“The Ninety Five Theses” — the common title to Martin Luther’s “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” — is more widely associated with Luther’s name than anything else he wrote. Luther posted his theses on the castle door at Wittenberg on either October 31 or November 1, 1517. The disputation, which Luther announced... Continue Reading

Whatever we enjoy now will be far greater then. When marriage someday ends, we will agree that God has not subtracted anything, but only added. He has not divided us, but united us in an even deeper way. We will give thanks in that day that God, in His wisdom, determined that our marriages should... Continue Reading

Our concern for a restoration of a proper ordering of loves should not diminish our love for the world; it is precisely because God loves the world that we may be confident in his concern for our nation, our towns, our churches, our families, and ourselves.   Yet these responsibilities are not mutually exclusive. For... Continue Reading

All of us ought to approach our thrice holy God with humility and trepidation. The sixth commandment requires more than feeling sorry for the wounds we have made. It calls us to stop inflicting them, and to become, by God’s grace, a life giver instead of a life taker.   The commandment “Do not murder”... Continue Reading

Rather than being content with digital and paper guides who cannot love us and whom we cannot imitate, we need spiritual fathers and mothers who love us and live in front of us.   The Guides of Our Digital Corinth Last week I spoke with a young man who attends our young adult ministry. He... Continue Reading

We must never assume that every divorce followed the same path or that every blended family is marked by the same sins. Most of all, we must never treat blended families like second-class citizens. They will have unique circumstances, and the details of their journey will vary, but they serve the same God, believe the... Continue Reading

How is spiritual power released in a person’s life? By accepting the truth that God allows weakness for good in our lives, and by being willing to share about one’s weaknesses with others—instead of pretending that we are strong.   The Lord spoke powerful words to the apostle Paul as he suffered with his painful... Continue Reading

As Christians have become more worldly, we have forgotten that one of our main callings is to be light. And light, as Paul notes, has no fellowship with darkness. It exists to expose and embarrass darkness. When light joins in with dark, it ceases to be light and eventually becomes dark itself.   Passing The... Continue Reading

James gives both a command and a promise: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Resistance begins with submission to God, refusing Satan’s lies and holding fast to Christ.   Perhaps you know the feeling, especially after watching a scary movie. The house is quiet, an... Continue Reading

“Give us today our daily bread…” (Matthew 6:11). This single sentence of prayer acknowledges the wisdom, power, and specific provision of God, for we not only believe that God will give us whatever we need for this day, but that He knows the unique composition of what that provision will look like…for this day.  ... Continue Reading

Let Scripture determine when you should speak and when you should be silent—not the will of the crowds. A people craving news cycles like entertainment need to be awoken with the clear message of a bloody cross, not by tryhard pundits with theological degrees.   Much has now been written about the ways that avoiding... Continue Reading

In the midst of all the sufferings, sorrows, pains, problems, weaknesses, and weariness of this world and in this body, let God’s people look forward with eagerness to the day when—though we currently bear the image of the man of dust—we shall bear the image of the heavenly Man.   And as we have borne... Continue Reading

Spirit-fruit is not manufactured in the pristine laboratory of our private prayer closet. The fruit of the Spirit is cultivated in the soil of messy relationships.   When you become a Christian, God the Holy Spirit takes up residence in your heart immediately, permanently, and completely. If you do not have the Spirit of Christ,... Continue Reading

By the Lord’s discipline, we persevere. By his strength we lift our drooping hands. Through his Fatherly chastisement, our souls are preserved, and our feet persevere in walking along paths of wisdom and righteousness. He is no earthly taskmaster, yelling at us, dangling the carrot of his promises just out of reach, then striking us... Continue Reading

Even if the worst happens in this life, you can persevere with strength, comfort, peace, and joy, because you have a true, righteous, human, and divine mediator and deliverer. Jesus is your human and divine mediator and deliverer in the midst of your fears and anxiety, and that is comfort for your soul.     ... Continue Reading

Taken together, these considerations point to the conclusion that the “all Israel” that shall be saved is the whole covenant people of God, the completed olive tree, comprising the full number of elect Jews and Gentiles. Thus, Paul’s declaration should be understood neither as a prophecy of a future conversion of the great body of... Continue Reading

Our self-sufficiency is a myth that will be dispelled by coming seasons of trials and dependence on Jesus Christ’s sure victory. Hallelujah.   I walk in the wilderness near home in Northern California. The autumn breeze cools my face as I watch our dog roam ahead. Falling pine needles and leaves totter and spin about,... Continue Reading

Garden friendships require a more intentional investment of time and attention that only a few people can provide. Jesus asked nine disciples to sit close by, but only three were asked to remain closer to Him in His desperate hour.   “Jesus could have done it alone, but he didn’t.” Our conference speaker, Dave Busby,... Continue Reading

Scoffers abound. Sources of wisdom are rare. Let us seek out God’s voice through his Word, through prayer, and through godly people around us so that our roots might go deep in his streams of wisdom.   How loud are the voices of scoffers in your life? The mockers, the angry, the rude, the crass.... Continue Reading

Always remember that your work ethic flows from your identity in Christ. Let who you are in Him shape how you speak, pray, prepare, and respond in work environments that are toxic and challenging.   As a minister I don’t always experience the feelings you do before another day at work, but I counsel many... Continue Reading