Gospel-Focused Preaching
Gospel-focused preaching has a two-fold aim: the saving of souls and helping believers better understand and appreciate the gospel.
Go Work in the Vineyard Today
One of Jesus’ shortest parables has always stuck out to me — even haunted me. Just these few verses make me examine myself to see who I really am as a Christian, and often, I don’t like what I see. “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first […]
Hardening of the Heart
Arteriosclerosis is a physical health condition brought on when plaque and cholesterol form in our arteries and cause them to harden and lose their elasticity. Over time, arteriosclerosis can completely close an artery, thus depriving the body of vital oxygen-rich blood and leading to physical death. However, if discovered in the early stages, the condition […]
How do we reconcile divine grace and human responsibility in the work of salvation?
How do we reconcile divine grace and human responsibility in the work of salvation? Ephesians 2:8 is maybe the best verse for understanding the divine-human dynamic in the work of salvation. Through this text we can assert, by introduction, that these two are reconciled within a particular covenant relationship. Let’s look: “For by grace […]
A Faith Like Rhoda’s
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1, NASB). Faith can be such a challenging concept: assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. It is so hard to trust in things we cannot see. In fact, it may seem foolish to do […]
“I’m Going to Kill Myself”
Many years ago, when I married Troy, I did not know he had told people that he would kill himself. While we were dating, I felt uncomfortable in my relationship with Troy. When I tried to tell him that we needed to “cool it,” he became upset. Each time he cried and said, “I don’t […]
We’re Not There Yet
Prior to a study trip to Israel in 2014, I understood it was the Promised Land, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” I was not expecting there to be so much desert, so much desolate country, or so many rocks. I’d read the story of the twelve spies coming home with a single cluster […]
Evangelism and Discipleship: Jesus is Not A Used Car
The great commission is to make disciples, not converts, and so our evangelistic methods should be in keeping with our goal.
Has the church replaced Israel in the promises of God?
Has the church replaced Israel in the promises of God? This important question requires more space than we usually dedicate to a Q&A, so we’re taking two pages to address it. The question probes an obvious difference between the Bible’s testaments: the Old is mostly about God’s people, the children of Israel, while Jesus Christ […]
Cheeses and Crackers
In 1959, my family moved thirty miles across Los Angeles. We brought our two cats with us — Cheeses and Crackers. After a few days in our new home, Cheeses disappeared and never returned. But Crackers seemed content with her new surroundings and stayed with us for the next ten years until she passed away […]
