Jesus is the antithesis of the kind of president or world leader we all long for. We want a powerful, wealthy, strong leader, but Jesus comes to us powerless, poor, and weak. We want a God who glories in the great and mighty in the highest of places; we don’t expect him to choose the... Continue Reading

We often feel compelled to balance two passages as soon as they are read, and we run to the place of least tension. This is the business of systematic theology. It’s a worthy task, if handled wisely, and sometimes quite satisfying. But there is a danger­­—this method often takes the sharpness of the text away.... Continue Reading

Although used in the Old Testament, the term disciple is primarily a New Testament concept. There we find it is a very common word; John and many other rabbis had disciples, too. It was historically used to describe dedicated students following a particular teacher. In fact, both the Hebrew and Greek terms come from the... Continue Reading

In a year and a half, we could be starting over completely from scratch. And that is so very daunting and scary. Especially considering that we’ll have one child starting high school and two others in middle school. Not exactly ideal ages for massive life upheaval.   I was awake for hours last night, frustrated.... Continue Reading

As we grow up in the Lord, we begin to think maturely and this allows us to behave maturely. Paul said, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways” (1 Corinthians 13:11). This... Continue Reading

Biological and nuclear families are indeed significant and a gift designed by God. However, Christians also believe that God establishes an eternal family only between those who are born spiritually through faith in Jesus Christ. He identifies these people as his children, guiding us through his Word regarding life together as siblings in the household... Continue Reading

There are many who often affix the phrase, “The Holy Spirit led me to,” upon their decisions and decision making. Perhaps that may seem like the easier way to discern things in life. But, isn’t that subjective and experientially based? What does it mean that the Spirit led them? What did the Holy Spirit do to lead them? How... Continue Reading

Because Jesus Christ is the God-man, He can do what all of these other sons could not. He can bring an end to our sin and misery. He can still the storm-tossed seas, as well as the foaming and frothing of strife and conflict. He can bring in the still, calm waters of peace. He... Continue Reading

Could it be that the New Testament stories of Jesus represent the fictive myth of an ancient mystery cult that’s survived for two thousand years? Or is there something different about the accounts of Jesus’ time on planet earth? When these claims are compared carefully with the New Testament Gospels, the distinction between Jesus and... Continue Reading

“I give thanks to God the Father. He fashioned me in His own image, and surrounded me with the wonders of His creation. He has granted me seventy-three years of life. He disclosed the glory of His Son to me. He drew me out of darkness into light, out of death into life.”   In... Continue Reading