Posts by Todd Pruitt

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Some Thoughts on the Kingdom of God

Todd Pruitt
Oct 13, 2007
I have been soaking up Bruce Waltke’s magnum opus A Theology of the Old Testament. Waltke, one of the world’s foremost Hebrew and Old Testament scholars has given the church a great resource in this, his latest book. It is a wonderful addition to the work of biblical theology which is sorely needed...

Watcher's Lamp: The New Age of Purpose Driven

Todd Pruitt
Oct 10, 2007
Disturbing ( The New Age of Purpose Driven ). I read Smith's book about a year ago. He makes some very compelling arguments. Rick Warren is a brother in Christ. But I must admit "The Purpose Driven Life" has some very deep flaws. Warren's use, rather frequent misuse of Scripture is very troubling.

The Jesus Gospel

Todd Pruitt
Oct 10, 2007
Liam Goligher is a pastor in the U.K. and a very able writer. His book “The Jesus Gospel” is an effective tour through the Scriptures with focus on how the Gospel functions as a central interpretive motif. Helpfully, Goligher begins his book with an exposition of John 17 – Jesus’ high priestly...

Joel Osteen's New Book

Todd Pruitt
Oct 10, 2007
Scott Hill over at Fide-O is posting some thoughts on Joel Osteen's New book ( "Become A Better You" Review Part 1#links ).

The State of the Pulpit in America Today

Todd Pruitt
Oct 10, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/BU-J4q6uphc John Piper on why expository preaching that declares doctrinal certainties is so important. This is why I preach.

What Is Orthodoxy?

Todd Pruitt
Oct 9, 2007
Good stuff from Mark Dever posted by Justin Taylor ( What Is Orthodoxy? ).

More Resources

Todd Pruitt
Oct 9, 2007
Don't miss the new resources I have been adding to the blog. You will find new blogsites that I enjoy as well as some excellent audio resources in both the "Bible and Theology" and "Audio" sections.

God Saves Sinners

Todd Pruitt
Oct 8, 2007
More good stuff from John Ensor in “The Great Work of the Gospel”: “Both the Pharisees and Jesus use the word “sinner,” but in slightly different ways. The use in either case is jarring to the modern ear, so highly trained are we never to think negatively of ourselves. Hopefully we are past that...

99 Balloons

Todd Pruitt
Oct 7, 2007
I found this video posted over at "Between Two Worlds" ( 99 Balloons ). Take my word for it - watch this.

My Naked Pastor

Todd Pruitt
Oct 6, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/bfV03VjGVas I wonder why the church has become so cosumer driven? Could pastors have anything to do with it?

Resources for Gospel-Centered Living

Todd Pruitt
Oct 5, 2007
Timmy Brister has posted a great list of Gospel-centered resources ( Resources for Gospel-Centered Living ). Check it out.

Drive-through church

Todd Pruitt
Oct 5, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/n4QFKS4LzS4 This would be funny if it weren't so true. To be honest, this is not much of an exageration at all. I have had some of these very same things said to me.

John Piper's God Exalting Grammar

Todd Pruitt
Oct 4, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/eXl9oiCa-dE I found this posted at Fide-O. Enjoy!

Horton on 60 Minutes re: Osteen

Todd Pruitt
Oct 4, 2007
Theologian Michael Horton will appear on the October 14th edition of "60 Minutes" to discuss the teachings and influence of Joel Osteen. Check out this link at "Between Two Worlds" ( Osteen ).

Jeremiah's Burden

Todd Pruitt
Oct 3, 2007
“If I say I will put Him out of my mind, I will not speak in His name any more, then it is like a burning fire in my heart, imprisoned within my body. I weary myself from holding on to it, and I cannot do so.” - Jeremiah 20:9 In his book God’s Prophet, God’s Servant John Goldingay, one of the world...

David Brainerd: Free Audio

Todd Pruitt
Oct 3, 2007
Between Two Worlds: Life of David Brainerd: Free Audio

The Gospel Gap (cont.)

Todd Pruitt
Oct 3, 2007
After identifying some of the external replacements that we often use to fill the place that the Gospel ought to occupy Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp point out “Five Gospel Perspectives” that give shape to the rest of their book How People Change . 1. The Extent and Gravity of our Sin “It has been...

