“If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:17) As my wife and I walked into the sanctuary, we were met with the same fellowship we always get. … Continue reading The Agony of Church Discipline Carried Out
Division seems to be at an all-time high among brothers and sisters in Christ. Every way we turn there is more strife, increased hostility, and over-the-top bickering. And it doesn’t appear that it’s getting any better. At this point, any thoughtful Christian must ask the question: what can we do to stop this? May I … Continue reading Is He Your Brother?
“A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15) A couple years ago I asked for a meeting with my elders. I wanted to discuss my path to pastoral ministry and what I was missing. Was it my character? Was it my ability to teach or … Continue reading The Wisdom of Listening
The topic of race—or ethnicity—is likely the most contentious topic of our day. So much so that many people may not have even opened up this blog to read simply due to the title. That’s okay—it’s simply that controversial, although it shouldn’t be. Talking about the “race issue” is extremely difficult because there are so … Continue reading Talking About Race
Imagine with me for a moment. You have an unbelieving friend, Johnny. Johnny is a known atheist who in his spare time enjoys mocking the Christian faith. One day, Johnny posts a status on Facebook that is clearly a cry for attention. He posts: “God is just as much real as the tooth fairy. You … Continue reading Let’s Stop Stirring the Pot
Recently it took everything within me to drag myself to church (for Wednesday night Bible study). My body was tired, my mind exhausted, and my heart fatigued. Further, it meant bringing both children who, for one reason or another, always decide to act wild on those nights. Long story short, I went to church that … Continue reading I Didn’t Want to go to Church
“People in awe never complain that church is boring.” (RC Sproul) The gathering of God’s people—what we know as church—is a beautiful thing. It’s the furthest thing from boring, and yet that’s what many people say when explaining why they do not go to church. Those who usually deem church as boring are not—like Sproul … Continue reading No, Church is Not Boring
I love reading—but I didn’t always enjoy it. I recently told somebody that the only reason I began to love to read is because God saved me. Once the Lord captured me, I had the insatiable desire to devour all books in my path—some good, some bad, some great. Because I love reading so much—and … Continue reading Top 5 Most Influential Books I’ve Read
“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16) Death is a horrific, awful, tragic thing. We all deal with death since it’s simply a part of life, unfortunately. Some experience a … Continue reading Do People Die Too Soon?
Philippians 2 is one of many chapters in sacred Scripture that should make us freeze in awe. The Apostle Paul begins with a few words of instructions—words that, if we have “ears to hear,” will certainly convict. “Do nothing our of selfish ambition or conceit,” he says in verse 3, “but in humility consider others … Continue reading How Jesus’s Humility Impacts our Interactions
Theology & Life 