When God is doing something phenomenal—something extraordinary—you have to be part of it! When the Magi saw the star, they had to follow it. When Peter and John heard that the tomb was empty, they ran to see. When the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples at Pentecost, they turned the world upside down. Is God […]
Read MoreCategory Archives: Bible
Wisdom and the Unsent Letter
Rash reactions are never best. In the moment, when we’re swimming in emotions and anger threatens to pull us under, a sudden outburst feels best. But if we give in, we say and do things we wish we’d never said or done. I remember, years ago, a certain man would write railing letters to me. […]
Read MoreWhat’s In a Translation?
When I am invited to speak at a local church, I try to find out if they use pew Bibles, and if so, which version they have. I make an effort to be able to read and speak from the same translation my hosts are comfortable with. Sometimes I will use one of their pew […]
Read MoreThe Five “W’s” of Ecclesiastes
Who wrote it? Since the author didn’t give his name, but referred to himself only as “the teacher” or “preacher” (Hebrew: Qōheleth, Greek: ekklēsiastēs), we cannot be certain. However, most of the evidence suggests that King Solomon was the author. We can conclude this because the writer identified himself as a son of David and king […]
Read MoreWriting from Corinth
As Paul traipsed through the port city of Corinth, his nostrils full of the aromas from exotic spices and his ears catching snippets of conversations in foreign tongues, he likely encountered a diverse array of the people and practices—from gruff sailors and meticulous tradesmen to wealthy idolaters and enslaved Christians. The prominent Roman city provided […]
Read MoreWhy Did God Choose the Middle East?
Christians in the West sometimes find it easy to dismiss the Middle East. Some prefer to direct their ministry resources elsewhere in the world, to places where people have been receiving the gospel with more openness. However, God has made it clear that the Middle East has been and continues to be part of His […]
Read MoreWhat Lasts Forever? Only Two Things
Do you realise there are only two eternal things on earth today? Only two: people and God’s Word. Everything else will ultimately be burned up—everything else. Kind of sets your priorities straight, doesn’t it? The stuff we place on the shelf, the things we put frames around, the trophies and whatnots we dust and shine […]
Read MoreSomething Old
There is something grand about old things that are still in good shape. Old furniture with the patina of the ages, dripping with history, is far more intriguing to me than the uncomfortable, modern stuff. When you sit in it or eat on it or listen to music out of it, your mind pictures those […]
Read MoreRomans: Cornerstone of Christian Truth
The editors of the New Geneva Study Bible describe the book of Romans as Paul’s fullest, grandest, most comprehensive statement of the gospel. Its compressed declarations of vast truths are like coiled springs—once loosed, they leap through mind and heart to fill one’s horizon and shape one’s life. John Chrysostom, the fifth century’s greatest preacher, […]
Read MoreReading the Old Testament with Paul
In Romans 3, Paul launched into the longest string of Old Testament verses recorded in the New Testament. By taking a closer look, we can begin to get a sense of how to enrich our reading of not only the Old Testament but the whole Bible. Paul began in verse 10 with a standard introduction […]
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