Dawkins is a Philosophical Lightweight

Todd Pruitt
Oct 3, 2007
There is a link to a great review of Richard Dawkins' book "The God Delusion" ( Dawkins ) posted on One-Way Road . Many of you have friends that have read the book. Sadly, skeptics and believers alike have been influenced by his spurious reasoning. Arm yourself with the truth.

Mark Driscoll: Like a Fundamentalist, Only Angrier and Funnier

Todd Pruitt
Oct 3, 2007
Good observations on Mark Driscoll posted on Paleoevangelical( Funnier ). Be sure to check out the article from "Christianity Today."

The Gospel Gap

Todd Pruitt
Oct 2, 2007
One of the books I’ve been reading lately is “How People Change” by Paul Tripp and Timothy Lane. Tripp and Lane are faculty members at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation in Glenside, PA. There is a link to the CCEF website on this blog. They are also both lecturers in practical...

The Evangelical Sacrament

Todd Pruitt
Oct 1, 2007
The following is from an article by Fred Zaspel on the invitation system. While almost unheard of before the 19th century, the "altar call" has become a fixture in Baptist, Weslayan, Pentecostal, and Nazarene traditions. In fact, many feel as if they have not been to church unless there was an...

Gospel Pedlar

Todd Pruitt
Oct 1, 2007
I have a new link in the "Bible and Theology" section of this blog. It is called "Gospel Pedlar" and is worth checking out. It links to a host of excellent articles on all manner of theological topics. Enjoy.

In Christ Alone

Todd Pruitt
Oct 1, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/7UU6NYxwjP8

Pitting Evangelism Against Discipleship

Todd Pruitt
Sep 28, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/jmusDcfipRA This is a pretty good example of spiritual abuse from the pastor of one of the nations newest mega-churches. Ironically, this "what have you done for Jesus lately" preaching simply replaces one type of Pharisee with another. It is a gospel-less message.

Does this man speak for Roman Catholics?

Todd Pruitt
Sep 28, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/XVfwlzf-DAE

The Gospel-Driven Church

Todd Pruitt
Sep 27, 2007
In September I began preaching a series of messages called “The Gospel-Driven Church.” It is part of an emphasis that I hope will be refreshing and challenging for Metro East. Much of it is the fruit of what the Lord was doing in my heart during the strategic ministry planning process. Along with...

God is a Judge

Todd Pruitt
Sep 26, 2007
Brian McLaren, the elder statesman of the emergent church movement, has written in this book “A Generous Orthodoxy” that God as judge was perhaps a useful metaphor in some long past generation but today men and women need to construct more helpful and relevant metaphors for God. There is so much...

Thoughts on Christian Leadership

Todd Pruitt
Sep 24, 2007
I have little patience with many of the leadership conferences and seminars offered by big, huge, really cool, awesome churches and other Christian ministries. Most of them sound something like, “How to be a super-duper impressively awesome leader.” The largest such event that is hosted by Willow...

Good Soldier by Mark Driscoll

Todd Pruitt
Sep 22, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/E8aZXeFRSBA Driscoll can be a bit irreverant at times but for a church that is losing its MEN, this is an incredibly important message.

Self esteem, emotion and the real gospel

Todd Pruitt
Sep 22, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/q7EYbFYmxcw This is why I like Mark Driscoll...

Ashamed of the Gospel

Todd Pruitt
Sep 21, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/MfwYU2pmWYQ Joel Osteen gets nervous.

"God is a Growth Business"

Todd Pruitt
Sep 21, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/lGmLFSPkyhs The God of Joel Osteen and T.D. Jakes

The continuing influence of Charles Finney

Todd Pruitt
Sep 21, 2007
In his most recent article for Modern Reformation Michael Horton asks the question, “Does Justification Still Matter?” He observes and laments the fact that the contemporary church, even many of those with roots in the Protestant Reformation, have either neglected or denied the central doctrine of...

The Mandate to Forgive

Todd Pruitt
Sep 20, 2007
As I was re-reading chapter nine in Ensor’s book this morning I was quite convicted. How good and kind are the providences of God! “Jesus was betrayed by a disciple, falsely accused by those he came to serve, denied justice in the courts, abandoned by his friends, humiliated, beaten, and hammered...

Wisdom from Dead Guys

Todd Pruitt
Sep 19, 2007
I don’t much like testing. I suppose none of us do. But since I am the worst sinner that I know I am especially frail when it comes to the testing of my faith. Things that would have been considered mere flesh wounds to my faithful forebears threaten to derail me. I, like so many in my generation,...

I Bible

Todd Pruitt
Sep 19, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/c8wRIcv6esY Jason over at FideO posted this yesterday. I thought it was pretty funny.

Trying not to be cynical

Todd Pruitt
Sep 18, 2007
The call to minister is a call to suffer. If you minister full-time then suffering will be your daily companion. I don’t expect everyone to fully understand this. I suspect that some will think I am being pessimistic. But in my life as a pastor, pain never goes away. Even when it is not acute it is...

MacArthur and Pagitt on Yoga

Todd Pruitt
Sep 18, 2007
http://youtube.com/v/xJfaGrpZVTA This is an interesting exchange between John MacArthur and Doug Pagitt, a leader in the emerging church, on the subject of Yoga. Not only does Pagitt take Scripture WAY out of context but his ideas on what makes Christians "whole" are quite troubling.

The Great Work Desired

Todd Pruitt
Sep 17, 2007
If you do not attend Metro East Baptist I would encourage you to read John Ensor’s book The Great Work of the Gospel with us. If you are reading along I trust that you have made your way to the second chapter. Our joy in the Gospel is directly proportional to our understanding of sin. In other...

Forgiven!

Todd Pruitt
Sep 17, 2007
Worthy thoughts from the venerable 19th century Anglican - J.C. Ryle. “I find no balm for a sore conscience, and a troubled heart, like the sight of Jesus dying for me on the accursed tree. There I see that a full payment has been made for all my enormous debts. The curse of that law which I have...

Why the Gospel must be central

Todd Pruitt
Sep 12, 2007
This is a great article by Mark Lauterbach ( Gospel must be central ).

Assuming the Gospel

Todd Pruitt
Sep 11, 2007
I find that in the contemporary church the Gospel is often assumed. That is, in the church today there tends to be a bit of a “ho-hum” attitude toward the most important message in the universe. It is a mentality that says, “Well of course we believe the Gospel. Can’t we get on to more pressing...

Spiritual Warfare 101

Todd Pruitt
Sep 10, 2007
Justin Taylor at "Between Two Worlds" posted an excellent article ( Spiritual Warfare 101 ) on spiritual warfare. Since I recently preached on Jesus' encounter with the Gerasene demoniac (Luke 8:26-39) I thought it would be helpful to pass this along.

The Great Work of the Gospel

Todd Pruitt
Sep 10, 2007
As a part of the new sermon series, The Gospel-Driven Church, and in harmony with the report from the Strategic Ministry Planning Team we will be reading John Ensor’s book “The Great Work of the Gospel.” I am happy that so many of you who are a part of the Metro East family will be participating in...

The Gathering

Todd Pruitt
Sep 10, 2007
I was so blessed by our combined worship services on Sunday! It was great to see the saints from all three morning worship services together in one gathering. Many thanks to the office staff, the hospitality team, the ushers, the musicians, and all the others who worked hard to ensure that our time...

Dr. James Kennedy Memorial

Todd Pruitt
Sep 10, 2007
The evangelical world lost a giant last week. He will be missed by all those who were touched by his thoughtful, tireless, and courageous commitment to the truth. Check out this memorial site ( Dr. James Kennedy Memorial ).

Olsen, Piper, tragedy and theodicy

Todd Pruitt
Sep 10, 2007
Tom Ascol over at Founders has written an article worth reading ( theodicy ). It deals with the recent comments of Roger Olsen of Truett Seminary which I posted on last week.

Mark This Day and Marvel at the Work of God :: Desiring God

Todd Pruitt
Sep 10, 2007
Read this article ( Desiring God ) and be encouraged by God's commitment to His glory and the salvation of sinners.

A Response to Roger Olson

Todd Pruitt
Sep 4, 2007
Roger Olson is a professor of theology at the Truett Theological Seminary in Waco, Texas. He is a good writer and I am sure a good and decent man. But his article “Calvinist view of bridge collapse distorts God’s character” that ran in the Baylor Lariat ( The Lariat Online ) that ran in the Baylor...

Southern Baptists and Diminishing Depravity

Todd Pruitt
Sep 4, 2007
“The gospel is hated and rejected as foolishness until the direct power of the Spirit changes the governing disposition of the heart.” - R.G. Lee The very first Southern Baptist confession of faith was the Abstract of Principles of 1859. It served, and still serves, as the foundational doctrinal...