Peace, Purity, and Prosperity with Euodia and Synteche
Peace is disturbed in the church when when we place our preferences (a form of idolatry) above the mission of Christ and make the church our own kingdom.
The solution to a lack of peace in the church is a simple fix. What is the solution? The solution is: not to forget that which is primary in the Kingdom of Christ. What is primary in the Kingdom of Christ is not my personal proclivities, but what Christ says in his Word. It is not traditions that have been handed... Continue Reading
Why is Forgiveness so Hard? Part 1
Forgiveness is difficult precisely because we have something to forgive.
We don’t like actually having something to forgive, because having something to forgive means that we have been hurt or offended. It means that a debt has been incurred. Having something to forgive signals the fact that something is not right. Pain or loss has come into our lives, a friend has betrayed us, a... Continue Reading
Are You Having an Influence?
The only influencers we really need are committed Christian ones.
There are all sorts of folks in the world seeking to be an influencer, seeking to push a product or concept. The most vital sort of being an agent of influence is to be a sold out, Spirit-empowered, biblically-literate follower of Jesus Christ. The world is starved for those sorts of influencers. Will you be one? ... Continue Reading
S.L.O.W.
How to Love Suffering People
If you have a friend who is struggling and don’t know how to help, perhaps start by getting together. Be prepared to come close — not standing on the edge, waiting to be asked, but willingly entering the messiness of pain. It probably means listening and praying more than speaking, along with offering specific help... Continue Reading
Reflections on the Death of my Friends
In Sadness and Mourning...
My prayer is that we would receive God’s comfort, care, and love while we mourn. Praise our Heavenly Father that through Jesus, He offers us eternal life. What more could we ever ask for? What an incredible blessing! At the same time, my prayer is that each one of us would not waste the moment... Continue Reading
Seeing Patterns
The Bible is a patterned narrative.
Firstly, we read the Bible and then we read it some more. Pay attention to the patterns and shapes we find there. These are the patterns and shapes of the way God moves in history. Does God do a new thing (Isaiah 43)? Yes, but in the shape of his purposes, given to us in... Continue Reading
God has it Covered but not Always How We Think
God does what he wills for the sake of his own glory.
Our circumstances, even if hard, do not mean God is not at work. Our suffering does not mean God has failed. Our difficulties – even if we are praying for them to be resolved and taken away – do not show God to not be serving our good. Which is why we perhaps need to... Continue Reading
Are You a Minister? Preach the Gospel!
An ARP Church must be a gospel, fire-breathing, house of hope for sinners.
All proclamations of God’s word in our context should contain within them a gospel call, freely offered to all present in that place. We are never to be under the assumption that every person in the hall that day knows the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, even, or maybe especially, if it is the officers, elders... Continue Reading
The Character of Kingdom Citizens
While we are not saved by our good works, we are saved for good works, deeds that glorify our heavenly Father.
Christ’s disciples should flavor the culture and shine as God’s lights in the world. By emulating these ten characteristics, with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit, Jesus’ followers will prove to be citizens of God’s kingdom, already in the here and now, and for all eternity. Matthew, in his monumental gospel, introduces Jesus... Continue Reading
Life: Good Gift of the Good God
All human life—the life of every individual human being—your life—has inestimable value.
The question of the goodness and dignity of human life is not in the end a matter of indifference. It’s not a matter of different possible and valid opinions that we should just tolerate in a secular pluralist inclusive society. Nor is it a matter of private religious conviction. I have offered Christian arguments, certainly.... Continue Reading
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