement within historic Christian orthodoxy” as what Timothy George remarks.

The Voice You Can Hear

The book is an exposition of John 13-17. It is meant to be read to the visually impaired just like how the good old radio works. I will read this devotionally and probably reread it again before Maundy Thursday next year.

NOTE: I do not know a person who will not like the sermons and writings of Sinclair Ferguson.

Leitourgia

Liturgy is often strange in the evangelical world especially among Baptists. Bryan Chapell states that structures tell stories where Jonathan Gibson would argue that everyone has a liturgy, the question is what kind of liturgy are we using. In short, churches have liturgy and what kind of liturgy are we using in telling the God of the gospel.

My wife and I are using this book for our morning read.

L-E-A-T-H-E-R

Really a good deal! Got my father and my mother large font bibles.

Back to Baker Street

On 2023, I am planning to focus my procurement from Baker Academic, InterVarsity Press, Zondervan, Brazos, Kregel, and probably Brill and Oxford. I desire to read deep scholarship not because the books I have previously bought were not deep in their scholarship but there is an itch within me to stress myself on laboring to understand the theological trajectory I want to pursue as I strengthen my theology of ministry for my service to the church.

Until next budol!

Reading Challenge-d?

It is not new to see reading challenge every year. . . and there is nothing wrong with that. Actually, it is good to see Christians—in general—setting a goal in their reading journey. The sentiment of Leland Ryken and Glenda Faye Mathes cannot be overlooked, “The decline of reading has impoverished our culture and individual lives. We have lost mental sharpness, verbal skills, and ability to think and imagine. Our leisure has little meaning, and we’re consumed with self. We fail to recognize beauty or the value of either the past or essential human experience. We suffer from a lack of edification and a shrunken vision.”^[1] Simply put, it is always beneficial to read a good book. What adds to my fascination is the discipline to finish a book despite of a busy schedule.

However, there is a culprit that one must be aware of—reading for the sake reading itself. Reading becomes boring. There is a tendency that whenever one finishes the reading challenge, he or she becomes less motivated and ending up being unlearned. It becomes unfulfilling eventually. Last year, there were books I was not able to finish last year—to name the thick ones, John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion; Sinclair Ferguson’s Some Pastors and Teachers; and Albert Martin’s Pastoral Theology, vol. 2. I don’t feel bad at all for not being able to include them in my finished books last year because I can finish them this year and still learn from them. Reason for reading matters.

What should we do then? John Piper gives an antidote and quip it this way, “Read for your soul. . . Find [a book] that will make you want to live all out for God.”^[2] So, read for your soul. In my case, I read books that will be useful to my pastoral ministry.

Sharing my reading list, I have divided it into 3 categories: thick books, new books, and re-reading book (if necessary, I will add more to the list as the need arises).

My all-year round reading list:

Perhaps, for this quarter:

Here’s my re-reading list for this year:

And of course, it is my desire to read the whole Scripture in an unhurried manner. I also want to focus on reading Matthew, 2 Corinthians, and Jude in Biblical Greek and hone my Biblical Hebrew further as I read Numbers, Lamentations, and Amos.

Enjoy reading!

^[1] Leland Ryken and Glenda Faye Mathes, Recovering the Lost Art of Reading: A Quest for the True, the Good, and the Beautiful (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021), 167.

^[2] John Piper, “25 Christian Books I Love to Recommend,” November 26, 2018, accessed January 4, 2022, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/25-christian-books-i-love-to-recommend.

Book Haul 2021

Last year, I had a great time enjoying the books I purchased. By God’s grace, I was able to read most of them during this pandemic. It’s too much for a limited time to account everything to my failing memory and I never imagined that note-taking will be a wonderful and timely blessing (I am using Notability app).

Here’s my budol (a tagalog slang used when a person is too gullible) for this year:

Albert Martin’s Pastoral Theology

Perhaps my most anticipated set in this haul. I am interested that a man like Albert Martin, who is never famous compared to those in the mainstream reformed circle, is one of the pastors who displayed what it means to be a pastor-theologian. Even if you go on youtube, you will not find a lot of sermons from this guy and yet listening to one makes you think how he preached for 46 years with clarity and passion. Albert Martin is a testimony that fame is not the language of faithfulness.

