The term “Christian” was first applied to followers of Jesus in Antioch. Before that, followers of Jesus were called disciples. Today, the term Christian is more predominantly used than disciple, but in the New Testament the two terms were synonymous. The New Testament story tells us that disciples were people who were called by Jesus... Continue Reading

Researchers found more than a few churchgoers believe giving to God leads to financial rewards, said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. “A significant group of churches seem to teach that donations trigger a financial response from God,” said McConnell.   For some Americans, dropping a check into the offering plate at church is... Continue Reading

When in an act of sovereign grace the Lord instituted His covenant with Israel, it was indisputable that He was the senior partner in the relationship. He alone had the right to dictate the terms on which fellowship with Him could be maintained. Consequently, if the people failed to adhere to His laws and commandments,... Continue Reading

Many expressions of contemporary liturgy are found wanting. They are often shallow in content, repetitive in nature and more inclined to draw attention to the person or persons leading worship than to God as it true object. Regardless of its pursuit of spontaneity and authenticity, too often it loses depth and vitality because it has... Continue Reading

Defining womanhood is a great challenge in our day. Our children are exposed to differing concepts of gender early, shaping how they are growing up and thinking about their own sexuality. They are hearing conflicting messages about males and females being interchangeable and gender being maleable. Beyond the rejection of God and his created order,... Continue Reading

If you listen to this interview you will see that Bell is no longer teaching the Gospel – indeed he is teaching against the Gospel and against the Bible. He has become his own one-man cult.   When you listen to an interview like this – its not enough to take the good bits (the bits... Continue Reading

When we worship week after week and follow roughly the same order of service, some things that are deeply meaningful can become merely routine. For that reason there can be benefit in taking the time to explain them and thank God for them.    As Christians, we set aside the first day of each week... Continue Reading

All manner of interpretations abound, creating a fog of misunderstanding that puts stumbling blocks – some of which are quite dangerous – to obedience to this directive. In an attempt to let this verse shine with its Spirit-inspired brightness and remove such stumbling blocks, here are five statements clarifying what this verse does not mean.   Though... Continue Reading

It is the Lord who turns the attention of the chief official to the Judahite boys, and it is the Lord who nourishes them and gives them physical and intellectual superiority over the rest of the captives. The two competing claims serve as a backdrop to the trial to which Daniel and the others commit... Continue Reading

Though Wilberforce never lost a parliamentary election from age twenty-one to seventy-four, the cause of abolishing the slave trade was defeated eleven times before its passage in 1807. And the battle for abolishing slavery itself did not gain the decisive victory until three days before he died in 1833. What were the roots of this... Continue Reading