Our culture is one of relentless production. Many of the churches in our culture are fueled by the quest for more. The end result of such a culture is that the church is infected with a restlessness. Another outreach event, another music production and another special service or service project takes the driver’s seat while... Continue Reading

It is very important for us to realize that we have been given the authority of Christ to proclaim liberty to the captives. The power rests with God in the person of the Holy Spirit. He is God’s Enforcer of the words we speak. It is not up to us to make our words come... Continue Reading

Churches need to include teaching and modeling about being human.   A class was offered recently at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in South Carolina. Annually, this seminary offers an intensive course for pastors and students. This year’s course was in Contemporary Challenges in Pastoral Ministry Among the topics were lectures on preaching, worship leadership, pastoral... Continue Reading

In ancient Israel, a fool would mock the guilt offering, while the upright would delight in the acceptance that it established between them and both God and their neighbor. The principle is the same for us today. How do we respond to the message of the cross? Is it folly to us, or is it... Continue Reading

The world doesn’t need more “gentle” parents. It needs more godly ones. Your child is not just a bundle of needs—he’s a sinner in need of grace and truth. Your calling isn’t to mirror his emotions, but to mold his heart. To love him enough to lead him.   I remember the look on his... Continue Reading

Reading is aimed at helping us to understand what the Lord God has written for us. To understand is to come to terms with knowledge, to grasp instruction, to fear threats, to be enthused by encouragements, to be edified by teaching, to be stopped by warnings, and to be relieved by consolations and comforts. When... Continue Reading

The man who left my doorstep that morning carried a heavy burden…fear of judgment, hope tangled in works, love obscured by doctrine. I pray for him and the millions caught in the snare. And I pray for us to be ready, to be bold, to be light in the dark places.   This morning hung... Continue Reading

Those who embrace the gospel and align themselves with Jesus and his followers receive the blessing of Abraham, while those who reject him are cursed. The judgment is not ultimately based on works, but on one’s identification with Christ and his people. The acts of love and mercy toward his followers serve as tangible evidence... Continue Reading

True love—God’s love—is infinitely better than the counterfeit. It does not leave you in your sin; it rescues you from it. It does not lower the standard; it meets it for you. It does not ignore evil; it crushes it under the heel of the crucified Christ. It does not flatter you as you are;... Continue Reading

We must pay attention to God’s deeds in history. And we teach our children to do it. We do it because God commands us to do it. If we are enlightened by the Holy Spirit, we do it also because of inward motivation from the Spirit. We see that the record of God’s works is... Continue Reading