Quick Hits :: 07.03.07

* J.I. Packer revists penal substitutionary atonement at Reformation 21. A blurb: “Penal substitution, therefore, will not be focused properly till it is recognized that God’s redemptive love must not be conceived – misconceived, rather – as somehow triumphing and displacing God’s retributive justice, as if the Creator-Judge simply decided to let bygones be bygones. The measure of God’s holy love for us is that ‘while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ and that ‘he…did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all’ (Romans 5:8, 8:32).”

* Speaking of penal substitution, D.A. Carson answers the question, “Why Is the Doctrine of Penal Substitution Again Coming Under Attack?” (HT :: JT)

* Remember last week’s sale over at Desiring God? Well, about 11,000 did, totally the sale of more than 125,000 books! Want to know the biggest human influence of the resurgence of Reformed theology today? It is the gladdening sacrifices of generous brothers like those in Desiring God. What a testimony!

* Tom Ascol provides an update on the Amazing Grace DVD Truth Project, noting that the $5,000 in gifts have been matched. The goal of $20,000 is over half way there. To donate to this important project, go here.

* Mark Dever has started a series at Church Matters, the new IX Marks blog, entitled “Where’d All These Calvinists Come From?” His first post talks about the influence of Charles H. Spurgeon, and the second is dedicated to the impact of Martyn Lloyd Jones.

* Bob Kauflin provides a free download to a wonderful new song “Let Your Kingdom Come.” This song has wonderful lyrics speaking of God’s redemptive mission in bringing glory to His name. To download the song, click here.

* Owen Strachan shares his excellent thoughts on the importance of humility as it relates to blogging.

* Over at Pulpit Live, John MacArthur begins a series sharing why he loves the church. A quote: “Evangelicals are far too prone to indifference about the church. Some evangelicals live on the periphery of the church, attending and observing without ever really becoming an integral part of the body. Many who profess faith in Christ remain totally impassive about the church.”

* Doug Wilson speaks to the shift away from judgment – and into sin. He concludes, “In the church we have not worshipped God as we ought to have done. We have not let His Word settle what we believe and do. We have submitted to a false teaching that says that salt doesn’t really have to make anything salty, and that light does not have to actually illumine. We have maintained, as a point of doctrinal principle that salt exists to be trampled upon by men. And this in its turn is a chastisement of God’s upon the church. Faced with the spiritual poverty of the modern evangelical church, we still love to have it so.”

* Voddie Baucham’s new book, Family Driven Faith, continues to get high praises as Ray Van Neste posts his review. Van Neste writes, “My primary overall reaction was, ‘This book more than any other I have read expresses what my wife and I aspire to for our family.'”

* Drew Goodmanson talks about the distinction between missio dei, mission, missology in understanding what it means to be missional – all based off a talk by Ed Stetzer at an Acts 29 bootcamp.

* Speaking of missional, Scot McKnight talks about the word and why he uses it.

* Trevin Wax recently interviewed Caedman’s Call, highlighting their new album to be released next month, addressing Derek Webb’s return, the new album, reflection on the last decade of songwriting, and much more.

* Adrian Warnock continues his series on the atonement with a nice post entitled “Penal Substitionary Atonement – Precious Gospel or Divine Child Abuse?”

* For the next month (until July 20), Monergism is having a t-shirt design contest. Here’s the details.

* Those in Alabama or near the area might be interested in a debate at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) on October 3, 2007. Richard Dawkins will debate John Lennox about “The God Delusion.” (HT :: Uncommon Descent)

* A little old, but worth mentioning that the two top multiplying churches are in the Reformed tradition. This doesn’t bode well for the caricatures and straw men of Calvinists.

* The new SBCOutpost has just launched. For those of us in the SBC, this collection of contributors hopes to offer alternative perspectives on all things SBC.

* Mark Dever talks about a healthy, biblical ecuminism. Usually when one mentions that “e” word, it refers to an interfaith movement or ECT. However, among conservative evangelicals, it is important that we come together at the front line of proclaiming and defending the gospel of Jesus Christ.

* The Shepherd’s Scrapbook provides eight messages by Derek Thomas on John Owen’s pastoral theology. Earlier, Justin Taylor shared five lectures by Carl Trueman on John Owen which are also highly recommended.

* Stan Reeves over at the Reformed Baptist Fellowship blog is writing about a layman’s guide to church planting.

* Last but certainly not least, my friend Joe “Night Lite” Thorn announces that he is taking a break from blogging to focus on some other writing projects.