The book of Acts is a record of hospitality extended in the early church. People like Jason, Priscilla, and Aquila risked their necks to show hospitality to those who were preaching the gospel. Hospitality toward gospel-workers is all over Paul’s epistles. He expects hospitality for himself from both churches and individuals (Romans 15:24, 32; Philemon... Continue Reading

How should God’s people respond [to judgment]? They should do two things. One: Cling to who God is and what he’s revealed. Second: With God’s protection, tell the world the good news of a Savior who invites them to bow in repentance and worship. And if they kill you for it, big deal. Resurrection is... Continue Reading

If you feel spiritually dry, distant from God, or weighed down by sin, Psalm 51 is the place to start. Run to God, own and hate your sin, seek his cleansing, and walk forward in obedience. David teaches us that there is no sin too big.    Sin is something that’s easy to get into but often... Continue Reading

Our longings and desires for release from trials and suffering point us to the hope of the gospel, an anchor for us in the storms that will inevitably come crashing in….God will not let you go. He knows your name, He knows your pain, and He promises to bring you home.   Jewish tradition holds... Continue Reading

Although the rainbow is a spectacular sight for man, the assurance we have that there will never be another global flood comes from God. He is the one who will ‘remember’ His covenant.   After the Flood, Noah and all the Ark’s human and animal passengers disembarked. Then God made the Noahic Covenant. Then, as... Continue Reading

When language is used along the lines of “coward” or “malakoi,” our first response should not be to automatically cringe and clutch our pearls, but to see if the language fits the situation or not.…We must  stop being so gay in our responses to “that’s so gay.”   Years ago, my wife and I hosted... Continue Reading

BCO 9-6 encourages diaconal conferencing. It might be the easiest way for deacons to connect in order to share resources, fellowship, and participate in the work of the church beyond their local congregations.   If you read Chapter 9 of the PCA’s “Book of Church Order,” you come across two sections (9-5 and 9-6) about... Continue Reading

Common notions…are granted to all God’s image bearers and serve as points of contact that can be explored apologetically by the Christian with the unbeliever. These points of contact are plentiful and exist at the presuppositional level of one’s worldview.    Each time I listen to Wonderous Stories by Yes, my reflections turn toward the... Continue Reading

The notion of private revelation inevitably introduces an authoritative source that competes with and diverts attention from God’s public revelation…exactly contrary to what Paul teaches about Scripture in 2 Timothy 3:15-17: Scripture is enough to make one wise for salvation and equipped for every good work.   In a recent Bible study, I stated, with... Continue Reading

Gathering data, or listening, is vital to the counseling process….Make sure to ask a lot of questions and do a lot of listening before you decide to offer any counsel. Good counsel floats upon an ocean of listening.   I think when people imagine what it’s like to receive pastoral counseling, they envision their pastor... Continue Reading