Don’t Overlook the Ascension
I’ve always had difficulty in contemplating the theological implications of the ascension of Christ, much less its ecclesial implications–until I read this recently from Chris Ganski: Ascension means the church is the kind of institution that is simultaneously drawn upward in worship and pushed outward in mission. These are not opposing movements. Unfortunately, too many churches today see it that way. Ascension forbids...
What Numbers Can and Can’t Tell You
When the year draws to a close, numbers become extremely important. This is true particularly as companies, organizations, and households evaluate their budgets. “How have we done?” they wonder. The right figures can help answer this question. Similarly, sometimes churches wonder, “How are we doing?” Pastors especially try to discern what is happening in their congregations. Whether it is pride or a sincere concern driving their...
Robert Picirilli’s ‘Discipleship’: The Expression of Saving Faith: A Review Essay
Discipleship is a term used quite often in the Christian community. Glance at a Christian publisher’s catalog and you’ll encounter books, small group studies, and countless other resources on the subject. Like any biblical term, we need reliable instruction to make sure we understand it. Free Will Baptists have few teachers more reliable than Dr. Robert Picirilli, long-time author, professor, and denominational leader. In Picirilli’s...
Robert Picirilli on ‘Discipleship’: An Interview
Jackson Watts (“JW”): Dr. Picirilli, you’ve written and spoken extensively in the last decade or so on topics like free will, the text of Scripture, and even what the Bible says about the pastor. Why write a book on discipleship now? Robert Picirilli (“RP”): Actually, the book isn’t about “discipleship” in one sense. That is, it isn’t about how to be a disciple or how to disciple others. Instead, it’s about the fact that one can’t...
ETS 2013: Inerrancy in Perspective
The last 30 years have witnessed countless publications on the doctrine of Scripture. While each varies in length, perspective, and overall usefulness, they all directly or indirectly relate to a critical tenet of evangelical faith: the inerrancy of Scripture. In the spirit of this topic, “Evangelicalism, Inerrancy, and the Evangelical Theological Society: Retrospect and Prospect” was the theme for the annual meeting of the...
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