Deep friendships take time and are often forged through the fires of trial and suffering. Just as a gardener gets their hands dirty when they tend their garden, tending a friendship may be messy at times. We’ll have to sacrifice time. We’ll have to hear hard stories. We’ll have to walk with friends through painful circumstances.... Continue Reading

Historical evangelicalism has always valued both theological principle and vigorous evangelism. Indeed, we cannot be authentically and faithfully evangelical without holding both of these features in tandem. The unity between evangelical theology and evangelism is not forced or fabricated. Our theological convictions should irrevocably give birth to our evangelistic fervor.   The Great Commission stands... Continue Reading

Every one of us will face impossible situations at one time or another. It may be a situation at work or school, or a financial need. We just can’t see any possible way to change things. I think the most tempting “impossible” situation we face is a loved one who is not saved. Especially when... Continue Reading

Many individuals have contacted me privately in order to express that they strongly disagree with the trajectory of the accepted conclusions on ethnic strife, but are afraid of being slandered for speaking out on it–since slander and vitriol often ensue when someone speaks out about his or her concerns. It is perfectly understandable why people... Continue Reading

A truly biblical ministry will often grow at a much slower rate, but it will last into all of eternity. It’s easy for those laboring faithfully to become discouraged when they look over at other churches and see how much more quickly they seem to have grown. It is much more difficult for them to... Continue Reading

The covenant of grace, sealed by the death of Christ, and our obedience, produced by the life of Christ, are intrinsically bound together. Truly we see, while our obedience is essential to it, the covenant is rightly called the covenant of grace. Jesus told us this, not to produce legalists, not at all, but rather... Continue Reading

We must cultivate the practice of imaginative honesty about our sin. We must look at it clearly and acknowledge it. We must not try to hide it or make excuses for it. But, equally, we must not wallow in it either. We need to know sin is in our hearts, and we need to feel... Continue Reading

Paul saw all the boasting that was going on in the world, especially in the religious world, and exclaimed “God forbid that I should ever boast. God prevent it, stop it, end it. May it never be.” But then there’s one exception. He introduces the only boast that God approves of: the cross of the... Continue Reading

“Yes, Christians are called to seek the good of those around us, and to pursue justice and to love good and shun evil. But we get into trouble when we confuse the earthly city with the heavenly city. Until Christ returns, this world will never look like it should. You can’t use politics to build... Continue Reading

In the Bible, the imperative to the believer gives instruction on how to live and walk. It is a part of sanctification. However, imperative commands are grounded upon indicative statements. “This is who you are [indicative]; now, live this way [imperative].” If we are going to understand the work of God in the gospel, we... Continue Reading