Faith (and Flexibility) of Our Fathers
Knox provides grounded counsel as to how the church might carry on its operation in his absence—and not only his personal absence, but also in the current absence of any duly ordained Protestant ministers.
There has been discussion recently of the spiritual “wastelands” in our own country, in terms of the relative paucity of a Reformed and Presbyterian presence in some regions. Might we then take a page out of the book of the Father of Presbyterianism and think through ways of putting similar not-ideal-but-sufficient-for-the-time-being Presbyterian measures in place?... Continue Reading
A Counseling Commentary on James: Wisdom vs. Strategy
What Is Wisdom?
Wisdom is not a mere matching quiz between biblical principles and life situations. Biblical wisdom is the embodiment of God’s character carrying out God’s agenda redemptively in a broken world. Intelligence is no big advantage to obtaining this kind of wisdom. It is as accessible to the simple as it is the brilliant. The power... Continue Reading
They Did Not Destroy the Peoples | Psalm 106:34-39
Jesus is commanding His followers to a holy war no less extreme than the conquest of Canaan.
If we make peace with our sin, no matter how insignificant it appears, we fall into the same corruption that Israel did. Christ summons us to fight a holy war against our own sinful flesh. While the decisive battle of this war was won upon the cross, making our victory secure, the conflict will not... Continue Reading
7 Biblical Ways to Care for Your Wife
We must learn to live out of our union with Christ and to listen to all that his word teaches us about our responsibilities as husbands if we are to ever truly care for the needs of our wives.
All of these things must, of course, be pursued in the context of our own relationship with Christ. It is only through union with Jesus—in his death and resurrection—that you will ever be able to begin to love and care for your wife in these ways. When we fail (and we will most certainly fail), we... Continue Reading
Shocked by Surprise
It can be said that humans have value, but in a godless society, the foundation for that idea crumbles.
I am shocked at the surprise. Our world is experiencing the fruit of rejecting God and his standard. I hope that the world sees the absolute insanity that this godless worldview produces, and the inconsistency of thought that is required to express outrage at injustice and evil. The God of the Bible loves justice and... Continue Reading
Elders, Love Your Family More Than You Love Your Church
The better he can love and serve his family, the better he will be able to love and serve his flock.
If a pastor is not actively living his life “above reproach” and is allowed to continue in his role as an elder/pastor, there are potentially dangerous consequences for him. Paul warns that ministers can “fall into disgrace” and then “into the snare of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:7). Again, this is significant. As brothers in Christ, we should never allow... Continue Reading
Why Did Jesus Curse a Fig Tree? (Matthew 21)
Jesus as Lord and Judge
When Jesus judges the fig tree, he foretells judgment not on all Israelites but on those who, like the luxuriantly leafy but fruitless tree, appear to be alive but are barren (Matt. 13:22). Jesus has just inspected the temple and found it wanting. The spectacle of worship—the priests, the music, the sacrifices, the gleaming buildings—is... Continue Reading
Christian, There is Blood on Your Armor
As for your battered armor, it is not a disgrace but an homage to your Lord.
In all your conflicts, it never failed you. In all your injuries, it preserved your life even when your body failed because the kind of life it protects is similar to the battle in which it is engaged. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, and this armor never... Continue Reading
Sit at the Feet of Loss
What Endings Teach the Living
What are your endings revealing? For if we pay careful attention, they will reveal to us what we’ve truly placed our faith in, what is truly our ultimate source of hope, and what is truly our greatest treasure. They are important lessons to learn. For all we will carry with us beyond our death is our... Continue Reading
Is Sermon Application Legalism?
Application is a crucial step in biblical exegesis and preaching.
Declaring and obeying God’s commands is not legalism. Legalism is seeking to obey God’s commands in order to be right with God. Biblical obedience is seeking to obey God’s commands because a Christian is already right with God through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Confusion on this point can lead to a significant distortion... Continue Reading
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