Inflexible Theology
A family friend recently started working with a Christian ministry that focuses on youth. She told them that she believes in the gospel of grace and that she enjoys the ministry of GES. The youth ministry claims that it agrees with the Bible’s teaching regarding grace. But our friend noticed that in certain areas, those […]
What’s the Difference Between a Pastor and a Teacher? Ephesians 4:11
I heard a good sermon on unity this past Sunday. At one point, the message touched on Eph 4:11, which says, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” Have you ever wondered what Paul meant by pastors and teachers? Did you know that Eph 4:11 […]
Did Anybody in the Bible Ever Ask God about Everlasting Life?
Some Christian traditions say that God does not hear the prayers of unbelievers. But weren’t there people in the Bible who asked God about everlasting life and, as a result, came to faith in Christ and were born again? A simple survey of the Bible shows that God does hear the prayers of unbelievers and […]
Context Nazi
We live in a postmodern age in which truth is not only flexible; it’s non-existent. This impacts every area of our lives, including our theology. A clear example of this can occur when we discuss Bible passages. If we hear somebody quote a verse completely out of context, we might be tempted to point out […]
In the Weeds
In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, found in Matt 13:24-30, the Lord tells a story about a man who goes into a field and sows good seed. However, after he sows that seed, his enemy comes and sows bad seed in with the wheat. Because of this, the bad seed springs up […]
How to Grieve as Those Who Have Hope (1 Thess 4:13-18)
Grief is painful. We all face grief often in our lifetimes. Some grief is relatively minor (broken bones, financial losses, crooked politicians and pastors, betrayal, etc.). But when we lose a loved one, the grief can be overwhelming. One of the greatest Rapture passages in the Bible is 1 Thess 4:13-18. Evidently, in the church […]
Why Is It Good That Believers Can Fall Away?
This idea came to me in a dream last night. I’ve been taking one milligram of melatonin at night, and my dreams have become more vivid. I’m not suggesting that this blog idea is inspired by God or melatonin. But I liked the idea I had. Do you permit your children the possibility of failure? […]
What Is “The Gospel of Your Salvation” in Ephesians 1:13?
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” I was reading a booklet published by Lighthouse Trails and was reminded of the expression “the gospel of your salvation.” I could not remember […]
Regional GES Conferences Are Fun
As I write this, I have just returned from a regional GES conference held at Schomburg Road Baptist Church in Columbus, GA. An old friend, Buddy Lamb, is the pastor. The conference focused on Bob Wilkin’s book The Ten Most Misunderstood Words in the Bible. Kathryn Wright and I covered repentance, faith, heaven, salvation, and […]
What’s the Deal with the Genealogies? (Luke 3:23-38)
Both Matthew (Matt 1:1-17) and Luke (3:23-38) include the genealogy of Christ in their Gospels. I’m pretty sure that most readers read over all those names fairly quickly, or even skip those verses all together. These verses have to win the prize for each book’s most boring section. We can’t even pronounce 80% of the […]