The Whole Counsel of God

From the famous remark of Paul to the Ephesian church recorded in Acts 20:27, “. . . declaring to you the whole counsel of God” these books ensure that its aim to teach what does it mean to declare the whole counsel of God. I am committed in preaching the whole counsel of God to my church, Muntinlupa Baptist Church. Having said that, these will help me to set the task of systematic theology through a redemptive-historical framework. One’s commitment in preaching the whole counsel of God must have a responsible redemptive-historical framework to see Christ all-throughout the Scripture.

A Reasonable Service?

Joel Beeke calls this “desert island book.” It means that this book should accompany your Bible if you will be stranded on an island. In 1700, when it was called De Redelijke Godsdienst, Wilhelmus á Brakel urged the theologians and the pew that God’s self-revelation, if understood well, leads the redeemed hearts to serve him as a “reasonable” thing to do. A doctrine (must) lived out (also a must) to the service to God (and again, a must). Doctrinal precision and pastoral piety is what the churches need today!

An Unexpected Set

This set is an unexpected one from my order. Perhaps, I will leave this unopened when the time comes that I will commit reading this. I do not know how can I finish another thick series in my lifetime but thank you for this thoughtful gift!

Church History

God has proven himself that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against his church” (Matthew 16:18, emphasis added). We can always learn and reflect from that phrase and glean on something new in reading church history on how God is actively shaping and preserving the church. This will probably be my last church history book. The other two sets are Church History, 2 vols. by Zondervan and Justo Gonzalez’s, The Story of Christianity published by Harper Collins.

Who Needs Another Frame?

It is said that the Selected Shorter Writings of John Frame are his lectures from Reformed Theological Seminary. As a teacher, this pique my interest on how he taught difficult topics to his eager students.

In the academe, a German word is used to honor a respected person in the academia–they call it festschrift. I always want to read a festschrift of individuals who contributed in the broad world of theology.

The Man, the myth, the legend. . .

As I have stated from this (my review on volume 1) entry, it would be helpful to have an accurate biography of Herman Bavinck’s brilliance for the purpose of consistency in reading him as both orthodox and modern. As I skimmed through the Introductions, James defined critical to be Bavinck’s theological articulation of the “historic Christian faith within his modern milieu”–the way how to read Bavinck in his Reformed Dogmatics.

Side note: My volume 2 review is about to be published, watch out!

Sinclair Ferguson and his accent

Am I the only one who is hearing Sinclair Ferguson when reading his works? I have read The Whole Christ on epub way back 2015 because we used his work, The Holy Spirit: Contours of Christian Theology in our seminary course. Time to recapture the wonder and catch the ongoing wonder of reading his genius.

Biblical Language

As much as possible, I am keeping my biblical language as sharp as possible, to be faithful as much as possible to the text. It’s a long road I’m willing to take. The years are counting.

Side note: At the time of this publication (May 25, 2021), I only have one more lesson to finish my 4-year study in Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament by Daniel B. Wallace. I want to re-do it with the aid of my new NT grammar tools.

Mining Gold

Graeme has been one of the major voices in propelling the phrase “gospel-centered” in hermeneutics, theology and preaching. I’ve been reading my originally owned copy of Christ-Centered Biblical Theology and Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics for quite a while now to grasp how sermon is not limited to a histo-grammatical approach.

According to Plan and Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture will be added to my list as I am about to teach a new set of students on the course of hermeneutics. The other two will be donated to our SEE center.

Elementary, my dear Watson

It has been said that if you are about to embark in reading the works of the Puritans, go for Watson. It’s an elementary knowledge! Well, I started with John Owen because of my huge admiration for him. I spent a long time last year reading his works included in the Puritan Paperbacks. Now, I want to focus on Thomas Watson. Sadly, the A Body of Divinity (paperback) was out of print when I ordered the book. Hope to have one soon!

These are the gifts I received from my good friend. I am dead excited to read Gentle and Lowly as The Gospel Coalition labeled it to be the “consensus favorite book published in 2020.” I am currently on Chapter 6. I read one chapter a day.

If Gentle and Lowly was inspired by The Heart of Christ by Thomas Goodwin, Rejoice & Tremble through Fear of God by the Baptist puritan, John Bunyan. The book duo has been hitting the charts to be a classic read for this year. Check it out!

