The last things: Paul Helm talks to Peter Hastie

Professor Paul Helm visited Sydney recently to give some lectures at the Presbyterian Theological Centre as well as at conference at Moore College on the theology of John Calvin to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Calvin’s birth. Professor Helm is a noted international scholar and author in the fields of philosophy and theology.

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Hell part 3: Theological reflections on hell

This is the third part of a series on hell. (Read parts 1, 2 [which incorporates 1] and 4.)

The Christian doctrine of hell may be summarized as a real place ruled by God where all who are found outside of Christ at death or at his return experience the eternal conscious pain of punishment, banishment and destruction. It is impossible to write such a frank and sober statement without a number of theological and pastoral issues coming to the fore. The aim of this article is to begin to respond to two of the main theological objections.

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Brave new world: Scott Rae talks to Peter Hastie

Recently, Peter Hastie spoke with Dr Scott Rae, Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at Talbot Theological Seminary, Biola University, Los Angeles, on the subject of bioethics. Dr Rae holds an MA and PhD in Social Ethics from the University of Southern California, and a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary. His major interest is in how Scripture applies to current social issues. He specializes in the subjects of medical and bioethics and business ethics.

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The life and lessons of J Gresham Machen: Carl Trueman talks to Peter Hastie

Dr Carl Trueman is Dean of the Faculty at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, and teaches as a professor of historical theology and church history. He is married to Catriona, who is originally from the island of Lewis, off the west coast of Scotland. They have two sons, John and Peter, aged 11 and 13. Carl was brought up in a very supportive but non-religious home, and was converted to Christ at a Billy Graham rally at the age of 17.

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Woman to woman: Further resources

The following are notes meant to accompany Jean Williams’s article on women and discipleship in Briefing #378.

  • Three books written to help women understand and apply Titus 2:3-5 are Carolyn Mahaney’s Feminine Appeal (Crossway, Wheaton, 2004), Susan Hunt’s Spiritual Mothering (Crossway, Wheaton, 1992) and Martha Peace’s Becoming a Titus 2 Woman (Focus, Fearn, 1997). These books have their flaws, but they contain much helpful advice about Titus 2 ministry and the practical implications of biblical womanhood.

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The challenge of culture: Bruce Winter talks to Peter Hastie

Dr Bruce Winter is the Principal of Queensland Theological College at the University of Queensland in St Lucia, Brisbane. He has held this position since 2006 when he left Tyndale House, Cambridge, where he had served as Warden since 1987 and as Director of the Institute for Early Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World.

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Straight talk on John Calvin: Paul Helm talks to Peter Hastie

Professor Paul Helm held the JI Packer Chair in Theology and Philosophy at Regent College, Vancouver, Canada from 2001-2004. Before that, Professor Helm was Professor of the History and Philosophy of Religion at King’s College in the University of London. Before joining King’s College in 1993, he was Reader in Philosophy at the University of Liverpool. Educated in Worcester College, Oxford, Professor Helm has written many articles and books, mainly focusing on the philosophy of religion and Christian doctrine in the Reformed tradition. He is married and has five children. Among his many books are The Providence of God, Eternal God, Faith with Reason, Faith and Understanding, Calvin and the Calvinists, The Beginnings, The Callings, The Last Things and his most recent major work, John Calvin’s Ideas (Oxford University Press 2004). Peter Hastie spoke to Professor Helm in Vancouver.

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Christians and culture: An interview with Michael Horton

The Rev Michael Horton (PhD) is a professor of historical theology and apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, California. Dr Horton did his doctoral research under Alister McGrath at Oxford University on the Puritan, Thomas Goodwin. He has also done post-doctoral research at Yale University.

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The duties of parents (Part 2)

Read Part 1.

7. Train them to habits of diligence and regularity about public means of grace

Tell them of the duty and privilege of going to the house of God and joining in the prayers of the congregation. Tell them that wherever the Lord’s people are gathered together, there the Lord Jesus is present in an especial manner, and that those who absent themselves must expect, like the Apostle Thomas, to miss a blessing. Tell them of the importance of hearing the Word preached, and that it is God’s ordinance for converting, sanctifying and building up the souls of men. Tell them how the Apostle Paul enjoins us not “to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is” (Heb 10:25), but to exhort one another, to stir one another up to it, and so much the more as we see the day approaching.

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