All Posts

All Posts

Was Timothy Timid? Are You?

A popular view of Timothy is that he was a timid young man. There might be some truth to that, based upon Second Timothy 1:6-7, “For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (NAS). Or consider Paul’s words to the Corinthians, “Now if Timothy comes, see that…

My Darkest Night; Hopefully Not Yours

At 3:30 a.m., I awoke to a black room, so dark that my eyes could not see even one inch away, much less to the other side. The simple room in a Romanian home in Brasov had one of those metal external shades that is lowered over the window, capable of completely deleting light. I was in the darkest place I had been in perhaps for years. And, since it was night and I was alone in the house, I…

God Above All Governments

You may disagree, but I believe biblical history and subsequent Christian history demonstrates that radical internal holiness, godly enthusiasm to follow Christ, and courageous truth-inspired faith in him regardless of the societal externals or the diffidence and even hatred of those around us, do more to accomplish the will of God in the world than the seating of any government over the people. The government may or may not support the Christian viewpoint. It did not in New Testament days…

Above Reproach — But What About the Kids?

The wise Apostle Paul insists that overseers be above reproach. By overseers he means those who not only are called by that title, but also that of pastor or elder. These words are used for the same person. That person, that overseer, that pastor, that elder, MUST be above reproach. Between Paul’s words — “IF ANYONE IS ABOVE REPROACH” — and “AN OVERSEER, AS GOD’S STEWARD, MUST BE ABOVE REPROACH,” he brings the family into our perview. See what I…

How We Use Our Statement of Faith

Churches have historically used confessions or statements of faith in order to summarize and clearly identify what they believe. Many historical confessions have been preserved, and are used by churches to this day. Instead of adopting an historical confession, we have chosen to use the following summary of biblical doctrine, entitled Holding Fast the Word of Life, as our statement of beliefs. Listed below are several important things you should understand about the purpose of our statement of faith, and…

Getting John 1:12 Right: Should You Invite Jesus Into Your Heart?

Is it useful to critique any person’s or ministry’s method of evangelism? For one thing, there are not enough people calling on others to follow Christ. Should I attempt to cripple anyone’s efforts in the slightest way, even for the few who might listen to me? I hope I will not. I would rather think that I’m improving our evangelism. And it does need improving. The apparent results of the method of evangelistic appeal built upon the verse in question…

An Amazing Promise NOT for You (Jeremiah 29:10-14)

10 “For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.13 You will seek Me and…

HALLOWEEN or REFORMATION by guest author Ron Owens

While millions will be celebrating HALLOWEEN, and spending over $13,000,000,000 (billion) this coming Saturday, how many of us will be celebrating REFORMATION DAY, or even be thinking of what happened on October 31, 1517, 509 years ago? Who would have suspected that the sound of a hammer striking the Castle Church (Schlosskirche) door in Wittenberg, Germany on that day would be heard around the world, and ultimately lead to one of the greatest transformations of Western society since the Apostles…

What Parents Can Do if They Contributed to Their Teens’ Rebellion

We all have regrets. You might wish you had continued those piano lessons. Or perhaps you’re sorry you didn’t spend more time with your grandparents before their passing. One of the worst regrets in life is looking back and saying, “I was such an absent father,” or, “If only I had done things differently as a mother, maybe my children would love the Lord today.” I’ve known some parents of teenagers who had major regrets. They knew Ephesians 6:4 by…

Unplanned, Timely Conversations: A Letter from Steve

Dear CCW Family, Jim and Pam are on the road as I write. They left earlier in October and will be gone most of the month traveling in the southern and eastern US. They are visiting family and friends, Jim is engaged in various Bible teaching opportunities, and they are sharing the gospel with anyone who will listen. I have talked with Jim multiple times since their departure. He is so appreciative of your prayers. Soon after Jim and Pam…

Good Works Are Not Your Problem

Rather than writing off good works, the Apostle Paul considered good works and faith to be the closest of friends. The Christian life is “faith working through love” (Gal 5:6). In fact, Christ “gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good deeds.” Good works are a major reason Christ died for you. Don’t think little of them. Rather, it is Mosaic Law-works (such…

Anathema: 1 Corinthians 16:22

“Let anyone who has no love for the Lord be accursed.” (1 Cor 16:22, NET) This verse seems to dangle there with no immediately apparent connection to what precedes it or follows. Paul placed this thought in the very last handful of sentences in the first letter to the Corinthians. He’s given the readers some final punctuated reminders to end up his long epistle. It has a strength there, even if all alone. But maybe it’s not totally alone. It’s…

The Son Sent

Jesus came from the Father, not sent from God  like John the Baptist, or like Jesus sent the disciples, or like Paul sent Timothy, but uniquely sent from the Father himself having for eternity past enjoyed the glory of heaven, the glory of unbroken communion with the Father, and the glory of his own existence. “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. “I have manifested your…

God Doesn’t Need You

“He is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17 Paul on Mars Hill in Athens proclaimed the entire self-sufficiency of God. We are his body, it is true, which is the fullness or completion of the Head. He uses us. But he needs nothing from us. Let that sink in. We do not add to him in any way, but rather, he gives…

The Surpassing Worth of KNOWING Christ

Most do not understand the implications and ramifications of KNOWING Christ. It has a comparative value. Notice what one like Paul will forfeit to know Christ. I’m quoting only part of the long sentence, but it conveys what I want you to see: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered…