Around The Web-September 19, 2014

South Carolina Pastor Receives Jail Time for Church Service Noise Complaints

God is Our Endgame by Jeff Medders

Loving One Another by Dave Jenkins

Crossway Announces Direct-to-Church

Acts 29 will begin a new podcast

Tullian Tchividjian explains why the gospel is a new operating system.



Donald Sweeting, president of Reformed Theological Seminary, talks with Mark Mellinger about bringing equipping the church to bring theology to life.



The guys at The Reformed Pubcast asked Chad Gardner of Kings Kaleidoscope the meaning behind the band name in this audio video.

What Does It Mean To Be Gospel-Centered?

What Does It Mean to Be Gospel-Centered? from Crossway on Vimeo.

Around The Web-October 25, 2013

Mark Driscoll writes an open letter to John MacArthur inviting him to Seattle

Reformation Creeds & Catechisms Now Available on ESVBible.org

Josh Blount reviews Love Into Light: The Gospel, The Homosexual, and the Church

Stuff Christians Should Stop Doing by Jarrid Wilson

Desiring God gives us 15 quotes from Jefferson Bethke's book, Jesus > Religion

Where Did All These Calvinists Come From? by Matt Smethrust

Book Review: Gospel Transformation Bible

Five years ago, Crossway produced the most amazing study Bible that can ever be given to the body of Christ, the ESV Study Bible. For many church leaders, it has become their go-to study Bible when preparing a sermon or just studying the Bible. Five years later, Crossway produced another Bible that would loved and received by the church and that is the Gospel Transformation Bible.

This Bible is different from the ESV Study Bible for it applies the gospel to the believer as they read the study notes. This is not just for the New Testament but for the Old Testament as well. According to Bryan Chapell, the goal of the Gospel Transformation Bible is "twofold: (1) to enable readers to understand that the whole Bible is a unified message of the gospel of God’s grace culminating in Christ Jesus, and (2) to help believers apply this good news to their everyday lives in a heart-transforming way. Our hope is that, as Christians throughout the world learn to see the message of salvation by grace unfolding throughout Scripture, they will respond to God with greater love, faithfulness, and power."

Chapell goes on to say, "This is not a new way of studying the Bible. Rather, this approach honors our Lord’s own instruction to see the gospel in all of Scripture, so that his love empowers the transformation of our lives from the inside out.
" Where the ESV Study Bible is more for an academic and theological approach as if you were in a seminary class, the Gospel Transformation Bible is like a sermon. Yes, it is theological, but it not only gives you the gospel, but helps apply the gospel so the result can be transformation in the Christian. It has been said, we must go to the Bible for transformation not information and that is what this Bible does best.

Just like any study Bible, there is a book introduction along an outline of that particular book of the Bible. The study notes does not go verse by verse, but rather collects the meaning of the text with the purpose of showing you the gospel in those verses. What also makes this Bible amazing is the collection of scholars and pastors that help put this Bible together. Here are just a few of the contributors along with book they wrote the notes for:

Michael Horton-Joshua

Bruce Ware-Psalm 101-150

Darrin Patrick-Zephaniah

Scotty Smith-John

Justin Holcomb-Acts

Jared C Wilson-1 & 2 Peter

Here is the whole list of contributors.

It was a delight to read from this Bible and a joy to review it. I know this will benefit the body of Christ as they study the gospel throughout the Biblical text. Along with the ESV Study Bible, this is another Bible I can recommend for believers to get. One thing that I loved was the reading plan is near the end of the Bible, which is the one I will be planning to use next year. The Gospel Transformation Bible is now my number 2 Bible I go to for study and sermon preparation.

Thanks Crossway for letting me review this Bible.

Around The Web-October 18, 2013

Youth Pastors Barred From Middle School Over Allegations of Speaking About Christianity to Students

Crossway presents some new and notable books for the month of October

US Army defines Christian ministry as 'domestic hate group'

This week marks the 20th anniversary of Albert Mohler becoming president of Southern Seminary. This video is a documentary of his presidency.



Speaking of anniversaries, this year marks the 75th anniversary of one of my favorite superheroes, Superman. This short video was directed by Zack Snyder, who also directed Man of Steel with the help of animator Bruce Timm, who also helped with Superman: The Animated Series. According to DC Comics, there are 75 annotations in this video which you see what they on their blog.



