30 Old People in the Bible and Their Advice

Last year I turned sixty. I don’t know if I count as an old person yet. Granted, when I was twenty, I thought sixty was ancient, but I now realize that barring a major illness or accident, I still could have a lot of years ahead—possibly even decades. Still, turning sixty has got me paying … Continue reading 30 Old People in the Bible and Their Advice

The Earliest Non-Christian Testimony to Jesus (Josephus) Turns Out to Be Genuine

Most of you have probably heard of Josephus. An enormous amount of what we know about the history and culture of the Jewish people in and around the time of Jesus comes from Josephus. But Josephus only wrote one paragraph about Jesus. That paragraph is famous. It is so famous that the paragraph has its … Continue reading The Earliest Non-Christian Testimony to Jesus (Josephus) Turns Out to Be Genuine

What Should You Do When There’s No Time to Pray?

What should you do when there is no time to pray? On the surface, this appears to be a simple question, but it turns out to be a bit more complicated in practice. Here are four perspectives that may help. First, we need to call out the uncomfortable truth that most people who claim to … Continue reading What Should You Do When There’s No Time to Pray?

God-pleasers not People-Pleasers: How Important is it for Students to Like their Teachers?

Not long ago, I shared a devotional with the Talbot School of Theology faculty. Here’s a summary of that devotional.[1] I have recently been thinking about Galatians 1:10: “For am I now trying to win the approval of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please … Continue reading God-pleasers not People-Pleasers: How Important is it for Students to Like their Teachers?

Intense Verbs for People Doing Ministry: 1 Timothy 4:11-16

This morning while reading in 1 Timothy 4:11-16 (in Greek), I was drawn to a surprising cluster of intense verbs that the apostle Paul uses to describe how attentive we should be to the way we live our lives and carry on our ministries. Notice as I walk you through these powerful verbs just how … Continue reading Intense Verbs for People Doing Ministry: 1 Timothy 4:11-16

“And They Are Crucifying Him” (Mark 15:24)

I opened my Greek Bible this morning (that is, the day I originally wrote this) simply to read God’s Word. I looked down at the first three words on the page: Καὶ σταυροῦσιν αὐτον (literal translation: “And they are crucifying him,” Mark 15:24). These words arrested me—and if I’m fully transparent, instantly reduced me to … Continue reading “And They Are Crucifying Him” (Mark 15:24)

The Peace of Christ

“How are you today?” Like many of you, I hear this question many times a day. The expected response to this question when I was growing up was, “I’m fine, thank you.” Now, most of my students in California simply say, “I’m good.” (Let the record show that I have never really appreciated this bit … Continue reading The Peace of Christ

Prayer or Sleep? Which is More Important?

Last night before going to bed I asked my wife an unusual question, “Should I get up at my normal 6am time and take my regular prayer walk followed by some time reading the Bible, or should I set my alarm a half hour later, forgo my prayer walk and only spend time reading my … Continue reading Prayer or Sleep? Which is More Important?

Biblical Necessities? or Theological Explanations?

In recent years, I have been helped in my study of the Bible by employing an informal distinction between “biblical necessities” and “theological explanations.”[1] Of all the classes I teach at Talbot/Biola, this distinction has been most helpful to students taking a class I teach on the book of Romans. Since some of my students … Continue reading Biblical Necessities? or Theological Explanations?

Lessons from the Melbourne Revival (1902): An Interview with Rob Nyhuis

Ken Berding (KB): Thanks for being willing to be interviewed about your recent book, Global Revival: How a City’s Mission Catalysed a Worldwide Awakening. In a few sentences, what is your book about? Rob Nyhuis (RN): Global Revival describes the largely untold story of a four-week mission conducted in 1902 in Melbourne, Australia, by three … Continue reading Lessons from the Melbourne Revival (1902): An Interview with Rob Nyhuis