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The God Who Is There: Finding Your Place In God's Story (2010)

by D.A. Carson(Favorite Author)

4.28 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1441213856 (ISBN13: 9781441213853)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Baker Books

review 1: I’ve been looking for a little while for a book that tells the big story of the Bible in an accessible way. D. A. Carson has done a fine job of gospel-based, simple, biblical theology in The God Who is There. In this work, Carson takes his readers through the entire narrative of the Scriptures in order to help us to see how we fit into God’s great story. Carson begins with Genesis, walks through Revelation, and spends a great deal of time in the theology of the gospels. In all this, he shows us how the Bible tells our story as it tells us of God’s great plan. The God who is There would be a great book for any Christian who wants to have a better glimpse of how the whole Bible comes together to tell a single, unified story. If you wish to better understand the Bible... more, I would recommend this book to you. If you would like to better understand the gospel, I would recommend this book to you. If you would like to be able to teach others the simple content of God’s story, I would recommend this book to you.
review 2: Carson’s the God who is there is used as a reference text in one of our fellowship groups in church, and up til now we have completed the first four chapters of it. Written for people who are seeking to have an in-depth understanding of the Bible, it provides its reader with a good combination of introductory exposition, Bible sources and connection with contemporary christian issues.We have sticked pretty much to the thought-flow of the book, and these are the things we have gone through so far. I. The God who made everything: Gen. 1-2historical authenticity and symbolismthe ambiguity in sciencethe cosmological argument and intelligent designthe gist of gen. 1-2About God:God simply isGod creates allThere is only one GodGod is a talking GodEverything God makes is very goodGod rests after workThe creation proclaims His greatness and gloryAbout man: made in the image of God; male and female; the innocence stageIn light of the whole Bible: Background to Genesis 3; background to Gospel; by God and for God; Accountability and responsibilityDiscussions: creationism vs evolution and science; videoSession II. The God who does not wipe out rebels: Gen 3Understanding Gen. 3Good vs evil, non-dualism, the serpent as symbol/ actualThe denial of the doctrine of judgmentGood and evil: Knowing as ability to pronounce, idolatryThe myth of sex/marriage referenceInitial consequences of the fallInversion of the created orderPhysical and spiritual deathBroken relationshipSelf-justification; idolatryThe curses: to the serpent, to eve and to adamLong-term effects: Symbolism of animal skins: sacrifice, priestly systemDiscussions: the problem of evil; sinning against God III. The God who writes His own agreements: (Gen 12-22) Models that fail: The soft grandfather; deism; mutual benefittingThe TruthActs 17:24-25: paul vs mars’ hillGenesis 12: noahic covenantGenesis 17: abrahamic covenantGenesis 15: the essence of this covenantDiscussions: the essence of covenant; God’s faithfulnessIV. The God who legislates: (Exo. 32-34; Lev 16)The mosaic covenant and the ten commandments: a 4/6 takeGod’s exclusivenessGod’s TranscendenceGod’s importanceGod’s right of reignLeviticus 16; Exodus 32-34Discussions: sin and the law; reconciliation; love vs righteousness; relativism and skepticismAnd today we are going through chapter fiveV. The God who reigns: (2 Sam 7)God’s kingdomabsoluteness;universalism;covenental; adoption and justificationFrom 2 Sam 7 to Isa 9:6 to Matt 1 to Matt 13God alone takes the initiative in history;God makes His servant great and not the otherwise;God reveals an eternal kingdomGod humbles a king The davidic dynasty that is without a king until our Lord Jesus. Sons of God vs sons of belial: not only by blood, but largely by occupation and identityThe kingdom of God: Jesus’ parables and its extension.Sanctification: The d-day vs ve-day analogy.Discussions: kingship, genealogy, greatness, kingdom of heaven vs kingdom of GodBy itself, it is actually already a pretty good read. Am now reading his how long, o Lord? reflections on suffering and evil, which approaches the problem of evil from a biblical (and calvinistic) perspective and am looking forward to reading his book on compatibilism with regard to the freewill question. less

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