The Sound of Doctrine

Sound of Doctrine is Moving

Austin Brown — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:09:46 +0000

Greeings all!

For some time now I’ve been posting on two websites: This one and another entitled “Gentle Reformation.” Beginning now I’m only going to post over at Gentle Reformation. The content will remain largely the same (audio reviews and recommendations), so no need to panic

I’ll keep this site up for a while, so as to preserve older posts for your consideration.

So come on over! Follow me at Gentle Reformation. There are a number of excellent authors (pastors and professors) who will undoubtedly feed your soul.

www.GentleReformation.com

See you there!

Austin Brown — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:46:55 +0000

Anytime two figures like John Piper and R.C. Sproul sit down to discuss and reflect on their ministries, one must surely perk up and pay attention. During this hour-and-a-half Q and A session a wide array of issues are broached. I thought the entire interchange was delightful, but I especially enjoyed the segment where glory and holiness were examined and related to one another. Ministry Reflections with John Piper and R. C. Sproul

Just today I began a ten hour seminar on spiritual warfare by Dr. Gerry Breshears. The first two hours are a little slow going, but the third session (“Biblical Worldview”) is very interesting. His exposition of the “gods” in the OT is not only perceptive, but more than a little interesting. I’m presently looking forward to hearing the rest. Spiritual Warfare

Highland Theological College has an impressive catalog of past guest lecturers (Sinclair Ferguson, Paul Helm, Ted Donnelly, and Doug Kelly, to just name a few). It is worth your time to at least peruse the list. For myself, I especially enjoyed the following three lectures: Gordon Wenham’s FF Bruce Lecture (2008) on the Psalms, Richard Gaffin’s 2004 John Murray lecture on the doctrine of Union with Christ, and Howard Marshall’s 2004 F.F. Bruce lecture on the atonement (while perhaps a bit been there done that for some, is nevertheless clear and solid). I would also heartily recommend Sinclair Ferguson’s 2006 John Murray lecture on Christus Victor (which I have already done elsewhere). Highland Theological College Lectures

A Christian Psychology Of And Response To Homosexuality – Sam Williams

Austin Brown — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:39:30 +0000

Not long ago, Justin Taylor highlighted a lecture by Sam Williams, saying, “This is the best one-hour introduction [to the psychology of homosexuality] you can find.”

I agree.

Here are some of the questions raised and addressed (as aptly outlined by Taylor) in this presentation.

What causes homosexuality?
Can we be responsible for that which is not consciously chosen?
What is the difference between having same-same attraction, same-sex orientation, and being “gay” or “lesbian”?
How many people self-identify in these ways?
Do people with same-same attraction actually change?
How can they change?
What does the gospel have to do with this issue?
How can we promote change in the church for those who struggle?

Must Listen Factor: Quite High

Difficulty: Moderate

Length: 1 Hour

To Download: Left click picture (The lecture was given on 10/18/11).

Generous Justice – Tim Keller

Austin Brown — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:58:39 +0000

While reading the twentieth chapter of Acts, meditating again on Paul’s farewell address to the elders at Ephesus, I was struck by Paul’s emphasis in verses 33-35. Listen again to him,

“I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Remarkable words! Paul purposively worked hard with his hands in order to set an example. He wanted the saints to see his concern for the weak. He wanted them to know, to truly know, that it is more blessed to given than to receive. It is a sober reminder.

My reading this passage was aptly timed. Not long ago, I listened to a short, but powerful message by Tim Keller entitled “Generous Justice.” In a winsome but convicting way, he wove together the doctrine of justification with the Christian’s duty to care for the weak and poor. In the usual hustle and bustle of life, working on different projects and what not, it’s easy to forget the concerns of the poor. This message grabbed me, looked me in the eye, and said, “Don’t forget to walk as your Lord walked. Remember the poor.” The conviction lasted for about an hour before it was swallowed up with other thoughts. Reading the passage out of Acts resuscitated my memory. I feel as if the Lord is getting my attention.

Perhaps you could be reminded as well? How about taking thirty minutes sometime soon in order to give it a listen. You won’t regret it.

Must Listen Factor: High

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 30 minutes

To Download: Left Click picture.