Last year, I was given a privilege by iDisciple PH to talk about the Puritans and their piety using the title of J. I. Packer’s book. It’s a broad topic that deals with the experiential piety of the puritans. On the other hand, the book A Quest for Godliness by the late J. I. Packer talks about John Owen, Richard Baxter, and Jonathan Edwards (though I disagree with him by qualifying him as a Puritan), a focused view towards christian ministry, christian life, the gospel, and the Holy Spirit through these men. The former talks about the broad practice of the puritans, the latter is focused on known personalities in Puritanism.

Check out why I argue that Jonathan Edwards, even though with the puritan practice of piety is not to be regarded as a puritan. Check the link here.

Thanks, John Paul for the books. Check his blog entries here.

Perks of Coupons

I never thought that coupons could give you free and almost free books! Budol is real!

Beeke Club

As I mentioned from my last book haul blog (read here), my admiration for the puritans grew because of the dedicated work of Dr. Joel Beeke. His warmth in writing is needed for our cold approach in theology. Puritan Reformed Spirituality should be my guide for my last year’s conference but the book did not arrive at John Paul’s place on time. The Lord Shepherding His Sheep is a collected sermon on the famous Psalm. I am wondering how Puritan Reformed Theology is different from A Puritan Theology which are both written by Joel Beeke himself. Let’s find out!

Lastly, Reformed Systematic Theology, vol. 2, the second installment of this 4-volume series work by Beeke and Smalley. The best way to read this? Invite your friends and take a bite at a time. To this date, we are months away from the release of volume 3.

Currently, we have a small group who are reading RST together. It is designed to read Beeke and Smalley’s work for at least 30-40 weeks and finish the entire series in 4 years. I hope God will see us through the remaining years. Shoutout to RST Reading Group (Philippines)!

Why Bother Writing This (Again)?

Let me illustrate why I bother writing this again. Imagine a professional in his/her field. They spend time honing their skills and money on investing the necessary tools for their craft. What makes a pastor different from other vocation? Nothing! So, just as an engineer masters his/her mathematics, a pastor should spend time in mastering his disciplines in his study. A high school teacher will strive in every possible way to be at the top of his/her field, a pastor as a workman should also strive to correctly handle the word of truth.

There is a dire need to resurrect the ancient vision of the pastor as a theologian. The editors of Center for Pastor Theologians opine that it is not an end in itself but for the renewal of theology that leads to renewal of the church in its ministry and mission to the world (Becoming a Pastor Theologian, 2). It is startling on how the resident theologians of the church is more obsessed with their lifestyle than theological fidelity, with charisma than content. Stanley Hauerwas on his interview said that Evangelicals are destined to die of its own success for depending on the ongoing re-inventing the wheel process in the ecclesiastical life–a sentiment which will raise eyebrows of being insulted. It is by no means, a brag to claim to be the model or be the standard but a cry to reconsider the being of a pastor-theologian.

This is a small sentiment for someone who is to be called an opinionated young man but I rally with those who fought against the theological anemia in the church, a pandemic worse than COVID-19. I can only live once, I must choose to serve with faithfulness. My time is limited, I should make use of my formative years a time to build on what is about to come in the future. There will be a time that my years spent on discipline will bring the necessary practical application in the vineyard. May the Lord see me through.

So, read good books, learn from faithful pastors, and serve with passion. May the Lord grant you and me the necessary grace to be faithful for what he has entrusted us with.

Until my next budol!

The Concept of Culture (Excerpt)

http://theflyingtortoise.blogspot.com/2013/10/jeepneys-cheap-cheerful-colourful-and.html

DISCLAIMER: The excerpt does not reflect the position of the writer of this entry.

The prompting of this entry is the aftermath of my New Testament 1 class in SEE during our class discussion on 1 Corinthians. My aim for writing this excerpt is to give perspective on what culture is. Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective by Brian M. Howell & Jenell Williams Paris helped me to simplify the countless dialogues in understanding the issues regarding the definition of culture.

I wish to outline my topic in these alliteration: Read, Reflect, and Render.

READ

Suppose that you will represent our country in an ethnic fair. You were asked to put up a booth to showcase our beloved country. What will you put in your booth?

Perhaps, you will start with the flag, hanging it to signify what country you represent. It will not set the mood if there is no traditional folk songs that is playing with your speakers. Pictures of best landmarks and historical sites must also be included to encourage them to visit our wonderful country. The famous jeepney, the country’s common mode of transportation should be on the list. And I am sure that whatever country you represent, you will do almost the same thing, right? Maybe, this question will help us, which food, music or landscape really represent “Philippine Culture”?

