The Context of Luther Martin Luther was born in 1483 during a time when the Renaissance was permeating throughout all of Europe with the invention of Gutenburg’s printing press. He was born to a copper miner and grew up in Mansfield in the center of Germany’s mining industry. Luther originally went to the University of … Continue reading The “Free Grace” of Martin Luther
Category: Missions
The Marks of a Fruitful Church
In 1741, the great Jonathan Edwards first published his now-classic book The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God. In this important work, Edwards is analyzing and synthesizing all he’s experienced in the revivals of his day (chronicled most notably in A Narrative of Surprising Conversions and An Account of the Revival of Religion in … Continue reading The Marks of a Fruitful Church
Glorify God in Your Work
Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge … Continue reading Glorify God in Your Work
Glorify God as Your Supreme Delight
Ecclesiastes 2:1 - I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. The preacher in Ecclesiastes was on a desperate search for meaning and satisfaction in this life. He had earlier hoped to find victory over the vanity of life through his worldly … Continue reading Glorify God as Your Supreme Delight
Christmas is a Call to Missions
"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them. “For this … Continue reading Christmas is a Call to Missions
Andrew Fuller: Balance in a Time of Extremes
Andrew Fuller was fully aware of the state of his denomination as he entered the pulpit. From the beginning of his pastoral ministry, Fuller set out to correct the many extremes that had overtaken the Baptists in his day. As noted earlier, the General Baptists by 1750 had almost dwindled to nothing because of the … Continue reading Andrew Fuller: Balance in a Time of Extremes
The Lordship of Jesus Christ and Why it Matters
The Biblical Teaching The Synoptic Gospels contain diverse uses and meanings of the term Lord when applied to Jesus. Many instances of the use of the term do not designate deity. On some occasions, those who called Jesus “lord” were using the concept as a form of an address to a superior, somewhat in the sense of our … Continue reading The Lordship of Jesus Christ and Why it Matters
The Geometry of Christ’s Love
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:17-19 In the Church we often … Continue reading The Geometry of Christ’s Love
Love is the Primary Response to God
There are so many responses that should flow from the Christian towards their great God. Reverence, humility, obedience, all of these things are proper and necessary responses to this glorious Triune God, but I believe there is one response which serves as the primary response of the Christian to God, and is the response by which all … Continue reading Love is the Primary Response to God
The Greatest Refuge
Yesterday, I found myself fairly drained. The previous with had been filled with numerous issues, a new semester of School was beginning, and our church is launching a number of ministries since the summer is ending. I walked through the door and my 4 and 2 year old son were fighting over a toys as … Continue reading The Greatest Refuge
The Ramblings of a Young Minister 