Christology 101 – James White

Austin Brown — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:05:08 +0000

Every now and again, I swing over to Alpha and Omega Ministries to see what James White is up to. If you didn’t know, he webcasts a show called The Dividing Line. Its primary thrust is apologetic in nature. He interacts with debates, critiques heretics, takes questions from listeners, and keeps you up to date with the current happenings in the theological world. I’m not a regular listener, but I do enjoy the program.

More recently, he put together a special podcast, a 2 ½ hour introductory session on Christology. It’s excellent! If you’d like to walk through things like the Nicene Creed or the Athanasian Creed, as well as get a handle on terms like Nestorianism, this is the place to go. His approach and style certainly keeps you awake, so don’t feel the need to preemptively down a five hour energy drink.

Must Listen Factor: Moderate (High if you’ve never thought through these issues before)

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

To Download: Click picture to follow link

For Bio: http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/bio/jwhite.html

Finish the Mission: For the Joy of All Peoples – 2011 DG National Conference

Austin Brown — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:01:35 +0000

I just finished listening to this year’s Desiring God National Conference, and I must say that it was excellent!

While each speaker spoke with passion and shed light upon the church’s present mission, I was particularly moved by Michael Ramsden’s message Courage, Christ, and Finishing the Mission. It was vibrant, engaging, and a-typical. Mr. Ramsden has been the European Director of RZIM Zacharias Trust since its foundation in 1997. He is also Director of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and Lecturer in Christian Apologetics at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. But more importantly, he is an experienced evangelist and a servant of Jesus Christ. His challenge should be heard.

Regarding the other sessions, I would encourage you to listen to the interview with Greg Livingston and David Sitton. Anytime you can hear from a veteran missionary, you need to do so. Doubly so with two missionaries!

Lastly, the panel discussion was good and should find its way on to your IPod. Piper’s message was excellent as well, but if you are only going to listen to one message, do download Michael Ramsden’s.

All of the messages can be obtained here:

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/by-conference/2011-national-conference

P.S. A Caution: Listening to these messages may cause you to suddenly pack your bags, leave the country, and die for Christ.

Of God’s Eternal Decree

Austin Brown — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 02:56:36 +0000

In the Exodus account, a book brimming with God’s sovereignty- not least of which includes Paul’s citation of 9:16 in the ninth chapter of Romans- one is nevertheless confronted with a startlingly powerful affirmation of the viability of human volition. The curious passage reads thus:

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle” (Exodus 13:17-18).

Here we’re confronted authentic human choice; the kind of choice that genuinely affects the outcome of history. Had the Israelites passed through the land of the Philistines, they would have changed their minds and returned to Egypt, something the Lord didn’t want to happen. So in light of this volitional reality, God circumvented the problem by steering them in another direction.

Reading this reminds me of the brilliance of the Westminster Confession of Faith, particularly the first point on God’s eternal decree. With near poetic flare, the Westminster divines carefully, even masterfully, capture the balance between God’s sovereignty and human freedom. Allow me to quote it:

God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

Here the sovereignty of God is unabashedly extolled. God has ordained “whatsoever” comes to pass. That’s everything. But note the qualification “yet so.” Here the Confession goes on to explain how this foreordination works, especially with regard to humans. Two things are especially highlighted. They want us to know that (1) human freedom isn’t trampled, and (2) the liberty (freedom) or contingency (what if-ness) of means isn’t ignored or repudiated, but rather established. Simply put, God sovereignly works through means.

So let us be clear here. Calvinism upholds both God’s sovereignty and human freedom. Both are true. Now how they exactly go together, well, that’s ultimately mysterious. I like to think of it in terms of a young child trying to understand an algebra problem. The youngster, having just learned his ABCs and 123s, happily affirms both letters and numbers. But when presented with the following problem: X+4=7, he cannot imagine how in the world a letter could be a number. His mind simply cannot wrap itself around the issue. So it is with God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. The answer to the problem is like the letter X. The solution is certainly intelligible, but it isn’t intelligible to the child.

If you’re curious what the confession goes on to say, check it out here: Link. (See Chapter III).

