Although repentance after the humiliation of uncovered sin may appear contrived, the fact remains that one of God’s patterns in Scripture is to use human agents to expose sin and bring about repentance. The question, then, is not whether true repentance after being caught is possible, but what this true repentance looks like.   In... Continue Reading

The book of Ruth teaches us that what happens on the ordinary family level may have implications for the national and global purposes of God. In dealing with Ruth, God was preparing to put King David over Israel, and King David’s greatest son, Jesus Christ, over the nations.   Over the past decade, a barrage... Continue Reading

Sin’s hook is painful. It injures, damages, enslaves, and sometimes disables. Sin leaves long-term (and occasionally life long) scars. Although God forgives sin, He frequently allows us to live with the consequences of our sins.   This is Satan’s most common scheme: He presents the bait and hides the hook. Satan presents sin as fun,... Continue Reading

It is certainly important to call error, error. But I think more important is praying for a revival of theological teaching in evangelical churches. It is deadly serious business.   One of the, if not strange, then unique things about ministry as the preaching pastor of a church is the perspective I get on the... Continue Reading

The key issues for all of those who encounter Jesus in Luke’s Gospel are these: Do they know why he is on the road in the first place? And, will they follow him as his disciple? This Lent, Jesus asks those same questions of us.   We read a lot of poetry at school, but... Continue Reading

We must recognize that the Reformed theology, piety, and practice presents a clear alternative to the EM definition of “missional” because, unlike the EM, Reformed theology has a doctrine of the church, which confesses that it is in and through the church that the Triune God is accomplishing his mission. For us to say “the... Continue Reading

Disaster, poor health, and theological controversy were all contributors to Spurgeon’s death. However, in the midst of his multiplied challenges, Charles Haddon Spurgeon faithfully preached the gospel.   What are some of the reasons why Charles Haddon Spurgeon died on January 31, 1892, at age 57? Spurgeon believed that all things, birth, health, and circumstances... Continue Reading

I want you to know that whenever I read that you are sending me or someone else “good thoughts,” I’m not going to roll my eyes. Instead, I’m going to close my eyes and meditate for a moment on all of the goodness that has flowed into my life from my heavenly Father, all of... Continue Reading

Remember the old interpretative method that asked each reader what the passage of Scripture means to them personally? We all know how dangerous this method of interpretation is—right?   Every so often, during political debates, you will hear people talk about the importance of a proper reading of The Constitution of the United States. The... Continue Reading

Until lately there never existed a sect calling themselves Christians, however heretical, who made universal salvation an article of their creed. On this point even Jews and [Muslims] are of one mind with Christians. And will you, then, O reader, venture your eternal interests on a doctrine so circumstanced?   The following is the entirety... Continue Reading