“The most important reason to be alert on Sunday morning is because the Lord of the universe deserves your very best. Of course, we worship God all week, but Sunday mornings are a unique and special way to do so unlike any other. It has been specially organized by our leaders and set aside as... Continue Reading

“John 3:5–6 explains that the Holy Spirit does this work, but this does not mean that the Holy Spirit acts all by Himself in regeneration. The external acts of God—that which He does in and for creation—are undivided, so the Father and the Son are active in the regeneration of sinners as well.”   “God,... Continue Reading

“If you have clear evidence of sinful actions, be specific. If you have concerns or questions, simply raise them without accusing. All this can be hard, but, if we are left with regrets, most of us regret not saying something.”   Ways to Talk about Sin Sin becomes public in three different ways: someone confesses... Continue Reading

“Even if you’ve suffered from a similar medical condition, don’t presume to know exactly how your friend feels. Illness narratives are not universal. The experience with a given disease differs between individuals, with temperament, values, fears, and past experiences all exerting influence. Instead of assuring a friend of your understanding, ask how he feels.”  ... Continue Reading

“To fall into the trap of perpetual busyness is to confuse the God of the Bible with the god of this world. They’re not the same. The story of the exodus and the triumph of the cross prove as much. The god of this world and the God of the Bible speak differently to our... Continue Reading

“Death fills us with tremendous sorrow and grief. And rightfully so, because death is our enemy (1 Cor. 15:26). We may try and convince ourselves that death is natural or just the way things are. But we know better, don’t we? The grief and sorrow tell us that this is not the way it is... Continue Reading

“Confusing minutia for meaning is a surefire path toward mental and emotional burnout at best, and an existential transformation into the very things we despise at worst. Fortunately, there are off-ramps. The best way to fight this burnout is to unplug and log off, redirecting your best energies away from the ephemera of online controversies... Continue Reading

“God’s grace is at work in certain men to produce a certain kind of life. Identifying a called man is primarily about observing grace already at work in a man’s life. The grace shining through a man is an indicator that he is called. Can anyone live up to the qualifications of pastoral ministry? Yes,... Continue Reading

“When a person claims an experience—especially if they want me to act on it—they expect me to trust them, their honesty, their infallibility. This is an unreasonable expectation, which demands authentication. That’s why Jesus enabled his apostles to do miracles; their supernatural power provided credibility when they made claims of supernatural authority.”   Previously I... Continue Reading

“Psalm 81 renews God’s call to His people to listen to His proclamation of truth. For what was Israel to listen? First, Israel needed to hear God’s word of deliverance. This psalm calls on Israel in very personal terms and very directly to remember how their God had delivered them in the past.”   Psalm... Continue Reading