A Gospel Litmus Test for Churches and Christians
The way a church articulates (directly and indirectly) the Gospel is a really good litmus test for that church’s fidelity to the Bible.
I’d like to propose this sentence as a good way to understand the Gospel: “ALL are welcome to come as they are, and NONE are welcome to stay as they are.”
Is it an “Easy Yoke” or a “Daily Cross”?
Is Christianity supposed to be easy, even restful? Or is Christianity supposed to be hard, a daily ‘death to self’ that demands much of us?
Making Most of the Day: The Unique Value of Today
“Today will never come again.” I think that’s a profoundly helpful way to see our lives.
Should Christians read Jonah as History or Parable?
The issue isn’t one of “should we read Jonah?”, but rather “how should we read Jonah?
“3D Gospel” by Jayson Georges Review (Strong Recommendation)
“The 3D Gospel: Ministry in Guilt, Shame, and Fear Cultures” by Jayson Georges is one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. This short book (only roughly 65 pages on my Kindle, not including publishing information, end notes, etc.) is probably the book I most frequently recommend. I would suggest anyone reading this review to…
Isaiah 55 Prayer Devotional
This devotional is intended to be a guide through a time of reflective prayer based off of Isaiah 55.
Jonah Sermon Series by Tim Mackie/Bible Project
I think most Christians would be edified and benefitted to hear the Gospel implications that Mackie teases out of the book of Jonah.
“Do you love Me?” An Examination of Jesus’ Restoration of Peter in John 21
This is one of the many passages that loses much of its message in English. Let’s look at a few key phrases in the original Greek.
Judas and Peter: A Case Study on Repentance
Let’s look at the failure of both Judas and Peter, and see what we can learn.
What Does God Want from Me?
“What should the interaction between the Divine and humanity look like?” Or, to put it more personally, “What does God want from me?”
Philippians 4: Paul Shows Us How to Functionally Center Ourselves on God
In the fourth chapter of the book of Philippians, Paul gives us some of the most famous and memorable verses in the Bible.
Beyond just being one of Paul’s “greatest hits”, there is some tremendously practical and approachable wisdom being given. Let’s look at a few things that stand out in Philippians 4:4-13.
Psalm 113: The Greatness and the Goodness of God
The God of the Bible is both great (holy, transcendent, powerful) and good (full of mercy, kindness, and compassion.) Any view of God that doesn’t hold both of these attributes simultaneously is going to misunderstand Who He is.
What Is (and Isn’t) Repentance?
Repentance is a matter of the present tense. Real repentance has to do with how you are currently responding to your current conviction. You can really repent, and still struggle.
Pride, Shame, and Humility, and How to Grow as a Christian
The way we grow in humility is to look at Jesus. To keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. This is the best path to all Christian growth.
Apologetics 1: Suggested “Rules of Engagement” for Talking with People Currently Outside the Christian Faith
Your testimony is powerful! But testimony alone isn’t enough: Muslims, Buddhists, etc have testimonies, perceived personal experience with the divine. You need something beyond just this.
Why the Resurrection of Jesus was Unprecedented in the Bible
What does it mean that Jesus was the “firstborn from the dead”?
“What If” vs. “Even If”: A Practical Path to Peace
In Christ, God has promised that all things will be redeemed for His people. He WILL overcome the world, and its brokenness.
“Godliness with Contentment” Lesson and Reflection
What does it mean for a Christian to be godly? What does it mean for a Christian to be content? How do those concepts intersect? And what do you do with that?
To What Standard Should We Work and Live?
What are your thoughts about the phrase “Do your best”? Is that how God wants us to live?
Don’t Worry About What Others Think?
Our society can be quick to offer the advice, “Don’t care about what other people think.” Is that advice the Bible would agree with?
A Brief Testimony on Striving
My best is an unsustainable standard. I can’t live at “my best”. And my best, or trying my hardest, won’t guarantee success, even when I do that.
At the core of Christianity is the reality that our best CANNOT be sufficient.
Review of John Ortberg’s “Eternity is Now in Session”
“Eternity is Now in Session” (2018) is a fairly short book by John Ortberg, clocking in at 173 pages. Ortberg was a close personal friend of Dallas Willard, and Willard’s thoughts and theology are all over these pages. In brief, this book strikes me as a much-simplified repackaging of some of the key points of…
Two Common Questions About Missions
There are two BIG questions that people tend to want answered before they become missionaries: 1) Is God “calling” me? And 2) What would I do?
On Joy and Hope
I think we might be well served to understand joy as less of a ceiling (the highest state or expression of good emotions), and more of a floor (a foundation upon which other emotions are experienced).
TR Hartley 