Category: Christian Life
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Dealing With Our Differences
Psalm 133 says: How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity! But what about when we differ? Can we still dwell together in unity when we do not have uniformity? Roger Nicole offers insights: How to Deal With Those Who Differ From Us. Or, you can read this essay in sections:…
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Counterfeit Gods
In his reletively recent book, Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller explains what a counterfeit god is and describes how to make one – as we are so prone to do: A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. And idol has such…
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Passing the Baton
This past spring my wife and I would spend a few afternoons each week attending the track meets of our junior high daughter and our high school Senior son. While each child has different specialties, both particpated on relay teams. Few things offered as much pleasure as sitting out in the Spring-time sun, and watching our kids receive,…
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I Want Change
Change is inevitable, but it is not always pleasant. But perhaps even less pleasant than unexpected change is the lack of change when it is desired and needed – particularly change in ourselves and in our spiritual development. The questions are common: How Can I Change? When Will I Change? C.J. Mahaney & Robin Boisvert…
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Some Aspects of Sin
Something I have long found intriguing: In the opening chapter of his book, Holiness, J.C. Ryle dedicates his entire attention to the subject of Sin. At first I wondered why that was. Eventually I realized that we cannot grow in holiness unless we understand our very real condition and the effects it has on us. Just what is sin, though? The…
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Growth in Grace
by Archibald Alexander The following essay by Archibald Alexander, first president of Princeton Theological Seminary, is a masterpiece integrating sound doctrine, practice, and personal experience. I have appreciated Archibald Alexander’s insights for more than a decade now, perhaps none more than this classic. Christians in this generation would find great refreshment if only we would, at least occasionally, drink…
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7 Maxims of Repentance
Jesus said: “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 26.46-47) Seemingly few recognize that repentance is part of the message of the Great Commission. But that is…
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Benefitting in the Benefactor
Sinclair Ferguson offers this wise insight about the gospel-centered life: “…we must never separate the benefits (regeneration, justification, sanctification) from the Benefactor (Jesus Christ). The Christians who are most focused on their own spirituality may give the impression of being the most spiritual … but from the New Testament’s point of view, those who have…
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Spiritual Pride
Here is a great insight from Jonathan Edwards as relevant today as it was in his Colonial American culture: The first and worst cause of error that prevails in our day is spiritual pride. This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of…
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God’s Workmanship
One of the glories of Christianity is the assurance that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2.10). This statement by Paul that we are “created” does not simply refer to our physical formation, as God has, of course, created all…
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Scandalous Freedom
In his book A Scandalous Freedom, Steve Brown provocatively writes: They lied to you about being a Christian. When you first “joined the club,” they promised you’d be set free. But let’s get honest, you’re not free. In fact, you’re religious, afraid, guilty, and bound. What’s worse, now that you’ve been in the club…
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Gospel Discipling: Gospel & Renewal
Not only is Gospel discipling the very heart of discipleship within churches, it is also the critical issue in the matter of renewal or revival in the church at large. Dr. Richard Lovelace, in his modern classic work Dynamics of Spiritual Life, asks why the Church must think in terms of what he calls “cyclical…
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10 Dumbest Things Christians Do
There is a book out there with the title: The 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do. I feel compelled to pick up a book with a title like that. I want to see how many of these 10 dumb things I am guilty of doing. I don’t know if the list the author, Mark Atteberry, compiled is right…
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Ah!! You Just Said a BAD Word!
Tony Campolo is famous – or infamous – for a statement made at a Christian college chapel service: “The United Nations reports that over ten thousand people starve to death each day, and most of you don’t give a SH%T. However, what is even more tragic is that most of you are more concerned about…
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Taking Pieces of Heaven to Place of Hell On Earth
Jesus says: “I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not stand up…” –Matthew 16.18 First it is important to remind ourselves that in this challenge Jesus is calling his church to take an Offensive stike, not a Defensive response. The church is to take the initiative, go, and storm the gates. This verse…
