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RTS and the Current State of Theological Education

Some of you may have seen this important article over at The Gospel Coalition about the decline and relocation of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) by Collin Hansen, who is a graduate of the school. Reformed Theological Seminary has been friends with TEDS for many years. Over the years, a number of our faculty have done their studies there before coming to RTS, and a number of our graduates have gone on to do doctoral work there. We wish TEDS all the best in this new stage of their institutional life. The last twenty years have been tough for accredited graduate theological education…

What Is the Kingdom of God Like?

The Lord's Day Morning October 10, 2010 Luke 13:18-21 “What Is the Kingdom of God Like?” Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III Amen. If you have your Bibles, I'd invite you to turn with me to Luke, chapter 13 as we continue our way through the gospel together. In this passage Jesus tells two parables, two short stories describing what the kingdom of God is like. We should be aware of a few things. First of all ‘Kingdom of God’ is a favorite theme in Luke's gospel. This theme is found in all of the gospels. Different terms are used. ‘Kingdom of Heaven’, typically Matthew will use that. That's a Hebrew idiom where you don't throw around the word God lightly so sometimes you substitute terms for God though you’re referring to God, so ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ instead of…

Suspended Judgment and a Reason for Judgment

The Lord's Day Morning October 3, 2010 Luke 13:6-17 “Suspended Judgment and a Reason for Judgment” Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III If you have your Bibles I'd invite you to turn with me to Luke chapter 13 as we continue our way through the gospel of Luke. And as you turn to Luke 12:6-17, which is the passage we're going to give close attention to today, allow your eyes to scan back to the first five verses of the chapter and even back into the verses at the end of chapter 12, because you’ll remember at the end of chapter 12 Jesus says to those that are listening to Him that they did not understand the times. And He says this as a spiritual indictment of them. They’re really good at predicting the weather, but they really can't tell the nose from their face when it came to…

The Message of Repentance Clothed in Tragedies

The Lord's Day Morning September 26, 2010 Luke 13:1-5 “The Message of Repentance Clothed in Tragedies” Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III O come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. So let us worship Him! If you have your Bibles I'd invite you to turn with me to Luke chapter 13, and as you turn to Luke 13:1-5, you may want to allow yourself to peek back to the final verses of Luke 12 because they will help you understand the very first words that are recorded by Luke in Luke 13:1 where he says, “There were some present at that very time.” He's making not only a temporal linkage between what Jesus is going to say in Luke 13:1 to what He's just said in Luke 12, but…

Jesus: The Dividing Line

The Lord's Day Morning September 19, 2010 Luke 12:49-59 “Jesus: The Dividing Line” Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III If you have your Bibles, I'd invite you to turn with me to Luke chapter 12. We’ll be looking at verse 49 to the end of the chapter. As you look through this passage, let me give you a few clues along the way to help you follow the train of argument. There are at least three parts to the passage we're going to look at today. First, in verses 49 and 50, and especially in…

Be Ready

The Lord's Day Morning September 12, 2010 Luke 12:35-48 “Be Ready” Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III If you have your Bibles I'd invite you to turn with me to the gospel of Luke, to the twelfth chapter. We’re working our way through this gospel together. The last two Lord's Days we have looked at sections of Luke chapter 12 that dealt with the overarching subject of covetousness, a pervasive and perennial temptation and sin and we have seen Jesus address that particular temptation in a…

The Cure for Covetousness

The Lord's Day Morning September 5, 2010 Luke 12:22-34 “The Cure for Covetousness” Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III As we continue to prepare for worship, I want you to take your bulletins in hand if you would. Notice in the middle of the order of service this morning, you will be singing with the choir during the offertory. At that time you’ll sing John Rutter's arrangement of the wonderful hymn, “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation.” And how many times do you get to sing parts of the…

Life Isn’t Stuff (so don’t worship Stuff)

The Lord's Day Morning August 29, 2010 Luke 12:13-21 “Life Isn't Stuff (so don't worship Stuff)” Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III If then you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things which are above, not on things which are on the earth, for you have died and your life is hid with Christ in God. Let us worship Him. Lord our God, we come into Your presence. We come in the name of our Savior, the…

What Our Tongues Tell

The Lord's Day Morning August 15, 2010 Luke 12:8-12 “What Our Tongues Tell” Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III If you have your Bibles I'd invite you to turn with me to Luke chapter 12 as we continue our way through Luke's gospel. We’ll be looking at verses 8 to 12. Let me outline the passage for you in three parts. First, in verses 8 and 9 you will see Jesus make it very clear to His disciples that He Himself is the nub of the issue. He is the hinge point of judgment.…

No Fear

The Lord's Day Morning August 8, 2010 “No Fear” Luke 12:4-7 Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III God is our refuge and strength, our very present help in time of trouble, therefore we will not fear though the earth should change and the mountains slip into the sea. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our God. Let us worship Him! Lord, You are great and greatly to be praised and You have drawn us this day by Your grace to this place under Your Word that we might give to You the glory due…