It was common for the ancient Greeks, and some of us today, to love idleness. To be involved with physical labor was a sign of the lower classes—to be a servant. But it is for this “work” that Paul praised the Thessalonians before God. But what does “work of faith” mean? The relationship of faith … Continue reading Work of Faith Working
interpreation
Christian Participation in the Moral Order
O’Donovan defined morality as “participation in the moral order.”[1] As Christians participate in the culture, they must shine the light of Christ as wisely as possible. This demands that all sinners are addressed with respect as the image bearers of God. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” and all need … Continue reading Christian Participation in the Moral Order
Resurrected Worship
Quoting Psalm 116.10, Paul said, "I believed, and therefore I did speak; we also believe, and therefore we also speak; knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also with Jesus and present us with you" (2 Cor. 4:13-14). Psalm 116 is a most beautiful hymn of thanksgiving that shows … Continue reading Resurrected Worship
The Shack?
One of the more popular religious books and movies to be released lately has been "The Shack." The Shack is a theodicy (an attempt to explain why God allows evil and pain) in novel form. We are thankful for a renewed interest in films with spiritual backgrounds, but we hope to have accurate representations of … Continue reading The Shack?
The Sacred Text Message–The Doctrine of Inspiration
John Locke said: “The Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed by God on the children of men. It has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth without any mixture for its matter. It is all pure.” The importance of the inspired text is seen in Moses’ words: “And these words … Continue reading The Sacred Text Message–The Doctrine of Inspiration
Lord, Help Me to Trust You–Salvation by Faith
Trust is the root of faith and the basis of our religion and life. We must learn to trust Him. We strive not just to trust him more, but to trust him completely. Mark 9 records a wonderful illustration of growing trust in Jesus. When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large … Continue reading Lord, Help Me to Trust You–Salvation by Faith
What Does it Mean to Be a Believer?
Leon Morris described Romans 3:21-22 this way, "In what is possibly the most important single paragraph ever written, Paul brings out something of the grandeur of Christ’s saving work. He speaks of the righteousness of God, the sin of man, and the salvation of Christ. He views this salvation in three ways: as justification (imagery from … Continue reading What Does it Mean to Be a Believer?
A Biblical Theology of Singing
(Speical thanks to Everett Ferguson's The Church of Christ: A Biblical Ecclesiology for Today) D. L. DeBord, M.Div What does a life look like when it is filled with God? It overflows with Godliness. We sing praises to God because we are filled to overflowing with his word and thankfulness to him. Our text in Ephesians … Continue reading A Biblical Theology of Singing
Back to School Bible Study
With school back in full swing, it is a good time to remember how to read our Bibles. The Bible is 66 books long and contains several different types of literature. Some of the Bible is very devotional, some is instructive, some is narrative, and some is apocalyptic (those strange images in Revelation). So, what … Continue reading Back to School Bible Study
Make Me a Servant
"Make me a servant. Lord, make me like you." It's a great song and an even better prayer. Jesus himself said, "I came not to serve, but to serve." We should all pray to be more like Jesus by becoming servants of the church. Jesus has designed his church in such a way that, while … Continue reading Make Me a Servant
Donnie's Dogmatics 