“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:1-2 ESV First impressions matter. There’s a world of difference between walking into the office on Monday … Continue reading Grace and Peace From God for the Current Season
Me and Jesus: An Interview
Every now and then, I’m accused of having my head in the clouds. Hard to believe, isn’t it? That’s why I was surprised and refreshed when a South African podcaster approached me a few months ago asking to interview me on a fairly simple topic: Jesus. Who he is, what he has done in my … Continue reading Me and Jesus: An Interview
Return, O Wanderer: An Open Letter
This article originally appeared on ABWE. Dear friend, It’s been a while. We’ve seen each other in passing a couple of times. Your pictures popped up in my news feed. I think I might’ve seen you at the grocery store last week. What I really mean to say is, it’s been a while since we fellowshipped. … Continue reading Return, O Wanderer: An Open Letter
Radical or Reasonable?
I remember one Sunday morning in my teen years on which a woman at church made a passing comment that I was “very pious.” The comment came during an angsty phase of my life, in which I was just beginning to learn theology and take my Christian walk more seriously. I was unsure how to … Continue reading Radical or Reasonable?
The Kind of Revival We Should Pray For: 4 Traits
True revival only takes place when those guilty of sin plead for mercy on the basis of the once-for-all atonement of Jesus Christ. Cultural reform profits nothing unless those whose hearts are revived cling to the cross of Christ.
Why Risk Is Still Right
This article is cross-posted on ABWE.org. Several years ago, when I was contemplating a transition from my role as a youth pastor into missions mobilization, one of the questions that gripped me was: Am I deserting my “flock”? How many of the young adults I’m leaving behind will make shipwreck of their faith? As I … Continue reading Why Risk Is Still Right
5 Ways to Pray Missionally
We restless North Americans struggle immensely to prevail in prayer. I struggle in prayer. I see impoverished, persecuted believers in other parts of the world praying with fervor, corporately and individually, and I marvel at my own ineptitude when it comes to conversation with God. Yet prayer is an inescapable concept. Desperation of any sort produces dependence … Continue reading 5 Ways to Pray Missionally
A Brief Reflection on Judaizers
“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so … Continue reading A Brief Reflection on Judaizers
The Indwelling Holy Spirit and Authority in Spiritual Conflict
Two years in a row now, my friend Neil Olcott, who runs our local chapter of the C.S. Lewis Institute discipleship program, has made the unfortunate blunder of inviting me to lecture on the topic of the Holy Spirit and spiritual warfare. You’d think the poor chap would have learned his lesson after the first … Continue reading The Indwelling Holy Spirit and Authority in Spiritual Conflict
How Not to Make Friends and Influence People
Once, after hearing a very gracious, gentle, nuanced pastor preach a particularly bold sermon warning against false teachers, I commented to him, “It’s good to see a vertebrate in the pulpit.” To my surprise, he replied, not skipping a beat, “I call it having evantesticles.” (He also knew that puns are my love language.) This … Continue reading How Not to Make Friends and Influence People
Alex Kocman 