Confession: I love Angry Birds. I may not have played in while but I love them. I love the Star Wars version too. I also love Mario Kart. It is healthy family competition. So I got really excited that they are coming out with a racing edition of Angry Birds called Angry Birds Go.

Around The Web-September 27, 2013

Oprah: Rob Bell 'Opened My Heart and My Mind.'

Anonymous Youth Pastor’s Letter to a Parent by Trevin Wax

John MacArthur and Strange Fire by Tim Challies

Welcome to the United States of Seattle by Mark Driscoll

Jesus Is Not Your Sin Manager by Owen Strachen

This latest video from Jefferson Bethke is based on his upcoming book, Jesus > Religion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough.



Albert Mohler's advice to students: Theology and life are inseparable.




Crossway took to the streets of Chicago to promote Kevin DeYoung's new book, Crazy Busy.

Crazy Busy in Chicago from Crossway on Vimeo.

Around The Web-September 20, 2013

Football analyst, Craig James, fired for criticizing homosexuality

Air Force Shoots Down Vet Over Biblical Marriage Views

Rick Warren tells the story of his son's suicide on CNN

The Hatmakers are coming to HGTV

Finally Justin Taylor talks with Kevin DeYoung about his new book, Crazy Busy. Warning: This is not your typical book interview.

Bryan Chapell Talks About The Upcoming ESV Gospel Transformation Bible

Crossway:



Time-stamps:

1:30–3:15 What is the big picture goal of the Gospel Transformation Bible?
3:16–6:37 What are the features of the GTB?
6:38–9:03 What are the differences between the Gospel Transformation Bible and the ESV Study Bible?
9:04–11:51 Who’s this Bible for?
11:52–16:18 As an example of the Bible’s content, how does the book of Daniel connect to Christ?

A Preview of the Gospel Transformation Bible

This September, Crossway will be releasing a brand new Study Bible that I am excited about, the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible. This is a lot different from the Life Application Study Bible which focuses more on the what and where to do. This Bible focuses more on why and how to do it.

One thing that excites me about this Bible are the people who contribute to this study Bible. Pastor and teachers such as Ray Ortlund, Jared C Wilson, Greg Gilbert, Burk Parsons, Kent Hughes, and Justin Holcomb. If you would like a free sample of this Bible, just click this link.

Here is video to explain more about the Gospel Transformation Bible.

Crossway Needs Our Help

Crossway:



Dear Friends of Crossway,

As you may have heard, a flood swept through Crossway’s headquarters on April 18. About two feet of water poured into our 32 first-floor offices due to unrelenting rains. The damage was extensive and repairs and rebuilding will take five or six months. You can see the damage in the above video.

More important, however, is the impact this could have on major ministry projects that we have planned.

As a not-for-profit ministry, Crossway is not only committed to publishing the ESV Bible and gospel-centered content, but also to providing God’s Word to hundreds of thousands of people overseas, either free or at a substantially reduced cost. Because of the recent flood, however, some of these international ministry efforts are now at risk.

That’s why I’m writing today — first, to ask for your prayers at this critical moment; and, second, to ask (if the Lord should lead you) for a gift of support. Your gift will help us cover three things:(1) the portion of the damage not covered by insurance, and (2) the installation of new safeguards to flood-proof our building. But most importantly (3) your gift will help ensure that crucial Bible ministry projects can continue to advance.

I would be deeply grateful to you if you are able to help us at this critical time.

Specifically, we need your help to raise $360,000 by the end of our fiscal year, May 31st. Your support will make it possible especially for us to continue moving forward with the following priority projects:

Translation costs for the ESV Chinese Study Bible, to be published in Mainland China

Printing costs for 60,000 copies of the Chinese-English ESV bilingual Bible, also for publication and distribution in Mainland China

Completion and global distribution of the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible this fall

Development of the Knowing the Bible studies, to be offered free digitally worldwide

Though we don’t know exactly how the Lord will use these events for his kingdom and for his glory, we are confident in his grace and mercy and in his gracious provision for the work he has called us to do – trusting his words in Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”

With my great appreciation for your prayers and support,

Lane T. Dennis, PhD
President

If you can help out Crossway, please go to this site.