What kind of book is the Bible-- Is it merely an ancient document written by men inventing a religion-- Is it like our Constitution, a useful guide developed by wise men, but one that can be amended when needed-- Is it special like other great writings that reveal the human condition and help us see divinity in the world-- Or is the Bible the very …

What kind of book is the Bible? Is it merely an ancient document written by men inventing a religion? Is it like our Constitution, a useful guide developed by wise men, but one that can be amended when needed? Is it special like other great writings that reveal the human condition and help us see divinity in the world? Or is the Bible the very word…

Our thoughts about God are the most important thing about us. We must know God as he truly is and not as we suppose him to be. So how can we know God-- The Bible's answer is revelation- God reveals himself to us.--The doctrine of revelation guards us against several errors. Agnostics claim that we cannot know God. The position may seem humble and c…

The church today faces a crisis that threatens our corporate witness and compromises the godly living of believers- We have borrowed from the world a too-low a view of our bodies. This may be a surprising claim given how much our world emphasizes bodily pleasure and appearance. But from issues like abortion, to transgenderism, to an out-of-control …

God has graciously made a covenant between himself and believers and their children. God graciously to care for us- we must trust and obey him. But what happens when we don't-- Is the covenant breakable-- Can the disobedience of man nullify God's hold on his people----In Ezekiel 20 a group of elders asked the prophet to inquire of the Lord in Babyl…

Our thoughts about God are the most important thing about us. We must know God as he truly is and not as we suppose him to be. So how can we know God? The Bible's answer is revelation; God reveals himself to us.The doctrine of revelation guards us against several errors. Agnostics claim that we cannot know God. The position may seem humble and care…

The church today faces a crisis that threatens our corporate witness and compromises the godly living of believers: We have borrowed from the world a too-low a view of our bodies. This may be a surprising claim given how much our world emphasizes bodily pleasure and appearance. But from issues like abortion, to transgenderism, to an out-of-control …

One of the best questions we can ask about God comes from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. -What is God--- -Q-A 4-. As the church has tried to answer that question from Scripture it has consistently used a surprising word to help describe the divine Being- simplicity. God is simple. Not in the sense of -easily understood,- but as -being free from…

One of the best questions we can ask about God comes from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. "What is God?" (Q/A 4). As the church has tried to answer that question from Scripture it has consistently used a surprising word to help describe the divine Being: simplicity. God is simple. Not in the sense of "easily understood," but as "being free from …

God has graciously made a covenant between himself and believers and their children. God graciously to care for us; we must trust and obey him. But what happens when we don't? Is the covenant breakable? Can the disobedience of man nullify God's hold on his people?In Ezekiel 20 a group of elders asked the prophet to inquire of the Lord in Babylon. P…

The systematic study of Bible doctrine seems to be increasingly endangered. Theology has never been wildly popular. But among pragmatic people living under the influence of secularism, the study of doctrine is a very low priority. As culture races toward absurdity we might question the usefulness of studying the attributes of God, or the marks of t…

When disaster strikes, it doesn't take long for people to blame others. We are quick to take credit for success, and slow to take responsibility for failure.--Early in the sixth century BC the people of Israel faced a crisis of responsibility. Babylon had invaded Jerusalem and exiled thousands of influential Jewish people. Israel's kings and their …

Work is meant to be rewarding and satisfying. It isn't the source of ultimate purpose. But it is good to enjoy what we do.--So what happens when we don't-- What do we do when work doesn't work-- Some of the guidance we have already considered will help resolve moderate workplace unhappiness. We should develop vocational gratitude, practice diligenc…

Congregational worship is a time of covenant renewal. We confess to God that we have dishonored him. We reaffirm both his lordship over us and his promise to forgive penitent sinners, and we pledge to live according to his word. In this way, week after week, we press on in the pilgrimage to a heavenly city.--God told Ezekiel three stories to explai…

The systematic study of Bible doctrine seems to be increasingly endangered. Theology has never been wildly popular. But among pragmatic people living under the influence of secularism, the study of doctrine is a very low priority. As culture races toward absurdity we might question the usefulness of studying the attributes of God, or the marks of t…

When disaster strikes, it doesn't take long for people to blame others. We are quick to take credit for success, and slow to take responsibility for failure.Early in the sixth century BC the people of Israel faced a crisis of responsibility. Babylon had invaded Jerusalem and exiled thousands of influential Jewish people. Israel's kings and their ar…

Work is meant to be rewarding and satisfying. It isn't the source of ultimate purpose. But it is good to enjoy what we do.So what happens when we don't? What do we do when work doesn't work? Some of the guidance we have already considered will help resolve moderate workplace unhappiness. We should develop vocational gratitude, practice diligence, b…

Congregational worship is a time of covenant renewal. We confess to God that we have dishonored him. We reaffirm both his lordship over us and his promise to forgive penitent sinners, and we pledge to live according to his word. In this way, week after week, we press on in the pilgrimage to a heavenly city.God told Ezekiel three stories to explain …

God called the church in Ezekiel's day a rebellious house. Many of the people were not listening to God. Instead, they had fallen for Satan's tricks. They can no longer see or hear. So God--God made Ezekiel perform actions symbolic of the judgment that would fall upon unrepentant sinners. As always, God previews judgment so that we should repent. T…

God called the church in Ezekiel's day a rebellious house. Many of the people were not listening to God. Instead, they had fallen for Satan's tricks. They can no longer see or hear. So GodGod made Ezekiel perform actions symbolic of the judgment that would fall upon unrepentant sinners. As always, God previews judgment so that we should repent. The…

Throughout much of church history only so-called -religious workers- had callings. Ordinary people simply had jobs. But all believers are, in fact, -servants of the Lord- -Psa. 113-1-. -Every living member of the body of Christ is undeniably a partaker of Christ's anointing and hence a prophet, a priest and a king.- Gospel ministry is but one of co…

I have good news and bad news-which do you want first-- We've all been asked that question. Apparently, most people would rather hear the bad news first. Still, we more often lead with good news-maybe we think it will soften the blow of what we have to say next. But sometimes we need bad news first.--Ezekiel 11 concludes the vision that let Ezekiel…

I have good news and bad news—which do you want first? We've all been asked that question. Apparently, most people would rather hear the bad news first. Still, we more often lead with good news—maybe we think it will soften the blow of what we have to say next. But sometimes we need bad news first.Ezekiel 11 concludes the vision that let Ezekiel vi…

If you've ever moved, you've experienced the melancholy of walking through an empty home. Bare walls once held family pictures. The dining room, where so many family meals were shared, is like an empty shell. The house echoes with the emptiness of a hollow cave. --The scene in Ezekiel 10 reveals the emptiness of God's house, his temple, as he prepa…

For people who made in God's image and listening to God's voice the importance of work is a given. The Bible is a record of God's work of redeeming a people to work for him. Regardless of our particular callings we were made to work. And the Fourth Commandment presents a proper ratio for work- -Six days you shall labor and do all your work- -Ex. 20…

Throughout much of church history only so-called "religious workers" had callings. Ordinary people simply had jobs. But all believers are, in fact, "servants of the Lord" (Psa. 113:1). "Every living member of the body of Christ is undeniably a partaker of Christ's anointing and hence a prophet, a priest and a king." Gospel ministry is but one of co…

Managing money is an unavoidable topic for anyone serious about vocational faithfulness. After all, most work will earn wages -1 Tim. 5-18-. So we have to know what money means and how we should handle it Christianly. If financial management doesn't sound very -spiritual- we might have an unbiblical notion of spirituality. More than 2,000 Scripture…