Infertility is a terrible plague, a legacy of the fall we’re forced to confront all too often in the church. But if God has put infertile people in the pews next to you—and he almost certainly has—he’s given you a tremendous opportunity to sympathize with them, to love them by being a friend, and to... Continue Reading

A man of gravitas fears God more than he fears man. So he is free to declare, “Thus says the Lord,” in direct opposition to the popular opinion of the unbelieving masses. His grounded confidence in God—in God’s word, God’s protection, and God’s promises—informs a courageous demeanor in the midst of a fallen world.  ... Continue Reading

I don’t do this to be cheeky or malicious, but simply to get people talking—and thinking—about the spiritual meaning of Christmas as more than just a one-off. Generally, people of all religious stripes (even areligious), seem to find the discussion interesting. Here in the United States, few people know, and are even surprised, that there... Continue Reading

But when you say that you are offended, all that you are doing is telling us how you are emotionally responding to what I am saying. I already conceded that we all struggle with our emotions in this kind of conversation, both in my original talk and just a moment ago, so you aren’t adding... Continue Reading

If my church history books are correct there was only one day that was celebrated faithfully in the early Church. It was the Lord’s Day. And people used to greet one another by saying “Jesus is risen.” Yes, every Sunday for them was (if you will pardon the expression) an ‘Easter.’ So I still think... Continue Reading

Can anyone really imagine C.S. Lewis using a ghostwriter? Or Augustine? Or Calvin? In other words, I would rather grind out even one book that contained my own spiritual DNA—my blood, sweat, and tears–than publish volumes by passing off some other writer’s work under my own name. One’s conscience would have to die before he... Continue Reading

One of the strange things to me about Crippen’s critique is that it runs exactly counter to one of my major motives for preaching these messages so often and finally turning them into a book.  That motive was and is that I believe looking at oneself as a priest helps a man view his role... Continue Reading

There are many who say, “Why pray if God already predestines all things? Why pray for someone’s conversion, why pray that God would heal my body, why pray for anything?” Because God chooses to use means. He uses rain to make the grass grow. He uses the sun to light the world. He uses our... Continue Reading

When God touches earth, the place is holy. When God appears in history, the time is holy. There was never a more holy place than the city of Bethlehem, where the Word became flesh. There was never a more holy time than Christmas morning when Emmanuel was born. Christmas is a holiday. It is the... Continue Reading

If two-kingdomers and transformationalists are to unite on the side of Grace, then we must make common cause against the subtle legalisms of our own sides. We must declare war against all religions of works, including those found within our own churches and our own hearts. Then if we do that, our discussions and debates... Continue Reading