Why Am I a Zero-Point Calvinist?
Today, I recorded a seven-minute YouTube video with this same title. It should go up on the Grace Evangelical Society YouTube channel around the time this blog posts. When I graduated from DTS in 1982, I called myself a Calvinist. I considered myself a three-pointer. I’ve come to realize that all five points are a […]
Religion Won’t Cut It (Luke 5:12-15)
Throughout church history, people have been duped into believing that they could receive wonderful spiritual benefits from religious rituals. Churches have promised the forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation if people submit to baptism, take communion, or join their ranks. Of course, to keep those blessings, the folks must continue in the teachings of the […]
Public or Private Rebuke?
At a recent men’s conference in Springfield, Missouri, Mark Driscoll, the well-known former pastor of Mars Hill, was booted off stage during his guest speaking appearance. The “Stronger Men’s Conference” was hosted by the James River Church, which is pastored by John Lindell. The conference’s stated purpose was to equip men to “live out God’s […]
Why I Like, “I Believe”, the Amazon Prime Movie
Sharon told me about the movie and suggested we watch it. Amazon Prime members can watch the movie at no added cost. The trailer for the movie sounds like a Focused Free Grace presentation: The pastor asks the boy, “Do you believe in Jesus?” The boy responds, “Yes, I believe.” You can see the trailer […]
The Man in the Shadows
The tragedy of the WWII Holocaust defies imagination. Many people were responsible for that level of death and destruction. But if we had to pick the one person most responsible for the deaths of millions, many would pick Adolf Eichmann. At first, this seems illogical. At the close of WWII, when the Allies hunted down […]
What Is the Difference Between Trusting God and Believing Him?
Yesterday at church, we sang the song “Trust and Obey.” That led to this blog. Is trust and obey the same as believe and obey? When we believe God, we are persuaded or convinced that what He said is true. Joshua and Caleb believed God when He promised to give Israel the land of Canaan […]
Which World Do We Love?
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give […]
These Things Will Be Dissolved
When I was in the military, I had the opportunity to speak in many different chapels. Some were very simple. One even met in a former storage facility. But others were impressive, historic buildings. One was even featured in a popular Hollywood movie. But the most impressive-looking church at which I’ve spoken was in Portland, […]
What Three Words Are Essential in Evangelism?
I remember reading an article entitled “One Verse Evangelism.” The author suggested sticking to one verse, as reading many verses can be overwhelming and confusing. I took a course on salvation from Dr. Charles Ryrie. At the start of one class, he said, “You’ve come to the scene of a car accident. You get out, […]
Watch Out for Greed
One of the most interesting people in the OT is a man by the name of Balaam. His story is found in Numbers 22–24. He is a prophet, and God communicates with him. However, he also loves money. This love for money causes him to do some dumb things. He offers his services to a […]