There is nothing wrong with a healthy argument! Arguments sharpen us and can cause relationships to grow in depth. But we must do it with gentleness and respect (1 Pet. 3:15). We are to obey this command. Biblical counselors can still have faulty, errant presuppositions because we have not yet been promoted to glory. We... Continue Reading

I sometimes think this group of “nones” has rejected their experience in the Church rather than their belief in Jesus. That may simply be a reflection of the sad, non-evidential nature of the Church rather than a reflection of the strong evidential nature of Christianity. Some of those who have left our ranks may never have heard anything... Continue Reading

Christians will need to continue to make the case for religious freedom and demonstrate in our lives that religious Americans are the best citizens. The schools, colleges, hospitals, churches, sports leagues, and charities established by Christians benefit everyone, and are therefore indispensable pillars supporting a limited government. The ascendent cult of sexual orientation and gender... Continue Reading

Unless we give the Holy Spirit his due in our teaching and preaching, we settle for an anemic picture of the Christian life and ministry. We must navigate the tension between exaggerating the Spirit’s independent operations and diminishing his importance. Let us gratefully appreciate the Spirit’s vital contribution and be diligent to teach our people... Continue Reading

When we understand that spiritual warfare is more than a metaphor–that it is a fundamental feature of reality–it should cause us to rethink what values we want to cultivate within ourselves and in our communities. One such example is grit. Christians in a spiritual war need to be able to take a punch without losing the will... Continue Reading

It is the goodness of God to forbid us from sin. It is the goodness of God also to describe sin for us in his moral law, so that we might know it when we see it and keep from it with all our might.   Not long ago our church studied through the Ten... Continue Reading

Why did Peter’s courage fail him?  Primarily because he hadn’t taken Jesus’ advice!  Do you remember back in Gethsemane?  Jesus had said to Peter, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”  Sadly three times Peter had failed to pray, and now three times he fails to identify himself with... Continue Reading

Conservative French Protestants, fiercely loyal to their religious and cultural roots, viewed Marie Durand as a heroic Huguenot, the ultimate example of a faithful Calvinist holding fast to her sixteenth-century Reformation heritage. Evangelical Protestants in general have presented Durand as an example of steadfast faith in Christ under severe persecution.   My life was a tissue... Continue Reading

Theology cannot be overlooked in preaching. Theology must form the core of our preaching. In fact, it will. Whether that’s intentional or not is up to us. Preachers must start with the text of scripture, extract its theology, and then present it to the audience, helping them apply it to their lives for salvation or sanctification.  ... Continue Reading

If we examine our own devotion to our Lord in how we walk through each day, do we really entrepō Him as we should? Instead of putting ourselves to shame and completely bearing ourselves to God, entertainment is demanded. If the “worship style” is not exciting or upbeat enough then we get bored and look for another... Continue Reading