Mathew B. Sims's Blog, page 5
March 18, 2014
Servants of Grace Guest Post: “The Church: Gospel, Worship, and Mission”
I’m guest posting over at Dave Jenkins’ Servants of Grace today. Check it out: “The Church: Gospel, Worship, and Mission.”
In the time of the Reformation, the church local was at the center of every day life. The church and state were in bed together and so, in one sense, some questions about the church couldn’t be asked, but, in another very real sense, they didn’t need to be asked. Part of
In the time of the Reformation, the church local was at the center of every day life. The church and state were in bed together and so, in one sense, some questions about the church couldn’t be asked, but, in another very real sense, they didn’t need to be asked. Part of
March 17, 2014
New GCD Book: Jeremy Writebol’s everPresent: How the Gospel Relocates Us in the Present
I’m excited about this book and proud to have joined the team during the home stretch. I want to recommend this book to you. Jeremy offers a biblical theology of place, as it relates, to our mission (Matt. 28:18-20). He does so in a way that’s familiar, but also fresh. Reformed folks talk a lot about creation, fall, redemption. Jeremy talks about these events in the gospel as well, but he does
March 15, 2014
Review: Everett Ferguson’s Church History: From Christ to Pre-Reformation, Volume One
Everette Ferguson. Church History: Christ to Pre-Reformation, Volume One. Zondervan Academic, 2013. 544. Hardcover.
I love history, but I’m not a historian. I especially love church history as it’s important to know where you come from and who’s in your family tree. With that being said, I won’t be reviewing this book in respect to the accuracy of details. I’m sure you can find a review
I love history, but I’m not a historian. I especially love church history as it’s important to know where you come from and who’s in your family tree. With that being said, I won’t be reviewing this book in respect to the accuracy of details. I’m sure you can find a review
March 14, 2014
Review: D. Stephen Long’s Saving Karl Barth
D. Stephen Long. Saving Karl Barth. Fortress Press, 2014. 272 pages. Paperback. Kindle.
No modern theologian has spurred more discussion than Karl Barth. Not only has Karl Barth created a whole school of followers, affectionately called Barthinians, but there also exists distinct and large camps of how to interpret Barth’s theology. Needless to say, the current preoccupation with Barth is
No modern theologian has spurred more discussion than Karl Barth. Not only has Karl Barth created a whole school of followers, affectionately called Barthinians, but there also exists distinct and large camps of how to interpret Barth’s theology. Needless to say, the current preoccupation with Barth is
March 12, 2014
The Cast Iron Gospel
Seasoned to Perfection
Some of you may not know, but I love to cook. I love good quality food and even enjoy grocery shopping. Nothing’s more relaxing than wandering through Whole Foods or Publix with my headphones on and some good music busting my ear drums. With all of that said, it’s a travesty that I just purchased my first cast iron skillet yesterday. Cast iron skillets are a great way to
Some of you may not know, but I love to cook. I love good quality food and even enjoy grocery shopping. Nothing’s more relaxing than wandering through Whole Foods or Publix with my headphones on and some good music busting my ear drums. With all of that said, it’s a travesty that I just purchased my first cast iron skillet yesterday. Cast iron skillets are a great way to
March 10, 2014
Borrowed Light Guest Post: “The Shame of Pornography and God’s Justification of Sinners”
Today I’m blogging at Mike Leake’s Borrowed Light. Mike and Tim Challies have been hosting a 31 Days of Purity for guys and I thought I might offer some encouragement to the guys who are doing this and others who may just be reading his blog. Without further ado.
“God knows I am worse than even the Accuser accuses. But still loves me as His own. Take my reputation. Give me Christ.” R. C.
“God knows I am worse than even the Accuser accuses. But still loves me as His own. Take my reputation. Give me Christ.” R. C.
March 8, 2014
Review: Thabiti Anyabwile’s Captivated
Thabiti Anyabwile. Captivated. Reformation Heritage, 2014. 95 pages. Paperback. Kindle. Reviewed in partnership with Cross Focused Blog Tour.
Captivated is a book of collected sermons on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. One that succeeds in being unified, engaging, and paced as a book. Thabiti starts by pleading with us to stop and gaze at Jesus, to slow down and stare. Let
Captivated is a book of collected sermons on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. One that succeeds in being unified, engaging, and paced as a book. Thabiti starts by pleading with us to stop and gaze at Jesus, to slow down and stare. Let
Review: Richard B. Gaffin Jr.’s By Faith, Not By Sight
Richard B. Gaffin Jr. By Faith, Not by Sight. P&R Publishing, 2013. 160 pages. Paperback $19.99.
This second edition of By Faith, Not by Sight by Richard Gaffin comes at a time of relative peace in the theological world. Though the New Perspective on Paul (NPP) and theological offshoots continue to make headway in the theological world, the lines have been drawn and welcomed discussion has
This second edition of By Faith, Not by Sight by Richard Gaffin comes at a time of relative peace in the theological world. Though the New Perspective on Paul (NPP) and theological offshoots continue to make headway in the theological world, the lines have been drawn and welcomed discussion has
March 7, 2014
Review: David F. Well’s God in the Whirlwind
David F. Wells. God in the Whirldwind. Crossway, 2014. 272. Hardcover. Kindle.
David Wells honestly reflects on his previous work in examining the church and culture, when he says, “I assumed an answer to the dilemmas unearthed and was not always as explicit in setting this out as I should have been” (13). This volume seeks to remedy some of that and also pinpoints what was lost in the
David Wells honestly reflects on his previous work in examining the church and culture, when he says, “I assumed an answer to the dilemmas unearthed and was not always as explicit in setting this out as I should have been” (13). This volume seeks to remedy some of that and also pinpoints what was lost in the
March 5, 2014
We Wrestle with God
The name Israel means those who wrestle with God. Do you remember how Jacob got the name? He had left his wives’ homeland with their father hot on their trails. He was afraid he would force him to stay, but God commanded Laban not to touch Jacob. Then his brother Esau intercepted him on his journey home and Jacob feared for his life and the life of his family. The last time he saw Esau their 
