First-century Christians seemed “strange” to their pleasure-pursuing contemporaries (1 Peter 4:3–4). They trusted in a cross-centered message that looked feeble to some and foolish to others (1 Cor. 1:18–25). How, then, should they and we live among those who do not share our faith?   Christians often wrestle with how to balance grace and truth in our... Continue Reading

Jesus Christ calls us as his followers to love our neighbors. The people he had in mind weren’t those who shared our view of the family, sexual ethics, religion, or the economy. Our neighbors include the very people who sometimes get on our nerves. Jesus even took it a step further when he said that... Continue Reading

Unsurprisingly, the assembly speaks to preachers in such as way as to remind them that both in his motivations and in his concerns the preacher is a pastor. The preacher is to address the people in such a way that they sense his “loving affection” and his “godly zeale & hearty desyre, to doe them... Continue Reading

Preach Christ or go home, Spurgeon says. And for what was Christ crucified? Why did his pure blood flow down the plank of a criminal’s cross? Because of sin. Because of our depravity. Therefore, to ignore the depth of our darkness changes the story—it weakens it.   Depravity isn’t exactly en vogue these days. You... Continue Reading

God created by His Word. He sustains all things by His Word. He’s given us His Living Word, Jesus, and now, He’s given us the written Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Therefore, whenever we hear the Bible, we’re to receive it as the very words of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Remind the church of these glorious truths.... Continue Reading

Evangelistic ministry always costs somebody something, but Paul made sure it didn’t cost his hearers. He preached for free. He loved the reward of costly preaching and was able to win more Jews, Gentiles, and weak believers because of it (9:19-23). This ministerial strategy is consistent with the incarnation and life of Christ.    Consider the... Continue Reading

This year marked the first time since Gallup began surveying Americans about trust of various occupations in 1977 that fewer than 4 in 10 gave clergy the highest ratings. In 1985, 67 percent said clergy had high or very high honesty and ethical standards—the high-water mark for the profession.    Americans trust those delivering shots... Continue Reading

There is a theology, piety, and practice that is not bipolar—or is not supposed to be so. The theology of the confessional Presbyterian and Reformed (P&R) churches (as distinct from the mainline or liberal P&R churches) affirms the inerrancy of God’s holy Word, the goodness of creation (against the Gnostics), the reality and effects of... Continue Reading

In keeping with the journalistic tradition of looking back at the recent past, we present the top 50 stories of the year that were read on The Aquila Report site based on the number of hits. We will present the 50 stories in groups of 10 to run on five lists on consecutive days. Here... Continue Reading

Platt, who preaches for nearly six hours during his annual Secret Church events, made it through the entire book of Revelation and all 50 points in about an hour at the missions conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The points included 48 characteristics of Jesus and a pair of exhortations. Video of the sermon (and others from... Continue Reading