Browse articles on various topics below.
Within Paul’s first missionary journey to the Gentiles in Acts 13–14, Luke gives two quick accounts in Acts 13:44–52 and Acts 14:1–7 to show the… Read More »Preach, Be Bold, Conversion, Repeat: The Cycle of Events in Acts 13:44–52 and 14:1–7
What is he doing? The servant stared with bewilderment as his master girded up his garment and bent down to the bowl of water. He… Read More »He will dress himself for service.
Since emotion is a mangled and confusing word, we need to separate the different experiences it is used to refer to. As we have seen,… Read More »Stop Feeling Your Feelings
Kevin T. Bauder [This essay was originally published on September 25, 2015.] Sometimes things that look alike are actually quite different. One mushroom cooks up… Read More »Thoughts on Baptists and Independence
Two themes every leader should notice in Acts 13:44–14:7 are the Word and preaching boldly. As for the first theme, the Word is called “the… Read More »Christian Leaders Must Boldly Preach God’s Word
Kevin T. Bauder [This essay was originally published on February 5, 2016.] The Reformers erected the doctrine of calling in reaction to the Romanist distinction… Read More »Vocation and Vocations
He spewed the water from his mouth. Disgusting! He had recently come from his home in Colossae. There he regularly enjoyed cool, refreshing water from… Read More »Lukewarm
Kevin T. Bauder How perplexing! Christians are supposed to be children of God, heirs and joint heirs with Christ. We are no longer under condemnation—God’s… Read More »Tried with Fire: Suffering and Glory
Like ancient Israel, early Christians considered worship on the Lord’s Day to be sacred—set apart from the regular, mundane activities of life, and therefore what… Read More »What Does “Sacrament” Mean?
One of the reasons that God raised Jesus from the dead involves believers like you and me. Paul states, “And as for the fact that… Read More »God Raised Jesus for You
There was commotion at the windows. What are they doing here? he thought. He had not expected to meet this famed teacher, let alone dine… Read More »Tax Collectors and Sinners
Kevin T. Bauder Our greatest temptation is not to treat evil things as if they were good. Our greatest temptation is to treat good things… Read More »Tried with Fire: The Things On the Earth
After the close of the New Testament Scriptures, details concerning how, exactly, Christians worshiped are somewhat difficult to determine. However, several early documents do help… Read More »Sources for Discerning Early Church Worship
Acts records three times in gospel explanations that Jesus hung on a tree (Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29). Why speak of a tree? Why refer to… Read More »Why a Tree and Not a Cross?
It was a strong vine, surging with health and life. The vine dresser moved along the length of the vine, carefully fingering each branch. He… Read More »Abide
Kevin T. Bauder To all appearances the apostle Paul was less than average. He was probably so short that he couldn’t see over the heads… Read More »Tried with Fire: The God of All Comfort
An early second-century letter from Ignatius, one of the first pastors of the church in Antioch, helps to solidify that the first day of the… Read More »The Lord’s Day
Paul was obviously an excellent preacher, and Acts 13:16–41 records the longest sermon by Paul in Acts. From the many things that we could learn,… Read More »6 Ways to Preach a Great Sermon: Learning from Paul in Acts 13:16–41
They tried to make her leave. She knew she shouldn’t be here, but she loved him deeply, a love that came from a heart of… Read More »Forgiven Much
Kevin T. Bauder On our first Thanksgiving in Denver, my wife and I wanted to drive to Iowa to see her family, then to Wisconsin… Read More »Tried with Fire: Want Wisdom?