Here’s the point, when people think about their own “culture,” they often become aware of the differences between regions and individual experiences that make generalizations difficult (27). You may be white in your complexion who loves jazz and shows no interest in the Rizal Park. Does that make you less of a Filipino? What is real “Filipino culture”? (emphasis added).

To elaborate further, there are a lot of Filipinos who are more comfortable at Starbucks than drinking our native batirol. Riding on a taxi for comfort than a hassle mode of transportation on riding a jeepney.

One of the terms that we should understand is cultural relativism. It is a view that cultural practices and beliefs are best understood in relation to their entire context (31). A symbol, belief, or behavior may make little sense or even be offensive when understood from an outsider’s cultural perspective. When viewed holistically, in light of its own economic, historical, political, and religious contexts, what at first seemed nonsensical will appear sensible. Thus, culture is relative to context. Cultural relativism is not a value judgment but an empirical reality.

Culture is the total way of life of a group of people that is learned, adaptive, shared, and integrated.

Learned

People learn culture from other people, usually by being raised in a culture or by extended exposure to a new one later in life. Affirming the learned aspect of culture allows anthropologists to focus on such things as the socialization of children, the production of knowledge, and culture change.

Adaptive

People’s ways of life are adapted to their environments. Language, values, and behaviors may be understood as related to their economic, political, geographical, and historical contexts.

Shared

There is no such thing as individual culture. There is variation among individuals, but culture can never be private. You woke up one morning and decide to throw off the oppressive structure of Tagalog, bursting out of your room declaring, “Amtanzafna! Moockano v Stinana!” If no one else shares this particular pattern, it cannot be called a language, which by definition is a form of communication. If no communication occurs, you just have random sounds. Unless others share your understanding of these “words,” they do not constitute a language or a culture.

Integrated

Any aspect of culture relates, in some way, to other parts of that culture. It is important, when encouraging change in one’s own culture or another, to recognize that change in one part of life will influence the whole.

Keeping this in mind, various anthropologists used metaphors to describe culture. I do not want to be exhaustive in writing those metaphors but I will cite what Howell and Paris used in this insightful chapter:

Culture as the water in which we swim;
Culture as the lenses through which we see the world;
Christ and culture; and
Culture as a conversation

Culture as a conversation

I wish to elaborate this on this excerpt. In real life, a conversation has many of the qualities anthropologists affirm as aspects of culture. Like culture, a conversation is shared. At the same time, a conversation is dynamic. Body language, facial expression, tone of voice, and word choice are all critical aspects of communication.

The metaphor of culture as conversation captures the learned, adaptive, shared, and integrated aspects of the culture concept, while also allowing us to see how it is laden with power relationships and is open to individual creativity. In culture, as in conversation, there is improvisation and innovation. Individuals take what exists in order to accomplish or even imagine things they want to do, including innovative and novel things. People are limited by culture, in that they cannot do or even think absolutely anything. Yet culture is the medium that enables people to do what they want. As individuals interact through culture, they accomplish individual purposes through shared means. Understood this way, culture is not so much a thing that people have as it is an activity they do. Culture is a practice. Whether making conversation, lumpia, or spoken poetry, we are living with a culture while simultaneously making culture.

REFLECT

As Christians, then, we should not simply ignore the culture in which we find ourselves, as that invariably results in an unthinking acceptance of the status quo. Nor should we try to reject culture, becoming “just Christians” without any culture. God’s truth is revealed to us through specific cultural forms. We then use our own cultural forms to understand that revelation. Sometimes we try to strip away the medium by which God communicates to us to get the “pure message” underneath. But God gave us different cultures so that we can understand God. The incarnation was God’s statement that creation—culture, society, the human body—is a good thing that will be redeemed, not a necessary evil we must tolerate or repress until Christ comes again. Without culture, we have no language, no symbols, no revelation, and no community.

RENDER

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

Culture is the total way of life of a group of people that is learned, adaptive, shared and integrated. It also could be called the pattern of this world, the way of life we learn to be conformed to through enculturation. This passage encourages us to become critical thinkers, especially with respect to our own culture. When the Holy Spirit renews our minds, we are better to engage our culture critically rather than simply living from its values without even recognizing them. This won’t lift us out of culture, but will move us toward living with wisdom and discernment, always testing what is good, pleasing, and perfect. How might we, as Christians, encourage critical engagement with our own culture? What about others’ cultures?

