Nathan Whitley's Blog, page 2

Righting the Wrongs: The Undoing of the Dysfunctional Family

Ruth 3-4

The Bible is a story, and a true one at that. It’s made up of plot lines and characters. It’s stories take place in scenes of gardens, cities, battlefields, temples, and kingdoms. Myriads of Bible chapters of genealogies are overlooked or skimmed over because they look like nothing more than movie credits after the final scene. They are filled with unpronounceable names making them even less enjoyable to read. Perhaps if these genealogies took a more creative form, like a family ...

Called to Minster

I was recently asked to be a guest lecturer for a ministry course at Wilson University in California. I chose to discuss the various calls to minister. I hope you enjoy this video lecture.

Top Ten Books of 2020

What a year, huh? Hopefully you read several books during the shutdowns and quarantines. I was fortunate to read around 35 books during 2020. Not as many as I wanted to read, but still a pretty good amount. Here are the top ten books I read this year.

1. Tethered to the Cross: The Life and Preaching of Charles H. Spurgeon by Thomas Breimaier

You may not know this, but Im a huge Charles Spurgeon fan. Ive read many of his biographies and most of his autobiography. There isnt much that I dont...

Supposing Him to be the Gardener

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away (Jn. 20:15)

Some of my fondest memories as a child were going to my Mamaw and Papaw Lindsey’s house on Sunset Avenue in Bloomington, Indiana. They were two of the greatest people I’ve ever known. Hardworking, faithful and loving. The two of them worked side by side at RCA’s factory, w...

Book Review: ESV Unfolding Grace and Study Guide

Crossway Publishers recently released Unfolding Grace: 40 Guided Readings Through the Bible, and its accompanying study guide. Unfolding Grace marries two of my favorite things – Scripture’s story line of redemption (biblical theology) and the English Standard Version Bible.

I wouldn’t technically call Unfolding Grace a Bible, though its contents are thoroughly from the Bible. It doesn’t, however, include all of Scripture’s contents. Instead, choosing to include particular portions of the Bible’...

Book Review: Biblical Doctrine by John MacArthur & Richard Mayhue

John MacArthur is a prolific writer and editor. His continuous ability to publish theological works is quite astonishing. In 2018 he released his own systematic theology with Crossway publishers.

Let me say at the outset, that I don’t agree wholeheartedly with MacArthur’s theological persuasion, and I’m more than positive he disagrees with my corner of the theological map. With that said, I have been a supporter of MacArthur’s works. I agree with his high view of God, Scripture, sin, Jesus Chris...

Daily Readings in the Bible Jeremiah 10-13

Imagine the process of creating an idol. A tree from a forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. Portion of the wood is molded and shaped into a design. Next, the newly formed idol is decorated with silver and gold, fastened to the wood so that it cannot move. Unfortunately, the idol cannot speak, for it doesn’t have a mouth. Additionally, it has to be carried, for it cannot walk under its own power.

Now, here’s the absurdity. The person who cut down the tree, formed...

Daily Readings in the Bible Jeremiah 7-9

Judah’s sin had left them wounded and broken. The prophets and priests had only superficially healed the people. The Lord said, “For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jer. 8:11). Jeremiah lamented, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jer. 8:20). The wounds of Judah’s sin were exposed and far from healing. 

Jeremiah asked the people, “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?...

Logos 9 is Here!

Logos 9 is here!

If you are a Logos Bible Software user looking to upgrade, or if you’re new to Logos Bible software, then let me tell you about Logos 9.

First, I’ve been a Logos user since 2009. I made the switch to Logos when I made the move to Apple MacBook. It was the best decision for my personal Bible study. I’ve used several other Bible software programs over the years, and Logos is by far the best. And with their recent acquisition of WordSearch it made Logos even better, now all of my r...

Daily Readings in the Bible Jeremiah 4-6

Jeremiah was sent to declare God’s message and to offer Judah a chance to repent of their idolatry. One of the factors to God’s judgment upon His people were the false prophets and priests. Judah’s false prophets offered them a religion of peace and prosperity when in fact there wasn’t any. Judah had lost their way and a generation was about to be taken into captivity. It seems modern preaching is doing much of the same. The prosperity, and health and wealth gospel offer a false peace that only...