“The most common factor in declining churches is an inward focus. The ministries are only for the members. The budgetary funds are used almost exclusively to meet the needs of the members. The times of worship and worship styles are geared primarily for the members. Conflict takes place when members don’t get things their way.... Continue Reading

“Exist means to stand out of being or non-being, but the word that the theologians use with respect to the trinity is not the word three existences, but three subsistences. That is, underneath the pure being of God, at a lower dimension, we must distinguish among these subsistences which the Bible calls Father, Son, Holy... Continue Reading

“Doubts about God’s goodness and generosity echo the primal sin that came about as humanity questioned these same things in the Garden of Eden. James beseeches us to not repeat this sin, which is behind so much other sin. Jesus Christ and God’s lavish grace in him should have put such questions to an end,... Continue Reading

“When one considers David and Solomon, one tends to think of gold, silver, crowns, thrones, victory, wives, children, fame and pleasure. After all, were not David and Solomon both honored with a double-portion of this world’s pleasure? However, consider David in the cave, and consider David on the run from his own son. The same dismal... Continue Reading

“Calvin initially had no interest in being a pastor. While headed to Strasbourg he made a detour in Geneva where he met the local church leader William Farel. Calvin said he was only staying one night, but Farel argued that it was God’s will he remain in the city and become a pastor. When Calvin... Continue Reading

“Either way, the Phillips-Jones scenario seems to move the anxiety that Martin Luther faced from pre-justification blues to post-justification angst. Have I grown in holiness today? Am I becoming more sanctified and more sanctified? And if I am not, and if sanctification is necessary for salvation, then does my lack of growth in holiness mean... Continue Reading

“As someone who was raised entirely in the public school system and who has subsequently used homeschooling, homeschooling cooperatives, online school, and a little bit of Christian school in my kids’ education so far, here’s my “vision” of what an ideal Christian education would look like. I know I’ll never find this perfectly in this world,... Continue Reading

“Pakistan used to have a noticeable Christian presence. Presbyterians had a sizeable school system, and those schools were largely responsible for the country’s relatively high literacy. But in 1973 Islam become the nation’s religion and the government seized those schools and replaced their teachers and curriculum. Now the Koran is required to be read and... Continue Reading

“This list reflects the kind of reading choices I make for a season like summer, when I can devote some time to reading that is not dedicated to some larger writing or research project. There is also an unapologetic tilt toward a reading list for men in this list. These are books that are likely... Continue Reading

“Christians don’t understand how physical, psychological, and spiritual realms interrelate because Satan muddies the boundaries. Many of our troubles are caused because we think a problem is spiritual when it is physical or we think a problem is physical when it is emotional or spiritual (p. 207-208).” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in The Christian Warfare  ... Continue Reading