A Book Review on Reformed Dogmatics (Prolegomena)

DISCLAIMER: This review is not about a summary of this book.

Review

Reading 6-8 pages a day from Reformed Dogmatics Vol. 1 (Prolegomena) in 4 months officially ended the first phase of my book reading project. The 688-page work of Baker Academic is a highly anticipated piece of Bavinck’s serious engagement with the biblical text, his address to non-Christian thought, and interaction on the long tradition of Christian faith. Just as John Calvin zealously confronts Roman Catholicism in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (not yet finished) Bavinck is resolved in addressing against his contemporaries. It makes me want to read and jump on Vol. 2 but before I continue on reading Vol. 2, I will wait for my copy of Bavinck: A Critical Biography by James Eglinton. The short biography in the first volume is not sufficient for having a vivid picture of his upbringing on writing his magnum opus.

Honestly, this review might not spark excitement to its current readers for several reasons: (1) as the most coveted book among the Reformed circle here in the Philippines, the placebo effect might convince them that this is the best book [or series] in systematic theology [because of the thick is better when it comes to book mentality]; (2) I have noticed that there are times when Bavinck is vague in the terms that he used in the book; and (3) reading RD without a good grasp of Kant, Schelling, Schleiermacher, Ritschl, Hegel to name some would be demoralizing because of the jargons and its philosophical inclinations [though I find it fascinating].

The Dutch theologian has written his masterpiece to tackle the profound epistemological crisis of post-Enlightenment modernity. Perhaps, one of the reasons that it will be a troublesome to some readers would be the seemingly unending pages of Prolegomena in dealing with the renowned philosophical thinkers of his time. Modern thought tends to devalue all dogma on which Bavinck insists that dogmatics depends on the truth of Scripture as the revelation of God himself. For Bavinck, dogmatics seeks nothing other than to be true to the faith-knowledge given in this revelation. He continues to assert by stating that dogmatics is not the science of faith or of religion but the science about God. Having it defined at this point, I already find his work exemplary because of his willingness to engage modern thought and science seriously without being unbiblical, unfaithful and insensitive in his effort to be pious, orthodox, and thoroughly contemporary.

While I like his theological aptitude, I admire his passion as a churchman. His application for theology, as long as Prolegomena is concerned, resounds the idea that being theological is not boring at all nor one may even say that it is useless in the ministry. In fact, when Bavinck battled against modern thought, his engagement toward the Trinity becomes fun when he models it as an engaging Trinitarian vision of Christian discipleship in God’s world. So, while I enjoy the philosophical discussions, I enjoy the irenic writing of this Dutch churchman!

For the meantime, I am gathering enough courage during my break in reading RD. As a fellow churchman, it is not a wasted time to devote a commitment to be a part of an ongoing dialogue in theology. And maybe, in the near future, a detailed review that covers his definition of dogmatics, his method, and such.

Tips on Reading Reformed Dogmatics:

Reading RD is not for busy people. It takes commitment, effort and discipline to read a primary source. Whether you have a reading guide or without, a desire to drink from his well is a must because I realized that there is a tendency to always look for bite-sized theology nowadays that leads to indifference.
If by any means, you can secure a copy of his biography, go, get one and read that first! When I am interested in reading a work of a certain theologian, I try to get a biography as much as possible.
Familiarize yourself with the historical development in philosophy and theology on the mid-1800s up to the late 1900s or else your book will certainly eat dust in your shelves. Again, I say, familiarize not memorize.
Read with a friend, if possible and drink coffee together.

The Holy One of God

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Mark 1:21-28

Mark started his account by saying, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” After 24 verses, for the first time, someone testified on Jesus’ identity. . . and it comes from a demon! And it is not just they happen to know that He is indeed the Son of God, they are very certain for they called Him “the Holy One of God.” To make it vividly clear, the demons are shaking for they are talking to the Only Son of God.

What is the reason behind their fear? Because Jesus taught at the synagogue with authority. Why is it important? Because as Mark shows us who Jesus is by Jesus showing us Himself displaying his authority. When Jesus speaks, there is no footnote (“You have heard that it was said” see Sermon on the Mount). His words are counted as true with no opposition and astonishment from the crowd. He is heralding His own kingdom. He is preaching something they have never heard of. He is proclaiming a message that will topple the lies the demons have built. Jesus exposes the business of the demons by announcing the agenda of His kingdom. It is, at this time, to show the authority of the Son of God. They fear Him because of the authority He has in judgment for they thought He will destroy them. No wonder they fear Him. Jesus, the Son of God is Judge!

