May God help us all be humble learners while also maintaining vigilance and discipline to test the spirits behind what we consume, especially about new and trendy ideas. As John MacArthur wrote in his study Bible, “Christians are to have a healthy skepticism regarding any teaching.” This includes healthy skepticism about resources for missions.  ... Continue Reading

Praying will never be easy. The battle is often unseen, distractions are constant, and motivation sporadic. Nevertheless, we must have praying churches. In order to have praying churches, we ourselves must pray. Without this essential ministry, we accomplish nothing that will last.   Once upon a time, in a world far, far away churches had... Continue Reading

The best way to address today’s questions is with an awareness of where we’ve been. Anyone seeking to address the debates today would do well to root themselves deeply in the best of sources the tradition has to offer.   I recently discovered that my classroom arrivals have become something of an urban legend. I... Continue Reading

Tozer said we should pay no attention to a man who pays no attention to God. Wise advice. And wise is the man who lives his life praying, who maintains unceasing communion with the God-Who-Made-Him-and-Knows-All.   All men are different in multiple ways. But there is a foundational difference between a man of this world... Continue Reading

One cannot read the divines’ chapters on adoption, sanctification, saving faith, repentance unto life, good works, perseverance, and assurance of grace and salvation (chs. 12–18) without noting the deeply practical and pastoral ways in which the doctrinal truths of Scripture have a bearing on the lives of God’s people.   Throughout the twentieth century, it... Continue Reading

It will be normal for all people, to be all of these things, in full measure, all of the time, in the perfect world soon to be bequeathed to us (who believe) by the last Adam at His soon return in glory.   In the Great Scheme of Things… It is normal to be healthy,... Continue Reading

If the Spirit is in you waging war against your flesh in a great battle, then be both convicted and comforted, for God is at work in you calling you to greater holiness, righteousness, and obedience. Be convicted, but also be comforted, and follow the Spirit into greater conformity to Christ.   I saw a... Continue Reading

Our interest is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, conforming our lives to His example and being His witnesses to the world. Theirs tends to be a free market, free speech and some overlapping interests in social ethics. But given the right conditions they would turn on us as viciously as they fought for us.... Continue Reading

You ask, “Should I stop trying?” No. But don’t treat the trying as the goal. You are not saved by effort. You are saved by Christ. And the One who saves you meets you where you have no strength left to walk.   The fall happened fast. One step off the gravel, and the edge... Continue Reading

There is a difference between God’s creational love, and His covenantal love. We may accurately state, that God loves all of His creation, with a “creational” love; but we are not telling the truth, when we try to convince people that God loves everyone (the same) with regard to His covenantal (saving) love.   If... Continue Reading