To Preach or Be Personable As I survey the landscape of much of Christian ministry, it seems clear that the preferred evangelistic method of the day is to be relational, and missional. For many, the days of preaching the gospel openly to a crowd (at church or anywhere) and calling for people to believe then […]
When I Knew Everything I had been a Christian for two years. I was sitting in a service at a church I’d recently started attending. As I listened to the pastor preach his sermon I found myself asking hosts of critical and, I thought, righteous questions. “What is this guy even talking about? Why doesn’t […]
SAINT PATRICK: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY Saint Patrick, the great fifth century Christian missionary to Ireland, has historically been a most intriguing and obscure figure to the Christian church, as well as the entire world. Countless myths and legends have been told about this man. Many poems and stories have been written about him. Many […]
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 In this post, my third and final post on soteriology, I wanted to think about the atonement. Along with the resurgence of Calvinism and the dawning of […]
“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 The Clueless Pastor I’ll never forget attending a conference in Washington two months into being a lead pastor. It was the annual conference that Pastor […]
“…He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”[1] In my last post I said that in following posts we’d be taking a look at what I’d call a “moderate” and more biblical perspective on Soteriology in contrast to the classic Calvinistic and Arminian systems of Soteriology. Specifically in […]
“…we trust in the living God, who is [the] Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.” 1 Timothy 4:10b Brain Cramps Over the past ten years of my life as a follower of Jesus perhaps no theological category has caused me to spend hours reading, thinking, and processing as much as the […]
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:7-8 “Then I, […]
“Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”[1] – Luke speaking of Jesus “I also look at the men God gathered around me and I sort of chuckle as […]
“Now John answered and said, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.’”[1] “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to […]