Paul didn’t choose joy in Christ because he couldn’t find joy anywhere else. He had tasted and enjoyed the glory of success and popularity — the Hebrew of Hebrews, the Pharisee of Pharisees, the most zealous, the most blameless, the most recognized (Philippians 3:5–6). When he chose to follow Jesus, he surrendered the kind of... Continue Reading

The beautiful “must” of Luke 19 reminds us that Jesus didn’t have any questions about what He was doing on the earth. He knew what He was sent here for, and He was perfectly willing to sully His reputation by hanging out with the likes of you and me and diminutive money-grabbers like Zacchaeus. Jesus... Continue Reading

God’s surprising promises amaze us! You see, by standing on the promises, God’s people live out his purposes. By pointing to the promises given throughout the pages of the Bible, we can help our children to see how people like Noah and Esther bet their lives in hope that God would be true to his... Continue Reading

Jesus suffered in His human body when it was on earth. Because His spiritual body, the Church, is still on earth, its members continue to suffer. This affliction arises partly because these members are unglorified humans in an unglorified world. It also arises partly because the kind of people who hated Jesus and rejected Him... Continue Reading

The Jews abandoned God, either to other gods or to seeking to earn their salvation. We Gentiles today are no different; we hated and rebelled against God just like they did. And yet, what has God done? He has shown grace, He has opened blind eyes, and He has set aside a remnant for Himself.... Continue Reading

When I look at the destructive power of a deadly weed like kudzu (or any weeds for that matter!), I think of the destructive, deadly power of sin. Through one man, sin entered the world, and death through sin (Rom. 5:12). But through Christ’s perfect obedience, we are set free from the penalty of sin.... Continue Reading

The concern of those who affirmed the Auchterarder Creed was that those who rejected it viewed repentance as a legal condition of the covenant of grace. In other words, those who opposed the creed functionally taught that the moral reformation of a sinner was necessary if he were to be welcomed by Christ for the forgiveness of... Continue Reading

A feast is not made up of one ingredient, or even one dish. At the same time, culinary taste requires an appreciation for the different ingredients and techniques that go into an interesting meal. Each time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, our salvation in Christ is pictured as a feast. The spiritual food is always... Continue Reading

According to the IRS, if an organization’s tax-exempt status is revoked, it is no longer exempt from federal income tax and is not eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. As Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, noted in 2015, “The loss of tax-exempt status would put countless churches and religious institutions out of business, simply because... Continue Reading

We have ground to reclaim. The church, the world’s lighthouse, must not dim as the spirits of confusion wash over her shores. God calls his people to speak clearly, repeatedly, and without apology, for, as the men go, so goes the world.   What is a man? Many continue to ask, and many offer new... Continue Reading