We must contend for the faith. Jude commands us, “Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). But we must not be contentious. Speaking on head coverings, Paul gave a prohibition against contentiousness that applies to any situation: “If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no…
Read MoreThe Inevitability of Culture Every church has a “culture,” or way of doing things, based upon shared convictions, ideas, and values. Some churches do what they do because that’s what they’ve always done. Others do what they do because that’s what popular or “successful’ churches are doing. The mindset and practices that shape a church…
Read MoreWhile most Christians are familiar with God the Father, the first person of the Trinity; I wonder-how many have ever given thought to God as a Father. Family imagery is used throughout the Bible and like the rest of God’s words, was intentional on God’s part and likely meant to teach us far more than…
Read MoreIn 1981, a Hollywood motion picture made a Scottish missionary to China world famous. However, Eric Liddell had been made famous before when he won a gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympic games. This athletic achievement and the drama surrounding it formed the plot for the film, Chariots of Fire. The film was the…
Read MoreThe theme of our annual meeting, held at Faith Baptist Bible College and Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa, was “Reclaiming the Great Commission.” Kevin Schaal led off our meeting with the message “Do the Work of an Evangelist“, posted at the Proclaim & Defend podcast (substack). For a short article on the same theme, see Kevin’s…
Read MoreDoes “Preach the Word” mean what you think it means? I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (2…
Read MoreOur interview offers a discussion around “The Ethics of Death,” an article appearing in the January/February 2023 issue of FrontLine magazine. Paid subscribers can read the full article at our Substack. Here is the opening paragraph: Death. It’s a term that evokes many negative thoughts and emotions. It certainly raises questions in the minds of…
Read MoreI first came across 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 in light of my physical struggles. I suppose the verses can be applied in principle even to such a situation like that. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which…
Read MoreAs parents, we ultimately work ourselves out of a job. As much as we love our children and miss them when they leave home, we want them to be able to stand on their own two feet as responsible adults. We’ll always listen, support, and help them when they need it, if we’re able. But…
Read MoreRight now,1 something is happening on the campus of Asbury University in Kentucky. What began as a chapel service has now turned into a several-day worship service of singing and prayer. People from other universities have been busing in to see and to participate. People are queuing up outside the chapel. There are both people…
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