In Spurgeon: A Life, Alex DiPrima provides an updated and accessible biography of the Prince of Preachers. Few of Spurgeon’s many biographies accurately portray his life or reflect the scholarly precision his legacy warrants. This new portrayal serves the church because it “makes some improvements over previous accounts of his life and also takes into view... Continue Reading

Jesus doesn’t ask us to change our behaviour, he promises to give us a new heart and that will cause us to change. WWJD puts the emphasis on our doing and changing to copy Jesus whereas scripture puts the emphasis squarely on Jesus changing us so that we might be more like him. In the end,... Continue Reading

Prayer does not preclude action, but often includes it. Indeed, prayer is the first action, and that first action sets the tone and establishes the direction for what follows. In the model prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He has us ask God for our daily bread. Yet, to the church at Thessalonica Paul writes:... Continue Reading

I cannot now see him, I can be certain that he is blooming there, on the other side of the wall, where the sun is brighter, where all shadows are gone. And I can anticipate the day when, I, too, will pass through the garden gate to finally see him in that place where he... Continue Reading

The next time you’re paralyzed by inaction, ask yourself why. Is it because you don’t know what the next step should be, or how to take the next step? Or is it because you know what to do, but aren’t doing it? Don’t just pray for wisdom. Also pray for strength and courage to take... Continue Reading

Younger pastors and other church leaders were reaching out to me for help and advice. This consumed more of my time and was God’s way of preparing me for what was next. I sensed God leading me into a new ministry focused less on a single local church and more on the health of many local... Continue Reading

We must shed the chameleon’s skin and rise as the radiant bride of Christ, unashamed of the Gospel and unafraid of the world’s wrath. Pastors must stop pandering to the culture and start proclaiming the unfiltered Word of God. Congregations must stop shrinking in the shadows and start blazing with the light of Christ. Let us... Continue Reading

Amid this world’s darkness, the Enemy’s relentless attacks, and the weakness of our flesh, we are continually finding grace from our Father, even in the wilderness. In fact, especially in the wilderness. And why is that grace so abundant? “I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” His persistent love—even in... Continue Reading

To live in this age will always be a mixed bag. We will always be dual citizens. We can appreciate and celebrate all that is true and good and beautiful in this world. But we also know that there is so much that is evil and horrible and ugly and demonic. We have to live with... Continue Reading

Christian couples don’t ever fall out of love, they fall out of being repentant. The gospel hope for our broken homes is our broken and contrite hearts that turn daily to Jesus Christ and His brokenness for us on the cross as our Savior and Lord.   Every home is dysfunctional because everyone is sinful.... Continue Reading