John Chrysostom: An Easter Sermon
On this day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I share a sermon preached by John Chrysostom (ca. 347-407) in the fourth century. Prior to his sermon, I share some information about...
View ArticleApril 26, 1877: Minnesota, Grasshoppers and Prayer
Each day I receive an email from Christian History that includes historical events of import throughout church history. This one was included today. On this date in 1877 (April 26, 1877), Minnesota...
View ArticleThe Gospel, Disciplemaking and the Local Church
The Trellis and the Vine, written by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne, has been used to help many pastors, leaders and churches to understand the difference between the heart of gospel ministry being...
View ArticleJesus’ Ascension
God’s unfolding plan of redemptive history culminates in the Lord Jesus Christ, both his person and his work. In the Bible this redemptive history is captured in some key turning points in Jesus’ life....
View ArticleThe United Methodist Church, Human Sexuality, and The Book of Discipline
All Denominations have regular gatherings, meetings, of all recognized representatives in the denomination in order to discuss, discern and decide about the ministry and ministries of the denomination....
View ArticleWho and What Is An “Evangelical”?: Evangelicals and Politics (Part 1)
I have thought much about how Evangelical, both the term and the person so identified, is understood these days. It is inevitable that during election years, the term is used primarily as an important...
View ArticleWho and What Is An “Evangelical”?: Evangelicals and Politics (Part 2)
How is the term Evangelical understood? What do Evangelicals believe? What is the perceived role Evangelicals play in politics, especially during this election year? In light of how the Evangelical and...
View ArticleThe Season of Pentecost and Loving the Immigrant
God’s unfolding plan of redemptive history culminates in the Lord Jesus Christ, both his person and his work. In the Bible, this redemptive history is captured in some key turning points in Jesus’...
View ArticleWho and What Is An “Evangelical”?: Evangelicals and Politics (Part 3)
We now come to our last post in our brief three-part series on Evangelicals and Politics. In our first post, we looked at the landscape and the confusion surrounding the term Evangelical. In the second...
View ArticlePope Francis’ Statement: Marriage and the Family
Pope Francis released Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), his statement on marriage and the family, this past April. This document, consisting of 256 pages, is not only important for those in the Roman...
View ArticleSalvation and the Church; the Church and Ordinances; Baptism and the EFCA
The free church tradition, not just the EFCA, has had a strong emphasis on the doctrine of salvation and a generally weak understanding of the doctrine of the church. This has generally led to a weak...
View ArticleAdvent Devotional: Mary’s Song: The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55; cf. 1:26-45,...
At this time of the year, we focus on the conception and birth of a firstborn – two of them: Zechariah and Elizabeth’s boy, John, later known as the Baptist, and Joseph and Mary’s son, Jesus, the Son...
View ArticleReformation 500: Theology and Legacy – Lecture 2: The Heart of the...
Our 2017 Theology Conference will be held February1-3 on the campus of Trinity International University. In the introduction to the conference, we will focus on the EFCA’s roots in the Reformation and...
View ArticleMiraculous Conception, Not Immaculate Conception
On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX released the encyclical Ineffabilis Deus, which declared the immaculate conception of Mary. Here is the heart of what the encyclical affirms (emphasis mine): We...
View ArticleReformation 500: Theology and Legacy – Lecture 3: Faith Alone Justifies, Yet...
Our 2017 EFCA Theology Conference will be held February 1-3 on the campus of Trinity International University. In the introduction to the conference, we will focus on the EFCA’s roots in the...
View ArticleChristmas Readings in Christology 2016
Each year I attempt to read books that focus on the doctrine associated with the Christian year. The beginning of Advent marks the beginning of the Christmas season. This means I now focus my reading...
View ArticleThinking Biblically About Transgenderism and Pastoral Care of LGBT Persons...
Recently Mark Yarhouse presented a National Association of Evangelicals Webinar on Pastoral Care of LGBT Persons and Their Families. Because of the strong response they received from those who...
View ArticleAdvent Devotional: Zechariah’s Song: Benedictus (Luke 1:67-79; cf. 1:5-25,...
In Mary’s song, we learned that the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (1:26-27) with the message that she would bear a Son whom she was to call Jesus (1:31). In her excitement, Mary went to visit her...
View ArticleAdvent Devotional: The Angels’ Song: Gloria in Excelsis (Luke 2:13-14; cf....
Mary became pregnant with Jesus (1:31), the God-man, through the power of the Most High, the miraculous conception (1:35). After receiving this news and acknowledging her trust and dependency on the...
View ArticleReformation 500: Theology and Legacy – Lecture 4: The Heidelberg Disputation:...
Our 2017 Theology Conference will be held February1-3 on the campus of Trinity International University. In the introduction to the conference, we will focus on the EFCA’s roots in the Reformation and...
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