Jesus trained them in two things: proclaiming the message of the gospel and taking authority over the enemy to deliver and heal people. Then He sent them out to do these two simple things: nothing more, nothing less. Wise is the trainer who keeps it simple. If our training doesn’t equip people for this, we... Continue Reading

For David Brainerd — and much later Jim Elliot — God chose that their stories would long outlive them. But what about believers who die young, for whom no book is written? What is the power of their short lives? This is a hard and painful question, especially for those, like Edwards, who stand nearest... Continue Reading

What Paul was setting up for with his compliments in verse 7, he explicitly came to in verses 8-10. The request Paul made would be the most forceful “punch” of the book and was what the whole of the book hinges around. Paul’s relationship to Philemon would be in the future determined by how this... Continue Reading

How does that finished work of Christ accomplished two thousand years ago on a Roman cross become real and operative in my life today? How does the death of Christ become the defeat of sin in me? There are debts that cannot be repaid—only carried with gratitude. My wife, Lori, is one such debt. In... Continue Reading

A benediction is as though God stamps us afresh with the word that He is our God and we are His people. You see, this good word is not a prayer—an offering up our desires to God for things agreeable to His will. Neither is it a doxology—our eruption of praise to the God of... Continue Reading

Allegiance has always marked the people of God. Joshua declared, “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Josh. 24:15), drawing a clear line between covenant loyalty and compromise. Elijah confronted divided hearts on Mount Carmel, asking, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21). The issue was never merely ritual.... Continue Reading

In these examples from Genesis, we can see the significance of a name change. When birthparents name a child, they have the authority to do so. But if another voice pronounces a new name for a person, it must be that the former has an even greater authority over the latter. And certainly God has... Continue Reading

Having ruled out finitude as an explanation for sin, we face another dilemma: if sin isn’t inevitable and rebellion is voluntary, how did evil enter a good creation if God made man upright? Human logic fails to fully grasp divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The Bible affirms this paradox without fully explaining it. Theology becomes... Continue Reading

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up” Galatians 6:9   There are many disappointments in my work and life at times. And things to be discouraged about in the world. There are frustrations with work, and personal projects that don’t... Continue Reading

Psalm 61 has entered the chat. “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.” A very popular book on prayer made a statement that immediately made me stop listening. “Prayer is not for the faint of heart.” When I... Continue Reading