Simul justus et blogger.
About the authorJesus is Lord. So, the collective vocation of the church for the last 2,000 years has been, essentially, victoriously waging a war against any idea that would attempt to usurp Christ’s throne (2 Cor. 10:5). We do this not with swords or AR-15s, but with the subversive leaven of a gospel that asserts Christ—not Caesar … Continue reading Giants in the Land, Yeah-Buts in the Camp
With the mild resurgence that is taking place right now in the adoptive and foster care movement within evangelicalism, church leaders and members alike are beginning to recognize that something of orphan care runs in the blood of every believer—since God “predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure … Continue reading 4 Ways Not to Help Foster and Adoptive Families in Your Church
The following is an audio recording of a sermon on Romans 10:11-15, delivered on March 19, 2017 at Bressler Bible Church in Steelton, Pa.
Psalm 55 contains a great promise—one which can far too easily become domesticated.
Why foster? Under the old covenant, God's relationship with his people looked more like fostering than permanent adoption — but all that changed with Christ.
“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
Sometimes, finding Christ in the Old Testament is an exact science. Other times, it is an art. In recent weeks, I’ve sat under preaching through the life of David, and have myself tried to practice the science (or art) of Christocentric hermeneutics. We have all heard moral examples pulled from biblical narratives, exhorting us to … Continue reading 4 (Assorted) Ways David Points to Christ
Christians are supposed to be worldly. Wordly not in the sense of indiscriminately consuming all that pop culture produces, nor blowing with the wind of prevailing notions of morality or spirituality. Rather, Christians are called to be “worldly” because whatever we eat or drink, or whatever menial we do, is to be done for the … Continue reading Being Worldly Without Caring
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)
