Did you know that the Bible tells us that there are certain things we shouldn’t even talk about? The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5: “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints” (5:3). Nine verses later, Paul adds: “For it is shameful … Continue reading Some Things Shouldn’t Even Be Talked About (Ephesians 5:3,12)
Category: Church Life
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
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
Joy to the World Isn’t a Christmas Song? Questioning an Urban Legend
It has become trendy in recent years to publicly proclaim that Joy to the World was not originally written as a song about Christ’s First Coming, but rather was composed as a forward-looking celebration of Christ’s future Second Coming. Have you encountered this assertion? See, for example, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE—a few examples among … Continue reading Joy to the World Isn’t a Christmas Song? Questioning an Urban Legend
What Would Happen if You Became a Christian? A Thought Experiment
Let me invite you into a thought experiment. What if you became a Christian? What would change? I’m talking about an actual disciple of Jesus, not a Christian in name only. What would be different if you became a Christian?[1] If you became a Christian, you would automatically become a spiritual brother or sister with … Continue reading What Would Happen if You Became a Christian? A Thought Experiment
What are the Four Most Important Spiritual Disciplines?
The four most important spiritual disciplines are: 1) scripture, 2) prayer, 3) church, and 4) mission. No other spiritual disciplines rise to the level of importance of these four. Two questions clarify why these are the most important spiritual disciplines. Which spiritual disciplines are most emphasized in the Bible? Which spiritual disciplines will most effectively … Continue reading What are the Four Most Important Spiritual Disciplines?
Extended Fasting: An Interview with Bill MacLeod
Have you ever wondered about fasting for an extended period of time? Jesus, after all, fasted for 40 days in the Judean wilderness. I wrote a short introduction to what the Bible teaches about fasting a few years ago for those new to fasting, since I have found fasting to be a helpful discipline at … Continue reading Extended Fasting: An Interview with Bill MacLeod
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
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?
Kindle Afresh 