Poured Out, Not Burned Out
One of the most notable aspects of Paul’s ministry was his commitment to hard work and sacrifice. Paul worked hard—harder than most of his peers. In 1 Corinthians 15, he writes, “But by the grace of God I am what…
Category Reformation21
A Peculiar Perspective on Suffering
Editor’s Note: This post is adapted from Laughing at the Days to Come: Facing Present Trials and Future Uncertainties with Gospel Hope (RHB, 2019). My once bright future suddenly seemed dark. The onset of a rare neurological disease was causing…
How to Evaluate Your Pastor
It is an open secret: Christian pastors struggle. Many are worn out and frequently fatigued. Many suffer from discouragement. Many desire more constructive feedback to help them channel their energies and properly discharge their calling. This raises some questions. Who…
The Ghost of Rudolf Past
Everyone knows the story of the reindeer with the red nose, who guided Santa’s sleigh at Christmas. Everyone also knows, I think, Charles Dickens’s famous book A Christmas Carol, wherein the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future attempt to…
A Matter of Life and Death
The issue of abortion is one of the most divisive in modern political discourse. The option for a woman to end a pregnancy has been proclaimed by some to be a basic right, while others have decried it as the…
Paul, or Jesus?
Through sophisticated statements on social media, certain prominent voices in the evangelical wing of Christendom have revealed their penchant for pitting Jesus’ ethical teaching against that of the Apostle Paul. To elevate what Jesus taught over against what His apostles…
Reading It Rightly
This is the final part of James Renihan’s essay on the scope of theology. Read part one here, and part two here. Scope as a Theological Tool There is another function of scopus, already alluded to, but which now deserves at least brief…
Was Paul Co-Dependent?
Was Paul Co-Dependent? Reflections on 2 Corinthians for Singles (and the Rest of Us) 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 says something extraordinary. Paul walked away from an open door of ministry in Troas because he couldn’t find Titus. What’s up here? Why…
Applying the Beatitudes
The Beatitudes, according to Matthew, mark the beginning of Jesus’ public teaching ministry. They are the first things that Jesus emphasized as he proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom. Unlike Moses at Mount Sinai, Jesus began his Sermon on the…
The Lazy Pastor
At the outset of a difficult topic – pastoral laziness – I want to be clear that my purpose is to encourage both pastors and their congregations. Where conflict arises over the minister’s work ethic, I believe most of the…