A Review of Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, Part 1
Brad Doskocil Chairman GES Board I. INTRODUCTION Richard J. Foster has written numerous books and is founder of Renovaré, a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to promoting spiritual formation through the use of spiritual disciplines. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth1 was first published in 1978 with subsequent versions published in 1988, 1989, and […]
Interpreting the Bible and the Sciences
By Brad Doskocil When we study the Bible there can be a propensity to interpret it, and to judge it, in light of our understanding of the sciences. Often our understanding of physics, biology, history, or archaeology, is given greater weight as evidence than what the Bible reports. This diminishes the divine authorship and inspiration […]
Why Holding A Minority View Isn’t Necessarily Bad
Today, the society we live in is bombarded with polling data as if to prove that the majority is always right. Often, the polling data in elections doesn’t accurately predict the outcome. The polling data can be wrong! The majority of the pollsters can be wrong! Even in technical areas like science or medicine, the […]
The Contemporary Confusion Concerning Faith
Define Your Terms A friend of mine is a pastor at a large church in Southern California. He was given the task of preaching a sermon on the meaning of faith. As he was gathering his thoughts about how to approach this sermon, he called me and asked to meet to discuss his task. At […]
The Battlefield
Throughout history there have been many wars and many different battlefields. For example, World War II was fought across forests, deserts, oceans, and jungles. While the battlefields were different, the enemy was the same. Over the course of the church’s history there have been many different contested issues (battlefields). Today, there is an attack upon […]
Is Our Understanding of Baptism All Wet?
Brad Doskocil Board Member Grace Evangelical Society Long Beach, CA I. INTRODUCTION Recently, Bob Wilkin wrote a book that looked at how many words in the Bible are misunderstood.1 Perhaps another Bible word that is often misunderstood is baptism and its cognates: baptize and baptist. We will look at the use and meaning of this […]
Don’t Shoot the Messenger!
Our Works Will Be Evaluated One of the distinctions of Free Grace theology is the teaching about the believer’s judgment for rewards. All Christians will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Jesus will evaluate every Christian’s service record, “whether good or bad” and we will receive payment for services rendered in this life (2 […]
In Christ: Position & Identity Unparalleled, Considered Exegetically: Colossians 2:3-3:4
In Christ: Position & Identity Unparalleled, Considered Exegetically: Colossians 2:3-3:4. By Ron Merryman. Orland, Florida: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2007. 185 pp. Hardcover, Finally someone has written a book on the church age believer’s position and identity in Christ! While not very long (only 30 pages; 43 pages including the appendices) it packs a punch. I […]
Ariel’s Bible Commentary: The Messianic Jewish Epistles – Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude Peter, Jude: Exposition from a Messianic Jewish Perspective
Ariel’s Bible Commentary: The Messianic Jewish Epistles – Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude Peter, Jude: Exposition from a Messianic Jewish Perspective by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Th.M., Ph.D. Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2005. 477 pp. Hardback. $35.00. GES readers will generally appreciate this commentary. Arnold is in the free grace camp, although there are […]