Farewell For Now
We are told in the Scriptures to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). I know several people who have lost loved ones recently. In times like this, we are given the opportunity for both weeping and rejoicing. Yet, there is a day coming when there will be no more sorrow for those who are in Christ. Jesus assured his disciples in saying: “you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22). He did, indeed, leave John with a sorrowful farewell from the cross (see John 19:26-27), but John would soon learn that this was only a ‘farewell for now.’
Christians and Bad Bosses: Trusting God in Unjust Workplaces
What do you do when you’ve got a bad boss? A scoundrel, a nitwit, a downright jerk? As Christians, how should we act—or even think—in that situation? I’ll be honest: my natural self doesn’t like the answer. As an American, with rugged individualism baked into my bones, I want to shout, “You can’t tell me what to do! I’m my own boss!”
Joy That Sticks: Lessons from Philippians Part 2
Whether you’re juggling toddlers, facing a medical diagnosis, going through marriage difficulties, financial struggles, or simply walking through an ordinary mundane Monday, the message of Philippians still speaks: Joy isn’t tied to what’s happening around you. It’s rooted in the unshakable truth of the gospel and the presence of Christ. Our Prince of Peace, our humble, gentle, and meek Savior.
Evangelism as Spiritual Warfare_ The Church's Advance Against the Kingdom of Darkness
As ambassadors of Christ's kingdom, we carry the message of reconciliation into enemy territory, armed with the sword of God's Word and empowered by his Spirit. Though the battle is fierce and the opposition real, we advance with confidence, knowing that Christ has already secured the victory and will complete his conquest through the faithful proclamation of his church.
How to Read Revelation: An Acrostic Guide
Revelation is not given to confuse us, but to bless us. If we remember its original audience, seek its encouragement, read it through the Old Testament, and keep our eyes on Christ’s victory, we will find hope instead of fear.
The last word is not the beast’s roar but the Lamb’s song: Jesus has won, Jesus is winning, and Jesus will win.
Joy That Sticks:Lessons from Philippians Part 1
When my children were little, I used to tell them, “Joy is like jam—the more you spread it, the more it sticks to you.”
The apostle Paul understood this kind of sticky joy. Writing from a dark prison cell, he mentioned joy or rejoicing more than sixteen times in his short letter to the Philippians. How could he rejoice while chained and awaiting possible execution?
The Digital Tree of Knowledge: Internet and the Illusion of Omniscience
The ancient lie of the serpent reverberates through fiber optic cables. The internet does more than just provide information; algorithms whisper the same lie that started in Eden every time you unlock your phone: "You will be like God, knowing good and evil." Omniscience is promised. AI chatbots pose as all-knowing advisors, social media feeds mimic divine perspective, and search engines turn into oracles. Each whispering that finite creatures can transcend their created limits through digital connections to infinite data, we carry around pocket-sized towers of Babel.
The Church as The People of the Triune God: To the Praise of the Spirit
Have you ever stopped to think about how many songs we have about the Father and the Son and how few we have about the Spirit? As an illustration of this fact, I looked at the “Hymns of Grace” hymnbook. There I found nearly 100 hymns devoted to the person of God the Father, close to 200 devoted to the person of Jesus the Son, and 5 devoted to the person of the Holy Spirit… Why is that? Is this an oversight or an imbalance?
Why Our Church Moved to Weekly Communion
Many churches observe the Lord’s Supper at varying frequencies. Many observe the Lord’s Supper on a monthly or quarterly basis. However, many faithful churches also observe it on a weekly basis. Northwest Baptist Church, the church where I serve as pastor, is moving to a regular part of our gathered worship. This has been something that has been on my heart for the last two to three years. When I first began as pastor here, they were observing it once a quarter. We eventually increased that frequency to once a month and then eventually to once every three weeks. However, recently I became convinced that the best pathway forward for our church was weekly.
Unshaken in a Shattered World
On September 10, 2025, our nation was rocked again by the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a bold voice for biblical values and a cultural influencer, particularly among Gen Z. Such tragedies don’t just wound us; they challenge our beliefs, our security, and our calling as Christians.
