A Shrewd Insight from Francis Schaeffer
The “mannishness of man” is a strange phrase, agreed, but a provocative notion, nonetheless.
For Schaeffer, two inescapable truths form the bedrock of his insight. One, we live in God’s world. Two, we bear God’s image. Every human being lives in the actual world God made, and all human beings—with the mark of God on their souls—are fundamentally and intrinsically different from everything else in this world. In the... Continue Reading
Quit Asking God to Join Your Side
The story of Jericho is not about God joining our plans.
“When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua approached him and asked, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’ ‘Neither,’ he replied. ‘I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.'” One of the most famous stories in... Continue Reading
How Expository Preaching Should Engage Cultural Concerns (Part I)
Stott argued that the preacher is a bridge, and if he is to be effective, he must be firmly grounded on both sides of the canyon.
The preacher must be a careful student of both worlds; exegeting both his text and his times. To accomplish this, Stott contended the preacher must ask himself two questions: what did the text mean then, and what does it say now? The latter answer, of course, rooted in the former. In John Stott’s classic Between... Continue Reading
The Statement on SJ&G Explained: Article 5, Sin
Recognition and repentance of sin are both central to the practice of the gospel; it is the pattern of the Christian life as we continue to walk in the light.
The Bible is replete with warnings about the danger of concealing our sins as well as the blessings of confessing them. Therefore, it is critical that we are able to know the sins for which we truly bear guilt so that we may confess them. Our salvation and blessed life as a Christian depend upon... Continue Reading
Answering “How Far is Too Far?” “Is it a Sin?” and “Can I Look at Porn?” with a Biblical Sexual Ethic
A biblical sexual ethic makes American churches unpopular in the ever-shifting tides of American culture.
“Sexual immorality” is the translation from a Greek word porneia (where we get the word pornography from). This word is a catch-all for any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage. This covers not just sexual intercourse, but any activity of a sexual nature. It even includes, as Jesus tells us, sexual feelings that stir up in the heart and... Continue Reading
Resources on Anxiety
The good news is there are solid books out there.
Instead of introspection, what we need are words of comfort and hope and a reminder to look away from ourselves to the One who saves. At the foot of the cross, we can lay our burdens down and cast all our cares on Him. He is the God who hears. As you may be... Continue Reading
Codependent Struggles in Women’s Friendships
Rest assured that messy relationships are a “common to man” temptation and sin struggle.
Beth described her marriage to her husband, a pastor, as “living under the same roof but being physically and emotionally divorced.” With Anna, however, she experienced the deeply satisfying emotional oneness she had always craved. Their physical affection slowly pushed past appropriate boundaries. Before long, these two Christian sisters were involved in a sexual relationship.... Continue Reading
Can Christians Lose Their Salvation? (Hebrews 6)
We should recall (and God never forgets) how he has turned our hearts toward himself.
The gravity of such resolute rebellion, akin to Judas’s treachery, explains why it places the apostate’s heart beyond the possibility of repentance. God, who sovereignly grants repentance to rebels (Acts 3:26; 11:18), will not intervene (as he could) to turn around those who have willfully walked away. 4For it is impossible, in the case... Continue Reading
The Cost of Surrounding Yourself with Negative People
Hollis and Osteen teach that we need to reject and avoid people who cause us to feel negative emotions or think negative thoughts.
According to the principles of positive thinking, our thoughts are the power that change and shape the world around us. To get ahead in life we need to get rid of anyone who holds us back. I am convinced this principle is abhorrent and will offer three reasons why. I recently read Rachel Hollis’s runaway... Continue Reading
The Rise of Civic Christianity and the Collapse of the Church
Despite the most fervent wishes of the more militant secularists, religion is not going to disappear from civil society soon.
What we call civic Christianity seems to be growing – or it is as least as prevalent as ever. It seems as though our political leaders want some kind of religious blessing on their secular endeavours. It’s why chaplains are wanted in schools, hospitals, work places and political institutions. Religious leaders are then all too... Continue Reading
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