Tag: Bible

The Blessings of Forgiveness

This series was first published in April 2016. -ed. Forgiveness is Christianity at its highest level. It reflects God’s immense forgiveness through Christ, and no human expression of forgiveness could ever surpass what Christ has done for us. But extending forgiveness to others also brings with it great blessings upon the Christian life. Let’s conclude… Continue reading The Blessings of Forgiveness

For What “Good” Is God Working All Things Together?

This post was originally published in September 2015. -ed. You’ve probably heard the proverb “Familiarity breeds contempt.” That’s often true with relationships and institutions, as your close proximity reveals cracks and blemishes you wouldn’t notice in passing. However, when it comes to Scripture, familiarity usually breeds carelessness. Many of the “Frequently Abused Verses” we’re considering have… Continue reading For What “Good” Is God Working All Things Together?

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