Strobel correctly identifies that habits aren’t really what makes us change. “Spiritual practices cannot form you, you cannot habituate holiness in this way.” He’s right. We don’t grow simply by becoming better habit-keepers. How do we grow, then?    I’m a fan of Kyle Strobel. I was interested to hear him speak on a topic that... Continue Reading

Remember, the Christian calendar is like no other. Certain ancient calendars had no day of rest. The West typically follows a five-plus-two calendar: work five days, then enjoy a two-day weekend. The Jewish calendar is similar, with a six-plus-one pattern: “Six days you shall labor,” then Israel rested. By contrast, the Christian calendar is one... Continue Reading

A Christianity that is still reeling from Enlightenment rationalism and from contemporary technopoly tends to see the faith in informational terms. Christianity becomes a set of ideas to be transmitted, and if one can see and hear what is being communicated, then worship is thought to be largely occurring. Everything can be reduced to sights... Continue Reading

In the main, the modern church has most everything it needs—save revival. We have more conferences than ever, but fewer conversions. We have more books and blogs than ever, but fewer baptisms. We have more products and paraphernalia than ever, but little power. Indeed, we have a surplus of resources, but a deficit of revival.... Continue Reading

What we need more than anything at present is to know that God has created all things, and, that He upholds all the events of life in this world. When we know and truly believe these truths, we begin to realize “that we can be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and, that in all... Continue Reading

The early preaching of Lloyd-Jones to the numerically and psychologically decimated congregation of Westminster Chapel is an example of what it means to make a certain sound in our ministry at an hour of great national need. From a pastoral perspective Lloyd-Jones understood that the hearts of people needed solace and comfort, and so he... Continue Reading

Theology should do more than inform us—it should warm and stir our hearts. And if it doesn’t, then we have missed the connection that God’s revelation is designed to make between head and heart. The key is not to pursue feelings themselves but to pursue the Lord Jesus Christ by looking to Him, knowing His... Continue Reading

Beersheba was well south of Jerusalem and under the control and protection of godly King Jehoshaphat. Elijah left his servant in Beersheba, safe from Jezebel’s assassins, and went to be alone with the Lord. Great works of the Lord were shown to Ahab and Jezebel and yet seeing and hearing those works did not save... Continue Reading

When the revelation of God is clearly proclaimed to God’s people in words they can understand, that builds up the church, which emphasizes the importance of recognizing the corporate nature of public worship. This is not to say that individual expression is always inappropriate—as Paul says in verse 5, if there is an interpreter, then... Continue Reading

Elijah’s mantle would take a very important place in Elisha’s life in the coming chapters, but what we will focus on today is the willingness of Elisha to forsake mother, father, home, and wealth to follow the call of the Lord.* The call of a prophet was not a luxurious call nor a safe call.... Continue Reading