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

Anything We Ask “According to His Will” (1 John 5:14-15) Will Happen, but What is “His Will”?

A spiritually-minded friend of my wife and me recently made this comment: “I struggle with the idea of praying according to the will of God. Since I know that some things are clearly according to God’s will, why can’t I just pray directly about those things and know for certain that they’re going to happen? … Continue reading Anything We Ask “According to His Will” (1 John 5:14-15) Will Happen, but What is “His Will”?

Understanding Paul’s Veil Imagery in 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:3

What does the apostle Paul mean when he uses the word “veil” in 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:3? For years I didn’t really understand 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:3 because I was looking for a single referent for the veil imagery in the passage. Some time ago, though, I realized that a key to understanding the passage is to … Continue reading Understanding Paul’s Veil Imagery in 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:3

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?

What was David’s Sin in Ordering a Census? A Possible Resolution of a Biblical Difficulty

This morning I was reading in Exodus 30:11-16. (Yes, a passage that is sandwiched between instructions for the construction of the incense altar and directives for how priests should ritually wash.) Let us grant that this section of Scripture may not be the most riveting to read, but since I firmly believe that all Scripture … Continue reading What was David’s Sin in Ordering a Census? A Possible Resolution of a Biblical Difficulty

Writing Prayers for Others

I recently turned 60. (I know, I don’t look a day over 65!) Trudi wanted to craft a special gift for my birthday. What a wonderful gift she designed! To celebrate my 60th birthday, she filled a decorative book with 60 handwritten Bible verses and 60 prayers for me based upon those verses. Now, whenever … Continue reading Writing Prayers for Others

Six Biblical Emphases That Also Happen To Be Political

Certain biblical themes are increasingly becoming political—at least in many people’s minds. But keep in mind that all six of the biblical themes I will list below were biblical long before they became political (in the sense most of us think of politics). Furthermore, all of these themes are clear and emphasized in the Bible. … Continue reading Six Biblical Emphases That Also Happen To Be Political

Prayer Postures in the Bible

When I first started to learn how to pray on my own, I thought that I had to kneel when I prayed. Most of the people I had read about who were pray-ers were also kneel-ers. For example, a second-century Christian named Hegesippus records that James, the half-brother of Jesus, “was frequently found situated upon … Continue reading Prayer Postures in the Bible

Three Paragraphs I Wrote that Seemed to Offend a Lot of People

Of all the things I have ever written, there are three consecutive paragraphs I once wrote that seem to have offended more people than anything else I’ve ever written. Please understand, I really don’t like to offend people. I am committed to—even passionate about—speaking (and writing) truth with grace. My problem in the case of … Continue reading Three Paragraphs I Wrote that Seemed to Offend a Lot of People

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)