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 MoreTag Archives: Acts
Giving with Gusto
“When the heart is right, the feet are swift.” That’s the way Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States put it many years ago. There are other ways to say the same thing. A happy spirit takes the grind out of giving. A positive attitude makes sacrifice a pleasure. When the morale is […]
Read MoreThe Only Thing Incapable of Error
Ever since I was knee-high to a gnat, I have been taught and have believed in the infallibility of Scripture. Among the upper echelons of doctrinal truths, this one ranks alongside the Godhead, the deity of Christ, and salvation by grace. We may fuss around with a few of the events in God’s eschatological calendar […]
Read MoreCultivating a Tender Heart and a Tough Hide
For as long as I have been in the ministry I have asked the Lord for a balance between a tender heart and a tough hide. It isn’t an easy balance. In fact, the latter is more difficult to cultivate than the former. In order to be fully engaged in ministry, job number one is […]
Read MoreHow Do We Know That Jesus Is God?
Question: I recently read the book, The Da Vinci Code. I know that it is fiction, but it has caused me to question everything that I’ve always believed about Jesus. How do we know that Jesus is God in the flesh and not simply a good teacher? Answer: For two thousand years, critics have chipped […]
Read MoreThe Philip Approach to Evangelism
You’ve been there. You know—that place where you should bring up the gospel, but, for whatever reason, you don’t. It’s that awkward moment where cotton peaks for harvest in your mouth, your brain puts a padlock on any memory verses, your breathing becomes irregular, and your excuse Rolodex is spinning to find a way out […]
Read MoreAt the Threshold of an Open Door
When I was growing up, I never knew cursing, drinking, divorce, or what people commonly call “the wild life.” And believe it or not, at the time I didn’t know the rest of the world was any different. Today many feel that growing up in such a protected environment, free from the dangers of the […]
Read MoreThe Spirit Who Is Not a Ghost
I did an “unearthly” thing last week. In fact, I did it twice. Thinking back over my lifetime, I have done many adventurous things. I’ve even done a few crazy things; some I think would qualify as mischievous, risky, and on a few occasions, dangerous. To retain the little bit of respect I have built […]
Read MoreThe Real Reason We’re Doing What We’re Doing
Just last month, my wife Cynthia and I were engaged in a cruise conference to the Greek Isles with some friends of Insight for Living Ministries. As we disembarked at Athens, we were near ancient Corinth, one of the sites where the apostle Paul ministered untiringly on his journeys. Anyone who visits Corinth’s marketplace will […]
Read MoreNeeded Today: A Ministry of Encouragement
Henry Drummond’s remark haunts me at times: . . . how many prodigals are kept out of the Kingdom of God by the unlovely character of those who profess to be inside?1 Will you allow me, in this private chat with you, to pick out one “unlovely characteristic” frequently found in Christian circles . . […]
Read More