When we consider our union with Christ as believers, it should greatly encourage us. For starters, as we go through life in this broken world we are not alone. We are united to our beloved Lord and Savior. The New Testament uses different imagery to depict this union, like “a spiritual house” (1 Pet
Evan Jones – Supporting the Cherokees on the Trail of Tears May 26, 1838, was the start of the so-called Trail of Tears, when about 15,000 men, women, and children of the Cherokee nation were forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River, relinquishing most of their goods, and to migrate
Ask the question another way. Is there such a thing as a pastor who does not need to grow? Is there such a thing as a Christian who does not need to grow? To whom is 2Peter 1:1-11 and 3:17-18 addressed? Is there such a thing as a Christian who does not have sin of […]
If you’re anything like me you likely have a long prayer list filled with petitions for family, friends, neighbors and church members. It is good and right to pray for one another as we walk through life in this broken world. We weep with those who weep as we pray for a broken marriage, a […]
The History of Unrealistic Expectations Placed upon Pastors Throughout the history of the church, pastors have been burdened with expectations that exceed both biblical warrant and human capacity. While pastoral ministry has always carried weighty responsibility, the modern period, particularly in t
It was time for me to leave. When I took the call to a congregational Baptist church four years earlier, I didn’t know that I would soon undergo the change of a lifetime—a change of my convictions. The church’s doctrinal statement was the Apostle’s Creed – that’s it. So, as my convictions began to t
When you think about God, what comes to mind? The answer is very important. Hopefully, you can say with David, “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!” (Psalm 139:17) as you think about His protection, presence, purpose, penalty, and purity. God’s Protection Psalm 139, composed by David for th
In understanding the Reformation commitment to Sola Scriptura, it has become increasingly necessary to distinguish this truth from the distorted error of Solo Scriptura – an error that Rome wrongly attributes to the Reformers but also, ironically, an error that many Protestants have e
Life is filled with twists and turns that trouble us. An evil person may intend us harm. Our home might lie in the pathway of a terrible storm. A child may have made poor decisions leading to addiction. A family member may seem set on ruining our reputation. A medical diagnosis may change the trajec
Earlier this month, a group of art experts in Amsterdam dropped an art world bombshell: “Rijksmuseum Researchers Discover New Painting by Rembrandt van Rijn.” The painting in question, Vision of Zacharias in the Temple, had been rejected by scholars as inauthentic since 1960. After recently finding
