Simply put, Jesus teaches in parables to demonstrate the need for divine revelation to understand the mysteries of the kingdom and to reveal the spiritual condition of his listeners. Both of these realities are grounded in his understanding of Isaiah 6:9–10.   Although Jesus was not the first to use parables in his teaching, his extensive... Continue Reading

Of course, Christians are called to be gentle. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Harshness should have no place in a Christian family. But this title obscures the full biblical truth. What type of parenting has a correct biblical balance? Biblical parenting is about authority and affection. Those two qualities are seen... Continue Reading

Our lives look the same as our neighbours. Our habits and the rhythms of our households look the same as everyone else of our social class who lives in our place. When we turn to more structural things, from the shape of the household to the objects we purchase and what we do for a... Continue Reading

We are too weak and this world is too broken to escape all difficulties. But with God’s help we can escape their futility, we can escape their power to defeat and destroy us. With His help we can receive those difficulties as falling within the bounds of his sovereignty, we can receive them as his... Continue Reading

Every journey begins with a single step and that is true of so many of those who leave the church. They leave by inches. They leave without meaning to. They leave because they have not been adequately cautioned about the coming challenges—that what seems like a time of exciting new experiences and new starts, may... Continue Reading

Not every loyalty in this world is for life. Some friendships fade and church memberships transfer and jobs transition for upright reasons. But those who remain loyal longer than their flesh wants, and longer than the world advises, will discover the stunning loveliness born of loyalty, the untold blessings of being bound.   In our... Continue Reading

While you may never love to wait, you can transform gap moments into an opportunity for spiritual growth. Rather than wasting your waiting, you can worship your way through it.   Wait for the Lord Do you know anyone who likes to wait? I don’t. If you were to take a quick survey, there’d be... Continue Reading

The process of character formation—requires not only knowing what is good but also activating the spirit so that the heart wants to choose the good. The art of fashioning the soul helps to unify the spirit with the mind.    My students rarely know what kindness really means. When they provide feedback on their classmates’... Continue Reading

When I hear kid noises, it means that seeds are being planted, however small, in the hearts of the next generation. It is no small thing to have children present while the living and active word of God is being proclaimed. I love kid noises.   On Sunday morning, we sit in the “families-with-small-kids” section.... Continue Reading

Every leader can grow from criticism, regardless of source or intention….But that truth doesn’t let the one offering criticism off the hook. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Paul says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” The author of Hebrews says, “And let us consider how we... Continue Reading