Kirk’s Advice
Here is some advice he gave on X shortly before his death: “Get married. Have children. Build a legacy. Pass down your values. Pursue the eternal. Seek true joy.”
If this statement has you nodding in agreement while simultaneously throwing your hands up in a sort of jaded frustration, I can relate.
Christians and Civil Authority: Living Under God’s Design
In 1 Peter 2:13-17, Peter calls us to “be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution.” This isn’t blind obedience but a theological stance rooted in God’s design. Let’s unpack what that means for us as Christians.
The Church as The People of the Triune God: To the Praise of the Son—Part 2
Who is Jesus? Still the most important question! In the last article we began by considering the contribution of Chalcedon to the history of Christian thought ion the question and the importance of looking back to documents like these as foundational to our heritage in how we work out the meaning of the all-sufficient Word. Unlike Scripture, these statements are not beyond scrutiny, but Chalcedon is one that has stood against many accusations for over a millennium and remains important for us today.
Calling Evil Good: The Celebration of Charlie Kirk’s Death
We live in a culture that not only tolerates death but often celebrates it. The reaction to Charlie Kirk’s assassination revealed the depth of this darkness, as many rejoiced over his murder simply because he stood for biblical truth. Revelation reminds us that the beast has always raged against the people of God, yet the Lamb reigns victorious. In the face of a culture of death, Christians are called to respond with boldness, hope, and the proclamation of life in Christ.
The Lost Art of Male Friendship
We live in the loneliest era in human history. Picture a man in his thirties, successful by external measures, sitting in his car after work scrolling through social media contacts but unable to think of a single person he could call to share his struggles. According to the Survey Center on American Life, 12% of Americans now report having no close friends, compared to just 3% in 1990. This "friendship recession" has created what public health officials increasingly recognize as an epidemic, one that exacts a devastating toll on both individual and communal flourishing.
Christians and Miserable Marriages: Living God’s Way in Tough Times
Picture an elderly couple’s hands, weathered but intertwined, symbolizing love, trust, and perseverance. For those of us who are married, that’s the dream—a marriage marked by mutual honor, respect, and companionship. But what if that’s not your reality? What if your spouse ignores you, disrespects you, or even despises your faith? How do you live as a Christian in a miserable marriage? In 1 Peter 3:1-7, God’s Word through Peter offers hope and guidance for navigating these challenges with grace.
The Silent Sin: How Sloth Disguises Itself in Our Busy Age
What if one of the most dangerous sins wasn't rebellion at all, but just... not caring?
Sloth. Of all the classic "seven deadly sins," it's the one we think we understand. Lazy people. Couch potatoes. Avoiding work. But that's barely the tip of it. What the Bible and church fathers warned about runs way deeper and hits closer to home than most of us realize.
The Church as The People of the Triune God:To the Praise of the Son—Part 1
Who is Jesus? This is the central question of Christology, and the one asked of the disciples. We affirm with Peter that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God. But we quickly find out that more needed to be said. Others can affirm this too. We must affirm more! In a world of lies, we cannot settle for simple affirmations of who Jesus is.
Following the Law of God as Imaging God_ Obedience as Participation in the Divine Life
The relationship between divine law and Christian living has historically been a central concern of Christian theology. While contemporary evangelicalism often struggles to articulate a proper understanding of the law’s role in the believer’s life, classical Protestant confessions provide rich theological resources for understanding obedience to God’s law not as mere external compliance, but as participation in the very character and nature of God Himself.
When Wolves Become Beloved: The Hidden Spiritual Cost of Affection for False Teachers
The Church has been trained to recognize growls and teeth for ages. But what if the smiles from the pulpit, rather than the snarls at the gate, pose a greater threat? Conventional warnings emphasize violent wolves masquerading as sheep, but wolves that gain the flock's affection pose a more subtle threat. These well-liked liars cause the most severe injuries not because they are likable, but rather because of it. They seem genuinely concerned, trustworthy, and relatable.