Read Online Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church A Guide for Ministry 9Marks Michael Lawrence Thomas R Schreiner 9781433515088 Books

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Capitol Hill Baptist Church associate pastor Michael Lawrence contributes to the IXMarks series as he centers on the practical importance of biblical theology to ministry. He begins with an examination of a pastor's tools of the trade exegesis and biblical and systematic theology. The book distinguishes between the power of narrative in biblical theology and the power of application in systematic theology, but also emphasizes the importance of their collaboration in ministry.

Having laid the foundation for pastoral ministry, Lawrence uses the three tools to build a biblical theology, telling the entire story of the Bible from five different angles. He puts biblical theology to work in four areas counseling, missions, caring for the poor, and church/state relations. Rich in application and practical insight, this book will equip pastors and church leaders to think, preach, and do ministry through the framework of biblical theology.

Read Online Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church A Guide for Ministry 9Marks Michael Lawrence Thomas R Schreiner 9781433515088 Books

"Great book for pastors and lay leaders, would recommend to use as a springboard into deeper content."

Product details Series 9Marks Paperback 240 pages Publisher Crossway (April 1, 2010) Language English ISBN-10 1433515083

Tags : Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church A Guide for Ministry (9Marks) [Michael Lawrence, Thomas R. Schreiner] on . Capitol Hill Baptist Church associate pastor Michael Lawrence contributes to the IXMarks series as he centers on the practical importance of biblical theology to ministry. He begins with an examination of a pastor's tools of the trade exegesis and biblical and systematic theology. The book distinguishes between the power of narrative in biblical theology and the power of application in systematic theology,Michael Lawrence, Thomas R. Schreiner,Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church A Guide for Ministry (9Marks),Crossway,1433515083,Pastoral theology,Pastoral theology.,Theology - Methodology,Theology;Methodology.,Christian Ministry - Pastoral Resources,Christian Theology - General,Christian ministry pastoral activity,Methodology,Non-Fiction,RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources,RELIGIOUS,Religion,Religion - Ministry Pastoral Resources,Religion/Christian Theology - General,Religion/Ethics,Theology

Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church A Guide for Ministry 9Marks Michael Lawrence Thomas R Schreiner 9781433515088 Books Reviews :

Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church A Guide for Ministry 9Marks Michael Lawrence Thomas R Schreiner 9781433515088 Books Reviews

• What is biblical theology and why is it important to the local church? It's easy to understand why theology in general is important since we need to know what we believe and apply certain biblical ideas to contemporary living. But when we talk about the importance of theology, I think we usually have in mind systematic theology (i.e., what does the Bible as a whole say about X?). Michael Lawrence makes the case for biblical theology; not only its importance, but how it is a necessary complement to systematic theology, as well as the tools biblical theology provides for us to read and apply scripture.
  
  The great strength of Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church (BTLC) lies in translating a potentially complicated, sprawling topic into digestible paragraphs that uphold the nuances in this discursive discipline. A basic example is how he defines "biblical theology". Lawrence gives us three definitions from different authors
  
  "Biblical Theology is the branch of Exegetical Theology which deals with the process of the self-revelation of God deposited in the Bible" - Geerhardus Vos (p. 88)
  
  "...biblical theology...seeks to uncover and articulate the unity of all the biblical texts taken together, resorting primarily to the categories of those texts themselves." - D. A. Carson (p. 88)
  
  "[Biblical theology] contends that to read the Bible as unified Scripture is not just one interpretive option among others, but that which best corresponds to the nature of the text itself, given its divine reveltion. As such, [biblical theology[, as a discipline, not only provides the basis for understanding how texts in one part of Scripture relate to all other texts, but it also serves as the basis and underpinning for all theologizing...." - Steve Wellum (p. 89)
  
  After walking through these different definitions with their own emphases, Lawrence cuts through the attendant frills and offers his own excruciatingly simple definition "Biblical theology is the attempt to tell the whole story of the whole Bible as Christian Scripture. It's a story, therefore, that has an authoritative and normative claim on our lives, because it's the story of God's glory in salvation through judgment" (p. 89). The last phrase should be familiar to the Reformed crowd since Lawrence borrows it from Jim Hamilton's famous thesis and now eponymous book.
  
  Lawrence structures BTLC as a handbook for pastors (and accessible to lay members) to do biblical theology themselves. Thus he starts the book not by actually doing biblical theology, but explaining the tools. Lawrence does a great job in the book's logical structure. He moves from exegetical theology to biblical theology and finally systematic theology in light of biblical theology, which mirrors the way we should reason through any Scriptural text (i.e., exegesis → biblical theology → systematic theology).
  
