After Jonah had been in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, he is very literally propelled outward on God’s mission: "And Yahweh spoke to the fish. And it vomited Jonah onto the dry land" (Jonah 2:10). In essence, God was giving Jonah a second chance, a fresh start. For all of Jonah’s…
A Ministry Discussion with Jordan Jones, Pt. 1
I am beginning a series of posts based upon an email exchange with my friend who is also a pastor in Northern Kentucky, Jordan Jones. He oversees the youth ministry of his church, while I primarily oversee the Community Groups at mine. To see where God is at work in our churches and lives, we…
Learning to Shepherd From the Good Shepherd
Christ is the Good Shepherd. As the Good Shepherd, He is first and foremost our sacrificial Savior (John 10:11). But Christ is also an example to follow in learning how to care for God’s people. It is not surprising that pastors are commanded to “shepherd” God’s people, who are also liken to a “flock” of…
For Real?
Heaven Is For Real should be considered a work of fiction. I know, I know. I'm a kill joy. It's just a book, not a theology book. But here's the problem with it: God has already told us everything we need to know about heaven in His word, the Bible. We shouldn't be prying back the…
Rhythms of Grace– A (Sort of) Review
Typical book reviews have their place. Author bio, summary, critical interaction. Cool. Got it. But I like to see how books “work”: how can the ideas, arguments, and concepts of the book be applied to real life. This is especially true for me when I consider theological works. Does it have a tangible effect on…
The Delay of God’s Justice (Psalm 73)
It often doesn’t feel like God is a just Judge, right? I mean, it often looks like the wicked triumph. It looks like evil gets its way. The prosperity of the wicked is exactly the issue that the author of Psalm 73 is grappling with. His faith is shaken: “But as for me, my feet came…
Aligning Ourselves With God’s Mission (Mark 3:7-19)
Although Mark 3:7-19 may be easy to glide over because it contains healing stories which are prevalent in Mark’s gospel as well as a list of names, it is loaded with richness and applicability for the church today. Mark 3:7-19 [7] Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from…
Were Old Covenant Believers Indwelt by the Holy Spirit?
Were old covenant believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit? No. They did not need to be. God dwelt in the temple. He was thereby with them. How did old covenant believers become and remain faithful? They became faithful by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, which in the OT is described more as ‘circumcision…
“Satisfied in You” by the Sing Team
A Hard Heart, Or a Hardened Heart?: St. Augustine’s Theology of God’s Sovereignty and Human Free Will
Augustine of Hippo was an interesting dude. He authored probably one of the most honest and transparent confessions (aptly titled, Confessions) in church history. He also is probably the most influential theologian in the history of the church. He regularly interpreted the Bible allegorically. His theological writings provided the foundation for the emergence of Calvinsim…
Raising Lazarus 