The 3 Words That Changed Missions Strategy—and Why We Might Be Wrong
We have to ask ourselves if we’ve been faithful to fulfill the original mandate.
The point is that we need to align the way we talk about the world and its peoples with how Scripture speaks of them. We should define our missionary expectations by the Bible, not going beyond what it has said. And we must ground our endeavors and formulate strategies in ways primarily driven by God’s... Continue Reading
Salvation by Ideas? God Forbid!
Paul repeatedly warns people about having a "Christian Faith" that is simply about knowledge.
Is faith mainly about believing facts, or is it primarily about a relationship of trust with “the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). Here’s where the rubber hits the Scriptural road, because over and over again when faith is used in Scripture it is not about intellectual assent.... Continue Reading
Sabotage Sanctification
Backwards and downwards is the strategy.
Tell them how unworthy they are and that they need to be far more holy if they intend for Him to listen to them. Encourage a sense of unease about their relationship with Him and the idea that to gain His favor, they need to obey a little more. Uncertainty about their relationship with Him... Continue Reading
The Holy Love of God
God’s love is not ordinary or profane, it is a majestic, sacred love
“Whatever else God’s love is, it is holy. His love is therefore characterized by the qualities that define holiness—transcendence and purity. First, God’s love is transcendent. It is set apart and different from everything we experience in creation. Second, God’s love is pure. His love is absolutely flawless, having no selfishness, wickedness, or sin mixed... Continue Reading
Disbelieve in Hell: May As Well Throw Away Your Bible
The following is a challenging thought from J.C. Ryle for those who profess to be Christians but reject the doctrine of hell.
Disbelieve Hell, and you unscrew, unsettle, and unpin everything in the Scripture. Disbelieve Hell, and you may as well throw your Bible away at once! From “no Hell” to “no God” is but a series of steps! Do you believe the Bible? Then depend upon it, Hell will have inhabitants. If I never spoke of... Continue Reading
Don’t Make the Hamilton Mistake
If you do feel you need to take a stand on principle, count the cost.
Too often, I believe, the issue of standing on principle is used to validate sticking to preference. Yes, we all must be prepared to stand on our principles. But what makes one particular principle rise above others? What makes this the time to make a stand? What makes this the hill to die on? ... Continue Reading
From Death to Life
The Synod of Dort on Depravity, Effectual Calling, and Regeneration
The Canons of Dort are an astounding feat of composition: they are so comprehensive yet so concise; so comprehensive and concise yet so comprehensible. Also, the method of development is brilliant. The explanation of each of the Heads of Doctrine consists of two sections. The first section is a careful explanation of what we are... Continue Reading
Thinking of Ourselves Rightly
To know God deeply in the exercise of our gifts, we must know ourselves.
Thinking rightly about ourselves can be uncomfortable work. However, as we know and use our gifts according to the Lord’s design, we will know more of the greatness of our God as we together with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 15:6). Just as most of us... Continue Reading
The State of Innocence
God made man, not as a blank slate or a neutral being, but as a righteous one.
In the state of innocency, man “had freedom, and power to will and to do that which was good and well pleasing to God.” It is important to note that “innocency” does not refer to someone who has simply not been found guilty of wrongdoing, as the common understanding of the word “innocent” today may... Continue Reading
Is Your Church Frantic or Focussed?
Equipping our people to be like Jesus in a frantic and distracted world?
Jesus lived the life of focussed attention. The world around him (“Everyone is looking for you Jesus!” says Peter) would drag him into frantic distraction. But, by the power of the Spirit, Jesus knew that his greatest asset was the focussed attention that would take him all the way to the cross in Jerusalem. ... Continue Reading