  This groundwork, that is teaching us how to fish, is followed by examples of Lawrence tracing the biblical theology of five themes through Scripture. These are creation, fall, love, sacrifice, and promise. Finally, BTLC concludes with concrete case studies as applied to preaching certain texts and how local churches should think through contemporary issues such as missions, social justice, and counseling.
  
  The heftiest part of BTLC is the tools of biblical theology. Lawrence walks readers through how Scripture is structured around covenants, epochs, and canon, each engaging a larger historical context. Understanding where a text is situated--within which covenant, which epoch, and where in the canon--is a necessary antidote to irresponsible proof-texting. In addition, a second set of tools include prophecy, typology, and continuity. Lawrence explains that prophecy may have multiple horizons of fulfillment (Isaiah being a perfect example). He describes what is the proper use of typology and how to guard against seeing types where there isn't one. And he helps readers understand that there is continuity between the covenants, but also discontinuity (sometime promises are fulfilled by discontinuity).
  
  I personally wish I read this book before I dug into meatier works like Geerhardus Vos's Biblical Theology and Michael Horton's Introduction to Covenant Theology. Don't make the same mistake. If you're new to biblical theology but are convinced of its necessity (read BTLC's introduction to be convinced), pick up BTLC as an onramp to the highway. I would follow-up BTLC with either Graeme Goldsworthy's According to Plan or Vaughan Robert's God's Big Picture.
  
  I'll conclude this review with Lawrence's own final sentences "Biblical theology is useful theology. Biblical theology is theology at work. So pick up your Bible, and let's get to work" (p. 217).
  
  [This review was originally published on Schaeffer's Ghost [...]
• Michael Lawrence earned a M.Div. degree at Gordon-Conwell a PhD from Cambridge University. He served as Associate Pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC and currently serves as Senior Pastor at Hinson Baptist Church in Portland, OR. This is Lawrence’s third book.
  
  With biblical theology we posses what we need for effective ministry in the churches and in our lives. Outside of biblical theology we have a Bible full of moral tales and irrelevant history. Scripture is sufficient. Too many of our modern churches teach that the Old Testament is simply moral examples and the New Testament tells us how to get right with God. The Bible, however, is not a “how to” book or a book where we seek “the answers.” Instead it is an outline of how God, throughout history and in the future, will bring great glory to himself. It explains our purpose helps and us understand the gift we have been given. Theology places us in the center of the biblical narrative.
  
  The author explains that our theology determines the shape and character of our ministry. Theology is how we move from the text of Scripture to how we should live our lives today. Exegesis is the disciplined attempt to pull from a text the author’s original intent, rather than our own personal preferences, experiences or opinions.
  
  This is an easy to understand book on Biblical and Systematic Theology and how they apply to our churches and the average believer. The author helps us to understand that theology transforms the Bible from a group of unrelated Sunday school tales into an intricately woven series of related narratives that communicate God’s truth. The author helps the reader to apply God’s reality to our modern preaching and teaching.
  
  As modern American culture, and even contemporary evangelical culture, has essentially deserted its Christian roots, it has become oblivious to the historic presentation of the gospel. Lawrence points out the pestilence that has become the modern, watered-down, feel-good, theology of the Western church. The author helps us see that theology has an important place in the life of every disciple of Christ.
• This is must read for every pastor. The author covers well known territory for most preachers, but the way he ties together all the ideas is rich. He gives the working pastor a biblical theology that is not too technical but deep enough to be useful. The author traces the logical flow of sermon preparation from exegesis to biblical theology to systematic theology to sermon construction, but not in a clumsy or predictable way. The book is not really about sermon prep but looking at the ministry of the word through the lens of biblical theology. Chapter 11, "Preaching and Teaching (Case Studies)" and the section, "A Shepherd's Taxonomy" is worth the price of the book. I have read it multiple time mediating on specific sermons. There are great insights scattered throughout the book. I highly recommend it!
• This is one of those books I label as being one of the milestones responsible for my understanding of how to read and to interpret scripture. Highly recommend this for those doing expository preaching or teaching. or wanting to understand how one prepares for teaching or preacing.
• It contains the most basic, everyone needs to know this about biblical theology. I liked how every chapter was so clear. Everyone can read this.
• Started with the kindle edition as I didn’t know how I’d like it. Within the first men’s group I realized I needed to get the hard-copy. Worth it.
• As a professor, I love the accurate and concise format. As a minister, I appreciate the pastoral concern exhibited from years of experience. Wonderful and necessary book for understanding the beautiful discipline of biblical theology!
• Great book for pastors and lay leaders, would recommend to use as a springboard into deeper content.