Was Paul’s Second Mother the Wife of the Man who Carried Jesus’s Cross? (Romans 16:13; Mark 15:21)

If you connect a few historical dots, you may (as I did) find yourself thinking that Paul was friends with the son of Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried Jesus’s cross—and, furthermore, that Paul thought of Simon’s wife as a second mother to himself.[1] I grant that what follows is not certain, but it … Continue reading Was Paul’s Second Mother the Wife of the Man who Carried Jesus’s Cross? (Romans 16:13; Mark 15:21)

Teenagers and Parental Hypocrisy: Seven Suggestions

I raised four daughters. That is to say, together with my highly-committed and sensible wife, Trudi, I raised four daughters. I must admit, though, that sometimes it feels like they raised me. Nothing highlights one’s sinful tendencies more effectively than raising children. Every parent reading right now knows what I mean. The relationship between teenagers … Continue reading Teenagers and Parental Hypocrisy: Seven Suggestions

Living a D’Vine Life in Christ (John 15:1-5)

Yes, my title has a double meaning: The vine in John 15 is Christ, who is Divine, and we live life connection to the Vine. So one way to refer to the Christian life is: living a D’Vine Life. A couple years ago I wrote a devotional book about inChristness in the letters of Paul—100 … Continue reading Living a D’Vine Life in Christ (John 15:1-5)

Is New Testament Prophecy the Same as Preaching and Teaching?

No. In the New Testament, prophecy is described as a revelation for a particular moment (1 Cor 14:30). Preaching and teaching[1] is an exposition of what God has already revealed in his written Word, the Bible. I grew up in a church setting in which people often claimed that what is described in the New … Continue reading Is New Testament Prophecy the Same as Preaching and Teaching?

Exponential Discipleship

In an ideal world, all Christians would maintain three types of spiritual relationships as they walked through life. (Disclaimer: There have only been a couple times in my own life when I have had all three going at once, but this is still an ideal worth aiming for.) A spiritual mentor: It is wonderful to … Continue reading Exponential Discipleship

Answers to Prayer: Small Prayers

I’ve been thinking a lot over the past 24 hours about prayer (again!). I’ve been wondering whether one of the primary reasons we get discouraged in prayer relates to what we pray about—and what we remember praying about. Because we typically pray a few ongoing prayers that feel super important, but that haven’t yet been … Continue reading Answers to Prayer: Small Prayers

25 Questions a Christian Woman Should Ask Herself When a Man Starts to Show Interest

(Note: Trudi and I wrote this blog post together.) We’re not relationships experts. Certainly not. But we raised four daughters and we’ve talked to a lot of college-aged women about relationships over the years. Here’s a list of 25 questions we sometimes share with Christian young women who are evaluating the possibility of a relationship … Continue reading 25 Questions a Christian Woman Should Ask Herself When a Man Starts to Show Interest

Should We Bear One Another’s Burdens? (Galatians 6:2) or Carry Our Own Load? (Galatians 6:5)

Which is it? Are we supposed to carry one another’s burdens, as Galatians 6:2 says: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”? Or should we carry our own load, as Galatians 6:5 (only three verses later) says: “For each will have to bear his own load”? First, let me remind readers … Continue reading Should We Bear One Another’s Burdens? (Galatians 6:2) or Carry Our Own Load? (Galatians 6:5)

What Does it Mean to Do Things “in the Spirit”?

Frequently in the Bible, and especially in the letters of the Apostle Paul, we come across the expression “in the Spirit”—or similar such expressions. This kind of expression is used in various ways in the Bible, but the one I’m drawn to today is when people do things “in the Spirit.” What kinds of activities … Continue reading What Does it Mean to Do Things “in the Spirit”?

Why We Should Stop Using The Message

This article was originally posted at the Good Book Blog on November 2, 2016. I'm re-posting it because I still know people who are using The Message--and it's still a problem. It’s time we stopped reading, buying, and recommending The Message. We who hold to a high view of Scripture—that the Bible is the very word of God, … Continue reading Why We Should Stop Using The Message