On the other hand, the crowd is astonished. It is their first time to hear the gospel of the kingdom of God. He is beyond comparison when he teach. His theology is not from someone else. In his sermon, they never heard “according to rabbi. . .” this and that. It is the very definition of “mind blown” that even the scribes looked like silly grade schoolers compared to this esteemed Teacher. If the demons shivered because their lies are exposed, the crowd is astonished because it is their first time to hear the truth! The Son of God made God’s power visible that even the demons listened to Him (and were terrified). Jesus, the Son of God is a Savior.

Now, I would like to give a difference between the response of the crowd and the demons. One one hand, the demons know exactly who Jesus is and it terrifies them; on the other, the crowd, who barely know Christ were astonished by Him. Their knowledge of Jesus Christ made the whole lot of difference in responding to His authority. The demons are reminded of their hopelessness against a Righteous Judge, the crowd is rekindled in their hope of a Savior..

This pericope somehow gave a clear recollection of my childhood memories watching “The Lion King.” There was a scene when the hyenas (Shenzi, Banzai and Ed) were discussing that they are in the bottom of the food chain because Mufasa, the King of the Land, banished them from entering the Pride Rock territory. Scar, the jealous brother of Mufasa, overheard the conversation and was insulted by hyenas that Scar is not as terrifying as Mufasa. Everytime they utter the name Mufasa they are tingling with fear unlike of Scar’s. The utterance of Mufasa’s name brings fear to the hyenas and hope to the pride (group of lion).

The Lion King (1994)

Like the film, the utterance of Jesus showed the glorious picture of who He is: Savior and Judge! The crowd is amazed for what a Savior He is, and the demons were terrified by what a Righteous Judge He is.

Book Haul 2020

This entry is not possible without the help of my best friend, John Paul Arceno (JP), who is now studying at SBTS. Also, my gratitude to Indiana Balikbayan Box for their committed service amidst of this ongoing pandemic.

Last year, I have decided to have focus on my personal study. For years, my interest toward Puritanism heightened for two reasons: (1) to avoid the danger to dichotomize doctrine and devotion which, for me, Puritans greatly portrayed that those two must go together; and (2) their passion to preach the gospel of Christ as the central message of their public ministries. So, I have decided to amass my book fund for this year to pursue and to satisfy my curiosity. I consider this point of my life and pastorate ministry, my pastoral formation.

Without further ado, here’s my list:

The Puritan Paperbacks

Missing in the list are both John Owen’s *Searching our Hearts in Difficult Times* and Thomas Watson’s *The Lord’s Supper*

November 2019, I saw a post from the Banner of Truth regarding their sale. Guess what? The 55-book set work of some of the known Puritans. I do not know how can I procure this set. All I know is that I need to secure a copy and take advantage of the sale. But the Lord mysteriously led me to a different way. It was a blessing to meet Linus Kyle de Guzman whom God used for me to acquire this Scotland-fresh copies. I am currently 18/55 in this set and trying to include in my schedule writing a book review. Click here.

Reformed Dogmatics (vols. 1-4)

I already have this copy way back 2013 but I sold my set last 2016 because I needed the money to buy the resources that I need for my masteral thesis. Though I only read 2 chapters from this four-volume resource that time. *I hope I can finish this before the Lord calls me home*

Puritan Theology and Meet the Puritans

As mentioned earlier, my interest with (the Puritans) their being is a sine qua non to my perceived pastoral formation. Puritan Theology provides the connection between doctrine and devotion; Meet the Puritans provides a biography and book reviews of around 100 puritans listed in the book. And, oh, how I am loving Christian biographies lately.

More Joel Beeke!

Dr. Joel Beeke, President of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, is perhaps the most prominent figure in the growing interest on the Puritans for the last 15 years.

Reformed Systematic Theology, which is the first installment of this 4-volume series. The second volume is expected to arrive on November 9, 2021 (need budget now, haha);

Reformed Preaching and Pulpit Aflame will be the books I will add to my preaching book arsenal. It is always good to read solid theological preaching books especially as a pastor, I am called for this specific task—the proclamation of the Word! For my top 10 preaching books, click here.

Knowing and Growing in Assurance of Faith is totally unknown to me. Surprise me!

