“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” These words in Matthew 26:39 came from the lips of Jesus as he groaned in agony to his Father over what he was about to endure in the crucifixion. And ponder the words he uttered right before this. “My soul is very sorrowful,…
Tag: God
Why We Preach the Law
There was an old interview that Joel Osteen did–I think it might’ve been with Oprah–where he was responding to criticism that he doesn’t preach enough, or at all, on sin. The citation escapes me, but he said something like, “You know, I want to encourage people. I want to make them feel better. People already…
Yes, There is Only One Way to Heaven (No, That’s not Unfair)
One of the most despised doctrines of the Christian faith is the doctrine of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. Western culture hates it. Even some within the church shy away from it because they don’t want to offend or cause conflict. It’s not popular. However, the lack of popularity doesn’t mean we should back down…
Are you Kind, Gentle, and Self-Controlled?
Kindness. Gentleness. Self-controlled. These three traits should all be prevalent in Christians.
Welcomed Hearts Become Welcoming Hearts
When society rejects, Christians should welcome. When culture ostracizes, believers should embrace. When the world “cancels,” followers of Jesus should look past mistakes.
What does the Bible say about the death penalty?
The other day I thought to myself, “I haven’t published a blog in awhile that was controversial.” And then I decided to write on capital punishment. No, I’m kidding. But the thought did occur in my mind that writing on this would be interesting. Though this is a controverisal topic, my intention is not for…
Who — or What — is Discipling You?
The other day I started to think about how easily Christians are influenced. We don’t just live in the culture but we are, by every indication, being discipled by it. I wouldn’t imagine this is intentional, as I can’t fathom a Christian wanting to follow the waves of the culture rather than the firm foundation…
Guarding our Mouths
“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” (Proverbs 13:3 ESV) Sarcasm is my second language. Whether I am at work, in church, or simply at home with my family, many times I respond with sarcasm. And sometimes it’s not the most appropriate way to respond. With…
The Benefit of Storing God’s Word in Your Heart
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalms 119:11 ESV) In Don Whitney’s famous book Spiritual Disciplines, he gives Scripture memorization as one of the key disciplines for the Christian life. But why is that? Why is memorizing the Bible such a necessary and beneficial part…
Does Jesus Really Require us to be Perfect?
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Perfection. It is something we all wish to obtain yet understand we will never get there. Sure, you can throw in a few people in there that truly think they’re perfect; however, the vast majority of humans know this lamentable truth: we are not…
Theology & Life 