Earlier this year our family had the joy of a meal at the home of 9 male students, one of whom is my younger brother. These guys are training to be pastors, and they’re practicing hospitality. It was a blessing.

Tomorrow is the the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, I suggest you give yourself a present for Calvin’s birthday: Robert W. Godfrey’s John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor.

For a long time I’ve looked for a Calvin biography that would stand with Bainton’s biography of Luther, Here I Stand, and I’m hopeful that Godfrey’s book on Calvin might rise to that stature.

Praise God for the reformation, and praise God for those who led it. May the word they preached prosper in our mouths as it did in theirs.

From Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead:

“In eternity this world will be Troy, I believe, and all that has passed here will be the epic of the universe, the ballad they sing in the streets.”

Sermon audio from this morning available here: Revelation 3:14-22, I Will Spit You Out of My Mouth

SBTS has a new news blog, and there you can find an interview with Greg Wills on his history of the school, as well as a two part interview with Tom Nettles on his new biography of James P. Boyce.

There’s also a post on the two collections of the writings of Boyce and Many, respectively, the one edited by Nettles the other by Michael Haykin and others.

Enjoy!

HT: Patrick Schreiner

I’m fans of both Justin Taylor and Russell D. Moore, and this is really cool. These guys must be on Macs or something. They have recorded a conversation on Dr. Moore’s new book Adopted for Life.

Aside from the coolness factor of this video, I can’t speak highly enough of this remarkable book.

Theological precision. A compelling story. Emotional impact. You don’t find all that in the same place very often, but it’s in this book.

Dr. Moore is a uniquely gifted communicator. His theology is as good as his ability to tell a story. It’s as fun to read him as it is to listen to him preach.

Some dear friends of mine said, “This is a great book to read once you’re too old to adopt children!” (paraphrase). In other words, this is a compelling and convicting book. It could change your life. Read at your own risk!

It’s out: Gregory A. Wills, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1859-2009

It is my understanding that today is its first day being sold at the Lifeway Store on the SBTS campus.

I was browsing the book and was surprised to see Scott Hafemann’s name. I won’t type up the whole story surrounding his name, but it is absolutely fascinating. Riveting. What has happened at this school is a work of God. It’s a miracle that I teach here. Praise the Lord!

Between this book on the history of Southern, Nettles’ biography of Boyce, and several other things that have come out, it’s quite a year for Baptist history.

This past Sunday at Kenwood Baptist Church my fellow elder Josh Philpot brought a strong word from 1 Kings 18.

Get it here: 1 Kings 18:20-40, If the Lord is God, Follow Him

As the annual meeting of the SBC draws nigh, Pastor Eric Schumacher has a timely post on how cooperation fits in biblical theology.

Check it out.

Sermon audio from yesterday available here:  Revelation 3:7–13, An Open Door No One Can Shut

Keep the word of Jesus and you will be kept.