Mathew B. Sims's Blog, page 4
March 30, 2014
Organic Catechizing
As many know, I’ve been working on a Catechism for the church at which my family serves. This Baptistic Catechism is a derivative of multiple Presybterian Confessions. Some days it pains me more than others to see the things that have been taken out. Other days I am stressed by my attempts to retain the meaning of the confessions while making the language modern and accessible to Baptistic 
March 29, 2014
Review: Peter Kreeft’s The Philosophy of Tolkien
Peter J. Kreeft. The Philosophy of Tolkien. Ignatius Press, 2005. 237. Paperback. Kindle.
I wasn’t planning on reviewing this one, but had so many requests for my thoughts on it that I figured I might as well put pen to paper. I read this as part of my research for the next book I’m working on and also because I’m a Tolkienphile. With that in mind, The Philosophy of Tolkien was the most
I wasn’t planning on reviewing this one, but had so many requests for my thoughts on it that I figured I might as well put pen to paper. I read this as part of my research for the next book I’m working on and also because I’m a Tolkienphile. With that in mind, The Philosophy of Tolkien was the most
March 28, 2014
Review: Andrew M. Davis’ An Infinte Journey
Andrew M. Davis. An Infinite Journey. Ambassador International, 2014. 478. Paperback. Kindle.
An Infinite Journey is a robust treatise on salvation and mission. Dr. Davis arranges the book around a single conceit, a journey. He posits two journeys--“The external journey of the worldwide advance of the Kingdom of Christ [Matt. 28:18-20]” and “The internal journey of individual, personal
An Infinite Journey is a robust treatise on salvation and mission. Dr. Davis arranges the book around a single conceit, a journey. He posits two journeys--“The external journey of the worldwide advance of the Kingdom of Christ [Matt. 28:18-20]” and “The internal journey of individual, personal
March 27, 2014
Review: John H. Walton and Andrew E. Hill’s Old Testament Today: A Journey from Ancient Context to Contemporary Relevance
John H. Walton and Andrew E. Hill. Old Testament Today: A Journey from Ancient Context to Contemporary Relevance. Zondervan Academic, 2014. 480 pages. Hardcover. Kindle.
The church is a bit anemic when it comes to the Old Testament; it seems that many Christians mainly read and study the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. And many who do devote their attention to the Old Testament find
The church is a bit anemic when it comes to the Old Testament; it seems that many Christians mainly read and study the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. And many who do devote their attention to the Old Testament find
Review: John H. Walton and Andrew E. Hall’s Old Testament Today: A Journey from Ancient Context to Contemporary Relevance
John H. Walton and Andrew E. Hall. Old Testament Today: A Journey from Ancient Context to Contemporary Relevance. Zondervan Academic, 2014. 480 pages. Hardcover. Kindle.
The church is a bit anemic when it comes to the Old Testament; it seems that many Christians mainly read and study the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. And many who do devote their attention to the Old Testament find
The church is a bit anemic when it comes to the Old Testament; it seems that many Christians mainly read and study the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. And many who do devote their attention to the Old Testament find
March 26, 2014
Doubting Catechisms: Breath for Faltering Faith
Providentially, I’ve seen dozens of articles on doubt, faith, and the struggle of living in a fallen world. These articles have encouraged me and prodded me on to rest in Christ as I sojourn. Doubt is a tangible opponent for Christians. We must wrestle with it. A faith that has never wrestled with doubt isn’t a mature faith. We must ask and seek honest answers for our doubts.
The church plays
The church plays
March 24, 2014
Resurrection Power #ResurrectionSeries14
God merely spoke, and everything came into existence. There was nothing difficult for the Author of creation. He used no tools, no electricity, no blueprints. He used only His perfect and boundless imagination to create the sun and planets, every plant and animal, colors, sounds, light and darkness. There was a time in eternity past when there was nothing, and when the Creator simply spoke, 
Resurrection Power by Ann Dunlap #ResurrectionSeries14
God merely spoke, and everything came into existence. There was nothing difficult for the Author of creation. He used no tools, no electricity, no blueprints. He used only His perfect and boundless imagination to create the sun and planets, every plant and animal, colors, sounds, light and darkness. There was a time in eternity past when there was nothing, and when the Creator simply spoke,
March 21, 2014
Review: John D. Woodbridge & Frank A. James III’s Church History: Pre-Reformation to the Present Day, Volume 2
John D. Woodbridge & Frank A. James III . Church History: Pre-Reformation to the Present Day, Volume Two. Zondervan Academic, 2013. 843. Hardcover. Kindle.
Church history can be intimidating. The sheer number of topics, sub-topics, geographical locations, and important persons that participate in church history make many well-meaning historical forays unsuccessful. Not knowing where to
Church history can be intimidating. The sheer number of topics, sub-topics, geographical locations, and important persons that participate in church history make many well-meaning historical forays unsuccessful. Not knowing where to
March 19, 2014
The New Exodus: Don’t Fear the Journey #ResurrectionSeries14
I just finished reading Captivated by Thabiti Anyabwile (a little book that packs a punch). Since reading it, I’ve been meditating for weeks on this:
Egypt lays in darkness for three days, Jerusalem for three hours. After the darkness, Egypt’s firstborn sons were killed; in Jerusalem the only begotten Son of God was slain. In Egypt, a lamb’s blood covered the doorposts of homes. In
Egypt lays in darkness for three days, Jerusalem for three hours. After the darkness, Egypt’s firstborn sons were killed; in Jerusalem the only begotten Son of God was slain. In Egypt, a lamb’s blood covered the doorposts of homes. In
