Previously I had blogged (here and here) that ministry stability and progress require unity in vision, mission, philosophy, and doctrine. I believe that Scott Aniol’s book, Citizens and Exiles, provides clear direction for bringing about such unity. Much of the disunity that can be observed in the church today (whether in conservative evangelical circles or…
Read MoreI recently finished a series of lessons in our adult Bible study class about human sexuality. Honestly, the series could have continued for at least twice that long, but I had to limit myself for several reasons. We discussed issues regarding maleness and femaleness, as well as singleness and marriage, and various aspects of the…
Read MoreSeveral years ago I wrote an article for P&D about the ministry of funerals for unbelievers. In this article I would like to focus on a growing, and disturbing, tendency at funerals. Our small town (population ~18,000) has three funeral homes. Over the thirty years my wife and I have lived here I have officiated…
Read MoreOne sayes well; That Sermons Preached, are like Showers of Rains that Water for the Instant – But Sermons Printed, are like Snow that lies longer on the Earth. God grant that the Truths falling from Heaven, in this Form, this Winter upon our Neighbours, May Soak into their Hearts, with a Sensible and a…
Read MoreAs we look at the problems of the seven local churches in Revelation 2-3, Pergamos is considered by most as the compromising church. The editors of the NKJV have given it this name, as have many others. It is important to carefully note what the problems were with this church and what the Lord thought…
Read MoreMy personal ecclesiastical heritage stems from what I would call historical fundamentalism. While those two words together may not be the first phrase out of my mouth to describe myself or my church’s history to a guest at my church, it can be a helpful phrase to use if one has the time to give…
Read MoreBut, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8 Obviously, God has a different clock than we have today or even a calendar. God operates based on eternity, not as we do, watching the…
Read MoreFrom Creation until the Tower of Babel incident recorded in Genesis 11 (around 2200 B.C.), mankind had one language and culture. When God confused mankind’s language, it meant that He created the beginnings of the major language families. Some studies list 14 major language families.1 Others identify between 75 and 150 language families as the…
Read MoreNope. That’s what I thought growing up in church. When the end of the world comes, all clocks will stop. Revelation 10:6 seemed clear on this point: “There should be time no longer.” Then, at church, we often sang “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.” The answer to the question leapt from the hymnal:…
Read MoreRevelation 2 and 3 contain letters from Jesus Christ to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. There has been a lot of speculation regarding the exact nature of these churches and what they represent. I remember hearing that these churches represent seven church ages or epochs that stretch from the first century until the second…
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