The motive of our worship must be consistently examined. Why do you crave a certain kind of worship? The cancer of church consumerism teaches families to move from one church to another separated by just a couple of miles because one church offers a more “exciting” song selection, a more passionate band, or a larger... Continue Reading

The so-called “worship wars”, whether ancient or modern, largely are debates over what is appropriate love for God, and what is not. Whether it be the matter of images, the order of the Mass, the use of an organ, singing in the vernacular, the presence of an altar, the presence of statues, crucifixes or candles... Continue Reading

If God is as wise and powerful as Scripture says he is, it is not all that surprising that he sovereignly works all things according to his plans. It is surprising, however, that he would use that power, that authority, that providence to heal broken hearts, to bind up wounded souls, to choose, forgive, and adopt sinners... Continue Reading

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) wrote On Loving God. He likewise speaks of loving God for himself: “We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable” (On Loving God, I). Similarly, he writes, “You want me to tell you why God is to be loved and how... Continue Reading

One of the most urgent needs in our time is the restoration of the inseparability of orthodoxy, or right believing, and orthopraxis, or right living. We do real harm to the global church and the advance of the gospel if we send out workers who are theologically illiterate or fundamentally unfaithful to authoritative biblical revelation. One only... Continue Reading

By God’s grace, your hands refract the wisdom of God (v13, 19, v20). Worn though they are with the weariness of the day, those hands stretch out in love toward those nearest her with a desire to provide even as God has provided for us. It won’t be perfect – it’ll be a beautiful refraction.... Continue Reading

Throughout the ages, there have arisen very important discipleship questions that challenge the culture and convicts the Christian. Perhaps it is time to ask ourselves and others, “When will you return?” No doubt we will all have different answers and reasoned responses. For many it will be after vaccines are distributed, for others, it may... Continue Reading

There is no bottom to God’s grace. You cannot be too unproductive, too unfocused, too weak, too inconsistent, too consistently needy, too helpless, too sad, or too ill for the gospel to come in and transform your life. If you are in Christ, there is nothing that will keep Him from making you whole and... Continue Reading

With the world is only lies and falsehood. With the Christian is the Word and Spirit of truth given to us by the Son of truth who was sent by the Father of truth. God who is with us is truth! What kind of foolishness would desire lies rather than truth?    So he answered,... Continue Reading

An attitude of superiority may lead to a failure to have sympathy for lost souls. We must lay aside our preferences and prejudices in order to reach the perishing. Every Christian has something they cling to—personal comfort, preference for their own nationality or ethnicity, materialism, traditionalism—which may hinder them from reaching the perishing. Perhaps no... Continue Reading