God’s People in Exile
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres.… Read More »God’s People in Exile
Articles
Browse articles on various topics below.
A Worship Catechism (13)
84. What are the disciplines of public worship? The disciplines of public worship are recognition, service, discipleship, and corporate worship, which seek to behold, reflect… Read More »A Worship Catechism (13)
Dialogue?
[This essay was originally published on August 8, 2008.] Fundamentalists are notorious for their refusal to dialogue with other points of view. To some observers—and… Read More »Dialogue?
A Worship Catechism (12)
76. What disciplines will nurture faith and maintain abiding in God’s presence? We must embrace disciplines of private worship, public worship, and perpetual worship. 77.… Read More »A Worship Catechism (12)
Ending the Year, Beginning the Year
As of last Monday, I’ve spent nineteen years as a professor at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. That’s more years than I spent in pastoral ministry… Read More »Ending the Year, Beginning the Year
A Worship Catechism (11)
67. How is faith nurtured? Faith is nurtured through the grace-enabled practice of the spiritual disciplines (2 Pet 1:5-7). 68. What is spiritual discipline? Spiritual… Read More »A Worship Catechism (11)
A Worship Catechism (10)
60. What is the Spirit’s work in this cycle also known as? Grace: He grants the grace of conviction, the grace of cleansing, the grace… Read More »A Worship Catechism (10)
Bible Narratives Reading Plan for Individual/Family
Download a free 5 day Bible Narratives Reading Plan for 2018 here. This week our family is finishing successfully reading through the whole Bible. Each… Read More »Bible Narratives Reading Plan for Individual/Family
The profound simplicity of “Away in a Manger”
Christmas: the one time of the year that most churches actually sing good hymns! Some of our traditional Christmas hymns really are quite profound, the… Read More »The profound simplicity of “Away in a Manger”
Was Jesus born in the bleak midwinter?
Understood as poet Christina Rosetti meant it, the answer to the question posed in the title of this post is, Yes. English poet Christina Rosetti… Read More »Was Jesus born in the bleak midwinter?
The Incarnation and Angelic Salvation
The apostle Paul clearly taught that Christ’s incarnation is essential to our salvation. He wrote to the Corinthians, “Since by man came death, by man… Read More »The Incarnation and Angelic Salvation
Where is Christ in Christmas?
The following article was originally published in the Nov/Dec 2006 edition of Frontline Magazine. Christmas—a very mention of the word produces delight and expectation in the hearts… Read More »Where is Christ in Christmas?
Adoring With Caravaggio
Take some time to consider Caravaggio’s Adoration of the Shepherds. Don’t scan and speed-read, but if you have the time, stop and stare. First, where… Read More »Adoring With Caravaggio
When are the Twelve Days of Christmas?
You can’t escape them. There are 12 Days of Christmas contests on the radio, 12 Days of Christmas sales at the mall, 12 Days of… Read More »When are the Twelve Days of Christmas?
A Worship Catechism (9)
52. What is meant by consecration? Consecration is dedicating something to the holy glory of God. 53. What are we to consecrate to God? Whatever… Read More »A Worship Catechism (9)
Which advent is in view in “Joy to the World”?
We are in the midst of a wonderful time in the year when we can reflect upon the advent of our Lord and the redemption that… Read More »Which advent is in view in “Joy to the World”?
Hearing the Message
Preaching is hard work. On the one hand, it is a technical exercise, almost a science. A preacher has to handle the Scriptures well. His… Read More »Hearing the Message
Worship forms regulated by Scripture
This is the final post in a series I’ve been writing over the past couple months in order to more thoroughly develop an idea I… Read More »Worship forms regulated by Scripture
A Worship Catechism (8)
46. What is meant by confession? Confession is the agreement of the mind and heart with God’s conviction (1 John 1:9). The mind agrees with… Read More »A Worship Catechism (8)
A Visit to Winners Chapel
Jeff Straub I recently read an essay in which the author described the scene at a San Salvador Pentecostal church: “Within two minutes it is… Read More »A Visit to Winners Chapel