by Robby McAlpine | Aug 7, 2017 | Apologetics, Christology, Gospel, Sin, Soteriology, The Kingdom of God, Theodicy, Theological Studies, Worship
“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst...
by Robby McAlpine | Feb 8, 2017 | Charismatic Theology, Christology, Church History, Ecclesiology, Epistemology, Gospel, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16) Some people don’t like doctrinal statements, viewing them as a tool of oppression and exclusion. They would...
by Able Baker | Apr 30, 2016 | Gospel
Where there is a distinct language, lingo or even jargon there is a distinct culture every time. Often times communication on every level fails to a greater or lesser extent because this rule is neglected. Every time I hear an Independant Fundamental Baptist,...
by Kenny Burchard | Jan 6, 2016 | Baptism, Christology, Gospel, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
Before we jump in here, just a reminder that there are actually five great commission texts (at least) in the Gospels and Acts. This post is about the one in Matthew’s gospel. In my post surveying the Greek text of Mat. 28:19-20, I noted that I think Matthew...
by Luke Geraty | Jul 24, 2015 | Ecclesiology, Gospel, Soteriology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
Pick up Crown of...
by Kenny Burchard | Nov 17, 2014 | Gospel, Soteriology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
“Jesus died for your sins, and that’s good news!” So ended the form-letter that my friend wrote, emailed to me, and asked me to read (and edit) for him. My friend wrote the letter so that he could cut and paste the names of various family members and...
by Robby McAlpine | Jul 2, 2014 | Epistemology, Gospel, Theological Studies
Years ago, a new term was introduced into church jargon: the Loyal Liar. It was first used in a fictional story about an older liberal professor mentoring a young Pentecostal pastor into giving up his faith, yet continue to be a pastor. To be a Loyal Liar was the cold...
by Luke Geraty | Mar 24, 2014 | Christology, Gospel, Theological Studies
“Nero did not throw Christians to the lions because they confessed that ‘Jesus is Lord of my heart.’ It was rather because they confessed that ‘Jesus is Lord of all,’ meaning that Jesus was Lord even over the realm Caesar claimed as his domain of absolute...
by Kenny Burchard | Oct 7, 2013 | Gospel, New Testament, The Kingdom of God
“Bro, I gotta tell you… this goes down in history as the first time I have ever been called a Pharisee for saying that Jesus is Lord – because I believe that saying ‘Jesus is Lord’ means we should obey Jesus!” I’m letting you into my personal...
by Luke Geraty | Jul 6, 2013 | Disciple Making, Gospel, Missional
I don’t want to undervalue the necessity of people making a “decision” to follow Jesus as Lord, but I think it’s somewhat true that there’s a prevalent ideology at work in many churches that simply wants to get someone to “make a...
by Brian Foulks | Jun 10, 2013 | Ethnic Reconciliation, Gospel
The opportunity to experience the grace of God is an experience like no other. In this so called post-racial world, I had a run in with a racist old man. I had just let my wife out at the door of the movie theater and I was parking. As I got out of the car and was...
by Able Baker | May 7, 2013 | Gospel, Messy Church, Missional, Soteriology
Spring is here and one of my favorite things to do is go after weeds with my weed eater. I hate pulling weeds. I also hate killing weeds with weed killer because it makes much of my yard brown, not green. Most of my yard is not actually grass. I will just say right up...
by Luke Geraty | Nov 30, 2012 | Biblical Theology, Gospel, Soteriology
It happened again. I was listening to a popular radio preacher and they repeated an idea I have heard many times in my life. He stated that in the Old Testament, people were “saved” by obeying the Law and in the New Testament, people are...
by Luke Geraty | Nov 22, 2012 | Cultural Engagement, Gospel, Missional
One of the most powerfully convincing statements on the necessity for contextualizing the gospel can be found in The Convergent Church. When answering how we can take the timeless gospel and apply it in a timely manner and how we can speak the truth to a given culture...
by Luke Geraty | Sep 5, 2012 | Gospel, Reformed Theology
One of my favorite systematician writes: “An examination of some of the relevant passages reaps the following fruit of teaching. Believers have been chosen by God ‘to the praise of his glory’ (Eph. 1:11, 12); to ‘show forth the praises’ of the One who called...
by Luke Geraty | Aug 19, 2012 | Counseling, Gospel, Missional, Reformed Theology, Soteriology
As an advocate of what is essentially a Reformed perspective regarding issues related to soteriology, I fully subscribe to the idea that those whom God has chosen for salvation shall, in the end, be saved. I would gladly affirm what the Westminster Confessional...
by Luke Geraty | Aug 13, 2012 | Gospel, Reformed Theology, Systematic Theology
Heinrich Bullinger, the 16th century Swiss Reformer, wrote a book with a typically long title: “The grace of God that justifies us for the sake of Christ through faith alone, without good works, while faith meanwhile abounds in good works.” Would you agree...
by Luke Geraty | Aug 1, 2012 | Across the Web, Apologetics, Gospel, Missional
So I was going to write a long post about what I thought concerning today’s “Support Chick-Fil-A” reverse boycott. I planned on explaining that I’m sure the intentions of those who started this idea and promoted it and took part in it were...
by Luke Geraty | Jul 23, 2012 | Christology, Gospel, John Calvin, Systematic Theology
Have you ever stopped to think about the privileges that believers in Christ have? Sometimes I think we take what we have for granted, so it’s helpful to have a reminder. Tonight I was reading through John Owen’s Lesser Catechism and found a great answer...
by Luke Geraty | Feb 8, 2012 | Conflict Resolution, Ecclesiology, Gospel, The Kingdom of God
There’s been a lot of discussion related to the differences between central or essential doctrines and those that are secondary. Jesus said that a unified church is a testimony to the world (John 17:20-23), so how should we approach the distinctions and...
