What is it about children that Jesus wants us to have? I’ve often heard this passage taught as if Jesus wants us to imitate the humility and trust of children. In this interpretation, children are presented as inherently virtuous, and we need to cultivate the same kind of virtue. However, in context, I don’t think... Continue Reading

When Paul tells us to pray without ceasing, he wants believers to know that praying to God is an activity that should pervade the Christian life (1 Thess. 5:16–18). God won’t ask us to do things that he doesn’t give us the time to do. While the Bible doesn’t tell Christians how long they should... Continue Reading

Baptism is the putting on of Christ. It is to be covered in His works, His faithfulness. Baptism is the electing work of God. Paul reminds us that it is when the Father Himself adopts you into His family. To put on Christ is to put on his righteousness, His perfection, His faithful obedience to... Continue Reading

Many debates about God and science orbit around “design.” People discuss whether a biological structure is too complex to arise by evolutionary processes. Those conversations can be detailed and technical. But there is another layer that often gets overlooked, a layer that is more basic than questions about biological machinery. It is the layer of... Continue Reading

When Joshua assumed leadership of Israel, God promised that he would be with Joshua as he was with Moses (Josh 3:7). God provided reassurance by sending the captain of his army (the Lord himself?) to greet Joshua before the first battle in Canaan. Now Joshua was standing on holy ground (Josh 5:15)! Israel eventually clamored... Continue Reading

Have you encountered an opportunity to sin, and instead of doing the common sense thing of walking away, you chose instead to stick around? Maybe, like me, you chose to dive head first into the experience. Odds are, if you did that, you ended up with consequences that were not enjoyable or easy to hide.... Continue Reading

Paul is in the middle of making a tremendous sacrifice. American prisons are country clubs compared to Roman prisons. But Paul is a messenger and all he cares about is the message. Even being in prison will work out for good in the grand scheme of things; Paul will do some great writing in prison.... Continue Reading

The pattern of the new life received in Christ continues to follow the baptismal plunge into the waters of death. Yes, life is ours, “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). But we have not yet appeared with him in glory. And so, the present life of faith requires that we die again and again... Continue Reading

He is from the root of David (just as was promised) who will overthrow the kingdom of darkness completely and take His rightful place at the right hand of the Father. He has done everything in the proper way and order and has conquered the forces that were against God and against us. Not only... Continue Reading

Do not be so enamored with any fallen sinner, that you lose your perspective.  He or she–just like you yourself–is nothing outside of Jesus Christ.  Follow good church examples, to be sure–but do so with the knowledge that all of us have “feet of clay.”   This little treatise is especially written for younger disciples... Continue Reading