From a Symbol of Fear to a Symbol of Faith
We know Jesus was put to death on a Roman cross, but what was it about His death that transformed this symbol of horror into a symbol of hope?
Think on this. Let it sink in. Christ suffered and died on the cross because of sin. Your sin. My sin. Since the fall, sin has been the problem in the world. We do not think much of sin in our day and age. We are beyond such things. Sin is an “old-fashioned” and outdated... Continue Reading
25 Things I’ve Learned from Church Planting
God has shown me that, more than anything, he wants my heart.
21. Spiritual warfare is real. 22. Church plants should never be started by someone disgruntled or unable to sit under authority at his former church. Church plants cannot be rebuttals to another pastor’s methods and ideas. They must be built on a clear call from God. 23. A church planter and his wife must pray... Continue Reading
Flower Power: T.U.L.I.P. Analyzed and Applied
The doctrines of grace proclaim individually and collectively that salvation is truly and in every way of the Lord.
The practical fruit of T.U.L.I.P blooms beautifully within and among those who humbly and sincerely believe the truths summarized within. None of us is a finished product of grace. But as we believe the truth represented in T.U.L.I.P. and see its practical fruit in our lives, we may know without fear of self-deceit that our... Continue Reading
A Plea for Openness from the Center Right of the PCA
Why is it a “jerk” thing to do? Is that a mean word? No, it just fits the definition. Much of this feels very personal, not against a virtual nobody (and happy to be so, most days) like me, but against other good men. The point of this whole exercise is “we don’t want to... Continue Reading
The Rise of the Thin-Skinned Radicals
Part of growing in wisdom is the willingness to accept helpful rebuke.
Immaturity is thinking we are always right all the time. Immaturity is shining a spotlight on the faults of another (whether a movement, an organization, a person) and thinking we are above their flaws. It’s engaging in criticism and being unwilling to be criticized in return. We seem to be courageous when it comes to... Continue Reading
Raising Daughters in a World That Devalues Them
7 Things We Must Tell Them
I’m raising two daughters in this world and my heart cries for Jesus to rescue us all. But until He does, I can’t always protect or shield them, so I will tell them the truth. I can’t change (all this) in the world, but I can prepare them for it. I took my daughter... Continue Reading
Young Opponents of Gay Marriage Undaunted by Battle Ahead
They say they must argue in favor of traditional marriage, not against gay people or gay rights.
“Even if we are doomed, and I’m totally naïve, I think it’s important that I do this work anyway,” said Mr. Teetsel, of the Manhattan Declaration. “If what I believe is true is true, then I’ve got a responsibility to be on its side for as long as I can be.” They hear that... Continue Reading
An Open Letter to James Kessler and the leaders of the National Partnership
Or perhaps the end game really is to have the conservatives leave the PCA. If that is the case I’d caution you to beware of what you wish for. Imagine if you will the PCA as an ideological seesaw. On one end we have the liberals, on the opposite end we have the conservatives and... Continue Reading
Why I Changed My Mind About Baptism
If baptism is a New Testament sacrament and if babies are to baptized, then I needed to have some reason to believe from the New Testament.
According to 1 Corinthians 7:14 God views our children as “holy”—separated to his work and his purposes, “clean” and not “unclean” or pagan—as a result of their relationship with us as believing household heads. Acts 2:38-39 says that the promise of the Holy Spirit was not to discrete individuals who believed, but to households who... Continue Reading
Why do rookie pastors get fired?
Advice for young pastors on overcoming a major challenge in ministry
That’s right, the main reason for rookie pastors getting fired or, even worse, rookie pastors destroying a church, is not intellectual, moral, or theological failure, but failure in basic common-sense humanity. We’ve all seen it, haven’t we: exceptionally clever, technically skilled, and self-disciplined people utterly fail in pastoral ministry. They just couldn’t connect with people... Continue Reading
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