In this sermon, R. C. Sproul points to our calling to love the Lord with all of our mind. To love God with everything but the mind is not to love God fully.
$5 Friday: Suffering, Predestination, & the Sovereignty of God — As always, Ligonier is offering some good books on Friday for just $5.
Theological Primer: The 144,000 — Kevin DeYoung looks at the controversial number that’s so popular among evangelicals and at least one popular cult group.
What Is Congregational Singing, and Why Is It So Important? — Is smaller better? Listen to Mark Dever’s explanation.
The god of William Paul Young — “A god who merely affirms us can’t call us to die, and be born to new life. But the true God can say, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isa. 45:22).”
Is Singleness a Problem – or an Opportunity? — Owen Strachan writes, “Singleness need not be a problem. It can be an opportunity. You may not have chosen to be single; you may not want to be single. I get that. Marriage is a good gift of God. But know this: you will not find a biblical text that encourages you to check out of kingdom work because you’re presently unsatisfied.”
The Hottest Thing at Church Today — Is preaching back? Tim Challies provides a helpful critique and warning to those who may want to add preaching to help in their church growth methods.
Hendrickson Publishing Acquisition of Rose Publishing — “Will Rose eventually be relocated to the east coast? Guess we’ll have to stay tuned.”
Is John Piper Happy? — “The promise of future joy penetrates back into the present and sustains us with joy now in the midst of sorrow.”
Theology Word of the Week: Struggle / Fight
ἀγωνίζομαι impf. ἠγωνιζόμην; fut. ἀγωνίσομαι (Just., D. 65, 2) and ἀγωνιοῦμαι (68, 3); 1 aor. ἠγωνισάμην; pf. ἠγώνισμαι (Eur., Hdt.+).
① of a(n athletic) contest, lit. and fig. engage in a contest πᾶς ὁ ἀγωνιζόμενος 1 Cor 9:25 (AEhrhardt, ZNW 48, ’57, 101–10); cp. 2 Cl 7:1ff.
② gener. to fight, struggle
ⓐ lit., w. weapons (Polyb. 1, 45, 9; Plut., Marcell. 303 [10, 4]; 2 Macc 8:16) ἠγωνίζοντο ἄν, ἵνα μὴ παραδοθῶ J 18:36.
ⓑ fig. of any struggle (περὶ τῆς ἀληθείας Orig., C. Cels. 1, 62, 63) κοπιῶ ἀγωνιζόμενος I labor, striving Col 1:29; cp. 1 Ti 4:10. Of wrestling in prayer (ἀ. δὲ διὰ τῶν πρὸς θεὸν εὐχῶν ὑπὲρ τῶν δικαίως στρατευομένων Orig., C. Cels. 8, 73, 24) ἀ. ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν Col 4:12 (ἀ. ὑπέρ τινος: Diod S 13, 14, 3; SIG 317, 20; 386, 19; 409, 33; Jos., Ant. 13, 193). ἀ. ἀγῶνα (s. ἀγών 2) 1 Ti 6:12; 2 Ti 4:7 (JBarton, Biblica 40, ’59, 878–84). W. inf. foll. (Thu. 8, 89, 4 ἠγωνίζετο εἷς ἕκαστος αὐτὸς πρῶτος προστάτης τοῦ δήμου γενέσθαι; Diod S 31, 19, 8 ὥστε ὁ πατὴρ ἐξίστασθαι τῆς ὅλης ἀρχῆς ἠγωνίζετο τῷ παιδί; PLond 1338.—ἀγ. simply=‘take pains, exert oneself’: Just., D. 38, 2; 65, 2 al.; Alex. Aphr., Fat. 31, II 2 p. 203, 9; Sb 6997, 9 [III b.c.]) ἀγωνίζεσθε εἰσελθεῖν strain every nerve to enter Lk 13:24; cp. 1 Cl 35:4; B 4:11.—DELG s.v. ἄγω. M-M. TW. [1]
- William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 17.
