John Bunyan and the Privilege of Fearing the Lord
Bunyan considered the fear of God our highest duty as children of God.
The fear of the Lord is often neglected in contemporary Christianity. John Bunyan’s A Treatise on the Fear of God is a helpful guide for believers, leading us through God’s Word to see just how central this fear is to our faith. And what joy for the Christian to realize all the rich promises that come to... Continue Reading
Clothe Yourself With Humility
God will lift up the suffering, submissive believers in his wisely appointed time just as he did his servant Job.
You see, these humbling scenarios come in all sorts of designs and conditions and from every conceivable direction and yet, if we will obey this command to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God in the midst of what does not make any sense to us, we have this promise, “be humbled under the... Continue Reading
Racial Disparities and The Parable of the Talents
Disparities are often evidence of differences, not discrimination.
God entrusts people with different blessings or privileges—because he values faithfulness, not parity. We should do the same. We’re not instructed to pursue parity. We’re instructed to pursue faithfulness and biblical justice. There are many great sermons, podcasts, and articles about social justice and critical theory. But there aren’t many good books about social... Continue Reading
Son of Adam, Son of God
The seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head.
For veteran preachers of the advent season, each Christmas brings an even greater challenge to open the eyes of our people to the wonder that should never cease to make us wonder. Advent season has begun. Pastors all around the world are desperately looking for texts and angles on the theme that will enable... Continue Reading
Why the Virgin Birth?
Jesus' claim to the throne and scepter of Israel rested on matters of parentage.
The virgin birth is essential to Jesus’ right to govern Israel. Without the virgin birth, Jesus could not be the Christ, the Messiah who will bring in the promised kingdom. Old-line liberals used to argue against the virgin birth of Christ. They saw it as an unreasonable and unscientific theory that was, on their... Continue Reading
Advent in a Global Pandemic
The light of Christ’s first Advent dawned in days of deep darkness.
Advent, the season of waiting and preparation before the high feast of Christmas, is a chance to regain spiritual sanity, and create fresh and healthier rhythms personally and as a family and as churches. These have been dark days in 2020, even in the light of spring and summer. Those spared great personal suffering... Continue Reading
The Gentle Tug of Spiritual Disciplines
Bible reading, journaling, prayer, and solitude are beneficial, powerful, and essential for the Christian life.
Your spiritual disciplines will not usually yell at you, but when you neglect them, there are reminders. Learn to tune your heart and mind to the gentle tug of spiritual disciplines. He always lets me know when it is time. He doesn’t care if it is freezing cold, raining, or a blazing hot South... Continue Reading
Sent Forth, Born of Woman
What child is this?
In these two short phrases, Paul begins to reflect on the circumstances of Jesus’ birth, and they in turn move us to ponder the humiliation of Him who is from all eternity the glorious Son of God. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born... Continue Reading
Godly Mothers
Some of the most useful servants of God throughout history owe a great spiritual debt to their mothers.
Even when the home life is fraught with difficulties and challenges, a Christian mother has a great opportunity to influence her children for Christ. Her family is her mission field. One of the greatest challenges that a child can face is growing up in a home where dad is either absent or spiritually disengaged.... Continue Reading
Wary of Words on the 1%
Comparing upward will leave you with eyes only for what you don’t have.
Instead of the 1% at the top, we need to be looking at the 10 or 20% at the bottom. Which, if you’re in America, does not include you. The Bible persistently calls us to look at and have regard for the poor. Did you know the that top 1% own over 50% of... Continue Reading
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