First of all, most of us want to think that others are entirely wrong whenever they bring any criticism to us. We love to turn a blind eye to our own sin. Second, most of us love to blow up over what part of a criticism might be wrong, rather than welcome what part of... Continue Reading

Not only are we to boast in our weaknesses. We are also to find contentment in our weaknesses. In order to find contentment in weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecutions, and difficulties, it is necessary to understand two things: God’s grace is sufficient and weakness is where Christ’s power takes up residence. Think about how contrary and... Continue Reading

It is the Christian’s duty and delight to hold loosely to wealth and to give generously to the Lord’s work. Any problem with money is not the fault of the money itself but with the sneaky, sinful human heart. As Thabiti Anyabwile points out, we have something so much greater than money that can captivate... Continue Reading

A sad reality is that because of fear and poor theology, brothers and sisters in the faith can be employed by our enemy to tempt us toward despair. We don’t really want to accept that each of our children will ultimately stand before the Lord on their own. We devise schemes: “If I catechize, school... Continue Reading

Entering a discussion on the basis of a theistic or theological claim is to break a cardinal rule of late Modernity by moving from a proposition or question to a command and law and authority and to do so in the context of a culture now explicitly secularized, and a culture that either reduces such... Continue Reading

Now that we live in a post-Christian age, we are alarmed at what democracy is giving us.  Maybe the problem is not Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Maybe the problem is us!  We have fed the people milk from the pulpits.  We withheld meat. We failed to preach repentance along with faith.  We failed to... Continue Reading

“Reformed theology has been reduced to what we often call the doctrines of grace — familiar beliefs such as total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints. Of course, we should value these truths of Scripture, but when we fail to stress the larger framework that covenant theology provides, our... Continue Reading

“Like Moses, our humility is not in our ability to slink like a worm, to self-deprecate at every compliment, or to lose hope in any success. It is to look away from ourselves entirely and draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, to the one who gives mercy and help in time of... Continue Reading

“When it came to Sabbath observance, if anyone understood that which was required by the Fourth Commandment of God’s Moral Law, Jesus was that man. And there was no greater expert on Sabbath observance than the Son of God.”   Jesus knew the Greatest Commandment. He understood perfectly how to love the Father with all his heart, soul,... Continue Reading

“Is the travel ball opportunity your 7–14 year old kid has more important than Friday nights and Saturday mornings at home with the family? Is it more important than being at church on Sunday morning?”   I have friends I respect whose kids have played (and some who do play) travel ball, and I mean... Continue Reading