There is no escaping the snare of resentment, save for the sovereign grace of God. Once you let the seed of bitterness get planted and take root, the flower only blooms what is bitter. Theodore Dalrymple is not a Christian. I don’t find much in his writing that demonstrates an understanding of redemption. But I... Continue Reading

Joel Osteen told The Washington Times that he is constantly “looking for new ways to influence the culture.” Our culture admires those with low theological commitment and high emphasis on attitude. In Joel Osteen’s case, it is the secular culture that has influenced the minister, and not the minister that is influencing the culture. Here... Continue Reading

It is important to note that Dr. Gordon believes there are spiritual problems in prayer that relate to every age. He is simply trying to diagnose the specific problems that are particular to our age in addition to those present in every age. I am here at the Reformation Worship Conference at Midway Presbyterian Church... Continue Reading

Tim Keller’s Leadership and Church Size Dynamics does a good job laying out the sacrifices and changes a church has to make as it grows. Some churches will simply decide that they can’t go further along the path and remain true to their philosophy of ministry. It can be good to have a “tribe” (e.g.,... Continue Reading

Bullinger followed Zwingli in the lectio continua method of preaching, moving verse by verse through whole books of Scripture. His expository sermons were biblical, simple, clear, and practical. In all, it is estimated that Bullinger preached in Zurich between seven thousand and seventy-five hundred sermons. These expositions became the basis for his commentaries, which covered... Continue Reading

The U.S. Constitution could hardly be clearer. “No religious test,” it says in the plain and simple language of Article VI, par. 3, “shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” Yet the presence of two Mormon candidates on the slate of presidential possibles has prompted... Continue Reading

I was recently asked by a reporter whether or not urging people to marry was imposing my values on others. I assured her that holding up a standard that is likely to improve their wellbeing is hardly an imposition; it’s what a responsible person does. And it’s what a responsible society does There is always... Continue Reading

1. They’re holistic. In a traditional church you go to a Sunday School class and hear a Bible lesson. Then you go to the worship service and hear another. When you come back Sunday night or midweek you hear additional Bible lessons. All these separate Bible teachings can have the negative side-effect of training us... Continue Reading

(They) accuse evangelicals of “simplistic theology, cultural isolationism, and stubborn anti-intellectualism,” among other things. They point specifically to the rejection of evolution, which they call “the rejection of science,” and then refer to this as “textbook evidence of an unyielding ignorance on the part of the religious.” Evangelical Christians are not surprised to find themselves... Continue Reading

Why are Christians not impacting Western society for good and God’s glory? Why are Christians not being accused of “turning the world upside down”? How can the Western church return to a level of purity that would provide the foundation off which the transforming power of the gospel would be noticed by society and subsequently... Continue Reading