Articles
The Guarantee of Holiness
“Say not that thou hast royal blood in thy veins and art born of God,” said puritan William Gurnall, “unless thou canst prove thy pedigree by daring to be holy.” There is no such thing as an unholy Christian (at least in any ongoing sense.) Can Christians commit any sort of sin? Yes. Can Christians repeatedly commit sin? Yes. Can Christians commit the worst of sins? Yes. But it is inconceivable that a person could be a Christian without holiness…
Christian Communicators Worldwide: The Impetus to Do It
This year Christian Communicators Worldwide is 40 years old. Before the inauguration of the CCW ministry, the elderly J. Oswald Sanders came into my life. I had read his writing, but Pam and I had the privilege of having him in our home in Little Rock, where I had asked him to address leaders in the area and our church. The timing was perfect because I was going through a decision process that would change my future dramatically. Dr. Sanders…
How My Congregation Worshiped and Edified One Another One Sunday in March
Tim Challies has occasionally written posts over the years that are titled, “How We Worshiped One Sunday,” followed by “in (name of the month).” I enjoy reading those and appreciate his church’s intentionality and love for the gospel. From what I can tell, it’s a wonderful body of believers. I thought it might be interesting to follow his example and share what happened in my church on a recent Sunday. Why? Though we believe the same gospel as Challies’ church…
Two Angels on a Bloodied Slab
Guest Author: Brian Verrett Peter and John raced to the tomb to look for their Lord (John 20:3–4). Though John won the race, Peter stooped and looked into the tomb seeing only linen cloths, a face cloth, and empty space (vv. 4–7). John then looked, saw the same, and went home with Peter (vv. 8–10). Mary remained outside the tomb weeping (v. 11). When she looked into the tomb, she saw more than empty space. Surprisingly, “she saw two angels…
In A Body
What did the writers of the New Testament mean when they claimed that Jesus Christ was resurrected? It certainly was not that he only appeared to be resurrected when in fact it did not happen. That is, resurrection to these writers did not mean that he appeared in some apparitional way, or some imaginary way, or some spiritualized way similar to the kind of thing a person might say about a deceased relative (i.e. “Mother is here with us whenever…
Creating a Culture of Hospitality
CREATING A CULTURE OF HOSPITALITYBryan Elliff Church doesn’t just happen on Sunday morning and Wednesday nights. We all know that. In our busy and self-isolating culture, we have to make intentional, personal contact with each other if we want to be a real community. But how do we do it? Let me suggest one centuries-old method: invite people over. There is something amazingly bonding about being in someone’s house. You enter their world. You see their interests and their style…
Missionary or Missionary Worker?
Missionaries must have other workers, long and short term, to assist. Many of these will naturally come from among those who show promise as converts through the missionary’s efforts. Paul, though perhaps exceptional in his management skills, had 38 whose names appear as likely assistants at various times. He was always traveling and laboring with a coterie of faithful helpers. There could have been even more! Some of Paul’s workers were women (18%, according to Schnabel, p. 251), although no…
How Scripture is Believed
Though the Scripture may be shown to be trustworthy by many historical and logical proofs, it is essentially received as true because of the revelation of God’s glory experienced through it. Just as nature reveals God (Rom 1:19-21), and some receive or reject his glory, so man receives or rejects the glory of God in Scripture. In other words, a man sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking a majestic display of nature has every reason to believe in…
This is WHAT DAY the Lord has made?
When we quote or sing “This is the day the Lord has made,” we aren’t saying that this very day, the day we are in presently, is the day the Lord has made. That is true, of course, but it isn’t what Psalm 118: 22-24 is about. Rather, something much more important is being said. Read it closely: “The stone which the builders rejectedHas become the chief corner stone.This is the Yahweh’s doing;It is marvelous in our eyes.This is the…
7 Brief Reflections on Pastoring ALL the Flock
Acts 20:28 is one of the most memorable verses of Paul’s charge to the Ephesian elders: “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for [to shepherd; to pastor] the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” These leaders (elders/pastors/overseers) of the church in Ephesus were responsible to pastor “all the flock.” What follows are seven reflections on that concept. First, the elders are…
DO Something When You Are Maligned
When stressed through the ill-will or stinging insults and persistent opposition by someone who wants to cause you trouble, we know there is something to think. We are to think the truth about God and ourselves. We don’t take their evaluation as true, but only God’s. Also, we are to think of God’s loving and purposeful sovereignty over his children, meaning that difficulties can bring about good results in character and progress for the gospel. But there is also something…
The Foibles and Fallibility of Christian Leaders
The inconsistencies, unattended weaknesses, eccentricities, normalizations of subtle sinful habits, relational neglectfulness or awkwardness, sometimes grating quirks, phases of tiredness and even laziness, and susceptibility to pride — just to begin the list — illustrate what kinds of things can be found in almost every Christian leader at one time or another. They should remind us that we are all treated mercifully by God and cannot claim that any leadership position or recognition is fully “deserved” but strategically assigned by…
The Gospel and Divine Visitation—An Indivisible Union
It was spring in 1630. A few ladies were traveling through the Scottish countryside near Shotts when their carriage broke down. Thankfully the minister of the Kirk of Shotts, John Home, was able to assist them in their predicament. Struck with the poor condition of his manse, these wealthy Christian ladies determined to build another one for this kind man. Naturally, the grateful Home asked if he could do anything in exchange for their generosity. The ladies asked if they…
Is the “Rebellious Teen Phase” to be Expected?
What do you hope your children become when they are teenagers? Top athletes? Academic overachievers? Those wishes are not necessarily bad. Most importantly, I trust that you really hope your teenage children will love and follow Jesus. The Bible gives us some hope that this might happen, though it’s not guaranteed. I would put it like this: Christian parents should not be surprised if they have teenagers who are believers, or who are at least submissive and respectful. This immediately confronts…
How Much Suffering Can You Take?
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:3-4) You have suffered — some — if you are among the godly followers of Jesus. The suffering that is described in the passage above is not the kind that comes with cancer or car wrecks, but that which is associated with adverse…
The Law of Love: New Covenant Primacy
The Law of Moses and the Prophet’s admonitions are all fulfilled in the law of love. “Treat others the way you would have them treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Mt. 7:12). The New Covenant responsibility for the believer is similar: “Bear one another’s burdens and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2). Or, put another way, “Do not look out for your own personal interests, but for the interests of others” (Phil 2:4). Love…