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Archive for the 'Theology' Category


Dr. Joel Beeke on the Doctrine of Adoption

Dr. Joel Beeke talks about the importance of the doctrine of adoption for the Christian. His new book, Heirs with Christ: The Puritans on Adoption, will be available on June 3rd. You can learn more about this powerful little book here and pre-order a copy here.

The Importance of Adoption within the Story of Redemption (Part 6)

Part Six: The Trinity and Adam’s Sonship (read the other parts here)
We concluded Part Five by asking this question: In what sense was Adam a son of God? Have you ever considered why it is that God is three persons and not just one? (This question is relevant to our discussion of Adam’s sonship. [...]

Staff introductions: Dan Cruver

As we celebrate our adoption agency’s 10th Anniversary, I’m posting brief introductions of the Carolina Hope staff. March 10 I told you a little about our Assistant Director, Lisa Prather. Today I would like you to meet our Director of Ministry Outreach, Dan Cruver. I’ve asked him a few questions, and here are his answers.
JJ: [...]

The Importance of Adoption within the Story of Redemption (Part 5)

Part 5: The Question (read the other parts here)
As I have tried to demonstrate in parts 3 and 4 in this series, it really is not difficult to recognize the importance of adoption in Paul’s thought. It clearly plays a central role in the outworking of the history of redemption. Adoption precedes human history [...]

The Importance of Adoption within the Story of Redemption (Part 4)

Part 4: Quick Survey of Adoption’s Marking Function (read the other parts here)
As I noted in part 3, God’s work of adoption has a “marking” function in the grand story of redemption. It plays a leading role from before the beginning of the unfolding story of redemption (before God created the world) all the way [...]

The Importance of Adoption within the Story of Redemption (Part 3)

Part 3: Adoption’s Importance and Recovery (read the other parts here)
So how important is the doctrine of adoption and why should it be recovered? Its importance should not be evaluated by considering the number of times the term adoption is actually used in Scripture. One of the other reasons adoption has been neglected in church [...]

The Importance of Adoption within the Story of Redemption (Part 2)

Part 2: The Neglect of Heavenly Adoption (read part 1 here)
If adoption is first heavenly (i.e., vertical) before it is earthly (i.e., horizontal), why do we Christians so often think of earthly adoption before we think of heavenly adoption? Why do we think horizontally before we think vertically? I think one reason for this is [...]

The Importance of Adoption within the Story of Redemption (Part 1)

What do you first think of when you hear the word adoption? Most people think of the earthly practice of adoption before they think of heavenly adoption, that is, they think of couples adopting children before they think of God adopting us as His children.
Throughout this new series of posts on the importance of adoption [...]

Some thoughts on PC adoption language

This morning I read a short post over at Riley Dad’s Weblog which reminded me that I’ve been meaning to post about adoption language issues.
One of the first things that struck me when I started working at Carolina Hope in 2005 was the lingo. I was told there were certain things I wasn’t allowed to [...]

Interview with Connie Dugas: on international and older child adoption

John and Connie met each other at church during their college days at Oklahoma State University. What started out as a very casual and comfortable friendship steadily grew into much more as they spent more and more time together in church/ministry, and hanging out with friends–less than 14 months after they met, they were married!
They [...]

Ethiopia’s Orphans: Our Benefit Concert Video

This is our Ethiopia video that premiered at our recent benefit concert with Caedmon’s Call. It was created by Brannon McAllister from footage captured on our recent trip to Ethiopia. The children shown in this video live at one of the orphanages with which we work, an orphanage located in a village with [...]

John Piper: Adoption is Greater Than the Universe

Here is the adoption video that Desiring God made for our Caedmon’s Call benefit concert for our Ethiopia orphan care and adoption programs. Enjoy!

Interview with Dr. Timothy Trumper (Part 6)

This is the final part of our interview with Dr. Timothy Trumper. Because of the length and richness of his answers, his interview has been posted in six parts. You can read the full interview here.  If you are interested in deepening your understanding of the doctrine of adoption significantly, you will want to [...]

Interview with Dr. Timothy Trumper (Part 5)

As part of our blog’s adoption interview series, I’m interviewing several theologians and New Testament scholars about the doctrine of spiritual adoption and its implications for earthly adoption. I believe that the practice of earthly adoption will be significantly enriched as we grow in our understanding of what it means to be adopted by God.
Because [...]

Sermon Series on Adoption

I’m very pleased to announce that Dr. Timothy Trumper is beginning a six-part sermon series entitled “The Good News of Adoption” this Sunday at his church. The first sermon in this series is “The Fundamental Privileges of our Adoption.” I will post links to the audio of each sermon as the series progresses. Below [...]

Interview with Professor Trevor Burke

Our next interview is with New Testament scholar Dr. Trevor J. Burke. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Trevor earned his Ph.D. from University of Glasgow, Scotland. He has taught New Testament in seminaries in Nigeria, Wales, and the Fiji Islands and is currently professor of Bible in Moody Bible Institute, Chicago. One of his research interests [...]

The Doctrine of Adoption and the New Year

If you are looking for a particular biblical topic to study for the New Year, let C.J. Mahaney’s words encourage you to seriously consider studying the doctrine of adoption in 2008.

“In order to experience more of the love of God, the affection of God, the closeness of God, the generosity of God, I want to [...]

Don’t just celebrate Christmas, celebrate your adoption

If my memory serves me correctly, this is the first Christmas I’ve actually celebrated my adoption into God’s family as I’ve celebrated God’s gift of His Son. If you think about it, what we celebrate during the Christmas season—God sending His Son to redeem us—was for the purpose of giving us adoption as sons. [...]

Interview with Dr. Timothy Trumper (Part 4)

As part of our blog’s adoption interview series, I’m interviewing several theologians about the doctrine of spiritual adoption and its implications for earthly adoption. I believe that the practice of earthly adoption will be significantly enriched as we grow in our understanding of what it means to be adopted by God.
Because of the length and [...]

Interview with Dr. Robert Peterson

Our next interview of a theologian is with Dr. Robert Peterson, professor of systematic theology at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to teaching on the seminary level, Dr. Peterson has extensive experience as a pastor, including church planting efforts, and has preached in Uganda and Peru on short-term mission trips. His [...]