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5 Marks of Revived Churches
Ray Ortland proposes there are five constants in all historic instances of biblical revival. Awareness of God’s presence Responsiveness to God’s Word Sensitiveness to sin Liveliness in community Fruitfulness in testimony These are important features. To read Ortlands elaboration click: Revived
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The Great Omission
I’ve been reading Dallas Willard’s The Great Omission. This book is a compilation of essay’s Willard has written through the years. Most of those essays are available online. They are each able to stand alone, and all are worth the read. Why Bother With Discipleship? Who is Your Teacher? Looking Like Jesus The Key to…
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What Happens at an Atheist Concert?
USA Today reported last week that the US Army has approved an atheist-themed concert at Fort Bragg (NC) after a group complained that they had not received the same support as did organizers of an Evangelical event held last year. Among those scheduled to appear is Richard Dawkins. I didn’t know Dawkins was a singer!…
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5 Truths About Forgiveness
Mark Twain describes forgiveness this way: Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heal that has crushed it. What beautifully apropos imagery. In a recent post I listed 5 Myths About Forgiveness, taken from an article by Sam Storms. What I didn’t do in that post is describe what forgiveness is. So in this…
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5 Myths About Forgiveness
In the movie Just Friends pop singer Samantha James (Anna Faris) lyrically muses: “Forgiveness is more than saying ‘Sorry’” Earlier this week I had a conversation with a friend who had been accused by a woman from his church of being “unforgiving” because he was hesitant to re-hire a man who had been fired for cause…
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3 Lane Escape from Moralism
I am thankful to Joe Thorn for concisely clarifying an issue that I believe confounds many well intentioned Christians. The problem addressed is the confusion of moralism with the gospel. In many case moralism is an attempt to take seriously both God and the Christian faith. Nevertheless, moralism is off track. In a post titled…
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How Can I Be Sure I Would?
Steve Timmis of The Crowded House and co-author of the book Total Church posed the following questions and thoughts for reflection: How can I be sure I would lay down my life for sake of Jesus & the gospel? Perhaps I’ll be like Peter in his bravado and subsequent denial? Can’t ultimately be sure until…
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4 Keys to Cultivating Inner Peace
How can one cultivate genuine inner peace? Thomas a Kempis suggests embracing the following four attitudes and practices: Seek to do the will of others rather than your own. (Matthew 26.39; John 5.30; John 6.38) Always choose to have less rather than more. (1 Corinthians 10.24) Always seek the lowest place and consider others better…
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5 Key Missional Questions
In this video Jonathan Dodson answers important questions like: Who are you? Is the Gospel dangerous? What does risk look like in following Jesus? How are we called and equipped for the risk that comes with mission? How does entertainment prohibit mission? How does the gospel compel risky mission? You can also read Dodson’s follow-up…
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Spiritual Formation Beyond Decency
We must stop using the fact that we cannot earn grace (whether for justification of for sanctification) as an excuse for not energetically seekng to receive grace. Having been found by God, we then become seekers of ever-fuller life in him. Grace is opposes to earning, not effort. The realities of Christian spiritual formation are…
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Christ-likeness: The Purpose of God for His People
by John R.W. Stott I remember very vividly, some years ago, that the question which perplexed me as a younger Christian (and some of my friends as well) was this: what is God’s purpose for His people? Granted that we have been converted, granted that we have been saved and received new life in Jesus Christ,…
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John R.W. Stott: A Memorial Tribute
A video memorial for John R.W. Stott, who passed from this life today. Few if any have had as much influence on my Biblical understanding and holistic theology as did John Stott through his writings and lectures. John R.W. Stott (April 27, 1921 – July 27, 2011) R.I.P.
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Drilling Down
I have greatly benefited from being introduced to Tri-Perspectivalism. While it is an odd sounding word, as a concept Tri-Perpectivalism is reasonably easy to grasp. It is a multi-facted perspective, or looking at things from three distinct perspectives, rooted in the personality and offices of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King. John Frame was probably the first to touch upon this…
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Worship God Seeks
I wonder what would become of the worship wars in our congregations if we recognized the truth in what worship leader/songwriter David Ruis expresses: “The worship God is seeking relies completely on His initiative, knowing that the only true expression of worship is through the abandonment of all our agendas for His, as we trust…
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