The key insight of the Enneagram that Christians seem most attracted to—and that, in many people’s opinions sets it apart from other personality and strengths-finding tests—is its diagnosis of people’s sinful tendencies (what some Enneagramites refer to as “passions” and “fixations”). In other words, the Enneagram is supposed to help us identify nine detrimental paths … Continue reading Rather than the Enneagram: Let the Bible Highlight Your Sin Tendencies
Category: Theology
Desire to Sin Decreases When You Walk in the Spirit
As you daily walk in the Holy Spirit, God will fill you with his Spirit in such a way that your desires to sin lessen. Galatians 5:16—set in a chapter that parallels Romans 8 in many ways—says it so well: “Walk in the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.” … Continue reading Desire to Sin Decreases When You Walk in the Spirit
Dennis Prager on the Ten Commandments: A Few Reflections
About four years ago, politically conservative news commentator Dennis Prager (Jewish in his faith) posted 11 short videos about the Ten Commandments. Since then Prager has received an astonishing 2-4 million views on each video. A friend at my church recently asked what I thought of these videos. So, for his sake I listened to … Continue reading Dennis Prager on the Ten Commandments: A Few Reflections
A Liturgy for Fasting and Prayer
I recently participated in A Call to Fast and Pray at Biola. This event was the vision of Peter Brown (a current graduate student at Biola). Fifty or so Biola students gathered to eat dinner together at the start of the fast and to listen to a message by Biola professor Jon Lunde. At evening’s … Continue reading A Liturgy for Fasting and Prayer
Speaking in Tongues in Church
A few years ago I received an email from a former student (now a young pastor) asking some questions about speaking in tongues during corporate worship. Let me excerpt his email and then include my reply (with his permission). ------------------ Dr. Berding, I am emailing you because I have a question about ‘service of worship’ … Continue reading Speaking in Tongues in Church
On Heaven (and Hell): Alan Gomes and Randy Alcorn
Ever since the day God got a hold of my life as a teenager, I have wanted to learn everything I could about heaven. In fact, thinking about the brevity of life in comparison to the length of eternity was what got me on track and motivated me to really follow Christ as a teenager. … Continue reading On Heaven (and Hell): Alan Gomes and Randy Alcorn
The Not-So-Sacred Enneagram: A Book Review of The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher L. Heuertz
Several of my college students in recent days have asked for my opinion about the Enneagram of Personality. It turns out that while I’ve had my nose stuck in my Greek New Testament, the Enneagram has become all the rage. So I decided to hunker down and educate myself about the Enneagram. My initial take … Continue reading The Not-So-Sacred Enneagram: A Book Review of The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher L. Heuertz
Ask God for What? Paul Weighs in on the Content of Petitionary Prayers
I am regularly vexed by how shallow my prayers can become. When I pray for something—and I know that all prayer is not for things—what should I pray for? Only for my family? For someone I know who is ill? For God to help me in the day ahead? For God to resolve whatever problem is currently … Continue reading Ask God for What? Paul Weighs in on the Content of Petitionary Prayers
“But that’s legalism!” What Legalism Is and Isn’t
“But that’s legalism!” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard those words. A Christian friend suggests that it’s unwise to smoke marijuana, and they get blasted with: “But that’s legalism!” A pastor preaches on the importance of generosity, and he receives a terse note with three words on it (or four, if you … Continue reading “But that’s legalism!” What Legalism Is and Isn’t
After the Apostles Died: Six Guest Blogs and a Podcast about The Apostolic Fathers
Have you ever wondered what happened just after the period of the apostles? This past summer I guest-blogged about the Apostolic Fathers six times for Credo Magazine and recorded a podcast about the same for Think Biblically. Here are the links in case you’d like to listen and read: Podcast at Think Biblically: Learning from … Continue reading After the Apostles Died: Six Guest Blogs and a Podcast about The Apostolic Fathers
Kindle Afresh 