Author: Crossmap Blogs

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Why Does Sola Scriptura Still Matter?

This post was first published in July, 2016. —ed. The Protestant Reformation is rightly regarded as the greatest revival in the last thousand years of church history—a movement so massive it radically altered the course of Western civilization. Names like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox are still well-known today, five centuries after they… Continue reading Why Does Sola Scriptura Still Matter?

How Does the Spirit Work Through Scripture?

This post was first published in July, 2016. —ed. Most of the modern discussion about the Holy Spirit focuses on His supposedly ongoing miraculous and revelatory ministries. But despite what the charismatic church would have us believe, the Spirit is not revealing new truth and prophecies to God’s people today. Nor is He is deploying… Continue reading How Does the Spirit Work Through Scripture?

Be Above Reproach

This post was first published in January, 2015. —ed. America’s church culture suffers from an abundance of unqualified church leaders. What’s worse, many of these mavericks preside over a form of church government incapable of restraining or disciplining them. Tragically, in many cases it’s the media that holds these leaders accountable—tragic because the media ends… Continue reading Be Above Reproach

Be Temperate and Prudent

This post was first published in January, 2015. —ed. What qualifies a man for pastoral ministry? Based on the abundance of self-appointed and unaccountable leaders in modern evangelical churches, it seems many church-goers either don’t know or don’t care. The fellowships they attend may profess Scripture’s authority in their doctrinal statement, but their practice reveals… Continue reading Be Temperate and Prudent

Be Respectable and Hospitable

This post was first published in January, 2015. —ed. The number of people successfully masquerading as pastors astounds me. How do these imposters manage to carve out lengthy and prosperous careers, often in spite of obvious character flaws and an utter lack of biblical fidelity? The short answer is that too many congregations prize personal… Continue reading Be Respectable and Hospitable

Rightly Handle God’s Word

This post was first published in January, 2015. —ed. Churches suffer when pastoral search committees are informed more by the corporate world than by the Word of God. Preferences concerning style, personality, appearance, speaking ability, management skills, and sense of humor often factor too heavily in the decision-making process, obscuring clear instructions from God’s Word… Continue reading Rightly Handle God’s Word

Be Peaceful and Not Pugnacious

This post was first published in January, 2015. —ed. The church’s highest office demands the highest moral character. And one of the most accurate indications of a man’s true character is how he responds when he is challenged or criticized. That is why Paul excludes pugnacious people from the office of elder or pastor. An overseer, then,… Continue reading Be Peaceful and Not Pugnacious