This article is cross-posted on Founders Ministries. In this series, we have considered the nature of the kingdom of Christ, the fruit produced by that spiritual kingdom, and the priority of evangelism in all Christian cultural endeavors. But it is possible that we have made it this far without truly answering the foundational questions of … Continue reading Questioning the Kingdom? – Part 4: Two Kingdoms Theology
Questioning the Kingdom? – Part 3: Gospel Centrality
When the atomic unity of the first and second greatest commandments is split, nuclear reactions are unleashed. What God has brought together in his law, let no man tear asunder.
Seven Christmas Carols That Are Undeniably Missiological
Note: This article was originally published on ABWE’s blog. One of the myriad reasons I cherish the Christmas season is that it is one of the few times when the songs on the lips of the people of God truly match the missional optimism Scriptures associates with the kingdom of Christ. In our day of spiritual, … Continue reading Seven Christmas Carols That Are Undeniably Missiological
The Government of What?
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with … Continue reading The Government of What?
The Great Commission Isn’t a Farewell Address
Can you identify the sources of these famous last words? “Money can’t buy life.” “I’m so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it.” “Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough.” The answers are Bob Marley, J. Gresham Machen, and Karl Marx, in that order. A person’s deathbed words are … Continue reading The Great Commission Isn’t a Farewell Address
The Fruit of Faithful Presence: Reflecting on Pastor Wang Yi
In recent weeks, over 100 members of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China, have been imprisoned. Among them is Pastor Wang Yi, one of China’s foremost Protestant pastors and Christian leaders. Foreseeing this possibility, Pastor Yi drafted a letter, “My Declaration of Faithful Disobedience,” leaving it in the keeping of his church to be … Continue reading The Fruit of Faithful Presence: Reflecting on Pastor Wang Yi
The Cost of ‘Kingdom’ Talk
Author’s note: this article is cross-posted on Founders.org. Everybody wants the rights to the term “kingdom.” The word, as an adjective in Christian parlance, roughly translates, “Any vaguely spiritual activity or notion.” Clocking a few hours at a soup kitchen isn’t just volunteerism, it’s “kingdom work.” My menial life can be transcended and replaced with … Continue reading The Cost of ‘Kingdom’ Talk
Don’t Be a Fruit Lobbyist
You want a trim figure but don’t want to count calories. You want the six-figure income but don’t take initiative at the office. You want to regain marital intimacy but won’t budget for a date. These scenarios expose a truth about our nature: we all covet the product but cringe at the process. Either we … Continue reading Don’t Be a Fruit Lobbyist
Giants in the Land, Yeah-Buts in the Camp
Jesus 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
Greatness, Resolutions, and Principled Mediocrity
We know that self-seeking and domineering are bad, so we assume that mediocrity is good. But self-discipline makes you a Pharisee the same way whitewash makes you a tomb.
Alex Kocman 