Parenting and the Cultural Pressure to Conform
I’m not saying we’re up to this, but God is up to this.
That cultural pressure to conform, we have to recognize, however, is so pervasive that most Christians, even though they exaggerate the newness of this, underestimate the urgency of it. It’s a vortex into which we are all being pulled. The cultural pressure to conform is not a symptom of America, uniquely, in our time. It’s... Continue Reading
Why Did Jesus Make So Much Wine?
In many cases, an abundance of wine demonstrates the abundance of God’s blessings.
How much wine did Jesus make? Six stone jars with 20 to 30 gallons of wine in them total 120 to 180 gallons. Jesus made nearly 1,000 bottles of wine! By all accounts, this is a lot of wine for a wedding of this size. The miracles of Jesus certainly provoke awe and reverence,... Continue Reading
The One Sin You Don’t Think You’re Guilty Of, But Probably Are
Regardless what label(s) we use choose to describe our innumerable failures to meet God’s standard of righteousness, there is one sin that barely registers on our spiritual radar when it comes to this matter.
A false god is any person or thing that redirects our affections away from the one true God in terms of the devotion, worship, and adoration that is due only to Him. Most Christians would concur with that description of idolatry. The problem, however, is we Christians generally understand such misplaced adoration solely in terms of venerating... Continue Reading
Dangers Of Non-Christocentric Preaching: A Displaced Gospel
Preaching bare moral truths (moralisms) often drives people away from fellowship with Christ.
When ethical and moral imperatives are proclaimed as sufficient, even abstracted from Jesus, the result is a crossless Christianity in which the central message becomes an exhortation to live according to God’s rules. Hearers who possess a seared conscience may develop an attitude of self-righteousness: according to their judgment they are adequately living by God’s... Continue Reading
Suffering, Scripture, Prayer
In the longest-of-songs, Psalm 119, is a treasure trove of how to prayerfully think about suffering.
It’s frequently overlooked, but the songwriter behind Psalm 119 had a reason for writing. It wasn’t that he went to a Bible conference and was so full of fresh insights and faith that he just had to write a song all about God’s Word. Rather, this song was brought about by a time of great suffering in... Continue Reading
Disciples Pursue Holiness
“It is impossible for anyone to share the benefits of his death [i.e., Jesus Christ] without being conformed to his life.”
In the letter to the Romans, the Apostle outlines the depths of the gospel of justification by faith alone upon which the new life in Christ is rooted and unfolds. Justification is the basis for sanctification. The former is the foundation of the latter, and the latter is the spiritual outcome of the former. ... Continue Reading
Gifts of Grace for Jesus
God's word teaches that Jesus did his miraculous works and prophesied heavenly truths by the working of the Holy Spirit rather than by his divine nature.
“It was in an especial manner by the power of the Holy Spirit [Jesus] wrought those great and miraculous works whereby his ministry was attested unto and confirmed. Hence it is said that God wrought miracles by him: Acts 2:22, “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God by miracles and wonders and signs, which... Continue Reading
The Object of Faith (Warfield)
I appreciate the redemptive-historical way he talks about faith.
This one object of saving faith never varies from the beginning to the end of the scriptural revelation; though, naturally, there is an immense difference between its earlier and later stages in fulness of knowledge as to the nature of the redemptive work by which the salvation intrusted to God shall be accomplished; and as... Continue Reading
Hey Jude! — The Fine Art of Illustration
An illustration draws a picture that can help make an argument—and help make the argument stick.
I am a just-the-facts person. When I read, I usually pass right over all the fluff (yes, that’s how I think—or used to think—of illustrations) to get to the important stuff, like the actual points being made, which I hope the author will summarize for me once she’s finished telling all the stories I’m skimming. Can you see... Continue Reading
The Ordinary Means of Discipleship
Let us consider these means and the way in which the risen Christ still uses them today in the lives of His people.
Luke tells us that the early disciples devoted themselves to “the apostles’ teaching.” We should note that Luke chooses to characterize their activity in terms of devotion. In other words, they made the hearing and the study of the truth as it is revealed in Jesus Christ a priority—a regular, nonnegotiable part of their lives.... Continue Reading