Scriptural Inspiration and Authority
We do not need the world’s ideas for the Christian life; nor do we accept them. We stake everything on Scripture.
Scripture is given so that the “man of God may be complete” (2 Tim. 3:17). The word that is translated “complete” (Greek artios) means “fit, complete, capable, adequate, sufficient.” Paul says that God’s Word is complete and sufficient so that we can be men and women of God, “equipped for every good work” (v. 17). The word... Continue Reading
How to Lose a Pastor in 365 Days
If God has gifted you with a good pastor, hold on to him. He is your responsibility to care for just as you are his. God has given you to each other.
Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” If he is a man of faith who you want to be your pastor, then honor him by living for the Lord and imitating his faith. Make it... Continue Reading
The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism
The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism obliquely but powerfully gestures toward a hole often found in the gospel that post-dispensationalist evangelicals believe today.
As fate—or perhaps providence—would have it, Darby’s premillennial eschatology and the stark intensity of his heaven-earth dualism caught on not just in Southern England, but in America. Reshaped in the hands of other ministers, theologians, and popularizers, his ideas and those of his Plymouth Brethren colleagues would in due time change the trajectory of American... Continue Reading
The Amazing Plan of God
We can glean much instruction from Paul's response to his imprisonment.
Paul was given a captive audience who otherwise would never have listened. It could be that God has placed someone specifically in your life for the sole purpose of hearing the gospel from you. Paul’s imprisonment impacted his followers as they became emboldened by his example. An arrest that was meant to silence and intimidate actually... Continue Reading
Buy Nothing in June
Consumerism sets the stage for pride.
In June nearly all major brands wrap themselves in the rainbow: there is no easy switch to a less-offensive alternative in many sectors. But a response need not be a targeted punishment of one company to be meaningful. It can be a symbolic rejection of the entire mass consumer lifestyle—and an exercise in virtues that... Continue Reading
High Trust as Force Multiplier
In this environment, those of us who run institutions or government entities need to actively manage for trust (including competence).
Do we, can we, should we trust the government, other institutions, or other citizens? There are multiple dimensions of this: trustworthiness (ethical dealings), competence, delivery of results (a product of trustworthiness and competence applied to a defined mission). If you have this trust, it operates as a force multiplier that makes everything else work better. When... Continue Reading
Moses Raising and Lowering His Hands
How a mountain scene of victory in Exodus 17 points to Christ.
As we zoom out from this story and behold the canonical trajectory of types and shadows, we can say that Moses typifies Christ, the one who would ascend the mountain and lift his hands to a cross to accomplish victory. Though wearied and weakened physically, the Lord Jesus prevailed because he acted with divine authority.... Continue Reading
Not Buying False Choices: The Christian Vision for Sex Is Better
There is a better vision for sexuality that transcends the exploitation of women’s bodies or the denial of their existence.
Christian pro-life activist Lila Rose appeared on the dating talk podcast Whatever, which boasts over 4 million subscribers on YouTube. Lila did what every Christian should do in a culture captivated by false dichotomies. She painted a better vision of anything currently on offer. She pointed to an alternative in which men and women are... Continue Reading