Others

Christian Wordview by Herman Bavinck – no idea what’s in it. Surprise me again!

Baptist Foundations edited by Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman – what we believe defines us. This book tackles congregationalism, the ordinances, church membership and more.

From this point, these are the books Muntinlupa Baptist Church procured as we, by God’s grace, strive to strengthen our church membership, church discipline, evangelism and gospel focus on years to come.

If Tracts Were This Thick, Certainly

During the 19^th century, religious tracts were long theological discourses and I consider this Greg Gilbert trilogy to be that (tract) one. It may not even fit the current Protestant criteria of tract but the message is definitely evangelistic. This is how it should be. Imagine preaching the trustworthiness of the Holy Scripture; the fullness of Jesus’ deity and humanity; and the gospel–God the Righteous Creator, man the sinner, Jesus Christ the Savior, the Kingdom of God established through His Son and the gospel that propels godly living. Just wow!

Building Healthy Churches

Picture in your mind the bride of Christ, the church to be healthy. The being of the church is often neglected because of the “great” demand of the church’s doing. Soon it will be sour, toxic and unhealthy. We, Muntinlupa Baptist Church, strive to be healthy. Remember, God’s church, God’s way.

Nine Marks of a Healthy Church and Study Guides

If building healthy churches is the envisioned picture, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church is the implementation. I am so excited!

The front cover of the book together with the guides is a puzzle. I just find it amusing.

Understanding Church Basics

New Christians are to be educated about the basics of ecclesiology (the doctrine of the church). This is an exciting class, isn’t it?

It’s Sale, Grab the Opportunity

Missing here is the *God–Is He Out There*. The book arrived when JP already shipped the package.

When I bought this set, the series was composed of 8 books but 9Marks have added two more on this series. Honestly, I still don’t know how can I include this on our church curriculum. For the meantime, just enjoy reading it. Missing here are: Relationships: How Do I Make Things Right and Service: How Do I Give Back.

The Rest of 9Marks

We, church leadership and me, want to learn more on the practical areas of the church without compromising theology. We desire in the leadership to learn more about church membership, congregationalism, and handling the church finances. The only way is to constantly study. Thanks to Dr. Blair Waddell for recommending Don’t Fire Your Church Members: The Case for Congregationalism.

Why Bother Writing This?

I bother writing this because reading is an important discipline for me. The Apostle Paul himself even before nearing the appointed time of his departure asked his young protege to “bring. . . the books, especially the parchments” (2 Timothy 4:13). Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers whose library stocked around 12,000 volumes commented on this passage, “He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books! He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a man to utter, yet he wants books! He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books! The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, “Give thyself unto reading.” The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his own. Brethren, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read.” Also, in the same epistle, the apostle encouraged the young pastor to “be diligent. . . [so that] he accurately handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and that means to exert incomparable effort as a workman. A pastor is to work hard at study to know and preach the word of truth.

Also, I bother writing this because I am a pastor who doesn’t know a thing about pastoring a local church. Upon saying this, I certainly have no appetite on the current pragmatism that is lurking in churches right now just to be knowledgeable on doing church. I prefer reading materials that elevate solid biblical theology and conversing with pastor-friends who have the same appetite–these are wonderful means of grace. They say it’s a flaw not to be relevant, trendy, and boring. Perhaps, it’s my wonderful flaw. Flaw that I’m willing to boast because this is where God’s grace lavish.

Faithfulness is expected and endurance is needed in this long pastoral journey. I hope this can be a source of encouragement to my fellow learners.

Top 10 Preaching Books

I am a preaching teacher in our SEE (Seminary Education by Extension). I make sure that the students know the theology of preaching. And by doing that, I included in course syllabus my recommended readings (some are ongoing but I am loving it already) that I find beneficial to the making of a preacher. Here’s my list:

Lloyd-Jones, Martyn. Preaching and Preachers. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.
Piper, John. The Supremacy of God in Preaching. 3^rd edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015.
Stott, John. Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2017.
Piper, John. Expository Exultation: Christian Preaching as Worship. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018.
Keller, Timothy. Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 2015.
Pasquarello, Michael. Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Theology of a Preaching Life. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2017. (ongoing)
Lawson, Steve. The Kind of Preaching that God Blesses. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2013.
Willimon, William. Integrative Preaching: The Pulpit at the Center. Nashvile, TN: Abingdon, 1981.
Chapell, Bryan. Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon. 3^rd edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2018.
MacArthur, John. The Shepherd as Preacher: Delivering God’s Word with Passion and Power. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2015. (ongoing)

Yet to read Reformed Preaching: Proclaiming God’s Word from the Heart of the Preacher to the Heart of His People by Joel Beeke. Until then, these are the 10 books that shape my theology in preaching.

