From Shakespeare to Beckett, the language, the resonances, the cognitive space which the Bible opens to us are of tremendous social and psychological significance, a kind of grammar of the human heart, and of lived experience. What of a world which doesn’t have this framework, which cannot parse the silences, the recesses, the depths, the... Continue Reading

Since the essence of the foreshadowing of the tabernacle was fulfilled in Christ, many have come to the conclusion that we have nothing further to learn from its construction. They say we are not to look at it as a model for New Testament churches, as it has no further significance since Jesus altogether fulfilled... Continue Reading

This book isn’t about tapping into the Spirit’s power as if he is some passive power source. It’s about the powerful Spirit, given to us by a powerful Christ, doing real work in our hearts. This is more a book about looking at what the Spirit is doing instead of banging us over the head with what... Continue Reading

There is one specific kind of undiscerned spiritual pride that I think is not often discussed and is especially hard to recognize—the danger of doctrinal righteousness. Sadly, I think it’s a particularly prevalent danger among Reformed, theologically-minded Christians. It’s a danger I have fallen into at times. By doctrinal righteousness, I mean trusting in your... Continue Reading

Pastor Lord went on to explain that these fallen leaders were not so foolish as to wake up one day and intentionally throw away their integrity, honor, family, and ministry in some abrupt violation of all they knew to be true.  Rather, he noted, they simply began to neglect their relationship with the Lord, and over... Continue Reading

There is a God of this universe. He made all things visible and invisible. He is not part of his creation, because he is uncreated and uncaused. We are talking about a God so powerful, that he spoke the star-filled galaxies into existence and order, and that, from nothing. He took no classes and gathered no materials... Continue Reading

Even though three church councils had condemned Pelagius in the fifth and sixth centuries, by the eight century his teachings were at least partially accepted. During the so-called Carolingian Renaissance, however, both kings and scholars began to give greater attention to details related to God’s grace (such as predestination, free will, and the extent of... Continue Reading

Perhaps many of these characteristics are developed in every person, Christian or not, as they grow older, but I would maintain that there is something distinctly unique about an aging believer that gives an added depth to these things. Here are a few of the reasons why I not only enjoy, but am challenged by... Continue Reading

Among the Early Church Fathers, Origen was as towering and prominent as Augustine (354-430) and Aquinas (1225-1274). In the Western Church both Jerome (347-420) and Ambrose (c. 340-397) unhesitatingly copied Origen’s work and thus bequeathed it to posterity. Bernard (1090-1153) and Eckhart (c. 1260-c. 1327) read his works in the original, and Erasmus (1466-1536) admitted... Continue Reading

Commands such as “do not be anxious” typically come after the reason why we don’t have to be anxious. In this case, the reason was slipped into the preceding verse: “The Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5). That changes everything. The emphasis is not on how we pray. It is on the God who has come... Continue Reading