Boredom The child has a room full of action figures, video games, cable TV, DVD player, a huge collection of movies, every piece of sports equipment known to man, his own telephone, a fully loaded computer with high-speed Internet access … but he doesn’t have a thing to do. He’s bored. Boredom is the plague… Read More »

Nearer, my God, to Thee Songs are magnificent. There is a reason God wants us to teach by singing, and I was reminded of this powerfully one night recently after I preached a lesson in a meeting. My lesson was called “Come to Bethel,” and I discussed Genesis 28, Jacob’s leaving the land, the sun… Read More »

God’s Existence Doesn’t Depend on Me In Megan Rappinoe’s last game, she injured herself by tearing her Achilles tendon. She is the women’s soccer team captain and outspoken advocate for LGBTQT+. She immediately said afterward, “I’m not a religious person or anything and if there was a god, like, this is proof that there isn’t”.… Read More »

Saved from the Wrath of God To be saved from the wrath of God is generally equated in Scripture with being saved from judgment. It is set opposite of eternal life. For example, Jesus said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the… Read More »

Baptism of the Holy Spirit: A Promise? Through the years I have talked with, and debated with, Pentecostal preachers and it is not uncommon for them to take the position that the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit ” is a command. Many have been the times I have cited a passage to prove that the… Read More »

Why Me? If the blind man of John 9 asked, “Why me?” the answer would be “that the works of God might be displayed in you.” If the paralytic from Mark 2 asked, “Why me?” the answer would be “that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” If… Read More »

No Man Ever Spoke Like This Man On one most revealing occasion, some soldiers were sent to capture Jesus and came back empty-handed exclaiming, “No man ever spoke like this man” (John 7:46). What seems most impressive to me about the whole episode of Jesus is that He was feared, not because He might be… Read More »

Rules for Religious Discussions “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (I Peter 3:15). It is incumbent upon all Christians to be ready to teach others.… Read More »

Should Christians apologize for their faith?   Should Christians apologize for their faith? Absolutely! Now, you might be thinking, “Wait a minute, where does the Bible say we’re supposed to say we’re sorry for our beliefs?” It doesn’t, but that is not what we mean by apologizing for the faith. We have something entirely different in mind. Let us explain.… Read More »

The Acts 17 Approach to God Acts 17 provides a framework for some basic understanding of God. Think especially about the phrase in verse 25: “as though He needed anything.” In that phrase is found the essence of who God is. God needs nothing more to be complete or to function with the highest possible reason… Read More »