Christus Victor – Sinclair Ferguson

Austin Brown — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 22:49:35 +0000

I’ve been working on a book for about a year and a half now. It’s a biblical theology on the fall of Satan. I reflect on his awful idea and its implications on the unfolding human drama. Naturally, I’ve been scouring the internet for audio lectures covering the subject. To my surprise, little attention has been given to the issue, so far as serious treatments are concerned. Basically, if someone wants to dig deeper, they’re going to have to look to older, printed works. And even these are sparse.

Having said that, I recently stumbled upon a lecture by Sinclair Ferguson entitled Christus Victor. It is a gem of a lecture. I know of no better treatment of the subject, so far as audio is concerned. He jams an incredible amount of careful reflection into the space of one hour’s time.

The only place where I might disagree is his understanding of Matthew 16:23. I am not convinced that Satan was trying to deter Jesus from the cross, knowing that it would crush him. My reasons are various and nuanced, so this isn’t the place to engage the problem. But never mind the quibbling. This is a wonderful lecture, and I heartily recommend it to you.

Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

Must Listen Factor: For students, pastors, and teachers, I would say that it has a high must listen factor.

Length: One hour and some change.

To Download: Click picture. This takes you to Westminster Theological Seminary. You will need to login. Once logged in, simply search for the title and download accordingly.

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P.S. I’ve received news that the people over at Reformed Audio are looking to make Jonathan Edward’s work A History of the Work of Redemption available for free on audio. They are currently looking to raise support for the project. If you’re interested in helping them out, learn more here: Link

Generational Conflict in Ministry

Austin Brown — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:21:48 +0000

D.A. Carson has written a timely article entitled “Generational Conflict in Ministry.” See if the first paragraph catches your attention:

“About five years after the Berlin wall came down and the communist regimes of Central and Eastern Europe had mostly fallen or been transmuted into something rather different, I had the privilege of speaking at a conference for pastors in one of those formerly eastern-bloc countries. The numbers were not large. Most interesting was the way this group of men reflected a natural breakdown. They were clearly divided into two groups. The older group—say, over forty or forty-five—had served their small congregations under the former communist government. Few of them had been allowed to pursue any tertiary education, let alone formal theological training. Most of them had served in considerable poverty, learning to trust God for the food they and their families needed to survive. Some had been incarcerated for the sake of the gospel; all had been harassed. The men in the younger group—say, under forty or so—without exception were university graduates. Several had pursued formal theological education; two or three were beginning their doctorates. They were interested in ideas and in the rapidly evolving cultural developments taking place in their country now that their media were a good deal freer. Quite a number were engaged in university evangelism and wanted to talk about postmodern epistemology.”

[For the rest click Here]

The Ultimate Reason Why There Is Suffering

Austin Brown — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 02:33:49 +0000

It is a raw, emotionally tearing book, and even though it has been years since I last read it, certain sections have stayed with me. I am referring to Elie Wiesel’s book, Night. As a survivor of the Holocaust (I am told that Wiesel is in the photo above), Mr. Wiesel speaks to the absolute evil that destroyed his faith in God. In one of the more chilling moments, he said,

“Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed.

Never shall I forget that smoke.

Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky.

Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever.

Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live.

Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes.

Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned to live as long as God Himself.

Never.”

Suffering is a profoundly challenging subject, and over the course of several years, I’ve shared with you many different lectures exploring the issue. Many of these have fallen short, and I have griped plenty enough about them. Today I want to offer what I think is the best explanation to the problem of evil; an answer, that when you get right down to it, explains why it is so. It doesn’t grapple with the branches on the tree, but it goes right to the very root system itself, the ultimate bedrock, or the place where we can dig no further.

The answer is given in the space of about ten minutes in a message by John Piper. It occurs at about the 30-35 minute mark. The message is called “The Echo and Insufficiency of Hell.” You can also find the entire theme unpacked, but without the crucial quote, in “The Suffering of Christ and the Sovereignty of God.” Both are excellent.

The answer won’t answer all your questions, in fact, it will raise many more. But I do believe that it is the answer.

For the first, go here: Link

For the second, go here: Link

For another excellent message I recently had the pleasure of hearing, check out Dr. Mark Garcia’s, “I Believe in Monsters: God, Horrendous Evils, and the Christian Faith.” It is a carefully crafted gem. http://reformedforum.org/rfs8/