We can see the New Testament’s high view of church leadership unfold in the church’s earliest days. As the Gospel penetrated communities throughout the known world, converts formed local churches. And what did the apostles urge these churches to do? They were to appoint elders to lead (Acts 14:21–23; Titus 1:5).
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There are many notions about what it means to be a Christian. Many think they understand the term, yet many also mean different things by it. For some it’s a matter of family history: “I grew up in the church.” For others it means someone who lives by the Golden Rule, ascribes to certain political views, goes to church, or simply chose to identify that way at a particular point ...
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Has the prospect of sharing your faith ever intimidated or scared you? I think if we’re honest with ourselves, all who have tried to be faithful in the realm of evangelism would answer with a resounding “Yes!”
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The aim of achieving harmony isn’t unique to Lennon. It’s a desire innate in the human heart. Families long for peace in homes marked by hostility. Parents want relationships with their children to be free from strife. Employees wish for an office that isn’t filled with gossip, conflict, and disintegration. Citizens long for a homeland that isn’t marked by division and death.
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Through His death, Jesus provided the only solution to a guilty conscience. Outside of Christ, all attempts to rid ourselves of guilt are futile and hopeless. In Him, however, we find forgiveness that lasts. Alistair Begg reminds us of this truth in this selection of sermons on dealing with guilt caused by our sins.
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In John 20:30–31, the Gospel’s author explains that his account of Jesus’ life and works was “written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” In saying this, John makes it clear that the wondrous signs that he recorded are there to elicit belief from his readers (or hearers). Jesus’ miracles authenticate His ...
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In Colossians 3, the apostle Paul gives us two metaphors to help us grapple with our relationship to sin and righteousness in Christ. On the one hand, we are to kill the sin within our hearts: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you” (v. 5). Yet we also need to embrace a new identity—to “put on the new self” (v. 10) like a fresh set of clothing, fitting to our ...
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Early in the twenty-first century, a group of people predicted a date for the end of the world. Basing their claim on the last date recorded on the Mayan calendar, they determined the earth would run its course by December 21, 2012. Of course, it didn’t, and believers in the theory were able to sigh in relief—and probably in a little embarrassment.
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Though 1 Corinthians 13 is largely regarded as a cozy part of the Bible, a closer look reveals that it is actually deeply challenging. These “feel-good” verses confront us, humble us, and begin to show us that the things we think matter most are not what matter most to God.
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There is an old adage that goes, “People buy things they don’t need with money they don’t have to impress people they don’t like.” That is a sadly accurate summary of how the world tends to look at money. As Christians, however, we recognize that our money has a higher purpose.
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