God Has Spoken
Because we have been created in the image of God all people are inherently worthy of being treated equitably without regard to ethnicity, sex, or socio-economic station.
He has spoken not only on matters of justice and injustice, but on marriage, parenting, leadership, work, finances, abortion, and others. Yes, God has spoken. And since He has spoken, it is our responsibility as believers, as did the prophet Micah in his day, to proclaim His word to a sin-saturated world, knowing that, in... Continue Reading
Principles of Psalm Singing
When you sing together Psalms in worship with your brothers and sisters in Christ you experience a taste of the victory to come.
Set the Psalms in a Christological Context – In other words occasionally take time to explain to the congregation what they are singing and how it fits in with Christ. All the Scriptures point to Christ. Don’t sing Psalms only – In one sense it would make sense that we only use the song book that God... Continue Reading
Pray!
We are most alive, most human, when we pray.
The friend in his house may say “do not bother me!” But a good father does not. My children will approach me at two a.m., shake me and tell me they have a need … “so and so is crying,” or “I feel sick,” or “I had a scary dream,” or whatever. No respectful introduction,... Continue Reading
Avoiding Theological Anarchy
In our day, there has been a strong antipathy emerging against confessions of any stripe
“At the time of the Reformation, there was a proliferation of creeds as the Protestant community found it necessary, in the light and heat of the controversy of that time, to give definitive statements as to what they believed and how their faith differed from the Roman Catholic Church’s theology.” The Latin word credo... Continue Reading
What is the Greatest Miracle in the Bible?
The greatest miracle one can experience and witness is the miracle of regeneration
“So many people around the world are looking for different miracles. They want to see people rise from the dead. They want to be able to speak in languages they haven’t learned, they want to be able to prophesy. But why settle for minor miracles when you can witness the best?” I wish I’d... Continue Reading
Angry At Sin
It is sin which will be the cause of your death and of mine
“I was not angry at the fact that my friend had died only two months from his 49th birthday. Nor was I upset at how he died. No, the root of my smoldering indignation was why this beloved husband, father, friend, and brother had to die. Yes, he had to die.” As I compose... Continue Reading
Have You Committed The Unpardonable Sin?
I think every pastor, probably every Christian, at one time or another, is asked about the unpardonable sin
“I’ve done a lot of research on this, done a lot of reading on it, here’s the consensus. The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit involves ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit, accomplished through Jesus Christ to Satan. You get that? It’s saying, the Holy Spirit has done this work, He’s done it through Jesus... Continue Reading
For Whom Did Christ Die?
Not all Christians believe that Jesus died intentionally and efficaciously for His people alone.
The Bible describes Jesus Christ as dying to accomplish every aspect of our salvation. The heavenly choirs praise the Lamb. And in their praise we see the connection between what Christ did—“For you were slain . . . you ransomed people for God”—and what it has accomplished—“you have made them a kingdom and priests to... Continue Reading
Remember Death to Really Live
Our society has placed a taboo over honest, straightforward talk about death.
This taboo on death is something we impose on our culture, wittingly or not. But the taboo also imposes something on us that we ought to recognize and take seriously. Ignoring our mortality distorts our view of reality, and allows us to live as if death is someone else’s problem. When I tell people... Continue Reading
Call Sinners to Do the Impossible
I believe the Scriptures illustrate and teach that every time the gospel is preached we are asking sinners to do what is impossible to do.
Is not preaching the gospel a call to sinners to do the spiritually impossible? When Jesus proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand” (Matt. 4:17), who was His audience? Those who were not yet repentant. So, applying the logic of the syllogism above, how can you ask hardened sinners to repent? Unbelievers... Continue Reading