Faces of Goliath

The “Trend”

If Goliath will join today’s cosplay, he has a lot of personas available to choose from. He can go as depression, financial crisis, family struggles, and this latest pandemic—COVID-19. Perhaps, this me-centered approach in hermeneutics has been rampant for years whether in pulpit, Sunday school, Christian literature, and sermon exhortations. This methodology of reading and applying the Holy Scriptures is labeled as “spiritualizing” or “over-spiritualization.” I know this will call a lot of controversies regarding the validity of applying this famous biblical text but isn’t it that main objective of all the narratives in the Scripture such as this is to display the power, majesty and glory of God?

In over-spiritualization, we tend to replace the historical characters into trendy relevant applications and give no justice for the abused figure. In hermeneutics, we need to grasp the literary meaning of the text. The literary meaning of the text is the intended meaning of the author and shaped by the context, historical background, grammar and word meanings. Therefore, this product of our imagination through “spiritualizing” is not based on the text nor the intended meaning of the Spirit of God. Fanciful but not accurate. Meaning, we are not facing a Goliath! It was David who faced Goliath, not me nor you. And in fact, the narrative is not about David either but the mighty warrior who fights for His people—God. In this case, Goliath should be understood literally—tall, mighty, and a champion. I remember a popular statement that is so famous that it is impossible for a 21^st century Christian to miss it: “Sometimes God puts a Goliath in your life, for you to find the David within you.” Sounds appealing, right? But not so. Goliath is not our Goliath of problems, hurdles, obstacles, challenges or even this pandemic. Goliath is feared by Israelites (1 Samuel 17:11), he is literally wearing weights of our time for his helmet and armor alone weighs five thousand shekels (1 Samuel 17:5), and if we are living back then we would surely shake our knees with his gallant shout (1 Samuel 17:8 cf. 17:11).

The Proposal

Perhaps, we should read the text in a proper way. A God-focused and God-exalting way of reading the text. To read it as the Ultimate Champion who makes Goliath looked like a dwarf because this narrative is not about our personal breakthrough and victory but God’s victory for His people and for his name sake.

My Reminder to Myself

So, the next time I read this story, I am reminded that I am not little like David facing Goliath of fears with a sling and 5 smooth stones (prayer, tithes, evangelistic, discipling and honoring my pastor: an allegory of another topic) but God who fights for his people, worthy of worship among his people, the One who will provide another king for his people, and ultimately the God of Israel who reigns over all.

The Great Gain of Godliness

In The Great Gain of Godliness, Thomas Watson navigates his classic through exposition of Malachi 3:16-18. This heart-piercing sermon calls Christians to be holy in times of general defection for this is the Christian’s honor of which God is greatly pleased.

The book is divided into two parts. On the first part, he warns the Christians to be aware of how our hearts are too much linked to the world. It is in unconscious engagement of a Christian to the world leads him to be like of the world. In holiness, Watson proposes the act from which God’s people should do to be preserved from this adulterated generation—the fear of God. For him, fear is the leading grace, the first seed God sows in the heart because it is an indispensable duty incumbent on Christians to be fearers of God. This is the character of a godly Christian.

On the second part of the book, the celebrated puritan shows the good effects of godliness. I like how Watson remained God-centered even in this outline. He states that there is no greater reward in godliness than Christ owning his people. God deals with his own as his sons. Even at risk for their own life, God purposes it to lavish his grace to perfect his sons as his gathered jewel (which signifies treasure). Watson compares the godly saints as God’s jewels for their sparkling quality, scarcity, price, and adorning qualities. The godly saints are God’s glory (Isa. 46:13), a royal diadem in the hand of thy God (Isa. 62:3).

It is remarkable to witness the zeal of Thomas Watson’s piety. He approached the text by intentionally hammering the necessity of the fear of God, the disaster by lacking it, and the test if one has it. As I am writing this, I am reminded during this unexpected pandemic, the Lord calls me to godliness.

NOTE: I do not intend to give a detailed summary of the book that might risk educational compromise.

For quotations from the book, click here.