Browse articles on various topics below.
Kevin T. Bauder During my childhood my father was a rising manager with a national airline. When I was thirteen, however, he moved us from… Read More »Growing Up Fundamentalist, Part Five: Adolescence
In 1861 a hymnal was published in England that would set the standard for all hymnals to follow: Hymns Ancient and Modern. This significant hymnal was… Read More »Hymns Ancient and Modern for a New Generation
There are many valuable ways to study the history of the church; church historians often trace the development of creedal theology, recount the lives of… Read More »How Liturgy Tells the Story of the Christian Faith
Christian 1: So I hear you have a problem with lollipops? Christian 2: Lollipops? No, I think they’re just fine. Christian 1: But you apparently… Read More »A Parable About Pop Music in Church
Kevin T. Bauder When I was growing up our church held at least four public meetings every week. During Sunday school the children would be… Read More »Growing Up Fundamentalist, Part Four: Special Meetings
I have spent a considerable amount of time over the past several weeks carefully surveying the Holy Spirit’s work throughout Scripture, and specifically in passages… Read More »A Theology of the Holy Spirit’s Work in Worship
What possible value can the study of beauty deliver? Isn’t this fiddling while Rome burns, counting daffodil petals while barbarians lay siege to the city?… Read More »The Value of Beauty
Kevin T. Bauder One aspect of growing up fundamentalist was going to summer camp. Every fellowship of churches seemed to have a camp of its… Read More »Growing Up Fundamentalist, Part Three: Camp
Once we understand that beauty is close to glory in meaning, we will without any difficulty find beauty at the heart of many Christian endeavors.… Read More »Beauty and Christianity’s Primary Endeavors
Last week, we saw that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for the purpose of building a “holy temple in the Lord” (Eph 2:21-22). This… Read More »Ordering in Corporate Worship
In closing his letter to the Colossians, Paul gave some greetings, including one from Epaphras: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ… Read More »Epaphras: An Example for Prayer
Kevin T. Bauder During the years following my parents’ conversion, our little church went through a series of pastors. Some were more qualified and some… Read More »Growing Up Fundamentalist, Part Two: Pastors and Church
The Holy Spirit’s characteristic work is not only an ordering of God’s historical-redemptive plan, but it also a moral ordering. This work begins with his… Read More »Ordering in Salvation and Sanctification
The idea of beauty is present in the first chapters of the Bible, as God creates and then makes the evaluative judgement that it was… Read More »Beauty as Scripture’s Theme
Kevin T. Bauder My parents were not Christians when I was born. As far as I know, my mother’s parents never went to church and… Read More »Growing Up Fundamentalist, Part One: Salvation and Baptism
Based on a thorough survey of how the Holy Spirit works throughout Scripture, I suggested last week that although he certainly sometimes works in extraordinary… Read More »Ordering as Characteristic of the Holy Spirit’s Work
C. S. Lewis once wrote that the modern dilemma is either to taste and not to know or to know and not to taste—or, more… Read More »Beauty in Scripture’s Words and Forms
Acts 8:1–25 records the great persecution of the church by Saul and the consequent spread of the gospel to Samaria through Philip. “Philip went down… Read More »The Sad Case of Simon the Magician: A Warning to Us All
Jeff Straub Life is full of ironies! These short essays came about in response to the recent cancellation of Sunday services at a Baptist megachurch.… Read More »No Church on Sunday? Part 3: Cancelling Scheduled Meetings on the Lord’s Day
Last week I presented a brief survey of the Holy Spirit’s activity throughout Scripture, which helps to lay an important foundation for assessing his work… Read More »Is the Holy Spirit’s Work Characteristically Extraordinary Experience?