BLOG-ARTICLES
FEATURE: Scripture & Bible Study
Where do you stand on what women can and can’t do in the church and, possibly, within Christian institutions and organizations? How you answer this question will land you in one of two doctrinal camps. But do the complementarian–egalitarian positions adequately categorize Christian views on women in ministry? Explore a proposed four-quadrant framework.
What if the Church is missing out on significant leadership gifts and roles because of a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of Paul’s gifts list in Ephesians 4:11? Maybe the secret sauce of a healthy, growing church isn’t purely methodologies; what if it’s the chemistry and utilization of the right giftings that align with the right methodologies?
In October 2023, I guest-preached at Paramount Baptist Church (Hagerstown, MD) on Colossians 2. The aim was to show how Paul demonstrated ways we can strengthen our foundation of faith & obedience in Christ in the face of how our enemy tries to lure us away today.
God’s wisdom is like a GPS for a godly life. Sadly, too many professing Christians look and listen for “wisdom” elsewhere and they jeopardize what God’s wisdom can provide them.
I was asked a multi-part question regarding the relationship between the Old Testament laws and the Christian. This is my brief write-up on this topic.
In 2019 during my senior pastor interview, I was asked my thoughts on “replacement theology” and where I stood regarding this doctrine. Here is how I responded.
Here are 10 pithy points from 2Thess ch1 with no added commentary. May the Spirit minister to you from these points as He did to me.
Romans 5:12-21 is a pivotal passage in Romans. Paul stacks up Adam & Jesus and reveals why both are significant to who we are and where we are. The truth, hope, and encouragement in this passage is astounding and often overlooked.
Come explore it with me, and be pushed to something so much more.
For about a little more than a week now I’ve been reading through Amos for my morning devo with Jesus. Today I was reading through chapter 5 and I got hit with how some of the points in vv10-24 are similar of the Church’s past and applicable for the Church today.
As I was reflecting on the power of God’s Word, a flood of thoughts hit me. I think our actions in our preaching, teaching, and discipling reveal we don’t actually believe God’s Word is as powerful as it is and we need to help in making it impactful. We could not be any more wrong.
Why would God create Adam & Eve if He knew they were going to sin? Why not fix the problem before it starts? This question has been asked across the ages. And praise God He gives us the answer in Scripture! But is His answer the answer you would give?
This question is the 2nd of this 3-part series hosted by P4CM during October entitled “Tackling Tough Questions”.
It’s not why do bad things happen to good people, though I do answer this question too. The better question is, why do good things happen to bad/evil people? This question is the 1st I get to answer from a 3-part series hosted by P4CM during October entitled “Tackling Tough Questions”.
The Bible teaches many things about discipleship. But if we had to sum it up, what would that look like? In this second blog, I'm going briefly and broadly show the four sides that frame what the Bible teaches about discipleship.
The new year marks an opportunity for a new beginning! Usually a new year triggers something inside of us to leave last year in last year and begin again in this new year. So let’s take a look at how God views the new year in Scripture and 4 ways we can start the year in response.
As a new year approaches, with new commitments, plans, goals, and so on, I figured what better time to post about how to go about planning and discerning God's will. I hope this blesses you like it did others in prior years.
A fellow brother, whom I once pastored, asked if I could “provide a biblical example(s) where the apostles/disciples stood up and spoke out against social injustices.” Below is my response. I wrote this with, any believer who may also want to know this, in my mind. May we hear God’s heart and all be edified.
The topic of the relationship between men and women, their roles in marriage, their treatment of each other, their consideration of each other, their similarities & differences, and so on, can be polarizing and messy. This past Sunday (5/21/17), I taught the 5th part of my church's relationship series. My topic was, “What is the big deal between men & women?”. Because of the feedback I received, I decided to post it as a blog-article series. Here in Part 2 of this blog-article series, I cover “How men & women are different”.
The topic of the relationship between men and women, their roles in marriage, their treatment of each other, their consideration of each other, their similarities & differences, and so on, can be polarizing and messy. This past Sunday (5/21/17), I taught the 5th part of my church's relationship series. My topic was, “What is the big deal between men & women?”. Because of the feedback I received, I decided to post it as a blog-article series. Here in Part 1 of this blog-article series, I cover “How men & women are similar”.
Three days ago I received an email from a brother in the Lord with a most interesting question. After answering his email, I thought this would be good to post.
I unquestionably believe Psalm 23 is a must scripture memory for every Christian. It is jam-packed with declarations and assurances about God as our Shepherd and us as His sheep.
Since God can be nothing less than incredible, the worship He deserves and requires can be nothing less than incredible. We are going to skim through the story of Nehemiah, park at chapter 9, and see how our incredible God showed up during then, the incredible worship the Israelites responded with, and how all this relates to us now.
From January until today I have been spending my morning devotion with God in Genesis. No commentaries. Just me, the Holy Spirit, and His Word. Each day I would read either a chapter or multiple chapters, and then I would journal my personal gleanings and takeaways from my reading that morning.
One morning, during my time in the Word with God, I found myself at Psalm 111. I don’t recall what led me there. But clearly the Spirit wanted to minister to me from this Psalm specifically. After a quick read through Psalm 111 something caught my attention.
What do you do when you have questions, problems, need guidance or advice? What about “following your heart”, what do you do for guidance in that area? What about with conviction, where do you go for counsel and accountability? Who is in your ear? What do you do?
I was reading the book of James for my morning time with God throughout the months of August and September. As I read along, I took notes of some reflections. May my notes from my time in James encourage and challenge you as well.
In the wake of the Bruce Jenner controversy, I saw many professing "Christians" comment to other "Christians" who disagree—with Bruce Jenner, how the media and society has portrayed it, and what the Bible has to say about it. When these things are written by unbelievers, that's to be expected. There is simply no way a biblically-grounded born-again disciple of Jesus can utter statements like these from their heart. But the problem goes much deeper.
I have had many conversations with many professing believers who have argued to me that God does not disapprove of “shacking up” (i.e. a couple living together like they are married without actually being married). Many professing believers may not even know how the Bible addresses this or if it even does or care if it does.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus proclaims eight “I AM” statements about His identity. But there is one “I AM” statement which differs from the rest. In this “I AM” statement Jesus uses a character noun with the emphasis on the adjective. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd” (Jn. 10:11).
Many read Colossians 1:15 and get hung up on the term "firstborn". What does that mean? How is "He" the firstborn?
NEWEST POSTS
How important would you say contentment is? I'd say biblical contentment is more necessary than we realize, especially since we live in a fallen body, in a fallen world, around fallen people, with all of us experiencing & reacting to the effects of fallenness. So what is contentment, and why does it matter so much for the believer?
I created a study method using a simple acronym, G.O.A.L., to help Christians study the Bible thematically and learn to actively listen to and process sermons. Good for individuals and groups, teens and adults. Explore your GOAL when reading through Scripture and listening to sermons.
Where do you stand on what women can and can’t do in the church and, possibly, within Christian institutions and organizations? How you answer this question will land you in one of two doctrinal camps. But do the complementarian–egalitarian positions adequately categorize Christian views on women in ministry? Explore a proposed four-quadrant framework.
What if the Church is missing out on significant leadership gifts and roles because of a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of Paul’s gifts list in Ephesians 4:11? Maybe the secret sauce of a healthy, growing church isn’t purely methodologies; what if it’s the chemistry and utilization of the right giftings that align with the right methodologies?
I created a study method using a simple acronym, G.O.A.L., to help Christians study the Bible thematically and learn to actively listen to and process sermons. Good for individuals and groups, teens and adults. Explore your GOAL when reading through Scripture and listening to sermons.