The Cord and the Cross
A closer look at the scarlet thread of Rahab.
When we read the story of Rahab in Joshua 2, we are meant to understand that story in light of the exodus backdrop. The scarlet thread recalls the blood of the unblemished lamb. The window in Rahab’s house recalls the doorposts and lintel of an Israelite home. Impending divine judgment was true for both Exodus... Continue Reading
Serving Families with Disabled Children
The banquet table of the Lord looks more diverse than most of our churches.
First Corinthians 12:22 informs us that God sees the weaker parts of the church as necessary. Moving toward a ministry for nontypical or disabled individuals and their families requires at least two things. First, church leadership must understand the important role that these individuals have in the church and be committed to making all things accessible... Continue Reading
Signs Foreshadowing the Cross in John’s Gospel
John’s Gospel provides a model for how we are to read the Old Testament.
When the disciples come to understand Jesus’s words and actions after his resurrection, it is because they understand that Scripture prophesied Jesus’s death and resurrection as the climax of redemptive history. John expressly tells us this: “When, therefore, he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture... Continue Reading
Background on Hebrews
When reading Hebrews, we are privileged to peak into this deeply personal and powerful word of exhortation.
Hebrews is an expositional and pastoral warning not to return to the shadows of Judaism now that Christ the substance has come and to look fully upon the beauty of Christ and remain faithful through trial and persecutions. The fact that it also provides us with some of the clearest theology for how the New... Continue Reading
“Build Not Your Nest Here”
Learning Suffering from the Puritans
Christian, the compass of suffering points true north to God’s eternal dwelling place. Therefore, “build not your nest here,” but seek and “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16).19 Your Lord will graciously sustain and bear you through your pain and suffering in this life, and in his timing, usher you into... Continue Reading
Three Types of Words Our Counselees Need
Biblical counselors can glean instruction from Jesus’ use of words with Nicodemus.
God ordained that people would be saved by words and by faith (Rom. 10:17). It is by words—such as the ones recorded in John 3:16—and by believing in God through words that people experience the new birth and enter into the kingdom of God. What do you ask your words to do in counseling? You have... Continue Reading
Forgetting What is Behind and Reaching Towards What Is Ahead: A Framework for Spiritual Growth
Our personal development and spiritual growth is essential. We are to never stop growing as Christians.
Each day, we must proclaim the gospel to ourselves and others. We must defend the faith against those who assault it. We must commit ourselves to Christ and, by his grace, keep striving towards maturity and Christ-likeness in him. Most importantly, we mustn’t permit ourselves to stagnate or wallow in laziness. Like Paul, we “press... Continue Reading
On Ending Well: An Open Letter to a Pastor
When you began to slowly unravel my knot in the light of scripture, your compassion made the hard admission of my failings so much easier.
To my pastors, and pastors everywhere: Thank you. Thank you for continually encouraging us to keep running this race, pressing us to run better and faster. Thank you for reminding us that we’re almost there- that we can end well. What you do really does make a difference. It was desperation that made me do it.... Continue Reading
The Real Enemy of God’s People
Why did Haman get the exclusive title of “the enemy of the Jews”?
Haman’s self-absorption led him to plot genocide and ultimately became his downfall…the real “enemy of the Jews” was not so much Haman himself, but what Haman represented: the one who puts himself or herself above anyone else. Who is the worst enemy of God’s people? Some American Christians may say “the Left”. Others may... Continue Reading
AI, ChatGPT and Ministry
We thought that creative activity would always be the domain of the human, we have now trained computers to mimic the creative process and perform it faster than we can.
Just as we made machines that can lift more than we can and move faster than we can, we have now designed machines that can know more and communicate more in a shorter period of time. If thinking is defined as memory, factual recall, and the ability to swiftly convert factual recall into written (or... Continue Reading
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