For Thine is the Kingdom
When we seek the encouragement of God in prayer we are boldly testifying to our dependence on the power and authority of our Sovereign King.
To go back to Jeremiah 32:38 it is because of the promise the people have of belonging to something bigger than themselves, “They shall be my people and I will be their God.” That is the source and foundation of all of our hope and peace. We belong body and soul to our Lord and... Continue Reading
The Compromised Church – Ungodly Discernment
Those who say they are Christians, but don’t keep those commandments as a way of life are not Christians at all. They are part of the Compromised Church who are unregenerate works righteousness converts.
We must walk in repentance always seeking the Lord’s will. This obedient walk is one of spiritual growth. Instead of works righteousness we must obey the Lord in our good works all for His glory. We will do good works, but as a product of Christ’s Righteousness in us not earning salvation by those works.... Continue Reading
From Baptist to Presbyterian: Reflections on Polity and Pastoral Ministry
Though I had pastored for many years before and learned many things during that time, the particularities of being Presbyterian are new.
I give my time to the ordinary means and the people God has placed under our care. But saying it’s been freeing doesn’t mean it’s been made easier. Quite honestly, it’s more demanding than ever because I understand what these things are. The true biblical understanding of the fear of God takes greater space in... Continue Reading
Called to be Faithful in the Here and Now
So, whatever comes, great victories or the full evaporation of progress, our task is the same: faithfulness, not success.
It’s easy to forget in all these headlines that things have been bad before, in some ways even worse than today. In that time and place, God called His people to keep the faith, commit to the tasks at hand, and steward the time they were given by remaining faithful. Sometimes they won against the... Continue Reading
Assisted Suicide is Spiralling Out of Control in Canada
The Supreme Court dismissed warnings of a slippery slope, but that is exactly what has happened.
We can hope that as more and more tragic cases emerge in Canada, public pressure may begin to force legislators to take action to restrict access to assisted suicide. But once a change like this happens, it’s hard to ever imagine it being fully reversed. The underlying logic of a “right” to assisted suicide, and... Continue Reading
When the Power of the Gospel is Most Clearly Displayed in the Church
The power of the gospel is seen most clearly when churches are not full of people like me or folks I would naturally be friends with anyway.
The power of the gospel is seen most clearly and fully when we have nothing in common with people we love and care for – and with whom we are genuinely friends in real ways – other than Jesus and his gospel. Then, we are community that has been founded on the gospel. Then, we... Continue Reading
A Little Theology of Dinosaurs
God made every tooth in T. Rex’s mouth; he added every ton to Argentinosaurus’s frame. Though dead, their bones still speak, and teach us not only to trust their Maker’s wisdom, but also to fear his power.
Psalm 104 gives a good sense of what dinosaur-inspired praise might sound like. Here, the psalmist marvels not only at the gentle beauty of God’s creation — flowing streams and singing birds — but also at its harder edges: the young lions roaring for prey and, strikingly, even Leviathan himself sporting in sea (Psalm 104:21, 26). Some... Continue Reading
The Privilege of Pain
We all struggle. We all suffer. We all know pain. At the same time, we’re acutely aware that we don’t have access to each other’s struggles except as they are related to us. There is nothing more humanising than suffering—this is the human condition—and there is nothing more isolating.
We also learn by hearing the struggles of people who are still in the pit, describe the nightmares they’re living through, and tell us how on earth they’re continuing to worship God despite it making no sense at all. I learn as much, if not more, from these gnarled saints. Their struggles teach, and you... Continue Reading
Unrestrained and Inexhaustible: God’s Mercy Toward Sinners and Saints
From cover to cover, the Bible teaches us of the breadth and the depth of God’s mercy for sinners and saints alike.
He chose to bear our sin, to become our sin, so that we may receive mercy. His nail-scarred hands and blood-stained brow testify that our penalty was not simply erased but was paid in full. Because of that payment, there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Without his sacrifice,... Continue Reading
What is Distinct About the Theology of Ephesians?
Ephesians has had a profound impact on the life and theology of the church.
The unity of the church is based on the sevenfold unity of one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all (Eph. 4:4–6). Such unity, however, does not mean uniformity since Christ has gifted each individual uniquely (Eph. 4:7–16). A diversity of leaders are given... Continue Reading
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