There are few things more offensive to our postmodern, post-Christian, post-truth culture than the traditional Christian claim that Jesus is the only Savior of the world. Theologians refer to this position as Christian particularism. Many are offended by the claims of Christianity to be true and relevant to every human person....
An unpublished poem captured my imagination years ago in a way no other poem has. The title is “I Want My Life to Count.” The poem was written by my father. My preacher-father wrote that poem near the end of his ministry career, perhaps as he mused over his long years of...
When you grow up as the shy kid who minds his own business, you can almost make it through life without anybody really disliking you. That was my story… until I became a pastor. Then my story included members leaving the church because of my preaching and people yelling at...
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. [Col. 3:16 ESV] Paul's warning is clear: teach the truths of God's Word through what you sing. I am not trying...
So, God didn’t save you out of a life of drugs, sex, and gambling? You weren’t an atheist who converted to faith in Jesus while reading ancient philosophy and thinking about the despair of the world? You didn’t live a fake religious life for years, only to experience, later...
Various seminary students have said to me “I just want things to be normal again.” Why is that such a strong pull for all of us? “Normal” encompasses the daily, weekly, and annual routines of life...times to go to bed and get up (even if your times are irregular, that...
Is your church growing? We all know what this question usually implies. Are more people coming this year than last year? And for many churches, the answer is no. According to this standard, these churches are not growing. In fact, they are declining or even dying. And many pastors are...
What one verse of Scripture would you say has had the greatest impact on the world? John 3:16 might be the most well-known verse. It might also be one of the verses with the greatest impact on our eternal destiny. However, I would argue that the verse which has had...
