The Strangest Thing Jesus Said
“No one ever spoke like this man.”
Over the centuries, many nonreligious theories have been proffered for the tenacious, massive, increasingly global influence of this wandering, first-century, Jewish rabbi with peasant roots and ordinary disciples. None do him justice. Political, institutional, economic, social, cultural, psychological explanations all prove reductionistic and overly simplistic. They don’t explain why people find Jesus so compelling. ... Continue Reading
The End of the World is Not the End of the Story
God has a glorious plan with Jesus at its centre.
A great book for these troubled times, Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians instructs us on how we should respond to fears around the world ending. In chapter 2, Paul makes it clear what Christians ought to do: stand firm. He says don’t be “shaken in mind or alarmed” (v. 2); don’t let end-of-the-world reports... Continue Reading
It’s Not Up to You
Our job as pastors is to get out of the way.
Never believe the lie that you’re someone special. You’re a servant. You are like grass. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8). Never make your fading life the focus of your ministry. Put the attention on what matters most and will last the longest. ... Continue Reading
Clarifying the Gospel, Part 2: How the Apostles Preached Christ
There is no greater deliverance accomplished by Christ than that which is from the looming judgment of God over humanity.
The sermons in Acts consistently build up to the same appeal for repentance/faith/baptism in light of the threat of the coming divine judgment, which will be executed by Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and now exalted to the right hand of God. This is why the forgiveness of sins is held out as the... Continue Reading
Steal Away Home—Matt Carter and Aaron Ivey (2017)
This story shows how the gospel operates in the real world.
This story involves two men from backgrounds that have very little in common. C.H. Spurgeon was the Prince of Preachers, a refined man with a rich theological heritage who occupied the pulpit in Victorian England. He was well-known around the world. He was a best-selling author and recognized by thousands. Thomas Johnson was a simple... Continue Reading
Called by God to Worship
Responding in faith to God’s self-revelation.
The book of Genesis does not record God giving his people clear directions concerning how he was to be worshiped (that wouldn’t happen until Sinai), yet they observed standard practices of sacrifice, offering, and meal in worship to the Lord, just as had Adam’s sons and Noah (Gen 8:20–21). The first Patriarch of Israel,... Continue Reading
Should Christians Expect to Hear a “Still Small Voice” from God?
Can we “tune out” the background noise and “tune in” to the Spirit?
God has nowhere promised to reveal himself privately, directly, specifically apart from his Holy Scriptures. God’s Word written is sufficient for the Christian faith and the Christian life. Sola scriptura. Everything we need to know, to believe, is revealed in his Word. Everything we need to know to live the Christian life, all the guidance we... Continue Reading
Reasonable Reasoning Together from the Scriptures
We are better together, even when it comes to understanding the Bible.
We must admit that we all bring our backgrounds and biases to the Scriptures. But, that does not change the truth of the Scriptures. Our biases and backgrounds simply mean we must ask for humility and illumination from the Holy Spirit. We need the Spirit to help us see what’s really in the text. It... Continue Reading
The Spirit’s Presence from the Old to the New Testament
Whether in the Old Testament or in the New Testament the Spirit indwells believers.
Perhaps when Jesus said that the Spirit was with the disciples He did not actually mean that the Spirit only hovered around them but rather the Spirit was with them in a special way because He was with Jesus. There is an interesting view that circulates around the church about the Holy Spirit. It... Continue Reading
How to Pray Against Satan
May we never forget, in all our prayers, that “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
What are we to pray when it comes to our war with Satan and his demonic hosts? How does prayer factor into our obedience to the command that if we “resist” Satan “he will flee” from us (James 4:7)? There is, admittedly, a lot we don’t know or understand about prayer. How it is... Continue Reading