As he rode into Jerusalem, the people loved him. They assume he was coming to launch a political overthrow of Rome. As the week progressed, however, he failed to meet their expectations. Instead of heading to the center of Rome’s political authority, he went to the temple and began clearing out the corruption. By the end of the week, it was clear that he was not who they wanted him to be... CLICK TO READ
If faith without works is dead and we are justified by works and not faith alone, as James suggests, is there a contradiction in scripture? Paul says we are justified by faith apart from works. What is going on with these two passages of scripture? This article takes a quick look at this issue. CLICK TO READ…
It is not that what many evangelists today say is untrue, they simply put the emphasis on the wrong syllable, and it can have a damning effect. Arthur Pink wrote this over 100 years ago, and it is just as true today as it was then. The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day … Continue reading Defective Evangelism
Being sick for three days gives you time to think about your frailty. Even if that sickness is only a flu virus that poses little threat to your life, the fact that you must withdraw from being productive to spend time in bed exposes your weakness, and that is not always a bad thing. This … Continue reading 3 Reflections on Sickness and the Christian Life
If high culture is like a gourmet meal, folk culture like a homecooked dinner, and pop culture is like junk food, what is social media? We live in a culture that is quick to accept something simply because it is popular. Today, we often consider a cultural expression a "classic" simply because millions of people like it, … Continue reading Social Media: A Downgrade of Culture
Some teachers of the truth should be listened to but not imitated. Simply holding a leadership position in a church or preaching a good sermon does not mean we are godly. The Pharisees were often a picture of this. Not everything they said was false. They taught the law of Moses, and this is why Jesus said of them, "Observe what they tell … Continue reading Woe to the Pretenders of Godliness
Often, the very things we need to grow are the same things we work to avoid because we think we are fragile. Scripture uses the metaphor of running a race to describe the Christian life on more than one occasion. In running the race, there are weights we should cast off and weights we should pick up if we are going to compete to win the prize. CLICK TO READ MORE...
Why did Jesus speak in parables? The standard answer, in one sense, seems to be the exact opposite of what Jesus told us. The typical response to that question is that Jesus spoke in parables to make his teaching clearer to his audience. After all, they tell us, parables are earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. Most people view … Continue reading Why Did Jesus Speak in Parables?
The storm is a gift. This phrase ran through my mind as wave after wave crashed upon me. In part because I knew it was true and partly because I hoped it was true. When the skies turned dark, they caught me off guard. I found myself lost in confusion as every bit of my weakness was exposed, but that … Continue reading The Storm Killed My Idols
You will not want to miss this one. It is a guest post by Rob Golding, Pastor of First Artesia CRC. Rob blogs at Classic Christianity. Christ tells His followers that they will have abundant life now. Do they? Many people today say that Christianity is a sour religion. It poisons our ability to enjoy … Continue reading Why You Are Dissatisfied with Christianity
The Fight of Faith 