Paul wanted the Thessalonian congregation to have a healthy community. Accordingly, Paul told them to give tailored help. Notice that the medicine fits the disease. They warn the unruly. They comfort the fainthearted. They uphold the weak. They don’t uphold or comfort the unruly. That would feed and make their rebellion strong. They don’t warn... Continue Reading

In a world which demands that leaders pour themselves out for worldly success, leading might be costly. You will probably disappoint a lot of people. You may not be as well-liked. You might even lose the wrong ministry until you find the right one.   How would you respond if someone told you today, “Listen,... Continue Reading

Christ didn’t die to make us more Black or more White. He died to make us new. So let’s stop preaching color and start proclaiming Christ. Let’s trade resentment for redemption and grievance for grace. Because the only banner worth waving isn’t black or white. It’s blood-red.   Every few weeks, someone sends me a... Continue Reading

To ancient believers, the notion that they should read the Scriptures silently while at home alone would have seemed absurd because so few people had access to manuscripts and most of them couldn’t read. Instead, manuscripts of the Scriptures should be read aloud for all to hear.   Until I come, devote yourself to the... Continue Reading

Bring the tithe. Not because He needs it. Because you do. This is not about keeping a church budget afloat. This is about a soul returning to its first love. This is about worship with weight.   Malachi 3:8–10 The plate moves slowly, like a river of quiet guilt, from hand to hand down the... Continue Reading

We don’t need the Son of God leaving heaven for earth in order for the incarnation to be worth singing about. Instead, we can exclaim with Calvin: “Here is something marvelous: the Son of God descended from heaven in such a way that, without leaving heaven, he willed to be borne in the virgin’s womb,... Continue Reading

If freedom to innovate is more important to some sessions than following the rules—one of the bonds of unity and trust—they would do well to lead their congregations to greener, broader pastures in one of the many denominations that more nearly align with their desires and preferences.   I don’t like writing about this, but... Continue Reading

The early Protestants did not reject the ancient creeds of the church.…It was only heretics like the Socinians (the liberals of the sixteenth century) who rejected the ancient Christian creeds.   Most Christians have heard of things like the Nicene Creed or the Apostles’ Creed, but many Christians also have a number of misconceptions about... Continue Reading

Christian formation is impossible apart from Christian faith. It’s faith that leads us toward formation to begin with, and it’s faith that keeps us on the path….Even when everything in us wants to quit and settle for less. We press on, in faith, by faith, and for faith.   “I don’t see any change taking... Continue Reading

In previous times, an older woman teaching younger women, if not in the context of the assembled church, would by necessity be in some form of in-house small-group meeting. Now, with podcasts and conferences and social media, a conservative female influencer may be targeting an audience of females, but her teaching is definitely public. What... Continue Reading