Category Archives: Index

In Reply to Patrick Mead’s “The Problem with Elders,” Part 3A (Regarding Authority)

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Jay F Guin

Let’s talk about positional authority. We’ve been down this road before, and so I’ll try to keep it brief. The scriptures refer to the same men as “elders,” “overseers,” and “shepherds.” What would a First Century reader have heard in … Continue reading →

Posted in Elders, Uncategorized | 18 Comments

In Reply to Patrick Mead’s “The Problem with Elders,” Part 2 (Summary of My Views)

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Jay F Guin

If you’ve not yet read them, here are Patrick’s original posts — The Problem With Elders, Part 1 The Problem With Elders, Part 2 The Problem With Elders, Part 3 The Problem With Elders, Part 4 The Problem with Preachers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Elders, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

In Reply to Patrick Mead’s “The Problem with Elders,” Part 1 (Why So Many Bad Elders?)

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Jay F Guin

I’m a big Patrick Mead fan. He’s spoken at my home congregation more than once, I’m an avid reader of both his blogs, and I think he’s just a very fine preacher and writer. And I have great respect for … Continue reading →

Posted in Elders, Uncategorized | 47 Comments

Reader’s Question re Book Funds

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Jay F Guin

I get emails — Our church, despite being 500-600 people doesn’t have a clear policy on a minister’s book fund. Do they get one? How much? Are the books theirs or the church’s? Do you have any thoughts/advice on this? … Continue reading →

Posted in Taxes, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

God’s Plan: Some Conclusions

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Jay F Guin

We’re working through Covenant: God’s Purpose, God’s Plan. by John H. Walton. Walton suggests several conclusions from his work. To begin with, the Old Testament is largely not about the salvation history of the Jews. The Law of Moses is … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Uncategorized | 26 Comments

God’s Plan: Why God Gave the Law of Moses, Part 2

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Jay F Guin

We’re working through Covenant: God’s Purpose, God’s Plan. by John H. Walton. In Christ, the covenant relationship is redefined, but the basic thrust of the covenant has not changed. Now the character of God is revealed not through legislative examples … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

God’s Plan: Why God Gave the Law of Moses, Part 1

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Jay F Guin

We’re working through Covenant: God’s Purpose, God’s Plan. by John H. Walton. In chapter 10, Walton investigates the purpose of the Law of Moses. The New Testament, of course, is filled with the struggle over how the coming of Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Uncategorized | 26 Comments

God’s Plan: The Covenants

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Jay F Guin

Walton lays out God’s history of covenants in terms that I’d never heard before. He concludes that the covenant made with Noah is separate from all the others, as it indicates no effort toward self-revelation. God had appeared to Noah … Continue reading →

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God’s Plan: Election

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Jay F Guin

We’re working through Covenant: God’s Purpose, God’s Plan. by John H. Walton. Never do the biblical writers describe election as a reward. It does not come in response to any attribute or action of Israel. His election did not give … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

God’s Plan: Genesis 1 – 11

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Jay F Guin

So why does Genesis provide us with the material found in Genesis 1 – 11? These chapters aren’t obviously about God’s self-revelation. Genesis tells the story of how God created humankind in fellowship with him, but also relates how that … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan, Uncategorized | 14 Comments