Simul justus et blogger.
About the author“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25a) There are moments in public life and culture when the true human condition is displayed so visibly that the gospel can’t help but to shine more brilliantly than usual. Last week was … Continue reading Understanding Chester Bennington Through the Gospel
When was the last time you simply meditated on the person of Christ? We are by nature prone to imbalance, majoring in the minors. We are prone to forget how earthshaking the essential truths of our confession are. To this ailment, Moody Publishers’ Jesus: The Life and Ministry of God the Son is the antidote. … Continue reading Encounter the Living Christ Afresh
Several months ago, I was leading a group discussion among some middle school-aged boys at my church and posed the question, “Where is Jesus right now?” After what felt like several minutes of blank stares, one student chimed in, “He’s watching over the dinosaurs.” I’m still not sure what his comment meant. But the implication … Continue reading What Is Jesus Doing Right Now? (And Why It Matters for Missions)
How many of us have heard—perhaps even used—some of these common responses to the Gospel? “That might be true for you, but not me.” “That’s your opinion, but are you saying people of other religions are wrong?” “Whatever helps you live a good life, that’s what matters.” All these clichés that permeate our conversations are … Continue reading ‘Jesus, That’s Just True for You’
Earlier this week, I encountered an acquaintance of mine at the gym. It wasn't long until this man, a Jehovah's Witness, and I found ourselves entangled in a conversation about who Jesus is, how to be assured of your salvation, and the origin of the doctrine of the Trinity. As I tried to take him … Continue reading Letter to a Jehovah’s Witness
Not everyone is called to be a cross-cultural missionary who takes the gospel to unreached places. So what does Scripture say to those who stay behind? It is just as much a church’s responsibility to send as it is a missionary’s responsibility to go. One of the greatest missionary rally-cry passages in the Bible, Romans … Continue reading 5 Marks of a Faithful Sending Church
Have you ever struggled to explain your faith? Could you explain it to a 5th grader? What about five of them in a circle? Talking about our faith can be daunting. Sometimes we’re so afraid to say the wrong thing that we don’t say much at all. It’s harder if students can’t define “sin,” “salvation,” … Continue reading Giving Teens the Full Gospel
The world is asking Christians some big questions. At least, that’s what I’ve found lately. Whereas most evangelicals have been trained to one degree or another to answer questions like “How can I have eternal life?” or “Who is Jesus?” I’ve found that much of the unbelieving world has a far more bulky set … Continue reading 7 Thoughtful Questions from a Humanist
Looks are everything. That’s the thinking of Western culture today. We live in a society centered on branding and slick advertising where organizations and even individuals swim in the deep water of social media image maintenance. Perception is key. How you look is what you are. Only you can define your own identity. You … Continue reading 5 Foolish, Simple Things God Uses
Dragons. Elves. Rocket ships. Those are the sorts of things that come to mind when we hear the word “imagination.” Stories, myths, and child’s play are all the stuff of imagination. And as we grow older, we lose our sense of imagination—or at least, our imaginations turn rather drab. Instead we fantasize about the weekend, … Continue reading Your Imagination Is Sacred
