We can’t run from God’s moral law within us nor the consequences that occur from violating His law. It’s akin to someone putting on a cape, going up on a roof, and throwing themselves off, saying they are going to find happiness in breaking the law of gravity. All that happens is you end up... Continue Reading

Mind your con­science. Embracing this single principle could resolve many relationship issues both inside and outside the church. This is why we need Romans 14! However, we must truly understand that no Christian’s conscience fully aligns with God’s standards. No one’s does.   When King Pyrrhus defeated the Romans at Heraclea in 280 BC, he... Continue Reading

The cares of this world, the temptations of sin, and the appeal of the promises of false teachers can all pull us away from the truth. But those who hold fast to the truth—those in whom the truth abides—receive the promise of eternal that God has made to us.   “Let what you heard from... Continue Reading

Pick up the Bible. Devote yourself to a lifetime of reading and studying. Piggyback off the efforts of brilliant scholars. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help. Listen to good preaching. Keep making connections and keep digging. Fill your mind with wonder not only at the beauty of Scripture but at the greatness of our God.... Continue Reading

What we [elders] do outside the formal time together matters, some elderships meet for a meal before they meet formally. Others plan retreats or walking days or something else that will grow relationship and enable care and pastoral support of one another. It is something we skip at our peril.   From Acts 20 we... Continue Reading

The apostle Paul tells us that the peace of God surpasses human understanding (Philippians 4:7). In other words, this peace is not some psychological mechanism, but rather supernaturally comes from God. It is not some Eastern meditation ritual where one can rid all of the anxiety from their mind. As the world tries to manufacture... Continue Reading

Repent of the whisper that says your problems are too big for Him. Repent of the idol that fear has become. Do not bow to that counterfeit deity one more second. The wrath that fell on Old Jerusalem was real, and it was deserved. But for all who trust in Christ—our True and Better hope... Continue Reading

When serious Christians think about and pray about world events–be they in the Middle East or elsewhere–our primary concern should always be for the children of God in the midst of those events.  It is also good and proper for us to be concerned about the unbelievers in all the lands on earth–but the church... Continue Reading

I miss my brother. I wish I had more time. I wish I had more grace when I did have time. I wish I could remember more. And I hold on to the hope that I’ll see him again—not because he lived a perfect life, but because Jesus died for imperfect brothers like him—and like... Continue Reading

The point of the New Testament teaching about grace is not to make us anxious but precisely the opposite, which means that if it is causing concern, we’ve probably misunderstood it. We are meant to be reassured…You were chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world, and secure in him you stand. Your... Continue Reading