Posts by Thomas Overmiller
Explaining the Trinity to Muslims
Thomas Overmiller Inquisitive Muslims, curious about Bible Christianity, find the doctrine of the Trinity difficult to accept. How can one God be three distinct persons at once? Has a Muslim, whether friend or stranger, ever questioned you about this? How should you answer? Here is an approach that may help.
Read MoreSo Where’s the Science?
Thomas Overmiller The current transgender phenomenon is real. Real people are facing real internal struggles. But this fact alone does not mean that popular conclusions about this phenomenon are equally true. As I observe public discourse on this subject, I’m struck by the noticeable lack of scientific evidence to support innate transgender claims. We’re told…
Read MoreKilling Giants Sometimes
Thomas Overmiller Sometimes we draw the wrong lessons from Old Testament historical accounts, like David and Goliath for instance. Who hasn’t heard a sermon or a song about killing your giants? But is it really true that if you 1) obey your parents (1 Sam. 17:15), 2) see that there is a cause (1 Sam.…
Read MoreFacebook Cannot Replace Your Church
Thomas Overmiller At a recent Facebook rally in Chicago, Mark Zuckerberg suggested that the social network behemoth can effectively replace institutions like “churches and Little Leagues.” Through new breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, he aims to draw people together into Facebook Groups to serve similar functions, but in a more meaningful way. In this way, he…
Read MoreThe Ordinances and Pastoral Authority
Thomas Overmiller A Command and a Qualification Churches need leaders, but they also need a biblical understanding of leadership. We too easily fall into the trap of the leadership craze, chasing after leadership books, flocking to leadership conferences and experimenting with all kinds of creative leadership strategies, whether secular or Christian. But biblical leadership is…
Read MoreThe Ordinances and Pastoral Authority
Thomas Overmiller A Command and a Qualification Churches need leaders, but they also need a biblical understanding of leadership. We too easily fall into the trap of the leadership craze, chasing after leadership books, flocking to leadership conferences and experimenting with all kinds of creative leadership strategies, whether secular or Christian. But biblical leadership is…
Read MoreDon’t Twist the Scriptures
Thomas Overmiller Many claim to be Bible teachers. They claim to teach the Word of God accurately. But before you believe them, ask whether they are twisting the scriptures to their own advantage. That’s what Peter says at the close of his last letter to the churches.
Read MoreA Child Can Walk with God
Thomas Overmiller Perhaps we underestimate the potential for a child’s walk with God. A child can be born again (Matt. 18:3). (I was born again at 2 years old.) A child can choose to be baptized. And any such child can walk with God. He can develop a meaningful, genuine, vibrant relationship with God. He…
Read MoreChildren in the Worship Service
Thomas Overmiller Sometimes people ask me why we include children in our Sunday morning worship service, rather than send them to a separate program. The reason is a biblical one. It appears that children participated in the corporate worship of the churches from the beginning. On three occasions (maybe more), Scripture indicates that children were…
Read MoreBorn Again at Two Years Old
Thomas Overmiller In a recent post, I emphasized the importance of encouraging children to cultivate a personal walk with God. In the opening lines, I mentioned in passing that I was born again at 2 years old. One reader expressed doubts about this statement, saying: The comment about being born again at 2 years old…
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