Surprised by Trials
Preparing for Unexpected Suffering
This lack of preparedness was exposed by my shock when I received my diagnosis. I thank God now for revealing through leukemia that my faith was shallower than I thought and, over time, helping me to surrender to and trust him in deeper ways. A year ago, at age 46, my life as I... Continue Reading
7 Ways to Raise Godly and Strong Women
What is the use of being strong if it’s not for a good purpose?
We want our young women to be strong for the right reasons, to fight for the right things. Young girls should be encouraged then to learn the Scriptures and see the beauty of Christ as it shines forth in the word of God. Understanding the truth of the gospel and how it impacts their lives... Continue Reading
“For the Sake of the Gospel”—The Apologetic Speeches of the Apostle Paul in the Book of Acts (Part Two)
We can learn a great deal about Paul’s approach to proclamation-defense with those with whom he found common ground in the pages of the Old Testament.
Unlike the pagan Gentiles, who did not have and did not know the Old Testament, when dealing with Jews and “God-fearing” Gentiles who knew and believed the Old Testament, Paul could go to the synagogue, find a willing audience, and then “reason” with them directly from the Scriptures. Paul did this by “explaining” and “proving”... Continue Reading
No Longer Children
While a child’s naivety can be endearing, it can also be endangering. Disciples need to distinguish between truth and error, to watch their step and guard their ways.
The faith of which Paul speaks is the body of teaching that promotes the knowledge of the Son of God. The reference is not faith but the faith, the good deposit entrusted to the church to be protected and propagated. I would suggest that the faith is no better introduced than in the Apostles’ Creed.... Continue Reading
The Key To Evangelism
The gospel is a global call to union in Christ.
God ordains for Philip to be in a particular time and place. He does this by sending an angel to guide Philip. And he leads him to an Ethiopian eunuch who had come to Jerusalem to worship but is now on his way back home. In our lives, we see something similar. God’s providence is... Continue Reading
Two Verses that Prove Man did not Invent the Gospel
There are two verses in particular that have blown my mind recently that I believe prove that the Gospel is so antithetical to human nature that it proves that it is born of God.
Some verses are so crazy that they remind us that the Gospel works so much in the opposite way that humans think or act that it couldn’t have possibly been made up. As Spurgeon once stated, “I am sure it is God’s Gospel; for nobody could have invented it. A plan so just to God,... Continue Reading
How To Prepare For Sunday
My pastor often encourages us to read the sermon passage ahead of time
“I’ve found it beneficial to set aside Sunday as a Sabbath. This keeps my mind free from the unfinished to-do list and creeping deadlines. I also avoid vegging out in front of the television—I can’t ponder eternity when the capacity of my mind has shrunk to the size of a screen.” What did you... Continue Reading
The Beautiful Things We Miss
When we miss what God is giving in life’s small moments, we quietly but clearly miss our very lives
“In the weeks since my daughter’s comment, uncomfortable but important questions have flashed through my mind. Where else are we missing God’s beauty in our lives? Why do we miss it? And what can we do about it? Let’s explore these questions so that we can be fully present to him, others and the blessings... Continue Reading
What Can We Learn about God from His Name?
“The LORD” is God’s personal name, and we must understand it if we are to understand God’s nature
The modern English lord is a simplification of the Middle English lovered, laverd, which is in turn from the Old English hlāford, made up of hlāf, “bread,” and ward, “keeper.” Our English word lord therefore derives ultimately from “bread-keeper” and refers to a feudal superior or titled nobleman. In a broad sense, it came to mean “master,”... Continue Reading
God Isn’t Impressed With Your Duty
We cannot compel Him by our actions to do anything contrary to His heart
“It is not enough that we would live simply from desire and willingness, and not compulsion and obligation. We want to live from righteous desire, not for shameful or sinful gain — desire that is fitting to its object.” One of the most liberating discoveries of my life has been coming to find that... Continue Reading