This post is part of a series of posts on the basics of systematic theology. Why do we need theology, and what are the essential truths to know about each doctrine? All the posts are archived under the category “Theology 101.” When children are first learning language and the margins of their world are […]
Read More How can we know God?Today begins a series of posts on the basics of systematic theology. Why do we need theology, and what are the essential truths to know about each doctrine? All the posts will be archived under the category “Theology 101.” When I was a child, I had problems with migraines and for many years took four […]
Read More Why studying theology is importantJesus went to weddings (see John 2) and talked about marriage (see Matthew 5 and 19), but it is clear that Jesus was not married. Yet secular writers (see Dan Brown) often argue that He was married. And another such speculation has arisen in the past week. A small Coptic manuscript was found that purports […]
Read More Jesus and marriageMany believers live day-to-day in discouragement and even despair over their sin. They erringly believe that they cannot escape their sin. They rightly believe that there is forgiveness and cleansing for every sin, but they wrongly believe that their sinful habits and patterns cannot change. In Colossians 2, Paul articulates two glorious truths for the […]
Read More Satan and sin — two defeated foes“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Col 1:24). Too often the misconception that the Christian life is a life of ease and simplicity without trial and […]
Read More The sufferings of Christ — and our sufferingsWe know that we are to communicate the gospel — to speak it, declare it, articulate it, and defend it. Yet many of us miss opportunities to speak the gospel, as this chart demonstrates: Part of the reason we don’t tell the gospel is because we don’t know the gospel well enough to say it […]
Read More Declaring the GospelI had a really effective (and fun) history teacher in seventh grade. Her students did so well that observers from the school district and other educators came into her class to find out what made her so effective. By the time I reached seminary, all those fun days in history forgotten and replaced by prototypical […]
Read More Why reading Christian biography is good for the soulYou are in a spiritual battle — be aware of the wartime realities. Despite all that Christ has done, the battle against Satan’s influences still rages. That’s why Paul says in Ephesians 6, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that […]
Read More You are in a spiritual battleIt took 38 years of watching the Texas Rangers, but a couple of years ago I finally heard the words that every baseball fan loves to hear about his team: “The Rangers are going to the World Series.” I wanted to hear that so much, I’ve actually made it my ring tone on my cell […]
Read More When God changes a man, he lives to please the LordFor the next week, C. J. Mahaney’s booklet, Don’t Waste Your Sports, is available for free as an audio book at Christian Audio.
Read More Free audio book — Don’t Waste Your SportsA few years ago, Dennis needed to some same-day cleaning for some clothes that were necessary for a trip he was taking. Then he remembered a store on the other side of his hometown of Katy, TX — “One-Hour Dry Cleaners.” So he gladly made the out-of-the way trek to the cleaning company and as […]
Read More A worthy lifeIn the summer of 1956, a group of people spent an afternoon waterskiing on Schroon Lake, NY, when they decided to go out one more time. Though tired from the activities of the day, Dawson Trotman (the founder of The Navigators) got back into the boat for one more ride. Also on the boat that […]
Read More Our God is in the heavensThis week I’ve been thinking about the gift of our salvation, summed up in such simple words as “He saved us” (Titus 3:5). It was God’s kindness, love, and mercy that produced our salvation. We repeat those kinds of words frequently, but do we meditate on them and allow the weightiness of them to rest […]
Read More Father, How SweetSome helpful articles from the last week: Here are two helpful resources on Mormonism: Russell Moore writes how “How Christians Should Engage Latter-day Saints.” The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary hosted a panel discussion on the topic, “The Mormon Moment? Religious Conviction and the 2012 Election” (audio | video) George Lawson writes that, “Reliable Source Reveals […]
Read More Grab bagA well-known Christian chorus says: He is able, more than able to accomplish what concerns me today He is able, more than able to handle anything that comes my way He is able, more than able to do much more than I could ever dream He is able, more than able to make me what […]
Read More He is able
Words of Grace 