What can the Old Testament possibly say to our culture? It seems a million miles and sometimes a million years away from our time, our generation, and our problems. How can something so old address all the new challenges of globalization, sex-trafficking, the digital revolution, etc. There’s no question that the Old Testament is a... Continue Reading

As you go about another ordinary day, you’re no ordinary human being. The Lord of hosts is conquering and advancing his kingdom through you. As you make your kids lunch and sweep the hallway, and change that diaper. As you ride the train to work, and swing that hammer, and fill out that spreadsheet, Jesus... Continue Reading

Now all we need to do is connect the dots. God desires to meet with his people, and the blood of the spotless lamb is the only means by which that meeting is made possible. The mercy seat of the Old Testament, and the blood sprinkled upon it by the high priest, prefigured Christ to... Continue Reading

Still, the question of why so many bad things happen remains something we cannot get off of our minds. But I wonder why it does not occur to us to ask the inverse question of why people get to experience so many good things in life.  If God is watching, we instinctively perceive that he... Continue Reading

Brothers, let us preach the practical implications and exhortations of Scripture, yes. But let us not forget that the message of Christianity is Christ. It is the message of the sufficiency and power of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Let’s not preach works, lest we increase the sinfulness of our churches... Continue Reading

I recently made the transition from the seminary desk to the church pulpit. It has been one of the most joyful experiences in my life, but also one of the most humbling as I have had to hit the “reset” button on my expectations and assumptions. I imagine I’m not the only seminarian turned pastor... Continue Reading

The blessings of ministry far outweigh the realities below; however, ministry is definitely not easy. Don’t waste your time and money going to seminary or college for pastoral training if you are not prepared for the negative aspects of ministry mentioned below. Furthermore, always remember that God has called you to love His church, not merely His mature church, but His immature church as... Continue Reading

Some people think the biblical doctrine of election is unloving. They suggest that because God has not chosen everyone for salvation, only some, then He is not loving. Yet, the very opposite is true. Because God loves, He chooses. Love by nature must be particular, specifically designed for a beloved. To love all the same... Continue Reading

Women don’t like getting older. And, if they are like I used to be, they squirm when they read Titus 2:3, 4. Older Christian women are to teach the younger women. I deflected those verses by asking, “At what age do I become older?” In addition I thought, “I am not yet perfect in applying Scripture to... Continue Reading

The reason he’s issuing this challenge, he says, is that most of his reviewers have insisted that he’s mistaken without supplying anything like persuasive evidence. Since I found many of those reviews quite persuasive in their criticisms, I turned with interest to his essay-length response to his critics.    Since I took a passing swipe at his work in my... Continue Reading