How much of your life is affected by your mind? How much do your thoughts affect your day? To what extent are your attitudes, your perspectives, your relationships, and your communication shaped by your thinking? In 1 Peter 1:13, Peter draws a powerful picture: “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope … More Stop and Think: The Mind in Life and Ministry (Part 1)
40 Questions about the End Times is the latest installment in Kregel’s helpful 40 Questions series. Eckhard Schnabel, Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, answers the following questions: PART 1: GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE A. The Future of the World 1. When Do the End Times Begin? 2. What Is the … More 40 Questions about the End Times
I recently took a one-day Ph.D. colloquium on the Messiah in the Old Testament. The entire day consisted of student presentations where each student summarized and critiqued a relevant book. Though time and content required that we paint in broad strokes, it was still an insightful day — mostly education by general exposure. Here are the books … More The Messiah in the Old Testament
From the “Exodus” entry in the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: More directly than any other NT book, Hebrews argues for the superiority of the new epoch. In this new Exodus (3:7-19), Jesus, attested by signs and wonders and gifts of the Spirit (cf. Is. 63:11; Num. 11:25), is greater than both the angels who gave the … More The Exodus Pattern in Hebrews
In reading through the Psalms recently (especially 130-150), the Holy Spirit showed me that the Psalms can provide powerful motivation and encouragement for evangelism. Although the psalmists wrote mostly from the come-and-see mentality of ancient Israel, their desire was the same ultimate desire that we see expressed throughout Scripture: the pure, worldwide worship of the one true God. Here … More How the Psalms Encourage Evangelism
The identity of the unnamed author of Hebrews has been discussed for centuries. In discussions like these, it can be helpful (as long as it’s not overdone) to identify likely characteristics of the author based on writing, context, theology, intercanonical connections, and other legitimate categories. Long-time New Testament professor Robert Thomas provided these eleven “facts” on … More 11 Characteristics of the Author of Hebrews by Robert Thomas
When did God first speak to His people? Long ago. How has God spoken to His people in the past? At many times and in many ways. Who did He speak to? He spoke to our fathers, the patriarchs. Who did He speak through? He spoke by the prophets. What about now? These are the … More God Has Spoken by His Son (Hebrews 1:1-4)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8 Who is Jesus Christ today? The same as He was yesterday. Who will Jesus Christ be tomorrow? The same as He was yesterday and the same as He is today. Who was Jesus Christ yesterday? The same as He is today and the … More Jesus Christ Is the Same Yesterday and Today and Forever
Paul, why are you praying? Because I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. What are you saying in your prayers for us? I’m thanking God for you. How often do you thank God for us? Every time I pray. Who are you praying to? The God … More Paul’s Prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23
I’ve been deliberating about how to share the twists and turns of my Ph.D. journey without turning this site into an academic center. One of my solutions is to regularly share collections of notes, snippets, and observations from my seminars and studies. If an experience prompts more full-orbed reflection, so be it. But most often I will simply … More Notes from the Ph.D. (1)
How do the people of God gather to worship? At the building, with the church. We don’t gather at the church, because the church is not a location. We don’t meet in the church, because the church is not a building. We meet at a building (or a home or a park or a cave), with the church. … More At the Building, With the Church
In Malachi 1:11 God explains the reason why He is so sternly rebuking His people for their hypocritical, self-deceived, God-demeaning worship: “For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name will be great among the nations.” God is not talking about time. He is talking about location. God is not declaring that … More From the Rising of the Sun to Its Setting
To Live Is Christ (Philippians) by Trip Lee From “13 Letters” Reach Records HT: Ray Ortlund The album “13 Letters” was a group project spearheaded by Reach Records. Contributors include Lecrae, Tedashii, Sho Baraka, Trip Lee, Json, Flame, Shai Linne, 1-Lyfe, and Dillon Chase. Track Listing: 1. Begin with the End 2. Dig In 3. Gospel … More To Live Is Christ | Trip Lee | “13 Letters”
Tom Krattenmaker doesn’t mind if Christianesque sports stars start their postgame interviews with general gratitude to a general god. But he does mind the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob being real, the Bible being true, and Jesus being King. And he does mind that athletes like Tim Tebow talk like it. In his recent … More Christian Athletes, Public Faith, and the Exclusivity of Jesus
I recently preached a sermon from an Old Testament narrative passage. Along the way, I came across a helpful section of an article by Daniel Block entitled “Tell Me the Old, Old Story: Preaching the Message of Old Testament Narrative.”* Block attempts to bring clarity to the age-old question, “How does one preach from biblical … More Preaching Old Testament Narratives, and the Danger of the “Homiletical Hermeneutic”
The “problem of evil” has been debated for centuries. How can God allow evil and suffering to go on in the world? If He rules the world, why is there so much pain? Did He create evil? Or did He just allow it to exist (and how does that work)? Is evil under His control? … More The Problem of Mercy
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