Will You Not Be Accepted? (Genesis 4:3-7; Matthew 5:21-24)
After the fall, two brothers brought offerings to the Lord, but only one was accepted: And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord […]
Dealing with Faltering Assurance
I received via email this excellent question about assurance: I so appreciate your ministry and your desire to clearly present the gospel, and I’m hoping you can share some thoughts on something that has started to trouble me. I have believed in Jesus to save me, but lately, my assurance has been faltering. And yes, […]
Tips for Having an Evangelistic Conversation (Colossians 4:5-6)
How can you have a conversation with people about your faith? I mean a real conversation. Not a fight. Or an argument. Or a clash of egos. I mean a dialogue in which you’re hearing the other person, and that person hears you, and both sides are genuinely listening. Here’s a video by apologist Greg […]
Confession, Not Deflection (Genesis 3:11-13; 1 John 1:9)
Do you find it easy to take responsibility for your sins, or is your knee-jerk reaction to try and shift the blame to others? If you look up the term “deflection” or “blame-shifting,” most of the articles will tell you that it is a psychological disorder that characterizes narcissists and psychopaths. And many of those […]
Five Differences Between Perseverance of the Saints and Eternal Security
Q. What’s the difference between eternal security, or OSAS (once saved, always saved), and perseverance of the saints (POTS)? Aren’t they the same thing? A. Well, they are often taken to be the same doctrine, but they shouldn’t be. I admit that some people use the terms interchangeably. But I think we should be more […]
Figuring Out When You Were Born Again
At our church we sometimes sing a song called, “Somebody Touched Me.” You are to stand on the day of the week in which you were born again. After going through seven verses for Monday through Sunday, we sing a seventh verse, “It was on a one day, somebody touched me…” About half our assembly […]
Do We Need to Convince People That They Need Salvation?
A lot of Evangelicals suggest that before we share the promise of everlasting life to the one who believes in Jesus (or, as the Lordship Salvation person would say, to the one who commits his life to Christ, obeys Christ, and perseveres in obedience), we must first convince the person we are talking with that […]
Fake Converse All-Stars and James 2:17
When I was in elementary school, Chuck Taylor’s Converse All-Stars were the shoes to wear. So I begged my mom for some, and to my surprise, she agreed. I couldn’t wait to get my own pair of the canvas high tops with the coveted star on the ankle. I would finally fit in! When Mom […]
Conducting Family Worship During the Coronavirus
Over the next few weeks, due to coronavirus restrictions, many churches will be doing online services and you will be worshiping at home. The current situation is a good reminder that the Church is the people, not the building. The buildings might close, but the Body of Christ goes on. I pray that doing online […]
In Times of Crisis, Don’t Forget Your Neighbor
When the plague struck Wittenberg, Germany, in 1527, people wrote to Martin Luther, asking his advice about what to do. In particular, he was asked whether it was right to run away from the plague. Luther said it depended. On what? On who you are. What role do you have in life? Whether or not […]